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A UTHOR : 
 
 SCHOMBERG, J. D. (JOH 
 DUFF) 
 
 TITLE: 
 
 THE THEOCRATIC 
 PHILOSOPHY OF. 
 
 PLACE: 
 
 LONDON 
 
 DA TE : 
 
 1842 
 
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 Schomberg, John Duff. 
 
 The theocratic philosophy of English history; being an 
 attempt to nnpress upon history its true genius and real 
 character; and to present it, not as a disjointed series of 
 facts, l)ut as one grand wliole: ])y the Kev. J. D. Schom- 
 berg ... London, AVhittaker .and co.; (etc., etc.] 1842. 
 
 2 V. ll'"^. 
 
 CoNTKNTs— V. 1. From the invasion of Julius Caesar to the death of 
 guccn Elizabeth.— V. 2. From the accession of the house of Stuart to our 
 own tmics jI820j 
 
 1. Gt. Brit.— Hist. i. Title. 
 
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 Class 9^^ Boo.S(^Vt 
 
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 Madison Av. and 49th St. New York. 
 
 Bought witln the A. A. Low Ktind. 
 
 Reside the main topic this book also treats oj 
 Subject No. On page Subject No. On page 
 
 h . 
 
 >»-i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 

 i- 
 
 THE 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLISH HISTORY; 
 
 f' 
 
 BEING AN ATTEMrT TO IMPRESS UPON HISTORY 
 
 ITS TRUE GENIUS AND REAL CHARACTER; 
 
 AND TO PRESENT IT, 
 
 NOT AS A DISJOINTED SERIES OF FACTS, 
 
 BUT 
 
 u 
 
 K 
 
 ' ) 
 
 M 
 
 AS ONE GRAND WHOLE: 
 
 ■ A- 
 
 THE REV. J. D.^CHOMBERG, 'B. A., 
 
 OF CORPUS CHRIST! COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Late Master of Stoke Grammar School, Leicestershire, and Yicar of Polesworth, 
 
 "Warwickshire; Author of the Elements of the British Constitution; 
 
 ChviTch of England its own Witness, Sec. 
 
 VOL I. 
 
 y 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 WHITTAKER AND CO. R GROOMBRIDGE. 
 
 LEICESTER: J. G. AND T. C. BROWN, BIBLE AND CROWN, 
 
 AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 MDCCCXLII. 
 
15 
 
 
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 CONTENTS. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
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 Section I., p. 1, 138 — From the Invasion of Julius Caesar 
 to the end of the reign of Richard II. 
 
 Section II., p. 139. — From the Accession of the House 
 of Lancaster to the death of Richard III. 
 
 Section III., p. 289 — From the union of the Houses 
 of York and Lancaster to the death of Queen 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 73179 
 
/ 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE design of the Author, in the following 
 pages, is so fully opened to the Reader, iu the 
 commencement of the work itself, that it would 
 be a repitition to enlarge upon that subject in the 
 Preface. The Author wdll therefore content him- 
 self, with presenting to the Reader, a passage from 
 Blackwood's Magazine^ a copy of which was sent 
 to him by a friend, after the first part of the work 
 was ready for the press ; and in which, the design 
 of the Author will be found, clearly and remark- 
 ably anticipated, 
 
 " If the world shall ever become virtuous enough 
 " to deserve a developement of the actual course 
 " of Providence in the affairs of nations, a new 
 '' light may be thrown on the whole aspect of his- 
 *' tory. — Events, remote, trivial and obscure, may 
 "' be found to have been the origin to the greatest 
 
;«<iM«»a*«n 
 
 IV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 " transactions. A chain of circumstances may be 
 " traceable round the globe, and while the short- 
 " sightedness of the worldly politician deems the 
 ''catastrophe complete and closed, its operation 
 " may be but more secretly extending, to envelope 
 " a still larger space, and to explode with a more 
 '' dazzling and tremendous ruin*." 
 
 This passage might, indeed, have been written 
 for the Preface, and the Author cannot but rejoice 
 to find himself supported, in the view of history 
 which he has adopted, by a Writer, whose pow- 
 erful and luminous writings, have raised him to 
 the first rank of authors and benefactors to his 
 country. 
 
 The title of the work is not so simple as the 
 Author could have wished ; but after due consid- 
 eration, he determined upon its adoption, as the 
 best he could find, briefly, to express the character 
 of his undertaking. 
 
 It would be tedious to enumerate the Authors 
 which have been consulted for this work. — Suffice 
 it to say, that the Author is chiefly indebted to 
 
 * Blackwood, April 1832, p. 606. 
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 the laborious researches of Archdeacon Echard : 
 and it will only be necessary to observe, that in 
 the following work, will be found every fact essen- 
 tially connected with the History of England, con- 
 tained in the voluminous writings of Hall, Grafton, 
 Polydore Virgil, Hollingshead, Speed, Camden, 
 Bacon, &c. 
 
 The Author believes he is the first who has at- 
 tempted this path of moral science, and he has 
 pursued it with satisfaction and delight. The 
 subject has brought him into the more frequent 
 contemplation of the power and goodness of that 
 Blessed Being, who is the source and essence of 
 all moral excellency — the great and "only 
 
 POTENTATE, THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF 
 LORDS*." 
 
 * I Epis. Paul to Tim. vi. c. 15 v. 
 
p 
 
 ^;^^— ^- 
 
 THE THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ABORIGINAL BRITONS CESAR — CLAUDIUS — THE 
 
 EXPULSION OF THE DRUIDS. 
 
 It has always been considered, that nothing is section 
 more interesting or instructive to the human mind, i, 
 than the study of those things, which affect the chap. i. 
 changes of states and empires. But however gra- ^^^^^^^^ ^^ 
 tifying to our curiosity the perusal of History may the work. 
 be, yet it never can be attended with any solid 
 advantage, unless we endeavour to connect the 
 events of it in an unbroken series, and to 
 trace them as the results of one great pervading 
 cause. Unless in some measure, we can effect 
 this, we reduce the study of History into a mere 
 registry of facts, and degrade the historian's page 
 
 B 
 
THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION to the multifarious chronicle of a newspaper. — ^We 
 I. shall perceive nothing in History that connects us 
 with it, hut merely recount a numher of in- 
 sulated facts, which are interesting hecause they 
 are varied. Under such circumstances. History 
 affects us much in the same way as the Drama. 
 The piece opens — the scene changes — new actors 
 appear on the stage — the plot interests us — our 
 feelings are excited, and we leave the representation 
 disturbed and agitated, but not improved. To be 
 improved, we must think. — We must form some 
 idea of the design of the author ; we must dive into 
 the causes of the actions as they pass before us ; we 
 must be able to anticipate consequences, as the ne- 
 cessary results of certain causes ; and thus, by con- 
 templating the source of action, the mind is im- 
 proved and the disposition ameliorated. In this 
 view, the Philosophy of History, which searches 
 into the motives and impulses of human actions, is 
 of great importance. This study has been pursued, 
 and by none with greater success, than Robertson, 
 in those paths of History which he has attempted. 
 But without losing sight of this, there is a still 
 higher aim and study in History, namely — to trace 
 the principles of the Divine Government ; and to 
 observe how" second causes, with all their seeming 
 disorder, unite to carry on the purposes of His 
 Benevolence. 
 
 The History of our own country will afford ample 
 materials for our research and admiration ; and, if 
 
 i 
 
 Britain. 
 
 we give ourselves, with attention, to the study of SECTION 
 this portion of the Almighty's works, we shall be !• 
 more fitted to enter into a review of his universal ^^^^' ^' 
 dominion. 
 
 After the lapse of many centuries, during Aboriginal 
 which time, the inhabitants of this island, had ^"^^^^^"^ ^^ 
 been left to the simple and unbiassed operar 
 tions of their own nature, happily, a new revolution 
 of circumstances was begun under the auspices of 
 the Eoman Empire. When I speak of the simple 
 operations of nature, I mean that there does not 
 appear to have been, during that period, any 
 peculiar interposition of the divine power, to coun- 
 teract the natural course of events — to correct the 
 deteriorating^ or, to give an impulse to the recov- 
 ering powers of our nature. 
 
 The first settlers in Britain, no doubt, arrived 
 under the most unfavorable circumstances. Im- 
 mediately after the flood, the descendants of 
 Noah began to spread themselves over the earth ; 
 and to recede further and further, from the Patri- 
 archal Seat. The Emigrants from every new 
 colony, as they advanced to the Western limit, 
 would be composed of the bold and adventurous ; 
 and these, in general, would be the young and 
 inexperienced. The older and wiser would re- 
 main stationary. Thus the line of progress would 
 be marked by increasing ignorance; and when 
 they reached the shores of Britain, every trace of 
 primeval knowledge w^ould be lost. We cannot, 
 
WI!|l|iiW i » i ) 'j )i i WM)» «ll lMI!i) i ^)W ii"-'>i W »» lW 
 
 '^♦.' 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 r 
 
 4 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION at this point of advance, conceive any thing to 
 !• exist, save the wildest ignorance and the most 
 ferocious barbarism. Even, the primeval lan- 
 guage could no longer remain. Every new emigra- 
 tion would impart a new dialect to the mother- 
 tongue; till at length, degenerating with them- 
 selves, it would lose its original character, and 
 take a form, more in unison with their habits and 
 manners. 
 
 The knowledge, also, of the true God would 
 long since have been effaced. Aware how little 
 the minds of young persons are impressed with 
 just ideas of God, however diligently inculcated, 
 we shall not consider it matter of surprise, that 
 the younger branches of uncultivated tribes, con- 
 stantly emigrating to new settlements, should 
 at length, become totally ignorant of the true 
 character of the Supreme Being. Had Noah 
 accompanied them to our shores, it might 
 have been otherwise ; or, had an Elder Chief 
 been sent out with each migratory clan, things 
 might have been in a better state ; but there were, 
 doubtless, many generations between Noah and 
 the first adventurers, that reached our shores ; 
 and these, let it be remembered, were generations 
 of- the thoughtless, the irreligious, and the pro- 
 fane. The only possible conclusion is, that the 
 True God was utterly unknown. 
 
 The settlers in Britain must have led, for a 
 series of years, a savage and uncultivated life, till 
 
 i^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. Q 
 
 new stragglers coming over from the Gallic con- SECTION 
 tinent, the country became better peopled; and I- 
 having no longer power to emigrate, the inhabi- ^"**'- '• 
 tants would form themselves into petty govern- 
 ments, which would continue to be better organ- 
 ized as emergences arose. But whilst we are 
 obliged to suppose a probability of improvement 
 in their social state, arising from experience and 
 necessity ; yet we can by no train of reasoning, 
 discover a principle of regeneration for the mind. 
 We find, therefore, on opening the page of His- 
 tory, that the rudest and most degrading state of 
 society existed ; and, that they were the prey of 
 the deadliest superstition. It is not however my 
 province to detail the facts connected with this 
 assertion. These may be consulted in numerous 
 works. I shall only briefly advert to the source 
 of their religious errors. 
 
 Ignorant and debased as we have seen, were 
 the first settlers on the Coast of Britain; yet 
 from the history of our species, it is ascertained 
 that the idea of a superior Being or Beings, is uni- 
 versal. Hence superstition is an easy engrafture 
 on our constitution. The Britons therefore, were 
 ready for any impression of this kind ; and it is 
 not impossible that the Phoenicians conveyed to 
 them the germ, if not more, of Druidism ; and 
 that the Greeks also, who visited their shores, 
 left behind them some notices of their Gods. It 
 was easy enough, to add to what they had thus 
 
 i^ 
 
l>'S^#f»aG]is,-5»S^aiSeS«^'#S»»*ii«- ■■ 
 
 *■-■.- 
 
 11 
 
 II 
 
 S THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION received ; and afterwards, to invent Gods of their 
 !• ov\rn. It is related in some book of travels which 
 ^"''^' ^' I have lately seen, that near the site of the ancient 
 Tyrus, has been discovered a remain resembling 
 Stonehenge ; and it would be more probable to 
 suppose, that the rites of that superstition, tra- 
 velled from thence, where there had been greater 
 opportunities of corrupting religion, than that it 
 should take its rise from Britain ; where, it is im- 
 probable that there ever was any religion, till it 
 was imported. What makes this still more pro- 
 bable is, that Britain became the head quarters 
 of Druidism, and gave its laws to Europe. — For 
 had it travelled from the Continent, as it has been 
 conjectured, in all probability, its chief seat would 
 have continued there. 
 
 But be this as it may, it does not in the slight- 
 est degree affect the argument contained in the fol- 
 lowing pages : I do not deny the interest of the 
 enquiry, nor its importance — ^Init too long a digres- 
 sion in pursuit of it, would divert me from my prin- 
 cipal aim. It is but too obvious, that Druidism 
 with all its inhuman appendages and sanguinary 
 rites, held entire sway over the minds of our devo- 
 ted ancestors, and rivetted fast upon them, the 
 chains of the most degraded servitude.* From 
 such a yoke, it was impossible for the unhappy 
 Britons to rescue themselves. The ministers of 
 this horrid system held unlimited rule: they 
 
 * CsDS. Com. de bello Gall. 
 
 I 
 
 k 
 
 i\ 
 
 I. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 administered the rites of reUgion — they instructed SECTION 
 the youth — they directed the affairs of the state — 
 they enacted the laws and punished the offenders. 
 To disclaim their authority was futile : to resist it 
 was death : for they were not only armed with the 
 fullest civil authority; but with the delegated 
 power of the Gods. To be excluded from their 
 sacrifices, was considered the heaviest misfortune : 
 to be exposed to their curse, the deadliest punish- 
 ment. Under this fatal bondage the Britons had 
 no chance of making advances in civilization and 
 knowledge. Their cruel oppressors designedly 
 kept them in ignorance ; and the evil power 
 glutted himself with human blood and rioted in 
 their destruction. But happily for us their des- 
 cendants, the day was approaching, when the 
 divine benevolence was to interfere, and to rescue 
 our forefathers from their unhappy thraldom. 
 
 Two great events in the history of our Country, 
 are now opening before us — the extirpation of the 
 Druids, and the planting of Christianity — ^both of 
 which bespeak a Di\^ne hand, and will serve to 
 illustrate the course of his beneficent purposes. — 
 These are the beacons which must now direct our 
 course. 
 
 Julius C.^^.sar, the first Roman that opened First invasion 
 
 1 T 1 J r • of Britain. 
 
 a passage to our shores, and estabhshed a tootmg b. c. 55. 
 on our " sea-girt isle, " about half a century before 
 the Christian Era, had fallen a victim to the jea- 
 lousy of his countrymen ; and Augustus was now 
 
 ;: 
 
}\ 
 
 8 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION saluted Emperor of Rome. Not less magnificent 
 I- in his projects than his uncle, he left Rome three 
 several times, at the head of his army, with the 
 design of invading Britain ; but was as often pre- 
 vented from putting his design into execution. In 
 our ardent desire for the improvement and happi- 
 ness of the ancient Britons, we are almost ready to 
 regret the failure of his intention ; especially when 
 we call to mind the wisdom, courage and human- 
 ity of that great leader. A contempary Poet thus 
 
 alludes to the circumstance. 
 
 Praesens divus habebitur 
 
 Augustus, adjectis Britannis 
 Imperio.* Hor. lib. Hi. od, 5. 
 
 Notwithstanding, whether we can trace the 
 causes of the divine interference or not, in the 
 detention of Augustus ; yet the circumstance itself, 
 seems strongly marked. Probably, the Divine 
 scheme was not yet fully ripe. During the cen- 
 tury which elapsed, from the invasion of Julius 
 Ceesar to that of Claudius ; there was a constant 
 communication kept up with Rome. The arts of 
 civilization and the knowledge of the sciences, 
 could not fail to reach our shores ; and during the 
 latter part of that period, Christianity had become 
 strong in the Roman Empire, and would neces- 
 sarily, if not by direct mission, yet by varied 
 
 * A present Divinity shall Augustus 
 Be reckoned, the Britons being added 
 To the Empire. 
 
 I 
 
 / [ 
 
 I. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 intercourse, be imported, together with other SECTION 
 improvements. 
 
 The purposes of God often operate slowly, but 
 always beneficially. By the means just alluded 
 to, the fierceness of the British Character would 
 be softened — their attachment to Druidism in some 
 measure, weakened — and an opportunity afforded 
 them of embracing the regenerating scheme of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 It is certain that Claudius found the affairs of Emperor ciau. 
 Britain in a very different state from that, in which Britain, 
 they were left by Csesar. The nation, for the time, a. d. 45. 
 had made prodigious advances. They were not 
 like the same people. The Druids, however, were 
 in power, and still retained vast hold on the minds 
 of their disciples. Every step was now tending 
 to their overthrow. As long as their rites contin- 
 ued in vigour, it was utterly impossible for the 
 benign influence of Christianity to make its way. 
 This holy religion, had, within a short period, 
 spread itself over the Western Empire ; it had even 
 found its way into the palace of the Caesars, and 
 amongst the soldiers of the Legions ; and it was 
 now destined to bless our distant isle ; whilst the 
 great bulwark of Satanic influence, was to feel the 
 power of the Roman sword. 
 
 In the midst of sublunary changes and moral Suetonius is 
 
 - , made Governor 
 
 disorders, the Divine purposes securely advance ^^^ extermina- 
 to their completion. Claudius is no more; and tes the Druids. 
 
 A. D. 61. 
 
 the Purple succeeds to the worst of men and ot 
 
B 
 
 10 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 11 
 
 ! ., 
 
 SECTION princes : but happily, the Province of Britain falls 
 !• to the lot of a prudent and energetic Governor ; 
 Chap. I. -yvho, in Order more firmly to secure the Eoman 
 Power, resolves upon the extermination of the 
 Druids. He foresaw that, as long as these men 
 maintained their power and influence, there never 
 could be any dependence on the people, or secu- 
 rity to the Roman Conquests. He therefore made 
 considerable preparations, and determined on a 
 decisive blow. He attacked the isle of Angesea, 
 w^hich was their chief seat ; broke down and des- 
 troyed their superstitions ; and, in short, utterly 
 exterminated them. 
 
 It was far from the thoughts of Suetonius, that 
 in the execution of this work, he w^as rendering 
 essential service to truth ; and laying the foun- 
 dation for the future greatness of the British Em- 
 pire. This was an act of policy in him, suited to 
 the moment. It was intended to meet the present 
 exigency ; and nothing could have been more 
 wisely determined. But how fruitful was it in 
 mighty events, of which he had no conception ! 
 Christianity, the \ital spring of every real and 
 substantial blessing, is to be planted upon the 
 ruins which he occasioned. No doubt, Christi- 
 anity, which is another name for Truth, would 
 have made its way in opposition to the rites of 
 Druidism, as it did to those of Paganism ; but, 
 whoever considers the strong prejudices of the 
 human mind, in support of long favored and reve- 
 
 *: 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 renced institutions ; and how slowly these preju- SECTION 
 dices are overcome, will perceive how much the '• 
 course of Christianity would be accelerated by the 
 sudden extinction of the ancient religion. We 
 cannot, therefore, at this distance of time, con- 
 template an event so fraught with blessings to 
 thousands, without the liveliest feelings of grati- 
 tude to the Supreme Ruler of events ; who, in 
 compassion to the human race, blotted out at once 
 so horrid and detestable a system. We are to 
 remember, that whilst the Divine goodness is 
 seen extending itself, in an undeviating line of 
 beneficence; yet judgements are ever mingled 
 with its advance. A wise law-giver duly appor- 
 tions his rewards and punishments ; and after all 
 the controversies of Theologians on Free ivilh and 
 Necessity ; when w^e come to facts, w^e discover 
 this to be the ruling principle, in the economy 
 of the Divine government. With respect to the 
 Druids, whilst their extirpation was desirable for 
 the happiness of mankind, their atrocious deeds 
 rendered them fit subjects of the divine Vengeance. 
 We lament, indeed, the destruction of so many 
 individuals ; but w^e must rejoice in the event, 
 which freed the world from their Superstition; 
 and ''justify" the divine conduct in their over- 
 throw. 
 
 It 
 
mmmt^iiim<mm^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 AGRICOLA — CHRISTIANITY — PROSPEROUS STATE OF THE 
 
 CHURCH HONORED WITH MARTYRDOM ARIANISM 
 
 DISSOLUTENESS OF MANNERS — INVASION OF THE 
 
 SAXONS. 
 
 SECTION Goldsmith in his Epitome of English History, 
 
 ^' has a remark to this effect, that the dominion of 
 
 ^^\\ the Romans had a tendency to enslave and bruta- 
 
 Roman lizG the minds of the conquered Provinces. In 
 
 Conquests, many respects, I am of a very different opinion. 
 The Roman Empire, at that time, was the seat of 
 civilization and the arts ; and in spreading their 
 conquests, they scattered with an unsparing hand 
 every good, of which they were in possession. It 
 is true, they levied exactions upon the tributary 
 states, but, in return they bestowed more solid 
 advantages. Those things, which are called the 
 gifts of fortune, are utterly contemptible when 
 compared with the gifts of the mind ; and, how- 
 ever irksome the tributary states might feel the 
 pecuniary levies of the Romans, yet they were 
 immense gainers in the end : civiliation, agricul- 
 ture, the arts, and even the sciences, followed in 
 the train of their legions — blessings, even at the 
 
 < 
 
 it 
 
 point of the spear. I am not intending to plead SECTION 
 for compulsory methods of instruction, especially, ^* 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 where other means would be effectual. It seems 
 a pity to make a man wise against his will ; and 
 yet, who sees not, in how many instances, this is 
 necessary? Barbarous nations, like many chil- 
 dren, require coercion. Knowledge with all its 
 concomitants, is disdained by the ignorant. They 
 have no relish for the delights of the understand- 
 ing, and therefore despise them. Habits of indo- 
 lence — corrupted morals and a roving spirit, are 
 frightful barriers against improvement, and when 
 to these, is added, the deep-rooted prejudice of a 
 false religion, the difficulty is increased and 
 strengthened. Under such circumstances, to 
 effect any present substantial change, a sudden 
 and decisive blow is necessary. A grand move- 
 ment must be made, when it is intended to bring 
 about an immediate revolution in manners, in 
 morals, or in prejudices. The more barbarous a 
 nation is, the greater resistance it will make to any 
 inroad on its usages ; and, on this very account, 
 the power employed against it, if equal to the 
 task, will become more efficient. It was so with 
 the Britons: they made a long and determined 
 resistance against their invaders ; and from that 
 circumstance, received a more signal overthrow. 
 Not that I suppose the Roman usurpation is to 
 be justified from any considerations of utility. In 
 all certainty, the Romans pursued their conquests 
 
} 
 
 I 
 
 14 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION for their own aggrandisement, without regard 
 1- to any ulterior benefit ; and, that their policy in 
 
 Chap. II. |]^jg pespect was selfish and confined, is apparent 
 from the circumstance, that they did not allow the 
 legionary soldier to possess lands ; or to settle in 
 the tributary states. Their invasion of Britain, 
 as far as the invaders were concerned, was unjust 
 and oppressive. But there was a Divine Power 
 directing their movements, who had a perfect right 
 to dispose of the Britons as He pleased ; and w^ho, 
 through a short chastisement by the Roman power, 
 was preparing for them the most exuberant bles- 
 sings. 
 
 It is an infallible principle in the divine econ- 
 omy, that the wicked are often constituted the 
 sword of the Almighty Governor; and, that 
 whilst left to follow their own unjust and ambi- 
 tious projects, they work out his sovereign and 
 gracious will. The Roman Invasion, is, in every 
 point of view, a striking instance of this position ; 
 and the mighty chain of events w^hich had prece- 
 ded and has succeeded upon it, manifests in the 
 most indubitable manner, a divine hand. Who- 
 ever, therefore, with an impartial mind, considers 
 the previous state of Britain — the motives which 
 inspired the Romans to invade its shores ; and the 
 very peculiar and unpremeditated circumstances, 
 that arose from it, will not fail, with gratitude, to 
 acknowledge the effectual working of the Supreme 
 Being. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 15 
 
 a 
 
 A. D. 75. 
 
 After the expulsion of the Druids and a variety SECTION 
 of afflicting incidents, w^e arrive in the affairs of !• 
 Britain, at an Epoch, which, though it centres in 
 an individual, yet is too manifest a link in the 
 series of Providence to be overlooked. — I mean Agricoia pre. 
 
 ., T • . n k I* sides over the 
 
 the Lieutenancy of Agricola, a man oi con- ^^^.^ ^^ g^. 
 summate wisdom, unspotted integrity, and invin- tain 
 cible courage. He w^as fitted by the Author of 
 his being, for conducting great and dangerous 
 enterprises ; and one of the most critical and dif- 
 ficult w^as put into his hands. By his courage, 
 he extended the Roman arms to the utmost boun- 
 daries of the British Island. — By his integrity, 
 he softened the rigours of victory, and raised the 
 vanquished, with paternal solicitude, from the 
 ground. — By his wisdom, he administered to the 
 wants of the inhabitants ; reconciled them to his 
 administration ; induced them to forget their an- 
 cient habits, and instructed them in the arts of 
 civilization. It is impossible for us to form any 
 proper estimate of the influence he exerted, and 
 of the reforms he established in this Island. Suf- 
 fice it to say, that the peculiar character of his 
 administration, and the important Era, during 
 which it w^as exercised, and the almost incredible 
 improvement that attended it, mark incontestibly 
 another step in the Divine procedure. The words 
 of Tacitus, a contemporary historian, will very 
 properly conclude w^hat we have said respecting 
 this great man. 
 
16 
 
 SECTION 
 I. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 (C 
 
 Establishment 
 ofChristianity. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 " Quicquid ex Agricola amavimus, quidquid 
 mirati sumus, manet, mansurumque est in animis 
 " hominum in eternitate temporum, fama rerum. 
 " Nam multos veterum, velut inglorios et ignobi- 
 " les, oblivio obruet, Agricola, posteritati narratus 
 " et traditus, superstes erit. " * 
 
 Whatever may be the fate of insulated facts, 
 with respect to the planting of Christianity in 
 Britain ; yet it is undoubted, that soon after the 
 departure of Agricola, that inestimable boon of 
 Heaven, made rapid progress in the island. — 
 Whether or not, Lucius was the first British King 
 that embraced Christianity ; or Britain, the first 
 Christian State, it is certain that the Christian 
 religion spread itself wherever the Roman Arms 
 prevailed in Britain. No doubt, Christianity had 
 found its way to us very early. It was impossible, 
 when we consider the constant and uninterrupted 
 communication with the Roman Empire, that the 
 zeal of the Apostolic days would allow the oppor- 
 tunity to pass by, unregarded. No doubt previous 
 to the time of Claudius, and throughout the whole 
 of that troublous period to the time of Agricola, 
 much was attempted and much was accomplished. 
 
 * Whatever of Agricola we have loved — whatever we have 
 admired, remains, and by the fame of his deeds, will for ever 
 remain in the minds of men. For dark forgetfulness shall 
 overwhelm many of the ancients, as men undeserving of honor 
 and esteem ; but Agricola, spoken of, and handed down to 
 posterity shall still survive. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 17 
 
 1 1 
 
 ill 
 
 But the true epocha of Christianity in this country, SECTION 
 must be established in connexion wdth the latter I. 
 period ; after which time, it seems to have taken ^"^^ ^'* 
 deep root — and to have filled the land. The Ro- 
 man Governors were too much occupied, to inter- 
 fere with its progress ; and for a long term of years 
 it was left unmolested to pursue its benign and 
 heavenly way. 
 
 From the time of Agricola to thatof Dioclesian, Diociesian 
 including a space of about two hundred years, the Emperor of 
 triumphs of Christianity must be considered to have a. d. 283. 
 been in progress ; and we cannot doubt but that persecutes the 
 many a Briton during that period, through the di- tian& 
 vine consolations of the Gospel, enjoyed " the peace 
 of God which passeth understanding. " The true 
 medium of salvation was proclaimed ; and the long 
 benighted hills of Britain, were made vocal with the 
 songs of the redeemed. The Church received en- 
 largement on every side, and like a vigorous and 
 fruitful tree, spread its boughs over the happy land, 
 affording shelter and delight to multitudes. One 
 undoubted fact, if there were no others, would 
 be sufficient to substantiate the truth of these en- 
 livening statements. I allude to the circumstance, 
 that during the persecution that raged under the 
 Emperor Dioclesian, and which extended itself 
 to the remotest provinces of the empire, Britain 
 was honored as the scene of Martyrdom ; and 
 many illustrious British names appear in the re- 
 cords of the Church, who sealed the truth of Chris- 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 19 
 
 SECTION tianity with their blood.* Brief may be the no- 
 I. tices of their lives, and scanty the particulars of 
 ^"*'* "• their deaths, but the fact is significant. There 
 is sufficient in it to shew, that Christianity had 
 made such progress in Britain, as to excite the 
 jealousy of heathen Eome ; and that it possessed 
 so much of the vital spirit of that religion, as to 
 lead its disciples to prefer Martyrdom to Apostacy. 
 Thus, in a short space of time, we behold the 
 idols of superstition banished — the arts of civili- 
 zation introduced — ^the doctrines of Christianity 
 promulgated, and Britain evangelized. And to 
 what shall we attribute this mighty change ? 
 
 The wide-spread and regenerating influence 
 of the Gospel, was certainly the greatest and 
 most signal advantage that followed the invasion 
 of Cassar. It is the most prominent event, and 
 the most pregnant with blessing ; and, therefore, 
 the steps which preceded it, may be considered as 
 preparatory to its establishment. But did Csesar 
 contemplate such a result to his enterprise ^ Did 
 Claudius, or any of his successors *? They^ were 
 blind instruments in bringing about such a consum- 
 mation. They laboured, for the most part, to 
 gratify their own pride and ambition ; but whilst 
 they followed the dictates of their own breasts, 
 their wayward and erring devices were made sub- 
 servient to the great and comprehensive designs 
 of the Eternal : And what is remarkable, whilst 
 
 * Fuller's History. 
 
 we cannot avoid beholding a sovereign hand, con- SECTION 
 straining the general movement, yet there is no ^^ 
 apparent constraint, no seeming interruption to 
 the natural order of things. Every event seems 
 to follow in proper order, after that which pre- 
 ceded it. We behold a suitable cause for every 
 effect. Indeed the laws of the moral world 
 appear to be conducted, on the same principle 
 as those of the kingdom of nature. There is no 
 appearance of confusion, none of constraint, none 
 of violence — ^but every thing operates to its per- 
 fection, by slow and imperceptible degrees. Even 
 when an interruption to these general principles 
 is observed, yet the character of their operations 
 is retained. 
 
 It is not, indeed, the province of reason to scan 
 too minutely the things of God, or, to speculate 
 on the mode in which the divine influence exerts 
 itself on the affairs of men, but the fact is un- 
 doubted. In the case under review, it was not 
 the effect of mere physical action ; it was not a 
 series of natural causes that can be supposed to 
 have accomplished it. The planting of Christi- 
 anity was designed either by God or man : — no 
 simple physical cause could have brought it about. 
 
 The determination of Caesar to invade Britain, 
 was the beginning of the series : — what connexion 
 had this determination vrith the establishment of 
 Christianity ^ None whatever. Caesar designed 
 nothing of the kind, neither did his successors in 
 
 ^ 
 
20 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 21 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 il 
 
 i! 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION that line of circumstances, which followed the 
 I. first suggestion in the mind of Caesar; yet, 
 every thing from that moment, prepared the 
 way for it. It would be too absurd to suppose 
 that such an event, involving such important con- 
 sequences to the sons of men, could have been 
 brought about, without design. The consequence 
 therefore, inevitably follows, that the supreme Fa- 
 ther of all, was the designer ; and that He con- 
 ducted every event to its accomplishment. And 
 we are bound to adore the power, and to ad- 
 mire the goodness of that " blessed God, " who 
 out of the midst of such bitter evils, arising from 
 the corrupt motives — the blind prejudices — the 
 conflicting passions and jarring interests of men, 
 evolved such real and substantial good ; and blessed 
 a portion, at least, of mankind, in spite of them- 
 selves.— But I must quit' this delightful period of 
 our history, to which the sublime prediction of 
 Isaiah is eminently applicable. " The wilderness 
 " and the solitary place shall be glad for them ; 
 " and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the 
 " rose : it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice 
 with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon 
 shall be given unto it ; the excellency of Carmel 
 and Sharon : they shall see the glory of the Lord 
 '' and the excellency of our God ! " * 
 
 Whether during the reign of Constantine, Chris- 
 tianity received any real accession, is dubious. It 
 
 * Prophecy of Isaiah ch. xxxv. v. i. 
 
 (( 
 
 (C 
 
 (.<. 
 
 Constantine 
 Emperor of 
 
 f 
 
 1^] 
 
 D. 306. 
 
 is more probable, that it lost as much in real vi- SECTION 
 tality, as it rained in outward splendour: but *• 
 
 •^' ^ . . , 1 -i. Chap. II. 
 
 before this incorporation with secular power, it 
 had attained to great strength and eminence ; and Rome. 
 thirty Bishops are numbered as presiding over the ^^^'^^ ^^^ .^ 
 Christian Church in Britain. The names of three tianity. 
 who attended the council of Aries, A. D. 314, 
 are still preserved.* 
 
 I cannot help in this place remarking, and it 
 can scarcely be considered a digression, that, 
 the important fact, of an Apostolic, independent 
 church, established and perfectly organized, at 
 such an early period, and long before the Bishop 
 of Home [pretended to universal Lordship, is an 
 abundant refutation of the assertion of the Rom- 
 anists, that the Church of England is schismatic 
 from the Church of Rome. If there were not 
 other sufficient reasons for her separation from that 
 church, yet the undoubted fact which we have 
 just narrated, with others, in the course of history, 
 confirmatory of it, proves that the Church in Eng- 
 land existed co-eval with the Church in Rome ; 
 and that the Church of England existed prior to 
 the PAPAL Church of Rome. Hence it follows, 
 that when in after ages, the church of Rome took 
 possession of the church in Britain, it was an un- 
 due stretch of power; and in every sense, an 
 usurpation. It never can be a crime to break a 
 
 * Eborius, Bishop of York, Restitutus, Bishop of Lon- 
 don, and Adolphus, Bishop of Colchester. 
 
i 
 
 22 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Fatal effects 
 of Arianism. 
 
 
 il 
 
 SECTION tyrannic and oppressive yoke. — At the reformation, 
 I- this was done, and the Church in this country as- 
 sumed her ancient independence : and she may be 
 called a Protestant Church, not only because she 
 protests against the innovations of the Romanists 
 in doctrine — ^but against their usurpation in power. 
 Let this consideration suffice for those, who assert 
 that the church of England is an apostate daugh- 
 ter of the church of Rome. She owns no such 
 alliance ; she is older in years than her self-con- 
 stituted mother ; and considers it as a misfortune 
 that she was ever brought under her domination.* 
 But to return. — Christianity under Constantine, 
 not only attained security and rest — ^not only 
 received protection, but enjoyed opulence and 
 ease. Yet these external advantages appear not 
 to have forwarded her real interests. The church 
 became the stepping-stone to power and fame ; 
 and the bold and the ambitious pressed into her 
 service ; and, in a very short time, the effects of such 
 an unholy combination became apparent. " Philo- 
 sophy and vain deceit " set themselves to w^ork on 
 the simple and unadulterated materials of Scrip- 
 ture ; and quickly perverted its wholesome truths 
 by their idle speculations. Slight at first, and, 
 to all appearance, unimportant errors, w^ere brought 
 in — ^but error begets error; and at length, that 
 monster was produced, which under the name of 
 Arianism, devoured the vitals of the Church. It 
 
 * " Church of Enj'land its own witness." Rivinfrtons. 
 
 \ 
 
 ? 
 
 1 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 23 
 
 is not my province to enter into the detail of its SECTION 
 devastating progress. It ravaged the whole of ^^^- ^^ 
 the Western Empire— but its attack on Bntam ^^v^/ 
 was. perhaps, more fatal and disastrous, than on 
 any other portion of the Church. 
 
 The most ancient historians, record, that the 
 Britons were proverbial for their fickleness and 
 inconstancy ; a fact which it is to be feared, every 
 succeeding age has aided to verify. Amongst 
 such a varying people, ready to be earned about 
 with "every wind of doctrine"— the deadly heresy 
 made rapid progress ; and polluted the land. The 
 most shameful profligacy of manners found an en- 
 trancewith it; and vice, under every form, was toler- 
 ated, and even cherished. Our unhappy Country- 
 men were chastised on the north and west, by the 
 Picts and Scots ; who made frequent and cruel in- 
 cursions amongst them, and the Roman power 
 which had elevated and hitherto defended them, 
 was now struck with the decripitude of age ; and 
 being itself attacked by young and vigorous na- 
 tions, could no longer afford them protection. 
 
 Britain was now left to her own resources. The Romans 
 But alas! before the last of the legions had quit- -l^'- 
 ted her shores, her glory was departed. Christi- a. d. 448. 
 anity had declined under the baneful influence of 
 Arianism. Ichobod was written on her numerous 
 temples. No one arose to check the disorder: 
 no remedy was found to stay the fatal contagion : 
 the clergy and laity together, became degenerate 
 
 f i 
 
 
24 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 25 
 
 *M 
 
 »i| 
 
 I 
 
 I ' 
 
 under Ella. 
 A. D. 4G5. 
 
 SECTION and flagitious ; and the whole nation fell into one 
 I. common ruin. Thus, we have, lately, beheld our 
 
 ^^Jii^;-^ country happy in the favour of God ; and raised 
 by his providence from the lowest grade of wretch- 
 edness, to be exalted with glory ; and we shall 
 now be called to contemplate a striking change, 
 to follow the divine judgments, and to enter upon 
 a long and painful period of our history. 
 
 We have seen the end of one invasion, and the 
 purposes of the Divine economy in its permission. 
 
 Saxon invasion A sccoud iuvasiou is uow iu preparation, and after 
 a cruel struggle, is at length successful. The 
 Pagan Saxons gain entire possession of the Chris- 
 tian soil of Britain; and whatever remained of 
 Christianity is trodden under foot. Such a ca- 
 lamity as this, cannot be considered as amongst 
 the common vicissitudes of nations. This barba- 
 rous people were called in, to aid the Britons 
 against the still more savage tribes of the Picts 
 and Scots, and, from being their auxiliaries, be- 
 came their conquerors. The Britons were cer- 
 tainly not without experience as it regards the 
 motives and passions of mankind, and yet, w^e 
 cannot conceive a more infatuated step than their 
 calling in, the aid of the Saxons. Was it to be 
 expected that fierce and warlike nations, posses- 
 sed of a rough and uncultivated soil, would be 
 willing, after having beheld the fertile plains of 
 Britain, to return to the desolation of their own 
 marshes and forests ^ Had the Britons been at 
 
 \ 
 
 , 
 
 II 
 
 liberty to reason upon the subject, and to act upon SECTION 
 the result of their deliberations, they would have ^J- ^^ 
 rejected at once the thought of such an aUiance. 
 But strong necessity lay upon them— a necessity, 
 it must be granted, of their own making ; and in 
 the midst of conflicting evils, they, undoubtedly, • 
 chose that which they considered the least. But 
 why not rely upon their own resources and defend 
 themselves against the Picts and Scots, without 
 applying for foreign aid ? This was the only sure 
 and effectual measure. But unfortunately, at that 
 juncture their resources were gone. Not however, 
 in the way, which is supposed by the generality of 
 our historians, who consider, that the Britons 
 had become weak and effeminate, by their long 
 subjection to the Romans. It is true that the arts 
 of peace had been cultivated by them to a great 
 extent ; but these surely, have not, in themselves, 
 a tendency, essentially to deteriorate the character. 
 The individual who cultivates peaceful and indus- 
 trious arts may not, at all times, be so prepared 
 for the conflict, as the man who lives by his 
 sword ; yet, surely, on an emergency, the powers 
 of the man who lives by the fruits of his skill and 
 industry, are capable of resuscitation equal to the 
 occasion. Besides, Britain was not so studiously 
 engaged in domestic pursuits, as not to have 
 abundance of warriors. For a long period, prior 
 to the retirement of the Romans, Britain had been 
 the most active and turbulent of the Provinces. 
 
gjfc ajun-j a 
 
 26 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION It was situated at a considerable distance from the 
 !• seat of Empire, and was on that account, a suita- 
 
 chap. ir. 1^1^ arena for the attempts of the aspiring and am- 
 bitious ; and accordingly, not a few of the gover- 
 nors of Britain usurped the title of Emperor, By 
 this means the island was drained of its youth and 
 nobility, and on two occasions, particularly towards 
 the conclusion of the Roman occupation, vast 
 numbers attended the usurping Emperors to the 
 Continent, and perished together with their com- 
 manders.* Thus, the country was devoid of its 
 natural defenders ; and like a mother deprived of 
 her proper children, she was compelled to seek her 
 protection from the hands of strangers. 
 
 We behold in this resolve of the Britons to 
 apply to the Saxons for relief, a people urged by 
 imperative circumstances to lay the foundation for 
 their own destruction. They certainly did not 
 intend such a catastrophe. The step however 
 to which they had recourse, manifestly had a 
 tendency to lead to it. — But they thought other- 
 wise ; and considered it as the only means of 
 their safety. But there was a divine Power, who 
 had important designs to answer in connexion 
 with his universal government ; and the perplexi- 
 ties and resolution of the Britons led the way for 
 their accomplishment. They had been elevated 
 in the scale of being, and gifted with the most 
 exalted privileges ; and we behold the first of these 
 
 * Marcus, Gratian and Constantine. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 27 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 1^ I 
 
 blessings, despised; and the latter, profanely SECTION 
 trifled with.* They are now to be punished : and '• 
 their own infatuated conduct prepares the way. 
 The Ruler of the world allows them to take their 
 own course, and where they intended escape — He 
 prepares a snare ; where they contemplated deliv- 
 erance He determines captivity. 
 
 The punishment of nations, with Him, is as easy 
 as that of individuals ; and whilst all his acts are 
 benevolence, he will not permit vice and folly to 
 escape punishment. Nay, the very act of punish- 
 ment, is part of the plan of his universal benefi- 
 cence. Vice and misery are inseparable. And 
 where an excess of the former prevails — the sum 
 of unhappiness is so much increased, and the har- 
 mony of the divine economy disordered. It is 
 therefore necessary for the general good, that the 
 vicious should be punished. But in the midst of 
 judgment, the Almighty God remembers mercy ; 
 and with the chastisement combines a vivifying 
 principle of good. We shall no doubt find it as 
 we proceed. '* Who would not fear thee, King 
 of Nations ! for to thee doth it appertain ; foras- 
 much as, among all the wise men of the nations, 
 and in all their kingdoms there is none like unto 
 Thee."f 
 
 The deadly heresy of Arianism, sprung from Arius a Presbyter of Alex- 
 andria, in the fourth century. He taught that the Son of (iod was the first 
 of created Beings and essentially distinct from the Father; and tliat the 
 Holy Ghost was created by the Son. 
 
 f Prophecy of Jeremiah, ch. x. v. 7. 
 
OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE SAXON HEPTARCHY ITS PERFECTION— ITS DE- 
 CLINE AND OVERTHROW BY THE DANES. 
 
 SECTION 
 
 I. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 For the space of one hundred years, during which 
 time the Saxon Heptarchy was in a state of form- 
 ation, there is not a single object upon which the 
 eye can rest with satisfaction. We read of no- 
 thing but wars, and jealousies, and massacres. — 
 It was only towards the conclusion of this period, 
 when one of the states became predominant, and 
 its king the chief of the nations, that we can per- 
 ceive the dawn of better things. 
 
 Christianity, which, we know from experience, 
 Christianity convcys with itsclf cvcry other blessing, began to 
 A^^D 670 revive, and to shed its healing influence over the 
 barbarous people. A distinguished female was des- 
 tined to give it introduction to the court. Bertha, 
 the daughter of the king of France, became Queen 
 of Ethelbert king of Kent, and chief monarch of 
 England, on the condition, that she might be 
 allowed the free exercise of the Christian religion. 
 
 revives. 
 
 29 
 
 3 
 
 The pagan king of Saxon England accepted the SECTION 
 conditions ; and there can be no doubt, but that ^' 
 she exercised a wholesome controul over his mind ; v^^^v^/ 
 and that Lethard the Bishop who accompanied 
 her, allowed no opportunity to escape, of speaking 
 a word in season to the noblemen who surrounded 
 the king. 
 
 There is reason also to conclude, that the rem- 
 nant of Christianity amongst the enslaved Britons, 
 scattered throughout the Saxon states, together 
 with the labours and preaching of several British 
 divines,* produced, in many instances, vital and 
 lasting effects ; and it is certain, that into Scot- 
 land, the exiled Britons conveyed the truths of the 
 Gospel, which spread a salutary influence over 
 that land ; and we find they became a highly Chris- 
 tian nation, independent of the prominent means, 
 which led to that result in England. 
 
 We shall not enter into an examination of the 
 causes, which led that excellent person, Gregory, ^''™''^ ""^^^si- 
 archdeacon of Eome, to turn his benevolent atten- 
 tion to this country. — He considered Christianity, 
 as it undoubtedly is, the greatest boon on earth, 
 without which, even life itself can scarcely be es- 
 teemed a blessing ; and he determined himself to 
 
 be its herald to the barbarous shore of Britain. 
 
 In the fulfilment of this design, however, he was 
 prevented — the citizens of Rome would not submit 
 to the loss of their beloved Pastor : a distinguished 
 
 * Church of England its own Witness. 
 
 A. D. 600. 
 
30 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 31 
 
 SECTION testimony to the character of Gregory ! Every 
 I. person knows, that at length, this Christian em- 
 
 Chap. hi. bassy was sent hy Gregory under the conduct of 
 Austin, with many fellow labourers. They com- 
 menced their expedition under great dejection of 
 mind, and with many painful forebodings. But 
 the illustrious Bertha had prepared the way. — Aus- 
 tin and his companions were welcomed by the 
 King, who, soon after, was baptized. This public 
 approval of their errand, and the great reputation 
 of the missionaries themselves, acted with electric 
 power ; and vast numbers flocked to the baptism 
 of Christianity. Austins conferences with the 
 British Bishops who resided in the western 
 parts of the island, are not, in their results, favour- 
 able to his memory ; and their rejection of his 
 offers respecting a conformity with the church of 
 Rome on certain points, is well known.* Chris- 
 tianity, however, made rapid progress through the 
 country, and the hand of Providence is strongly 
 marked by the circumstance, that the dominant 
 kings of the Island, successively as they arose, 
 became christians ; among whom Edwin, and 
 Oswy, and Oswald were pre-eminent 
 
 What will serve to shew the extent to which the 
 Christian religion had spread in Scotland, before 
 the arrival of Austin, is the circumstance of a gen- 
 eral council-]- having been held of English and 
 Scotch Bishops, during the reign of Oswy ; in 
 
 ♦ Fuller, in loc. f A. D. 664 
 
 i 
 
 !t 
 
 'V 
 
 which, the Scotch held a difference of opinion on SECTION 
 those points, which marked their conformity with I. 
 the ancient British church, still existing, as we Chap. m. 
 have said, in the West of England. ^-^^v^v^ 
 
 This period must also be marked as the revival University of 
 of learning, and the founding of the University of^^^""^"^^"' 
 Cambridge. The arts and sciences were happily "^ a. d. 64o. 
 introduced by Theodore a learned presbyter of 
 Greece, who had been appointed Archbishop of 
 Canterbury by the Pope, 
 
 The era of the eighth century was the crisis of Kingdom of 
 the Saxon Heptarchy and the height of its advan- ^"^J*°^' 
 cement— in the commencement of the ninth, the ^Td s2s 
 kingdom was united by Egbert under one sove- 
 reign. The accounts of this period are very im- 
 perfect ; and are rendered still more unsatisfactory 
 by the death of the venerable historian Beda, 
 which happened in the beginning of the eighth 
 century. There was a stern grandeur and noble 
 magnificence about these times, of which, at this 
 moment, we can form no idea. The moral scenery 
 of the age was of a dark and sublime character.— 
 It wore the giant forms of our nature ; and the vir- 
 tues and vices of the human mind were deeply 
 marked and strongly contrasted. 
 
 But we search in vain for the true spirit of the Christianity 
 gospel of Christ— that spirit, no doubt, since its ^'"^''"^ '*'^^" 
 first promulgation amongst the Saxons, had existed, °''^'"'* 
 and influenced vast numbers ; but it was now 
 almost extinct. Indeed the nature of its second 
 
32 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION establishment had this tendency ; it involved the 
 I- piinciple of decay. It began in a system of pomp 
 \^^Jr^^^^^\i^ and shew ; and these^ throughout its progress, 
 generated their unhallowed forms, on the simple 
 principles of the gospel. The Missionaries under 
 Austin, had the appearance of meek and humble 
 men ; but, in the discharge of their religious func- 
 tions, they wore all that haughtiness and assump- 
 tion of sole delegation, which has ever marked 
 the church of Eome. Their pretensions were 
 lofty, their demands exorbitant and their perseve- 
 rance unyielding. Success attended their exertions. 
 They brought the truth, but not the unadulterated 
 truth. The gold was alloyed with dross. The 
 wine, mixed with water. The effects were such as 
 might be expected from an imperfect exhibition 
 of the gospel, deeply tainted with the succeeding 
 corruptions of the Romish Church. 
 The Romish The church at the period of which I am now 
 ^reaf ^"ros er ^pcakiug, was cudowcd and enriched beyond all 
 ity. example. Churches and monasteries covered the 
 
 land. Religion had become encumbered with ob- 
 servances. — Its ground-work was lost. Every thing 
 was external. It was a body without a soul. To 
 build a church or a monastery was to save the 
 Founder. From this time a rapid declension is 
 observed. And we shall find that the very 
 prosperity of their religion, gradually worked 
 the overthrow of the nation itself. Monks and 
 Nuns, as a necessary consequence, became the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 33 
 
 d 
 
 ii 
 
 most prevalent class of society. The greatest SECTION 
 honour, and the most acceptable service of Kings 
 and Queens, was to retire into the shades, and 
 submit to the discipline of the monastery. We 
 may in some measure, judge of the extent to which 
 this was carried, from the circumstance, that du- 
 ring the period of the Saxon reign, thirty two 
 crowned heads retired into these desecrated asy- 
 lums : but these kingly monks left nothing behind 
 them of that world which they professed to abandon, 
 except the name. It was a dreadful system. It 
 might not, it did not appear such, to the actors 
 in the scene. It was no doubt suited to the tem- 
 per of the times.— But to us, who can calmly trace 
 all these events and their remote consequences, 
 the evils of the system appear prodigious. The 
 monastic houses became the abodes of rioting 
 and debauchery; and whilst the outward form 
 of religion was sustained, the most degrading 
 appetites of our nature were indulged and fostered. 
 Religion was made the sanction of the most detes- 
 table abominations ; and the spell of its accumu- 
 lated services, dissolved, as if by magic, the bul- 
 warks of CONSCIENCE. To such an extent of evil 
 was the whole religious system of England carried 
 —that tidings of its corruption at length reached 
 the ears of the Roman Pontiff, who addressed a 
 letter to England, for the purpose of staying the 
 torrent of monastic depravity. — But in vain. It 
 was now a mountain cataract ; and every barrier 
 
X 
 
 X 
 
 34 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The Danes 
 raised up to 
 punish their 
 impiety. 
 
 SECTION which ol)striicted its progress, only tended to in- 
 ^ * ^^ crease its violence. It rolled its deadly waters 
 
 Chap. Ill, •' 
 
 over the whole country, and inundated the land. 
 
 To stay the course of this fatal corruption w^as 
 now beyond the reach of mortal power ; and the 
 patient and long-suffering vengeance of heaven was 
 beginning to awake. The Danish hordes appeared 
 on the coasts of the degenerate island, and ready 
 with a merciless hand to execute the design of 
 their mission The rapacity of the Danes was ex- 
 cited by the well known riches of the Monasteries ; 
 and against these their chief attack was directed. 
 This was as might be expected. — The source of 
 their depravity, was the ground of their overthrow, 
 and their very prosperity became their ruin. The 
 destruction of this class of religionists, appears to 
 have been tremendous. Thousands and tens of 
 thousands of them fell a sacrifice to the devas- 
 tations and fury of the Danes. The alarm of the 
 whole nation was excessive and beyond example ; 
 and we are told by the historians of that day, that 
 all orders of the state felt, that the inroads of 
 the Pagans was a divine chastisement for their 
 sins ; and we shall here have an opportunity of 
 forming an estimate of the state of their religion. 
 
 A synod was held, composed of the King 
 and the chief Nobility, to consult on the best 
 means of averting the judgements of God. — 
 After deliberation, as the likehest method that 
 could be devised, it was determined, that vast ad- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 35 
 
 t f 
 
 ditions should be made to the revenues and privi- SECTION 
 leges of the Church. Infatuate blindness !— The ^• 
 very evil which had brought them to the brink of ^"'''■"^' 
 destruction, is to be armed with additional power ! 
 Was this the best expedient of their Christianity ? 
 It was the abjection of the most valuable and es- 
 sential principles of that revelation, and serves to 
 shew, how long and inveterate prejudices bhnd the 
 understanding. Why did they not think of re- 
 penting of their crimes ; forsaking their sins, and 
 supplicating for pardon, through the medium of 
 the Christian atonement ? Had they been flimi- 
 liar with its doctrines, this is the course they would 
 have pursued.— But they knew them not. The 
 doctrines themselves were in existence ; but they 
 were so encumbered, so overgrown with vows and 
 alms and penances and absolutions and purgato- 
 ries, that they were lost to all practical benefit. 
 Nor is it possible to conceive, how they could be 
 discovered amidst such manifold inventions of men. 
 I would not deal in harsh expressions against those 
 who fastened the chains, or those upon whom they 
 were rivetted. The whole system was the work 
 of human nature. From my very soul I pity them ; 
 that when the means of safety and happiness was 
 in their hands they could not avail themselves of 
 it. As might have been foreseen, such an unrea- 
 sonable mode of procedure, for a propitiatory of- 
 fering, had no effect in staying the retributory 
 judgments of God. The deluge of massacre and 
 
X 
 
 \ 
 
 ll 
 
 36 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 M 
 
 PI 
 
 1 
 
 SECTION blood-shed advanced, till every thing that opposed 
 I- its progress was overwhelmed. The religious 
 
 ^^^i^^-^ houses were nearly extirpated, and the lives 
 that were sacrificed, were countless as the falling 
 leaves in Autumn. 
 
 Era of Alfred. The iuflictiou was long and lingering, and did 
 A. D. 872. j^Q^ reach its crisis till the reign of the renowned 
 Alfred. For a time, the whole country was given 
 up to the cruel rapacity of the invaders ; and they 
 exercised their domination with the most unheard 
 of barbarity. It is impossible to form an idea of 
 the deep distress into which the unhappy people 
 were plunged. Every circumstance of their case 
 had a tendency to increase their misery. They 
 were tyrannised over by a merciless enemy, who 
 so far from feeling any commiseration for them in 
 their sufferings, rejoiced in their calamities — made 
 them to serve their most licentious passions, and 
 slew them without ceremony whenever they resist- 
 ed their will. 
 
 It now appeared as if the extinction of our Saxon 
 forefathers was at hand ; and, as if the measure 
 which they had measured to the ancient Britons, 
 was about to be retributed upon them : but hap- 
 pily, when the condition of the kingdom was re- 
 duced to the utmost extremity and its very exist- 
 ence trembled in the balance, it pleased the Al- 
 mighty disposer of events, by a sudden and un- 
 foreseen change of affairs to afford them a longer 
 day ; and thus to discover, that his hand was in 
 
 I 
 
 
 ^. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 37 
 
 the chastisement. A second Agricola was raised SECTION 
 up for the regeneration of the fallen land, in the 1- 
 
 Chap III. 
 
 person of one of the most extraordinary men that 
 ever lived. — A person endowed by heaven with 
 astonishing powers of mind, and gifted with al- 
 most miraculous wisdom. His vigour of mind was 
 unwearied — ^his moral power pre-eminent, and his 
 devotional spirit unprecedented. When all seemed 
 to be lost and the contest was given up in despair : 
 when the Danes were triumphing over their con- 
 quest, and rioting amidst the desolations they had 
 made — it was at that juncture, that Alfred the 
 first anointed King of England, retrieved his 
 country's honour. His arm nerved by an unseen 
 Power, and his counsels directed by a supernatural 
 wisdom, brought back the triumph to his native 
 land. Saxon England once more, came out from 
 the clouds and darkness that surrounded her ; and 
 promised again tobecome a great and mighty nation. 
 
 Nothing can be more convincing than the evi- Thedevasta- 
 dence of the Divine interference, in this sudden 
 
 and beneficial change of the affairs of the kingdom. 
 Every thing was lost ; and there was no human 
 probability of a political renovation. The circum- 
 stances of the juncture, on the one hand— the cha- 
 racter of the foe — the extent of the devastations : 
 and on the other hand, the completeness of the 
 restoration, and the character of the man raised 
 up to be the restorer— all, all testify the hand of 
 a SUPERIOR POWER. At this very day we can 
 
 ted Land res- 
 cued by Alfred. 
 
 ^ 
 
38 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 Ill 
 
 ill 
 
 II, 
 
 SECTION retrace the laws and institutions of Alfred. His 
 I. influence had been so great, that we may safely 
 concede to him the character of a divinely-gifted 
 man. He established amongst us whatever was 
 w^orthy of transmission, among the Saxon antiqui- 
 ties ; and laid the foundation of the institutions of 
 a country, destined to fill an ample sphere in the 
 after economy of Providence. If ever a state or a 
 man deserved the name of exemplar, that man 
 was Alfred— that state is England. During the 
 period in which the Danes triumphed over Eng- 
 land, almost all traces of learning were lost. — Al- 
 fred was its restorer, and he himself was the 
 brightest example of a student. From this time, 
 the country took a rapid rise ; and although still 
 troubled by the Danes, yet their attempts caused 
 but a healthy excitement throughout the Land. 
 Era of Edgar In the succcediug reigns, England rose to an 
 A. D. 95. unexampled height of prosperity and glory ; and 
 urandXT in the days of Edgar, Anno Domini 959, was 
 laid the foundation of our maritime superiority. — 
 The accounts of our naval power at this period are 
 almost incredible. Its establishment at first, was 
 intended by Egbert, to form a defence against the 
 future incursions of the Danes ; but by Providence 
 (as we can now see) to establish a nation of mari- 
 time vigour to promote His purposes on the deep. — 
 So remote is the foundation of our naval glory ! 
 — But our Saxon line of progeniture had well nigh 
 completed its course ; and notwithstanding, the 
 
 1> 
 
 ill 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 39 
 
 splendid reigns of Athelstan and Edgar, a morbid SECTION 
 disease was preying upon the vitals of the country, I- 
 
 ^ •' ^ ^ , Chap. Hi. 
 
 and hastening its dissolution, ^^x^v^x^ 
 
 It is melancholy to consider, that its great fore- traces of 
 
 '' . , decline. 
 
 running cause, must again be shewn to rest with 
 the Ecclesiastics. It might almost seem as if one 
 laid the blame upon them, out of despite and ma- 
 lice : but it is not so.— These things are their 
 own showing ; for they were the Chroniclers of the 
 time. They had long since recovered from the ra- 
 vages of the Danes ; and risen to still greater 
 heights of opulence and splendor. Their lust and 
 pride, their arts and avarice devoured the good of 
 the land ; and as we shall soon sec brought it 
 again to desolation. 
 
 It was in the reign of Edwy, Anno Domini 965, 
 to which we must again revert, that a deed was 
 wrought, which was made by the Moral Governor 
 of the world, in a very striking manner, to work 
 its own retribution. Whatever was the fault of 
 the king in his attachment to Elgiva— there was 
 no person in the kingdom, but Archbishop Dun- 
 stan, who had the presumption and daring to 
 enter into the king s chamber, and by the force 
 of his single arm, sustained by the power of the 
 Church's anathema, drag the King like a crimi- 
 nal, into the festive hall. Such an act could 
 only be excusable, on the ground of great christian 
 faithfulness, and disinterested patriotism : but even 
 this, could have justified nothing beyond honest 
 
II 
 
 40 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 H 
 
 SECTION and humble admonitions on the part of the min- 
 !• ister of peace. But it will be answered, that such 
 a mildness of manner, was not to be expected in 
 the temper of the times. Of that I am well aware. 
 But why was it not *? The Christian principles 
 of courteousness and humility, were the same at 
 every period of its benign course ; and if these 
 were not exercised, it only discovers that its true 
 influence was unknown. But not to use harsh ex- 
 pressions, or indulge in unnecessary vituperation, it 
 is abundantly evident from this, in conjunction with 
 his other acts, that Dunstan was unacquainted 
 with the true spirit of that holy religion, — elated 
 with pride and inveterately possessed with an over- 
 weening idea of his prelatical dignity. 
 
 This moral wrong committed by Dunstan, was 
 followed, as is usually the case in human affairs, 
 by another in the King. Instigated by a sense of 
 his own wounded honour, and that of the other 
 individuals whose privacy had been so openly vio- 
 lated ; he conceived a rooted aversion to the whole 
 family of the monks, of whom Saint Dunstan was 
 chief ; and commenced a persecution against them, 
 which ended in their expulsion from many of their 
 establishments, into which the secular clergy were 
 immediately introduced : altercations of the most 
 violent nature between the two parties succeeded, 
 in which Dunstan took a leading part in favour of 
 his own order. He was banished ; but was recal- 
 led in the succeediug reign, by Edgar ; whose 
 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 41 
 
 gorgeous reign was but the departing glory of the SECTION 
 Saxons. From him the crown descended to less 1. 
 nobler brows, and the sceptre to weaker hands. v^Jr^v^^^ 
 I should not have mentioned these facts, but for 
 the purpose of introducing another, upon which 
 turns, in a great measure, the overthrow of that 
 line of monarchy. 
 
 On his return, Dunstan laboured for the eleva- 
 tion of his order ; and, after many alleged miracles 
 in his favour (amongst which was the voice from 
 the Crucifix) in the reign of Edward the younger 
 he gained his every wish, and the land was again 
 prostrate at the feet of superstition : but a dread- 
 ful tempest was gathering over the fated isle ; and 
 the Almighty avenger again sent his scourge in 
 the persons of the relentless Danes. 
 
 Pusillanimity* had made its way to the throne successful 
 l)y murder. Superstition held in chains, the un- invasion of th< 
 
 Danes. 
 
 derstanding and consciences of men. Pride and a. d. 979. 
 avarice, usurped the place of humility and charity. 
 Ignorance, and degradation, and cruelty, and 
 murder, in hideous train, stalked through the 
 land ; and the whole country sinking into a moral 
 desolation, offered a fatal opportunity to the in- 
 roads of their ancient oppressors. — They came: 
 but the dwindled spirit of the age rose not to the 
 occasion. The w^eapon they used w^as gold, and 
 the Danes were bribed to retire. This cowardly 
 
 * Etholrcd II. who succeeded to the throne on the murder 
 of his half brother, Edward the younger. 
 
1! 
 
 ii 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 42 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION art was used, again and again, till it became inef- 
 I- iicient ; and then, treachery tried her skill. — The 
 result of her counsels was a GENERAL massacre 
 
 OF THE INCORPORATED DANES.* AlaS ! what 
 
 could such a degenerated nation expect ? From 
 this time, the affairs of the nation were most dis- 
 astrous. — Sweyn, king of Denmark, determined 
 upon revenge, and a furious revenge he took. — 
 Famine followed his track. Even the sea broke its 
 boundaries and overwhelmed multitudes of the 
 people, whose miseries every hour increased ; and 
 the land was completely subjugated under the 
 hand of Sweyn. On his death, an ineffectual strug- 
 gle was made under Edmund, a brave and valiant 
 Prince, for the recovery of their liberties ; the 
 struggle was ineffectual because when every order 
 of the state, was ready to meet the emergency, 
 the overgrown and nourished Monastics refused 
 their quota of assistance ; and such was the vast 
 power and the w^ealth they had accumulated, that 
 their refusal was a decisive blow. Their Country 
 w^as lost. The sinews of resistance were unequal 
 to the occasion, and after a brave and varied 
 struggle, a foreign King, Canute the Son of Sweyn, 
 was acknowledged by the fallen land. " Verily, 
 there is a GOD that judgeth the earth." 
 
 * Anno Domini, 1002. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SOVEREIGNTY OF THE DANES — RESTORATION OF THE 
 SAXON LINE — THE NORMAN LINE IN WILLIAM THE 
 CONQUEROR WILLIAM II. HENRY I. STEPHEN. 
 
 The reign of Canute brings us to an epoch in SECTION 
 English History : but this era of Danish superi- I. 
 ority does not appear to be marked with any stri- ^^^^X^^^^^ 
 king or important results. Canute, himself, was The Danish 
 a man of splendid abilities ; and by the activity short duration. 
 of his body and mind, gave a vast impulse to the a. d. ion. 
 energies of the nation ; and gathered up the 
 strength of the country, which had run to w^aste 
 under the last of the Saxon kings. He repressed 
 and coerced, in some measure, the looseness of 
 the age ; and endeavoured, by every means in his 
 power, to bring back a moral tone to the minds 
 of his people. But notwithstanding all his efforts, 
 bloodshed and rapine and immorality, still con- 
 tinued to harrass the fainting land ; and under 
 
II 
 
 « 
 
 44 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 !| 
 
 SECTION his two sons who succeeded him, things returned 
 I- to their former course, and an entire dissoluteness 
 
 Chap. IV. « -, j •! n 
 
 ^^^-v^/-^^ 01 manners and government prevailed. 
 
 On reviewing this period, w^e are somewhat 
 strongly brought to the conclusion, that the con- 
 test which had been carried on for two hundred 
 years, between the Danes and the English ; and 
 w^hich had been attended with so much misery 
 and bloodshed, was intended by all-ruling heaven 
 as a chastisement, on an immoral and licentious 
 people. We find no striking or beneficial change, 
 introduced by the Danes, which could have any 
 influence on the future destinies of the nation : 
 but we do perceive, that no sooner is the contest 
 concluded and the contending parties united in 
 one body, than the instruments are laid aside and 
 their dominion broken. And further^ the Danes 
 were more barbarous than the English ; and even 
 more dissolute and licentious in their morals. — 
 Their amalgamation therefore with the body of 
 the people, if moral perfection be essential to the 
 Divine character, and the measure of his acts, 
 could only tend to increase the evil, for which 
 they had been so long under the chastening rod 
 of the Supreme Governor. 
 
 The Danish reiern therefore, w^as short, and a 
 
 Restoration ^ 
 
 of the Saxon fsw ycars, uot morc than twenty-six, saw^ a rever- 
 sion in favour of the ancient Saxon line, in the 
 person of Edward* the Confessor. We shall find 
 
 * Son of Ethelred the grandson of Edgar. 
 
 line. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 45 
 
 this to be a remarkable event, in every respect. SECTION 
 Edward was a prince of consummate ability ; and I- 
 laid his plans with such prudence and wisdom, ^"*''' '^' 
 that they gradually and silently worked the most 
 salutary changes. His reign was a season of 
 beneficial repose and internal organization, after 
 the toils and disorders of centuries ; and was pre- 
 paring material, on a grand scale, for future oper- 
 ations. Edward was educated in that school,* 
 from whence the English nation was afterward to 
 be regenerated ; and every thing in his reign, 
 tended to facilitate its advance. — He was the fore- 
 runner of. that regeneration ; and every act he did, 
 serves to point out his designation. He em- 
 ployed himself, with unremitting diligence, in 
 reviewing all the ancient institutions and laws ; 
 and with indescribable patience, gave a form and 
 character to all that was worth preserving from 
 our Saxon forefathers. In him, as it were, their 
 departed spirits were embodied, and himself the 
 last of their race, he prepared with all solemnity, 
 to collect and hand down to posterity, the memo- 
 rial of their departed greatness. His position at 
 this time, was truly singular ; and he cannot but 
 be considered as specially raised up, to be the 
 connecting link between the periods of our ancient 
 and modern history. He stands prominently for- 
 ward as a commanding figure in the interval ; and 
 as the solemn apotheosis of his Saxon ancestry. 
 
 * In the Court of Normandy. 
 
queror. 
 
 I il 
 
 Ml 
 
 46 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION During this precursory interval, the Author of 
 I* Society, was, by a long train of circumstances, 
 
 0* HAT* 1 V 
 
 ^^^-^-^ laying the foundation of a change of system, which 
 was to give a lasting stamp to the character of the 
 English Nation, and an impulse, which should 
 raise it to an EXEMPLAR STATE amongst the 
 nations of the world. 
 Rise and cha- The instrument that was destined to conduct 
 
 racter of Wil- , . . , . 
 
 liara the con- ^^^^ revolutiOH, was rccciving his preparation 
 amongst a people, and amidst scenes wonder- 
 fully calculated to promote his fitness for the task. 
 This individual was no other than William, Duke 
 of Normandy ; left an orphan at the early age of 
 nine years ; and in the government of a people, 
 the most brave and best instituted, but from par- 
 ticular circumstances, ever living amidst storms 
 and contentions. For thirty-four years he held 
 the reins of government in his own patrimony, 
 with a firm hand ; and supported his authority in 
 the most successful manner, against the encroach- 
 ments of his haughty nobles, on the one side, and 
 the unceasing efforts of neighbouring states, on 
 the other. 
 
 He was of a high and elevated understanding, 
 with a mind well formed and passions well regu- 
 lated. — He was patient of toil and fatigue. — Pru- 
 dent in council. — Brave in the field. — Generous, 
 persevering, and unbending. Whilst he pursued 
 his enemies with the most unrelenting vigour, he 
 never turned a deaf ear to the supplications of an 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 47 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 adversary. He collected in himself all the mighty SECTION 
 passions of man, I mean those which are most I. 
 nearly allied to his spiritual part — pride, ambi- ^"*^* ^^" 
 tion, daring, and revenge. In the pursuit of 
 these his mind was entirely absorbed, and he was 
 in a great measure a stranger to the more brutish 
 appetites. With these passions, in a singular man- 
 ner he united the humane virtues of prudence, 
 generosity, and forgiveness of injuries ; and all 
 were further chastised, by a strict attention to the 
 duties of religion, and apparently, with a high 
 regard for the dictates of the Supreme being. 
 
 This was the man destined in Providence to hold 
 the English sceptre ; and to lay the foundation 
 of its greatness. His accession to this eminence 
 of power, is one of those striking events in the 
 history of things which carries its own testimony 
 along with it. Who, at the accession of Canute, 
 to whom there were three Sons, could have pre- 
 sumed upon the probability of such an event ^ 
 Who, at the accession even of Edward, when the 
 duke of Normandy was only a few years old, could 
 have suggested the thought '^ It is true that, 
 Edward favoured Norman customs and institu- 
 tions ; but why, should he therefore favor, and be 
 the means eventually of placing the crown on the 
 head of William duke of Normandy '^ In fact 
 he did not contemplate it. It did not enter into 
 his serious thoughts, till the death of Edward, 
 
1 
 
 48 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the son of Edmund Ironside,* upon whom it was 
 1- his intention to devolve the Crown. And, when 
 this person died there was his son, Edgar Athe- 
 ling remaining : and why was he not chosen ^ — 
 He was of the ancient line ; and the legal heir to 
 the throne : and rule by inheritance was the great 
 law of the succession. It is alleged by historians 
 that he w^as considered by Edward, incapable of 
 conducting the great affairs of government. He 
 was therefore rejected. — And there is every rea- 
 son, from the well known character of Edward, 
 to believe that this decision was arrived at, in 
 strict accordance with the wisest dictates of reason, 
 and from an inflexible regard to justice in the dis- 
 posal of the Crown.-|- But there was still another 
 person of English extraction, of vast influence 
 and of great qualities both of body and mind. — 
 This was Harold, son of the once all-powerful 
 Godwin, and, what might have turned the bal- 
 ance in his favour, he was in the highest favour 
 with the whole nation ; and with the consent of 
 that nation he aspired to the throne. — And why 
 was he rejected ? If in the former instance, we 
 
 * Third son of Ethelred. 
 
 f Edward was living in Hungary at the accession of 
 Edward the Confessor and was recalled by him, but died soon 
 after his return to England. The necessity of the times jus- 
 tified the King and the nation in afterwards rejecting his Son 
 Edgar Atheling. This is only an instance of the power which 
 has always been vested in the King and Parliament, on justi- 
 fiable grounds, to alter the descent of the crown. 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 49 
 
 Chap IV. 
 
 give Edward credit for sincerity, we must on this SECTION 
 occasion, blame him for giving way to a retail- I. 
 ating spirit. Edward could not deny the fitness 
 of Harold, but he entertained an unconquerable 
 dislike to the son, from the memory of his father's 
 ambitious acts. This was the sole turning point 
 in Harold's rejection ; and thus we see, that 
 against every appearance of propriety, the Duke 
 of Normandy was preferred. But it was a happy 
 decision for England. Harold was not the proper 
 man. — He would have been too much to the mind 
 of the English — too much of their own stamp. — 
 He would have indulged and flattered the pre- 
 vailing vices of the times. He would have gone 
 with the stream ; and infused no moral vigour 
 into the system. The church unchecked, would 
 have continued to pursue its arbitrary and licen- 
 tious course — the nobles flattered, would have 
 indulged their rapacity and cruelty ; and the com-, 
 mon people unrestrained, would have retained their 
 ignorance and licentiousness. — So that as far as 
 we can perceive, things would have proceeded in 
 the same loose and unsatisfactory manner, which 
 they had done, gradually verging to an entire de- 
 cay. But it seemed good to the All-beneficent 
 disposer of human events, to overrule every obs- 
 tacle ; and through his instrument William of 
 Normandy, to expurgate the evils of the land ; and 
 to resuscitate its dying powers. — Not only did Ed- 
 ward decide in favour of William ; but singularly 
 
 E 
 

 50 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 d 
 
 SECTION enough, Harold himself, on a voyage to the 
 1. Continent, was driven, devious of his intended 
 
 Chap. IV. ^^^^g^^ ^ud became an inmate, very much against 
 his will, of the court of William. William ac- 
 quainted him with the will of Edward in his favor ; 
 and obliged Harold solemnly to swear, that he 
 would ])y every means in his power, expedite his 
 accession to the English throne. 
 
 His oath, however, as we know, was after- 
 wards disregarded ; and he made every prepara- 
 tion for securing that throne to himself. And on 
 the death of Edward he succeeded to it with the 
 concurrence of the people.— But the breast of 
 William was undaunted. The way to the throne 
 had been opened to him ; and although another 
 occui)ied it, he considered it his right, and deter- 
 mined to claim it. All the vigour of his soul was 
 put into the execution of his design ; and he set 
 out from Normandy, filled with the enthusiasm 
 of his object, and with the fullest reliance, as he 
 avowed, on the DIVINE ASSISTANCE. He 
 viewed himself under the immediate protection of 
 
 Heaven. -Yet it was no fanatic enthusiasm. — It 
 
 was what all great souls under similar circum- 
 stances had experienced. There was no rashness 
 connected with this impression— His preparations 
 were on the most extensive scale ; and nothing 
 was wanting that wisdom and prudence could 
 suggest to secure success. Harold his competitor 
 was equally brave, and greatly superior in num- 
 
 it t 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 51 
 
 i 
 
 ■ I 
 
 ii 
 
 I 
 
 ■V 
 
 III 
 
 bers ; but his men were more careless and undis- SECTION 
 ciplined ; they had moreover been thrown off I. 
 their guard, by a recent victory which they had v^^l^^)^-!^ 
 obtained over the Swedes under Sweyn, who had 
 made a diversion in favour of William on the 
 Eastern Coast. 
 
 Never was an earthly crown more bravely con- 
 tested. From sun-rise to sun-set, everything that 
 valour and conduct could do, Harold accomplished. 
 More than once, the scales of victory seemed to 
 declare for him, but were as often turned ; till, 
 at length, while he was bravely leading on his 
 men, an arrow penetrated his brain ; and life and 
 hope expired together. One is apt to regret that 
 an Englishman so brave, endued with so many 
 virtues, and so beloved by his subjects, should be 
 overthrown by a foreign hand, and his country 
 once more subjugated to a foreign sway. — But the 
 true love of one's country, and the manifest inter- 
 position of the ever watchful and benevolent power 
 of Heaven still every murmur, overcome every 
 regret, and lead us to rejoice in the happy ac- 
 complishment of those benign purposes, which 
 against a nation's will, were pregnant with 
 blessings. 
 
 Never did a loftier mind enter on a more diffi- wiiiiam the 
 cult task than William I. in attempting the re- Conqueror re- 
 formation of England. The laws were prostrate a. d. io66. 
 under the feet of crime. Religion was defaced by 
 the pride, and rapacity, and flagitiousness of its 
 
'I I 
 
 
 
 52 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION professors. Learning expired amidst the feuds 
 !• and contentions of the powerful, and the vassalage 
 
 Chap. IV. ^^ ^j^^ ^Qov. Vico triumphed, and virtue lan- 
 guished. Under such appalling circumstances, 
 who would not have hesitated to enter upon the 
 work of reformation '? Most men would have 
 thought it a hazardous, if not an impossible 
 task. But William undertook it as a matter of 
 duty, as the very cause for which he had been 
 sent ; and every thing soon began to feel the 
 power with which his arm was nerved. — All ranks 
 in the state felt its restraining influence. Himself 
 a man of moral habits, he was enabled, without 
 hypocrisy, to admonish the mightiest ; and by 
 strict and unrelenting vigour in the execution of 
 the laws, he punished and restrained the corrupted 
 body of the people. He was eminently the min- 
 ister OF GOD, executing vengeance on the law- 
 less and disobedient. — But long accustomed to 
 rebel, it was not probable, that they would quietly 
 submit to such rigorous measures as this great 
 moral reformer thought necessary to impose. — 
 The nobles conspired, and were subdued and par- 
 doned, again and again. Ever blind to their true 
 interest ; and preferring a lawless independence 
 to the good and prosperity of their country, they 
 broke down every restraint of oath and allegiance, 
 and infatuated to their ruin, endeavoured to rid 
 themselves of one, whom they regarded as a ty- 
 rannical MASTER. — But in vain. — In spite of the 
 
 I 
 
 
 II 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 53 
 
 greatest moderation on the part of the conqueror, SECTION 
 in spite of the greatest readiness on his side to I. 
 conciliate and serve them ; by their continued ^"^^' ^^' 
 folly and perverseness, they brought on them- 
 selves " swift destruction. " After many ineffec- 
 tual struggles, the ranks of the English nobles 
 were so thinned, that scarcely a distinguished 
 family of the ancient order remained. One can- 
 not but lament such an effusion of human blood ; 
 but when we recollect that they were their own 
 destroyers — ^proud, turbulent, vicious, and too 
 stubborn to be reformed, we cannot but perceive 
 that their destruction was ultimately for the bene- 
 fit of their country. 
 
 The celebrated curfew bell, which has been 
 stigmatized by some writers, as the record of our 
 servitude, is, in truth, the memorial of our res- 
 toration. The necessity for such a measure 
 must convey to the mind that allows itself to 
 think, the fact of a nation on the brink of a moral 
 dissolution. What a disorderly, turbulent and 
 vexatious population must that have been, which 
 could not be trusted out of their houses, after that 
 early hour, nor even in their houses, with light 
 sufficient to do mischief! Indeed the historic 
 page confirms it.— But to be brief .-—William con- 
 quered every obstacle. His persevering and un- 
 deviating policy triumphed. — For whilst at the 
 beginning of his reign, dishonesty and fraud ; 
 rapine and murder ; rapes and adulteries were so 
 
Hi 
 
 If 
 
 ^ % 
 
 H 
 
 54 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 SECTION common, as to have become the almost necessary 
 I. cementives of the social existence — in a few years 
 
 ^'"^''- ^^'* , such a change was effected, that it is said by a 
 writer of that day, that a virgin, with a purse of 
 gold, might have travelled from one end of the 
 land to the other without danger to her purse or 
 
 her person.* 
 
 The writers who have viewed William the Con- 
 queror as a tyrant, have certainly mistaken his 
 character. His achievements were not like the 
 acts of a tyrant. He considered England as his 
 own ; and would have nourished it like a father, 
 had the refractory children allowed him. After 
 all, he was the greatest benefactor Eng- 
 land EVER HAD ; and was signally advanced to 
 his high station to he the founder of its glories.— 
 Every part of the state gained his attention. The 
 church, which was as corrupt as the nobility, 
 did not escape his severest censures and punish- 
 ment. The ecclesiastics were ignorant, and 
 vicious, and presumptuous, and rapacious. A 
 general synod in which he openly complained of 
 their enormities, was followed, under its autho- 
 rity, by the ejection of many of the bishops ; a 
 course which he pursued till he had sufficiently 
 purified that order. It has been alleged, that he 
 acted in this manner from rapacious motives ; — for 
 the purpose of rewarding his friends with the va- 
 cant bishoprics. This never could have been his 
 
 * Ech. Hist. p. 63. 
 
 . 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 55 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 motive ; it would have been inconsistent with the SECTION 
 whole train of his conduct and policy : but how- ^• 
 ever this may be, we may be thankful he did so. 
 His Norman friends were better men. They 
 were men of superior morals, and learning, and 
 piety ; they adorned their high station and impro- 
 ved the state. The higher orders both in church 
 and state, were almost entirely renewed. The 
 old material was unfit to build up an EXEMPLAR 
 STATE ; and was therefore rejected by the great 
 Architect of Society. These were prodigious ef- 
 forts, and productive of incalculable benefit to the 
 rising State. 
 
 But the unwearied mind of William, rested not Reformation 
 in what he had already accomplished ; but aimed 
 at arranging and perfecting every institution neces- 
 sary for the well-being of the body politic. The 
 laws of the Saxons which had^been compiled by 
 Alfred, and translated by Edward into Latin, he 
 published in the Norman tongue. He greatly 
 improved, and in some measure new-modelled the 
 courts of law ; and introduced the Norman method * 
 of process and pleading. He established the great 
 courts at Westminster ; and armed them with ir- 
 resistible authority. He introduced the courts of 
 Equity, as the seats of experimental Judicature^ 
 and enacted laws for the regulation of agreements 
 and writings. In short, he gave to this Country 
 the most solid and splendid form of Judicature 
 in the world. It has out-lived every change of 
 
It 
 
 : 
 
 56 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I i 
 
 II 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 Ml 
 
 SECTION the nation ; and at this day, secures to us our 
 !• personal liberty, the fruits of our industry, and 
 the fullest enjoyment of our social rights. 
 
 This period has been called the conquest ; but 
 with much greater propriety it might be called 
 the RENOVATION of England. When I began to 
 read our history more extensively, with a view to 
 the present work, I was surprised to find the com- 
 mon error under which I had been labouring, with 
 respect to the character of William and the acts of 
 his Government. He certainly seemed to think 
 of nothing, but the improvement of the Country 
 he was called to govern. This was his earnest 
 aim, from the very first moment in which he 
 landed on its shores. It was then, that he com- 
 manded his soldiers to spare their own ; and what- 
 ever power and influence he derived from his ac- 
 cession to the throne, he used for the advantage 
 of the people. His native patrimony was forgotten 
 amidst his desires for the welfare of his adopted 
 country. — And though the English exclaimed 
 against his partiality for the Normans, in dispo- 
 sing of places of trust — yet it is evident that such 
 favours, were morally just and necessary, for the 
 great purpose of ameliorating the condition of the 
 country. With what indefatigable exertion he 
 pursued this end ! He did not seek his own ease 
 or personal gratification. His very magnificence 
 was to do honor to the land he loved. 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 t 
 
 of ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 57 
 
 When we consider the difficulties and almost SECTION 
 impossibilities, which seemed to oppose his ad- I- 
 vancement to the supreme authority of England — 
 when we contemplate the disposition with which 
 he entered upon that government — when we re- 
 flect upon the extraordinary and lasting re- 
 formations which he introduced ; and withal, the 
 striking manner in which every difficulty was re- 
 moved, and his triumphant progress to the com- 
 pletion of his labours, secured ; we are compelled 
 to acknowledge the hand of the Most High, who 
 ruleth in the aff'airs of men. Every thing in this 
 mighty Revolution, was conducted against the 
 will of the nation. The means of the Duke of 
 Normandy were limitted, and in no measure equal 
 in themselves, to resist its united will. The 
 Power of EVIL would not effect it, for every change 
 was for a beneficent end. It was the work of 
 God, and is " marvellous in our eyes. " William, 
 no doubt, was inspired with ambition and the love 
 of martial glory ; and in all he did, he indulged 
 his predominant passion. — But amidst all this, we 
 see a power pervading and controlling this natural 
 bias, and conducting it to beneficent results, 
 fraught with momentous consequences to the hu- 
 man race. 
 
 We need not dwell long, on the reigns of his 
 two sons. They were links in the same chain. — 
 William who succeeded him, inherited the un- 
 daunted courage of his father ; but was destitute 
 
 Successors of 
 William. 
 
58 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 illl 
 
 nil 
 
 it 
 
 Hi 
 
 SECTION of his virtues : and whilst he held the reins of 
 !• government and of the laws, with a firm hand, 
 his destitution of moral character, gave an unfor- 
 tunate impulse to the immorality of the people. — 
 So inevitably is the conduct of princes followed 
 by their subjects ; and so easily are the worst pas- 
 sions of our nature encouraged by the fostering 
 influence of bad example. 
 
 But William lived not to do much mischief. 
 His younger brother Henry, who succeeded him. 
 inherited all his father ; and in the manifestation 
 of the most splendid abilities, carried on the state 
 in the line marked out by his great progenitor. — 
 He held the sceptre with a vigorous hand, and 
 with wisdom and prudence, administered the laws, 
 restrained the pride of the barons, and kept in 
 check, the usurpations of the church. — We cannot 
 help observing, during this splendid period of our 
 monarchy, the events which led to the exclusion 
 of Robert, the eldest son of the Conqueror, from 
 the throne. His title was without dispute — ^his 
 ambition of a crown, quite as strong as either of 
 his brothers : and what is more, he had the ad- 
 vantage of popular favor on his side. But every 
 thing was overruled, beyond precedent, to exclude 
 him from the seat of authority : and with the 
 history of the times before us, there is no difficulty 
 in unravelling the cause or the Author. Robert's 
 bad management of his own patrimony — ^his ro- 
 mantic valour — ^his profuse habits, and his excessive 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 59 
 
 indolence in the affairs of Government, all testify SECTION 
 what a disastrous thing it would have been for I- 
 
 Chap IV 
 
 England, had he succeeded to the sovereign power. v^^^-v^O 
 
 Without attributing to the Conqueror the gifts 
 of prophecy ; when on his dying bed he declared 
 that the youngest son, w^ould far exceed his bre- 
 thren in power and dignity ; his penetrating mind 
 no doubt, perceived the pre-eminent genius, that 
 animated the bosom of Henry. Every thing point- 
 ed him out as the future King. There was in 
 him a peculiar adaptation of mind to the office ; 
 and his elevation to the dignity was facilitated by 
 means, throughout, that marked the will of Hea- 
 ven. Robert was laid aside as a " despised broken 
 vessel, " and Henry was raised up as the honored 
 instrument, in carrying on the designs of God, 
 with respect to the empire of Britain. 
 
 The next, is a calamitous page in our history, signal pun- 
 brought on by the perjuries and inordinate selfish- '^''^2' '^ '*'' 
 ness of the people. Stephen who now appears 
 upon the stage, was not much more of a usurper, 
 than the demised Henry. He was a younger 
 branch of the family. But Henry foreseeing the 
 evils of a contested succession; had during his 
 life, taken precautions for securing the peace of 
 the realm by demanding and obtaining from his 
 subjects the oaths of fealty in favour of his daugh- 
 ter Matilda. Let it also be remembered that she 
 was the heiress to his throne ; and as such, was 
 solemnly recognized by all the leading men, in 
 
 It 
 
 4 
 
60 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION church and state. The course of duty therefore 
 !• was clear. But she was a woman; and the 
 proud spirit of the Norman barons, pretended 
 that they could not submit to a woman's rule. 
 But they had other motives. The nobles and 
 clergy hoped to obtain from a prince, whose title 
 was not clear, some indulgence from the rigorous 
 restraints of his predecessors. Indeed they knew 
 they might stipulate for what they pleased, inas- 
 much as without them, Stephen stood no chance 
 of securing his claim. They were not modest ; 
 and Stephen was compliant ; and the innumerable 
 evils, which during a short period, this selfish, 
 and perjured, and vaccillating conduct brought 
 upon the nation, were unprecedented. The church 
 and nobility assumed an entire independence ; — 
 in consequence, a thousand petty kings started up 
 in Britain and turned their power against their 
 compliant Sovereign. 
 
 The King of Scotland was in arms in order to 
 oppose his claim. The Welsh were inflamed 
 against him. Normandy refused submission. 
 Matilda preferred her claim. Stephen who in- 
 herited all the vigour and valour of the family, 
 was resolute. He was like a wild boar sur- 
 rounded by the multitude of the hunters. Assail- 
 ed from all sides, he neither feared, nor gave up 
 the contest ; and after a variety of reverses and 
 successes in which a profusion of blood was spilt, 
 he held the crown to the last, and would fain 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 61 
 
 -^ 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 have secured it to his son. But his hopes were SECTION 
 vain ; the son of Matilda was at hand, with all *• 
 the impetuosity of his grandfather, determined to "^^' ' 
 assert his claim ; and, happily, as far as we can 
 discover, Eustace the son of Stephen is excluded. 
 Stephen himself appears to have inherited almost 
 every princely virtue; and might have made 
 England happy. But the just Ruler of affairs, 
 would not suffer the proud and selfish conduct of 
 the nation, to pass unchastised ; and they were 
 severely punished in the civil dissensions and 
 bloodshed of the reign. It was evident that the 
 contest was neither for the glory of Matilda, nor 
 Stephen. Matilda was unfit to govern, and Ste- 
 phen was only reserving the throne for the Son 
 of his rival ; and to which, an unseen hand was 
 steadily conducting him, amidst the just punish- 
 ments of the nation. 
 
OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 63 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 I 
 
 UNION OF THE SAXON AND NORMAN LINE IN HENRY 
 II. THE FIRST OF THE PLANTAGENETS — RICHARD I. 
 JOHN AND HENRY III. 
 
 SECTION 0^ opening the history of this reign, we are not 
 I. disappointed in the expectations which had been 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Henry II. 
 A. D. 1155. 
 
 formed respecting the character and abilities of 
 the great Prince who succeeded to the throne. 
 Some of our historians have observed, that the 
 English people had been so dispirited and broken 
 down, by their intestine troubles during the pre- 
 ceding reign, that they had neither power nor 
 courage to resist the pretensions of Henry. But 
 this was far from being the case. There was no 
 disposition to resist. He was expected and hailed 
 by the people as their future Sovereign ; and it 
 must not be overlooked, that he united in himself. 
 
 the Saxon and Norman lines of our regal ancestry.* SECTION 
 The country felt that he was their destined king, _ ^' 
 and as soon as he planted his foot on the English ^.x^v^x^ 
 shore, as if by magic, all its discordant elements 
 were hushed ; and order and justice resumed their 
 legitimate functions in the state. Such, indeed 
 was the effect, that many of the unquiet and vici- 
 ous amongst the citizens, when they found they 
 could no longer work their evil deeds with im- 
 punity, retired from the country, and sought a 
 more congenial clime. 
 
 But notwithstanding the transcendent abilities Henry impe- 
 
 _ TT • . flit • T*r»T ded in his mea- 
 
 of Henry one is not a little surprised, in tindmg so ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ 
 little accomplished by him in furthering the ad- ciiurch. 
 vance of England, in her great career. We shall 
 probably meet with the cause ; and I wish it were 
 any other than that, to which we have so often 
 before called the reader's attention. It is mani- 
 fest, that no prince ever set out with better inten- 
 tions, or more vigorous acts ; and it is reasonable to 
 suppose, that had he met with no check, he would 
 have conferred signal benefits on his country. 
 But unfortunately, he was grievously discouraged 
 
 * He was lineally descended from Edmund Ironside ; 
 whose son Edward, was in Hungary on the accession of 
 Edward the Confessor, and left beside Edgar Atheling, 
 who died without issue, a daughter Margaret, who after- 
 wards married Malcolm King of Scotland, by whom she had a 
 daughter Maude, who became Queen of England by her mar- 
 riage with Henry I. son of the Conqueror. Their daughter 
 Matilda or Maude was married to the Emperor of Germany — 
 Henry II. was their son. 
 
64 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION in the very outset by a power which had been 
 I- strengthening itself, during the confusion of the 
 two preceding reigns, and had now increased its 
 power to an enormous extent. One circumstance 
 will tend to discover, by what rapid strides the 
 Papal authority was at this period advancing 
 to the height of its aggrandisement. Henry had 
 taken up arms against Lewis king of France ; and 
 they were on the point of engaging in a bloody 
 contest ; when Pope Alexander offered himself as 
 umpire in the dispute. The offer was accepted 
 by the contending powers ; and on their reconci- 
 liation, these two mighty Potentates conducted 
 the mightier Pontiff to his abode ; walking on 
 each side of his horse, and performing the office 
 of yeomen of the stirrup. 
 
 The gradual and formidable rise of the Pontifi- 
 cal power, would be an interesting enquiry ; but 
 it is not within our present purpose, further than 
 as it affects the History of England. It was this 
 power, stretching its mighty arms over the w^est- 
 ern limits of Europe, that impeded the wishes, 
 and frustrated the designs of Henry the second 
 for the good of his Country. He strove like a wise 
 Ruler to regulate the civil affairs of his kingdom, 
 and above all things, to secure for all his subjects 
 the impartial administration of Justice ; but in 
 every attempt, he was opposed and baffled by this 
 all-dominant power. It would lead me too far 
 from my design, to enter into the detail of the 
 
 t 
 
 of ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 65 
 
 dispute between the King and the celebrated SECTION 
 Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. It must !• 
 however be alluded to. — It is related that after the 
 accession of Henry, and within a brief space of 
 time, not fewer than one hundred murders 
 had been committed by Ecclesiastics ; and when 
 it is remembered, that the trial of such delin- 
 quents and the award of their punishment, were 
 entirely in the hands of their own order, it is rea- 
 sonable to suppose that such crimes were perpe- 
 trated with almost perfect impunity. — And so the 
 fact was. The King, on the other hand, was 
 determined that all crimes whatever whether com- 
 mitted by Ecclesiastics or not, should be tried 
 in his courts and take the due course of law. 
 This was the subject in dispute. The church 
 resisted any alteration of this nature as an encroach- 
 ment on its rights. There were other articles, 
 which the King insisted upon in the Constitutions 
 of Clarendon,* all which were resisted by Becket, 
 to the death. 
 
 The circumstances of this long tragedy are well 
 known. — It is with the result that we have to do. 
 The struggle was intense with interest ; and in its 
 issue momentous. It was a struggle on the part 
 
 * The points in those ordinances were particularly these : 
 1. That none should appeal to the See of Rome, in any cause 
 whatever, without the King's consent. 2. That it should not 
 be lawful for any Archbishop or Bishop to attend the Pope 
 on his Summons, without the King's licence. 3. That all 
 criminal clerks, should be tried before secular Judges, &c. 
 
66 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION of Henry for political liberty ; nay, for political 
 I' existence. And we cannot but perceive^ when 
 
 \^^-\}^^ such great matters were at stake, how immense 
 that power must have been, against which one of 
 the wisest and most valiant of Monarchs contended 
 in vain — In vain : for, before the death of Bec- 
 ket, the King was wearied out with the strength 
 and pertinacity of the resistance ; and after his 
 death, although he attained in some degree, the 
 accomplishment of his wishes ; yet, in real autho- 
 rity he gained nothing. The humiliations imposed 
 upon him by the Pope, for being the cause of 
 Eecket's death, were excessive ; and to the whole, 
 Henry was obliged to submit. What can we then 
 conclude respecting this affair, but that the King 
 lost, and the church gained in power by the event '? 
 When we see the Sovereign content to endure the 
 most degrading penance — giving his back to the 
 unsparing lashes of the Monks, and walking bare- 
 foot to the consecrated tomb of Becket, what must 
 be our judgement on the issue of the contest *? — 
 The day was lost ; and under the mightiest Mon- 
 arch, the Papal power laid the deep foundation 
 of its despotism in our devoted country ; and 
 which in a subsequent and not very distant reign, 
 raised its mitred head, far above the fabric of the 
 State ! But this was the hour of the Romish 
 church. 
 Civil Wars ; It will bc quitc unnecessary for me to dwell on 
 
 their cause, the umiatural wars of this reign, excited by the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 67 
 
 King's own family, especially as I can trace no SECTION 
 great national events in connexion with them. — 
 They appear to me to have been a personal chas- 
 tisement on the monarch himself, for his conjugal 
 infidelity and licentious amours. If the rigliteous 
 Governor of the earth awards his punishments to 
 offending nations, let it not be vainly imagined, 
 that he overlooks the offences of individuals. If 
 we search for them, we shall find the one as well 
 as the other, pervading His universal Government. 
 Such transactions however must have had a bane- 
 ful influence on the nation ; and have been pro- 
 ductive of much moral mischief to the community. 
 Another thing which had a tendency to nourish 
 the shimbering elements of moral evil, was the 
 very frequent absence of the King from his domi- 
 nions : a circumstance which rendered his reign 
 short, though, nominally, long ; and prevented 
 much that might have been done for the advance of 
 the country. Yet we have to notice, that at the 
 beginning of his reign, he instituted a council 
 to assist in the affairs of government, in which 
 also there was the distinction of a more private or 
 Cabinet Council ; no doubt, the substratum of our 
 present e^vecutive arrangement. A grand move- 
 ment, when considered in all its bearings, on our 
 Constitutional Polity/. 
 
 He instituted also and appointed the circuits 
 for the periodical administration of justice nearly 
 as they now exist : and in his judicial proceedings, 
 
68 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 69 
 
 SECTION brought into exercise the trial by Jury. But if it 
 1- should still excite surprise^ that the State of Eng- 
 land made but slight advances, under such a mag- 
 nificent leader ; let it be remembered, that we are 
 now confining ourselves to a review of the history 
 of England ; and that if we were to extend our 
 remarks to other countries, we should doubtless 
 find that Henry II. as he was raised up under 
 particular circumstances, was destined to accom- 
 plish peculiar ends. We shall add a few words to 
 shew nearly the certainty of this fact. 
 
 In the commencement of his reign he reduced 
 Wales under his authority — cut down its woods — 
 opened its hitherto impassable ways, and made it 
 easily accessible from the western limit of England. 
 This, no doubt, was the commencement of a new 
 ERA for that Country. But he accomphshed a 
 still greater work in the subjugation of Ireland. 
 That Country was in a state somewhat resembling 
 England at the worst period of the Saxon Heptar- 
 chy. The Country was wild — the manners of 
 the inhabitants barbarous — their Kings many, 
 martial, and tyrannical. Henry subdued it — gave 
 it a vigorous organization — placed the people under 
 equal and impartial laws ; and made an opening 
 for all the improvements in arts and learning which 
 were known in England. In short he was the 
 Agricola of Ireland, and their true Saint Patrick. 
 In general he was a great man ; and a signal 
 instrument in the hand of the Supreme Governor, 
 
 If 
 
 ^ 
 
 ii 
 
 f 
 
 1 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 for coercing and restraining the bad, and encour- SECTION 
 aging the good. — But he was not a good man. — !• 
 He curbed the licentiousness of others ; but he 
 was licentious himself — he exercised a firm sway 
 over his subjects — ^but he was not the master of 
 his own passions. He was victorious over every 
 thing but himself ; and this self-degradation, tar- 
 nished all his glory. It is not our province to 
 enter into the detail of his vices ; suffice it to say, 
 that he was severely punished in the rebellion of 
 his two children, and felt the chastening hand of 
 the high and lofty One who had raised him up. 
 
 In his old age the King was utterly rejected and 
 cast off ; dying far from home under the most pain- 
 ful circumstances of grief and vexation. How ap- 
 posite is that declaration of Holy Writ — " Thus 
 saith JEHOVAH : Let not the wise man glory in 
 his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in 
 his might: let not the rich man glory in his 
 riches. But let him that glorieth, glory in this 
 — that he under standeth and knoweth ME." 
 
 The next period that opens is one of uncommon 
 brilliancy ; and full of the most splendid scenery ; ^^^^^^^^ to the 
 
 . . Throne. 
 
 — a kmd oi mterlude m the great historical a. d. iioo. 
 Drama. AVere we pursuing our enquiry into the 
 moral character of the Crusades, we should no 
 doubt find that Richard the Lion-hearted, who 
 performed such prodigies of valour in Palestine, 
 was eminently fitted for carrying into effect some 
 of the designs of the Almighty in that part of the 
 
 Richard I. 
 
70 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION world. In this romantic enterprise the King was 
 !• swallowed up. All his capacities of body and 
 mind, were expended upon it, and for his own 
 countiy he did nothing. So far from it, that his 
 prodigal expenditure, his rigorous exactions, his 
 unjust indulgences ; and his venal sales of office, 
 laid the foundation for innumerable evils. By his 
 long absence from home, and by placing the 
 whole authority of Government in the hands of 
 the dignified Clergy, he nourished and increased 
 that power, which had been so strongly resisted 
 by his father, to an intolerable extent : and by ex- 
 cessive indulgence to the common people, he 
 brought upon the nation, the most grievous trou- 
 bles. All order was relaxed ; and whilst murders 
 and robberies were of daily occurrence, London 
 itself was the scene of unheard-of disorders. It 
 was strangely overrun with banditti, v,ho robbed 
 and murdered the passengers in open day ! 
 
 I consider this one of the most disastrous reigns 
 that England had ever yet seen. AVhatever effect 
 the crusade accomplished elsewhere, its influence 
 was most deleterious at home. We know not the 
 worst of the state of things at that time, but it 
 may justly be inferred from what we do know, 
 that London must have been in a state of 
 almost universal disorder and exposed to the most 
 wanton pillage. What can we deduce otherwise 
 from the fact, that when one of the ringleaders — 
 a ruffian of most audacious character, was brought 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 71 
 
 ^. 
 
 i 
 
 the Jews. 
 
 before the chief Justiciary of the Realm, on the SECTION 
 most heinous charges — that public officer dared I- 
 not to follow the course of the law against the ^^^^^v^^^ 
 audacious offender because of the number and vio- 
 lence of his attendants ? But do we not in this Massacre of 
 behold a moral retribution on the inhabitants of 
 the Metropolis, for the daring outrage they had 
 committed in the beginning of this reign on the 
 unoffending people of the Jews ^ In the most 
 cruel and unrelenting manner, they began and 
 carried on, an undistinguished massacre against 
 that unhappy race ; and glutted themselves with 
 blood and plunder. In this disgraceful act, they 
 wilfully outraged and violated the voice of huma- 
 nity and the law of God : and they were them- 
 selves made to feel the direful effects of such 
 unrighteous violations. I close this page of history 
 and open another of vast import ; on the contents 
 of which we have been in the habit, generally, of 
 entertaining very prejudiced views. 
 
 There is no book that has had a greater ascen- Kin 
 
 >s 
 
 John 
 
 dancy in the work of education, than Goldsmith's succeeds his 
 
 . brother. 
 
 History of England. From that source, the wri- a. d. H9L 
 ter of these pages drew his earliest knowledge of 
 that subject — a knowledge, which he has since 
 found to be as erroneous as defective. It is time 
 that something equally brief, but more full and 
 accurate, should be put into the hands of the 
 rising generation. The record of John's reign 
 contained in that book, is truly hideous, and pre- 
 
72 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION sents us throughout, with the idea of a mean and 
 I- pusillanimous being, reduced by his own weakness 
 to the lowest grade of human kind. But nothing 
 can be further from the truth. John was as high 
 spirited, as brave, and as resolute, as the best of 
 his family. Not that I am intending to be the 
 panegyrist of King John. I have a nobler object 
 in view — to trace the progress of the social system 
 of England to its present state of eminence. — But 
 in doing this, the King becomes necessarily, a 
 very prominent personage ; and the instrument, 
 one way or other, of giving an impulse to its des- 
 tinies. We shall, therefore, endeavour to do him 
 Justice ; and it is of consequence in setting out, to 
 free our minds from prejudice ; and to consider 
 him neither as a coward nor a fool. 
 
 The doctrine of representation in regal inheri- 
 tance, was not, at this time, so thoroughly under- 
 stood as at present ; and was even less regarded 
 in England, than on the Continent. Arthur duke 
 ofBretagne, the Son of John's elder brother, was 
 on this, which is the true constitutional principle, 
 the true heir to the Crown ; and had he lived in 
 this age, would undoubtedly have succeeded to it. 
 But the people of England, at that day, seem 
 never to have thought about him ; and John was 
 always recognized as their future King.* How- 
 
 * In the time of his Father Henry II. it was a point undetermined whether 
 even in common inheritances the child of an elder brother should succeed 
 to the land, in right of representation, or the younger surviving brothei- in 
 right of proximity of blooa. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 73 
 
 
 ever the passing by of Arthur was a pretext for SECTION 
 the ambitious Philip of France ; and enabled him 1- 
 to distract the affairs of England by setting up the 
 rival claim of Arthur. Not that he was sincere 
 in attaching himself to the interest of Arthur : but 
 was intending by a deep-laid scheme of policy, at 
 the expense of both parties, to secure his own ag- 
 grandisement. We must not however follow him. 
 John, as was always the case when vigorously 
 supported by his subjects, was superior in the 
 contest ; and in the issue, Arthur was taken pris- 
 oner. He might have been happy had he been 
 less ambitious. His death soon followed upon his 
 captivity ; and John has been accused of his mur- 
 der. There is not sufficient moral rectitude mani- 
 fest in the practical conduct of the King to warrant 
 us in saying, that he could not commit such an 
 action ; and the evidence is by far too vague and 
 conflicting, to justify us in pronouncing him guilty 
 of it. The tribunal of the Eternal will pronounce 
 a just award. By the death of Arthur he was de- 
 livered from a rival to his crown, but it still sat 
 uneasy on his brow ; and he was made to suffer 
 as the unnatural opposer of his father, and the un- 
 grateful impugner of his brother the most bitter 
 and cruel griefs. 
 
 One circumstance which will tend to shew the 
 temper of the times, with respect to the Church, 
 deserves to be narrated and remembered, because 
 great things are about to be transacted, which are 
 
 i 
 
 
74 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION laid to the charge of the King s pusillanimity ; 
 I. whereas, in truth, they were the almost necessary 
 .^^^^^^-^ consequences of the existing state of things. 
 
 Power and In the midst of the splendid solemnities of a 
 splendour of treaty of alliance, between John and the King of 
 
 the Church. •' ^ 
 
 Scotland, it is related, that the King in order to 
 mingle religious things with temporal, resolved on 
 making an offering on the altar of the Cathedral 
 of Lincoln. From this he was dissuaded, on the 
 ground of certain superstitious opinions. But the 
 King disregarding these vain objections, undaunt- 
 edly entered the Cathedral ; and presented a golden 
 chalice on Saint John's altar : which thing we are 
 told, no King before him dared to do. Whilst 
 this was transacting, the arrival of the corpse of 
 the Bishop of Lincoln at the gates of the City, was 
 announced, and the regal train went forth to meet 
 it ; and to shew their respect and humility, the 
 two Kings and their allies, bore the coffin on their 
 shoulders, and by them it was delivered to the great 
 Peers, who conveyed it to the doors of the Cathe- 
 dral. Little did John know the bitter cup which 
 the head of that church was preparing for him ! 
 It was on the occasion of filling up the vacancy 
 occasioned by the death of this very prelate, 
 that the Pope began his opposition to the King, 
 and insisted on the exemption of the Church 
 from regal authority. Nor was this an empty 
 boast, as the King of England was soon to ex- 
 
 perience 
 
 f 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 70 
 
 The great object which is now before us, is the SECTION 
 MAGNA CHARTA. I sec nothing in the second war !• 
 with France, but a petty contention ; and can ^^'■\r\^ 
 find no great political event connected wdth it : EstaWish- 
 
 , 1 1 T "111 ment of Magna 
 
 except it may be, that the discontent raised by the charta. 
 necessary exactions for carrying it on, led in some 
 measure, to the great event of the reign. Neither 
 do I see much to hang upon the whole affair of 
 John's quarrel with the Pope, except indeed the 
 open and ostentatious display of that authority, 
 which was already in itself pre-eminently domi- 
 nant. The result discovered the presumption and 
 insolence, the '' cunning craft " and pride of that 
 poW'Cr — but did not discover the pusillanimity of 
 John. He resisted, as we shall see, the aggres- 
 sion as resolutely and forcibly as his father Henry 
 had done, and appeared to possess even a more 
 perseverwg moral courage : but he would have 
 been more than mortal, had he continued longer 
 to resist all the horrors of so long an interdict. — 
 Let us briefly review the facts of the case. The 
 Monks of Canterbury, without the King's consent, 
 had chosen a vain and ignorant person as Arch- 
 bishop, and sent him to Rome for consecration. 
 They are afterwards prevailed upon by the King, 
 to elect another, more to the royal mind. A con- 
 tention now arises between the rival candidates ; 
 and the matter is debated at great length, before 
 the Pope. After a tedious negociation, the deci- 
 sion of the Pope is to recognize neither ; and with- 
 
76 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 f; 
 
 SECTION out consulting the wishes of any party, he appoints 
 1. and consecrates one of his own Cardinals, and an 
 Chap. V. Englishman. This was Stephen Langton. 
 
 The appointment, though it came attended with 
 the most flattering letters and valuable presents, 
 was scornfully rejected by the King, as an in- 
 fringement on his dearest rights. The King 
 stormed and raged and expostulated, but in vain. 
 The Lion w^as too deeply entangled in the toils of 
 the Pontiff. His artful policy on this occasion, 
 lays open the deep abysses of human duplicity. — 
 But our object does not oblige us to follow them. 
 Suffice it to say — the Plot increases — the kingdom 
 is laid under an Interdict.* — The King is excom- 
 municated. — His subjects are absolved from their 
 allegiance. The King on the other hand, is 
 equally resolute. He fines, he confiscates, he re- 
 moves from under the protection of the Law — he 
 banishes the adherents of the Pope. Years of 
 complicated misery roll on ; and John is still re- 
 fractory. The Pope is reduced to his last resort ; 
 and calls upon Philip of France, with all his power, 
 to reduce his " refractory child " to obedience. — 
 All France and her allies are armed for the pur- 
 
 * This interdict was issued on the 22nd day of March, 1208, 
 upon which there was a cessation of all divine services, except 
 confession, baptism of infants, and administration of the Eu- 
 charist to dying persons ; so that the dead were carried out of 
 the Cities and Towns and without ceremony, like beasts, thrown 
 into pits or ditches. JEchard, Lib. II. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 77 
 
 il 
 
 pose. John was still undaunted ; and determined SECTION 
 to resist to the last, for the honor and interests of 1* 
 his kingdom. \^x"v^^^ 
 
 Whilst the two armies crow^ded the opposite Policy of the 
 shores, intent upon the approaching contest, the 
 Pope, weighing with the profoundest sagacity, the 
 dubious nature of all such enterprises ; and know- 
 ing, that the defeat of Philip would be fearfully 
 injurious to the power of the Church, determines, 
 if possible, to avoid the encounter ; and to bring 
 John to submission without it. Shall I repeat his 
 arts "? "^ Eloquar an sileam ? " John is reminded 
 of the ''paternaV solicitude of the Pope, and of 
 his own sacred dnty to the Church. He is directed 
 to consider the formidable array advancing against 
 him. He is led to contemplate the direful effects 
 of such a contest, even should he prove victorious. 
 He is reminded of the eternal horrors to 
 which he will be consigned, should he fall in the 
 conflict. And lastly, he is shewn the happy con- 
 sequences of submission ; and, that by a mere for- 
 mally giving up his kingdom, into the hands of 
 the Pope, he would be shielded by his power from 
 every evil. 
 
 A variety of circumstances conspired to enforce 
 the proposals, and the King in the midst of con- 
 flicting evils, chose that which he thought the 
 least. He solemnly delivered up his Crown and 
 Kingdom to the protection of the Pope ; and a sum 
 of money as part of the tributary payment was 
 
78 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION paid down, which the Pope's legate, to shew the 
 ^* supreme majesty of his master, trampled under 
 his leet. 
 
 But the potent Philip w^as equally imposed 
 upon. They were both alike the dupes of the 
 Pope, who only intended from the first, to make 
 an open shew of his power ; and when we consi- 
 der, that for the gratifying of this passion, he had 
 led Philip to incur vast expences in his military 
 preparations, we can scarcely avoid the conclusion, 
 that Philip was the greater dupe of the two. 
 King John indeed, made a solemn offering of his 
 Crown to the Pope — but it was empty shew. He 
 acquired nothing in real power. He gained, it is 
 true, his object in the pending quarrel ; but here- 
 in it is, that we shall be called upon to behold the 
 superintending Providence of the MOST HIGH. 
 It was not for the Pontiff's glory. England 
 
 ALONE WAS TO BE BENEFITTED ! The wliole 
 
 of the Pontiff's pride and policy was overruled, to 
 bind another link in the unbroken series of Eng- 
 land's greatness. It was the golden hinge on 
 which we shall see, the liberty and safety of 
 England is made to turn. But we must proceed. 
 Great had been, and still were the sufferings of the 
 nation ; and the general discontent was much 
 aggravated by the King's mode of administering 
 the Government ; and by his own personal con- 
 duct. He exercised his prerogative with rigour : 
 he indulged his licentious passions with freedom. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 79 
 
 l! 
 
 and without the sanction of law, he levied burden- SECTION 
 some taxes on the community. The fact is, that I- 
 ever since the times of the Roman conquest the v^x^v^'O 
 Goverament had been degenerating; and had 
 become too personcd and arbitrary: w^hilst the 
 true principles of the constitution were left to ex- 
 pire, amidst Wars and Crusades and domestic 
 dissensions. These evils may also be considered 
 as the natural result of the feudal Institutions. 
 But the time was arrived, when the true principles 
 of the Constitution were to be re-asserted ; and a 
 combination of adjuvant circumstances eminently 
 point out the hand that w^as guiding every move- 
 ment. Stephen Langton is to be the instrument 
 for conducting the matter to a successful issue. 
 
 In all probability, the King himself was igno- Estabiish- 
 rant of the true grounds of the constitution. As °'*'"^''^^*^^"* 
 
 . Charta. 
 
 he had received the sceptre he wielded it. He 
 was resolute and capable of sustaining it, as it 
 came into his hands. He was not a wise Prince ; 
 and was not, therefore, the man to think of giving 
 useful and valuable institutions to a country. He 
 was not the man to cement the social system by 
 wise usages, or to ameliorate the condition of his 
 people by judicious laws. But Stephen Langton 
 had a well informed understanding, and made 
 himself acquainted with the laws of Edward and 
 the charters of Henry I. He produced them to 
 the Barons, reminded them of their lost rights, 
 exhorted them to assert their liberties, and pro- 
 
80 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 81 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION mised them his utmost assistance in the contest. 
 !• The confederacy was formed — ^the Charters in due 
 time produced to the King ; and their demands 
 enforced by a shew of resistance. The King 
 seems to have been astonished at the existence of 
 such documents ; and at once refused to yield to 
 demands, which he considered so exorbitant. 
 However, a just sense of the magnitude and im- 
 portance of their cause, animated the Barons to a 
 steady and determined resistance. A train of 
 circumstances led the King to concede all their 
 demands, and Runnymede, the place where the 
 Commissioners assembled, is justly celebrated for 
 the recovery of the principles which lie deep in 
 the foundation of British glory. But unfortu- 
 nately for his own memory, John repented of his 
 act; and so "foolish and ignorant" was he, that 
 he believed the suggestions of the enemies of his 
 country, who whispered in his ear that he was 
 now no longer King. He appealed to the Pope, 
 who vigorously united with him in this unrighte- 
 ous quarrel : — ^because he had put himself so re- 
 cently and peculiarly, under his protection, — a 
 circumstance upon which we shall afterwards see, 
 in all probability, turned the salvation of the 
 Country. Archbishop Langton nobly sustained 
 the indignation of the Pope and encouraged the 
 wavering Barons. 
 
 The King like a roused lion pursued his Barons, 
 and reduced them to the borders of despair ; and 
 
 in their extremity they w^ere induced to take a step, SECTION 
 which might have proved fatal to the liberties of I. 
 their Country. They entered into a compact with ^"^''* ^• 
 the Dauphin of France : and invited him over to 
 their assistance — a contract, into which with the 
 most treacherous intentions, he eagerly entered. 
 But John, all this time, discovered the courage and 
 resolution of his family ; and would have proved 
 too powerful for them all, had it not pleased the 
 Arbiter of events, whilst eagerly engaged in the 
 pursuit of his enemies, to cut him off from the 
 land of the living. 
 
 The circumstances of his death were truly de- 
 plorable ; and his career ended amidst clouds and 
 thick darkness, affording a monitory warning to joos- 
 terity, that the evil conduct of Princes, as it is more 
 pernicious in its consequences, than that of others, 
 is always attended with more signal punishment. 
 
 Thus ended the acts of John ; but not the in- 
 fluence of those acts. — That still remains ; and to 
 this day, the provisions of Magna Charta are mat- 
 ter of gratulation to Englishmen. And who can 
 help admiring the manner in which that important 
 Charter was established^ The circumstances 
 which led to its accomplishment, were all beyond 
 the reach of human controul ; it is wonderful to 
 see, how the erring schemes of men were overruled, 
 for the most beneficial purposes. How little did 
 the Pope, in the elevation of Stephen Langton, 
 intend the resuscitation of England's best hopes ! 
 
m\\ 
 
 82 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 !lll 
 
 SECTION The Pope considered him a clever and fitting ins- 
 I. trument, for furthering his own ambitious views 
 
 Chap. V. ^^ England. How little did the King in opposing 
 the election of Langton, imagine that such a result 
 would flow from it "? — He resisted, because he con- 
 sidered the interference of the Pope an encroach- 
 ment upon his rights. The grant of Magna 
 Charta w^as one of those great events, which dis- 
 covers the progress of society ; and distinctly marks 
 the interference of the great Author and Ce- 
 M ENTER of the social League. The desirable 
 consummation w^as brought about, through the 
 instrumentality of a person^ raised up to gratify 
 the ambition of another ; and against every human 
 probabiHty, sent from a foreign clime to fill a 
 vacant see, for which already there were two com- 
 petitors ! — As I have said, the Pope did not intend 
 the GOOD. Langton himself could not have enter- 
 tained an idea of it. John, of course did not. — 
 The Barons were discontented, but they w^ere en- 
 tirely ignorant of the grounds, both of their wrongs 
 and of the existence of their privileges. These 
 were all the parties concerned in the affair. — 
 Chance could not design it. For if we grant, 
 which w^e do not, the existence of such an agency, 
 it must NECESSARILY be blind. Because if not 
 blind — it must be intelligent — and if intelligent, 
 it must, in this case, be God. But Archbishop 
 I^angton was eminently fitted for carrying the great 
 work into effect, blind chance w^ould indeed have 
 
 . 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 83 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 made a wonderful choice ! but it is absurd. It was SECTION 
 the work of a beneficent and superintending Provi- T. 
 dence, " who frustrateth the tokens of the liars, 
 and maketh diviners mad. — Who turneth wise men 
 backward and maketh their knowledge foolish."* 
 
 But there is one other event, which must be 
 noticed, and which will also tend to shew, that 
 John was not the dastardly being w^hich he has 
 been represented ; but was, in many respects, 
 worthy of his august family. And if I might 
 judge, it appears to me, that both Richard and 
 John were endowed with great powers of mind, 
 but ruined in education. Henry, with all his 
 great qualities, was too indulgent a father ; and 
 omitted that just discipline, without which the 
 youthful mind runs wild; and the greater the 
 abilities, the greater the devastation. 
 
 John discovered what was latent in him, in the 
 re-conquest and re-organization of Ireland; and 
 such was his conduct in that affair, that he did 
 more for that country, than his father Henry. 
 And had we the history of Ireland before us, we 
 should find, tha the was the instrument of confer- 
 ing signal benefits upon it. 
 
 The oak which is the noblest and most valua- Hemyiii. 
 ble tree of the forest, is the slowest in its growth ; ^ ^' ^^^^' 
 and does not arrive at its perfection till after the 
 lapse of many years. So in all extensive moral 
 
 * Prophecy of Isaiah, chap. xliv. 25. 
 
84 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 85 
 
 II 
 
 Rise and 
 chai'acter of 
 Feudalism. 
 
 SECTION changes, and in the formation of great civil insti- 
 I. tutions, which are destined to bless millions of 
 the human race, we must expect to find their pro- 
 gress to completion, slow. 
 
 The feudal system contained in itself the ele- 
 ments of a free and good government ; and was 
 brought into this country at a very early date, as 
 the bold institution of a war-like people, free as 
 the mountain breeze. Its first rudiments are by 
 no means complicated. A social band under some 
 vahant chief, issue from their woods and marshes, 
 like the Helvetii of old, to seek some new and 
 more extensive territory. They enter upon the 
 scene of warfare. They conquer. The ancient 
 inhabitants are expelled ; and their land divided 
 amongst the conquerors. The Chief is rewarded 
 with the greatest share. The next in command, 
 receive a proportionate allotment, subject to certain 
 duties which they owe to the Chief; and under 
 similar regulations, each individual receives his 
 portion. All considered themselves equally free, 
 except that they owed allegiance to their indi- 
 vidual Chief; and were obliged to pay him mili- 
 tary service when called upon. The chiefs were 
 equally dependent upon the Chief Paramount. 
 Now, it is evident that such a basis for a form of 
 Government, might become good or bad, as cir- 
 cumstances should act upon it. The Chiefs were 
 liable to great oppression from the sovereign Lord ; 
 inasmuch as his power was necessarily great ; and 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
 I 
 
 if by his vigour and wisdom, he could prevent the SECTION 
 Chiefs from combining against him, there was no ^' 
 limit to his exactions. The inferior vassals under ^"**'* ^' 
 their respective chiefs, inasmuch as there was no 
 possibility of uniting for self-defence, were liable 
 to still greater oppression. On the other hand, 
 if some certain limit could be placed around the 
 authority of the Lord Paramount, beyond which 
 he should not be allowed to pass — (a principle 
 which of course would extend to the inferior 
 chiefs) — ^it is easy to see, that from such an 
 arrangement, there might evolve a happy disposi- 
 tion of parts, w^hich would adapt themselves to 
 each other, and strengthen and consolidate the 
 structure of the Commonwealth. And what is the 
 matter of fact "? Whilst the institutions of Feud- 
 alism continued in their simplest form ; and the 
 land was sufficient to sustain its allotted tenantry, 
 nothing could w^ork better. There was an entire 
 sympathy throughout the whole community, which 
 was marked by a reciprocity of feeling and benefit. 
 The superior ever displayed generosity and kind- 
 ness — the inferior, gratitude and willingness to 
 serve ; and w^hilst this happy state of things con- 
 tinued, the confederacy w^as invincible. But the 
 progress of time which increases states, increases 
 their wants ; and renders their machinery more 
 complicated; and the artificial w\ints of men 
 giving strength to their passions, destroys the 
 more generous feelings, and renders them rapa- 
 
il 
 
 I 
 
 86 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 !M 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION cious and cruel. Thus the Feudal Institution 
 *• became, at length, the most odious and oppressive 
 system that ever burdened the earth. The Chief 
 degenerated from a father to a mercenary tyrant ; 
 and the vassals from children to slaves. All 
 vigour and union were lost. Remedies were 
 applied. Fiefs were rendered hereditary. Knight 
 service instituted. And at length, taxes in lieu 
 of service. Hence arose standing armies, and 
 the absolute power of the Sovereign Lord, in 
 whom was vested the power of levying taxes. 
 
 This was the case in Europe generally. But 
 it was happily otherwise in England. The first 
 barrier against the encroachment of the Feudal 
 Power in the person of the Supreme Chief, was 
 undoubtedly, the Magna Charta; and it is 
 worthy of remark, that this bulwark of true liberty, 
 did not (and I question whether it ever could) arise 
 out of Feudalism. The reader will recollect that 
 it was the revival of a Saxon Charter, restored 
 and fostered by that ever memorable feudal Chief 
 Henry. The establishment of this Charter, 
 which laid the foundation of the principle — that 
 no man ought to be taxed without his own con- 
 sent — is still before us. John died in a vain 
 attempt to revoke this document, which contained 
 in it the substance of political freedom ; and his 
 successor Henry III. followed in the same track. 
 He was but ten years of age when he was crowned 
 King; and the country was, altogether, in a 
 
 
 h 
 
 .^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 87 
 
 frightful condition. The French, who had been SECTION 
 invited over by the Barons, to sustain their falling !• 
 cause, were overrunning and devastating the land ; 
 and when there was no further occasion for their 
 service, they were unwilling to retire. Their 
 leader the Dauphin, entertained the most perni- 
 cious designs ; and, had he succeeded, no person 
 can tell what might have been the consequence. 
 Happily, his treachery and baseness were confessed 
 by the Count Melun on his dying bed ; which 
 opened the eyes of the confederate Barons, and 
 convinced them of their mistake. But perhaps it 
 would have been too late, had it not been for the 
 Earl of Pembroke, guardian to the King, and the 
 powerful influence of the Pope, which had been 
 all along exerted against the French and the 
 Barons. This, let it be remembered, was one of 
 the ^006? things which arose from Johns submis- 
 sion to the See of Rome ! The French were expel- 
 led; and the wise Earl of Pembroke made the 
 most judicious regulations, for restoring the peace 
 and prosperity of the country. He caused prompt 
 and impartial justice to be administered through 
 the land, and the provisions of the Magna Charta 
 to be strictly observed. But his untimely death, 
 put an end to all his beneficial arrangements. 
 The long and unsettled state of the country — the 
 uncertain aspect of the government ; and the bad 
 example of incessant resistance to the Executive, 
 opened the way for the most grievous and accu- 
 
I 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 88 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ll|i 
 
 SECTION mulated evils. How rife these evils were in the 
 I- Church, will be seen from one circumstance, 
 
 ^Ji^^^-^[^ amongst many others. A person was doomed by 
 the Archbishop, to be immured within four walls 
 for personating Jesus Christ. This pitiable man 
 had imprinted upon his hands and feet and side, 
 such scars as nails and a spear might have been 
 supposed to produce, and in ignorant impiety, pub- 
 lished himself to be the Christ. At the same 
 time, a female following the example, pro- 
 claimed herself as the Virgin Mary. Popular 
 commotions in the state were frequent and daring ; 
 and every day, the people exhibited symptoms of 
 a low, unbridled, ignorant and licentious pros- 
 perity. 
 The King's Whatever were the military power or natural 
 
 Ministers ra- couragc of Hcury III. his first intentions were 
 frustrated by the Pope, who peremptorily forbad 
 any attempt upon Philip of France ; at that time, 
 engaged in the pious enterprize of extirpating the 
 Albigenses. But afterwards, in all his martial 
 acts, he was generally unsuccessful. The great 
 defect in the King s mind, (the presence of which, 
 is the governing principle in all great minds) w^as 
 a want of judgment. He had no self power. He 
 had no confidence in his own decisions. This 
 defect obliged him to submit to the judgment of 
 others ; whence it inevitably followed, that such 
 persons made use of the opportunity with which 
 they were favoured, to their own advantage. This 
 
 pacious. 
 
 »li 
 
 !l 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 89 
 
 arons 
 arms. 
 
 selfishness acting on all their counsels made them SECTION 
 bad men. They became rapacious and insolent. I- 
 
 Cbap. V. 
 
 And their conduct caused one advance towards 
 the crisis of this Eeign. 
 
 The first minister of the King, Hubert De ^he b 
 Burgh appears to have been a man of great en- take up 
 dowments, both of body and mind ; and, under a 
 more firm master, might have proved a great bles- 
 sing to the country. His after impeachment by 
 the Barons, was uncalled for, and vexatious. His 
 successors were not such men : Eobert Seagrave, 
 Peter De Rupibus, and Peter De Revaulx, — names, 
 mentioned only to be execrated. By their impolitic 
 advice and rapacious conduct, they gave the most just 
 reason for the resentment of the Barons. A strug- 
 gle ensued, in which the brave Earl of Pembroke 
 fell a sacrifice to the bribery and artifices of these 
 abominable men. The King is afterwards con- 
 vinced of the evil conduct of his Ministers, and 
 they are dismissed with infamy. The end of this 
 quarrel with his nobles, tends to shew the kind 
 and forgiving disposition of the King ; and makes 
 one wish that he had fallen into better hands. 
 The discontent excited by the flagrant conduct of 
 the King's ministers, was frightfully aggravated 
 by the enormous and merciless exactions of the 
 Pope. 
 
 We are compelled to notice this subject, because mohsu 
 after all, it was the main engine whose evil-dispo- exactions of 
 
 ° ^ the Pope. 
 
 sed power, was made to w^ork the general good. 
 
 ous 
 
90 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 nil 
 
 !l 
 
 n 
 
 SECTION At one time, the successor of St. Peter, sends a 
 I. Nuncio, courteously to petition for a gratuity, to 
 meet the expenses of the Universal Church: at 
 another, he sends a Cardinal with full authority 
 to demand one-tenth of all effects; and, as the 
 demand of the Pope was urgent, the Prelates were 
 to pay it down, and afterwards to collect it. In 
 order to meet this demand, we are told the Clergy 
 had to part with their vestments, and the very 
 furniture of the Churches ; and, that no possible 
 impediment might be in the way, the Cardinal 
 brought usurers with him, for the purpose' of 
 advancing money ; but on such extravagant terms, 
 as to be followed with unavoidable ruin ! This 
 demand actually extended to the whole produce of 
 the fruits of the earth, whilst they were growing 
 — an exaction which no person attempted to resist 
 except the Earl of Chester ! The country, more- 
 over, was tilled with the Pope s emissaries ; and 
 multitudes of ignorant and needy ecclesiastics 
 were sent over, armed with the Pope s bulls ; by 
 which means they obtained vast spiritual reve- 
 nues, whilst the Roman proctors and farmers, 
 by every method of extortion and subtlety, collect- 
 ed unknown sums, which they sent to their rapa- 
 cious MASTER, To such an extent were these 
 exactions carried, that the whole nation groaned 
 under the burden ; and the King himself made a 
 shew of resistance. An embassy and an epistle 
 from the King and his Parliament, produced no 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 91 
 
 Chap. V- 
 
 protest- 
 
 effect upon the '"Servant of Servants;' and at SECTION 
 length the enraged Barons drove his chaplain and !• 
 factors out of the Kingdom. But Gregory sensi- 
 ble of his power, grasped his iron rod, and threats 
 ened the audacious recusants, with the effects of 
 his resentment. 
 
 At a Parliament convened at London, a formal TheKm^^and 
 Protest was drawn up respecting the intolerable ^'^ Parliament 
 abuses of the Church. The protest complained 
 — that the Pope had exacted exorbitant contribu- 
 tions from the Clergy, without the Kings consent 
 — ^that he had filled up vacant benefices, with 
 Italians who could neither read nor speak a word 
 of English — that he had drawn away to a ruinous 
 extent, the coin of the realm, that Englishmen 
 were compelled to plead their causes in a foreign 
 land — that the Pope's provisions and pensions 
 were insupportable ; and that by his authority, he 
 could dispense with customs, charters, grants, 
 statutes, rights, and privileges. This enumeration 
 of grievances will serve to shew, the galling and 
 maddening bondage under which the country suf- 
 fered. But the protest and remonstrances of the 
 King and his Parliament, produced no other effect, 
 than to draw from the Pope, a more masked kind 
 of levy. He directed a bull to the Archbishop, 
 to empower him to collect 10,000 marks, in seven 
 years ; as was pretended for the service of the 
 Archipiscopatc. And various levies were made 
 on the Clergy, which they were bound by oath to 
 
 .\j 
 
92 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION CONCEAL. But in spite of every regulation, the 
 
 I. Papal corrasions increased; and to meet before- 
 
 ^"^'^' ^' hand the rising discontent and to work upon the 
 
 superstitious mind of the King, an expedient is 
 
 resorted to, too impious almost to be written 
 
 Quid non mortalia pectora cogis 
 
 Auri sacra fames / 
 Blasphemy The Pope convcyed to the King, from Jerusa- 
 and treachery ^ ^^^^ ^|^ mysterious solcmuity, and as the 
 
 of the Pope. • x* j.t_ 
 
 most valuable gift of Heaven, a portion ot the 
 blood of the Saviour, The credulous Monarch 
 received it with the deepest reverence — summoned 
 a Parliament to convey to them the joyful tidings ; 
 and conveyed it, on foot, with the most profound 
 humility, to Westminster Abbey, where it was 
 
 deposited.* 
 
 As a chef-d'ouvre, a last stroke of policy, the 
 Pope makes a treacherous offer of the Crown of 
 Sicily to the King's Son, Edmund— an offer which 
 he never intended to complete ; but to conduct the 
 transfer, he pretended great sums of money were 
 necessary. Other necessities of the state required 
 supplies, and the king in his turn, convoked a Par- 
 liament for the purpose of obtaining them. His 
 demands are refused ; so that he was actually re- 
 duced to poverty. He was obliged to curtail the 
 ordinary expenses of his household — to stop the 
 wages of his servants ; and to give up his alms. 
 Every thing became venal, and offices of trust 
 
 * Westminster Abbey was built by this Prince. 
 
 1 I 
 
 If 
 
 ^^P 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 93 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Govern- 
 
 were bartered in the face of day. These were SECTION 
 evils sufficient to rouse the desponding energies of I. 
 a nation, and to bring them courage from despair. 
 But when we add to this, the ill-advised measures 
 of the king in surrounding himself with foreigners, 
 and bestowing upon them the most important 
 trusts ; and especially, the high authority to which 
 he raised Eobert de Valentia the Queen's uncle — 
 we need not wonder at the indignation of the ba- 
 rons : and what further served to goad them to the 
 highest pitch of desperation, the Arch-exactor 
 threatened an interdict, if money was not raised. 
 
 The combination of the nobles w^as powerfully 
 conducted, under the direction of Montfert Earl ™^"^ ^^^°™^' 
 
 . Aristocratic. 
 
 of Leicester. The kmg is unable to resist, and 
 submits to their terms. The nobles become pre- 
 dominant, and the administration of affairs is 
 placed in the hands of twenty-four of their order. 
 The government was now reduced to an Oligarchy, 
 but happily in the face of their declarations they 
 were obliged to be consistent, and the more stri- 
 king evils of the state were remedied ; and for the 
 time, such a form of government was beneficial. — 
 The Charters were enforced. Impartial justice 
 was administered. Foreigners were banished ; 
 and the annual meeting of Parliament established. 
 Every rank in the state received a new impulse ; 
 and an epoch in the civil Constitution was advan- 
 cing. None of the parties engaged in this struggle, 
 foresaw or contemplated the important change they 
 
94 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 95 
 
 The King 
 attempts to re- 
 
 SECTION were introducing. The nobles were interested 
 I. and ambitious ; and in all their resistance sought 
 ^"^'' ^'' the aggrandisement of their own order. But they 
 found from experience, that they were not able 
 alone to resist the power of the Monarch. They 
 sought therefore, the concurrence of the people at 
 large— of the rich, by flattery ; of the poor, by 
 promises. This circumstance induced the people 
 to measure their power and feel their consequence 
 in the state ; and was a fatal blow to the remain- 
 ing power of Feudalism. 
 
 In the mean time, the King awakened to a 
 attempts to re- g^^^g^ ^f ^jig degraded condition ; and used the 
 gain his power. ^^^^ g^j-gnuous cfforts to rid himself from the 
 thraldom of the nobles. And to sanctify the 
 attempt, first endeavoured to get rid of his oaths 
 and promises. In order to effect this he applies 
 to that MONSTROUS POWER, which had usurped 
 the place of God ; and was at once absolved by his 
 indulgent benefactor from all his obligations. The 
 contest begins anew. The King follows the same 
 pernicious course as before; which served the 
 more to widen the breach. An anecdote of a cir- 
 cumstance which occurred at this time, is w^orth 
 recording, inasmuch as it discovers the state of 
 feeling which existed. The King one day indulg- 
 ing in an excursion on the river, was overtaken 
 by a violent storm of thunder and lightning; 
 being somewhat alarmed, he desired to be set on 
 shore at the nearest stairs. These happened to 
 
 ^. 
 
 \\ 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 be those of Durham house, where the Earl of SECTION 
 Leicester then resided. The Earl, on hearing 1. 
 that the King w^as there, ran down, with all 
 courtesy to receive him : and perceiving that he 
 w^as agitated, he said. " Your Majesty need not 
 be under any alarm, for the storm is already pas- 
 sed." " No," answered the King with a stern 
 look: " I fear not the thunder, so much as I fear 
 thee," at which words, the Earl somewhat con- 
 fused replied, " Sir, I am sorry that you should 
 fear your true friend and servant, more than the 
 enemies and devourers of your kingdom." 
 
 The contest now began in real earnest ; and for Extraordina- 
 five years, civil war divided the land. At lensth t result «f the 
 
 xi, • • 1 1 ^ . Civil War. 
 
 the crisis approached; and an adverse battle, 
 in which the King was assisted by his brother 
 the King of the Romans, and his Son ; and in 
 which, his own son Edward, performed prodi- 
 gies of valour, put every thing into the power of 
 the Earl of Leicester. The two Kings and their 
 tw^o Sons w^ere taken prisoners ; and led in 
 triumph by the conquering Earl ; who managed 
 every thing at his discretion. His ambition, how- 
 ever became so outrageous ; and his conduct so 
 tyrannical, that he excited the jealousy of the 
 other confederates, and especially, of the Earl of 
 Gloucester ; and a Parliament was called, to rectify 
 these abuses and to set Prince Edward at liberty. 
 In this Parliament was laid the basis of the 
 HOUSE OF COMMONS .* and from the second of Jan- 
 
 \i 
 
96 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION nary, 1265, we must date the era of this branch of 
 I- the LEGISLATIVE POWER. Two Knights for every 
 shire; and two Burgesses for every city and 
 borough sat in this Parliament.* 
 
 This was the great work to be achieved in this 
 reign : it was now done ; and brought to a happy 
 issue amidst every species of exaction, misrule, in- 
 quietude, and bloodshed. It was from a sea of 
 commingling and conflicting elements, that the ves- 
 sel of the state was conducted to a safe anchorage, 
 without any visible pilot. But there was an invis- 
 ible and beneficent agent, correcting and subdu- 
 ing the contending evils ; and constraining them to 
 subserve his wise and transcendent purposes. 
 The scene now rapidly changes. Prince Edward 
 escapes from prison, flies to the rescue of his Father, 
 resolutely attacks the Earl of Leicester and defeats 
 him in a well contested battle, in which the Earl 
 falls. The kingdom is restored to his father, who 
 from that moment, appeared like another man. 
 He caused the strictest justice to be enforced, 
 called a Parliament at Marlborough to renew and 
 establish the body of the laws of England ; at which 
 time also, those laws were enacted which are now 
 extant, under the title of the Statutes of Marlbo- 
 rough ; in which the Magna Charta is solemnly 
 confirmed. The four last years of the King s life 
 were spent in dignified tranquillity ; and his sun 
 went down in peace ! 
 
 * Echard ex Doc. Stuart. 
 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 EDWARD I ADVANCE OF THE KINGDOM — ESTABLISH- 
 MENT OF PARLIAMENT AND THE CONVOCATION. 
 
 Most historians have concurred in remarking that SECTION 
 during the two preceding reigns, the English !• 
 Monarchy was greatly diminished and debased ; ^^^-^J-xL> 
 but a little reflection will convince us, that, on the illustrious 
 contrary, it was more firmly established and con- ^^J,^""" 
 solidated. It was unavoidable from the very a. d. 1272. 
 nature of the feudal institutions, but that a crisis 
 should arise, the result of which, must determine 
 the future course of Government. But crises are 
 always dangerous ! inasmuch as they are the off- 
 spring of necessity, produced by the selfishness 
 and passions of mankind ; and seldom under the 
 control of reason and justice. Happily, however, 
 under the controlHng influence of Heaven, the 
 result of the contest in England, was every thing 
 that could be wished. The Monarchy was estab- 
 
 H 
 
98 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION lished — ^the liberty of the subject secured, and the 
 *• master principle of legislation, introduced. There 
 Chap. VI. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ splendid achievement in the last two 
 
 reigns ; but there was more of practical benefit. — 
 There was less ostentation in the movements of 
 the state ; but there was more of real acquisition : 
 and instead of heaping reproaches on the heads of 
 unfortunate Princes, we owe them a great debt of 
 sympathy, as the suffering instruments, through 
 whom so much good has devolved to us. But 
 whatever the English Monarchy had lost in terri- 
 tory and splendour, was soon to be recovered by 
 the ilhistrious Edward. He had already, during 
 the life of his father, exhibited those qualities of 
 mind, which bear the stamp of greatness of soul. 
 During the crisis of which we have been speaking, 
 it was necessary for the completion of the intended 
 good, that there should be a relaxation of the 
 Kingly Power, and we have fully noticed all 
 the circumstances that conspired to assail and 
 subdue it. But the authority of the executive 
 must again be vindicated and the tone of the coer- 
 cive power, restored. For this purpose, Edward 
 is raised up, in whose breast, as Selden observes 
 — " God seejned to have pitched his tent " — He 
 was in the Holy Land at the death of his father. 
 In his way home he called at Sicily, and was 
 honorably entertained by King Robert. It was 
 here he received intelligence of the death of his 
 son and heir ; and soon after, of the death of his 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 99 
 
 Father, at which latter announcement, he shed SECTION 
 more tears and discovered still greater sorrow. ^ 
 
 . Chap. VI. 
 
 The Sicilian King astonished at this conduct, 
 expressed his surprise to the Prince ; whose noble 
 answer deserves to be recorded : ' nature may sup- 
 ply to us the loss of a son ; but that of a father 
 is irreparable/ 
 
 As soon as he returned, the nation was made to 
 feel the vigour of his hand. He redresses its griev- 
 ances, binds up the breaches that had been made 
 during the late contests ; and purges its corrup- 
 tions. There are on record the names of twelve 
 Judges, found guilty of bribery and extortion, 
 dismissed by him from their high offices, and 
 severely punished. In order to controul the exor- 
 bitant power of the ecclesiastics ; the statutes of 
 Mortmain were enacted in the very commence- 
 ment of his reign ; and many other wise regula- 
 tions respecting the church. From this time also 
 we may date the origin of the convocation of 
 the English Church, as it now exists. 
 
 Such was the activity of his mind — the vigour 
 of his judgment and the power of his arm, that he 
 was successful in all his enterprises. He entered 
 Wales — subdued it — slew Llewellin the last Prince 
 and annexed the principality to the crown of 
 England. The disputed succession to the throne 
 of Scotland occupied a great share of his attention ; 
 and he claimed as Lord Paramount of Scotland, 
 the right of settling the succession to that throne. 
 
--m«'^^««fc«#'-Sr^sr'''^'*«»- i 
 
 100 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION His right was not disputed ; and after a tedious 
 !• hearing, he decided in favour of John Baliol. 
 
 Edward in entire consistency with his acknow- 
 ledged right, on some punctilio of feudal observ- 
 ance, commanded the King of Scotland to appear 
 before him. This led to a quarrel ; and Edward 
 entered Scotland with his army, in order to enforce 
 obedience. It is unnecessary for me to enter into 
 a detail of his wars with Scotland. — Suffice it to 
 say, that he five times conquered that country and 
 conducted his victorious army through the length 
 and breadth of it. It is not my design, at present, 
 to pursue the history of Scotland, otherwise I have 
 no doubt, it would be seen, that he was eminently 
 the instrument of God, in executing very impor- 
 tant purposes in that part of the Island. I can see 
 nothing of reason nor justice in the resistance of 
 the Scots. 
 
 During this reign a most violent persecution was 
 raised against the Jews. — It is stated that two 
 hundred suffered capital punishment ; and shortly 
 after, by the advice of Parliament, the whole 
 race were banished from the kingdom. I have 
 seen no convincing evidence as to the real grounds 
 of those violent proceedings. — It is a mysterious 
 matter ; and I leave it in silence. 
 
 We now find a Parliament convened at London, 
 in which the Citizens and Burgesses regularly sit 
 to vote their share, towards defraying the expen- 
 ses of the state ; and from the twenty-first year of 
 
 Persecution 
 of the Jews. 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 101 
 
 this reign, there is a regular and unbroken series SECTION 
 of Parliaments to our own time. In the Parlia- I. 
 ment of which I am now speaking, the citizens ^"^'** ^'* 
 and burgesses voted one fifth of their goods for the 
 service of the King— the Peers one twelfth ; but 
 the Clergy refused to grant their aid, on account 
 of a constitution made and published that year, 
 by Pope Boniface, that no clergyman under the 
 severest penalties, should concur in granting tem- 
 poral aids without the Pope's consent. It requires 
 some knowledge of our own weakness, to be en- 
 abled to restrain our indignation, at such a daring 
 invasion of all right and reason and justice ! The 
 outrage was keenly felt by the King, and he took 
 his measures accordingly. He immediately placed 
 the Clergy out of the pale of the law — seized on 
 their temporal fees, and allowed them no redress 
 in his own courts. This intolerable mode of pun- 
 ishment, soon brought them to their senses ; and 
 they consented to deposit one fifth of their goods, 
 in the churches, to be conveyed from thence by 
 the King's collectors. 
 
 But the wisdom of Edward and the true mag- Edward con. 
 nanimity of his character shone forth most con- ^'*"'' ^^^°°* 
 
 . . - Charta. 
 
 spicuous, m the readiness with which he confirm- 
 ed the Magna Charta ; when to shew his entire 
 concurrence in its provisions, and more fully to 
 satisfy the Parliament, he dispensed with the 
 dubious clause. 
 
 " Salvo jure coronce nostrce'' 
 
^ 
 
 102 
 
 SECTION 
 h 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Such was his observance of justice and the 
 strict impartiahty with which he enforced its en- 
 actments, that he committed his own Son to the 
 pubUc prison, for riotously breaking the park of 
 Walter Langton, Bishop of Chester. 
 
 He was preparing a sixth time to chastise the 
 ever rebelling Scots; and like a chafed Lion 
 roused all his energies for the occasion. But 
 enough was done ; and the Arbiter of events aver- 
 ted the impending danger. The career of Ed- 
 ward was run ; and he expired in the camp at 
 Burg on the sands, in the sixty eighth year of his 
 age, and the thirty-fifth of his reign. He was a 
 mighty Prince, but he forgot his origin. He re- 
 membered not that he was dust. His resentment 
 against his enemies survived the grave ; and with 
 his dying breath he charged his son Edward II, 
 not to relinquish the entire conquest of Scotland ; 
 and ordered him to carry his bones along with him 
 as a terror to the enemy. Alas ! a melancholy re- 
 flection attends the recording of his dying requests. 
 — They were inconsistent with reason and repug- 
 nant to Christianity. " Verily every man at his 
 best estate is altogether vanity ! " * 
 
 * l^alm xxxix. v. h 
 
 I 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 EDWARD II. — CIVIL DISSENSIONS — CONTROLLING OF 
 THE SOVEREIGN POWER. 
 
 We are again about to open a calamitous and SECTION 
 blood-stained page of our history ; but the evils I. 
 which it records, will be found not to have impe- ^!J!^ ZF' 
 ded but rather accelerated the progress of the a. d. 1307. 
 nation in its mighty course. For whilst the pre- 
 ceding reign by its vigour and ability, tended 
 greatly to aggrandise the realm, and to promote 
 its essential interests, both at home and abroad — 
 the present reign will be found, by its weakness, 
 to have afforded an opportunity to the people, of 
 attempting to raise another barrier, against the 
 undefined power of the Feudal Sovereign. The 
 King possessed the undisputed right of appointing 
 his own ministers ; and whatever was their char- 
 acter or conduct, there was no power to controul 
 the exercise of his authority. It was the abuse 
 
 A 
 
^ 
 
 104 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The King's 
 incapacity. 
 
 SECTION of this right that excited the contention, between 
 !• the Sovereign and the people at this period And 
 if the struggle did not terminate in providing an 
 immediate remedy, it estabUshed a counter prin- 
 ciple which in the end w^as triumphant. 
 
 The young King disregarding the dying injunc- 
 tions of his parent, immediately relinquished the 
 conquest of Scotland and returned home. His 
 first acts discovered his unfitness for Government, 
 and how unworthy he was, to succeed to such a 
 father. He indulged his personal resentment by 
 committing Bishop Langton to prison ; and dis- 
 covered his obstinate passion for favoritism, by 
 recalling Gaveston who had been banished by his 
 father, as alike odious to himself and the nation 
 at large. In the company of this, justly obnoxi- 
 ous, favorite, the King abandoned himself to the 
 most unbecoming indulgences. His young Queen 
 felt herself slighted ; and the nobles were disgust- 
 ed by his extravagant attentions to the favorite ; 
 and thus early, was the foundation laid, for a 
 strenuous opposition to his will, an opposition 
 which his own indolence and fatuity of mind, 
 were only calculated to strengthen. 
 
 Evils of Fa- The Barons soon conspired against him, and 
 obliged him to promise to send Gaveston out of 
 the Kingdom. He fulfilled his promise ; but in 
 a way, which gave occasion for greater discontent. 
 He sent him as his Lieutenant into Ireland, and 
 lavished upon him every species of favour, in 
 
 voritism. 
 
 ; 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 greater profusion. Indignant at being thus de- 
 ceived, the Barons demand a full and unequivo- 
 cal fulfilment of his promise ; and took up arms 
 with intention of inforcing it. In the contest 
 which ensued, Gaveston is taken prisoner by the 
 confederated nobles ; and without even the forms 
 of justice, ignominiously put to death, — a mode of 
 procedure, w^hich, at once, exposes the unworthy 
 motives by which their conduct was actuated. 
 At this unhappy juncture, many grievous evils 
 impended over the land. The King w^as defeated 
 in an expedition he made into Scotland — a dysen- 
 tery and pestilence committed dreadful ravages 
 among the people ; whilst a very grievous famine 
 followed in their train. It will give us some idea 
 of the extent, to which this latter evil prevailed — 
 when it is stated that malefactors committed to 
 prison were assailed and actually devoured by the 
 famished inmates of those horrid abodes. But to 
 proceed. 
 
 A seeming reconciliation had scarcely taken 
 place, between the King and his Nobles, when 
 fresh cause was given for mutual jealousies and 
 animosities. The changeful King transferred his 
 affections to the family of the Spensers, and on 
 the father and son alike, bestowed his unw^earied 
 favours. Of necessity, it laid the foundation for 
 a new conflict ; and the Spensers were banished. 
 But the King was w^ounded to the quick, and his 
 resentment great. Hitherto the Queen who was 
 
 105 
 
 SECTION 
 I. * 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 * 
 
106 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 SECTION in the interest of the Barons, had acted as a medi- 
 *• atrix, and by her arts and influence, prevented an 
 hostile collision between the contending parties. 
 But unfortunately, at the time, when the King's 
 mind was inflamed to the highest degree, she her- 
 self, felt aggrieved by being refused admission on 
 some particular occasion, at the castle of one of 
 the confederate nobles, and instantly determined 
 upon revenge. She found no difticulty in exciting 
 the King's mind, and fanning his smothered wrath 
 into a flame. All the courage of his breast was 
 roused ; and he determined to bring the Barons 
 to subjection, or to die in the attempt. A civil 
 war ensues; and in a fatal contest at Borough- 
 bridge, the two leaders of the confederacy were 
 sacrificed. The Earl of Hertford fell in the con- 
 flict, and the Earl of Lancaster was taken prisoner. 
 Soon after, he was beheaded at Pontefract, under 
 circumstances very similar to those which had 
 attended the execution of Gaveston; and, in 
 which he had been principal actor. But these 
 were not the only victims. Great numbers of the 
 first nobility of the land, fell together with their 
 leaders ; and it is stated that there never was at 
 one time, so much noble blood spilt as on this 
 occasion, since the conquest. The King was 
 elated with his success ; and turned his victorious 
 arms on Scotland. He entered that country with 
 a numerous, but badly provisioned army, and his 
 expedition ended in disgrace. 
 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 107 
 
 In the mean time, the great catastrophe of the SECTION 
 reign was advancing. The Queen had taken deep 1- 
 umbrage at the Spensers, because as it is alleged, vji^^>0 
 they endeavoured to curtail her expensive and The Queen 
 
 ^ . . T 1 takes part in 
 
 licentious mode of livmg ; and to place some ^^^^ p^^^j^ 
 restraint upon her conduct. From that moment, tragedy, 
 she conceived a mortal dislike to the men whom 
 she considered her rivals and oppressors ; and in 
 the deep machinations of her heart, determined 
 upon their ruin. This was rendered a difficult 
 task from the late success of the King, and the 
 total defeat of the Barons. But to such a woman, 
 nothing was impossible. She was another Medea, 
 and only waited for the opportunity, in order to 
 discover the number and variety of her stratagems. 
 That opportunity was granted to her, through the 
 advice of the Spensers themselves. Fearful lest 
 the King should leave the kingdom, whose pre- 
 sence alone, restrained the violence of their ene- 
 -they advised him to send the Queen with 
 
 mies- 
 
 the young Prince to France, to negociate respect- 
 ing the affairs of Gascony. Nothing could have 
 happened more to her mind. Her residence at 
 the French Court, became the refuge of all the 
 discontented from England. Amongst these, was 
 Eoger Mortimer, a young nobleman who had been 
 taken in the late encounter and committed to the 
 tower. He escaped from his confinement, and 
 made his way into France, where he was warmly 
 
108 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 SECTION received by the Queen, and became the object of 
 I- her sinful passion. 
 
 Chap. VII. a j i • i i . ^ . 
 
 K^^->^^\^ A deep-laid plot was now concerted, m which 
 Deep laid not ouly the Spensers, but the unfortunate Kinff 
 
 Plot of the , . ,p -ITT -. , . 
 
 Queen. nimselt, was included ; and nothing was wanting, 
 
 but the means of carrying it into execution. In 
 
 order to raise the necessary funds, she actually 
 
 contracted her Son (Edward III.) to one of the 
 
 daughters of the Duke of Hainault, and with the 
 
 dowry, prepared a fleet and armament, under the 
 
 command of the Duke's brother. She disembark- 
 
 ed her troops at Harwich, and as her plan was 
 
 fully matured, shewasimmediatelyjoinedby many 
 
 of the nobility, and all the Bishops ; and with 
 
 her army, greatly increased, went in pursuit of the 
 
 King. To strengthen her party, she spread the 
 
 false report that the King of France was aiding 
 
 her cause, with so many Dukes and Earls that 
 
 England could scarce contain them — ^that all who 
 
 opposed her were already excommunicated, and 
 
 to show that she came as a liberator, she ordered 
 
 all the Prisons to be thrown open. 
 
 The deserted King, totally unprepared for such 
 a sudden invasion, after making the best arrange- 
 ments within his power, fled with his favorite 
 Spensers into the West. But this was a sinking 
 cause — the hour of their ascendant was past ; and 
 at every step, they were doomed to meet with dis- 
 appointment. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 109 
 
 A scene, which was acted in the Queen's Camp SECTION 
 on her arrival at Oxford, deserves to be recorded !• 
 
 — not for its intrinsic worth — ^l^ut to manifest in v^x^v"xl 
 the midst of much external shew, the barbarous Barbarous 
 
 _ - . ^ A 'ft 1 1 ignorance of 
 
 mental ignorance of the times ; and to illustrate ^j^^ ^^^^._ 
 the important and acknowledged truth — that Religion, 
 where there is no public opinion to overawe the 
 selfish principle, — public virtue cannot exist. It 
 w^as Sunday, and on such a pious expedition, and 
 with all the Bishops in her train, it would have 
 been out of character, not to give the most scru- 
 pulous attention to her religious duties. On the 
 occasion, the Bishop of Hereford was chosen to 
 preach before the assembled troops. The selec- 
 tion of his text. — '' My head ; my head acheth," 
 which he dislocated from its place, in one of the 
 simplest of narratives, * sufficiently shewed the 
 malady of his understanding. From this text 
 he argued, in a manner somewhat opposed to our 
 present notions of medical treatment ; and directly 
 at variance with our ideas of politics and divinity, 
 — that there was no other cure for the sick and 
 distempered head of a Kingdom, except AMPU- 
 TATION ! 
 
 In the mean time, the unhappy King had got The spensers 
 out to sea, but the very elements fought against ^''^^c"^^^- 
 him ; and he was obliged to put on shore, from 
 stress of weather, and took shelter amongst the 
 Welsh, in the Abbey of Neath, where he lay con- 
 
 * 2 Kings, 4. 18. 
 
no 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. VII. 
 
 ii 
 
 SECTION cealed. The relentless Queen pursued her march, 
 !• and quickly appeared before Bristol^ which was 
 defended by the Earl of Arundel and the elder 
 Spenser. The place soon fell into her hands, and 
 Spenser was executed on the common gallows. 
 Her revenge was thus accomplishing. A procla- 
 mation was now issued, stating, that if the King 
 would come forward and promise conformity to the 
 laws of the realm, he should be restored. But he 
 dared not to trust himself in their hands. He 
 was however discovered by the brother of the 
 Uuke of Lancaster, and together with his unfortu- 
 nate counsellors, seized and carried off from his 
 sanctuary. The younger Spenser was led in a 
 mock triumph ; and, after being exposed to uni- 
 versal scorn and derision, was hung on a gallows, 
 fifty feet in height — Roger de Reding, ten feet 
 lower ; and the Chancellor Baldock, was thrust 
 into Newgate, where he died miserably. 
 
 In a Parliament convened at London, articles 
 of deposition were made out against the imprison- 
 ed Monarch ; and he was declared to be no longer 
 King ; w^hilst it was further enacted, that his son 
 Edward should be crowned in his stead. To give 
 to these enactments, the sanctions of religion, the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury preached a sermon on 
 the occasion, from "the Voice of the People is 
 the Voice of God," in which he argued, as wisely 
 and legitimately as his Brother of Hereford had 
 done, on the malady of the head-ache. 
 
 The King de- 
 posed. 
 
 IV 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 The conclusion of this solemn farce, seemed to SECTION 
 inspire the Queen with symptoms of grief, and I- 
 she even shed tears at the degradation of her 
 husband. But whatever was the nature of those 
 tears, they were soon dried up by the warmth of 
 another passion. The innocent Prince her son, 
 moved by this appearance of sorrow, solemnly 
 declared, that he would never wear the crown 
 without his father's consent. Commissioners 
 were accordingly sent to the King to Worcester 
 Castle, where he was confined ; and by threats 
 and promises, prevailed upon the afilicted and 
 humbled monarch, to yield up a sceptre, already 
 forced out of his hands. 
 
 Thus ended the reign of Edward the II. through 
 the intrigues and furious passion of an evil woman, 
 whom God and nature designed to be his joy in 
 prosperity, and his solace in adversity. And it 
 would have been happy, had her machinations 
 ended here. But guilt ; like the monster that de- 
 voured its own offspring, is ever the destroyer of 
 its own acquisitions. The guilty Queen and her 
 paramour, felt themselves insecure, whilst the 
 abjected Monarch was alive ; and fancied if he 
 were removed, there would be no drawback upon 
 their happiness, Alas ! how blind are the facul- 
 ties of our mind, when obscured by vicious indul- 
 gences ! as if the existence of a King without 
 power, and under their own controul, could have 
 had any real influence, in restraining their wishes. 
 
 Edward HI. 
 succeeds his de- 
 posel Father. 
 
i'S^;r«i^i^is»#S='«'»iS«^.S! 
 
 112 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 113 
 
 SECTION But such is guilt. — ^By entertaining imaginary 
 !• evils, it goads itself to the commission of still 
 
 ^^^-^^^-^J^ greater crimes, which never fail to induce greater 
 calamities than those it dreaded, and to hasten a 
 more fearful retribution. 
 The deposed After a scrics of the most cruel usage, the de- 
 
 King put to pQse^j King is barbarously murdered. Nor will 
 I stain my pages with the names of the inhuman 
 murderers ; nor assist in giving them, even the 
 immortality of crime. They soon followed their 
 unhappy victim into eternity^ and have received 
 the due rew^ard of their sin ; and as they have been 
 blotted out of the book of the living, let them be 
 so, from the records of History. For their supe- 
 riors in guilt, an unseen hand was preparing a just 
 and speedy retribution ; and from a quarter per- 
 haps, whence they least expected it. The young 
 King, in whose breast w^ere reposited the spirit and 
 ability of his grandfather, soon discovered the 
 root of bitterness, whence numerous evils sprung 
 up to disturb and harrass the land, and he deter- 
 mined to root it out. Accordingly with a rapidity 
 which marks the avenging arm of Heaven, he 
 surprised the guilty pair in Nottingham Castle, 
 delivered Mortimer into the hands of Justice, to 
 w^hich he shortly after paid the penalty of his life ; 
 and committed the Queen to a Prison, where she 
 spent the twenty-eight remaining years of her life. 
 Surely there never was a quicker succession of 
 crime and punishment, than that which has been 
 
 recorded, all tending to shew the principles upon SECTION 
 which the moral Government of the World is h 
 conducted ; and at the same time, commanding ^"*''- ^"'• 
 our admiration of the incomprehensible power of 
 HIM, ''whose way is in the Sea, and whose path 
 is in the great waters," and who in the midst of 
 such moral perplexities, conducts his own purposes 
 to their accomplishment. 
 
 f 
 
OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 115 
 
 CHAPTEE VIII. 
 
 EDWARD III INVASION OF SCOTLAND — FRANCE 
 
 SPLENDOR OF THE PERIOD — JURIDICAL IMPROVE- 
 MENT — MANUFACTURES ORDER OF THE GARTER 
 
 INSTITUTED. 
 
 SECTION The reign of Edward III. has been considered 
 I. one of the most splendid periods of our history ; 
 Chap. VIII. ^^^ '^^ martial glory, it well deserves the fame it 
 Edward HI. has acquired. Edward was one of those great 
 A. D. 1327. ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ various periods, adorned the 
 
 world. In vigour of body and mind, he has per- 
 haps never been surpassed. His foresight w^as 
 great, his judgement quick and penetrating, and 
 the execution of his counsels rapid and enthusias- 
 tic. There was more of spirit than matter in all 
 his movements. The thunder and lightning of 
 his character declare his origin. He was in a 
 peculiar manner, " ordained of God." 
 
 4 
 
 land. 
 
 Soon after he had received the SAvord of state, SECTION 
 and whilst he was yet I. 
 
 " Imberhis Juvenis, " ^^^^^^ 
 
 and under the controul of guardians, he marched invades Scot- 
 to repulse the Scots, who had made an attack 
 upon the English borders: and by his prudent 
 and courageous conduct, gave the Scots a taste of 
 what they were to expect, under his administra- 
 tion. Much to the dissatisfaction of the young 
 King, tlirough the interest of the Douglas party 
 in Scotland, aided by the authority, of Mortimer 
 and the Queen, he was induced, on the marriage 
 of his sister with the king of Scotland to surrender 
 all right to the sovereignty of that kingdom, and 
 to give up various deeds of homage and fealty by 
 w^hich its kings had been bound. With these 
 w\is delivered up that famous evidence called 
 '' Ragman RowW an instrument signed by the 
 king, nobility, and prelates of Scotland; and 
 which contained a record of all the services due to 
 the Kings of England. But this treasonable con- 
 duct on the part of Mortimer and the Queen, for 
 which, no doubt, they received an equivalent, be- 
 came afterwards the exciting cause in the breast 
 of the king, for an attack upon Scotland. Hence, 
 when Baliol advanced his claim to the Scottish 
 crown, Edward was easily induced to assist him. 
 He contented himself, at first, with taking Ber- 
 wick and establishing Baliol : but afterward, on 
 a defeat experienced by his new ally, he entered 
 
 \ 
 
116 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 117 
 
 First invasion 
 of France. 
 
 SECTION Scotland at two different times, in the true spirit 
 !• of Edward I. with the most complete success ; 
 and would, in all human probability, have made 
 a more complete conquest of that country, than his 
 grandfather, had he not been diverted from his 
 purpose, by a nobler prey. 
 
 He had always considered the crown of France 
 as his own, in right of his mother, the only child 
 of the late king, but who had herself been exclu- 
 ded by the salic law. He did not consider her 
 exclusion as an impugnment of his own title ; and 
 therefore, considered his claim as preferable to 
 that of the reigning king, w^ho was only nephew 
 of the late monarch. — So prone are the wisest of 
 men, to make the understanding subservient to 
 the will ; and to suit their arguments to their 
 wishes. But it may be doubtful whether Edward 
 believed his own statement. It was plausible and 
 suited his purpose. He made very extensive pre- 
 parations, and formed a powerful league with the 
 Emperor : and soon, with an army of forty thou- 
 sand men, entered France and committed the most 
 dreadful ravages. It was in this campaign that 
 he assumed the arms and title of France, and af- 
 fixed on his shield, the motto, " Dieu et mon 
 droit. " 
 
 The next campaign was frustrated by the medi- 
 ation of Joan de Valois, sister to the king of 
 France and mother to the queen of England. A 
 third was put an end to by the Pope. But dis- 
 
 \ 
 
 appointments and difficulties seemed only to inspire SECTION 
 him with greater ardour, and he roused all his L 
 energies to prepare for a decisive blow. In the ^"^''' ^"'• 
 beginning of the year he held his feast of the 
 ROUND TABLE in imitation of the renowned Ar- 
 thur, and issued his letters of safe conduct to all 
 foreign knights and their attendants, whose plea- 
 sure it should be, to attend a solemn tournament, 
 to be given at Windsor for fourteen days. 
 
 After his plans were fully matured, he departed Second inva 
 for France, attended by his son the Prince of'^'^j^^g^^^j^ 
 Wales — the most valiant of men, who combined of Cressy. 
 in his character, all the excellences of humanity. 
 His valour was only excelled by his modesty, and 
 his modesty, surpassed only by his filial piety — 
 His generosity like his courage, knew no bounds ; 
 and when he was the conqueror of kings, it seemed 
 only to inspire him with greater humility. With 
 this son, then only sixteen years of age, he entered 
 France at the head of eighty thousand men ; and 
 with incredible rapidity and unheard of destruction 
 appeared before the gates of Paris. In conformity 
 with the chivalrous valour of the age, having of- 
 fered battle to king Philip, on being refused, he 
 advanced through every difficulty to the plains of 
 Cressy, destined to give name to one of the most 
 signal victories that ever ennobled a conqueror. — 
 It was in this conflict that his young son per- 
 formed such prodigies of valour, and turned the 
 event of battle ; whilst his father at the head of 
 
118 
 
 THEOCRATIC I'lIILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION the reserve, was the spectator of his actions. At 
 Chap'Viii. *^^ conclusion of the fight, when the King was 
 hastening to congratulate him on his victory, the 
 young Prince eluding his embrace, fell on his 
 knees and implored a father's blessing. Perhaps 
 the annals of the world do not supply us with a 
 nobler instance of filial piety. 
 
 It was in this battle that the aged king of Bo- 
 hemia disdaining to yield, fell under the irresist- 
 ible attack of the Prince.— I mention this circum- 
 stance, because the three ostrich feathers worn by 
 the Bohemian monarch, were assumed by the 
 Prince of Wales, and by him, bequeathed to all 
 his successors. 
 
 To this memorable battle succeeded the equally 
 memorable seige and capture of Calais ; from 
 which he embarked in triumph for England. But 
 he w\is not long to remain inactive. Another for- 
 Third invasion midablc expedition is embarked for France, under 
 the sole command of the Prince ; which, after a 
 variety of splendid successes, ended in one of the 
 most decisive victories ever achieved. The king 
 of France and his son Philip, were both taken pri- 
 soners, together with a great number of the French 
 nobility ; and it was on this occasion, that the 
 modesty of the Prince shone forth more illustrious, 
 than even his valour.— For whilst the king of 
 France and his son, with the nobles, were enter- 
 tained in his own tent, he refused to sit at the 
 table as a guest, but waited at the King's table as 
 
 Capture of 
 Calais. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 119 
 
 one that served. As the towering cedar searches SECTION 
 deep in the earth for the foundation of its majestic !• 
 
 n ji_ 1 • 1 J. r • n • Chap. VHI. 
 
 form, so the height oi superior excellence is sup- 
 ported on the basis of deep-laid humility ; and the 
 annals of the world may again be challenged, to 
 produce a more striking example than the case 
 before us. 
 
 His entry into London, which was considered 
 as a triumph by the whole nation, was conducted 
 by him in the same characteristic manner. He 
 laid aside every appearance of the conqueror, and 
 whilst the king of France attired in royal magni- 
 ficence, was mounted on a stately charger, the 
 Prince in the most unassuming manner, rode at 
 his side on a black palfrey. — But I feel I am di- 
 gressing ; these splendid transactions have little 
 to do with the line of my argument. 
 
 Edward was yet in the power of his might, and 
 he resolved to make another effort for France : 
 and such was his extraordinary vigour, that the 
 whole of France must have fallen under his all- 
 conquering arms, had it not pleased the Arbiter 
 of human events suddenly to arrest his career. 
 
 The King on this occasion, had been roused to 
 a more ample vencreance, on account of the intel- p'"^^''^^ '" 
 
 i- <^ ^ France remark 
 
 ligence he had received, of very extensive ravages abiy checked, 
 made by the French on the coast of Sussex. With 
 his wonted impetuosity he appeared before Paris, 
 and offered battle to the Regent of France. The 
 offer was rejected ; and after refreshing his army 
 
 His further 
 
rf 
 
 120 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 121 
 
 
 II 
 
 ii 
 
 ■II 
 
 SECTION for a short time, he penetrated with the most uii- 
 I- relenting severity, into the very bowels of France 
 
 v^>s>sj —as far as Chartres and Orleans. But here his 
 devastating course was stayed. For whilst he was 
 in the midst of his desolating triumphs, and every 
 barrier which attempted to oppose his progress, 
 
 was overthrown and dashed 'to the ground, an 
 
 event occurred which brought down his pride and 
 humbled his imperious soul.— This was an unusu- 
 ally terrific storm of thunder, and rain, and hail ; 
 the effects of which, filled the whole army with 
 consternation. The King himself, was not ex- 
 empt from the general dismay— he considered it 
 the voice of God. Nor was it the result of a mere 
 superstitious dread. The fury of the tempest des- 
 troyed more than six thousand of his horses and 
 more than one thousand of his men. It was not 
 irrational in the King to consider it as a Divine 
 visitation ; nor is it inconsistent with our refined 
 notions of philosophy, to acknowledge the decency 
 and propriety of his conduct. He fell prostrate 
 to the earth — humbled himself under the " mighty 
 hand of God " — adored his universal Providence, 
 and vowed to grant to France, that peace which 
 she had so humbly and earnestly solicited. 
 The King The Diviuc purposes, through the instrumental- 
 
 returnshon.e, ity of the King of England, were now accom- 
 plished with respect to France ; and its terrible 
 scourge returaed to his own land : whilst to that 
 long distracted country, a wise and understand- 
 
 ing Prince* was raised up to mollify and heal its SECTION 
 wounds. ^' 
 
 ^^, _ _, .pi Chap. VIII. 
 
 But Edward was one of those gifted persons, no v^^^-v^v^ 
 less wise and prudent in peace, than valiant and internal state 
 
 *■ ^ ^ , . of the country. 
 
 successful in war. During his splendid achieve- 
 ments on the continent, he did not sustain with a 
 feeble hand the sceptre of government in his own 
 country ; but restrained the vicious and punished 
 the wicked. " He held not the sword in vain. " 
 The peaceful and industrious had the most ample 
 protection ; and thus, w^hilst the public tranquil- 
 lity w^as preserved — the arts and manufactures, 
 trade and commerce, flourished to a very great ex- 
 tent. One circumstance, recorded in history, will 
 serve to shew the great wealth imported into the 
 kingdom at this time. — Sir Henry Pickard a mer- 
 chant of London is stated to have given an enter- 
 tainment at his own table, to the four kings of 
 England, Scotland, France and Cypms, attended 
 by their sons and the chief Nobility. — An honour, 
 not often coveted by, or conferred upon a subject. 
 No doubt these were, prosperous times for Eng- 
 land, consolidating the basis of her future wealth. 
 But pride and luxury came in the train of pros- 
 perity and conquest. Foreign modes of dress and 
 furniture, and especially those of the French, 
 found their way into the establishments of the 
 rich. Perhaps, in these respects it was a season 
 of improvement. — But the historian's page informs 
 
 * Charles the wise. 
 
122 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 123 
 
 The nation 
 chastised 
 
 SECTION US, that it was not without injury to the morals of 
 
 Chap^iii. ^^.^ ^^'^^'^^' -^"^^^^ ^* ^^ impossible for the human 
 ' mind, to withstand the temptations which arise, 
 from the influx of wealth and luxury. This dete- 
 riorating principle in human nature, was long re- 
 cognised and acted upon by the rude forefathers of 
 Europe. The Suevi were not the only nation who 
 prohibited the temptation.— '^ Vinum ad se omnino 
 importari non sinunt, quod ea re ad laborem fe- 
 rendum remollescere homines, atque effseminari 
 arbitrantur.* " 
 
 The English nation full of prosperity and riches, 
 and giving way to its accompanying evils, broke 
 loose from the restraints of virtue and propriety— 
 for the people knew little of those of religion— and 
 prepared for themselves a speedy and righteous 
 chastisement.f The plague which had begun in 
 Turkey and in its course, visited Italy and France, 
 broke out with great fury in England ; and filled 
 the whole country from one end to the other, with 
 mourning and lamentation. 
 
 * CaBs. be bell. Gall. lib. 4. Cap. 2. 
 
 t If this statement—that the Plague was a punishment for 
 the moral turpitude of its people-be considered an unfounded 
 
 fhTR m" ' /^l^"^^'' ^^« «»b' to observe, that as he believes 
 the Bible to be a revelation from God, and finds from that 
 source that the pestilence is one of those peculiar methods by 
 which the Almighty Governor punishes the world; he is bound 
 to consider such a chastisement as proceeding immediately from 
 .urh 7\ ,^"^/P^^t from scripture what shall we make of 
 such direfu calamities? Can they be generated in certain 
 ftxed principles and by a certain process of nature ? That is, 
 must they mevitably arise, and without interference, in the 
 
 We have to refer to this period that beneficial SECTION 
 change in our judicial proceedings, by which it I. 
 
 Chap. VIH. 
 direct working of the material system of the universe? Even 
 then, the principle must have been inserted in the primaeval 
 plan, by the Supreme Architect. But it would impeach his 
 wisdom could it be supposed, that he had put this principle 
 into the construction of the universal system, without some 
 grand design. The question is : What is that design ? We 
 answer punishment. All the irregular but necessary actions 
 of nature are beneficial. The tempest and the earthquake 
 have their advantage in the material world. But this action of 
 the pestilence is on the rational being. Must it not bear a 
 7no7'al aspect? It is true ; it acts on his material part, and 
 may be asked, may it not be to purge and thin the dense ranks 
 of men ? We might allow this, without touching the argu- 
 ment : for, where men are the densest, in general they are the 
 most wicked and ripest for punishment. But then the pesti- 
 lence must, under those circumstances, destroy the most^ where 
 there are the most. But this we do not see to be the case. 
 England has just been visited with the pestilence;* and so has 
 France. London has a million more inhabitants than Paris — 
 but the disparity in fatal cases on the side of Paris, has been 
 prodigious. It is not therefore intended to act as a material^ 
 but as a moral purge. Never was the nature of a pestilential 
 disease, so accurately and scientifically examined, as in the 
 present visitation ; and the most learned of the inquisitors have 
 agreed, that the disease is not propagated by contagion or in- 
 fection — but that the impregnating miasma only takes efiiict in 
 certain cases ; in which they affirm there is a predisposing 
 cause. — But what is that predisposition ? To this no certain 
 answer can be returned, except that in general it is found to 
 exist in the poor, the vicious, and the dissolute. What do we 
 want more ? The argument need not be pursued. But it 
 must be borne in mind that when we speak of the pestilence 
 as a Divine visitation and punishment, we speak of it as a 
 national, not as an individual punishment. It is not meant 
 to imply, that those who are cut off by the pestilence were 
 more wicked, than those who remain. By no means. Often- 
 times the most virtuous individuals are sacrificed. But this is 
 a still greater national calamity. The state is deprived of its 
 best citizens. Families are bereaved of their supporters. 
 Neighbourhoods of their benefactors. Mourning and lamen- 
 tation, and woe, are propagated throughout the land. 
 
 * A:,iatic Chulera, A. D. 1832. 
 
 
t-'-^«^''<mm -fmmm 
 
 124 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 125 
 
 SECTION was enacted that the pleadings, which before 
 1- had been carried on in French^ should for the 
 
 \^^'-^/-^^^ luture be conducted m li.7iglisn. 
 
 Manufactures It was also thi'ough the poHtic regulations of 
 
 kLV ^ ^ ^^ King, that a firm foundation was laid for the 
 unrivalled wool-manufacture of England. He 
 protected the trade, by prohibitory statutes, and 
 encouraged it, by fostering laws. He sent for 
 foreign artists, and granted them various immuni- 
 ties. Removed the staple of wool from the Flem- 
 ings, and appointed several places in his own 
 country, for that purpose ; and enacted various 
 laws for their regulation. Edward may be said 
 to be the founder of the woollen manu- 
 facture OF ENGLAND. And from this circum- 
 stance alone, he might be considered one of the 
 greatest benefactors of his country. By his ex- 
 traordinary abilities, he raised his country to the 
 highest reputation in martial glory ; and esta- 
 blished his affairs at home, in such a manner, that 
 honor and riches flowed in upon his people, from 
 every side. The annual tribute which had been 
 imposed upon the nation by the Pope, in the reign 
 of John, he caused by Parliamentary enactments, 
 to be finally abolished. So great was his reputa- 
 tion abroad, that he was, at length, raised to the 
 highest dignity in Europe, and was unanimously 
 elected Emperor, by the Germanic body — an 
 honor, however, which he prudently resolved to 
 decline. It may be remarked that his son Ed- 
 
 The King 
 
 ward the Black Prince, was the first individual SECTION 
 that ever bore the title of Duke, in England, So *• 
 
 . Chap. VHL 
 
 that Cornwall is the most ancient Dukedom in ' 
 this country. 
 
 But great and illustrious as was this mighty 
 
 .-^. , Ti« 'I'T j^i himself visited 
 
 Prmce ; and accomphshmg m his day, the mo- ^.^j^ affliction, 
 mentous purposes of the Great Author of society, 
 — possessing too, those great qualities, which we 
 invariably find in the breast of the peculiar instru- 
 ments of heaven — an undaunted courage and well 
 ordered mind ; yet, it relieved him not from the 
 common infirmities, nor even the more malig- 
 nant evils, attached to mortality. A variety of 
 events occurred in his latter end, to disturb and 
 harrass his mind ; and to bring down his grey 
 hairs with sorrow to the grave. Charles the Wise 
 of France, was more than a match for him in the 
 arts of negotiation ; and could stoop to stratagems 
 of diplomacy, to which the straight-forward mind 
 of the old King was a stranger. The English 
 affairs declined in France ; and he had the morti- 
 fication of beholding all his conquests in that 
 country, wasting away, and 
 
 " Like the baseless fabric of a vision 
 Leave not a wreck behind, " 
 In the midst of this, he had the anguish of wit- 
 nessing his beloved son, the Prince of Wales, 
 daily languishing before his eyes, and preparing 
 for an early grave. Nor was this all. His excel- 
 lent and beloved Queen Phillippa, yields to the 
 
« M 
 
 126 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 127 
 
 SECTION last enemy and is consigned to the tomb. Nor 
 1- long after, her mighty son, the bravest of the 
 
 J^ir^^^y^^^^ brave, follows, an easy prey to that impartial and 
 relentless foe. The Black Prince died in the 
 forty-sixth year of his age, to the inexpressible 
 grief of the whole kingdom ; and indeed, his very 
 enemies, could not forbear displaying that respect 
 to his memory, which shewed the universal esti- 
 mation in which he was held. His funeral obse- 
 quies were solemnized at Paris, in the presence of 
 the King, and the greatest part of the prelates and 
 clergy of France. So sure is real worth of obtain- 
 ing its due meed of respect and admiration. These 
 events made sensible inroads upon the constitution 
 of the King, which was already giving way under 
 accumulated pressure. After the death of his son 
 he seemed no longer to live : and though the 
 noise of Wicliff and his doctrines made no little 
 stir, yet he does not appear to have taken any 
 active part in the proceedings. In the midst of 
 the persecutions raised by the Papal church 
 against this learned and excellent man, whilst the 
 
 wiciiflF, and King was indifferent, Wicliff was protected by the 
 King's son, the Duke of Lancaster, but more, 
 from the spirit of party, than from a sense of the 
 justness of his cause. But let this be as it may, 
 this period must be regarded as the origin of the 
 REFORMATION, the dawn of a brighter day, after a 
 long and tedious night, — a night of error, of false- 
 hood and death. The true light of Christianity, 
 
 the reforroa 
 tion. 
 
 I I 
 
 Order of the 
 
 after being veiled for centuries, was allowed to SECTION 
 dart a bright gleam over the land, by which many ^' 
 
 Chap. VHI. 
 
 were roused from their deathful slumbers, to taste 
 the reviving influence and life-giving power of the 
 gospel. 
 
 The last act of the King was the celebration of 
 the feast of St. George at Windsor, where he barter, 
 founded the ORDER OF THE GARIER, at 
 which he bestowed on his Grandson (Richard 
 II.) the honour of Knighthood, the only thing 
 which could not descend to him, in the patrimony 
 of honor. 
 
 Soon after, gradually sinking, he expired, in 
 the sixty fifth year of his age, under circumstan- King's death, 
 ces the most forlorn and even dishonourable. 
 When the last, sad hour approached, robbed and 
 pillaged by his concubine, even to the rings upon 
 his fingers, he was deserted. His other domes- 
 tics followed her detestable example. His very 
 councillors forsook him in his dying agony ; and 
 a poor priest of the household, happening to pass 
 the chamber door, came to his assistance and ad- 
 ministered the last consolations of religion to his 
 expiring Sovereign. What a striking lesson for 
 Princes ! for all men ! 
 
 What is man '' whose breath is in his nostrils ? 
 for wherein is he to be accounted of*?*'* 
 
 * Isaiah, chap. ii. verse 22. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 RICHARD II. — CIVIL DISSENSIONS — GROWTH OF PRO- 
 TESTANTISM. 
 
 SECTION Never was a Prince left in possession of a King- 
 
 I- dom, under more discouraging circumstances than 
 
 ,^^^^3^^ Richard II. Under the last reign, the mind and 
 
 Richard II. feeling of the nation, had assumed a very marked 
 
 A D. 1377 
 
 character ; and become impatient of controul, un- 
 less under a very firm and resolute hand. Private 
 wealth had been amassed to a very great degree. 
 Pride and ostentation engrossed the minds of many, 
 and the spirit of enteiprize existed to a romantic ex- 
 tent. The lower orders were ignorant, oppressed, 
 and brutal. The King was a child ; and his 
 uncles, men of high character, great ability, and of 
 entensive power. The Dukes of Lancaster and 
 Gloucester are the most prominent in History. 
 The former, was munificent, imperious, ambitious. 
 The latter, was the most splendid man of his day 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 129 
 
 [} 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 —He was wise, disinterested and patriotic, in the SECTION 
 best sense of the word. The former, was the in- I. 
 strument of bringing the reign to a disastrous issue. 
 The latter, would have saved it, had his counsels 
 been attended to. But unfortunately, the educa- 
 tion of the young King was placed in a great mea- 
 sure, in the hands of the Duke of Lancaster ; who. 
 it is to be feared, intentionally, violated this im^ 
 portant duty, and gave up his royal pupil, at a very 
 early age, to licentious indulgences ; and left him, 
 to be surrounded by those, who instilled into his 
 mind false ideas of honor, and of the kingly 
 character in general. 
 
 In the mean time, the government was conduct- Government 
 ed in an arbitrary manner, but without vigour ; and "■'^""''■ 
 it appears to me, that from the first, the Duke of 
 Lancaster used his endeavours, to throw the King's 
 government into discredit. Supplies were requir- 
 ed— taxes levied, but nothing was achieved. 
 Those demands, without any adequate return, be- 
 came irksome to the nation, and a general feeling 
 of discontent prevailed. It is unnecessary for me 
 to recapitulate the facts connected with the insur- 
 rection of Wat Tyler; nor, need I dwell on that 
 more extensive and organized Plot which followed j^^ s^aws 
 in Its train, and in which the views of the mal- Rebeiiior " 
 contents were truly desperate ; aiming at the over- 
 throw of all the institutions of the country— the 
 destruction of the King and the Nobility, and the 
 division of the lands. The spirited conduct of the 
 
 K 
 
 Wat Tvki's 
 
 and 
 
 \ 
 
\i 
 
 130 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Dukeof Lan 
 carter's ex- 
 ploits. 
 
 SECTION King upon the former occasion is well known, 
 I- and discovered the indigenous courage of his fam- 
 ily. But it was almost the only brilliant action of 
 his life ; for the vicious indulgences, and pernici- 
 ous maxims of his companions which had not yet 
 quenched the innate vigour of his mind, soon 
 overpowered every better feeling, plunged him 
 into the most perplexing difficulties, and sunk him 
 at length, into irretrievable ruin ! 
 
 During Wat Tyler's insurrection, the Duke of 
 Lancaster, who was a chief object of popular re- 
 sentment, contrived to keep himself out of sight ; 
 and escaped the fuiy of that cruel storm, which 
 levelled many a noble head. — During a great part 
 of this reign, we find the Parliament occupied in 
 granting supplies to maintain the Duke of Lancas- 
 ter in his negotiations with France and Scotland, 
 in which he displayed great ostentation, without 
 effecting the least particle of good for the commu- 
 nity. — A still greater expenditure was lavished in 
 supporting his claim to the throne of Castile. 
 Vast sums were spent in Spain and Portugal ; many 
 brilliant actions were performed by the Duke, but of 
 no advantage to the state ; and so far injurious, by 
 laying deep the foundation for popular discontent. 
 
 From the King, nothing could be expected 
 to retrieve the disorders of the state. He was enga- 
 ged in one continued round of pleasure and dissipa- 
 tion ; and in this manner, the supply-money which 
 was not squandered by the Duke of Lancaster in 
 
 The King's 
 proiligality. 
 
 \ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 131 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 frivolous negotiations and unproductive expedi- SECTION 
 tions, was dissipated by the King. The genius L 
 of the court was taxed, to invent new schemes of 
 amusement for its luxurious master. The royal 
 , mind, totally unfitted for the cares of government, 
 was abandoned to the mercy of his passions and 
 of his parasites. The sad effects of such a system 
 soon became apparent. These evil advisers of the 
 king, by their insolent and pernicious conduct, 
 made themselves obnoxious to the people, and be- 
 came the objects of general detestation. De la 
 Pole the chancellor, was arraigned before Parlia- 
 ment, and found guilty of high crimes and mis- 
 demeanors ; but through the favor of the Monarch, 
 he was merely ejected from office. Robert de' 
 Vere, was another of these favourites against 
 whom the indignation of Parliament was directed. 
 —But all to no purpose. There was no stability Devoted .„ 
 in the Kmg; he recalled his chancellor, and '"' *''""'"'''• 
 shewed still greater kindness to De Vere, whom 
 he created Duke of Ireland. Had this devotion 
 been the union of friendship— such conduct might 
 have called forth our sympathy; but it was the 
 combmation of wickedness. Eveiy future act that 
 resulted from their counsels, was a proof of the 
 con-upt source from whence it originated. But 
 all this was over-ruled ; and we shall find every 
 event leading to a further developement of that 
 KXEMPLAH CONSTITUTION, which it was pleasing 
 the Almighty Arbiter to raise up in Britain. 
 
132 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 133 
 
 SECTION So little was the true spirit of the monarchy 
 I' understood, that the Parliament asserted the power 
 \^^-^/^s^ of deposition as their right ; and so little was the 
 Patriotism of supremacy of the legislature established, that the 
 Gloucester. ^i^g? ^^J ^^^^ solc authority, abrogated the acts of 
 Parliament.* But every step that the King and 
 his advisers took, seemed to hasten the crisis for 
 the speedy settlement of these great principles in 
 government. The Duke of Gloucester the King's 
 uncle, was foremost in maintaining the rights and 
 lil)erties of the nation, against the machinations of 
 the King and his ministers ; and on this account, 
 he became the object both of their dread and their 
 hatred. Crime, once originated in the human 
 breast, has no limit to its turpitude. — In appalling 
 verification of this fact, it is recorded, that with 
 the King's consent, these ministers formed the de- 
 sign of inviting the Duke of Gloucester and other 
 obnoxious noblemen, to an entertainment, which 
 was to be given at the house of a certain citizen of 
 London, and of murdering them in cold blood. — 
 Happily, however, the impious deed was frustra- 
 ted, through a timely notice received by the illus- 
 trious duke. — The effect of this discovery on the 
 public mind, may easily be conceived. 
 
 The conduct of these wicked men was every day, 
 laying deeper the foundation of their master's over- 
 
 * It appears scarcely credible that the limits of the execu- 
 tive and legislative powers were so undefined, that all the 
 Judges of the land, gave it as their o[)inion, that the King 
 might LEGALLY disaunul the decrees of Parliament. 
 
 Fatal results. 
 
 throw, and of their own ruin : upon which, how- SECTION 
 ever, was destined to rise, in greater enlargement I. 
 and stability, the structure of the state. The Duke ^"'''- ^^• 
 of Ireland, under the fostering indulgence of the 
 sovereign, grew so insolent and audacious, that 
 he proceeded to the divorce of his wife Phillippa, 
 grand-daughter of Edward III. a lady of most ac- 
 complished beauty, and elevated virtue ; and to 
 outrage the country to the utmost, he raised to her 
 place, a Bohemian woman of mean descent, who 
 was attached to the Queen's train. The King was 
 too much the slave of his own passions, to be mo- 
 ved by this infamy : but the Duke of Gloucester 
 took high umbrage at it, and regarded it as a 
 daring insult upon the royal family. Matters 
 therefore soon came to a crisis. The King and 
 his ministers endeavoured to circumvent and des- 
 troy the opposition Lords, a line of conduct which 
 united them more firmly ; and led them at last to 
 stand upon their guard, at the head of a formi- 
 dable army. 
 
 In the contest which followed, the Duke of The noWes 
 Ireland was defeated, and saved himself by an ig- ^^"^ "p ^™'- 
 nominious flight ; but shortly after, as a solitary 
 exile, died at Louvain in Flanders. The King 
 was obliged, for the present, to submit to the terms 
 of the confederate lords ; which were truly mild, 
 insisting only upon the immediate dismission of 
 his unworthy favourites. But the Parliament was 
 
 1^ 
 

 134 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION afterwards more severe, and made dreadful havoc 
 I- amongst their lives and property. 
 
 v^^-^>xJ> All these things were transacted before the king 
 was declared to be of age. After he assumed the 
 reins of government in a more formal manner, and 
 appointed exclusively his own ministers, the same 
 infatuated course was pursued; and the utmost 
 prodigality prevailed in every department of the 
 state. Every thing was now tending to a rapid 
 issue, and the course of events every day taking a 
 more decisive turn. Evil counsels prevailed — dis- 
 orders were multiplied — and discontent increased. 
 Lollards or This era, fruitful as it was in civil strife, must 
 
 Pro^tants in- ^g remarked as the date of the increase of the 
 Lollards, who had been gradually springing up, 
 from the doctrines and teaching of the celebrated 
 Wicliff. These were the first fruits of the refor- 
 MATiON, and if we are to judge from the perse- 
 cutions instituted against them, their number even 
 at this time, must have given considerable alarm 
 to the Papal Church. We are willing to grant to 
 many of their persecutors the fullest claim to sin- 
 cerity, and to allow that in so doing, they thought 
 they were doing God, service : but it only shews 
 us the fearful apostacy of the human heart ; that 
 in a church of Apostolic origin, and professedly 
 built upon their doctrines, its members should so 
 far have departed from the truth, as not to possess 
 so much of the spirit of Christianity as to res- 
 train them from acts that would have disgraced a 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 135 
 
 synod of infernal spirits. I do not use this ex- SECTION 
 pression for the sake of making a degrading com- !• 
 parison ; it is degrading — but, in sincerity, I ^^^^v^x^ 
 could not find another so suitable. — And who, that 
 considers the barbarous methods resorted to, for 
 the extermination of those ingenuous and free 
 born men, and in many cases, eminent examples 
 of christian excellence, can for a moment doubt of 
 the fitness of the comparison '? I would not visit 
 the whole crime of the tortures and murders of 
 this time, to the then living agents of the church 
 of Eome, but to the false and corrupted system of 
 ages — to the blindness and wickedness of human 
 nature. We cannot help commiserating the per- 
 secutors, more than the persecuted : for with res- 
 pect to the former, their triumph such as it was, 
 was brief, and they are now suffering the reward 
 of their evil deeds— whilst the latter, by their con- 
 stancy to the death, in many instances, served to 
 discover the title thay had received to the fruition 
 of the life eternal. 
 
 Whilst religious persecution was raging with Murder of 
 unrelenting severity, civil disorders were on the '^e Duke of 
 increase ; and in the progress of the political tra- 
 gedy, the noble minded Duke of Gloucester was 
 trepanned, in the stratagem of which, the King 
 was the principal actor. Their unhappy victim 
 was sent to the castle of Calais, where he was 
 shortly after secretly murdered. After this work 
 of death, the King and his ministers, by bribery 
 
i 
 
 136 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and threats gained an ascendancy in the ensuing 
 I- Parliament. Many of the confederate nobles fell 
 into their merciless hands. All things became 
 venal ; and crime enjoyed an uncontrolled sway. 
 The King by the murder of one of his uncles and 
 the death of the other, which happened about the 
 same time, finding himself free from all controul, 
 gave himself up to every species of extravagant 
 indulgence. The nobility followed his example, 
 and riot and luxury prevailed. The national cha- 
 racter declined. The energies of the country 
 w^ere enfeebled; its commerce fettered, and its 
 power weakened. Extortion and arbitrary exac- 
 tion increased on the part of the government ; and 
 the nation seemed to have reverted back, both in 
 its liberties and constitution. But the King was 
 fast approaching the end of his imprudent career. 
 He had determined upon an expedition to Ireland. 
 Before his departure, he exacted heavy fines from 
 seventeen whole counties, which ten years before 
 had joined with the Duke of Gloucester, although 
 a general pardon had been granted. He also de- 
 clared the Duke of Northumberland guilty of 
 high treason, because he was not present to attend 
 him; although his presence w^as absolutely ne- 
 cessary on the borders of Scotland. 
 
 But these were his last inconsiderate acts: 
 During his absence the exiled Hereford, now, on 
 his father's death Duke of Lancaster, arrived 
 by invitation in England, with a very slender 
 
 Retribution 
 awaits the 
 Kin.:'. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 137 
 
 armament, but which in a short time, amounted to SECTION 
 an irresistible force. His progress towards Lon- 
 
 ^ ^ , . Chap. IX. 
 
 don, was marked with demonstrations of joy by 
 all ranks of people, and he was universally hailed 
 as a DELIVERER. When the King heard the 
 tidings, the native courage of his family seemed 
 to revive in him, and he determined, immediately, 
 to embark his troops for England. But he w^as 
 detained in Ireland, by the advice of his friends, 
 till it was too late, and the authority of Henry was 
 paramount. On his arrival, therefore, he was 
 obliged to submit to his once banished subject, 
 but now, triumphant rival ; and the sad sequel of 
 his story is too well known to need recapitulation 
 here. 
 
 The whole of this reign is pregnant with in- 
 struction, both of a private and public nature. 
 In Richard II. we behold a youth of the finest 
 natural parts, ruined in education, and blasted in 
 his moral powers by early indulgence and flattery. 
 In a political point of view, turbulent as things 
 were, and tragic as the whole reign was, yet w^e can- 
 not help observing that the social system progres- 
 sed. An attempt was made by the executive to 
 become absolute, and the attempt appeared to be 
 successful. But when it seemed to be predomi- 
 nant — it w^as suddenly arrested in its career, and 
 the guilty contriver, at once received the punish- 
 ment of his crimes, and the overthrow of his 
 purposes. 
 
138 
 
 SECTION 
 L 
 
 Chap. IX. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 The emphatic language of the ancient patriarch 
 is strikingly applicable to this unfortunate and 
 guilty monarch. " The light shall be dark in his 
 tabernacle ; and his candle shall be put out with 
 him : The steps of his strength shall be straight- 
 ened, and his own counsel shall cast him down. 
 He shall be driven from light into darkness and 
 chased out of the w^orld. He shall neither have 
 son nor nephew among his people; and none 
 remaining in his habitation.* 
 
 ♦ Book of Job. xviii. chap. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY, &c. 
 
 SECTION II.— CHAPTER I. 
 
 ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF LANCASTER, HENRY IV. 
 
 INVASION OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM AND THE 
 
 DAWN OF RELIGIOUS PROTESTANTISM. 
 
 We are now approaching the period of the first 
 civil wars — a period full of calamity to our fore- SECTION 
 fathers, and pregnant with instruction to ourselves. II. 
 The appearances in the moral world, are as much ^^^^^^^^^ 
 the effects of certain causes as those we find Accession of 
 in the material system. — The sultry calm prepares ^^^^ "" 
 the way for the raging storm. — The fierce tempest Henry iv. 
 is exhausted by its own violence. The intense 
 sun-beams whilst they dry up the parched glebe, 
 exhale the showers which are intended to fructify it. 
 — The law which rules the moral world is as stri- 
 king and permanent. Vice invariably produces 
 misery. Passion is punished by its own excesses ; 
 and a course of depravity is followed by a train of 
 
140 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 141 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION evils, and long remedial inflictions. Nor are these 
 II- effects less observable in whole communities than 
 \^^^sy^^^ in individual persons. The mighty Being who has 
 impressed the general law upon the nature of 
 things, has given it an efficiency which no policy 
 can avert, no power resist. Indeed, it derives its 
 authority from His own attributes ; and is, by con- 
 sequence, as certain in its operations, as it is irre- 
 sistible in its j^ower. 
 DukeofLan- The title of Hcury IV. Duke of Lancaster, to 
 caster and the crowu, was not constitutionally ffood, but he 
 
 Archbishop . ./ o 7 
 
 Arundel ban sccmcd iucvitably seated on the English throne ; 
 
 ^si^ed^by Rich- ^nd, whocvcr considers the depraved and hopeless 
 character of Richard II. — the events which imme- 
 diately succeeded, and those which followed in the 
 train of Henry, will be struck with the circum- 
 stances which led to his elevation. Henry, whilst 
 Duke of Hereford, had been banished by Richard 
 for a certain term of years : but on the death of 
 his father, his banishment was rendered perpetual, 
 and his estates were confiscated — an act repre- 
 sented by historians as founded in jealousy, and, 
 dictated by rapacity.— At all events, it was arbi- 
 trary and unjust. Arundel archbishop of Canter- 
 bury, had also suffered exile under the same 
 monarch ; and became the chief instrument in 
 bringing about the present change in the affairs 
 of England. Their injuries brought them into 
 public view, and at the same time, put into their 
 breasts the desire of revenge. 
 
 f, 
 
 To these distinguished individuals, the discon- SECTION 
 tented in England turned their eyes ; and the H. 
 Archbishop was made the negociator between ^^^^^^-^ 
 them and the duke of Lancaster. But the duke 
 was difficult to move. He was the most cautious 
 and prudent of men ; and, if left to himself, would 
 never have attempted glory which was to be won 
 by hazard. 
 
 At length, however, excited by the representa- 
 tions of the archbishop, and emboldened by the 
 invitations of some of the English nobility, at the 
 very juncture, when Richard's exactions and tyr- 
 ranny were become odious, and he himself in Ire- 
 land, he set sail from France ; and with a train 
 of not more than eighty persons, hovered about the 
 coasts of England. His little fleet was not more 
 the sport of the wind and the waves, than his own 
 mind was, of doubt and indecision — yet as the 
 pilot keeps the helm steady to its point, so Henry's 
 mind did not lose sight of the object he had in 
 view, and, at length, he ventured to land, under 
 the sole pretension of laying claim to his patrimony. 
 
 The stratagem took. The king's ministers pre- The Duke 
 pared to resist his advance, but the people refused encouraged to 
 
 i . . invade Eng- 
 
 to act, and alledged their unwillingness to fight land, with very 
 ajjainst a person, the descendant of one of their ^"^'^^^"^^'^ 
 
 n i ^ ^ means. 
 
 kings, and who had been so unjustly treated. — 
 From the manifestation of this feeling, which 
 arose spontaneous from untutored breasts, followed 
 the success of Henry IV. His party was strength- 
 
 
142 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ^ 
 
 SECTION ened and the prospect of a throne opened before 
 H« him, whilst' the friends of Richard were disheart- 
 ened and fled. But the king himself was not intim- 
 idated, and would have hastened as we have seen, 
 with vigour to support his falling throne, had he 
 not been deterred by the infatuated advice of his 
 counsellors. Everything facilitated the advance 
 of his rival. — He was received at London amidst 
 the deafening shouts of the multitude, and from 
 thence hastened with such rapidity to meet the king 
 at Bristol, that he might have used the concise and 
 elegant language of Caesar, with even greater truth 
 than that conqueror : " veni — ^vidi — ^vici. * " 
 
 The meeting between Henry and Richard is so 
 illustrative of human character, in the overbearing 
 insolence of prosperity on the one hand, and the 
 forced submission of humbled pride on the other, 
 that I must venture to insert it as given by his- 
 torians. 
 
 The interview was at Flint Castle, where Henry 
 introduced himself to the King, who on seeing 
 him enter, said : '' Cousin of Lancaster you are 
 welcome." To which the Duke replied. '' I am 
 come rather sooner than you appointed me, be- 
 cause the fame of your people is, that for these 
 twenty-one years you have governed ill and with 
 rigour, on which account they are much dissatis- 
 fied ; but if Heaven please, I will help to govcra 
 
 * I came — I saw — I conquered. 
 
 # 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 143 
 
 better for the future. " To which the king an- SECTION 
 swered. — " Cousin, if it pleases you, it pleaseth II- 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Never was an enterprise, attended with such The rightful 
 
 ^. - heir is set aside 
 
 important results, undertaken with so little prepa- 
 ration and design. The originators of it, appear 
 to have left the scheme to its own workings. — It 
 seemed to gather the material it fed upon, as it 
 advanced. — It succeeded, and Henry IV. ascended 
 the throne of England. The change was so sud- 
 den that the majority of the people were taken by 
 surprise ; and many were hurried by their enthu- 
 siasm into measures, which they had not power to 
 controul. If Richard was a bad man and a bad 
 king, Henry was a usurper whilst Edmund Mor- 
 timer, Earl of Marche, descended from an elder 
 son * of Edward III. was alive. The people in 
 the hour of intoxication did not think of this ; but 
 the circumstance of Henry offering himself as the 
 avenger of their wrongs, was eagerly hailed ; and 
 they hurried without reflection, to support him. 
 
 Our passions are our worst counsellors, and Eviisofusur. 
 when we act upon their suggestions, we are mor- p^*^'*""' 
 ally sure to suffer. It was remarkably verified in 
 the present instance. All the parties engaged in 
 these transactions were highly culpable. The 
 duke of Lancaster was possessed with the most 
 abject revenge and the most flagrant ambition, 
 
 * Lionel, the third son of the duke of Lancaster was from 
 John the fourth son. 
 
 mmmm^ 
 
f 
 
 144 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION which overthrew in his breast all the principles of 
 !*• justice and religion. The archbishop Arundel, 
 
 CMaP. I. • 1 • ' n ^ 
 
 v^^-v^v^ the more enterprising of the two, w^as actuated by 
 a highly vindictive spirit, and urged by motives 
 as base as the principal actor. The people were 
 impelled by an unreasonable and reckless desire 
 for change ; and acted with their proverbial incon- 
 stancy. It was a general phrensy. Its influence 
 pervaded all ranks of society ; and the bishop of 
 Carlisle was the only solitary individual who lifted 
 up his voice in Parliament, against the violent and 
 precipitate measures of the day. But nothing 
 could stop the current in its course, — Eichard is 
 deposed and Henry becomes king, as Hume says, 
 " nobody knew how, or wherefore ! " All was 
 triumph and rejoicing with the prevailing party, 
 and the ambition of Henry was gratified in the pos- 
 session of a throne. But an unseen hand, whilst 
 it was conducting these conflicting elements to a 
 benevolent issue, as it respected the social system, 
 was preparing a long series of punishments for 
 the individual actors in these disgraceful scenes, 
 as well as for the nation at large. 
 The lawful Thc murdcr of Richard began the fatal tragedy. 
 Kin,m„rdered j^ ^^^ j^c cxpiatcd to socicty, the mui'dcr of his 
 uncle, the illustrious and patriotic Duke of Glou- 
 cester, afl'ording another infallijjle proof, that the 
 declaration of the King of kings cannot l)e evaded, 
 — " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall 
 his blood be shed.* " 
 
 * Gen. chap. ix. 6. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 145 
 
 The throne of Henry established as it was on SECTION 
 such restless elements, could not long repose H. 
 in quiet. These hidden fires soon began to dis- ^"*''' ^' 
 cover themselves, and Henry had scarcely gained 
 the seat of pre-eminence, when a formidable con- 
 spiracy was organized by some of the first nobles 
 of the land. It was conducted with the utmost 
 secresy, cemented by the most deadly hatred, and 
 strengthened by the most inviolable oaths. But 
 dark and deadly as it was, it was not to prevail. 
 Purposes not theirs', were to be answered. The 
 plan of the conspirators was, to propose that a 
 tournament between the Earls of Huntingdon and 
 Salisbury, should be holden at Oxford, to which 
 the King was to be invited as judge ; and it was 
 resolved that during the sitting, whilst all were 
 intent on the games, he should be assailed and 
 murdered, together with his train. 
 
 The parties were even now assembled, and the conspiracy 
 King and his court were expected on the succeed- *^^'"^^ ^^^ 
 
 J XT n A^ • Kingfrustrated 
 
 mg day. JN one ot the conspirators were wanting 
 except the Earl of Rutland, and conjecture was 
 busy at work as to the cause of his absence. The 
 Earl on his way to the place of rendezvous, could 
 not allow himself to pass the house of his father, 
 the Duke of York. Whilst they were at dinner, 
 the duke espied the label of the document, drawn 
 up by the conspirators, hanging out of his son's 
 pocket, and judging it to be something extraordi- 
 nary, forced it from him. Having reviewed the 
 
I 
 
 f 
 
 146 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION contents, and finding his son's name with the 
 n. names and seals of the conspirators, he was filled 
 with surprise, alarm and resentment. He rose 
 from table and without a moment's delay, rode off 
 to Windsor, determined to lay the matter before the 
 King. The Earl of Rutland, finding it impossible 
 to stay his father from his purpose, resolved to 
 make a desperate effort for his life. He rode to 
 Windsor another way ; and, outriding his father, 
 arrived first at the Castle, threw himself at the 
 King's feet, confessed the whole conspiracy, and 
 implored pardon for his offence. The king passed 
 his word, provided, what he had related should 
 be found true. By this time the Duke of York 
 had arrived, who immediately put the traitorous 
 document into the King's hand. 
 
 On the other side, the conspirators assured l)y 
 the absence of Rutland, and the non-appearance 
 of the King, that their plot was discovered, were 
 hurried into the most desperate measures. By a 
 variety of stratagems and falsehoods, they contrived 
 to raise an army of thirty thousand men : but they 
 were preparing for themselves a righteous and 
 swift destruction, the due reward of their many 
 enormities. The manner in which it was accom- 
 plished was extraordinary. — The leaders fell be- 
 fore they encountered the enemy — their army was 
 routed without a conflict. 
 
 The Conspirators were encamped near Reading. 
 punish^r"^ '^^^ ^'^^^^ took up their lodging in the neighbour- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 147 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Their treason 
 
 ing village, whilst the army lay encamped in SECTION 
 the fields. The people of the village in which H. 
 the Earls of Kent and Salisbury, chiefs of the 
 faction, had taken up their quarters, exasperated 
 by the false reports of the conspirators, surrounded 
 the house where they lodged, and made a desper- 
 ate attack upon it. Their assault was resisted, 
 with effect, for several hours by the brave inmates. 
 But by an act, which was undertaken to save 
 them, their fate was sealed. A certain Priest 
 with the intention of diverting the attack, set fire 
 to another part of the village, which proved a 
 double calamity. For the army of the conspirar 
 tors perceiving the flame, and supposing it to be 
 the sign of the King's approach, fled with precipi- 
 tation ; whilst, the town people enfuriated to the 
 utmost degree of madness, resolved to quench it 
 with the blood of their oj)pressors. Thus perished 
 the Earls of SaUsbury and Kent.* The Duke of 
 Gloucestor died on the scaffold. The Earl of 
 Huntingdon escaped to the sea, but was driven 
 back, again and again; and, when taken, was 
 conveyed, as it were, by accident, to the late Duke 
 of Gloucester's house, where his head was struck 
 off, the vengeance of Heaven meeting him in the 
 very precincts of that nobleman's house, to whose 
 murder he had been instrumental ! The civil 
 blood shed in this conspiracy was immense. But 
 it was only the first of that blood, that was to flow 
 
 ♦ Half brother to Richard. 
 
 \ 
 
n \ 
 
 i 
 
 148 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. T. 
 
 Rise of Owen 
 Glen<lour. 
 
 SECTION ^^^^' i^^^^y years, in the quarrel between the houses 
 II. of York and Lancaster. — So easy is it, for men to 
 take a wrong and hasty step, so difficult is it to 
 
 return. 
 
 The minds of the people were diverted from this 
 fearful tragedy, by a military expedition into Scot- 
 land. The king of that country, had denounced 
 war against Henry, unless he would deliver up 
 lord Dunbar earl of Marche, who had fled to the 
 English court, for protection. Henry waited not 
 for the attack, Imt at the head of a well ordered 
 army, penetrated into the heart of the country and 
 committed extensive ravages. 
 
 In the mean time Owen Glendour, the Welsh 
 chieftain began his career of martial exploits, by 
 which he has gained for himself the character of a 
 bold and perilous adventurer in a hopeless cause ; 
 and, whilst we are tempted to admire the impe- 
 tuous courage and romantic valour of the man, we 
 cannot, l)ut lament the blind and reckless fury, 
 which only tended, as far as he was concerned, to 
 plunge his country into greater evil and calamity. — 
 Glendour had made a successful inroad into Here- 
 Takes the fordshire, and in a battle with the retainers of 
 EariofMarciie]yjQj.^jj^gP^ £arl of Marchc, took that nobleman 
 
 prisoner. 
 
 prisoner. 
 
 Henry was secretly pleased at the event ; and 
 the indulgence of this ungenerous feeling, well 
 nigh proved fatal to his throne. But before this 
 had time to ripen into its fruits, he was assaulted 
 
 '• 
 
 
 t' 
 
 ] 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 149 
 
 spiracy. 
 
 from many other quarters, by which his life was SECTION 
 greatly endangered. By his caution and vigorous H. 
 policy, every attempt against his authority was ^^x'v^'V^ 
 defeated. 
 
 Meanwhile, the earl of Northumberland, his bro- ^ g^jji ^^^^e 
 ther, the earl of Worcester, a man of a violent and formidabiecon- 
 malicious temper, and Hotspur his son, were daily 
 fanning the flames of ambition and revenge in each 
 other's breasts. These fiery spirits, at length, deter- 
 mining to overthrow that throne, which they had 
 been so instrumental in raising, — entered into a 
 firm confederacy, in which Owen Glendour was 
 included. One cause which they alleged, was 
 the lukewarmness of Henry with respect to the 
 captivity of the earl of Marche, and another, was 
 the murder of king Richard. But how little these 
 motives swayed their minds, and how much they 
 were urged on, by the most flagrant ambition and 
 ungovernable pride, was manifest, from the cir- 
 cumstance, that their ultimate design was the es- 
 tablishment of their own power and the partition 
 of the kingdom ! 
 
 A tripartite agreement was drawn up, signed 
 and sealed by the conspirators, in which all south 
 England, was secured to the earl of Marche, 
 north England, beyond the Trent, to Northumber- 
 land, and Wales was to be the portion of Glendour. 
 But England happily, was not to be parcelled out ; 
 and firm as was the compact, and warlike as were 
 its framers, it was not only destined to fail, but 
 
148 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CiiAV. T. 
 
 Rise of Owen 
 Glendour. 
 
 SECTION for sixty years, in the quarrel between the houses 
 II. of York and Lancaster. — So easy is it, for men to 
 take a wrong and hasty step, so difficult is it to 
 
 return. 
 
 The minds of the people were diverted from this 
 fearful tragedy, by a military expedition into Scot- 
 land. The king of that coimtry, had denounced 
 war against Henry, unless he would deliver up 
 lord Dunl)ar earl of Marche, who had fled to the 
 English court, for protection. Henry waited not 
 for the attack, but at the head of a well ordered 
 army, penetrated into the heart of the country and 
 committed extensive ravages. 
 
 In the mean time Owen Glendour, the Welsh 
 chieftain began his career of martial exploits, by 
 which he has gained for himself the character of a 
 bold and perilous adventurer in a hopeless cause ; 
 and, whilst we are tempted to admire the impe- 
 tuous courage and romantic valour of the man, we 
 cannot, but lament the blind and reckless fury, 
 which only tended, as far as he was concerned, to 
 plunge his country into greater evil and calamity. — 
 Glendour had made a successful inroad into Here- 
 Takes the fordshire, and in a battle with the retainers of 
 Earl of Marche ]yjQ^|-jj^gP^ j^^rl of Marchc, took that nobleman 
 
 prisoner. 
 
 prisoner. 
 
 Henry was secretly pleased at the event ; and 
 the indulgence of this ungenerous feeling, well 
 nigh proved fatal to his throne. But before this 
 had time to ripen into its fruits, he was assaulted 
 
 ■* 
 
 'I 
 
 A 
 
 % 
 
 't 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 149 
 
 from many other quarters, by which his life was SECTION 
 greatly endangered. By his caution and vigorous n. 
 policy, every attempt against his authority was ^,^x^^P^-^ 
 defeated. 
 
 Meanwhile, the earl of Northumberland, his bro- ^ g^m ^^^^ 
 ther, the earl of Worcester, a man of a violent and formidabiecon 
 malicious temper, and Hotspur his son, were daily 
 fanning the flames of ambition and revenge in each 
 other's breasts. These fiery spirits, at length, deter- 
 mining to overthrow that throne, which they had 
 been so instrumental in raising, — entered into a 
 firm confederacy, in which Owen Glendour was 
 included. One cause which they alleged, was 
 the lukewarmness of Henry with respect to the 
 captivity of the earl of Marche, and another, was 
 the murder of king Bichard. But how little these 
 motives swayed their minds, and how much they 
 were urged on, by the most flagrant aml}ition and 
 ungovernable pride, was manifest, from the cir- 
 cumstance, that their ultimate design was the es- 
 tablishment of their own power and the partition 
 of the kingdom ! 
 
 A tripartite agreement was drawn up, signed 
 and sealed by the conspirators, in which all south 
 England, was secured to the earl of Marche, 
 north England, beyond the Trent, to Northumber- 
 land, and Wales was to be the portion of Glendour. 
 But England happily, was not to be parcelled out ; 
 and firm as was the compact, and warlike as were 
 its framers, it was not onlv destined to fail, but 
 
150 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION by bringing destruction on their own heads, to 
 II- carry on the principle which was now at work, for 
 
 ^^^^^/^^ the aggrandisement of England. 
 Which fails Their armies Avere already in motion, w^hen the 
 
 of its intention. Y^divl of Northumberland was seized with a sudden 
 fit of sickness, which entirely disqualified him 
 from taking the field. This circumstance, no 
 doubt, was one grand cause of their subsequent 
 failure. The impetuous Hotspur and the malig- 
 nant Worcester, pushed forward and encamped be- 
 fore Shrewsbury, expecting the junction of Glen- 
 dour with his forces : but before this could be 
 accomplished, the vigilant Henry came upon them. 
 A desperate and sanguinary battle ensued. — Pro- 
 digies of valour were performed, and Douglas, 
 who was with the conspirators and whose portion 
 was to be Berwick, was seen everywhere like a 
 wild beast, roaming the bloody field in search of 
 Henry. But the king escaped through the precau- 
 tion of having other individuals clothed with the 
 royal garb — an honour which that day, proved fatal 
 to many a valiant knight. The Prince of Wales, 
 fifteen years of age, fought in this battle ; and 
 gave signal proofs of that courage which was af- 
 terwards to be so signalized. The king, as he was 
 everywhere foremost in danger, so was he pre-em- 
 inent in valour. It is said, that thirty-six of the 
 noblest and bravest in the field, fell by his hand 
 alone. But Hotspur in bold defiance of death, and 
 in search of the same prey as Douglas, rode every 
 
 u. 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 151 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 Fatal end of 
 
 where in the field ; and, whilst he lived, the battle SECTION 
 raged ; but, at length, an arrow from an unknown H- 
 hand, pierced his heart and put an end, at once, to 
 his hopes, and the resistance of his troops. Nor 
 did he fall alone : with him, lav stretched on the 
 field, two hundred of the bravest knights of Ches- 
 
 m 
 
 hire and five thousand men. 
 
 Douglas — the Earl of Worcester — the baron of 
 Kinderton, and Sir Richard Vernon were taken 
 prisoners.— The first, agreeably to the chivalry 
 of the day, because he was no subject, and had 
 the honor of unhorsing the King, was set at lib- 
 erty ; but the others were executed. The Earl of 
 Northumberland was deprived of his estates, ^i^*^ conspira- 
 
 ^ tors. 
 
 which were, however, through the clemency of 
 the king, soon after restored to him. But nothing 
 could soften the implacability of this nobleman or 
 avert his ruin. 
 
 Scarcely was this rebellion dispersed, when it sc,io's plot 
 was succeeded by a plot which was contrived by ^^'.Z^^;^^^;^^^^^^^ 
 Serlo, who had formerly been a gentleman of Ri- ani. 
 chard's bed-chamber. He employed an impostor 
 to personate Richard ; and by framing a seal simi- 
 lar to that of the deceased King, he wrote letters 
 in his name, and ensnared many persons of emi- 
 nence, to unite in a scheme for his restoration. — 
 But the whole was frustrated ; and Serlo when 
 brought to execution, confessed that he was one 
 of the persons who had murdered the Duke of 
 Gloucester in the dungeons of Calais ! ! 
 

 t\ 
 
 152 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Another conspiracy soon after followed, which 
 n. we should be tempted to pass over in silence, were 
 ^^^11^^;:^ it not for the purpose of bringing, another of the 
 Archbishop murderers of the Duke of Gloucester, before the 
 spilcy!' '''''^ reader. — This was no other than the Archbishop 
 of York, who confederated with Mowbray the Earl 
 Marshal and the unfortunate Earl of Northum- 
 berland, in another attempt against the throne of 
 Henry. But like every other, it came to nothing 
 and brought ruin upon its promoters. The Arch- 
 bishop of York was executed — affording the first 
 instance on record, of an ecclesiastic suffering capi- 
 tal punishment. — Noi-thumberland fled into Wales, 
 where Owen Glendour aided by the French, still 
 maintained his ground against Prince Henry, to 
 whom the conduct of this war had been committed. 
 He was how^ever, soon afterwards reduced to the 
 greatest difficulties ; and so closely pursued and 
 harrassed day and night, that it was said he died 
 by famine ! — His death gave peace to Wales. 
 
 The ever restless Northumberland intent upon 
 his own ruin, left his retreat once more, to try 
 his fortune in arms, against his Sovereign ; 
 and soon after, with the Lord Bardolph perished 
 in conflict with the sheriff of Yorkshire ; in his 
 death bringing to a period, one of the most illus- 
 trious feudal families in England. 
 
 The unhappy country torn asunder by these 
 intestine strifes, was yet allowed no respite from 
 punishment. It was visited by a pestilence which 
 
 Northumber- 
 land iVms. 
 
 GrievoQS 
 pcbtilcuce. 
 
 \" 
 
 y 
 
 ■^ 
 
 1 
 
 ii 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 153 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 destroyed prodigious numbers of people ; the extent SECTION 
 of which may in some measure be judged of, from n. 
 the circumstance that in London alone, there 
 died more than thirty thousand persons. 
 
 And to add to these horrors, the Roman Hierarchy Religious 
 alanned at the spread of the doctrines of Wicliff, 
 and the rapid increase of his followers, armed 
 itself with the most formidable power for their 
 extirpation. Arundel was a consummate perse- 
 cutor. He possessed the most deadly hatred and 
 the most determined opposition to the new doc- 
 trines, under the attractive garb of mildness and 
 candour. He was high in the favour and counsels 
 of Henry ; and by his influence, every power w^as 
 obtained for the coercion of their unhappy victims. 
 Every thing seemed to threaten a dreadful storm. 
 It was indeed a portentous moment ; and a dread- 
 ful struggle was about to ensue between the 
 powers of light and darkness. The latter for 
 the moment, prevailed : but amidst the horrors of 
 this long night, the distant dawn appeared. 
 
 The rage of this persecution first fell upon Wil- Martyiaom 
 liam Sawtrey, a London clergyman, who expired "^^Tuoo. 
 in the flames of martyrdom, affording another 
 instance of the hateful intolerance of human na- 
 ture. His name stands first in the record of Pro- 
 testant Martyrs. Though so far removed from 
 our own times, his blood nourished the sacred 
 tree of our religious liberties ; and we are called 
 upon, to admire his moral courage and Christian 
 
g^fH 
 
 ttfK£ 
 
 154 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION boldness ; and to trace that Divine hand, who by 
 It- such an extraordinary exhibition of evil, was in- 
 
 \^J^}^^, tending to effect our deliverance. 
 And of John Hc was soou followcd in his triumphant course, 
 
 Badby. i^y ^^ uneducated artificer, of the name of Badby, 
 
 whose name must also be recorded as one of the 
 primitive Martyrs of Protestantism. His protes- 
 tation against Transubstantiation is sufficient to be 
 recorded here. — "After the consecration, itremain- 
 eth the same material bread, which it was before, 
 nevertheless, it is a sign or sacrament of the living 
 God. I believe the Omnipotent God in trinity to 
 be 07ie. But if every consecrated host be the 
 Lord s body, then are there twenty thousand Gods 
 in England." The Prince of Wales, who was 
 present, earnestly exhorted him to recant, which 
 he endeavoured to strengthen by promises of favour 
 and riches : but the martyr w^as unmoved, and glori- 
 ously finished his course in the flames, as a witness 
 not for Truth only, but also for common sense.* 
 The evils of The Unsophisticated mind, young in the history 
 
 blind prejudice gf the humau race, will be astonished at such pro- 
 ceedings ; and may well be tempted to consider 
 such records, as the fabrications of history : but 
 alas ! they are stubborn facts ; and tend to shew 
 to what pernicious lengths, men will proceed, when 
 blinded by prejudice and self interest. — Prejudice 
 is the most formidable power that usurps autho- 
 
 * Comp. Fox Martyrs, page 594, and Wilkin's Convoc. 
 page 326, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 155 
 
 
 t 
 
 rity over the human mind. — When fostered by SECTION 
 education, trained by habit, and strengthened by H. 
 interest, it too frequently coerces reason, repels 
 truth, outrages justice, and, even, tramples on 
 humanity. Whilst it retains its hold, it is an in- 
 surmountable barrier to all improvement. Its ef- 
 fects have been, and are, most disastrous to the 
 peace and happiness of mankind. Christianity is 
 the wisest and most beneficial scheme of God for 
 the restoration of his lost family. — It is calculated 
 to raise man to the supreme excellency of his na- 
 ture, and to recover for him, even more than he 
 has lost. But if in our early years, we are taught 
 to discern its truths through a perverted medium ; 
 if, instead of being directed to its own simple state- 
 ments for the best information, we are led to be- 
 lieve that a standard of interpretation exists to 
 which w^e must submit, but that the standard 
 itself, must not be examined or disputed. — If in ad- 
 dition to this, we are assured, that our eternal 
 happiness is at stake, if we presume to refuse sub- 
 mission — what is likely to be the result '? Under 
 the influence of such a cause, we need not wonder 
 that even in the present day, the doctrine of tran- 
 substantiation should have its zealous supporters. 
 The proposition of John Badby was the language of 
 common sense ; and unvitiated reason is immedi- 
 ately convinced of its truth and propriety. But 
 under the circumstances we have suggested above, 
 
-A^!^^mmme^!m^m^m??^^^^^9i^^m^^ss!^!smm«»-:'. 
 
 156 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Church. 
 
 \ 
 
 SECTION the case is prejudged, and reason, the mistress of 
 
 n. the understanding, is silent. 
 ^^^^^^^^^ It is fortunate when the prejudices we have im- 
 Prejudices to bibed, arc in unison with virtue, religion, and 
 be examined. ^^^^^ ^ ^^ ^ .^ .^ demonstrative, that this can only 
 
 be effected by a constant reference of all instruc- 
 tion, to the Holy Scriptures. But under all cir- 
 cumstances, when our understanding is sufficiently 
 advanced, it behoves us strictly to examine the 
 collected stores of our minds, maturely to weigh 
 their several claims, and diligently to separate the 
 precious from the vile. — But who sees not that in 
 such a scrutiny the greatest caution is necessary ? 
 To reject a sentiment or feeling, because it is a 
 prejudice, may be rash — ^not to examine it, is brut- 
 ish — and to retain it, may be equally unreasonable. 
 We are surrounded with difficulties — ^prudence and 
 judgment must direct us. 
 
 Happily, however, since the Eeformation of the 
 Judgment al English brauch of the Catholic Church, we are 
 forded by the j^gi|]^gj. consigned to the iguomiuious slavcryof blind 
 
 prejudice on the one hand, nor, on the other, left to 
 the precarious and uncertain decisions of private 
 judgment. In theological matters, the fountains of 
 truth have been traced up to their origin, and 
 the doctrine and discipline, delivered by the Apos- 
 tles to the living Church, have been diligently 
 compared with the written infallible standard of 
 all truth, and duly authenticated. So that, whilst 
 as Protestants, we hold the Biljle alone, to be ab- 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 157 
 
 Use of Per- 
 
 solutely AUTHORITATIVE in matters of faith — yet SECTION 
 in the formularies and articles of the Church a In- 
 sufficient guide, and of high authority is provided, ^"^^' '* 
 to enable us to study the Scriptures with advan- 
 tage, and to form a sound judgment in matters 
 connected with our religious belief. 
 
 The unequal distribution of good and evil in the 
 world, where the wicked are often most prospe- secution. 
 rous, whilst the righteous are frequently exposed 
 to extreme suffering, has always been considered 
 a mysterious arrangement in the Divine govern- 
 ment. Whatever mystery there is in the system 
 of Providence, arises, no doubt, from a defect in 
 the power of our comprehension. If w^e could take 
 in all the range, and survey all the parts of the uni- 
 versal system, we should every where find beauty 
 and harmony. But not to digress further, w^ho 
 does not see in the case of these martyrs, the great 
 end that was to be answered by their sufferings ? 
 A careful observer * of men and things has re- 
 marked. — " Such I believe is the nature of man, 
 that the knowledge and practice of religion could 
 not be maintained without opposition and struggle, 
 and therefore Providence has wisely permitted 
 such instruments, as means to secure the attention 
 of mankind to religion. " 
 
 Amidst the darkness and prejudice, which at 
 the time we are speaking of, divided the empire of 
 
 * Dr. Watson, Popular Evidences, <Src. page 1. 
 
^-m-'mm^^'i'S)fi0mmi^m^^^^'>'^»»'~-iism^:^^^s^, . - 
 
 153 
 
 TFIEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ClIAP. I. 
 
 SECTION the religious world, it required a mighty impulse to 
 "• shake their usurpation. Nothing could have been 
 better devised for this purpose, than the flames of 
 martyrdom. It was the master-piece of human 
 cruelty; and its abettors thought, it was the ne plus 
 ultra of policy, and the most effectual prohibition. 
 But in following their blind counsels, they were 
 laying the sure ground for their own overthrow ; 
 and a firm foundation for the establishment of 
 truth ! What could speak more powerfully to the 
 breasts of men, than such inhuman exhibitions ? 
 What could be better calculated to awaken the 
 most benighted — arouse the most indolent, and 
 rivet the attention of the most careless '? And 
 such were the effects. As to the martyrs them- 
 selves we need not speak. Their sufferings were 
 gyeat — ^but their happiness and reward, are eternal ; 
 and, during the short time of their persecution, 
 they enjoyed more solid satisfaction, than their 
 persecutors did, in their whole lives. But to return, 
 -ress of I^ reviewing the multiplied disorders of this 
 
 the sodai sys- reigu wc shall find that the frame work of Soci- 
 ety was established. The Country underwent a 
 purgation, similar to that it experienced, under 
 William I. The proud, restless and barbarous 
 spirits of the age were humbled or extirpated. 
 The feudal barrier was invaded. The middle and 
 independent class of society grew more vigorous 
 and powerful. Through the flattering indulgence 
 of the King, the house of Commons, on which he 
 
 tem. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 159 
 
 so much relied for the validity of his title, rose to SECTION 
 an authority to which it had never before attained. H. 
 He even allowed them to appoint officers to watch ^^^^' '* 
 over the expenditure of their subsidies. They 
 proposed and carried into effect, the most whole- 
 some measures, and even went so far, at this early 
 period, as to suggest the propriety of curtailing 
 the revenues of the Church. But the Clergy had 
 gained the ear of the Monarch ; and his former 
 promises, urged on by their arts and his own su- 
 perstitious feelings, led him to endeavour by a va- 
 riety of acts, in favour of the Church, to remove 
 from his conscience, its awakening alarms. He 
 even united with them, as we have seen, in the 
 persecution to the death, and so, indeed, did the 
 Parliament, of the disciples of Christianity. The 
 proposal of the Commons was therefore, rejected, 
 but it serves to shew, to what extent the eyes of 
 the community were open, at that time, to the 
 glaring enormities of the Ecclesiastical body. 
 
 The latter end of this reign was tranquil and 
 well conducted. Henry was inflexible in Justice, 
 and impartial in its administration. He was wise 
 and prudent in his schemes for aggrandising his 
 Country. He engaged in the adjustment of the 
 cause between the two contending Popes, the end 
 of which was, the rejection of both ; and the elec- 
 tion of Alexander V. to the Papal chair. He 
 was taking an interest in the unhappy policy of 
 France, now torn asunder by the factions of Bur- 
 
153 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the religious world, it required a mighty impulse to 
 I^* shake their usurpation. Nothing could have been 
 \^^^s/^^^ better devised for this purpose, than the flames of 
 martyrdom. It was the master-piece of human 
 cruelty ; and its abettors thought, it was the ne plus 
 ultra of policy, and the most effectual prohibition. 
 But in following their blind counsels, they were 
 laying the sure ground for their own overthrow ; 
 and a firm foundation for the establishment of 
 truth ! What could speak more powerfully to the 
 breasts of men, than such inhuman exhibitions ? 
 What could be better calculated to awaken the 
 most benighted — arouse the most indolent, and 
 rivet the attention of the most careless ? And 
 such were the effects. As to the martyrs them- 
 selves we need not speak. Their sufferings were 
 great — but their happiness and reward, are eternal ; 
 and, during the short time of their persecution, 
 they enjoyed more solid satisfaction, than their 
 persecutors did, in their whole lives. But to return. 
 Progress of I^ reviewing the multiplied disorders of this 
 the social sys- rcigu we shall find that the frame work of Soci- 
 ety was established. The Country underwent a 
 purgation, similar to that it experienced, under 
 William I. The proud, restless and barbarous 
 spirits of the age were humbled or extirpated. 
 The feudal barrier was invaded. The middle and 
 independent class of society grew more vigorous 
 and powerful. Through the flattering indulgence 
 of the King, the house of Commons, on which he 
 
 
 li 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 159 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 so much relied for the validity of his title, rose to SECTION 
 an authority to which it had never before attained. H. 
 He even allowed them to appoint officers to watch 
 over the expenditure of their subsidies. They 
 proposed and carried into effect, the most whole- 
 some measures, and even went so far, at this early 
 period, as to suggest the propriety of curtailing 
 the revenues of the Church. But the Clergy had 
 gained the ear of the Monarch ; and his former 
 promises, urged on by their arts and his own su- 
 perstitious feelings, led him to endeavour by a va- 
 riety of acts, in favour of the Church, to remove 
 from his conscience, its awakening alarms. He 
 even united with them, as we have seen, in the 
 persecution to the death, and so, indeed, did the 
 Parliament, of the disciples of Christianity. The 
 proposal of the Commons was therefore, rejected, 
 but it serves to shew, to what extent the eyes of 
 the community were open, at that time, to the 
 glaring enormities of the Ecclesiastical body. 
 
 The latter end of this reign was tranquil and 
 well conducted. Henry was inflexible in Justice, 
 and impartial in its administration. He was wise 
 and prudent in his schemes for aggrandising his 
 Country. He engaged in the adjustment of the 
 cause between the two contending Popes, the end 
 of which was, the rejection of both ; and the elec- 
 tion of Alexander V. to the Papal chair. He 
 was taking an interest in the unhappy policy of 
 France, now torn asunder by the factions of Bur- 
 
160 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 death. 
 
 SECTION gundy and Orleans. He was even indulging 
 II. thoughts of the Crusades ! 
 
 ^^^i^:4i^ ^^^* ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ of ^is foreign designs he was 
 The King's surprized by death. His summons was sudden 
 and unexpected. He was seized with* apoplexy 
 w^hilst offering up his prayers before St. Edmund's 
 Shrine ; and died within the precincts of West- 
 minster. Whilst the lamp of life was lingering 
 in its socket, he employed the lingering moments 
 in giving his last injunctions to his Son. He 
 exhorted him to administer the law with imparti- 
 ality, to succour the distressed, and to beware of 
 flatterers, with many other sage observations re- 
 specting government. 
 
 Henry IV. was, certainly, admirably adapted 
 for the situation to which he was unexpectedly 
 raised. He made the best, of the worst materials. 
 He was prudent in counsel and prompt in execu- 
 tion. He was the same man, both in prosperity 
 and adversity. He was courteous and affable ; 
 and by his familiarity, won the humbler classes of 
 his subjects. I do not upbraid his character 
 with cruelty. — All his acts were rendered neces- 
 sary, to sustain the course he had entered upon. — 
 His severity was not from choice, but necessity. 
 He died young, at the age of forty-seven ; but he 
 was old, in experience. He was one of those men 
 who gain wisdom from their former errors : and cer- 
 tainly, the latter end of his life exhibits a great de- 
 gree of moral, I wish I could say. Christian virtue. 
 
 His Charac- 
 ter. 
 
 SECTION II. CHAPTER II. 
 
 HENRY V THE CONQUEST OF FRANCE : STRUGGLES OF 
 
 PROTESTANTISM. 
 
 Chap. U, 
 
 A. D. 1413 
 Henry V, 
 
 We are now about to enter upon a celebrated por- 
 tion of our history.— The period it embraces is ^^^™^ 
 brief, but the reign of Henry V. is pre-eminent in 
 martial achievement and national triumphs, and 
 has always been the boast and pride of Englishmen. 
 So great was the confidence, and such, the sub- 
 mission inspired into the people, by the distin- 
 guished abilities of Henry, that all ranks of peo- 
 ple were anxious to swear allegiance to his person, 
 even before coronation. This unanimity of mind 
 and feeling, predicted a vigorous reign. The body 
 politic was animated with one soul, and hence it 
 was likely, that its motions would be uniform and 
 powerful. The coronation was solemnized on the 
 ninth of April. His words and actions were manly, 
 wise, and prudent. He seemed to enter upon the 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTIO^T functions of his high dignity with more than mor- 
 II. tal energy ; and raised the hopes of his admiring 
 Chap. u. ^^^^^^^ ^^ ||.g highest pitch. He dismissed the 
 
 flatterers of his youthful follies — regulated the ju- 
 dicial proceedings — removed incompetent and cor- 
 rupt officers — endeavoured by proclamation, to in- 
 stil some moral vigour into the mind of the com- 
 munity, and sat every day, for a certain period, to 
 hear the petitions of the people. Before he attend- 
 ed to the funeral obsequies of his father, he endea- 
 voured to make some reparation to the memory of 
 the unfortunate Kichard, by removing his body, 
 which had been meanly interred at Langley, with 
 great solemnity, to Westminster. 
 
 He went further, and in compliance with the 
 superstitious and unhallowed notions of the time, 
 sent to llomxC for absolution, from the crime of his 
 death. A strong proof to us, of the immense 
 power the Papal throne exercised over its subjects, 
 when such a strong mind as that of Henry's was 
 thus pow^erfully induced to yield to its influence. 
 Persecution Scarccly had Arundel the Archbishop of Can- 
 ofthe Lollards. ^g^l^yj.y^ performed the ceremony of the Corona- 
 tion, than he entered with fiery zeal on the duti/ 
 of persecuting the Lollards, or protestants of the 
 day. By his influence, another of those hateful 
 engines of arbitrary power, a commission, was is- 
 sued to enquire into the character and extent of 
 heretical opinions. The report of the enquiry 
 was, that the doctrines of Wicliff had spread to 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 163 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 a most alarming extent through the country ; and SECTION 
 especially at Oxford, where the students had im- H- 
 bibed them with enthusiasm. A Synod or Con- 
 vocation was assembled at St. Paul's, to receive 
 the report of the commissioners ; and when it 
 w^as delivered, the whole assembly was throw^n 
 into consternation. In looking round for a victim 
 by whose destruction, they might strike a salutary 
 terror into the minds of the heretics ; and put a 
 timely check to their pernicious doctrines — the 
 eyes of all were fixed upon Cobham, a nobleman of 
 high birth, and distinguished abilities, both as a 
 statesman and a soldier. He was most obnoxious 
 to the hierarchy, for the unwearied zeal with which 
 he propagated the simple doctrines of Christianity ; 
 his example was considered most dangerous, 
 and, if unchecked, most fatal to the interests of the 
 Papal church. But Lord Cobham stood high in 
 the favour of the young King, and to accomplish 
 his fall was acknowledged to be a difficult enter- 
 prize. But it was eff'ected by the artifice and 
 management of Arundel. The King undertook 
 to use his influence with Lord Cobham, and to en- 
 deavour to reclaim his misguided servant, but 
 failing to accomplish his purpose, he gave him up 
 to the will of his enemies. Lord Cobham's answer 
 to the King, from its true Protestant spirit, is wor- 
 thy to be recorded,— '' You, I am always most 
 ready to obey, because you are ' God's Minister ' 
 and bear the sword for the punishment of evil 
 
164 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IT. 
 
 Lord Cobham 
 brought to 
 trial. 
 
 t 
 
 SECTION doers. But as to the Pope and his spiritual do- 
 11. minion, I owe them no obedience, nor will I pay 
 them any ; for as sure as God's word is true, to 
 me it is fully evident, the Pope of Rome is the 
 great Antichrist, foretold in Holy writ, the 
 ' Son of Perdition, ' the open adversary of God, 
 and the abomination standing in the Holy place. " 
 This noble declaration should be engraven upon 
 the hearts of our children to all generations. 
 
 Arundel, supported by the sovereign power, is- 
 sued a citation for Cobham to appear before him, 
 which refusing to do, he was excommunicated.— 
 He was however, at length, obliged to appear, 
 and after a long and vexatious trial, in which he 
 evinced much of the wisdom and spirit of Christi- 
 anity, he was condemned. " The day" said Arun- 
 del, " passes away fast, you must come to a con- 
 clusion.— You must either submit to the ordinances 
 of the church, or abide the dangerous consequen- 
 ces." To which Cobham replied.—" My faith is 
 fixed. Do with me what you please." The Pri- 
 mate without further delay, "judged and pro- 
 nounced Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham to be 
 an incorrigible, pernicious and detestable heretic," 
 and having condemned him, he was delivered to 
 the secular jurisdiction for the execution of the 
 
 sentence. * 
 
 The day which passed over the heads of that as- 
 sembly, has left a melancholy record of their deli- 
 
 * Rymer vol. ix, p. 61. Fox p. 642. 
 
 ■ 
 
 , 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 165 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 berations. It has passed away — ^but the record SECTION 
 remains, a stain upon their memory on earth and 
 an accusing witness against them in Heaven ; and 
 observe this remarkable fact. — The Archbishop 
 w^ho presided on that occasion was destined, in a 
 shorter interval than his victim, to appear before 
 the tribunal of perfect justice and unerring 
 WISDOM. He died on the tw^entieth of February, 
 of an inflammation of the tongue, with which, it is 
 said, he was seized at the moment of pronouncing 
 sentence upon Lord Cobham. Be that as it may, 
 his death was sufficiently striking to draw the fol- 
 lowing remarks from Bishop Goodwin : " He who 
 had withheld from the people, the word of God, 
 the food of the soul, by the just judgment of God, 
 had his throat so closed, that he could not speak 
 a single word, nor swallow meat nor drink, and 
 was thus starved to death.* " His death caused 
 some disorder in the councils of the persecutors, 
 and Lord Cobham contrived means to escape from 
 his confinement in the tower. He fled into Wales, 
 and for the space of four years, eluded the maUce 
 and vigilance of his enemies. 
 
 Happily, in the midst of the darkness and igno- 
 rance of the times, and the enormities of the Papal 
 church, Christianity was gaining for itself a 
 throne in the hearts of thousands. The writings 
 of Wicliff, like a lamp in a dark place, shot an 
 enlivening ray throughout the land, and many 
 
 * Ency. Brit, in loc. 
 
I 
 
 166 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION there were, who hailed the light and rejoiced in 
 II* it. No stronger proof can be given of the very 
 
 ^^^-^^)-^^ general bias in favour of the doctrine of the gos- 
 pel as inculcated by Wicliff, than the circum- 
 stance, that when the King had fixed a great 
 price on the head of Lord Cobham, no person 
 could be found to betray him. 
 Origin of the ^^t whilst the rulcrs of the Papal church were 
 
 War with thus pcrsccutiug Christianity to the death, the 
 instability of their ow^n usurpation was manifest ; 
 w^hilst God was designing, for the present, to put 
 a stop to their deadly persecutions. The Commons 
 brought in a bill to put down the Monasteries, and 
 to reform, generally, the intolerable abuses of the 
 ecclesiastical body. This bold enactment filled 
 the whole Hierarchy with alarm and resentment. 
 To use the words of the historian* which are suf- 
 ficiently expressive. " This bill caused the Abbots 
 to sweat, the proud Priors to frown, the poor 
 Friars to curse ; the foolish Nuns to weep, and all 
 her merchants to fear, lest Babel should sink." 
 The bill, however, was not fully carried into 
 effect, yet one hundred and ten monasteries w^ere 
 suppressed and their temporalities given to the 
 King. But the measure of their iniquities w^as 
 not yet filled up. Neither the rulers, nor people, 
 were qualified to reform ; and the King is divert- 
 ed from further enquiry by a nobler prey, in pur- 
 suing which, he was destined to become the scourge 
 
 * Hall. Hist. 
 
 .H 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 167 
 
 of France, already distracted as we have seen, SECTION 
 with the factions of Orleans and Burgundy. 
 
 Archbishop Critchley had succeeded Arundel 
 in the see of Canterbury, and was equally conspi- 
 cuous for his talents and intolerance. He foresaw 
 the evil effects likely to result to his own order 
 from such proceedings in Parliament ; and by a 
 bold and inhuman stroke of policy, determined to 
 put a stop to them for the present. He began by 
 rousing the martial spirit of the King, and turning 
 his thoughts to the ambition of empire and the 
 glory of war ; and in a set speech in Parliament, 
 reminded him of his unquestionable right to the 
 throne of France, which had descended to him 
 from his illustrious ancestor, Edward III. The 
 scheme succeeded, the breast of Henry was fired 
 with the prospect thus opened before him, and in 
 his desire to accomjjUsh it, every thing of a domes- 
 tic and humbler character was forgotten. 
 
 The Archbishop's motives were politic ; but, in 
 every respect, degrading to humanity ; but in his 
 blind desire to save the apostate church, he was 
 rousing the vice-gerent of heaven, to accomplish 
 its mighty purposes against the whole kingdom 
 of France. The Kings motives were equally 
 corrupt, but of a different character to those of 
 the Prelate ; they were not so degrading, yet were 
 they equally at variance with truth and rectitude. 
 Such was the origin of the celebrated French war 
 under Henry V! In pursuing its details, we 
 
168 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 169 
 
 hastens the 
 war. 
 
 SECTION shall find nothing gained by England, except 
 M- martial glory, inasmuch as all the territory ac- 
 
 ^^^^^^^^ quired, was so soon to be relinquished, and the 
 English themselves to be expelled from the soil 
 of France. But we shall perceive the fearful 
 chastisement to which that unhappy country was 
 exposed, already torn to pieces with internal dis- 
 sentions, and daily massacres ; and he who discerns 
 not the inflicting hand, must be inaccessible to 
 the demonstrative evidence of circumstances. 
 
 French folly As the War itsclf was founded in injustice, so 
 it was carried on, under its influence. An em- 
 bassy was sent to France, and instructed to make 
 such exorbitant demands as it was well known, 
 could not be admitted. A second embassy was 
 dispatched with a similar message ; but it is diffi- 
 cult to say, where these negociations might have 
 ended, had they been left to their own course. 
 But rash impertinence set the whole into a flame. 
 The Dauphin of France, in ridicule of the prepos- 
 terous demands of the ambassadors, sent their 
 master, a present of a ton of tennis balls, intimat- 
 ing, that such playthings were better suited to his 
 habits, than the laborious exercise of ai-ms. This 
 was enough. Immediate preparations were made 
 for war, which the French endeavoured by nego- 
 tiation to avert ; but which, by their insolence and 
 levity, they only hastened and aggravated. 
 
 The place of rendezvous for the English army 
 was Southampton, but on the last day of July, 
 
 I 
 
 tl 
 
 when all was ready for embarkation, a dangerous SECTION 
 conspiracy was discovered in the English army. !'• 
 The persons engaged in this nefarious transaction, ^^^-v'-x^ 
 were Richard Earl of Cambridge, Henry Scroop 
 lord treasurer, and Sir Thomas Grey a privy 
 counsellor, they had agreed with the French 
 ambassadors for the sake of " all corrupting gold," 
 to attempt the crown and life of their Prince. 
 The bribe was said to be a million of gold. Their 
 design was defeated and turned to their own ruin ; 
 but the attempt itself, covers all parties with the 
 deepest infamy. 
 
 At length, on the thirteenth of July, the arma- Henry sails 
 ment reached the coast of France, near Harfleur, ^^^' ^*"^"*^^- 
 where like William of Normandy, leaping on 
 shore, the King bowed the knee in token of sub- 
 mission to the throne of Heaven ; and sought his 
 favour, in aid of the enterprize, which he had pre- 
 vailed upon himself to believe, legitimate. I men- 
 tion this circumstance, not as a proof of his piety, 
 — for I can see no justice in the undertaking, but 
 as another testimony, that all great minds, and 
 especially those, who have been signal instruments 
 in carrying on human affairs, from the times of 
 Cyrus and Alexander, have manifested this pecu- 
 liar disposition of mind. 
 
 Harfleur was the first point of attack, and was His ceiebrat- 
 taken after great waste of human life, and coloni- ^ '^^ ^^ 
 zed from England. The season being now far 
 advanced, the King prepares to conduct his army 
 
170 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 It 
 
 SECTION into winter quarters. Calais was the point to 
 II- which he intended to go; and lest it should 
 seem beneath the dignity of a conqueror to go by 
 sea, which would have been perfectly safe, he 
 determined to brave all hazards, and to make his 
 way by land ; little thinking, that he was about 
 to conduct one of the most perilous enterprizes 
 ever undertaken — not excepting the retreat of the 
 ten thousand — to achieve one of the greatest of 
 victories, and to bring on the French nation the 
 most disastrous calamities. His little band con- 
 sisting of about fifteen thousand men, no sooner 
 moved from Harfleur, than they found themselves 
 in the midst of almost insupportable difficulties. 
 The enemy had cut down the bridges, blocked up 
 the roads, rendered the fords impassable, by driv- 
 ing down sharpened stakes, removed all provision 
 from the line of their march, rendered every step 
 of advance desperate, by w^ell concealed ambus- 
 cades ; and harrassed the rear with incessant skir- 
 mishes. In short, by the vigilance and activity 
 of the French, Henry and his whole army were 
 reduced to the greatest straits; and were under 
 the necessity of feeding on the nuts and roots, 
 afforded them by the woods and fields. But 
 nothing daunted, Henry had arrived at Virron, 
 with the design of passing the Somme, at Blanch- 
 taque ; but finding it too strongly fortified, he 
 marched by Vormes and pitched his camp at Bei- 
 leu, intending to cross the river at Port de Remi ; 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 171 
 
 but this pass being, also, too well secured, he con- SECTION 
 ducted his march along the banks of the river H* 
 Hargest. The French army under the command 
 of Albert, constable of France, followed his move- 
 ments along the opposite bank. Henry still in- 
 tending to pass the Somme, resolved to attempt 
 it at its very mouth, and passing by Amiens, 
 Bowes, and Corbue, he ascertained by his spies, 
 the possibility of accomplishing the passage at 
 Saint Quintin's. He did accomplish it, but with 
 his little army so overcome with fatigue, sickness 
 and famine, that his men were more fitted to enjoy 
 the comforts and asylum of a hospital, than the 
 labours of warfare. — But after the passage of the 
 Somme they w^ere far from finding rest. They 
 w^ere constantly harrassed by the enemy. — Their 
 days were spent in unheard-of toil — their nights 
 in watchfulness. Their lodgings were cold and 
 wet — their provisions scanty and miserable. Such 
 indeed w'ere their privations and dangers, that 
 their high-spirited leader was ready to have bar- 
 gained for their safety, by the restitution of Har- 
 fleur. And it may be here remarked — ^let the re- 
 mark have what weight it may — that his inflexible 
 piety was the means of saving his army. He 
 strictly forbad the pillaging of churches and reli- 
 gious houses ; and for a breach of this order, one 
 of his soldiers was put to death. The country 
 people were so affected with this forbearance, that 
 in spite of the strictest commands to the contrary, 
 
 His regard 
 for religion. 
 
172 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Passing ob 
 scrvation on 
 Hume. 
 
 SECTION they shared their scanty morsel with Henry's sol- 
 diers ! By this means he was enabled to pursue 
 his way through every difficulty ; till at length, 
 about October, he came in view of the French 
 army drawn up in order of battle, and in such a 
 position, that it was impossible for him to avoid 
 an engagement. Like the worthy descendant of 
 Edward III. he prepared for the event. He threw 
 himself from his horse, and commanding all his 
 men to imitate his example, the whole army 
 kneeling on the earth, with uplifted hands and 
 eyes, implored the divine assistance. 
 
 It is difficult to say upon what grounds, the 
 historian Hume has omitted such particulars as 
 these. His, is a melancholy page: a cold and 
 cheerless field of inquiry : a wilderness of human 
 error, without those oases of verdure which ele- 
 vate our hopes, and solace our desponding hearts. 
 Surely, the philosopher could not think it degrad- 
 ing, to offer worship to the Omnipotent. If he 
 did, such philosophy, by the consent of all, should 
 for ever, be banished from the society of intelligent 
 beings. If there be any thing noble, any thing 
 elevated in the human mind, it must be inspired in 
 the moments of its approach to the Supreme Being; 
 or, if there be any privilege in man's superiority, 
 it must mainly consist, in his ability to adore the 
 hand by which he exists, and by whose power he 
 has been distinguished. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 173 
 
 Henry, as we have seen, was now in sight of SECTION 
 the French army, one hundred and forty thousand ^^- 
 
 Ch AP H. 
 
 strong, whilst his owti troops did not muster more ^^x^^r^ 
 than ten thousand effective men. To all human battle of 
 
 , Agincourt. 
 
 calculation, his destruction was mevitable ; and 
 the confidence of the French was so great, that 
 they could not refrain from the most insolent 
 manifestations of it. They repeatedly sent taunt- 
 ing messages to Henry, one of which was, to ask 
 the sum which he intended to propose for his 
 ransom. But he was silent, treated their ambas- 
 sadors with the greatest generosity, sent them 
 back with magnificent presents, and returned such 
 answers, as discovered the unruffled composure of 
 his breast. 
 
 The day fixed for the battle was now approach- 
 ing ; and the manner in which the preceding night 
 was spent, by the two armies, will sufficiently 
 discover the mind and temper of each. The 
 French were occupied in all kinds of rejoicing and 
 excess. The English were engaged in watching, 
 in prayer, and in mutual exhortations to valour. 
 The King was employed with his officers in ar- 
 ranging the order of battle ; and the morning 
 dawn beheld every man at his post, awaiting in 
 breathless silence, the issue of the. important day. 
 
 The point of approach to the French army was 
 chosen between two woods, which served to pro- 
 tect their flanks. The archers, defended by a 
 moveable barrier of sharpened stakes six feet long, 
 
174 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 175 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION were disposed with great art, as wings to the 
 ^^- main body. A company of bowmen of extraordi- 
 nary Strength and agility, were posted in a low 
 ground, as an ambuscade, and defended by a deep 
 ditch filled with water. In the woods, which we 
 have said covered the approach, were concealed a 
 Strong body of horse, which were ordered to wait 
 the most favourable opportunity, and attack the 
 enemy when the battle became general. The van 
 was commanded by the Duke of York, supported 
 by the Lords Beaumont, Willoughby, and Stan- 
 hope. The main body was led by Henry himself, 
 in complete armour, his helm surmounted with a 
 crown of gold, of dazzling brightness, and his 
 shield was quartered with the arms of France and 
 England. His horse, of high spirit, was richly 
 caparisoned, and his trappings embroidered with 
 the victorious emblems of the English monarchy ; 
 whilst before him, was borne in gold and splendid 
 colours, the standard of England, with innumer- 
 able banners of every order. Thus arrayed, and 
 whilst waiting the attack of the enemy, the im- 
 mortal hero, thus addressed his ardent band. 
 
 " You are now entering, " he said, '' the glori- 
 .ous field of honour, which by your valour may 
 become more renowned than even the fields of 
 Cressy and Poictiers. For my part, England 
 shall never be charged with my ransom, nor any 
 Frenchman triumph over her King.— Death or 
 Victory shall be my portion, as I expect it will 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 be yours. I am persuaded by your very appear- SECTION 
 ance that, future ages will stand amazed to find ^^^ 
 
 1 J Chap. II. 
 
 w^hat the lance, the battle-axe, the sword, and 
 the bow can perform in the hands of such val- 
 iant men. — But although these are the mighty 
 weapons, by which we are to reap the harvest of 
 this day — ^yet I rely upon Omnipotence for vic- 
 tory ; and it is a remarkable coincidence in divine 
 Providence, that our enemies have offered us battle 
 on the very day, appointed in England, for the 
 people to implore a blessing on our arms : so that 
 in the moment of conflict, the whole English na- 
 tion will be lifting up their hands and eyes to 
 Heaven for our success." With such words he 
 encouraged his soldiers to the desperate encounter 
 which was so soon to follow. 
 
 In the mean time, the French were advancing 
 in three lines. The first was led by the Constable 
 of France, the Dukes of Orleans and Bourbon, 
 and several others of the chief nobility. The se- 
 cond line was commanded by the Duke de Berri, 
 and the Earls Alencon and Nevers. The third, 
 by the Duke of Brabant, and the Earls of Marie, 
 Fauquenberge and Monsieur de Lormy. The right 
 wing was led by Arthur Earl of Rechemont ; and 
 the left, by Lewis de Bourbon ; whilst the whole 
 army was crowded with the most illustrious names 
 of France. 
 
 The ardour of the English was at length so 
 great as scarcely to be restrained, Henry however 
 
176 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 
 SECTION delayed, in hopes that the French would begin 
 II' the charge. But when he saw them halt, and not 
 wishing to damp the courage of his troops, he 
 gave the word of advance with a loud voice. — 
 '' Since our enemies have intercepted our way to 
 Calais — let us make our way through their ranks 
 in the name of the Glorious Trinity, and on the 
 most propitious day of the year." He then alight- 
 ed from his horse, to share the equal dangers of 
 the day. The army now advanced, preceded by 
 Sir Thomas Erpington, who gave the signal for 
 the attack by throwing his truncheon into the air. 
 The clouds were rent with the acclamations of the 
 soldiers. The archers in the wings, advanced and 
 began the fight, making dreadful execution with 
 their yard-long arrows. Against these, a select 
 body of French cavalry were ordered to advance ; 
 but they were so dreadfully galled by the incessant 
 showers of darts, that the attack became disor- 
 dered. — One rank crowded upon another, and the 
 confusion was greatly aggravated by the narrow- 
 ness of the pass. Instead of a regular and well- 
 compacted phalanx, the French horse exhibited 
 an indescribable melee of men and horses. The 
 van was impelled forward, by the mechanical force 
 of the mass behind, and the archers retired within 
 their moveable spikes, upon which the impaled 
 horses of the French, offered a frightful barrier 
 to their advancing cavalry. During the whole 
 of this time, the two hundred bowmen in ambush. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 177 
 
 \ 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 performed deeds of death upon the crowded ranks SECTION 
 of their foes. The moment the French cavalry H. 
 reached the spikes of the archers, was critical, 
 and a black tempest of arrows overwhelmed them 
 with destruction. Such as escaped the havoc at 
 this point, in utter despair, fell back with such 
 force and precipitation, that they disordered the 
 main line of the first division which was advan- 
 cing behind them. The archers, thus perceiving 
 their ranks exposed, threw away their bows and 
 with great courage, rushed forward with sword 
 and battle-axe. The French stood their ground 
 as well as their broken lines would permit, and 
 sustained a dreadful carnage. The archers retired 
 as if for a breathing time, and then, with redoubled 
 vigour returning to the charge, the attack proved 
 irresistible, and the enemy fled. 
 
 Henry was now advancing at the head of his The English 
 main body, to attack the second line of the French, •'''^''^"''^• 
 which firmly awaited the charge. Henry acted 
 the part of a General and a common soldier, and 
 everywhere exposed himself to danger. He soon 
 rendered himself conspicuous, and eighteen French 
 noblemen combined to destroy him, or perish in 
 the attempt. They made a furious attack upon 
 his guard; and charged so near, that one of them 
 with a battle-axe, struck him on the crest, — But 
 their courage was exerted in vain : they were im- 
 mediately repulsed, and paid for their bold enter- 
 prize with the loss of their lives. In the defence 
 
 N 
 
178 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 rages. 
 
 SECTION of the King s life the valiant David Gamm, the 
 II. Welsh chieftain, greatly signalized himself, and 
 was at length mortally wounded, together with 
 two of his relatives. The loss of these brave 
 men was the subject of great grief to the King ; 
 and in the midst of the battle, whilst they lay ex- 
 piring on the ground, he found time to confer on 
 them the honor of knighthood, the only acknow- 
 ledgment he could then bestow, of the regard he. 
 The Battle entertained for their services. Still the battle 
 rased, and the Duke of Gloucester was struck 
 down with a battle axe : the King stood over the 
 fallen body, defended him, and saved his life. 
 But whilst he was thus engaged he received 
 such a severe blow on the head, that it brought 
 him on one knee, whilst two gentlemen, in armour 
 similar to his own, were slain at his side. The 
 English, encouraged by the example of their leader, 
 pushed on with such fury, that at length they 
 broke through the French battalions, whose horses 
 pierced by the archers, had become ungovern- 
 able. At this critical juncture, the English cav- 
 alry which had been stationed in the woods, 
 rushed on the rear of the disordered foe. This 
 decided the conflict, and the French General, 
 Alencon perceiving all was lost, and determining 
 not to survive the fatal day, advanced into the 
 thickest of the fight, calling for Henry, and crying 
 out that he was Alencon. Nor long. The two 
 leaders were now in sight of each other ; Alen9on 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 i 
 
 179 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Death of the 
 
 rushed forward, and with a furious blow of his SECTION 
 battle axe, cut off part of the crown, which formed II. 
 the crest of Henry's helmet. This ferocious attack 
 so roused the spirit of the English lion, that his 
 uplifted arm was nerved with redoubled might, flench Leader. 
 and the falling axe laid his noble antagonist in 
 the dust. Henry would fain have spared his life, 
 but his enraged followers were deaf to his com- 
 mands. 
 
 By the foresight and intrepidity of the English, 
 two armies had now been routed ; but there stood 
 a third behind them still untouched, which might 
 have joined an equal contest. But fear now per- 
 formed as much as the sword, and without waiting 
 for the attack, they fled with precipitation. The 
 EngUsh were victorious, but surrounded with 
 imminent dangers. They who fled, were more in 
 number than the victors : they who were prison- 
 ers, out-numbered their guards. The enemy also 
 were seen rallying on an adjacent rising ground. 
 Henry sent them a threatening and peremptory 
 message, that if they did not disperse he would 
 shew them no mercy. They were overawed and 
 retired. But unfortunately for the French prison- 
 ers, some of their troops which had fled at the 
 first onset, cowardly attacked the English camp 
 which was feebly guarded, pillaged the tents and 
 baggage, and carried off the King's crown, to- 
 gether with immense spoil. The noise and cla- 
 mour of the assailants, in the rear — the approach 
 
 \ 
 
180 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 181 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Kin 
 
 SECTION of liig^t, and the vast number of the prisoners 
 II. made it necessary, inasmuch as they were appre- 
 hensive of a general attack, to issue orders for a 
 massacre of the prisoners, whilst the English 
 although fatigued and harrassed, bravely prepared 
 for a renewed fight. But all was soon quiet. 
 The plunderers having effected their purpose, 
 retired. 
 Piety of the This suddcu alarm was soon changed into joy, 
 when they found themselves undisputed masters 
 of such a field, and the King was so convinced of 
 a superior cause that he returned solemn thanks 
 to God, at the head of his army. He directed the 
 hundred and fifteenth Psalm to be sung, and at 
 the words " Not unto us Lord, not unto us," he 
 commanded all his army to prostrate themselves 
 on the ground, in token of their humility. After 
 this, in presence of his nobility and the French 
 Heralds, who had been sent to obtain leave to bury 
 their dead — he declared that it was not his own, 
 but an UNSEEN hand that had gained the victory ; 
 and that the carnage they had that day seen, was 
 intended as a divine infliction upon the French 
 nation. The King then enquired the name of the 
 nearest castle and being informed that it was Agin- 
 court — then, he replied, '' let this field of fight, to 
 all posterity be called the battle of Agincourt. " 
 
 I have been the more minute in detailing the 
 particulars of this famous battle, because it is so 
 strongly marked, throughout, with the interference 
 
 The King 
 
 of an Almighty hand. The chief incidents are so SECTION 
 miraculous, (it is difiicult to use any other word) H- 
 
 f^ T T 
 
 that it is unnecessary to recapitulate them. They 
 must be abundantly manifest to the most superfi- 
 cial reader. There was little in the result of the 
 contest for the advantage of England, and the 
 whole, no doubt, belongs to the history of France. 
 The victory was not followed up ; and the King 
 after remaining a short time at Calais, returned to 
 England. 
 
 The triumphant entry of Henry into London, 
 was of the most imposing character. He was '■^^"'"' ^"^ 
 
 ^ ^ ^ England. 
 
 met by the Lord Mayor and Corporation and four 
 hundred Citizens in robes — the streets, were hung 
 with tapestry, on which were depicted the exploits 
 of the Kings of England. He heard Psalms and 
 Hymns every where sung, in praise of his victory. 
 But with the same profound humility as before, he 
 refused his own praise, and attributed all to God. 
 From the same feeling he would not permit his 
 dinted helmet and battered armour, to be carried 
 before him in the procession, alleging, that it 
 would be too vain an affectation of glory. At St. 
 Paul's he alighted from his horse, and made a so- 
 lemn thanksgiving-offering for his safe return; 
 and in order that all his subjects might unite with 
 him in this grateful exercise, he appointed a day, for 
 a general thanksgiving throughout his dominions. 
 Such was the awe impressed on the mind of the 
 King, from the conviction, that in the whole of 
 
182 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION this matter, he was acting as the signal instrument 
 
 II. of heaven. 
 Chap. 11. ^Yhcnce could this impression arise but from a 
 supernatural source "? It will not be alleged 
 that it could arise from a weak or distempered 
 mind ; nor : can it be considered as a necessary 
 concomitant of the superstition of the times. For 
 previously, there was nothing of this kind manifest 
 in his character. Nor was it the result of contact 
 with persons of a religious or enthusiastic turn of 
 mind. It was learnt in the camp and in the field. 
 It was the result of an influence which amidst 
 affliction, wonders and miracles he was obliged 
 to own, and with which, he was willingly captiva- 
 ted and overcome. 
 
 Soon after the King s return, the Emperor Sig- 
 ismund at the desire of all Europe, became me- 
 diator between the tw^o contending powers. But 
 w^hilst he was prosecuting his design at the court 
 of London — the aggressions and treachery of the 
 French, compelled him to give it up in disgust, 
 and after entering into alliance with Henry, here- 
 turned into Germany. The King now thought of 
 nothing but war, and France was again destined to 
 become the theatre of renewed slaughters, as it 
 still continued to be, of factions and rebellions. 
 
 In the mean time, a deadly contest was carrying 
 on in the professed house of Peace — in the bosom 
 of the Eoman Catholic Church — the legitimate 
 descendants, forsooth, of those, whom St. Paul 
 
 Negociation 
 attempted. 
 
 Schism of the 
 Popes. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 183 
 
 I 
 
 a 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 designates as " the beloved of God, called to be SECTION 
 Saints*." This furious contest was no other than li- 
 the conflicting claims of three competitors for the 
 triple crown, Benedict XIII. elected by the Span- 
 iards, Gregory XII. by the French, and John IV. 
 by the Italians. To x)ut an end to the animosities 
 and bloodshed attending this struggle, a general 
 council was appointed by the Princes of Europe, 
 to be held at Constance. This assembly was per- 
 haps the most splendid and numerous ever collect- 
 ed together. There were present, the Emperor — 
 the Pope — the Belgrave of the Rhine — three Patri- 
 archs, twenty seven Cardinals — forty seven Arch- 
 bishops — one hundred and fifty Bishops— Princes, 
 Barons and Gentlemen, above thirty thousand. 
 The English deputation made a prominent figure, 
 and drew forth the admiration of all, for their learn- 
 ing and splendour^. Mighty was the preparation, 
 and it was but reasonable to suppose, that the re- 
 sults of their deliberations would be in keeping 
 with such pretensions. But alas ! this famous as- Power of the 
 sembly was as far distant from the wisdom and ^^^^^^^ly. 
 spirit of Christianity, as they were superior in splen- 
 dor to the apostolic council of Jerusalem. The 
 secular question (for such it was) was soon decided, 
 by the elevation of Martin IV. to the Papal 
 
 * Epist. Rom. i c. 2 V. 
 
 f Bishops of London, Salisbury, Lichfield and Coventry, 
 Bath and Wells, Norwich, Hereford, St. David's, accompanied 
 by the Earl of Warwick 
 
 % 
 
 \ 
 
184 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION chair. A decision of itself, destructive of the doc- 
 ^^11- trine of infallibility. The circumstance of three 
 
 v^^^i^^-O contending and contradicting Infallibles, is impos- 
 
 ible ; and still more, if more can be admitted, when 
 
 a fourth, who before had no pretensions to it, is 
 
 elected to their exclusion. 
 
 Weakness of From the decision of this question wherein the 
 
 the Synod. asscmbly shewed its strength, they proceeded to 
 dispose of others, wherein they discovered their 
 weakness. The books of the immortal Wicliff 
 were decreed to contain heretical doctrines ; and 
 ordered to be burnt. John Huss and Jerome of 
 Prague, men of eminent learning and piety, were 
 committed to the flames of martyrdom, and to 
 crown the united wisdom of the thirty thousand, 
 Bridget, the holy maid, was canonized ! It is impos- 
 sible, for the words of the historian were he to fill 
 foKo after folio, to paint in more striking colours 
 the character of that day. These facts embody 
 the very image of the times, and fill the picture 
 ■with striking contrasts of light and shade. But 
 the darkness prevails. It is like one of Martin s 
 midnight scenes— deep— gloomy and full of terri- 
 fic objects ; but without that gratifying sublimity 
 which always triumphs, in the delineations of 
 nature. 
 
 ^ If any thing can cure us of our prejudices, or 
 diminish the obstinacy with which we cleave to 
 our preconceived opinions, it must be, such exhi- 
 bitions as those presented to us in the council of 
 
 Uses to be 
 made of such 
 events. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 185 
 
 Constance ! No man can boast entire exemption SECTION 
 from prepossessions. They are inspired by the ^^M- ^^ 
 institutions of our country— by received customs, v^^^C^ 
 by current opinions, and by parental authority. 
 Every division of the globe, every country, every 
 religious sect, every class of society, has prejudi- 
 ces peculiar to itself. These prejudices have a 
 tendency to contract the mind, blunt the feelings, 
 and obscure the understanding. Every page of 
 history corroborates this truth, and furnishes 
 examples of its malignant effects. But the details 
 of history have a tendency to remedy the influ- 
 ence of this universal disorder. History extends 
 our views and enlarges our ideas of men and 
 things, extinguishes the pride of our own superi- 
 ority, opens our minds to candour — induces a 
 liberality of sentiment and a correctness of judg- 
 ment, with which the spirit of intolerance and 
 persecution is incompatible. 
 
 But Christianity, which teaches on a sublimer Lord Cobham 
 scale, and embraces in its system all that is grand ^^"^^^ "^'" 
 in philosophy, and all that is splendid in morals ; 
 which unites every principle and every sentiment 
 in the bond of charity, was at this period, in 
 England, enduring a similar outrage to that which 
 we have been considering. Lord Cobham, who 
 after his condemnation had escaped from the 
 Tower, was at length retaken, and again brought 
 before the blood-stained tribunal. Many fresh 
 comi^laiuts were urged against him, particularly 
 
186 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 187 
 
 Chap 
 
 SECTION that of defacing the pictures in the mass book ! an 
 "• indignity it was solemnly urged, against the Saints 
 in Heaven! Our self-love would tempt us to 
 hope, that such inconceivable blindness and intol- 
 erance do not belong to the human family gener- 
 ally, but are peculiarly the offspring of Popery. 
 But alas ! they are indigenous in our nature. Po- 
 pery was only a prolific soil for their nourishment 
 and growth. The storm against Lord Cobham was 
 cruel in the extreme ; and as it was the first noble 
 blood shed in England, for entertaining sentiments 
 in opposition to the Roman church, so was his 
 death pre-eminent in cruelty. He was suspended 
 in chains ; and in this manner burnt alive. 
 
 Oh cursed lust of power I that would coerce 
 The very thought; 
 And to glut its impious appetite — 
 Demand the blood of ma^. — 
 In the mean time, Henry had embarked a second 
 time for France, and landed at Harfleur, at the 
 head of a valiant and well-provisioned army. He 
 was here met by Cardinal des Ursins, who at- 
 tempted to incline him towards peace. But the 
 King replied to him in the following remarkable 
 terms as recorded by Hume. " Do you not see 
 said he, that God has led me hither, as by the 
 hand-? France has no sovereign. I have just 
 pretensions to that kingdom. Every thing here 
 IS in the utmost confusion, no one thinks of resist- 
 ing me. Can I have a more sensible proof, that 
 
 Second expe 
 dition into 
 France. 
 
 1 
 
 Chap H. 
 
 the Being who disposes of Empires has determin- SECTION 
 ed to place the crown of France upon my head ! '' H* 
 These words require no comment. The King 
 proceeded at once to active warfare. Nothing 
 could stay his progress, and throughout the Win- 
 ter, he advanced from conquest to conquest. In 
 order to proceed more rapidly with the subjugation 
 of Normandy, he resolved upon the reduction of 
 Rouen, its capital, a place of extraordinary strength 
 and the deposit of immense riches. It was a 
 dreadful resolution, and by the obstinacy and 
 resistance of the inhabitants, they brought upon 
 themselves the most unheard of calamities. The 
 King's intention was not to destroy, but to reduce 
 the city, which he designed to accomplish by a 
 strict blockade. This was so effectual that they 
 were reduced to the greatest extremities — they fed 
 on horses, and every kind of inferior animals, and 
 even killed one another for the purpose of sustain- 
 ing life : and it was not, till thirty thousand had 
 perished by famine, that they consented to send 
 commissioners to treat for peace. Henry at first 
 stood on peremptory terms, but as all truly brave 
 men, temper severity with mercy, the King com- 
 miserating their sufferings accepted their submis- 
 sion, and secured to them the full enjoyment of 
 all their ancient privileges and immunities. 
 
 The day after the capitulation, Henry entered ^^^^^ taken. 
 Bouen in great pomp as its sovereign. He held 
 his court there as Duke of Normandy, and regu- 
 
188 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 189 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION lated the internal affairs of the kingdom. Nor did 
 I^- he stay long, but hastened to pass the frontiers of 
 France ; and though the power of that kingdom was 
 roused against him, yet he quickly penetrated to 
 Alberil and St. Valiere. The French court had now 
 recourse to negociation, and Melun was appointed 
 as the place of meeting between the Kings of 
 France and England. On the day appointed, 
 attended with splendid trains they met. But 
 the splendour of the French pavilion was greatly 
 increased by the presence of the Queen and her 
 accomplished daughter, Catharine. Henry had 
 before been captivated by the reported charms of 
 Catharine ; and the Queen, who was deeply skill- 
 ed in the arts of intrigue, presently saw how much 
 his prepossessions were increased by the sight of 
 those charms. She attempted by the sudden 
 removal of the object to inflame his desire, in 
 order to obtain less rigorous demands: but the 
 King saw through her design ; and was more con- 
 firmed in his resolution to stand firm. Through- 
 out the whole of this conference and its interruption, 
 the French were only endeavouring to create 
 delay. They deceived: they perplexed every 
 thing ; and whilst offering peace with one hand, 
 they were preparing for war, with the other. The 
 Dauphin and the Duke of Burgundy who had 
 been engaged in deadly opposition, unite in firm 
 alliance, and all parties resolve for a time to hush 
 their common feuds, and to unite their strength 
 
 4 
 
 s; J 
 
 in resisting the enemy of their country. The SECTION 
 path they took was not for their honour. H. 
 
 When Henry became acquainted with their de- ,^^^^i^^-^ 
 sign and intentions, he was roused to great resent- France spoii- 
 ment, and hastened to unsheath his sword. — ^a and con. 
 Poictiers soon fell into his hands. This opened 
 his way to Paris, which he took by surprise. The 
 sword was every where awake, and busied in 
 slaughter. The Duke of Clarence lay before 
 Paris. The King himself was engaged in the Isle 
 of France. The Duke of Gloucester w^as storming 
 Saint Germaine. The Earls Marshall and Hunt- 
 ingdon were in the county of Mayne ; and they 
 were all, at the same time, victorious. The French 
 nation was now in the most deplorable condition. 
 Their capital taken: — their country threatened 
 with destruction by a victorious enemy, and torn 
 in pieces with internal dissensions, and irrecon- 
 cilable hatreds. 
 
 The reconciliation of the Dauphin and Burgundy Dukeof Bur- 
 was wholly in appearance : but such as it was, °""*^y assassi. 
 and brief as it w^as, it laid the foundation for the 
 overthrow of France ! The Dauphin viewed Bur- 
 gundy as the real enemy of France, and considered 
 his death, as the only event that could heal the 
 disorders of his country. The impious thought 
 once admitted, became predominant ; and led to 
 its accomplishment. — The Duke of Burgundy was 
 assassinated, when invited to meet the Dauphin, 
 under the pretence of a conference. 
 
i 
 
 190 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 191 
 
 Treaty (5nt«r- 
 ed into with 
 flenry. 
 
 I 
 
 In his untimely end, we are called to observe 
 the judicial appointment of heaven. By his hand 
 the Duke of Orleans, twelve years before, had been 
 assassinated in the streets of Paris, which had given 
 rise to a long series of evils. He himself now 
 met with a retributory fate, which in like manner 
 gave birth to increased calamities. The animosity 
 of faction and the miseries of France, were increased 
 in a ten-fold degree. The Queen herself resented 
 the murder ; and excited the young Duke to revenge 
 his Father's death ; and by every art, endeavoured 
 to accomplish the ruin of her own son, the Dauphin. 
 But this was not to happen. That son was the 
 Alfred of France, and destined, when all its hopes 
 were lost, to be her restorer. 
 
 Through the influence of the Queen and the 
 resentment of the Duke of Burgundy, a treaty was 
 entered into with Henry, now advanced into the 
 very l)owels of France. The conditions were more 
 ample and honourable than he contemplated. 
 But they were dictated by unnatural affection, am- 
 l)ition and revenge ! The Dauphin was to be ex- 
 cluded from the throne of his ancestors — the 
 Queen's daughter was to be united in marriage 
 with Henry— the Regency of France was to be 
 conferred upon him ; and on the death of the 
 French King, the crown itself was to descend to 
 him. There could be no hesitation in accepting 
 such proposals. The nuptials between Henry 
 and Catharine were celebrated with extraordinary 
 
 m 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 M 
 
 i^': 
 
 pomp and magnificence. The French nobility SECTION 
 swore allegiance, and, in every respect he was H- 
 considered as the ruler of France. \^^r-^^^^^Ly 
 
 But the Dauphin was yet in arms ; and it was siege of Meiun 
 concluded that no time should be lost in his sub- 
 jugation. One place after another was taken from 
 him ; and Henry sat down before the important 
 city of Melun. The most vigorous assaults were 
 made upon the town to no purpose ; and the 
 King at last ordered the walls to be undermined. 
 The besieged, countermined. At one time a mine 
 having been effected, the King himself entered 
 first, with his drawn sword. On the side of the 
 besieged, the foremost man was the Duke De 
 Barbasan. These two met, and for some time sus- 
 tained a furious contest — At length De Barbasan, 
 disclosed his name, and Henry, announced his. 
 The French Governor immediately retired, and 
 ordered the barricades to be closed. Melun was 
 afterwards taken, and pardon secured to all but 
 the murderers of the Duke of Burgundy. Barba- 
 san, as it is said, was saved, according to the laws of 
 chivalry, by pleading his single combat with 
 Henry. But this is a digression. 
 
 On his return to Paris, Henry, as Regent of j^^^^ 
 France, assumed its proper authority in appointing ^es sovereign 
 and displacing of officers — redressing grievances ^'''^*^* 
 and reforming abuses. He even caused a new 
 coin to be stamped, to declare the union of the 
 
192 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 193 
 
 I * 
 
 SECTION two countries, in the reverse of which, were 
 
 11. quartered the arms of France and England, 
 ^^^^i^ui^ Henry having disposed of the affairs of France, 
 The King's as wcll as circumstanccs permitted, and having 
 Tous cTnl'cfat ^Ppointcd the Duke of Clarence his Lieutenant, 
 home. he arrived in England with his Queen, who shortly 
 
 after, was crowned. The King in person, visited 
 a great part of the kingdom, and redressed every 
 kind of abuse, with a judgment, for which he has 
 been justly celebrated. He also gave the death- 
 blow to the appointment to vacant, Bishopricks, 
 by the Pope. It is of importance to observe this 
 fact, because it tends to shew that this power which 
 had been exercised by the Pope, was considered a 
 usurpation. After thus vigorously ordering the 
 internal affairs of his own country, he was again 
 called to France. During his absence, the Scotch 
 had sent assistance to the Dauphin, and in a des- 
 perate engagement, the Duke of Clarence was 
 slain by the Duke of Buchan. Henry on his 
 arrival, carried every thing before him ; and during 
 the siege of Meaux he had the satisfaction of 
 hearing of the birth of his Son, whom he named 
 Henry, and it is said, pronounced that he would 
 become unfortunate. 
 
 France com. After the Surrender of Meaux nothino- could 
 pietciy subju. ^^p^^gg j^jj^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ inspired by 
 
 his might, that deputies were sent to him from 
 various places, offering to capitulate within a cer- 
 tain time, if not previously relieved. But there 
 
 «. 
 
 
 was none to relieve, and the Dauphin was reduced SECTION 
 to the greatest extremities. 
 
 In the midst of his successes he was joined 
 by his Queen, whom he attended to Paris, where 
 they were entertained with the greatest pomp ; and 
 where Henry exercised the sovereign power 
 in the fullest and most unequivocal manner. 
 It was now the crisis of this great enterprize. 
 The French murmured, but were overawed : and 
 at length, from the justice and impartiality of his 
 acts, their jealousies were turned into affection. 
 He was hailed, not as the conqueror, but the 
 father and benefactor of France, in which acknow- 
 ledgment, they tacitly admitted the judgments of 
 God to be just and salutary. 
 
 From the seat of empire, with great strength 
 and unusual preparation, Henry went out against ness and death. 
 the Dauphin, determined, at once, to strike a de- 
 cisive blow. But the blow was averted. The 
 great ruler of events, who had intended to 
 chastise and humble France, having now accom- 
 plished His purposes, turned aside the fatal stroke. 
 He again restores to France, her own Prince, 
 whom he had shielded from harm ; and appoints 
 to the distracted country its regular order of gov- 
 ernment. On the eve of his march, Henry was 
 seized with a fistula, which under the unskilful 
 management of his Physicians soon proved fatal 
 In vain he attempted to proceed with his army. 
 His strength entirely failed him. He could only 
 
 o 
 
 Henry's ill- 
 
I 
 
 194 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION issue his commands ; and expired on the thirty first 
 ^^ of August, leaving his elder brother, the Duke of 
 Bedford, Regent of France, and his younger bro- 
 ther, the Duke of Gloucester, Eegent of England. 
 
 This event, which v^as the first of a series of cala- 
 mities to England, affords a signal example of the 
 instability of all human greatness; and displays 
 the power of an unseen hand, which can curb the 
 spirit of princes, with as much ease, as the feeble- 
 ness of babes and sucklings. Both are alike in 
 his hand ; and Henry whom he had raised up, and 
 adorned with every accomplishment of body and 
 mind, is laid aside in a moment. The goodly 
 fabric is despoiled of its glories, and crumbled into 
 dust. We still admire the ruins : for this magnifi- 
 cent Prince, with scarce a stain upon his character 
 after he ascended the throne, save what the neces- 
 sity of things imposed upon him, was a noble 
 monument of the power of the Divine Architect. 
 
 Notwithstanding, during his reign, the social 
 system advanced but little. Indeed, its tardy pro- 
 gress through centuries of time, is, in no small 
 degree, confounding. We can perceive by the 
 historic record that it was advancing, but it was 
 by slow and almost imperceptible degrees. The 
 history of all Nations and all times, furnishes us 
 with a like fact in the conduct of human affairs. 
 But a fact so extraordinary, must be supposed to 
 involve some principle, essential to the human 
 character under its present condition. For it is 
 
 Reflections 
 suggested by 
 the History. 
 
 m.^ 
 
 f 
 
 1 y 
 
 ■■1 ' 
 III 
 
 Bm'' ' 
 
 1 
 
 ' mi 
 
 HUI 
 
 
 'f 
 
 ■ 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH Hli>TOaV. 
 
 195 
 
 f 
 
 Chap, If. 
 
 evident that the Author of our being, if he pleased, SECTION 
 could in a short time, advance society to its highest II. 
 elevation of improvement and intellectual attain- 
 ment. It cannot arise in Him, from want of bene- 
 volence to dictate such a course, or a defect of 
 wisdom to conduct it.— We may, therefore pre- 
 sume, that the tardy progress of society is best 
 adapted to the nature of man. We shall find the 
 truth registered in the volume of nature. Those 
 things which are for the enriching of man, and 
 for enabling him to build up and adorn his civil 
 institutions, are precious, and difficult of attain- 
 ment. When nations begin, de novo, they have 
 nothing ])ut their physical powers to rely upon. 
 With great labour and toil, cities and the monu- 
 ments of society, arise. Labour accumulates pro- 
 perty—Property begets the arts and elegancies of 
 life. — Such an advance of society gives ])irth to 
 leisure ; and o^^^mZ/rf? leisure, promotes intellectual 
 improvement. Doubtless, the great Architect of 
 the worid could have altered this course of things, 
 by placing the materials of advancement, more 
 easily, within the reach of man. Had this been 
 done, in all proba])ility, the system of society would 
 not have existed at all ! Man is naturally indolent. 
 —It is the disease of his nature. It is a matter of 
 fact, that in those uncivilized countries, where 
 the means of living are abundant, the tribes who 
 inhabit them, are most indolent, and most degraded. 
 But even should mankind with the materials at 
 
\ 
 
 196 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 197 
 
 SECTION hand, have aspired to society, what would have 
 ^^- been the result ? — Unoceupation and leisure. A 
 
 Chap. [I. r i ' 
 
 state oi things utterly inconsistent with the nature 
 of man, and the economy of the Divine Govern- 
 ment. Labour is the great check to vicious indul- 
 gence ; and man is made to labour, against his 
 will. Let us review this astonishing fact as con- 
 nected with the history of our species, and compare 
 it with the original denouncement on our first pa- 
 rents — " In the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat 
 thy bread, " — and we shall, at once, be convinced 
 that it is the law of our existence ; and in obedi- 
 ence to which, we shall find our greatest happiness. 
 This slow and progressive improvement, seems 
 also to be best adapted to the genius of man. His 
 moral powers are incapable of sustaining sudden 
 and violent changes. Look at the history of indi- 
 viduals : sudden prosperity elevates — adversity 
 depresses. It is the same with nations. Look 
 at the effect of sudden successes, or sudden revolu- 
 tions—A nation is intoxicated with joy or phren- 
 zied with madness. To take an example from our 
 ow^n times. — Forty years have now elapsed since 
 the French Revolution, and tranquillity has not 
 yet been restored to that country. During this 
 period, the happiness of millions of Frenchmen 
 has been destroyed ; and indeed, the civil happi- 
 ness of the whole nation. No doubt the hurricane 
 of the Revolution w^as necessary for the purgation 
 of France, I only adduce the event to shew, that. 
 
 ). 
 
 \ 
 
 ■« 
 
 D'l 
 
 > 
 
 V 
 
 sudden and violent changes are, immediately, des- SECTION 
 tructive to human happiness, and that cahn and W* 
 gradual advancement is best adapted, and indeed 
 only adapted to our present state, — so that a nation 
 cannot, at once, mount to the height of eminence, 
 and any precocity of this kind, may be presumed 
 to be short lived and unstable. 
 
 In cases of colonization, where the colonists 
 have carried with them, the experience and civili- 
 zation of a more advanced state, their progress 
 may be facilitated ; but to be safe and enduring, 
 it must be gradual. — Too rapid an advance will Ije 
 likely to end in extravagance of one kind or other, 
 and to hasten a revolution. 
 
 Perhaps, America w^ill ])e adduced to shew the 
 futility of these observations. But in vain. We 
 are aware of the rapid and unprecedented rise of 
 that country, and can have no doubt, l)ut it is in- 
 tended to become a mighty Empire. But it must 
 be subject to the laws w4iich have governed all 
 nations and all times. It began its progress under 
 peculiar advantages : It had been fostered by this 
 country with great care, and strengthened by the 
 accession of some of her best citizens. At the 
 Era of her independence, she had acquired consi- 
 derable solidity, and a variety of circumstances at 
 that period, precipitated her career. The tide of 
 her prosperity has not ceased to flow, and she has 
 afforded the fact of a nation, doubling its popula- 
 tion and property in thirty years. But v»hat does 
 
 LS. 
 
198 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 , I 
 
 SECTION all this shew ^ It shews that a country posses- 
 H. sing prodigious natural advantages, and colonizing 
 from highly civilized states, has in a short time 
 made unexampled acquisitions of people and 
 property ; and that unceasing activity and indus- 
 try have heen followed hy their natural results. 
 
 But will it shew that, that Nation has gained 
 equal solidity in Government, refinement in social 
 intercourse, or unity of feeling in the community ^ 
 These queries will be sufficiently answered in the 
 extract* given ]ielov»% from an important work 
 lately given to the public. We have no design to 
 decry America. We de»ire nothing so much as 
 the improvement of our race. But we are search- 
 ing for great truths ; and the history of America 
 and her present state, will be a grand evidence to 
 shew, that slow and gradual advances in improve- 
 ment are best adapted to the genius of man, and 
 
 *' Perhaps, on iniparlial inquiry, it may appear that a country 
 is best governed when the principal authority is vested in a 
 permanent senate. But there seems little probability that such 
 a body could be established here. Let it be proposed by the 
 best men among us, and it would be considered as a plan of 
 aggrandizing themselves. Experience alone can incline the 
 people to such an institution. That a man should be born a 
 legislator, is now, among unfledged witlings, the frequent sub- 
 ject of ridicule. But experience, that wrinkled matron, whom 
 genius contemns, and youth abhors ; experience, the mother of 
 wisdom, will tell us, that men destined from the cradle to act 
 an important part, will not in general, be so unfit as those who 
 are objects of popular choice. When a general abuse of the 
 right of election shall have robbed our government of respect, 
 and its imbecility have involved it in difficulties, the people will 
 feel what a friend once said, ' that they wavit somethin<j to pro- 
 tect ihem, against themselves,' " 
 
 / 
 
 >|V 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 199 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 essential, indeed, to the principles of his Being, SECTION 
 and that where this course is deviated from, it will "• 
 be attended with danger and peril. It is impos- 
 sible at this period of the world's existence, to 
 suppose that new principles are to be discovered 
 in the moral powers of man. The same springs of 
 action which have governed him from the begin- 
 ning must continue to tlo so. — 
 
 i .:" 
 
 I 
 
 '4 
 
 i 
 
 ; 
 
i 
 
 SECTION II. CHAPTER III. 
 
 HENRY VI. DELIVERANCE OF FRANCE THE SCENE OF 
 
 THE DIVINE JUDGMENTS CHANGED TO ENGLAND. 
 
 lip 
 
 Ml? 
 
 gency. 
 A. D. 1422. 
 
 I i 
 
 SFCTION ^^ ^^^ death of Henry V. the principal actor 
 II, was removed from this scene of the drama ; but 
 Chap. III. there were left behind him ardent spirits, fully 
 En-iish Re- ^^^^^^ ^0 the great task he had imposed upon them. 
 He had appointed as v;e have seen his elder 
 brother, the Duke of Bedford, regent of France — 
 a man of consummate ability and romantic valour. 
 His younger brother, Humphrey Duke of Glou- 
 cester was Regent of England; and the education 
 of his infant son he had committed to Thomas 
 Duke of Exeter and Beaufort, Bishop of Winches- 
 ter. These men Avere all admira])lv fitted for 
 their several appointments, and entered on the 
 discharge of their respective duties, with the 
 utmost devotion. Every thing prospered in their 
 hands; and the affairs of England both at home 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH IIISTOUY. 
 
 201 
 
 and abroad were in the most flourishing condition. SECTION 
 But it was the deceitful calm which precedes the II- 
 
 Chap. MI. 
 
 storm. 
 
 We have already observed that the affairs of 
 France were tending towards a beneficial change ; 
 and in reviewing its course, we shall not fail to 
 discover the hand by which it was conducted. 
 Charles the VII. of France did not survive Henry 
 more than a few days ; and his son the Dauphin, 
 like another Alfred, was hunted from one place to 
 another ; but his spirit and courage was invincible. 
 The Eegent of France, in strict alliance with the 
 Duke of Burgundy, was victorious wherever he 
 turned his arms ; and, at the battle of Verneville 
 achieved a second Agincourt. — 
 
 The first thing that seemed to shake this pros- 
 perous state of affairs in France, was a private 
 quarrel between the Duke of Gloucester, Regent 
 of England and the Duke of Burgundy ; which, 
 although it was composed through the influence of 
 the Duke of Bedford, yet, as we shall see, drew 
 after it important consequences. 
 
 Another event occurred, which although it 
 seemed to arise from a private quarter, was the 
 means of imparting vigour, to the rising destinies 
 of France. This was a contention in England 
 between the Protector and the Bishop of Win- 
 chester, tutor to the King. It is unnecessary to 
 enter into the particulars of this quarrel, the 
 result of jealousy aud ambition. To settle the 
 
202 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 203 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 I 
 
 The aflkirs 
 
 feu to a crisis. 
 
 SECTION difference, the Regent of France was obliged to 
 li' leave the government of this kingdom, which, at 
 that time, from the defection of the Duke of Bur- 
 gundy and the Earl of Rechemont, more than ever 
 reqiiired his presence. 
 
 Whilst the Duke of Bedford was in England, 
 one of the King's tutors, the Earl of Exeter was 
 removed by death — a man of great wisdom and 
 abiUties. In his place was appointed Beauchamp 
 Earl of Warwick, who had been left as Lieutenant 
 in France during the Regent's absence, and had 
 rendered singular service to the English cause. 
 
 The calamities of France were now hastening 
 of France has. to a crfsis. 1 hc Dukc of Bedford having estab- 
 lished matters in England, returned to France, 
 accompanied by the Bishop of Winchester, who 
 on his arrival in that country, received the habit 
 and dignity of cardinal. On his return home, 
 armed with the authority of a Legantine Bull, he 
 levied great exactions upon the clergy, by which 
 he enriched himself beyond precedent. But to 
 return. 
 
 The Earl of Warwick on his appointment in 
 England, was succeeded in France by the Earl of 
 Salisbury — a man second to none, both in the 
 council and the field. In order to strike a deci- 
 sive blow, he is sent to the siege of Orleans — a 
 place almost impregnable, well garrisoned and 
 well provisioned. The siege of the place was con- 
 ducted in regular form, for sixty days, and its 
 
 Siege of 
 Orleans. 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 \ i 
 
 affairs had become desperate. The Earl to com- SECTION 
 plete the triumph, had resolved upon a general I^« 
 attack; and was making observations for that 
 purpose, at a small grated window, which overlook- 
 ed the city, when to speak after the manner of 
 men, an accident put an eijd to his life and his 
 intentions. A hoi^ at the moment, was levelling a 
 cannon, the ball from which, struck the casement, 
 and by the splinters it occasioned, he was mortally 
 wounded. The assault, in consequence, did not 
 take place, which in all probability would have 
 succeeded, and proved fatal to the affairs of the 
 Dauphin. The fate of France seems to have been 
 suspended upon this event ; apparently as casual, 
 as the death of the King of Israel, who fell by an 
 arrow, which it is said, was drawn at a venture. 
 But another event arose which also assisted. The 
 besieged were reduced to such extremities, that 
 they declared themselves willing to surrender to 
 the Duke of Burgundy. This offer of course, 
 could not be accepted by the Duke of Bedford — 
 but his refusal was secretly resented by the Duke 
 of Burgundy. The siege still continued, when 
 another circumstance arose which had a manifest 
 influence on the whole war, 
 
 Orleans was unexpectedly relieved through the 
 influence of a rustic maid ; and the Duke of Alen- <^'^eans 
 con with a chosen body of troops, forced his way 
 into the town. The maid of Orleans or Joan of 
 Arc, as she is sometimes called, was, nodoubt^ in- 
 
 The MaiJ of 
 
204 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IH. 
 
 SECTION structed l)y some superior spirit, probably the 
 If- Duke of Alencon himself, in the part she was to 
 act. The woman herself was of a romantic turn 
 of mind, and was wrought up to the highest pitch 
 of enthusiasm ; and influenced w^ith a vehement 
 desire of avenging the wrongs of her country. — 
 Her first success gave additional inspiration to her 
 mind. She assumed a divine mission : and on 
 this assumption, in language as if divinely inspired, 
 she encouraged her countrymen, and denounced 
 their enemies. The French universally accredited 
 her mission, and their leaders made the best ad- 
 vantage of the enthusiasm which was created by it. 
 She was clothed in complete armour — mounted 
 upon a noble steed — and to complete the effect — 
 she received a consecrated banner from the hands 
 of the Pope himself. The dying hopes of the 
 French were inspired with new vigour. The En- 
 glish affected to despise the pretended mission. — 
 But it had a secret influence and created many a 
 superstitious fear. 
 
 Her mission The sicgc of Orlcans was raised, not, I dare 
 prospers. g,^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ drcad of the prowess of the sacred 
 
 maid, but from the circumstance of the succours 
 introduced by Alencon. The French attributed 
 the withdrawing of the English to her influence, 
 and a monument to her memory was erected by 
 the grateful citizens. Not a moment of time w^as 
 to be lost, and the brave Alencon with his heroic 
 prophetess, issued forth to battle and conquest.— 
 
 4 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 235 
 
 The Maid of 
 
 The tide of their good fortune induced many to SECTION 
 join their standard, and amongst these, the Con- 1I» 
 stable of France. On a sudden, they attacked the v^^^-v^^ 
 English forces under Lord Talbot, the most cele- 
 brated Captain of the age, and after a long contest TheDauiiiin 
 vanquished them, and took their noble leader cap- crowned, 
 tive. This was too striking an advantage to be 
 neglected, and was improved by the coronation of 
 the Dauphin at llheims. 
 
 The Regent now thought it w^as high time for 
 himself to appear in person. Accordingly, he led 
 his army out of Paris ; and by valour and prudence 
 soon checked the prosperous current of their af- 
 fairs. Their cause was further depressed by the 
 death of the maid of Orleans, who was taken pris- ,, , , , 
 
 ' 1 Orleans taken. 
 
 oner, and shortly after burnt alive at Rouen. It 
 is impossible not to reprobate such a merciless act. 
 — Oh ! thou just and benevolent Being, who rulest 
 over the affairs of men, how abhorrent must such 
 conduct be to thy perfections ! The barbarous deed 
 was in keeping with the ignorance of the age. — 
 The unhappy victim was tried by the Bishop of 
 Beauvois, in whose diocese she had been taken 
 prisoner ; and condemned for vicious practices in 
 conjunction with her pretended mission. The 
 Duke of Bedford and his council gave their con- 
 sent on political grounds, inasmuch as her pres- 
 ence inspired the French with enthusiasm : But 
 we will not dwell upon it. 
 
i ■> 
 
 206 
 
 SECTION 
 11. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 The Duke of 
 Bcdfonl gives 
 ortcnce. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The Duke of Bedford, not to be behind the 
 French, had the young King of England conducted 
 to Paris ; and there solemnly crowned King of 
 France. The English King was entertained with 
 the greatest demonstrations of loyalty and affec- 
 tion ; and through the influence of Pope Eugenius 
 a truce was concluded between the contending 
 parties for six years. Shortly after this treaty 
 the young King returned home. 
 
 Scarcely had he reached the shores of his own 
 country, when a step was taken by the Duke of 
 Bedford which served to hasten the issue of the 
 pending struggle. On his way to Calais in order 
 to quell a certain insurrection, he found time for 
 other matters, and on his arrival at Turwin, he 
 married the daughter of Peter of Luxembourg 
 Earl of St. Paul — an alliance oflfensive to the Duke 
 of Burgundy, and which served still further to 
 detach him from the English interest. Meanwhile 
 the calamities of France were greater than can be 
 described. Let the reader conceive to himself, a 
 country without the protection of law — over-run 
 with armies or, rather predatory bands of soldiers 
 — exposed to pillage, robbery — burning and mas- 
 sacre with all their attendant private evils— let 
 him paint every circumstance that can aggravate 
 these evils ; and then, his imagination will not 
 furnish him with a picture equal in calamity, to 
 the original. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 207 
 
 At length by the intervention of the heads of SECTION 
 Christendom, a negociation was set on foot, and H. 
 Arras appointed as the place of Rendezvous. It ^"*'*' "^' 
 is said to have been one of the most splendid 
 assemblies the age had seen ; but their delibera- 
 tions had proved ineffectual, had it not been for 
 the defection of the Duke of Burgundy from the 
 English alliance. The Dauphin had long seen 
 that the Duke of Burgundy must be won, and he 
 determined if possible to gain him, whilst he him- 
 self from a varietv of causes, which we have en- 
 deavoured to trace, was now ready to break with his 
 English friends. Accordingly, the Dauphin sent 
 him a Carte blanche, desiring him to prescribe his 
 own conditions, which he did, both largely and 
 unreasonablv. 
 
 As the accession of the Duke of Burgundy to 
 the English alliance, by which the French power 
 was divided, had been the means, in a great mea- 
 sure, of English superiority — so his defection, by 
 which that powder was again united, became the 
 overthrow of English domination. 'Ihe energies 
 of France revived and the love of their country, 
 at length overpowered the lust of private revenge. 
 
 The Duke of Bedford was the only bulwark of peath of the 
 the English cause, the only individual able to , . 
 
 " •' ^ ford. 
 
 stem the torrent of success, which now set in upon 
 the affairs of the Dauphin. But he was not per- 
 mitted to act. His sword had now been un- 
 sheathed for the last time, and was destined to re- 
 
 The French 
 nnitf. 
 
 Duke of Bed- 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 -1* 
 
 J 
 
 I I' 
 
 .4 1 
 
208 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i ; 
 
 SECTION pose Avith him in the grave. He died soon after 
 ^^' the Duke of Burgundy's defection, and it is as- 
 
 Chap. hi. Ill 
 
 serted, that the anxiety and vexation of the ciisis, 
 hastened the event. He was the most accom- 
 phshed and magnificent Prince of his age. His 
 prudence, courage, and generosity were unequalled, 
 and he left such a reputation ])ehind, that when 
 certain parasites of Louis the eleventh advised that 
 ]\Ionarch to demolish his magnificent tomb at 
 Ilouen, they received the following answer and 
 rebuke from their Sovereign. " What honor can it 
 be to us or you, to deface this monument ; and to 
 disturb the bones of him, w^ho w^hen living, neither 
 my father nor your progenitors, with all their 
 power, were able to resist? Who by his strength, 
 policy, and conduct expelled them out of the 
 kingdom of France and the dukedom of Nor- 
 mandy? As for this tomb, I do not think it 
 worthy of his honor and his deeds." 
 
 After the death of the Regent there was some 
 difficulty and delay in choosing a successor. At 
 length the most improper choice was made in the 
 person of the * Earl of Cambridge, Duke of York, 
 — not only on account of his latent title to the 
 crown of England, but because he was the avow- 
 ed enemy of the Duke of Somerset, who was then 
 in the government of Normandy. Nothing could 
 have been more infatuated than such a step. 
 
 * Great grandson of Edward III. by his fifth Son. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 209 
 
 
 Could the Protector, who was truly alive to the SECTION 
 interests of his country, have seen the devastations II. 
 and bloodshed which would accrue from the ambi- ^"*'*- "^• 
 lion of this man— Could the King have foreseen 
 the evils which impended over himself and his 
 family from this source ; or, lastly, could the Bi- 
 shop of Winchester have had a glimpse into his 
 own future history— the Duke of York would have 
 been the last man in the kingdom to have been 
 promoted : but blind to their own real interests, 
 and guided by private feelings, they took a step, 
 contrary to the remonstrances of the Duke of So- 
 merset, which involved them in utter ruin ; but 
 which was big with important consequences, and 
 rendered subservient to great designs. 
 
 Before the Duke of York could reach his gov- 
 ernment, Paris was lost ; and all attempts to re- 
 take it, were ineffectual. Rouen was now the 
 head-quarters of the English in the North, and 
 Bourdeaux in the South. Nothing was achieved 
 by the new Regent, owing in a great measure, to 
 the disunion that existed in the English councils, 
 both at home and abroad. He was shortly after 
 recalled, and was succeeded by the Earl of War- 
 wick, the whole of whose Regency was a time of 
 perpetual wars and bloodshed, equally injurious 
 to both parties ; and, in the midst of his heroic 
 deeds, this great chieftain was removed by death. Duke of York 
 
 The Duke of York, who was busily employed '^^^"^ ''n^«» 
 in laying the deep foundations of his future ambi- p^'ce.'^ 
 
 p 
 
210 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 V < 
 
 SECTION tion, had sufficient influence at court, to be ap- 
 H- pointed a second time, Regent of France. He 
 went with a determination to vindicate his tar- 
 nished honour. He had many a sharp encounter 
 with Charles, in which he was generally superior. 
 At length, Charles goaded by despair, and the 
 taunts of his subjects, determined to recover his 
 lost ground. He beseiged Pontheirs, near Paris, 
 with great fury, and after much slaughter on both 
 sides, took it by storm, being himself the first 
 man to enter the breach. The fame of this suc- 
 cessful exploit served to re-establish his reputation 
 and to promote his good fortune. 
 
 In the mean time, another fatal mistake was 
 made in the councils of England — a mistake foun- 
 ded in injustice and fraught with evil to the coun- 
 try at large. The young King had been affianced 
 in the most solemn manner, to the Duke of Ar- 
 magnac's daughter. The King of France was ex- 
 ceedingly averse to this match, as it would have 
 been the means of strengthening the English 
 cause in Normandy and Gascony ; and accordingly 
 made an attack upon the Duke, entered his do- 
 minions and took his two daughters prisoners. 
 The King of England instead, as in honor bound, 
 of demanding his affianced bride, was induced 
 through the influence of De la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, 
 to accept in marriage the portionless daughter of 
 Reyner, Duke of Anjou. The whole of this affair 
 was conducted to its close in direct opposition to 
 
 r 
 
 ^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 211 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Marararet of 
 
 the advice and remonstrances of the Protector. SECTION 
 And there was a party gathering about the King's H. 
 person who were adverse to his plans, and deter- 
 mined to thwart him. They succeeded in this 
 instance too well— and the completion of their al- 
 liance, was attended with fearful consequences to 
 the kingdom at large, and to the house of Lancas- 
 ter in particular. But the devices and intrigues 
 of the court, opposing as they did, the uprightness 
 and integrity of the Protector, were overruled as 
 we shall see, by the Allwise disposer of things, to 
 the punishment of the immediate actors, and to the 
 future greatness and stability of the kingdom. 
 The young Queen upon whom we are now to 
 
 11-, » »/v/ luiiisfarei o 
 
 look as the principal agent in the great transac- A"jou, Queea. 
 tions of this reign ; and who was the unconscious 
 instrument of advancing the Divine purposes— is 
 described as a woman of considerable personal at- 
 tractions—eloquent in discourse— officious in coun- 
 sel — covetous of praise— masculine in courage 
 
 vigilant of her opportunities, daring in execution, 
 and capricious in temper. She was no sooner 
 seated in a share of the throne, than she became 
 the leader of those, whose evil counsels were 
 gaining ascendency about the person of the King, 
 This was to be expected, not only from the natu- 
 ral violence of her own disposition, but from the 
 hatred she had conceived against the Protector, for 
 his strenuous and unceasing opposition to her mar- 
 riage. In his straight forward and manly policy 
 
 r\ 
 
212 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 213 
 
 SECTION h^ thought of nothing but the happiness and pros- 
 II. perity of his country ; and in opposing the merce- 
 
 ^^•J"* nary and ambitious views of De la Pole and 
 Beaufort bishop of Winchester, he exposed him- 
 self to the jealousy and hatred of a faction, who 
 determined upon his ruin. 
 
 The King who was now entering upon the 
 functions of government, had been almost entirely 
 under the controul of the Cardinal of Winchester. 
 Ilis mind though imbued with learning, had been 
 fettered by the haughty tyranny of his tutor — res- 
 trained from every manly feeling, and made the 
 prey of every superstition. Perhaps the prelatical 
 power was never carried to such a height of worldly 
 splendour, as in the person of this individual ; and 
 his magnificent tomb in Winchester cathedral, will 
 serve to convince us that it was indeed a reality. 
 The young King himself displayed none of these 
 ostentatious and ambitious feelings ; but we are 
 led to fear, that his forbearance in these respects, 
 was more, from the authority of his education, than 
 the effect of that humility which is the essence of 
 Christianity, and which does not destroy the 
 spirit and energy of the character, but properly 
 controls and forcibly directs it, into its proper 
 
 channel. 
 Intrigues a^tt 'pj^g Dukc of York, rccklcss of danger, was bent 
 
 thrSDuke of on removing every obstacle that stood in the way 
 
 York. of his ambition. But he was deep and designing 
 
 — never hastening his purposes, but at the same 
 
 f 
 
 France umler 
 
 time permitting no circumstance to escape him, SECTION 
 that could in any way, assist his main project. ^^' 
 He was ingenious in evil ; and an adept in laying 
 those plots, which without awakening suspicion of 
 his real intentions, paved the way for their accom- 
 plishment. 
 
 Amidst such contending powers, perilous in the 
 extreme was the state of England ! But to return 
 to our history. 
 
 The Duke of York had now returned from 
 France, and Somerset had succeeded him as ^^*' ^"''*' "^ 
 
 , Somerset, lost. 
 
 Kegent of that kingdom, where, under his rapaci- 
 ous government every thing was lost. The scene 
 now changes to England ; and the storm of mis- 
 rule first discharged its fury on the lofty but uncor- 
 rupted head of the Protector. Sacred to English- 
 men be the memory of such a man, the firm and 
 unflinching friend of his country ; who for his 
 probity and honor, became the object of hatred to 
 the wicked; and for his vigilance and wisdom, 
 fell a victim to the designs of the ambitious. 
 
 De la Pole, created Marquis of Suffolk, who Murder of 
 had been the chief actor in the King's marriage, ^^^^ ^"''^ ''^ 
 and who unfortunately leagued himself with the 
 Queen, was raised through her influence, to the 
 highest offices of trust ; and became, through the 
 circumstances of his situation, the principal agent 
 in the destruction of Gloucester. The first step 
 of this tragedy was now resolved upon ; and on 
 the first meeting of Parliament at St. Albans, the 
 
"j*^sy r' 
 
 ■m^m^mm^l^mm 
 
 ^ i.%n m.m'^'Mmm 
 
 pawwiJi^ww 
 
 214 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION Protector was arrested as guilty of treason, and 
 W- himself and his adherents cast into prison. But 
 his enemies foreseeing the danger, and indeed 
 impossibility, of accomplishing their designs by 
 public trial ; and their machinations not admiting 
 of the possibility of escape, they allowed him but 
 short respite, and murdered him that night! His 
 death became the immediate signal for tumult, 
 sedition, and bloodshed. Every thing was thrown 
 into confusion. The master power was gone ; and 
 the whole machinery of the state was disordered. 
 The virtuous fled from court, and the wicked tri- 
 umphed. The Queen and her partizans had the 
 entire sway; and the evil influence of their example 
 produced the most lamentable eflects. The greatest 
 discontent prevailed amongst the people, and they 
 rose in many places, against their oppressors. 
 Death of the The death of the Cardinal of Winchester who 
 
 Bishop of Win. ^li^^ at this crisis, like that of Wolsey, might 
 afford an equal monition to mankind, of the vanity 
 of all sublunary good, when acquired by evil 
 means, or employed for ambitious purposes. He 
 is said, in his dying moments, to have exclaimed 
 in language similar to the famous Cardinal of 
 Canterbury : — '' Why should I die, who have so 
 much wealth ? If the whole kingdom would 
 secure my life, I am able by policy to get it, or by 
 my wealth to buy it : Will not death be bribed ^ 
 or, is money of no value ?"* 
 
 * Echard. 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 215 
 
 The death of the Protector had inspired the SECTION 
 hopes of the Duke of York with new vigour, and H. 
 he saw the path-way to the throne, if not free 
 from difficulty and danger, yet as offering no in- 
 superable barrier to his wishes. He now became 
 the great mischief-maker of the times — perverting 
 every good intention of the government — irritating 
 every evil, and, embarrassing all things. He open- 
 ed his designs to those of the nobility upon whom 
 he could rely ; and every where, fanned the flame 
 of discontent against the King s government. The 
 crisis of affairs became appalling. The Parlia- 
 ment was loud in its complaints, and the whole 
 nation was demanding some sacrifice to appease 
 its anger. The popular fury directed itself against 
 Suffolk as the most prominent person, and laid 
 upon him all the evils of mis-government, both at 
 home and abroad. He was a man of great abili- 
 ties, and had served forty years with great reputa- 
 tion in France, during seventeen of which, he had 
 never seen his country, and indeed was in every 
 way worthy of the honor to which he had been 
 advanced. But then, he had tarnished all his 
 glory by his evil alliance with the Queen and her 
 party, and was guilty of the blood of Glou- 
 cester. He was however, for the present, 
 snatched from the impeachments and resentment 
 of Parliament ; and by the influence of the Queen, 
 confined a prisoner in the Tower. But in a few 
 months, falsely thinking that the storm had abated, 
 
 -••BM^ 
 
\: 
 
 li 
 
 216 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION he was restored to his place at the council board. 
 n. But short lived are the immunities of crime. 
 
 K^^^^^^^-xJ This bare-faced indignity to the public, roused a 
 double vengeance ; and to save their favorite from 
 the fate which awaited him, he was banished by 
 the King for five years. But his destruction 
 slumbered not; and the murderer of Gloucester 
 is about to expiate his crime by a retributory 
 punishment. The vessel in which he had em- 
 barked, was captured by a man of war, fitted out 
 by the Duke of Exeter, a circumstance which suf- 
 ficiently shews the state of things at that period. 
 The unhappy minister enjoyed a shorter respite 
 than even that which had been allowed to the 
 lamented Gloucester. His head was struck off 
 on the gunwhale of the boat, and his body igno- 
 miniously thrown upon the shore 
 
 * * * '"jacet ingens lit ore truncus^ 
 Avulsumqiie humeris caput, et sine nomine, corpus.'' 
 The death of the Marquis of Suffolk was a 
 severe blow to the Queen, the stability of whose 
 counsels, much depended upon his abilities. — 
 Things were now fast hastening to maturity. 
 The Queen in plotting new schemes — the nobility 
 in the infraction of law and decency — the people 
 in their mutinous and rebellious acts, were all 
 working their own chastisement — the cure of their 
 licentiousness and the prosperity of England ! 
 Insurrection A formidable insurrection was fomented by the 
 
 ^^^^^i*"- artifices of the Duke of York, and put under the 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 217 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 management of Jack Cade a man of great abili- SECTION 
 ties, but infamous morals. In order to prepare H. 
 the way for the grand object of the Duke's ambi- 
 tion. Cade assumed the name of Mortimer, and 
 pretended to be cousin to the Duke of York. 
 The spirit of the insurrection spread far and wide ; 
 and the Captain of Kent, as he styled himself, 
 encamped at the head of a great multitude at 
 Blackheath, After committing great enormities 
 and levying great exactions on the people of 
 London ; he was at length resisted by the exas- 
 perated citizens, with uncommon bravery. A 
 severe contest took place at London bridge, and 
 many fell on both sides. But it was an effectual 
 check to his progress : for this success being fol- 
 lowed up by a proclamation of pardon, the rebels 
 dispersed. 
 
 In the mean time the Duke of York, who was 
 then stationed as Lieutenant in Ireland, was nar- 
 rowly watching the effect of his plot : and whilst 
 the influence of it, was yet operating upon men's 
 minds, and the discontent of the people still in- 
 creasing, he hastened from his post, fully deter- 
 mined, by every species of villainy, to make his 
 way to the throne. He was now at the head of a 
 formidable body of men ; and had already pro- 
 cured the death of Adam Malleins, Bishop of 
 Chichester and Lord Privy Seal, a man of great 
 integrity, and consequently an obstacle in his way. 
 But there was another individual still more formi- 
 
n 
 
 218 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 
 SECTION dable to him. — This was the Duke of Somerset, 
 II- formerly Regent of France, who by his authority 
 
 CiiAP. III. ^^^ counsel was the chief support of the King. 
 — He saw that in removing the Protector he 
 had achieved nothing, whilst Somerset lived. — His 
 death was therefore determined upon. On his 
 landing he made the greatest protestations of loy- 
 alty, and intimated that he only came to redress 
 grievances and to remove improper counsellors. — 
 The news of his arrival, under such circumstances 
 seemed to awaken even the spirit of the King, and 
 he led an army towards Wales, to teach him more 
 reverence and respect. On the King's approach, 
 his partisans deserted him in great numbers, so 
 that he found himself obliged to submit to the 
 King's mercy. — That mercy was too great. By 
 the most unheard of duplicity, and by the most 
 solemn oaths of fidelity and loyalty, he lulled the 
 fears of the King and procured a reconciliation. 
 
 Having thus far succeeded, the wily Duke ad- 
 vanced another step upon the clemency of the 
 King, and demanded the impeachment of the 
 Duke of Somerset, accusing him of avarice and 
 peculation. The haughty spirit of this nobleman 
 could not brook the indignity of such an accusa- 
 tion ; and presenting himself face to face with his 
 accuser, in the most eloquent and convincing man- 
 ner, he shewed the treachery of the Duke of York 
 and his treasonable intentions and asserted that 
 if they wished to save the country from deluges of 
 
 'I 
 
 [ 
 
 I 
 
 -» 
 1 
 
 fe 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 219 
 
 blood, the Duke of York must be sacrificed to the SECTION 
 public weal. But cjreat as w^as the eloquence and II« 
 
 . Chap. HI. 
 
 foresight of Somerset, it was more than counter- v^^'v'-xl,' 
 balanced by the treachery and falsehood of York. 
 He exclaimed against the injustice of the charge, 
 and alleged the impossibility of such being his in- 
 tentions; and the more effectually to assert his 
 innocence, and blind the eyes of the royal party, 
 he solemnly attested his loyalty before the high 
 altar of Saint Paul's, in the presence of the King 
 and the principal nobility of the realm. 
 
 It will be necessary to detain the reader, for a Affairs of 
 short time to notice the state of France. The *''^"'^- 
 English possessions in that kingdom had been 
 gradually declining, and were now fast tending 
 to utter extinction. A diversion was made in fa- 
 four of the sinking cause in Gascony, under the 
 famous Lord Talbot, Earl of Shrew^sbury, who 
 for twenty-four years had been the terror of France, 
 and by his impetuous valour had been the cause 
 of infinite calamities to that country, and the 
 principal support of the English. On this occa- 
 sion his wonted success failed him. He perished 
 in his eightieth year together with his son, whilst 
 leading on his troops to an unequal charge ; and 
 his, was the last noble blood of England shed in 
 this long contest. The English troops were now 
 recalled, unhappily to be engaged in still more 
 dreadful and calamitous scenes in their own country, 
 for which a long train of circumstances had been 
 
i 
 
 1 
 
 220 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 221 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION preparing the way. When the English soldiers 
 n. were embarking, a French Captain seoffingly 
 asked an English Knight — when they would again 
 return to France "? To w^hom the latter made this 
 reply : "when your sins are greater than ours," 
 an answer that deserves consideration. But to 
 return. Nothing could allay the evil spirit in the 
 breast of the Duke of York, and it is difficult to 
 say in what arts his vicious disposition most 
 excelled — in dissimulation, treachery or perjury. 
 With these spiritual weapons he sought the ob- 
 jects of his ambition, and was allowed to triumph. 
 The Duke of Somerset was yet in his way, and 
 all his powers were exerted to accomplish his 
 destruction. 
 
 The Duke was a great man with his master — 
 wise in counsel and brave in action ; but he was 
 unpopular for his ill success in Normandy, which 
 was lost under his Regency. The Duke of York 
 worked secretly upon this popular dislike ; openly 
 professing loyalty to the King, but covertly, by 
 the most subtle artifices, undermining his author- 
 ity. In this silent manner the plot advanced, till 
 it was greatly accelerated by the addition of two 
 other spirits, as wicked as himself, and admirably 
 fitted to second his purposes. These two indivi- 
 duals were the Earl of Salisbury and his son the 
 Earl of Warwick. The former, famous for wis- 
 dom in council, and the latter for his invincible 
 courage in the field. 
 
 
 V 
 
 After sowing the seeds of disaffection through- SECTION 
 out the kingdom, they proceeded openly to attack li- 
 the Duke of Somerset, whom during a temporary v.J^^v'-vl/ 
 indisposition of the Kinff, they arrested in the ^^'^'^^ ^^ 
 
 ^ ^ O' ./ Somerset by 
 
 Queen's lodgings, and committed to the Tower, tbe Faction. 
 But on the King s recovery, the Duke was released 
 and made Governor of Calais. Disappointed of 
 their prey, they determined upon other measures ; 
 and retired into Wales, for the purpose of raising 
 troops and marching to London. On their ap- 
 proach the King retired to St. Albans, and in 
 accordance with the usual mildness of his disposi- 
 tion, sent some of his Lords to negotiate with the 
 Duke and his confederates. But the demands of 
 the triumvirate were too unreasonable to be com- 
 plied with ; and the impetuosity of the Earl of 
 Warwick soon brought the matter to the appeal 
 of the sword. 
 
 In this dreadful conflict the King was wounded, ^^^^^^ ^f ^^ 
 many of his nobles slain, and amongst them the Aibans. 
 Duke of Somerset. After the battle, the King 
 found himself in the hands of the Duke of York. 
 But even at this moment, dissimulation triumphed 
 over the other atrocious qualities of his mind, 
 which proved to him the source of unnumbered 
 evils, and paved the way for his own destruction. 
 He pretended he had gained all he wished by the 
 death of Somerset ; and with the greatest rever- 
 ence conducted the King to London, where they 
 spent the feast of Pentecost together. No doubt. 
 
 
222 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the Duke had politic reasons for his dissimulation. 
 
 II* The King stood high with the people for his 
 
 K^^^s^^^sL/ pi^ty and clemency ; and the Duke saw, it was 
 
 impossible for him to strike the blow he wished, 
 
 without the greatest risk. But he was intending 
 
 to strike that blow in a more safe and effectual 
 
 manner. 
 
 Duke of York In a parliament which was now assembled, and 
 
 ma epiotector. ^^]^j(>]^ }^g coutrivcd to rcudcr subservient to his 
 
 wishes — ^he Avas declared Protector of the realm — 
 the Earl of Salisbury, Lord Chancellor ; and the 
 Earl of Warwick, governor of Calais. By this 
 means the whole sovereign power was lodged in 
 their hands, and every thing they could desire, 
 seemed to be within their reach. But in the mo- 
 ment of triumph they were least secure ; and their 
 well-laid schemes are not to succeed. 
 
 The Queen once more appears upon the stage ; 
 and in conjunction with the young Duke of Som- 
 erset and other Lords, who clearly saw the designs 
 of the Duke, determined to make an effort to save 
 the crown. A special council was held, in which 
 the King's authority was asserted — the irregular- 
 ity of the protectorship denounced, and the Earl 
 of Salisbury commanded to deliver up the seals. 
 
 But the Queen meditated deeper counsels ; and 
 perceiving the Earl of Salisbury and his son the 
 Earl of Warwick, to be the chief instruments of 
 the evil, designed their ruin. In the King s name 
 on their allegiance, she commanded their attend- 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 223 
 
 ance. But whilst preparing to attend the sum- SECTION 
 mons, they were secretly warned of their danger n. 
 
 and fled. v^J^^^^ 
 
 The King was highly displeased at these vio- 
 lent proceedings ; and having no desire but the 
 peace and prosperity of his subjects, he summoned 
 a grand council to arbitrate between all parties, 
 and, if possible, to bring to an end the vexations 
 and disputes which harrassed the land. 
 
 To shew the state of things at that time ; and 
 the stronghold, which Feudalism still maintained 
 in the country — I shall give a brief account of the 
 nobles and their train who attended this council. 
 
 The Duke of York, with a train of four hundred 
 men, lived in his own house, called Baynard's 
 Castle. The Earl of Salisbury, with five hundred 
 men, occupied a place called the Harbour ; the 
 Duke of Exeter and the Duke of Somerset, with 
 eight hundred men, were lodged within Temple 
 Bar; the Earl of Warwick, with six hundred men 
 in uniform, at the Grey Friars ; and the Earl of 
 Northumberland, with the Lords Egremont and 
 Clifford, with fifteen hundred in Holbom. The 
 King and Queen were entertained at the Bishop's 
 Palace ; w^hilst Godfrey Boleyn, the Lord Mayor,* 
 with six thousand men, daily rode round the city, 
 for the purpose of preserving the peace ! 
 
 The eyes of the whole nation were fixed with a grand 
 earnest expectation on this council. Nor in vain. ^°"^"J^* ^"™' 
 
 * Ancestor of Queen Ann Boleyn. A. D. 14.58. 
 
 \ 
 
 \ 
 
1 
 
 I 
 
 224 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 225 
 
 SECTION After a few meetings — greatly aided by the pru- 
 II* dent exhortations of the Archbishop, a final agree- 
 ment was entered into, and a reconciliation esta- 
 blished amongst all parties. A public rejoicing 
 was instituted on the occasion ; and a magnificent 
 procession to St. Paul's took place, in which the 
 King was conducted in triumph, preceded by the 
 nobles, two and two, one of either party ; and the 
 Queen was conducted by the Duke of York ! 
 
 Whether this reconciliation was as sincere as it 
 appeared — or how long it might have retained its 
 influence, we have no means of judging. An 
 incident, as it seemed, re-kindled all the former 
 animosity into still greater resentment. A retainer 
 of the Earl of Warwick in a quarrel with a ser- 
 vant of the King, wounded him, which so roused 
 the indignation of his fellows, that a general 
 attack was made on the followers of the Earl; 
 many were slain, and the Earl himself returning 
 from the council, with great difficulty escaped 
 with his life. After conferring with his father 
 and the Duke of York, he embarked for Calais 
 as governor of that place, taking with him all the 
 King's ships that were in readiness. 
 
 It is not improbable that the jealousy and fear 
 of the Queen, incited her to this violent breach of 
 the reconciliation ; and that this quarrel was de- 
 signedly brought on. It is certain, that after the 
 flight of Warwick and the strong remonstrances 
 made by Somerset and York, she prepared for the 
 
 
 I 
 
 most desperate measures. She was determined SECTION 
 that a decisive blow should be struck; and for H- 
 this end, she laid her plots in the most extensive 
 manner. Nor had she superfluous time for con- 
 sideration. The Earl of Salisbury set out from 
 his castle at Middleham, with four thousand men ; 
 and the impetuous Queen hurried off the Lord 
 Audley to encounter him. They met at Black- 
 heath. — The contest was obstinate, and ended in 
 favour of the Earl of Salisbury. This victory en- 
 abled him to join the Duke of York at Ludlow, 
 which place became the rendezvous of the party. 
 The strife was now become mortal, every pre- 
 paration was made on both sides and a collision 
 would soon have taken place, had it not been for 
 Sir John Trollope's going over to the King, with 
 a select body of troops. The fears of the confede- 
 rates were alarmed ; and they broke up their camp 
 and fled. The threatening storm seemed once 
 more to be dissipated. The Parliament added 
 their authority to the kingly power, and the three 
 restless and mighty chiefs were outlawed. But 
 Warwick in spite of the King's commands, obsti- 
 nately retained possession of Calais ; and in Ire- 
 land, the authority of the Duke of York was 
 supreme. 
 
 The harrassed kingdom was now beginning to 
 feel the real evils of this deadly strife ; and was 
 about to enter upon a long night of peril and 
 calamity, in which not one of the noble families of 
 
 Q 
 
226 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the land was to escape ; and in which thousands 
 !!• of the common people were to suffer : so that, like 
 
 Chap. HI. ... 
 
 \^^f^-^/^\i^ the infliction on Egypt which came immediately/ 
 from the hand of Jehovah, it may be said of this 
 chastisement on England, which came from his 
 hand, mediately/, that there was '* 7iot a house where 
 there was not one dead'' — Exod. xii ch. 30 v. 
 
 The triumviri still urging their unquiet and 
 ambitious schemes, sent their emissaries through- 
 out the kingdom. But Kent was made the chief 
 scene of their attempts. They published the most 
 artful and perfidious statements — full of loyalty to 
 the King and love for their devoted country. So 
 that, not only the common people ; but persons of 
 rank and station were carried away by their 
 dissimulation. 
 Battle of The menaces of war were again heard ; and 
 
 Northcmpton. f^e Earls of Warwick and Marche, the latter, son 
 to the Duke of York, ventured forth to the contest 
 against the Queen and Somerset. The two armies 
 met at Northampton, where a bloody engagement 
 ensued, in which the Earl of Warwick was victo- 
 rious. Many of the bravest nobility were slain. 
 The King was taken prisoner; but the Queen 
 and the Duke of Somerset escaped to the north, 
 and strenuously employed themselves in raising 
 greater forces. With respect to the person of the 
 King, the same dissimulation was practiced, and 
 he was treated with the utmost respect by the 
 victorious Lords. 
 
 \ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 227 
 
 S' 
 
 ^ 
 
 On hearing of this success, the Duke of York SECTION 
 hastened from Ireland, and without delay, pro- H. 
 ceeded to London. On entering the house of ^l^^i^^;^ 
 Parliament he walked up the hall, and laid his DukeofVork 
 hands upon the throne, as if to read the countenan- p^'"' '''" 
 
 I'own. 
 
 ces of the assembly. A deep silence ensued, until 
 the Archbishop rising, courteously asked him, if he 
 would not pay his respects to the King. The 
 Duke did not expect such a reply ; and all the 
 proud ambition of his soul, which had been so 
 long smothered, burst forth with furious indigna- 
 tion. He answered, that he knew no person in 
 the kingdom to whom he owed allegiance ; but 
 all owed it to him; and, then, openly asserted his 
 claim to the crown. Accordingly, his title was 
 produced before Parliament in writing, and was 
 debated before that assembly. 
 
 The right* of the Duke of York's title on the settlement 
 female side could not be disputed. The attainder ""^'^^ *^''P"^^* 
 
 * The substance of the Duke of York's claim to the crown 
 of England, was as follows— King Edward III. had seven sons, 
 Edward, Prince of Wales ; William of Hatfield ; Lionell, 
 Duke of Clarence ; John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster ; Ed- 
 ^Irf,^ ^"A^ «^ York ; Thomas, Duke of Gloucester ; and 
 William of Windsor. Of these Edward the eldest died durincr 
 his father's life, and left one son, King Richard II. whS 
 died withont issue ; King Edward's second son William died 
 without issue. Lionell, the third son had one daughter named 
 l^hillippa, she married Edward Mortimer, Eari of Marche. 
 Their issue was Roger, Eari of Marche, who had four children 
 of whom only one survived, Anne, sole heires of the house, 
 and married Richard, Eari of Cambridge, son of Edmund 
 Duke of York, fifth son of Edward III. and had by that mar- 
 riage, Richard, Duke of York the present claimant. So that 
 
c 
 
 228 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 
 SECTION of his grandfather was considered the greatest 
 II- bar to his claim. But the long, undisputed and 
 
 Chap. HI. i i t i • /> tx 
 
 v^^^y-v^ acknowledged succession of, Henry, and from a 
 male stem of the same royal stock, was determined 
 to be paramount ; and it was ordained^ ''that for- 
 asmuch as Henry had been acknowledged King, 
 for the space of more than thirty eight years, he 
 should enjoy the name, and title, and possession 
 of the kingdom during his life. And if he died, or 
 resigned, or forfeited the same, violating any point 
 of his contract, that the said crown and dignity 
 should be devolved upon the Duke of York and 
 the lawful heirs of his body to the exclusion of 
 every other. " 
 
 A document embodying in formal terms, the 
 substance of this decree was signed, sealed and 
 sworn to, by the King and the Duke ; and in joy 
 for the settlement of this important question, on 
 All Saints, the King rode in solemn procession to 
 St. Paul's, attended by the Duke of York; and 
 on the following Saturday, the Duke himself was 
 proclaimed by sound of trumpet, heir apparent to 
 the crown of England ! 
 Death of the Hcrc again, to all appearance, there might have 
 
 Duke of York. ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^ ^^^ troublcs of England. But 
 
 dreadful evils were impending ! The much exas- 
 
 on the male line, the claim of the House of Lancaster, was 
 superior, being descended from the fourth son of Edward III. 
 But the marriage with Anne the heiress of the third son, gave 
 a priority to the claim of the house of York. 
 
 1 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 229 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 perated Queen would not suffer the indignity thus SECTION 
 cast upon her offspring, to remain, and made the J'. 
 greatest preparations in her power, for re-establish- 
 ing her authority. If the Duke of York had not 
 gained the eminence he wished, yet he saw that 
 he had ascended as high as he could, with the 
 consent of the people ; and he appeared willing to 
 be satisfied. Having so far, therefore, achieved 
 the purposes of his breast ; he was fired with in- 
 dignation at the contumacy of the Queen, and 
 determined, in the pride of his heart, to chastise 
 a woman's insolence. Such was his precipitation 
 on this occasion, that he set out with only part of 
 his forces, ordering his son the Earl of IMarche, to 
 follow, as soon as possible, with all his power. 
 But alas! he was hastening his own destruction. 
 The punishment of his perjury and treachery, and 
 cruelty, was at hand ! The impatience of his re- 
 venge hastened his march, and precipitated his 
 death. A furious conflict took place at Wakefield, 
 in which the Duke of York was slain, and with 
 him, great numbers of the southern nobility and 
 gentry. Ihe Earl of CHfford was the great 
 champion on the Queen's side, and, was as pre 
 eminent in cruelty as in station. With his own 
 hand he struck off the head of the unfortunate 
 man, whose heart had so lately dilated with joy 
 as heir apparent of England ; and having sur- 
 mounted his pale and ghastly brow, with a mock 
 crown of paper, he presented it to the Queen, at 
 
 Battle of 
 Wakefield. 
 
230 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the miserable spectacle of which, like another 
 II- Tomyris, she seemed to be delighted. But this 
 was not the whole of his punishment. A still 
 more costly sacrifice was to be offered to the 
 demon of revenge. His younger son the Earl of 
 Rutland, a promising youth of twelve years of age, 
 was in the camp attended by his tutor. He was 
 observ^ed by Clifford, from the circumstance of his 
 rich garb, who, pursuing him with his dagger, 
 asked him w^ho he was. The poor boy struck 
 dumb with fear, with many tears, entreated for 
 pardon. But his tutor coming up and thinking 
 to save his life, at once disclosed his rank. The 
 inhuman Clifford raising his dagger, with a fear- 
 ful oath, exclaimed: " As thy father's sword hath 
 slain mine, so shall my sword do to him and all 
 his progeny." On saying which, he plunged the 
 barbarous weapon into his heart. 
 
 But the Earl of Marche was on his way to avenge 
 these cruel deeds, and to requite his father's and 
 brother's blood. On his way he fell in with the 
 western army, under Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, and 
 Butler, Earl of Ormond ; and encountered them at 
 Mortimer's cross, near LudloAv. Nothing could 
 withstand his impetuous valour.. The Welsh 
 army was routed. The Earls of Ormond and 
 Pembroke escaped ; but Sir Owen Tudor* with 
 many others of the nobility, w^ere sacrificed to the 
 manes of his father. 
 
 * Father of the Earl of Pembroke by the widow of Henry V. 
 
 Earl of Marehe 
 victorious. 
 
 t 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 231 
 
 In the mean time, the Queen, with her victo- SECTION 
 torious, but undisciplined forces, proceeded towards II- 
 London. The insolent and notorious conduct of 
 her followers, operated unfavourably on the minds 
 of the people, and, especially, on the citizens of 
 London. But in the midst of their tumult and 
 plunder, and rejoicing, the approach of the Earl 
 of Marche was announced, and threw them into 
 such consternation, that the whole body of their 
 army precipitately fled towards the North. The 
 Earl of Marche entered the metropolis, amidst the 
 greatest demonstrations of joy. His amiable man- 
 ners — ^his known courage — his undoubted title 
 and the supposed breach of the late contract, all 
 united in his favor. He was constrained to accept 
 the crowm, and was shortly after, proclaimed King, 
 under the title of Edward IV. 
 
 
 m 
 
!! 
 
 SECTION II. CHAPTER IV. 
 
 EDWARD IV. — CONTINUANCE OF THE CIVIL WAR — RISE 
 OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER CLASSES OF SOCIETY. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION The character of the young King developed itself 
 W- fortunately to the wishes and expectations of the 
 
 Chap. IV. . i , ^ , , 
 
 v^^^-,^,-^^ people, and they flattered themselves that the 
 Earl of vessel of the state had, at lencjth, rained a safe 
 
 Marche, Duke . ' & ^ & 
 
 of York, pro- nioonug uudcr his shelter. But a sudden tempest 
 claimed King, ^as gathering which was destined to unsettle their 
 
 A. D. 1460. ° T 1 . 
 
 hopes and drive them out once more into the sea 
 of confusion and bloodshed. The sword was not 
 yet to slumber ; and it was little foreseen by the 
 rejoicing multitude, that even in a few days, more 
 English blood would be shed than on any one 
 occasion since the conquest. The forces of the 
 Queen had rallied ; and gained more than usual 
 strength and confidence, from the circumstance of 
 King Henry having placed himself at their head. 
 The young King left London for the North, at 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 233 
 
 the head of forty thousand men, ready to strike a SECTION 
 decisive blow. The armies met at Pontefract. ^I- 
 But previous to the general engagement, the retri- v^r^v^/ 
 butory punishment of the atrocious Clifford was 
 rendered conspicuous. Whilst he was making 
 some arrangements with respect to the position of 
 the troops, whether from the hurry of the moment, 
 or whether, overcome with the oppressive heat, he 
 took off his gorget — when an arrow from an un- 
 known hand, and without a head, pierced his 
 throat and put an end to his life. But as if his 
 own death was not to suffice for his brutality to 
 the innocent Earl of Rutland, it is remarkable, 
 that Clifford's own son, had, as it were, the mark 
 of Cain set upon him, and lived a beggar through 
 the successive reigns of three Kings. * 
 
 The fatal battle of Pontefract followed, which Battle of 
 after a contest of ten hours, ended in favour of ^°"'*'^''^^^' 
 Edward. Thirty-seven thousand men w^ere left 
 dead on the field, with the Earls of Northumber- 
 land and Westmoreland and hosts of the nobility, 
 so that it is said, the neighbouring rivers wxre dyed 
 with streams of human gore. 
 
 After this battle, Edward was crowned at West- 
 minster with great magnificence. The vigour of 
 the young King was shewn, in sending a strong 
 and effective armament into France, to let that 
 nation know, that they must no longer trifle with 
 the English shores ; and to strike a wholesome 
 
 * Restored in the reign of Henry VII. 
 
 I' 
 
234 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 235 
 
 SECTION terror into any of the continental powers, who 
 
 n. might feel inclined to assist the claims of Henry. 
 
 y^^^^^^--^ But the indefatigable Queen left nothing untried, 
 
 King Henry and at thc head of a body of Scots made a furious 
 
 prisoner. jj.j.yp^-Qj^ ' j^^^ England. — But to no effect, and to 
 
 add to her trials, shortly after, Henry himself en- 
 tering England in disguise, was taken prisoner, 
 and committed to the tower. 
 TheConstitu- In the midst of these civil feuds and bloody 
 
 tion advances, coutcntions, the coustitutiou of England was ad- 
 vancing. The common people from the value set 
 upon their services by the contending parties, and 
 by the frequent appeals made to their wishes, 
 began to feel their growing importance ; whilst 
 the nobility were made deeply to mourn the evils 
 of their own licentious liberty; and the whole 
 community saw and lamented, that the executive 
 authority should be liable to so many fluctuations, 
 arising from its entire dependence on the person 
 of the Prince. All this was dear bought, but 
 valuable experience, and led the way to the most 
 substantial improvements. 
 The King's The King shewed that his abilities were of the 
 
 abilities for ^^^^ splcudid character, and fitted, not only for 
 
 government, .... 
 
 the managing of warlike affairs, but for adminis- 
 tering the duties of peace. Edward gathered up 
 the reins of the executive which had been thrown 
 loose, on the necks of mens passions. He redressed 
 the grievances of the state — Insisted upon the im- 
 partial administration of justice, and even sat upon 
 
 t 
 
 the bench with the judges. He reduced the ordi- SECTION 
 nary fees of the courts, and reformed and augmen- H. 
 ted the statute book. He also regulated the coin, .^^Jit^:-!^ 
 and even went so far, as to ordain penalties against biigi.ted by bis 
 excessive pride in dress. But alas ! as the bright- JJcentious con- 
 est scenes in nature are, oftentimes, overclouded 
 wdth storms, so the princely qualities of Edw^ard 
 were for a time — shrouded in darkness, through the 
 violence of passion ; the sinful indulgence brought 
 on a dark night of peril upon himself and his 
 country; and in its calamitous course, the Almighty 
 Governor again manifested the impartiality and 
 certainty of his punishments ; and shewed, that the 
 crimes of Princes as well as people, with dread 
 certainty, bring on their ov^n retribution. 
 
 The affairs of the public being established, the 
 King's thoughts were turned to a matrimonial 
 alliance ; and Bona, daughter of the Duke of Savoy, 
 and sister to the Queen of France, was selected 
 and approved of by the council. The Earl of 
 Warwick at that time, the most powerful and mu- 
 nificent subject of the realm, was chosen to con- 
 duct the embassy. The authority and revenue of 
 this nobleman were too large for any subject, in 
 those turbulent times. His retainers were lodged 
 in every tavern in London, which were filled with 
 his provisions, and such was the number of his 
 domestics, and the extent of his hospitalities, 
 that six oxen were consumed every day, in the 
 single article of beef. 
 
236 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Vigorous in all his proceedings, the Earl was 
 II- not long in conducting the affairs of the King s 
 
 Chap I V 
 
 \,^^^sy^^ marriage, to a favorable issue. But before he could 
 The Earl of rgtuj^^ fpom his embassv, a sudden and violent af- 
 umbrage at the fection, had been conceived by the King for the 
 ^'"^- beautiful and accomplished widow of Sir John 
 
 Gray, slain in Henry's cause, at the battle of Saint 
 Albans. His passion for this lady was such that 
 it blinded his understanding, and obscured the 
 light of reason. Never did the voice of justice and 
 honor speak more audibly, and never were they 
 more completely lost amidst the tempest of passion. 
 He was placing the honor of the Earl of Warwick 
 in jeopardy, and the word of his country — he was 
 insultingly breaking a foreign alliance, which he 
 had voluntarily sued for ; and he was laying him- 
 self and the country, under an obligation to elevate 
 and provide for the family of the wife he was 
 about to choose. I do not introduce the subject 
 in this manner, to pass a stern censure upon the 
 conduct of the King — There are few men who 
 have a right to pass a condemnatory sentence. 
 I do not presume to be of that number. But the 
 circumstance is introduced, because it is material 
 in this history, and affords striking evidence, that 
 violent passion, however disguised, when pursued 
 in contradiction to justice and honor, will draw 
 after it, certain and inevitable punishment. 
 
 The King is married. The Earl of Warwick 
 is deeply wounded, but smothers his resentment — 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 237 
 
 the jealousy of the nobility was excited by the ex- SECTION 
 travagant promotion of the Queen, and the honor of H. 
 the whole nation was tarnished by the transaction. .,^^^\r^ 
 From the moment of his marriage Edward The King and 
 became jealous and suspicious of Warwick, and wLwkk'' 
 
 mu- 
 
 on several occasions discovered evident signs of tuaiiy disgusted 
 his uneasiness and dislike. The Earl retired to 
 his castle in disgust, and resolved, at a fitting mo- 
 ment, to overthrow the man, w^hom he had been 
 mainly instrumental in making a King. 
 
 Edward was no despicable rival and busily oc- 
 cupied himself in contracting foreign alliances, one 
 of which, must be particularly noticed as essential 
 in this enquiry, because, afterwards, it became the 
 turning point of his future destiny, and the means 
 of his restoration, after his fall and consequent 
 punishment. — This was his alliance with the 
 Duke of Burgundy, who sent ambassadors to so- 
 licit the hand of his sister Margaret for his son 
 Charles, the Count Caralois. The ambassadors 
 were courteously received by all but the Earl of 
 Warwick, and sent back loaded with presents, and 
 with a gracious answer to their request. During 
 these negotiations, the old Duke of Burgundy died ; 
 and Charles now raised to the Dukedom, desiring 
 the fulfilment of the contract, Margaret proceeded 
 with a splendid train to the continent, and was 
 married to the Duke at Bourges. 
 
 But the sword was again furbishing for civil 
 slaughter, and a dreadful and complicated scene 
 
238 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION of confusion and bloodshed is about to pass in 
 "• review before us. The Earl of Warwick, to 
 
 Chap. IV. ' 
 
 wick conspires 
 a-jainst the 
 Kin?. 
 
 strengthen himself for his perilous enterprize, 
 
 Earl of War- communicates his designs to his two brothers 
 
 the Archbishop of York and the Marquess Mon- 
 tague, president of that city, and earnestly soli- 
 cited their assistance. They acceded to his wishes, 
 but with great unwillingness, especially Montague, 
 whose indecision was one of the principle points 
 in the denouement of these tragic scenes. The 
 Earl of Warwick next essayed the Duke of Clarence 
 brother to the King ; who was a known mal-con- 
 tent, and had taken umbrage at the elevation of the 
 Queen's family. The Duke is gained, and the 
 unrighteous alliance fortified, by his accepting the 
 Earl's daughter in marriage. 
 
 The Archbishop of York and the Marquess 
 Montague are left to manage matters in England ; 
 and the Earl and his son-in-law retire to Calais to 
 watch the event. The first effect of their traito- 
 rous policy was, an insurrectionary movement in 
 Yorkshire, which at length, became formidable 
 when they were headed by Sir Henry Neville and 
 Sir John Conyers, the latter a man of great ability 
 and reputation. The King on hearing of the rebel- 
 lion and of the designs of Warwick and his brothers, 
 roused himself to action. He dispatched immedi- 
 ately the Earl of Pembroke and his son Sir Richard 
 Herbert to disperse the rebels in the north ; and put 
 himself in readiness to resist the threatened danger. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 239 
 
 ^ 
 
 The hostile parties fell in with each other at SECTION 
 Danes-moor near Banbury, and for a long time II. 
 sustained an equal contest. A great slaughter ^Jii^^i^ 
 took place on both sides ; and it is difficult to say Battle of 
 whether victory could be claimed by either party. ^^°^'-™°°'*- 
 But according to the barbarous custom of those 
 times, many precious lives were afterwards sacri- 
 ficed, among whom, was the Earl of Pembroke, 
 and his heroic son. Sir Richard Herbert: whilst 
 Sir Henry Neville one of the northern leaders, 
 had been taken prisoner and put to death on the 
 preceding day, by Edward's party. In the mean 
 time, another insurrectionary banditti had broken 
 loose from Northamptonshire, and surprised the 
 Lord Rivers, father to the Queen, and his son 
 John, in their mansion-house at Grafton ; and, 
 having brought them to Northampton, beheaded 
 them in the most brutal manner ! 
 
 What monster, half so monstrous. 
 
 As the unrtiVd., licentious 7nob P 
 The Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence 
 had now arrived in England ; and Warwick is 
 made the place of rendezvous. The King hastened 
 to meet his foes. — On the eve of battle, through Tiie King 
 the influence of some of the principal persons onl^J^°°^^" 
 both sides, a negociation was set on foot, w^hich 
 threw the King entirely off his guard, as he made 
 himself sure of an accommodation. But the wary 
 Earl, perceiving that there was an utter want of vi- 
 gilance in the King's camp, caused a sudden attack 
 
 uard. 
 
 \ 
 
240 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 Taken pris- 
 oner, hut es- 
 capes. 
 
 SECTION to be made during the night, and with slight oppo- 
 ^*- sition took Edward prisoner. We are told that the 
 
 Chap. IV . 
 
 Earl insultingly triumphed over the monarch ; and 
 declared to him his intention of humbling the power 
 he had raised. This was sufficiently galling to 
 the spirit of Edward, rendered proud by his suc- 
 cesses and luxurious by the gratification of his de- 
 sires ; and, to complete the ruin of his character, 
 he was beginning to manifest symptoms of his 
 father's duplicity and cruelty. 
 
 The King was committed to the custody of the 
 Archbishop of York, whose mild and gentle beha- 
 viour, afforded him many opportunities of making 
 his escape. He lost not the occasion and reached 
 London in safety. ts 
 
 This was an unexpected and perplexing event 
 to the Earl of Warwick : and he thought it pru- 
 dent to attend a conference, to which he was in- 
 vited by Edward, for the adjustment of their af- 
 fairs. But this conference ended in nothing but 
 mutual recrimination and disgust ; and they sepa- 
 rated with minds more exasperated, and each re- 
 solved on deeds more desperate. 
 
 The storm next made its appearance in Lincoln- 
 shire, w^here Sir Robert Wells, son of Lord Wells, 
 appeared in arms, at the head of thirty thousand 
 men. On hearing of this insurrection, the King 
 sent for Lord Wells, and commanded him to write 
 to his son to desist from his seditious purposes, 
 and taking Lord Wells with him he marched to 
 
 Battle of 
 Stamford. 
 
 <^ 
 
 ?J 
 
 241 
 
 Remarkable 
 
 meet his enemies at Stamford. He hoped that SECTION 
 the presence of the father would deter the son H. 
 from proceeding further; but when he found him ^"^^' ^^* 
 still bent upon pursuing his designs, the King, 
 contrary to the law of justice, honour, and pro^ 
 priety, put Lord Wells and his son-in-law. Sir 
 George Dymock, to death ! hi the battle which 
 followed, Edward was victorious ; and most of the 
 noble prisoners, with Sir Robert Wells himself, 
 were executed without mercy. 
 
 After this victory, Warwick and Clarence, not .,,,,,,,, 
 considering themselves in a state to meet Edward circumstance, 
 in the field, embarked for France, where they 
 were favourably received by Louis, who promised 
 them considerable succours; and, "in order to 
 secure success to Queen Margaret's cause, a mar- 
 riage was concluded between the Queen's son and 
 Anne, the second daughter of the Earl of War- 
 wick! Such is the force of circumstance, and 
 such the instability of human affairs ! 
 
 On the flight of Warwick and Clarence, the 
 King once more devoted himself to criminal indul- 
 gence and pleasure ; but on receiving tidings of 
 these transactions, he was again roused to action, 
 and adopted severe measures against the leaders 
 of the Lancastrian party. Many submitted them- 
 selves to his authority : amongst these, was the 
 Marquess Montague. At the same time, a gen- 
 tlewoman, whose name the historian does not men- 
 tion, was sent over into France to detach the Duke 
 
 R 
 
 m 
 
242 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Warwick 
 returns. 
 
 SECTION of Clarence from the interest of the Earl of War- 
 II. wick, which important service she accomplished, 
 and secured the Duke's secret promise to that 
 
 effect. 
 
 The schemes of the Earl of Warwick being now 
 matured, he set sail from Dieppe with a formi- 
 dable fleet, and landed at Dartmouth. The King, 
 it seems, was taken by surprise ; once more en- 
 gulphed in pleasure, he thought not of the ap- 
 proach of such an enemy. He fondly hoped that 
 Warwick was securely blockaded in the French 
 harbour, by the Duke of Eurgundy ; and never 
 dreamed a thought, that the winds of heaven had 
 scattered his fleet, far and wide, over the ocean. — 
 Warwick proceeded at once to London, proclaim- 
 ing King Henry on his way ; and such was the 
 energy of one, and the negligence of the other, that 
 Edward had scarcely time to escape, and retreat to 
 Nottingham. — But no matter : there was now no 
 rest for the sole of his foot in England.— The tide 
 of popular affection in favour of Henry, had set in, 
 and it was irresistible. Vast numbers flocked to 
 the standard of Warwick. The excitement was 
 universal. In every street, bonfires were lighted 
 
 in every church, the bells were ringing— in 
 
 every house, psalms and songs were heard— every 
 man shouted, *' King Henry ! " and every voice 
 echoed, " a Warwick 1 a Warwick ! " 
 
 Edward, attended by his brother, the Duke of 
 Gloucester, and the Lords Hastings and Scales, 
 
 The King 
 Hed. 
 
 i 
 
 ■> 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 243 
 
 with some risk and danger, reached Lynn, where SECTIOxN 
 he embarked with seven hundred men, for Hoi- IF. 
 land. Such, indeed was the haste and confusion of ^"^''- ^^' 
 his departure, that on his landing, he had not 
 sufficient money to pay his passage. 
 
 In the mean time, the potent Earl of Warwick r- „ 
 
 ..-,!,,., ^TA'-ix, King Henry 
 
 attended by his brother the Archbishop of York, is released from 
 and other nobles, entered the tower, where King ^^'^^ """"^ ''" 
 Henry had been confined for seven years ; and, 
 once more, bowed the knee before him and saluted 
 him King. He was immediately conducted with 
 great pomp, through the city to the Bishop's pa- 
 lace, where a court was held until the thirteenth 
 of the same month, when he went in solemn pro- 
 cession to Saint Paul's ; the Earl of Warwick 
 bearing his train— the Earl of Oxford, his sword, 
 and the fickle people crying—' God bless King 
 Henry ! ' 
 
 A Parliament was summoned in Henry's name, 
 which met on the sixth day of November, and 
 proceeded, by its enactments to illustrate the sacred 
 truth, that no confidence can be placed in Princes, 
 nor any trust in the sons of men. Edward was 
 decreed a traitor and usurper — his estates confis- 
 cated, and all statutes made under his authority, 
 annulled. The crowns of England and France 
 were confirmed to Henry and his heirs male, and 
 in default of such, to those of the Duke of Clarence 
 in which his interests were consulted, as son in 
 law to the Earl of Warwick. But these were vain 
 
244 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ll 
 
 «i 
 
 SECTION projects, and doomed to be as unsubstantial, as 
 
 II. they were unreasonable and unjust. 
 ciiAP. IV. Through the dark clouds which overshadowed 
 Henry VII. thc social hcavcns, a momentary gleam darted a 
 twelve years of j.^y ^f liQipe ] and thc uatiou was permitted to have 
 to the Kin-, a transient view of the future King, under whose 
 wise and prudent sway, all these deadly feuds 
 were to be composed, and England was to receive 
 a new impulse in her mighty course. He was 
 then a child about twelve years of age, living in 
 the deepest retirement, unknowing and unknown. 
 This was Lord Henry, grandson to Queen Catha- 
 rine,* widow of Henry V, great grandson to John 
 of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of Edward IIL 
 He was discovered in his solitude in Pembroke- 
 shire, w^here he was carefully educated under the 
 eye of the Lady Herbert, by the Earl of Pem- 
 broke, and was by him brought to London and 
 presented to King Henry, soon after his restoration. 
 It is asserted by historians that, the King viewing 
 him with much seriousness, predicted his future 
 greatness ; and presenting him to the nobility pre- 
 sent, uttered these words : ' Lo ! this is the person 
 to whom, after all our violent struggles, both we 
 and our adversaries must at length, submit. ' 
 
 * Owen Tudor, married the widow of King Henry V. and 
 from him sprung Edmund of Hadham, Earl of Richmond fa- 
 ther of this Lord Henry. This descent had no affinity with 
 the house of Lancaster. But his mother the Lady Margaret, 
 was grand-daughter to the Duke of Lancaster, fourth son 
 to Edward HL Though even this affinity to the crown of 
 England is not without defect. 
 
 ^. 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 245 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 This may be thought to border on the marvel- SECTION 
 lous. — It is given as history : but with so many 11. 
 marvels, both within us, and without, in nature 
 and morals, a wise man will pause and consider. 
 Yet I do not think I should have quoted the words 
 of Henry's prophecy, had it not been for a splen- 
 did passage I lately met with, in Sir Humphrey 
 Davy, which has a strong tendency to humble the 
 pride of reason ; and which, as it contains the re- 
 sult of his long and matured experience, is an in- 
 valuable addition to the stores of human wisdom. 
 — It is as follows. 
 
 " In my opinion, profound minds are the most 
 likely to think lightly of the resources of human 
 reason : And it is the pert, superficial thinker, 
 " who is generally strongest in every kind of unbe- 
 lief. The deep philosopher sees changes of 
 causes and effects so wonderfully and strangely 
 " linked together, that he is usually the last per- 
 " son, to decide upon the impossibility of any two 
 " series of events being independent of each other; 
 '' and in science so many natural miracles, as it 
 " were, have been brought to light, such as the 
 " fall of stones from meteors in the atmosphere, the 
 " disarming a thunder cloud by a metallic point, the 
 " production of fire from ice by a metal white as 
 " silver, and referring certain laws of motions of the 
 "sea to the moon, that the physical enquirer is 
 "seldom disposed to assert confidently, on any ab- 
 " struse subjects belonging to the order of natural 
 
 r( 
 
 *i 
 
 a 
 
 (C 
 
246 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION ''tilings; and still less so, on those relating to the 
 II- "more mysterious relations of moral events, and 
 " intellectual natures. Again, I envy no quality of 
 " the mind or intellect in others, not genius, power, 
 " will, or fancy ; hut if I could choose what would 
 "he most delightful, and I helieve most useful to 
 " me, I should prefer a firm religious belief, to 
 " every other blessing ; for it makes life a thorough 
 " discipline of goodness ; creates new hopes, when 
 " all earthly hopes vanish ; and throws over the 
 " decay, the destruction of existence, the most gor- 
 "geous of all lights ; awakens life even in death, 
 " and from corruption and decay, calls up beauty 
 " and divinity ; makes an instrument of torture and 
 " shame, the ladder of ascent to paradise ; and far 
 " above all combinations of earthly hopes, calls up 
 " the most delightful visions of palms and amar- 
 " anths in the gardens of the blessed ; and the 
 "security of everlasting joys, where the sensualist 
 " and the sceptic view only gloom, decay, annihila- 
 "tion, and despair." 
 
 The presentation of Henry VII. to the English 
 nation, has broken in upon the course of the his- 
 tory more than I intended — but there was another 
 "marvellous" circumstance in connection with it, 
 which must be mentioned. At the very moment 
 when the royal boy stood in the presence of 
 Henry, the daughter of the exiled Edward^ Eliz- 
 abeth, who Vv^as designed to be his future Queen, 
 was then an infant in her mother's arms, pre- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 247 
 
 ^. 
 
 i 
 
 served from violence, within the sanctuary of SECTION 
 Westminster. H- 
 
 But we must now return to our more immediate s^^Jr^^^'-^^ 
 enquiry. King Edward was busily engaged in King Edward 
 pushing his interest with the Duke of Burgundy ^^^^^^ 
 upon whom all his hopes depended. But that 
 Duke's situation v^ith respect to France, prevented 
 him from openly espousing his cause. He secret- 
 ly, however, assisted him, and after many vexa- 
 tious delays, provided him with a slender arma- 
 ment, with which he landed at Ravenspur, in 
 Yorkshire. But we behold him without satisfac- 
 tion. He had thrown off the honor and frankness 
 of youth; and following his father's pernicious 
 example, had recourse to falsehood and perjury. 
 He solemnly avowed his allegiance to Henry, and 
 that he came solely for the purpose of claiming 
 his patrimony of York ; and under this false pre- 
 tence, took formal possession of the city. Things 
 remarkably conspired in his favor and he is per- 
 mitted once more to mount the throne. 
 
 The Earl of Y^arwick had stationed his brother His success. 
 the Marquess Montague in the north, with suffi- 
 cient force to intercept Edward. But we have 
 seen that he was never ardent in his brother's 
 cause, and his conduct on this occasion, chiefly 
 contri])uted to the King's success. Edward pas- 
 sed without molestation, through the midst of 
 those, who ought to have opposed him, which gave 
 the people an idea that his return was encouraged 
 
248 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 249 
 
 Duke of 
 Gloucester, 
 afterwards 
 Richard II L 
 interferes. 
 
 SECTION % those in power. At Nottingham great num- 
 II. bers flocked to his standard. He hastened direct- 
 Chap. IV. 1^ ^^ Warwick to meet his potent adversary, who 
 astonished and enraged at his brother s conduct, 
 had sent a message to the Duke of Clarence, to 
 join him with all speed. 
 
 The contending parties had now met, when 
 Edward's brother the Duke of Gloucester, for the 
 first time appears on the stage. Whilst the armies 
 were drawn up in order of battle, he rushed 
 through the lines — made his way to the tent of 
 the Duke of Clarence, and having entered, pre- 
 tended to deliberate on what w^e know had long 
 been determined. He soon re-appeared, leading 
 the Duke of Clarence by the hand, and conduct- 
 ing him to the tent of Edward, the two brothers 
 warmly embraced with assurances of mutual for- 
 giveness. 
 
 The Earl of Warwick w^as now alone. Clar- 
 ence sent him the best excuse he could frame, for 
 his conduct; and in his brothers name, offered 
 the fairest conditions if he w^ould submit. But it 
 was now too late ; he had entangled himself be- 
 yond recovery, by the marriage of his daughter 
 with King Henry's son. Besides, he was highly 
 exasperated by the defection of Clarence, and the 
 disobedience of his brother. He was like a chafed 
 lion. His stubborn soul was resolved to act its 
 part ; in determining which, he was hastening his 
 own destruction. 
 
 k 
 
 Edward, in his external manners, was one of the SECTION 
 most plausible men that ever Uved. He determi- H- 
 ned, if possible, on this important occasion, to ^^ji^>0 
 secure the good-w^ill of the citizens of London, battle of st. 
 and, by an artful mixture of severity and clemency 
 completely gained his object. The Earl of War- 
 wick had advanced as far as Saint Albans ; and 
 Edward, to cut off all his hopes of supply from the 
 city, stationed his army between London and 
 Saint Albans. The two armies approached each 
 other, both armed with the most deadly resolution. 
 Edward encamped on Gladmore Heath near Bar- 
 net. The Duke of Gloucester was appointed to 
 the van — the rear was to be conducted by Lord 
 Hastings— the main battle by himself. Warwick 
 entrusted his right wing to the Earl of Oxford and 
 the Marquess Montague ; his left to the Duke of 
 Exeter ; and the main body to the Duke of Som- 
 erset. When all was ready, he alighted from 
 horseback, sent away his horse and embraced his 
 generals. It was a parting embrace. 
 
 For six well contested hours the battle was in Death of the 
 favour of Warwick, and was lost by the simplest ^.^'^ ^^ ^'*'" 
 incident. The Earl of Oxford had given as a 
 badge to his men, a star with streams.— The 
 badge of Edward, was the sun in his brightness. 
 Whilst Oxford was pushing on his men from the 
 right w^ing, they were mistaken by the Duke of 
 Somerset's men in the van, for the flying adherents 
 of Edward, and they attacked them with great 
 
250 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CllAF. IV. 
 
 wiuk slain. 
 
 SECTION fury. Oxford astonished, and fearful of treachery, 
 II. fled with his men, which rendered the affair des- 
 perate on the side of Warwick. In vain he 
 attempted to re-establish his position and regain 
 the day. His efforts were utterly ineffectual, and 
 at length, in despair of the contest, he furiously 
 rushed into the thickest of the fight ; on observing 
 which, his brother the Marquess Montague has- 
 tened to his rescue. But there was no rescue. 
 Earl of War- They both fell covered with wounds. Thus per- 
 ished this powerful Earl, and with him ten thous- 
 and men. His character is worth a delineator. 
 He appeared to be governed more by resolute 
 enterprize, than by low ambition; and by his 
 gigantic efforts he laid the most extensive founda- 
 tion for the future greatness of his family. He 
 married his two daughters to two princes ; one to 
 Edward, the son of Henry and heir to the house of 
 Lancaster, and the other, to the Duke of Clarence, 
 brother to Edward of the house of York. But 
 notwithstanding, the future greatness of his family 
 w^as denied to him. His sons in law, as we shall 
 see, met with violent and untimely deaths. All 
 the sons of the Duke of Clarence, who arrived at 
 any age, died by the axe of the executioner; 
 whilst his youngest daughter, the only one who 
 arrived at any eminence, by her marriage with the 
 Duke of Gloucester, was the miseral)le Queen of 
 an usurper, and was exterminated by poison. 
 Just Heaven ! what a lesson ! if posterity would 
 
 I 
 
 OF ExXGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 251 
 
 only have been instructed by it, and have learnt, SECTION 
 that violent dealing, in opposition to thy just and "• 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 holy law, will sooner or later, experience its due ^^^^-v^/ 
 reward and punishment ! 
 
 Decisive as was the late victory, yet the chas- Queen Mar- 
 
 _ _ _ ^^ , . caret 10(1 uced 
 
 tisement of England and her Queen, was not yet ^^ ^^^,^^^.^. 
 complete. Queen Margaret and her French allies, 
 with Prince Edward, landed at Weymouth, and 
 took up their quarters at Bath, where the Duke 
 of Somerset had great influence. But Edward 
 determined to allow them as short a time as possible 
 for increasing their strength ; and a general en- 
 gagement, which was the twelth, was brought 
 about at Tewkesbury. This Battle was won by 
 a stratagem of the Duke of Gloucester, who com- 
 manded the right wing. The evil machinations of 
 Queen Margaret, which v»^ere, in a great measure, 
 the source of all these evils, were now^ about to 
 receive the most anguish-stirring punishment. 
 Before the battle, she counselled her generals, 
 that her son should be sent back to France for 
 safety, as upon him, rested all their future hopes. 
 Her counsel was good, but fatally for her happi- 
 ness, it w^as overruled by her Captains. In the 
 battle her son w\as taken prisoner, and being con- 
 ducted into the presence of Edward, he was asked 
 by the Conqueror, how^ he dared to set his foot, in an 
 hostile manner, upon the shores of England'? — the 
 noble minded youth answered, that he came to 
 recover his father's kingdom, and to claim his own 
 
 \ 
 
252 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 253 
 
 \ 
 
 I it 
 
 
 SECTION inheritance, descended to him, through many 
 II- generations. At this answer, Edward was ungen- 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Her son 
 murdered. 
 
 II 
 
 erously offended, and pushed him aside, disdain- 
 fully with his spear. It was a sufficient signal. 
 The ignoble Duke of Gloucester assisted by Clar- 
 ence, Dorset and Hastings, dispatched the helpless 
 youth with their poinards. I mention their names 
 thus distinctly, because we shall find the retribu- 
 tory vengeance of the Most High speedily over- 
 taking them. 
 Death of This barbarous act w^as shortly after followed 
 'ns enr>. ^^ auothcr, in some respects more monstrous, in 
 which, the Duke of Gloucester was the sole actor. 
 This wicked man, whose mind w^as full of every 
 evil device, like the prowling felon of the forest, 
 ever intent upon deeds of violence, visited the 
 unfortunate Henry in prison. Of the peculiar 
 circumstances of this interview, we know nothing, 
 except that the Duke became his assassin, and 
 stabbed the mild and patient Monarch to the heart ! 
 Such a deed was reserved for such a man. In 
 the midst of the unprecedented dangers and trea- 
 sons, to which this Monarch had been exposed, 
 there never was found one sufficiently abandoned, 
 who could lift his hand against King Henry ! — 
 not even, the Duke of York! — 
 Character of Hcury VI. posscsscd cvcry monastic virtue 
 Henry VI. without their accompauying viccs. He was mild 
 and merciful — patient — ^humble — chaste — temper- 
 ate and self denying. He never inflicted an injury, 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 and never had a personal enemy. One might SECTION 
 have expected that so many virtues owed their H. 
 existence to the powerful influence of Christianity. 
 But Christianity, does not consist, solely, in the 
 self denying virtues. It gives, indeed, the 
 command over the passions, by filling the mind 
 with objects more worthy of its pursuit, and by 
 instilling new principles of action. But its direct 
 tendency, is, to enlarge the understanding, to arm 
 the active powers with energy, and to teach the 
 subject of its influence, that the performance of 
 the duties attached to his station, is a paramount 
 OBLIGATION. In council, therefore, it renders a 
 man prudent, wise and just — ^in public, mild and 
 unassuming; in private, holy and temperate — under 
 injury, patient and submissive — in prosperity, 
 equable and condescending ; in adversity, contented 
 and cheerful, and in the field of battle, courageous. 
 These are its legitimate results upon the character. 
 Of its powder in the closet, we are not now speaking. 
 If we try King Henry by this standard, his mo- 
 ral acquirements will be found defective. He 
 was eminently deficient in the performance of the ^;™p''°^ 
 active duties of his high station ; and the time 
 which ought to have been allotted to their energetic 
 discharge, was consumed in those religious exer- 
 cises, which had usurped the place of Christianity. 
 He is a correct example of being ''righteous over- 
 much" He was the "beau ideale" of Popery. 
 He was the perfect representation of a christian 
 
 He affords the 
 
 II 
 
254 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION on the model of that church, and, in some points 
 n. of view, it was a beautiful portraiture. But truth 
 is proportionate ; and Christianity, which is its 
 essence, never leaves, the character fully under its 
 influence, defective in any essential parts. But 
 Henry's character w^as exceedingly defective in 
 the active virtues. Yet he was scrupulously atten- 
 tive in the performance of the minutest direc- 
 tions of the church. It is therefore evident, that if 
 the system of that church does not involve princi- 
 ples, inconsistent with truth, i. e. with Christianity, 
 Henry must have been one of the most splendid 
 characters that ever existed. I do not mean to 
 intimate, that Christianity did not exist in Henry. 
 But if it did, it was ill directed. And this we 
 consider to have been the genius of Popery. — Where 
 Christianity exists in the heart, it destroys its 
 energy, where it does not, it holds out temptation 
 to perjury and crime. So that, it has a tendency 
 to nullify the genuine influence of Christianity, 
 driving men to the extremes of virtue and vice, 
 for the truth of which, let Henry VI. and the 
 Duke of York stand for exampl s. — One, is an 
 anchorite in virtue, the other, a felon in guilt. — 
 
 This defect in Henry's character drew after it, 
 its necessary results, which were overruled by the 
 moral Governor, not only to his own punishment, 
 but in himself and his son, to the expiation of the 
 treason and blood and usurpation of his Grand- 
 father. The facts connected with this assertion 
 
 H 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 255 
 
 are so palpable, that there can be no occasion to SECTION 
 retrace the subject. 
 
 In Henry VI., the glory of Henry IV.— for the 
 establishment of which, he waded through so 
 many crimes, was utterly extinguished— affording 
 a monitory lesson to all posterity, that " Riches 
 profit not in the day of wrath ;" * and, that " the 
 house of the wicked shall be overthrown ". f 
 
 Margaret the Queen of the unfortunate Henry, 
 was still alive, and of necessity, plunged into the 
 depths of the most bitter grief, A woman as we 
 have seen, of masculine courage— proud, imperious 
 and factious in prosperity— in adversity, vindictive 
 and resolute. She had warm affections. She 
 was a tried and faithful wife ; and a careful and 
 affectionate mother. But she w^as ambitious, 
 treacherous and cruel. 
 
 Throughout the whole of the period which has Lamentable 
 just passed under review, she stood forth as the ^^^l^^^^;^"" 
 most prominent person in England, and had she 
 pursued the well-being of her family, on just and 
 legitimate grounds, she had not, at last, become so 
 utterly destitute. But after the death of her hus- 
 band and son, she sunk into such obscurity, that 
 history does not tell us where she died ! 
 
 Can this be Margarefs lot P Fair England's 
 Queen— Rival, in counsel, to the wise— in 
 Valour, to the brave ; and single-handed. 
 Sole antagonist of Kings I 
 
 * Prov. xi. 4. 
 
 \ Prov. xiv. 11. 
 
 If 
 
256 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 
 II. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Duke of 
 Richmond 
 escapes. 
 
 Jasper, Earl of Pembroke, who had been con- 
 spicuous throughout the civil war, upon the last 
 overthrow of his party — retired with his nephew 
 the Duke of Richmond, the only remaining scion 
 of the family of Lancaster ; and fled into Bretagne. 
 It was indeed a narrow escape. Such an one as 
 manifests the interference of a superior and super- 
 intending power, watching over the future King 
 of England. 
 
 In the mean time, the Duke of Burgundy 
 sent an embassy to solicit assistance against the 
 French King. A request from such a quarter 
 could not be denied. Edw^ard accordingly, con- 
 ducted one of the best appointed English armies, 
 that had ever appeared in that country. Its 
 approach created considerable alarm, but Louis, 
 by his courtesy and bribery, turned aside the 
 threatened blow. A treaty of peace was entered 
 into, and it was solemnly stipulated, that the 
 Dauphin should marry the King's daughter Eliz- 
 abeth. The prospect of such an alliance was 
 highly gratifying to Edward, and he returned to 
 England in great pomp. 
 
 Every thing was now settled to the King's 
 saved from do niind, and he would fain have indulged himself in 
 
 struction. ° 
 
 those luxurious and sinful pleasures, which were 
 congenial to his disposition. But one thing still 
 oppressed him. There was yet one obstacle to 
 the full fruition of the happiness which seemed 
 within his reach, and he resolved upon the most 
 
 Henry VI I. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 257 
 
 guilty measures to remove it. For this purpose SECTION 
 he sent a chosen embassy, laden with bribes and II. 
 promises, into Bretagne, to obtain possession of ^"^''' ^^• 
 the Earl of Richmond, at any price. His price 
 w^as sufficient to buy the whole court of the Duke 
 of Bretagne ; and it was agreed, that the young 
 Prince should be delivered up to his will. His 
 destruction now appeared inevitable.— But he was 
 still to be saved ; and the betrayed and deserted 
 youth found one friend, in that venal court. Let 
 his name be recorded :— Peter Landoes, treasurer 
 to the Duke of Bretagne.— By means of this per- 
 son, he escaped from the English ambassador, to 
 whom he had been delivered by the Duke of Bre- 
 tagne, to a sanctuary, from whence he could not 
 be removed. On the return of the embassy with- 
 out their prey, though Edward was greatly mor- 
 tified, yet he endeavoured to bear the evil which 
 could not be remedied ; gave full license to every 
 indulgence of his heart, and studied all the arts 
 of popularity. 
 
 Whilst thus living in pleasure,— jealousy and Dukeofcio. 
 treachery were at work within the bosom of his '^"^^ ""'''"^ 
 own family. The Queen suspected the ambitious ""'''' 
 designs of the Duke of Clarence, in case of the 
 King's death. This jealousy was inflamed where 
 it originated, by the Duke of Gloucester, in whose 
 deep soul, the darkest and deadliest deeds were 
 preparing. The smothered flame at length, burst 
 forth, and the Duke of Clarence was accused of 
 
 s 
 
 circura- 
 
■tlSJP"! fl^^"-!^ 
 
 258 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 The King's 
 anxiety to 
 marry his 
 
 SECTION treason— a crime, of which he had never thought; 
 n. and it is said, that he was drowned by his own 
 choice, in a vessel of wine. He was the first of 
 the murderers of the late Prince of Wales, who 
 suffered the Divine vengeance. In his destruction 
 the King was an unwilUng accomplice.— It after- 
 wards cost him many a bitter pang, and he was 
 often heard to exclaim, when any person interceded 
 with him for a malefactor.—" Oh my unfortunate 
 brother ! there was none to plead for thee ! "— 
 His natural gaity and affableness of manner for- 
 sook him, and he beame, it is said, avaricious ! 
 The great object of his anxiety was now the 
 consummation of the marriage of his daughter, 
 Zi:;,, the with the Dauphin of France; and which, if it had 
 Dauphin. taken place would have proved alike injurious to 
 his own family, and fatal to the peace and happi- 
 ness of England. No : his daughter was to be- 
 ' come the wife of the man, whom he had diligently 
 
 sought to destroy ; and by that alliance, the foun- 
 dations of England's glory were to be established 
 and her happiness cemented ! Her marriage with 
 the Dauphin was frustrated, solely by the caprice 
 of the French Monarch, whose falsehood, perjury, 
 and avarice, were all employed on the occasion. 
 He indulged Edward's fondest hopes, by the fair- 
 est promises and the most solemn oaths ; and so 
 secure was the King of his fidelity, that when it 
 was told him, that, the Dauphin was married, he 
 would not credit the intelligence, till the same 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 259 
 
 person affirmed, that he had seen the celebration SECTION 
 of the nuptials. IF. 
 
 The outraged father and insulted Monarch, ^^^^t^>l^ 
 made instant preparations for war. But his days King's death, 
 were numbered. He was seized with a sudden 
 melancholy. Some historians say, that he died of 
 a surfeit, which is not improbable, when his habits 
 are considered. Be that as it may, his death was 
 accompanied with the most bitter reflections; 
 and he left the world, under the most terrifying 
 apprehensions. 
 
 Never surely was there a more atrocious family character of 
 than that of York ; and never was a familv more ^^'^ ^ 
 
 York 
 
 signally punished. The father the Duke of York, 
 perished in battle : of his three brothers, the Earl 
 of Rutland, was murdered in cold blood, the Duke 
 of Clarence, came to a violent end by intrigue and 
 treachery; and the Duke of Gloucester, as we 
 shall see, died in battle, and was treated with 
 every ignominy. His two sons were murdered by 
 their unnatural uncle ; and his seven daughters 
 died without issue! affording demonstrative 'evi- 
 dence of the truth of the divine oracle, which 
 declares: "that the lamp of the wicked shall be 
 put out, and their name covered wdth darkness," * 
 
 the House of 
 
 * Book of Job. xviil. G. xxi. 17. Proverbs xiii. 9. 
 
OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 261 
 
 SECTION II. CHAPTER V. 
 
 EDWARD V BETKIBUTION ON THE HOUSE OF YORK. 
 
 II 
 
 SECTION Edward V. eldest son of the deceased monarch, 
 II. was only twelve years old, on the death of his 
 ,^J:i:;p^ father, and was proclaimed King of England, 
 Edward V. under the above title ; but his reign was a brief 
 \X\m. and tragic span, and was hurried to its unnatural 
 close, by the monstrous Duke of Gloucester, who 
 appears to be set forth for the purpose of shewing, 
 to what extent of atrocity, human nature can 
 advance. At the time of his father s death, the 
 young King and his brother the Duke of York, 
 were at Ludlow, in Shropshire, with their mother ; 
 and in the midst of her relatives and friends. 
 The wily traitor, their uncle, saw that he could 
 not advance a single step in his designs, whilst 
 the young Princes were thus surrounded by their 
 natural guardians and allies. He determined there- 
 
 f 
 
 cester. 
 
 fore, to detach such protectors from the persons SECTION 
 of his nephews ; and to remove the latter, entirely H. 
 out of the sphere of their influence. To effect ..^^i!^^^^ 
 this, he insinuated to the more ancient nobility. Plots of the 
 that they were unjustly deprived of their constitu- ^. J/ " 
 tional right of waiting upon the King ; and that 
 their exclusion from his presence, was an implied 
 insult. He addressed himself, in particular, to 
 the haughty Duke of Buckingham, and to Lord 
 Hastings, lord chamberlain. — He succeeded, and 
 a league of ambition, pride and avarice was formed, 
 the legitimate fruits of which, soon made their ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 The time appointed for the coronation was ap- 
 proaching, and when they found the King was 
 to be attended from Shropshire, with an unusual 
 guard, they wrote in strong terms to the King's 
 mother, pointing out the danger of such a step ; 
 that it would give birth to suspicions and jealou- 
 sies, and unsettle the minds of many who had 
 been just reconciled. — At the same time, they wrote 
 the most reverential letters to the young King. — 
 Their scheme succeeded : and the King moved 
 forward with a very slender retinue. 
 
 The Protector and the Duke of Buckingham, 
 proceeded to Northampton, to shew all honor to 
 the royal progress. On the King's arrival, they 
 pretended there was no suitable convenience for 
 his entertainment, on account of the crowded state 
 of the town, and conducted him to Stoney Strat- 
 
 i}> 
 
262 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 h 
 
 11 
 
 i\ 
 
 SECTION ford. They themselves took up their quarters at 
 n. Northampton ; and under pretence of shewing 
 him honour, detained with them the Lord Rivers, 
 uncle to the King. They entertained Rivers to a 
 late hour, and when he retired to his lodging, they 
 ordered the keys of the gates to be brought to 
 them. Their servants, who were billetted in the 
 neighbouring villages, they ordered to occupy all 
 - the passes to Stratford, and to let no one pass be- 
 fore them. In the morning, before they left North- 
 ampton, they secured Lord Rivers ; and hasting 
 to Stratford, found the young King mounting his 
 horse, whom they reverently saluted; but the 
 next moment, arrested the Kings half-brother, 
 the Lord Richard Grey, whom they accused to- 
 gether with the Marquess of Dorset and Lord Ri- 
 vers, of a conspiracy to get possession of the 
 kingdom. 
 Queen flies to The King was now in the hands of the Protec- 
 sanctuary. ^^^^ |^^^ ^^ ^^^ j^| procccd uo furthcr iu his designs, 
 
 unless he could gain possession of his brother the 
 Duke of York. But this was a difficult task. — 
 The Queen was now alive to the perfidy of Glou- 
 cester, and had fled with her son to the sanctuary 
 of Westminster. 
 
 A council was summoned, in which it was re- 
 solved, through the artifices of Gloucester and 
 the vehemence of Buckingham, that it was incon- 
 sistent with the dignity of the nation, and the res- 
 pect due to the King and to themselves, that the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 263 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 King's brother should be held in sanctuary ; and SECTION 
 it was further determined, that he must be brought 1^- 
 away, either by persuasion or force. A deputation 
 of Lords w^as appointed, at the head of which was 
 Russel, Archbishop of York. — The deputation 
 waited upon the Queen, and proceeded from per- 
 suasion to threats, till the terrified Queen, at length, 
 moved by the entreaties and solemn assurances of 
 the Archbishop, delivered up her son, under the 
 most agonizing forebodings of his fate. . . 
 
 The Protector, up to this period, confined within 
 his owm breast, his ultimate designs ; but he now 
 felt, that the concurrence of others was necessary 
 to his full success ; he addressed himself accord- 
 ingly, to the Duke of Buckingham, whom he 
 had hitherto made use of as an unconscious instru- 
 ment. I should be in danger of waiting a novel 
 were I to detail the particulars. Suffice it to say, 
 that the Duke was gained by the most extrava- 
 gant promises. The Duke of Gloucester con- 
 tracting, to give his only son in marriage to the 
 Duke's daughter. 
 
 The great matter of consultation in the council 
 chamber, where the chief men of the nation were 
 assembled, and at the head of whom, was Hastings 
 Lord Chamberlain, was the approaching corona- a secret 
 tion. The Protector was at the head of another ^"''"''^* 
 council, whose deliberations w^ere secret; and 
 whose object was to frustrate the deliberations of 
 the grand council ; and to place the Protector upon 
 
mm 
 
 It 
 
 264 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 265 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Ilti 
 
 'il 
 
 I ' 
 
 SECTION the throne. The first victim to the machinations 
 II« of the secret council was Lord Hastings, who was 
 stricken down, at a moment when he thought 
 himself most secure, and highest in the Protector's 
 favor. He had a spy in the secret council — 
 a man of the name of Catesby — a person bound 
 to Hastings by every obligation, and, in whom he 
 reposed the greatest confidence. This misplaced 
 confidence was the ruin of himself and his friends. 
 For, when Lord Stanley intimated his fears, lest 
 dangerous things were deliberated in the secret 
 council, he was silenced by Lord Hastings, with 
 the assurance, that nothing of importance could 
 be transacted without his knowledge. The Pro- 
 tector w^as greatly attached to Hastings, and had 
 always found him a steady adherent and friend ; 
 and no man could have assisted him more in his 
 ulterior designs. Catesby was commissioned by 
 the Protector to open the subject to the Chamber- 
 lain, and, if possible, to gain his concurrence. 
 But he never fulfilled his commission. He was 
 faithless to one master, and treacherous to the 
 other. He determined to undermine his benefac- 
 tor and to enrich himself with the spoils. He 
 took every opportunity of whispering suspicions 
 into the ear of the Protector ; and, at length, inti- 
 mated that the death of Hastings was the only 
 means of their security — the Protector admitted the 
 demon into his breast, all the jealousy and fury of 
 his nature were roused, and he lost no time in exe- 
 
 Chap. v. 
 
 cuting the purpose upon which he had determined. SECTION 
 —On the 13th day of June, 1483, he entered the "• 
 council chamber of the tower, in great haste and 
 with an angry countenance : having seated him- 
 self, he accused the Queen and others of forming Death of 
 a conspiracy against him. The accusation was 
 so preposterous, that the Chamberlain demur- 
 red as to the possibility of its existence. The 
 Protector rising up, vehemently accused him of 
 being a party ; and striking the council table with 
 his hand, the room was filled with armed men. — 
 Lord Hastings was arrested by the command of 
 the Protector ; and after a brief moment allowed for 
 confession, he was hurried into the court, and be- 
 headed on a log of wood which happened to be 
 there. This circumstance in our history would 
 not have been mentioned, had it not been to shew 
 the avenging hand of Heaven. — Hastings was ano- 
 ther OF THE MURDERERS OF EdW^ARD PRINCE 
 
 OF Wales. The event of his death took place 
 on the very day appointed for the execution of 
 the Lords Rivers and Grey, and in which, he was 
 a principal agent. The circumstances of his fate 
 were such, as to induce the learned and contem- 
 plative Raleigh to remark that, " he never in any 
 history, observed a clearer manifestation of the 
 judgment of God, than in the death of Hastings. "* 
 The toilsome and arduous path of the Duke of 
 Gloucester, was thus far cleared of the obstacles 
 
 * Echard. 
 
i 
 
 I 
 
 266 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 267 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 II 
 
 i 
 
 h 
 
 SECTION which opposed its fatal progress. It was now time 
 II. to sound the inclinations of the people, and to pre- 
 pare them for becoming parties to his elevation. — 
 To carry his intentions into effect, he was obliged 
 to enlarge his plan, and to increase the number 
 of his instruments. — One of these, was Sir Edward 
 Shaw the Lord Mayor ; and, even ecclesiastics 
 were found, who refused not to desecrate their 
 office, and to cover themselves with disgrace and 
 infamy. — Two are particularly named, John Shaw 
 brother to the INIayor, and Parker, provincial of the 
 Augustine friars. Both these men were in high 
 repute with the people as preachers ; and their ob- 
 ject was to make the best use of the influence it 
 gave them ; and, if possible, to gain the people to 
 the designs of the Protector. The former, was to 
 harangue at the Spittal, and the latter, at St. Paul's 
 cross. Their instructions were, to intimate the 
 illegitimacy of the late King — ^l^ut to dwell forcibly 
 on that of the young Princes, from the circumstance 
 of their father's former contract of marriage, which 
 had been broken by him. The Spittal preacher 
 in the midst of his discourse, lost his voice and 
 was obliged to desist. The other at St. Paul's 
 cross, was still more unfortunate. His eloquence, 
 no doubt, was as irresistible, as the ingenuity of 
 his text, was beyond comparison: "The multi- 
 plying brood of the ungodly shall not thrive, nor 
 take deep rooting from bastard slips." * And 
 
 * Apoc. Wisd. iv. 3. 
 
 I 
 
 to gain a complete triumph over the minds of the SECTION 
 assembled multitude, it was agreed that at the very "• 
 height of his panegyric, the Protector was to make 
 his appearance. But alas ! the panegyric on rapid 
 wings mounted to its climax, — but no Protector 
 appeared ! and the preacher had descended to a 
 humbler strain of common place, before he arrived. 
 It was an awkward predicament: the happy 
 moment had been lost : he endeavoured to retrace 
 his flight, but in vain. The aerial path would not 
 be retraced. He essayed again and again, and 
 threw^ out some flatteries which were so gross, 
 that they appeared more like libels, than panegy- 
 ric, and the people, instead of throwing up their 
 caps, and crying King Richard, stood like statues. 
 The preacher became confused, and hastily closed 
 his sermon; and, the two personages retired, 
 equally mortified and chagrined. The vexation 
 and disappointment of the preacher were so great, 
 that he died, in consequence.— So let all traitors 
 to God and their King perish ! 
 
 The Protector, however, in no way deterred by 
 this inauspicious beginning, proceeded to form new I'l'^^ p''"^'^*^^ *• 
 plans. In the scenes which followed, the Duke 
 of Buckingham became the principal actor ; and, 
 in conjunction with the Lord Mayor, undertook to 
 bring the citizens to an acknowledgment of Rich- 
 ard's title. For this purpose, with a noble retinue 
 of lords and gentlemen, he attended a grand 
 meeting of the common council and citizens, con- 
 
 The trade 
 
268 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 269 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION vened in the Guild Hall. The Duke addressed 
 n. them in an elaborate speech, in which he exag- 
 gerated the mismanagement of the last reign, 
 insisted on the illegitimacy of the young Princes, 
 and magnified the pretentions and abilities of the 
 Protector. But when he had concluded, much 
 to his chagrin, not a voice cried, " King Richard ! " 
 The mayor, w^ho had been expected to prepare the 
 people for the occasion, suggested that he could 
 not be understood. The Duke, then, in a louder 
 and plainer manner, went over the same ground. 
 But to the same effect : there was silence still. 
 The Duke a third time, in rather an angry tone, 
 resumed : He declared that his affection for the 
 citizens brought him to consult them. He had 
 no doubt, he said, that the rest of the nation, with 
 the nobility, would approve of his proposition, 
 without their aid; but his regard for them induced, 
 him to make them the offer, that they might be 
 foremost in promoting a matter, in which, the 
 prosperity of the kingdom was so deeply involved. 
 On the conclusion of these observations the 
 citizens began to look at each other, when some 
 of Buckingham's servants threw up their hats and 
 cried " King Richard ! " and, the Duke seizing 
 the moment, applauded their wisdom and unanim- 
 ity, and begged them to be in readiness, early 
 next morning, to attend him with a petition to the 
 Protector, by which he might be induced to com- 
 
 ply with a request so much desired by them, and SECTION 
 
 the whole nation. ^ chap.'v. 
 
 This miserable farce was enacted next morning, 
 and the Duke at the head of a deputation waited 
 upon the Protector, to crave his acceptance of the 
 crown. The Protector appeared to be greatly 
 amazed at the proposition. The Duke of Buck- 
 ingham, then, at some length, entered into the 
 grievances of the state— the illegitimacy of the 
 Princes, and the wishes of the citizens, and earn- 
 estly solicited him that he would vouchsafe to 
 accept the crown, to the honor of God and the 
 safety of the realm. The Protector with an angry 
 look rephed, that though there was some truth in 
 what he had said, yet, that his love for his brother 
 Edward, and affection for his children, would not 
 allow him to accept their offer ; and further, that 
 it would afford too fair an opportunity to the en- 
 vious and malignant, to accuse him of ambitious 
 views. At the same time, he would kindly accept 
 their wishes, inasmuch as they proceeded from honest 
 affection to his person, and sincere love for their 
 country ; that his best abilities should be given to 
 the service of the King ; and in such a w^ay, as to 
 leave them nothing to desire. This answer being 
 given, the Duke stepped aside, as if to confer with 
 the deputation, and, in a short time returning 
 under the balcony, where the Protector was station- 
 ed, requested pardon,— which being obtained, he 
 proceeded in a louder voice and with a fuller tone, 
 
270 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 F' 
 
 i ^ 
 
 SECTION to declare, that the nation was resolved not to 
 A*- admit the title of the sons of Edward ; and that 
 if he refused the offer now made to him, they 
 should be obliged to tender it, in another quarter. 
 
 The Protector affected some surprise at this 
 threat ; and answered, that he was sorry they en- 
 tertained such an opinion of his brother's children ; 
 but as there was none beside himself, who could 
 have any title to the throne, and that to his right 
 of inheritance, they had been pleased to add that 
 of election, he should yield to their entreaties, and 
 from that time, take upon him the title and pre- 
 eminence of the two states of England and France. 
 — He' then entreated God to continue him no lon- 
 ger in life, than, that life should be serviceable to 
 his country ! 
 
 By such miserable pretences, and under such 
 blasphemous asseverations, did Richard III. gain 
 possession of the English throne ; in which trans- 
 action, none were more miserably deceived than 
 the principal actors themselves, who in every step, 
 were plotting their own eventual destruction, 
 whilst they were promising to themselves the 
 sweets of ambition. 
 
 i 
 
 •Wl 
 
 SECTION IL— CHAPTER VI. 
 
 RICHARD III. — EXTINCTION OF THE HOUSE OF YORK 
 
 CLOSE OF THE CIVIL WAR BREAKING UP OF THE 
 
 ARISTOCRATIC POWER. 
 
 SECTION 
 
 Richard Duke of Gloucester, the eighth and ^J]'^^ 
 youngest son of Richard Duke of York, was pro- v,^^p-v^^ 
 claimed King of England on the twenty-second a. d. 1483. 
 day of June, under the title of Richard III. For 
 the space of two years, he was allowed to hold his 
 badly acquired pre-eminence— but not in peace. — 
 By his excessive ambition and cruelty, he not only 
 became the extirpater of his own house, of which 
 he was the last, but, was the instrument of remov- 
 ing every obstacle out of the way, and facilitating 
 to the utmost, the advance of the house of Lancas- 
 ter. His acts of falsehood and his deeds of blood, 
 were remarkably overruled ; and, he became the 
 wicked and unconscious instrument of hastening 
 a new era in the career and prosperity of England ! 
 
272 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 H. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 Nothing now seemed to him, to be wanting to 
 the full establishment of his usurped authority, but 
 the ceremonial of his coronation ; which he deter- 
 mined to celebrate in the most sumptuous manner, 
 and with the most splendid accompaniments. The 
 preceding day he went in procession, with great 
 pomp, to the tower, for the purpose of exercising 
 the regal prerogative, in conferring titles of honor. 
 The usurper, on that day of his triumph, when he 
 was about to create new forms of grandeur, as the 
 emblems of his power, little suspected that, his 
 chief errand to the tower, was to liberate from its 
 dungeons, the man, who was to lay the foundation 
 of his overthrow. 
 
 He created Lord Thomas Howard, Duke of 
 Norfolk, and Thomas Howard, his son. Earl of 
 Surrey; and Lord Francis Lovell, viscount and 
 Lord Chamberlain, with seventeen Knights of 
 the Bath. At the same time, he proceeded to 
 dispose of the state prisoners who had been im- 
 mured, since the arrest and execution of Hastings. 
 The Archbishop of York he restored to liberty. 
 The Lord Stanley was merely retained as an 
 hostage for the conduct of his Son, the Lord 
 Strange, who was raising forces in Lancashire. 
 The Bishop of Ely whose integrity was equal to 
 his ability, and whose devotion to the children of 
 Edward, was unalterable, was detained — yet that 
 his restraint might be removed from the public 
 eye, and the Bishop himself, be as remote as pos- 
 
 er ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 273 
 
 sible, from the politics of the day, he was commit- SECTION 
 ted to the custody of the Duke of Buckingham, H. 
 who sent him to his castle in Brecknockshire, — v^Ji^3^-vl/ 
 Upon this single circumstance, unimportant as it 
 appears, turned, in a great measure, the future 
 destinies of England ! 
 
 But previous even to the coronation, the Duke Disgust of 
 of Buckingham was disgusted with the conduct of ^"^^'"^^^™- 
 the King, and probably, ashamed, of the part he 
 had taken in his elevation. Certain it is, that 
 he pleaded indisposition, and desired to be excused 
 attendance at the approaching ceremony. The 
 King, however, was not to be deceived ; and he 
 commanded his attendance, which the Duke gave ; 
 but attended with such a magnificent and pompous 
 train, that it effectually widened the breach. 
 
 The next thing for Richard, was to look abroad, proper con- 
 and to ascertain, in what manner his title was likely ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ 
 to be recognized by foreign powers. His first step 
 was to send an embassy to the King of France, 
 respecting the league and tribute, which had been 
 settled between him and his brother. — But the 
 embassy was delayed, and did not arrive at their 
 destination, till after the murder of the two Princes, 
 whose death he had, in that short interval, con- 
 trived and accomplished. It is impossible to dwell 
 upon this tragical story. His Ambassadors were 
 treated with the indignity which the conduct of 
 their master deserved : and the King of France 
 would not condescend to give them an audience. 
 
 T 
 
/ 
 
 274 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 
 II. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 The Duke an J 
 
 As so little support was to be expected from 
 without, he determined to befriend himself. He 
 proceeded to strengthen his usurped authority, by 
 a second coronation, which he caused to take place 
 at York ; at which time, also, he invested his Son 
 wdth the principality of Wales. Eut these bright 
 and flattering prospects were suddenly overcast 
 with deepest gloom, by the death of this only son : 
 whilst his throne itself, was undermined by the 
 intrigues of the dissatisfied Buckingham. 
 
 Under the colour of a feigned indisposition, he 
 the Bishop of had retired to his castle at Brecknock, to brood 
 Ely conspire. ^^^^ j^.^ ^^^^^g^^ jt ^yas uot loug bcforc his dis- 
 
 satisfaction was discovered by his prisoner, the 
 Bishop of Ely. The prudent Bishop sounded the 
 Duke as to his own intentions respecting the crown, 
 and finding that the Duke abandoned all his preten- 
 sions, in favour of the Earl of Richmond, as the 
 nearest heir to the house of Lancaster, it was 
 agreed, that immediate steps should be taken to 
 raise him to the throne. It was proposed by the 
 Bishop as the most probable means of healing the 
 distractions of England, to unite the two houses of 
 York and Lancaster, by the marriage of the Earl 
 of Richmond with Elizabeth, eldest daughter of 
 the late King Edward lY. It was next deter- 
 mined to treat with the Countess of Richmond, 
 mother to the Earl ; and for this purpose, the 
 Bishop proposed to send for a trusty servant of the 
 Countess, whom he knew to be discreet and faith- 
 
 I 
 
 OP^ ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 275 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 ful in matters of trust and importance. The name SECTION 
 of this person was Reginald Gray ; and on his ar- H. 
 rival, they gave him the following instructions to 
 his mistress. * That considering the kingdom 
 could not be reduced to quiet, but by advancing 
 the Earl of Richmond to the crown, and uniting 
 the two houses of York and Lancaster by marriage 
 — that the Countess of Richmond should treat of 
 this matter with Queen EKzabeth, and having ob- 
 tained her eldest daughter, she should send into 
 Bretagne to her son ; and if he promised to marry 
 her, whenever he w^as crowned, they engaged by 
 joining the forces of the faction to make him King.' 
 
 This foundation being laid, the Bishop escaped 
 into Flanders, where he was made the instrument 
 of saving the scheme from destruction. The 
 Queen w^as yet in sanctuary ; and the Countess of 
 Richmond conveyed to her the instnictions she 
 had received, through her physician. Ihe Queen 
 was overjoyed at the proposal, and felt as if her 
 misfortunes were about to receive a termination. 
 But alas ! she was doomed to afford one of the 
 most striking examples of woman s inconstancy. 
 Messengers were immediately dispatched to the 
 Earl, in Bretagne. He fully acquiesced in the 
 plan, and, in .conjunction with the Duke of Bre- 
 tagne, entered into active preparations, and for 
 the present, sent over a very encouraging message. 
 
 The adherents of the Earl of Richmond v;ere 
 now, every where, in a state of activity ; and the 
 
276 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 Civil War 
 begins. 
 
 SECTION Bishop of Ely, did much to forward the design 
 11. by his letters from Flanders. But although the 
 greatest secresy was observed, yet the wary and 
 jealous King was on his guard; and suspecting 
 the Duke of Buckingham to be the prime mover 
 of the disaffection which he could not fail to 
 observe, he endeavoured more effectually to gain 
 him by greater and more extravagant promises. 
 But the Duke was not to be ensnared a second 
 time, and sent continual excuses on account of 
 indisposition. 
 
 At length, the King dissatisfied with his eva- 
 sions, sent him a peremptory command to appear 
 before him. This was as peremptorily refused, 
 and, became the immediate signal for war. The 
 Marquess of Dorset, son to the Queen Dowager, 
 left his sanctuary, and went into Lancashire, for 
 the purpose of levying troops. In Devonshire 
 and Cornwall, Sir Edw^ard Courtney and his 
 brother, the Bishop of Exeter, were in arms ; and 
 Sir Bichard Guilford was making preparations in 
 Kent. 
 
 The King understanding these movements, set 
 out, at the head of his army, and marched to 
 Shrewsbury, whilst the Duke of Buckingham, 
 who was now about to receive the due reward of 
 his past treachery and crimes, directed his course 
 towards Gloucester, intending to pass the Severn, 
 for the purpose of forming a junction with the 
 other leaders of the party. But when he ap- 
 
 t'- 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 277 
 
 proached the banks of that river, he found it swollen SECTION 
 to such an unusual degree, that the passage was ^^' 
 impossible. The waters which were never known, ^^^J^^v^^ 
 in the memory of man, to have risen to such a 
 height, covered the neighbouring hills. The Duke 
 was, therefore, necessarily detained ; which led to 
 his ruin ; for, the sufferings of his army were so 
 great, from the incessant rains and want of provi- 
 sions — that with one consent, they disbanded 
 themselves and returned home. 
 
 The Duke thus deserted, instead of following 
 their example, became infatuated ; and took refuge 
 in the house of an old servant of the family, who 
 was under infinite obligations to him ; and hoped 
 there to find a safe asylum from the pursuit of his 
 enemies. 
 
 The other leaders hearing of the Duke's mis- r^^^ p^^^ ^^ 
 fortune fled, and reached Bretagne in safety. Buckingham 
 Whilst the King used the most vigorous methods 
 for breaking up the conspiracy : he blockaded all 
 the sea ports — fitted out a fleet to observe the 
 motions of the Earl of Richmond ; and issued a 
 proclamation of a general pardon, and one thou- 
 sand pounds rew^ard, to any person who would 
 deliver up the Duke of Buckingham. To his 
 eternal disgrace. Bannister with whom he had 
 secreted himself, betrayed his benefactor to the 
 Sheriff of Shropshire, who apprehended the once 
 high, and noble, and potent Duke, digging in a 
 potatoe field, in the disguise of a day labourer ! 
 
 perishes. 
 
278 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION He was conducted to Shrewsbury, and the King 
 It- denying him his presence, he was beheaded with- 
 out process, in the Market-place. 
 
 This brief campaign did nothing towards the 
 furtherance of the great catastrophe of the reign, 
 and seems intended, l)y the Almighty Governor, to 
 exhibit, in the most open and public manner, the 
 downfall and punishment of the proud, and treach- 
 erous, and capricious Duke of Buckingham. He 
 was allowed, and so far it was well for him, to re- 
 trace his steps, to be the first mover in the restora- 
 tion of the line of Lancaster ; but he was not count- 
 ed worthy to behold it. So fall the wicked! 
 Whilst these things were going on, and the Duke 
 of Buckingham was receiving the due reward of 
 his deeds — the Earl of Richmond had put to sea ; 
 but his fleet, was dispersed by a storm. He stood 
 however, towards the English shore, in hopes of 
 hearing some intelligence respecting his adherents; 
 but finding none to receive him — he retunied to 
 Noraiandy. He there learnt the entire failure of 
 the first attempt, and the death of the English 
 leader. The party, however, did not despair of 
 final success ; and in the Cathedral of Rennes, 
 swore to the execution of the compact, as at first 
 proposed ; and all present, gave their fealty to the 
 Earl of Richmond, as King of England. 
 
 Richard was not idle. In a parliament conve- 
 ned in London, the Earl and his adherents were 
 outlawed, and Iheir estates confiscated, v;hilst he 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 himself determined, if possible, by arts of his 
 own, to get the Earl into his possession. He sent 
 a messenger to the Duke of Bretagne, entrusted 
 with the most magnificent presents, and still 
 more munificent promises — offering all Richmond- 
 shire — all the Earl's revenues — and the estates of 
 all those who had fled from England into Bre- 
 tagne ! On the arrival of the ambassadors, the 
 Duke of Bretagne was under the influence of a 
 delirium to which he was subject; and the whole 
 Dukedom was under the management of Peter 
 Landoes, a name which has been before introduced 
 to the reader. On both occasions, he was made 
 the instrument of saving the future King of Eng- 
 land, but in different ways. On the former occa- 
 sion, as we have seen, the Earl was saved by his 
 VIRTUE — on the present, by his avarice. The 
 virtue of Peter Landoes was to be bought. He 
 was captivated with the golden bribe of Richard. 
 He did not forget his incapacitated master, but 
 demanded Richmondshire for his ow^n share. It 
 was thus necessary to write to England, for direc- 
 tions. — This delay saved the Earl. The ever 
 watchful Bishop of Ely became acquainted with 
 their design, and gave as timely notice as he could, 
 to the Earl of Richmond, who escaped into France ; 
 but, so narrowly was his escape effected, that 
 another hour would have proved his ruin. 
 
 The attentive reader will pause, over the cir- 
 cumstances of this transaction, in which he will 
 
 279 
 
 SECTION 
 
 The Earl of 
 Richmond pro- 
 videntially sa- 
 ved by Landoes 
 who demands a 
 whole district 
 in the North 
 Riding of 
 Yorkshire. 
 
280 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 281 
 
 Active mea- 
 sures of the 
 King. 
 
 SECTION discern the hand of a controlling power, that can 
 II- cause the wicked to be taken " in the crafty wili- 
 
 Chap VI. 
 
 ness which they have imagined " and can render 
 the vices of men subservient to the purposes of 
 his goodness. 
 
 At Montargis, the Earl was joined by John 
 Vere, Earl of Oxford, who, since the battle of 
 Bamet had been confined in the Castle of Vannes. 
 He not only contrived his own escape, but prevailed 
 on Sir John Blunt the Governor of the Castle, 
 and Sir John Fortesque, porter of Calais, to join 
 the cause of Richmond. 
 
 In the mean time, Bichard was incessantly 
 employed in propping up his already tottering 
 throne, and meditated schemes more and more 
 heinous. The first was, to decoy the Queen 
 Dowager and her daughter, into his hands — the 
 second was, to rid himself of his wife, and the third, 
 to marry his niece the Princess Elizabeth! It is 
 not necessary to enlarge. He completely suc- 
 ceeded in his first design. The Queen and the 
 two Princesses left their sanctuary at Westminster 
 and w^ere conducted, wdth great solemnity, to 
 court. 
 
 The destruction of his amiable and unhappy 
 wife, was not quite so easy a task. Although he 
 was seared in conscience, and brutal in disposition, 
 yet he could not coolly contemplate the taking her 
 life. She must have been lovely to disarm the 
 rigour of his savage breast! Historians relate 
 
 'i 
 
 that she was of a soft and tender disposition, and SECTION 
 Bichard thought, by a little delay, he could destroy H. 
 her by continued ill usage and neglect. He for- ^^Jit^;.^^ 
 bore her company — refused to speak to her, and 
 took every opportunity of agonizing her mind. 
 This scheme it is thought, succeeded, although 
 it is uncertain whether she was not taken off by 
 poison. 
 
 Thus was he well nigh the accomplishing of 
 his schemes, and he was doubtless, allowed to 
 proceed thus far, in order, the more signally, 
 to display the avenging hand that pursued him ; 
 which, whilst it gave the most unlimited range to 
 his furious passions, was able by the simplest 
 means, and, in a moment to check his furious 
 career. 
 
 We find him now congratulating himself on the success of 
 dexterity, with w^hich he had executed his two ^^^ King infat- 
 first schemes ; and without delay, he was proceed- 
 ing to the marriage of his niece — the future hope 
 of the peace of England — when the storm of ven- 
 geance that was to overwhelm him, gathered so 
 quickly, and grew so suddenly black about him, 
 that his progress was interrupted. His crimes 
 and his days were numbered. A slight advantage 
 which he had obtained in the reduction of Han- 
 nes Castle, and the reports he heard of the weak- 
 ness of the Earl of Bichmond, disarmed him of his 
 usual vigilance, and threw him off his guard. He 
 recalled his fleet and disbanded his army. 
 
282 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 283 
 
 SECTION The Earl of Richmond, who had experienced 
 ^^' some disappointment in the backwardness of the 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 \,^^-\^^s^ French King to grant him supplies, was now at 
 
 The Earl of Roannc with the chief of his adherents ; and to their 
 
 Riciimond de- inexpressiblc mortification, they heard of the death 
 
 i»ponds. ^ ' •' 
 
 of the Queen, and of the immediate intention of 
 the usurper to marry his niece. They were thrown 
 by the intelligence into despair ; and after a solemn 
 consultation, they concluded the further pursuit of 
 their enterprize, rash, and its success, visionary. 
 They were thus at the point of abandoning their 
 project altogether, when they received intelligence 
 that Rice-ap-Thomas and Captain Savage, two 
 persons of considerable experience, were ready to 
 declare for Richmond. This good news was, indeed 
 but like a little cloud in the west — but it was the 
 fore-runner of the destructive tempest. Wearied 
 with delay and disappointment, they seized the hope, 
 however slender, and determined to strike an im- 
 mediate and resolute blow. They lost no time in 
 embarking what forces they had : and, after seven 
 days, landed at Milford Haven, from whence they 
 advanced to West Hereford : and the Earl, hearing 
 that his uncle, Jasper Earl of Pembroke, was at 
 the head of a considerable body of men in Pem- 
 brokeshire, he proceeded to Cardigan. 
 His prospects This Earl of Pembroke seems to have been one 
 brighten. Qf ^jjg most active and prudent men of any age or 
 country ; and must be considered as having given 
 the first impulse to the success of this expedition 
 
 r.f 
 
 M 
 
 after it reached the shores of England. You never SECTION 
 hear of this man, till you find him in action. Rich- II- 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 mond's army, thus augmented, directed its march ^^^-v-vL/ 
 to Shrewsbury, where Sir Rice-ap-Thomas swore 
 fealty to him. His next advance was to Newport, 
 where Sir Gilbert Talbot joined him with two thou- 
 sand men. At Stafford he fell in with Sir Gilbert 
 Stanley. — But Lord Stanley who was at Lichfield, 
 on the Earl's approach, drew off his men, lest the 
 King should take vengeance upon his son, whom 
 he held in possession, as a hostage. 
 
 Richard was at Nottingham, and hearing of Th. King at 
 the passage of the Severn, he thought it high ^'''^■^^^^^*'''- 
 time to bestir himself. He advanced by forced 
 marches, to Leicester, which place he entered at 
 night-fall, on a white steed, and attended by his 
 guards. His countenance, it is reported, was 
 wild, and his language furious. Next day he 
 hastened to meet his enemy, and receiving intelli- 
 gence of his near approach, drew up his army in 
 order of battle, near Market Bosworth. 
 
 When the Earl of Richmond heard of this cariofRich- 
 
 . 1 1 /» J 1 1 1 • r mond and Lord 
 
 movement, he gave orders tor the breaking up 013^^^^,^.^^^^,^,^^^ 
 
 his camp at Tamworth, and for the advance of his the Three Tuns 
 
 troops. He himself was at Atherstone ; and the 
 
 house is now shewn, where, the night previous to 
 
 the battle, himself and Lord Stanley held a secret 
 
 conference. 
 
 That fatal day was now arrived ; and Richard 
 
 . . . , . ^' 
 
 drew out his army with great ability and precision. 
 
 Atherstone. 
 
 Battle of 
 {osworth. 
 
 ii 
 

 284 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 285 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION He committed the van to the Duke of Norfolk, 
 11. the main body was led by himself, whilst Lord 
 Stanley was posted between them, holding as it 
 were, the balance of victory in his hands. The 
 temporizing of Richard put this into his power. 
 The King was, throughout, suspicious of Lord 
 Stanley's fidelity, and threatened him, in case of 
 treachery, with the immediate death of his son. 
 Had he struck the blow, or delivered up his son, 
 the conduct of Stanley would have been decided. 
 He hesitated, till it was too late, for after the 
 battle was set in array, Richard sent a message to 
 Stanley, threatening the execution of his son, to 
 which Stanley replied : ' Let him do as he likes, 
 I have more sons than one.' By this answer he 
 saved his son : for the King, perceiving his revolt 
 at that time, would be fatal to his cause, durst 
 not put his threat into execution. 
 
 The Earl of Richmond committed the van of 
 his army to the Earl of Oxford, — the right wing 
 w^as placed under the conduct of Sir Gilbert 
 Talbot. His left was commanded by Sir John 
 Savage ; whilst himself and the Earl of Pembroke, 
 took charge of the reserve. 
 
 The battle soon became general, but there was 
 a want of energy in the army of Richard, which, 
 although he far outnumbered his adversary, soon 
 manifested itself in the decided superiority of 
 Richmond. Richard, like an enraged wild beast, 
 ran furiously through his lines, endeavouring, in 
 
 ^'^^ 
 
 vain, to animate his lifeless troops ; and perceiving SECTION 
 the Earl of Richmond, at a short distance, with a H. 
 slight attendance, he rushed upon him with his v^^^^^^^^^ 
 lance. The Earl rejoiced at the opportunity of 
 meeting his antagonist, and was preparing to re- 
 ceive him, but was prevented by his attendants. 
 Richard disappointed of his prey rushed upon the 
 great standard, and slew Sir W. Brandon, the 
 standard bearer ; and advancing, bore down to the 
 ground. Sir John Cheney, a knight of great 
 strength and valour. At this point, his fury was 
 stopped by the Earl of Richmond, who presented 
 himself to him, sword in hand ; but at the same 
 moment, the Lord Stanley who had been watching 
 his opportunity, surrounded the King's squadron ; 
 which Richard perceiving, like a chased boar 
 driven to the last extremity, he rushed into the 
 thickest of the fight, and perished like a second King Richard 
 Cataline, with his sword grasped in his hand, and p*^"sh«s. 
 with all the fury of revenge depicted in his coun- 
 tenance. But this was not all. The retributory 
 justice of Heaven did not end in hurling him at 
 one blow, from the lofty seat of his guilty ambition, 
 and cutting him off from the land of the living, in 
 the prime of his days — but he was made an igno- 
 minious spectacle in the sight of all men, and a 
 lesson to all future generations: his dead body 
 was plundered and stripped by the avaricious sol- 
 diery, and his naked corpse thrown carelessly over 
 a horse, was carried to Leicester ; where, for two 
 
 \ 
 
fl 
 
 4 
 
 286 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION days, it lay exposed on the bare earth, as if it were 
 II- beyond the pale of humanity — and, at last, as if 
 
 ^^^A^;-^ out of the pale of Christendom, he was buried 
 without funeral rites. 
 
 Thus perished the last male descendant of the 
 house of York ; of which, whilst in his own 
 thoughts he was pursuing its aggrandisement, 
 he in reality became the great extirpator. 
 
 House of York. Tliis brauch of the royal house had undoubtedly 
 the best claim to the crown ; but it must be appa- 
 rent that its destruction was a felicitous event for 
 England. The whole lineage w^as unprincipled — 
 vicious, blood-thirsty, false, and inconstant. Their 
 personal licentiousness, whilst it corrupted by its 
 example, obliged them to wink at the crimes of 
 others ; and, the laxity with which they held the 
 reins of government, although attended in the 
 result, with advantage to our constitutional liberty, 
 yet inflicted great temporary evils upon the com- 
 munity. It is evident the family was too flagiti- 
 ous to live ; and in consistency with the divine 
 system and moral government of the workl, they 
 were cut off from the earth. 
 
 The battle of Bos worth, was the thirteenth, and 
 last of the civil wars, which had lasted for thirty 
 years ; and in which, according to an eminent 
 historian,* there perished eighty Princes of the 
 blood — HOSTS of the nobilitv, and 0}ie hundred 
 thousand of the common people. 
 
 * Comincs. 
 
 If 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 287 
 
 To the dear bought experience of this period, may SECTION 
 be traced the downfall of the feudal power by the 11. 
 destruction of the aristocracy, and the full estab- ,^Z^^\J^ 
 lishment of that great principle of the English Progress of 
 constitution — the hereditary succession of the ^^^ ^*^""^^y- 
 crown, which succeeding statesmen have guarded 
 with jealous care ; and to which, as long as a sane 
 person is at the head of her policy, this country 
 will inviolably adhere. 
 
 We observe also, during the irregular transac- 
 tions of this time, the growing importance attach- 
 ed to parliament. It was incessantly appealed to 
 by both parties ; and became the arbiter among 
 Kings, of their power and their thrones. 
 
 But the times gave encouragement and influ- 
 ence to a more formidable power than parliament 
 — the middle and lower classes of the people. 
 To them, both parties were obliged to sue for the 
 purpose of asserting their claims ; and in conse- 
 quence, flattered and indulged them. The yoke 
 of feudal slavery was greatly alleviated ; and the 
 growth of the middling and lower classes of the 
 community, must be regarded as receiving a great 
 and effectual impulse from this date. 
 
 We may further add, that the authority of the 
 crown, became paramount and undisputed, not only 
 from the series of victories which the sovereigns 
 had obtained — but by the immense slaughter of 
 the nobility, and the confiscation of their estates, 
 which crippled their power, and made them less 
 able to compete with the supreme authority. 
 
 46* 
 
288 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION 
 II. 
 
 Chap. VI. 
 
 » I 
 
 W 
 
 Nor was learning without its ornaments. We 
 may record the names of Basset, Walsingham, 
 Lyttleton, Fortesque. 
 
 But more than all, this age gave birth to the 
 art of Printing, which was brought into England 
 by William Caxton, a mercer of London, whose 
 first Printing press was set to work in the Ahhey 
 of Westminster^ 1471. Its Popish Masters at 
 that time, little thinking, that that simple machine 
 w^as to be the great instrument of their overthrow. 
 
 We can say little respecting religion. Popery, 
 without any open opposition, retained its dark 
 dominion over the minds of men — but the doctrines 
 of the immortal Wicliffe, watered by the blood of 
 martyrs, was taking deep, but silent root in the 
 hearts of thousands ; and were only waiting a favor- 
 able opportunity to burst forth and adorn the land. 
 
 We evidently perceive, that if great civil per- 
 fection had not been a^ttained by our country, that 
 mighty preparations were making for its future 
 destination ; and w^e shall not be disappointed in 
 the succeeding era of our history at the progress 
 which it attained. And we shall further perceive, 
 w^hilst evils of such magnitude were transacting 
 and bringing swift punishment upon the immedi- 
 ate actors — the main interest of the nation was 
 secured, by HIM " w hose paths, are in the 
 
 SEA, AND whose JUDGMENTS ARE IN THE GREAT 
 DEEP." 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY, &c. 
 
 SECTION III. CHAPTER I. 
 
 HENRY VII. — UNION OF THE HOUSES OF YORK AND 
 
 LANCASTER CONSOLIDATION OF THE KINGDOM — « 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOVEREIGN POWER. 
 
 r 
 
 The time had now arrived when the Almighty SECTION 
 Governor, after having severely punished the HI. 
 whole nation, was intending to raise its drooping ^t^^^ 
 head — to give a more rapid impulse to its pros- Henry vn. 
 parity, and, to cause it to stand forth more promi- p'"'*^^^'™^^ 
 
 _ ^ King, Aug. 22. 
 
 nently, as an exemplar state. For this end ad. uss. 
 He raised up an individual, eminently fitted for the 
 intended work, — a man of great capacity, deep 
 penetration, unwearied diligence, unshaken cou- 
 rage, habitual temperance, and, as all such men are, 
 — deeply embued with religious reverence. Like 
 William the Conqueror, he had not, in his early 
 years, been fondled on the lap of ease; but nurtured 
 for great deeds, amidst hardships and dangers. 
 
 u 
 
II 
 
 290 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 
 111. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Whoever considers the extraordinary manner 
 in which his life was, more than once, preserved — 
 the unlikely means by which his elevation was 
 secured, and the personal fitness with which he 
 entered upon it, will not fail to perceive in the 
 steps by which he was led to the throne, the high 
 and superintending Providence of God. What 
 could have been more improbable than such an 
 event, during the reign of Edward IV. in whom 
 centred all the glory of the house of York ? What 
 more improbable on the death of that Prince, who 
 left behind him two sons and a daughter — two 
 sisters and two nephews ^ We have, indeed, seen 
 how the way was opened by Richard III. in order 
 to gratify his own lust of ambition ; and how sig- 
 nally his crimes were punished by the just Arbiter 
 of human affairs : and now we perceive the same 
 Supreme Being " educing good out of evil, " and 
 raising up the fittest man in the world, for the 
 purpose of carrying on the scheme of his bene- 
 volence. 
 
 During his long exile, he had both time and 
 Bretagne. opportunity for making observation, and medita- 
 ting upon the affairs of England. — Nor did he 
 neglect the opportunity. He was well acquainted 
 with the evils which harrassed his country ; and 
 long before he reached its shores, he had formed 
 those schemes for remedying them, which he, 
 afterwards, so vigorously carried into execution. 
 
 His Exile in 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 291 
 
 He was now about thirty years of age, and w^as SECTION 
 considered the representative of the house of Lan- ^^^' 
 
 1 Chap. I. 
 
 caster — but for what reason, the line of his sue- ^^x^v^x^ 
 cession has been called the House of Tudor, it is 
 not easy to determine. — His father, Edmund Earl of 
 Richmond, was son to Owen Tudor and Catharine, 
 the Queen and widow of Henry IV. — This de- 
 scent could not possibly have made his father the 
 heir of the house of Lancaster, or given him a title 
 to the crown of England. The claim of Henry, 
 arose from the marriage of his father with Mar- 
 garet, youngest daughter of the Duke of Somerset, 
 who was grandson to the Duke of Lancaster ; so 
 that, if the succession is to have a name, it ought 
 to be denominated the " House of Somerset." 
 
 The great principles on which this distinguished Principles of 
 Monarch had determined to conduct his srovern- ""'"'^'^ 
 
 ° Government 
 
 ment were law and policy ; his designs for estab- 
 lishing the foundations of the British Monarchy, 
 as they had been long and deliberately formed, 
 60 were they carried into execution with unusual 
 promptness and perseverance. 
 
 After the battle of Bosworth, he proceeded by 
 easy stages, to London — not as a conqueror, but 
 as a long recognized King, who was making a pro- 
 gress through his dominions — and he entered the 
 capital City, not with military pomp, but in a close 
 carriage, amidst the acclamations of the multitude. 
 The proclamation of a general pardon gave uni- 
 versal satisfaction. At Saint Paul's, he offered 
 
 t 
 
'7 
 
 292 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 293 
 
 h 
 
 SECTION solemn thanksgiving to God ; and the " Te Deum" 
 in. was chaunted in demonstration of the public joy. 
 
 .^^^■^^I.^^ His prudence and foresight were discovered in 
 Houses of the very commencement of his reign, by resolving 
 
 ca°terTniter ^^* ^^ allow his claim to the throne, to depend 
 solely upon his marriage with the princess Eliza- 
 beth, which he saw would be attended with many 
 serious inconveniences, both to himself, and the 
 peace of the country. Elizabeth was the sole sur- 
 viving representative of the House of York ; and 
 the nation, wearied with its long dissentions, was 
 extremely anxious for her union with Henry, and 
 all men felt a deep interest in the final settlement 
 of the question. Whilst therefore he quieted the 
 minds of the nobility and the people, by renewing, 
 in the most solemn manner, his intention of mar- 
 rying the heiress of the House of York, and putting 
 an end to all distinctions for the future, he caused 
 himself to be crowned, alone, on the title of the 
 House of Lancaster. 
 Henry roar- After his corouation, he fulfilled his pledge, and 
 
 nes the Pnn- jj^^j^^^ EHzabcth I au cvcut which created uni- 
 
 cess Elizabetbi 
 
 versal joy, and filled all hearts with gladness.* — 
 It was indeed a happy consummation for England, 
 and brought about by a series of events, contrary 
 to all human expectation and hope ! Yet the 
 King's unconquerable aversion to the House of 
 York, deeply affected his conduct towards his 
 Queen ; and indeed, to the whole of her family. 
 By his unjust and implacable conduct, he embit- 
 
 * Bacon Hist. 7. 
 
 V' 
 
 (> 
 
 •j 
 
 tered all her domestic enjoyments, and in his SECTION 
 public capacity he was severely punished, by the II*- 
 intrigues of two illustrious females of that still ^^^-^^^-^^ 
 persecuted house, — the Duchess of Burgundy, sis- 
 ter to Edward IV. residing in Flanders, and his scheme to 
 august widow, mother of Queen Elizabeth. The P^''^^°°^f '^'' 
 
 ^ ' ... Earl of War- 
 
 latter, soon commenced her machinations against wick. 
 
 the peace of her son-in-law, by forming a shallow 
 scheme, the whole narration of which, is unworthy 
 the dignity of History ; and would, certainly, find 
 no place here, were it not to shew, that folly and 
 pride generally prepare the means for their own 
 correction. Her design was to find some one to 
 personate the Earl of Warwick, who was the 
 nearest male heir to the throne, and who had been 
 made prisoner by Richard III. and was, by an 
 unjust and mistaken policy, still confined in the 
 Tower. This unfortunate young man w^as son to 
 the late Duke of Clarence, brother to Edward IV. 
 In his case, the crimes of the father were still 
 punished in the son, who was imprisoned from his 
 earliest days, and came to an early and violent 
 death, for no other reason, but, because he was 
 the son of the Duke of Clarence ; and had in 
 consequence, a near relation to the throne. 
 
 The Queen and her counsellors were not long 
 in finding a person who bore some resemblance to 
 the family ; and was of equal age to the unfortu- 
 nate youth in the Tower. He was trained and 
 instructed, with great care, for the part he was 
 to act ; and with great success, so far as persona- 
 
iM 
 
 294 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 293 
 
 li 
 
 SECTION tion was concerned. — But the scheme itself, had 
 ^W- nothing to rest upon ; the true Earl of Warwick, 
 was in the Tower, and the King could demonstrate 
 it, which he did, by shewing him openly to the 
 people. The plot, however, was sent on its pro- 
 gress ; and Ireland was to be the first scene of 
 trial. Many in that country, were deceived by 
 his pretensions ; and amongst the rest, the Earl 
 of Kildare. — ^But the principal victim in this fool- 
 ish enterprize, was the next heir of York, after 
 the Earl of Warwick ! — This was the Earl of 
 Lincoln, son of Elizabeth the sister of Edward IV. 
 a youth of an enterprising spirit, martial talents, 
 and ambitious aims. He eagerly rushed into the 
 scheme, and making use of the Pretender as his 
 tool, he trusted, amidst the horrors and confusion 
 of civil war, to be able to guide the storm and se- 
 cure himself on the throne. Assisted by his aunt, 
 the Duchess of Burgundy, with money and a con- 
 siderable body of Germans, and attended by the 
 pretended Warwick, who was proclaimed and 
 crowned as King ; he advanced as far as Stoke in 
 Nottinghamshire. In this place, he was met by 
 Henry ; his army was routed and himself slain. — The 
 just reward of his ambition and perfidy ! Many 
 other restless spirits fell with him, as Kildare, 
 Lovell, and Broughton ; whilst the counterfeit 
 Warwick, was appointed to a menial ofiice in the 
 King*s household ; and the Queen Dowager con- 
 fined to a nunnery, the rest of her days. 
 
 I) 
 
 The King had commenced and studiously pur- SECTION 
 sued his plan of enriching his Exchequer. The I^^- 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 supplies granted by Parliament, were rigidly col- v^^-v^-x^ 
 lected, which caused loud complaints, ^nd at 
 length, broke out into insurrection in Yorkshire, 
 and Cornwall. But these commotions — the rem- 
 nant of those turbulent times which had just pas- 
 sed away, though truly formidable, were dispersed 
 as much by the King's policy, as by the force of 
 his arms. 
 
 The account of this reign by historians, and even Affairs of 
 by Hume, is much engrossed with the affairs of ^jj^^^^^j^^'^^ng's 
 France : by the details of which, a great deal of attention. 
 
 .AD. 1487. 
 
 French dissimulation and treachery are manifest. 
 But the whole of these transactions, as they lead 
 to nothing important in the affairs of England, 
 may be dispensed with in few words — Henry ob- 
 tained supplies from his Parliament — ^led an army 
 into France — compelled the French King to pay 
 his expenses — concluded peace and returned home. 
 
 Soon after the King s return, a singular and ;^mbassador 
 important embassy arrived from Spain, to inform fiom s^ain. 
 him of the expulsion of the Moors, by the victorious 
 arms of Ferdinand and Isabella ; and of a still 
 more glorious event, the discovery of America, by 
 Christopher Columbus, under the same enterpri- 
 sing Sovereigns. This latter event is w^orthy of 
 a more minute examination, and would, no doubt, 
 develop, in a remarkable manner, the overruling 
 Providence of the Jlost High — but we must re- 
 
296 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CllAP. 1. 
 
 Queen's Col- 
 
 r 
 
 SECTION frain, because it belongs to the history of Spain, 
 III. or rather of the world. On the occasion of this 
 embassy, solemn thanksgivings were offered in the 
 cathedral of Saint Paul. 
 
 But unfortunately, Henry was his own tormen- 
 tor. His steady and unrelenting persecution of 
 the House of York, served to keep that party in 
 a constant state of excitement and the close con- 
 finement of the Earl of Warwick, filled the nation 
 with disgust ; whilst his uncompromising severity 
 in the administration of the law and the levying 
 of the taxes, rendered the unruly and avaricious, 
 ever ready to disturb his government. 
 
 The Queen-mother was now dead, and far re- 
 
 icge foupdcd. moved from those scenes of trouble in which she 
 had been engaged ; but her life was prolonged till 
 she had completed the foundation of Queen's Col- 
 lege, Cambridge, which had been commenced by 
 that noble-spirited woman, Margaret, Queen of 
 
 Henry YI. 
 
 But there was another distinguished female of 
 
 Duchess of that house still surviving, endued with much 
 
 Burgundy, greater abilities, and formed for deeper intrigues, 
 
 instructs War- ° ^ • ^i • ij. J 
 
 bfck, w^ho was determmed not to permit the msults and 
 
 A. D. 1192. injuries offered to her family to pass without 
 revenge. This was the Duchess of Burgundy. 
 She laid her schemes accordingly ; but however 
 skilful and full of mischief they might be, they 
 were laid for her own mortification, and the fur- 
 ther punishment of her devoted family. 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 297 
 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Under her tuition, a youth of the name of SECTION 
 Warbeck was instructed to personate the Duke of I^^- 
 York, son to Edward the IV. and the younger of 
 the brothers, murdered by order of Richard III. 
 His education was conducted with the greatest 
 secresy and success: By the artifices of the 
 Duchess, he was acknowledged by the King of 
 France, and treated as a Royal personage. King 
 James of Scotland, not only received him as the 
 legitimate heir to the English Throne— but gave 
 him a noble and beautiful lady for his wife, who 
 was a near kinswoman of his own. But the policy 
 of Henry frustrated the whole of this well laid plot. 
 He had a spy in the closet of the Duchess herself; 
 and in the councils of the Personator. He be- 
 came acquainted, familiarly, with every circum- 
 stance and event of Warbeck's history ; and with 
 the names of all the English nobility, who favored 
 the scheme. The most conspicuous person that, 
 fell an easy victim to this plot was Sir W. Stanley, 
 Lord High Chamberlain, the very person who 
 turned the scale of victory at Bosworth Field ; 
 and who till then, stood deservedly high in the 
 opinion of Henry. Warbeck obstinately continued 
 the imposture, and, for some years, kept the King's 
 mind in a constant state of uneasiness. At length 
 he landed in Cornwall, determined to make a 
 grand effort for his cause. He was defeated near 
 Exeter, by Henry, to whom he made a full con- 
 
it i 
 
 If 
 
 298 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 299 
 
 I 
 
 Warwick exe 
 cuted, which 
 ended the 
 Plantaganets. 
 A. D. 1499. 
 
 |i 
 
 SECTION fession, on which account, his life was spared, 
 in. and he was confined to the Tower. 
 
 Chap. I. -g^^ ^^ ^^^-^ ^^^^ circumstancc, I mean the par- 
 don of the Impostor, was to turn the punishment 
 
 The Earl of of the Duchcss of Burguudy, for her studied 
 revenge and falsehood. The restless spirit of 
 Warbeck, induced him to intrigue with his keep- 
 ers, and through them, with the Earl of Warwick ; 
 a plot was laid, in which the Governor of the 
 Tower was to be assassinated and their escape 
 secured. But it was prevented, and not only War- 
 beck suffered, but the miserable Earl of Warwick, 
 the last remnant of the House of York, was 
 sacrificed ! — Not really for this meditated escape, 
 but for another reason, which I would gladly pass 
 over, had not the Hand of God as the just avenger 
 of crime, been afterwards recognised by one of 
 the indirect actors concerned in it. 
 
 Policy of the Thc policy of the King had been altogether 
 triumphant. He was a man endued with the 
 most eminent courage, but his study was Peace ; 
 and when violent measures were proposed to him, 
 he w^as accustomed to answer: ''When the Son 
 of God came into the world. Peace was sang*; 
 when he w^ent out of it. Peace was bequeathed." 
 His great object was attained ; and peace and tran- 
 quility succeeded his labours, and smiled, propiti- 
 ous, on the happy land ; whilst his reputation, for 
 wasdom and prudence, at this period of his life, stood 
 pre-eminent amongst the Potentates of the earth. 
 
 King. 
 
 We are now approaching the consideration of SECTION 
 events, which, if not in themselves of striking ^^^"-^ 
 moment, yet involve in the course of time, results ,^^-v^x^ 
 of surpassing magnitude. 
 
 The first important transaction to which our ^ ^^^^""^^J^.^^ 
 attention is directed, is the marriage of Prince Jp7i„,e 
 Arthur, who was now sixteen years of age, with Arthur.^^ 
 the Infanta of Spain— an alliance which Henry ^ ^ * ^goi. 
 had long coveted, as well for its political advan- 
 tages, as for the costly dower with which the 
 Princess was to be accompanied. But it was an 
 unhappy marriage, and no wonder, for it was ce- 
 mented with blood ! The ostensible reason for 
 the execution of the Earl of Warwick, and the plea 
 which was alleged, was his premeditated escape 
 with AYarbeck ; but the real and impulsive cause, 
 was the determination of the King of Spain, not 
 to allow his daughter to marry, whilst Warwick 
 was alive ! This fact was asserted many years 
 after by the Infa7ita herself] when greater troubles 
 assailed her— as the ground and reason of her mis- 
 fortunes.— She acknowledged in her sufferings, 
 the retributory hand of the Most High, saying : 
 " It was no wonder that God should make her 
 "so unfortunate in her marriages, inasmuch as 
 " they were both sealed with the blood of AVar- 
 
 " wick." 
 
 Prince Arthur died within six months of his Prince Arthur 
 
 , , dies. 
 
 marriage, but the King had another son ; and he 
 determined if possible, not to lose the valuable 
 
 \ 
 
i. 
 
 1 
 
 300 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 301 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 His widow 
 married to 
 Prince Henry. 
 
 SECTION prize which had been put into his hands, and he 
 HI' insisted that his younger son, afterwards the 
 renowned Henry VIII. should be contracted to 
 his brother's widow. This alliance was much 
 against the stripling's will ; and he opposed the 
 paternal authority, as far as a boy of twelve years 
 of age could be supposed capable of opposition. 
 But in vain. The Infanta of Spain, was in proper 
 time married to Henry, now the heir apparent to 
 the English throne ; and upon the circumstances 
 of this marriage turned in after time, the Refor- 
 mation of the Church of England ! The influence 
 it had, so many years after, upon that ever-memo- 
 rable event, could not have been exerted, had it 
 not been for the Infanta's previous marriage with 
 Prince Arthur. This was the pretext upon which 
 Henry founded his appeal for a divorce. Catha- 
 rine was an excellent Queen and most exemplary 
 woman : and no other plea could have been devi- 
 sed, as she was free from every stain of dishonor. 
 It was this fact, which had originated in very 
 different intentions, and which had no connection 
 or similarity with the result, that enabled Henry 
 VIII. to shake the Papal throne to its foundations, 
 and to rescue the Church of England from its 
 long-usurped and tyrannical sway ! 
 The King's But a similar event was about to follow, which 
 
 r^d°^to^re*^ ^^^ intended in the overruling counsels of Heaven, 
 
 King of Scot- still more to secure the prosperity of England. 
 
 *A.D 1502. "^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ marriage of James, King of Scot- 
 
 land, with Henry's eldest daughter — an alliance SECTION 
 which, in after times, was to give a succession of 1W« 
 
 . . Chap I 
 
 Princes to the English throne — afford stability to ,^^-v^^/ 
 the realm, and affix the name of Great Britain to 
 the Island. This contract was a splendid politi- 
 cal act ; and it is worthy of remark, that whilst 
 the subject was under discussion at the wary 
 council board of Henry VII. it was suggested by 
 one of the Councillors — that, probably, if the 
 King's sons should die without issue, the Kingdom 
 of England might devolve to the King of Scotland, 
 to the prejudice of the English monarchy. To 
 this the prudent Monarch with prophetic sagacity 
 replied — that if such a circumstance should happen, 
 Scotland ivould become an accession to England, 
 not England to Scotland^ because the greater would 
 certainly draw the less. 
 
 Whilst the King was thus promoting foreign improvements 
 alliances, and laying strong foundations for the '" ^.^*^^'^y 
 stability and splendour of the throne, he was not 
 inattentive to the welfare and prosperity of the 
 body politic. By his well directed efforts, he 
 changed entirely the balance of power in the state ; 
 and gave the fullest impulse to the growth of the 
 middle orders in England, which at this day, 
 form its greatest stability and wealth. It was his 
 leading policy to restrain the licentiousness, and 
 abridge the power of the nobility, which he did, 
 not by the strength of his own prerogative, which 
 was fluctuating in its nature — but by the provi- 
 
I 
 
 302 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 303 
 
 SECTION sions of Law, which are permanent. He went to 
 ni. the root of deep and intolerable evils, which had 
 
 ^^^S^^^l^^ long oppressed the land. He caused a law to be 
 enacted, by which the lands of the Barons were 
 made alienable, — a law which was intended to 
 cause their exorbitant power to crumble to pieces, 
 of itself. 
 
 His next endeavour was, to bind the tenant 
 more to the soil, than to the fortunes of his Lord ; 
 and he caused certain proportions of land to be al- 
 lotted for tillage, in order that the comforts of the 
 husbandman being increased, he might less easily 
 be seduced by his master, to quit the ploughshare 
 for the sword, and leave his tranquil employments 
 for the purpose of disturbing the public peace. 
 And the more effectually to cripple the present 
 power of the nobility — a law was enacted, by 
 which the multitude of their retainers was abridg- 
 ed, and a certain specified number allowed. 
 King's visit Au auccdotc in reference to this subject is 
 
 to the Earl of j.g|^^g^ q£ ^^le King, which, as it has a tendency 
 
 to illustrate his character, is worth retaining. 
 The King had honored the Earl of Oxford his 
 prime minister, with a vist at Henningham Castle, 
 where he was entertained with great splendor, and 
 hospitality. To greet the King on his departure, 
 the Earl assembled all, that by any title held land 
 of him — gentlemen, yeomen, and retainers. As 
 the King passed through the long line of vassals, 
 he enquired of the Earl, whether these were all 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 his servants : to which the Earl with a smile SECTION 
 returned : ' they were his tenants and retainers.* "L 
 The King then thanked him for his entertain- 
 ment, saying that the report of his hospitality did 
 not even reach the truth — but, looking round, he 
 added : " I cannot allow my laws to be broken in 
 my presence, my attorney must talk with you 
 about it," and the Prime Minister was obliged to 
 compound for this breach of the law, with no 
 less a sum, than fifteen thousand marks. 
 
 It is impossible to estimate, too highly, the 
 effect of his salutary enactments on the state of 
 our present policy. He was laying the foundation 
 of a mighty monarchy, and raising the scaffolding 
 for the completion of a magnificent edifice, which 
 was to be an Exemplar among states. — Its con- 
 struction was not that of a baseless fabric, liable to 
 be disturbed by every gust of fortune : but formed 
 to endure ; built on Law, and cemented by Justice. 
 
 His act against the arbitrary enclosure of land, 
 which had caused great local distress, by depopu- 
 lating large districts, is, deservedly, celebrated for 
 its wisdom. It both served to check the nobility, 
 and to encourage the growth of the lower orders 
 of society. In short, it was now that the strong 
 links, which, in the system of feudalism, had bound 
 together the elements of society, were severed^ 
 that the illusive glory of chivalry vanished, and 
 the foundations of rational freedom and solid im- 
 provement, were laid. 
 
304 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 305 
 
 SECTION 
 
 HL 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 The King next turned his attention to the pa- 
 trimony of the crown, which had, during the civil 
 wars, fallen into great disorder. Leases of con- 
 siderable length had been granted, and the exi- 
 gency of public affairs preventing all enquiry, the 
 individuals in possession, considered the lands as 
 their own, and devised them as if they were held in 
 fee simple. To rectify these abuses, and, to call 
 into operation many wholesome laws, which had 
 fallen into disuse, the King issued one of those 
 commissions of inquiry, which are always odious 
 to the people of this Country, and which nothing 
 can justify but urgent necessity. 
 Commissions The powcr with which these commissions are 
 unpopular. ncccssarily armed, being unconstitutional and ar- 
 bitrary, few of those persons who have been se- 
 lected to carry them into execution, have escaped 
 the temptation they offer, for the exercise of tyr- 
 anny and rapacity. In the present instance, the 
 names of Empson and Dudley, have become justly 
 execrable, for the manner in which they conducted 
 this inquiry ; their cruelty, rapacity, and tyranny 
 excited the indignation of the whole kingdom; 
 whilst, their intolerable pride hurried them on 
 to acts of the most illegal and arbitrary char- 
 acter, which, in the following reign, ended in 
 their own destruction. 
 
 But the policy of the King was answered : — the 
 laws were enforced, and the executive was forti- 
 fied and enriched— wealth flowed into his treasury, 
 
 Chap. L 
 
 not from this only, but from many other sources ; SECTION 
 until, at length, he was acknowledged to be the W. 
 richest Prince in Europe. But he was not laying 
 up treasures for himself, but for the nation — His, 
 were not the accumulations of avarice, but of fore- 
 sight and enlarged views ! He had perceived the 
 misery and ruin to which the throne had frequently 
 been exposed for want of a well furnished exche- 
 quer, and it was his policy, to the utmost of his 
 power, to guard against this evil for the future, 
 
 But in reality, it was for another purpose which 
 he never contemplated. All this wealth was abso- 
 lutely necessary for carrying on the great event 
 which will soon be before us ; and indeed enabled 
 the executive power, in the succeeding reign, to 
 stem the torrent of opposition which was opposed 
 to it. 
 
 Whilst then, it is certain, that the King was 
 actuated with the desire of aggrandizing the Mo- 
 narchy ; it is not impossible, that he might have 
 been gratifying a more ignoble passion, which, 
 indeed all historians attribute to him. I confess 
 I do not. I cannot trace its low bred, insidious 
 working, in the great events of his reign; nor will 
 I be so ungenerous as to record without sufficient 
 proof, that his great mind was a prey to the de- 
 basing crime of avarice. If he was eager to 
 accumulate wealth, he was princely in bestowing 
 it upon noble objects ; and he freely left it to be 
 enjoyed by his successor.— These are not the 
 
'i 
 
 306 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION characteristics of avarice. But be this as it may, 
 in. his accumulating policy was overruled for greater 
 s,^^-^^^^^ purposes, than ever entered into his calculation — 
 purposes, intimately connected with the scheme 
 of the Divine benevolence, and rendered, as an 
 instrument, greatly subservient to their accom- 
 plishment. Not that Henry, on this account, is 
 excusable for the wrongs he committed. — These, 
 in the Divine Judgement, stand recorded against 
 him : nor, was he himself insensible to the claims 
 of justice. The loud complaints against the rapa- 
 ciousness of his ministers reached his ears; the 
 ministers of religion from the pulpit exhorted 
 him to interfere ; and he was so far open to con- 
 viction, as to order a clause to be inserted in his 
 will, for the purpose of making restitution to all, 
 who had been unjustly deprived by the rigorous 
 inquisition of his officers. 
 
 A circumstance now occurred, which, although 
 it relates to a private individual, must not be 
 omitted, because it has a tendency to discover the 
 retributorv Providence of God. I allude to the 
 public execution of that barbarous instrument in 
 murder. Sir Walter Tyrrell. 
 
 Earl of suf- The pcrsou whose birth entitled him to be 
 folk leaves the ggcQ^^ to thc King, in cminencc, was Edmund, 
 
 Kingdom. ^ • i 
 
 Earl of Suffolk, the heir and representative of the 
 house of York. — But he was a person of a proud 
 and haughty disposition ; and on some occasion, 
 in the heat of his resentment, he committed homi- 
 
 K^ 
 
 i 
 
 OK ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 307 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 cide. '' He flattered himself in his own eyes," and SECTION 
 thought of committing this flagrant act with im- H^ 
 punity ; but, he was in some measure, mistaken ; 
 for, whilst the King promised him a pardon, 
 he insisted that, he should go through the form- 
 ality of a trial, and receive the sentence of ihe law. 
 Irritated at this, w^hich he esteemed an indignity, 
 be fled from the kingdom and took refuge in Flan- 
 ders, with his relative the Duchess of Burj?undv. 
 But the King, fearing lest his residence there, 
 should be the cause of new disturbances, had re- 
 course to his never failing policy ; and by fair 
 speeches and large promises, prevailed upon him 
 to return. 
 
 After the lapse of a few years, the Earl was a second time, 
 induced to leave the kingdom a second time, and ^' ^' ^^^^^ 
 under such circumstances as afforded strong sus- 
 picion of treasonable designs. The King imme- 
 diately applied himself to those methods, which 
 he had found so successful on former and similar 
 occasions. 
 
 Through the instrumentality of Sir Robert 
 Curzon, governor of Calais, he became fully 
 apprised of all the circumstances, connected with 
 the Earl's departure, and acquainted with the 
 names of all the eminent persons in England, who 
 favored his evil intentions. Amongst these was Sir 
 Walter Tyrrell. Many other persons of distinc- 
 tion were implicated ; but the fatal lot fell only 
 upon two — Sir Walter Tyrrell and Sir John Wynd- 
 
*^1 
 
 308 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION liam, who were brought to the scaffold and be- 
 lli, headed as traitors. With the character of Sir John 
 ^"*''- ^- Wyndham we are unacquainted ; but we cannot 
 fail to recognize in the untimely and infamous 
 death of Sir. Walter Tyrrell, the just vengeance of 
 an Almighty hand, which will not suffer the 
 guilty to escape. It will be necessary to observe, 
 in connexion with this event, because the sub- 
 ject will again be brought before us, that the 
 Earl of Suffolk by a strange concurrence of cir- 
 cumstances was secured, and lodged by Henry, 
 in the Tower ! 
 
 Henry had now reigned more than twenty 
 years, and concluded his long and able system of 
 state policy, by affiancing his daughter the Prin- 
 ces Mary, to Charles of Spain, afterwards the 
 celebrated Emperor Charles V. It was on this 
 occasion, that he said, on a review of the various 
 alliances he had been enabled to form — " I think 
 I have built a wall of brass around my kingdom." 
 And which indeed was true. In the wisdom and 
 prudence of his administration he surpassed all 
 the Princes of Europe, and has justly acquired 
 for himself the appellation of the " Solomon of 
 England." 
 
 He had now completed his well-laid plans, and 
 accomplished his utmost wishes. He had frus- 
 trated the designs, and ruined the projects of his 
 enemies. He had repaired all the breaches of 
 hatred, contention, and strife, which had been 
 
 The King's 
 
 health declines 
 
 A. D. 1507. 
 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 created by the civil wars. He had enriched the 
 public treasury to an immense extent, so that he 
 was not only reported to be the wisest, but the 
 richest Prince in Christendom. He had multi- 
 plied to the people, both the means and conveni- 
 ences of living. He protected the arts. He had 
 extended commerce; he encouraged enterprise, 
 and to conclude the acts of his public beneficence, 
 he furnished and endowed the ancient Palace of 
 the Lancastrians in the Savoy, for a Metropolitan 
 Hospital ; nor should it in this place be omitted 
 in honor to the memory of his mother, Margaret, 
 Duchess of Richmond, that by her generosity, 
 aided by her Son, the colleges of Christ's and Saint 
 John's were founded in the University of Cam- 
 bridge. Whilst the splendid Chapel in West- 
 minster Abbey, which bears his name, will long 
 continue a noble monument of his taste and muni- 
 ficence. 
 
 His physical powers were in unison with the 
 qualities of his mind. He possessed great strength 
 and vigour of l)ody, and is said to have been 
 remarkable for the beauty of his person, and the 
 attraction of his manners. 
 
 His regard for religion was simple and uniform, 
 without ostentation on the one hand, or supersti- 
 tion on the other ; and it is remarkable that, the 
 father of Henry VIII. received more marked and 
 signal honors from the Popes of Rome, than any 
 individual Monarch. He was thrice elected, in 
 
 309 
 
 SECTION 
 
 III. 
 Chap. I. 
 
31Q 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 311 
 
 SECTION ^^^ several Pontificates of Alexander VI. Pius 
 III, III. and Julius II. " Chief defender of Christ's 
 Chap, l Church," in preference to all other Christian 
 Kings; and, in the year preceding his death, 
 and in virtue of this title^ he received as a present 
 from Pius II. a cap of maintenance and a sw^ord, 
 as badges of this high distinction. 
 
 So little can the foresight of the most politic 
 statesmen scan the changes which await their 
 most favorite projects in a few revolving years. 
 How little could these subtle Potentates of Rome ; 
 have foreseen that the immediate Son and succes- 
 sor of the man they '^ delighted to honor," would 
 be the first to break their usurping yoke, and to 
 annihilate every vestige of their power and 
 authority in England ! 
 
 But the w^ork of Henry VII. was now accom- 
 plished, and he must yield up the sceptre he had 
 so much honored, to other hands, which should 
 carry into execution those great measures, for 
 which he had made such extensive preparations, 
 without having the least perception of their 
 character. 
 
 The work to be accomplished, and for which 
 he had been laying the deep foundations, w-as the 
 reform of the Church of England, w^hich neither 
 he, nor his successor contemplated. But, both, 
 were fitting instruments in the hands of Him, 
 who in a prophetic vision, said of the all'^conquer-^ 
 ing Cyrus : " That saith of Cyrus, he is my 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 His death. 
 A. D. 150D. 
 
 shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even SECTION 
 saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built, and to M^- 
 the Temple, Thy foundations shall be laid." * 
 
 In like manner, Henry VII. of England, en- 
 dowed and fortified by divine power to carry on 
 the designs of the Eternal Providence, having w^ith 
 signal prudence aggrandized both his kingdom 
 and family, now approached the end of his course 
 at the early age of fifty three, with dignity and 
 composure. He consecrated the few remaining 
 days of his life to acts of charity and devotion, 
 and wath solemn seriousness awaited the final 
 hour,-]* when he should be summoned by the 
 Supreme Governor, to lay down his delegated 
 authority, and to exchange time for eternity. 
 
 * Isaiah xl. 28. 
 
 f April 2. 
 
 ■f 
 
OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 313 
 
 SECTION III.— CHAPTER II. 
 
 
 
 HENRY Vni REJECTION OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE 
 
 POPE, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL PRO- 
 TESTANTISM. 
 
 SECTION On the death of Henry YIL, the importance of 
 
 HI. his persevering policy began to appear ; and the 
 
 ^^^^\^^^ course of national events forthwith rushed to their 
 
 Henry VIII. accompHshment. His prudence, wisdom, and 
 
 A. I). 1509. . 1 . , . -, 
 
 experience were gone ; but m their place, suc- 
 ceeded vigour, dispatch, and enterprise. His son 
 who now mounted the throne, was in the pride of 
 youth, and adorned with every manly and noble 
 grace. He was endowed with uncommon abilities, 
 and with such variety of temper and disposition, 
 that he is said to have inherited and united in him- 
 self, all the good and bad qualities of the two 
 Houses of York and Lancaster. In personal en- 
 dowments he was unrivalled. — He was tall, and 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 li 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 majestic ; — and, possessed of such remarkable SECTION 
 strength and agility, that few w^ould venture to in. 
 contend with him in the joust, or oppose him in 
 the tournament. 
 
 To these external advantages, was added a con- 
 siderable share of the abstruse learning of that 
 day, which, combined with the lighter and more 
 attractive accomplishments of poetry and music, 
 gave a captivating polish to his character. 
 
 In the commencement of his reign, he discov- 
 ered a remarkable modesty and noble ingenuous- 
 ness of mind ; and under the direction of his grand- 
 mother, the Duchess ofjlichmond, with the advice 
 of the wise counsellors bequeathed to him by his 
 father, the acts of his Government were distin- 
 guished by prudence and moderation. 
 
 He had now an opportunity, if he had pleased, 
 to have broken off the contract of marriage into 
 which he had been urged against his will, with 
 Catharine, the Infanta of Spain, and widow to his 
 brother Arthur. Indeed, the way had been 
 opened to him by his father, who on his death 
 bed stated his doubts as to the propriety of pro- 
 ceeding with it. But the desire of the young 
 Monarch to fulfil, what he considered the delib- 
 erate judgment and long cherished design of his 
 father, prevailed over every consideration; and 
 within six weeks of his father's death, on the 
 third of June, his marriage with the Infanta was 
 solemnized. The coronation took place, on the 
 
t * 
 
 314 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 > 
 
 deeds. 
 
 SECTION midsummer day following, with great magnifi- 
 ni. cence ; and attended with every circumstance of 
 
 Chap. II. i i« i* 'x 
 
 ,^^^-.,^^^^ pomp and testivity. 
 
 His next object was to fulfil that clause of his 
 
 Father's will, which enjoined a general pardon, 
 
 and restitution of property to all who might have 
 
 Empson and bccu uujustly wrougcd by the extortions of his 
 
 forthdrevu ^ffic^^!^- To houor the triumph of this general 
 pardon, Empson and Dudley, were committed to 
 the Tower. The King by no means, intended 
 their execution. But their injustice and rapaci- 
 ousness demanded the heaviest doom. The Par- 
 liament which was immediately summoned, was 
 led to institute a strict inquiry into their proceed- 
 ings, and to abolish many of the obnoxious statutes 
 under which they had acted. The imprisonment 
 of these unfortunate commissioners, so far from 
 satisfying the people, only made them more 
 importunate for their capital punishment, and the 
 King was obliged to comply. How short some- 
 times is the interval between pride and its over- 
 throw, between injustice and its punishment ! 
 
 By this sacrifice to the national will, and by 
 the abolishing of many arbitrary fines, the King 
 acquired the universal admiration of his subjects. 
 His youthful ardour, his skill and ability in chiv- 
 alrous exercises, his shining endowments and 
 ardent pursuits of literary knowledge, attracted 
 the attention of the nobility, who fired by his 
 illustrious example, entered into a generous and 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 315 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 successful emulation ; whilst foreign Princes hear- SECTION 
 ing of the splendor and elegance of his court, were HL 
 induced to cultivate his friendship and alliance. ^^^^^^^"0 
 
 Such were the commanding auspices under 
 which Henry VIII. commenced his reign. Con- 
 gratulations on his accession, poured in from 
 every side. Embassies crowded to his shores 
 from the most powerful Monarchs of Europe. It 
 will be necessary to introduce these personages to 
 the reader, because they will be chief actors in 
 the scenes, which are about to open before us, and 
 the influence of some of them will be largely ex- 
 erted on the transactions of this reign. 
 
 Lewis XII. King of France, engaged as he was Princes and 
 in the pursuit of territorial ambition, lost no time p^^opT^'^ 
 in soliciting Henry for the continuance of peace. 
 James IV. of Scotland, who had married the 
 King's sister, hastened to congratulate him, and 
 to assure him of his esteem and regard. Ferdi- 
 nand of Spain was anxious to oljtain his assist- 
 ance against the Moors. The Emperor Maximil- 
 lian was equally anxious to secure him as a friend 
 and ally. The King of Denmark solicited a 
 treaty of trade and commerce ; whilst Pope Julius 
 II. earnestly entreated for effectual aid against 
 the encroachments of the French in Italy, offering 
 to constitute Henry the head of the ** Italian 
 League." Such were the several powers under 
 whose sway the destinies of Europe were then 
 conducted, and by their unanimous consent, Henry 
 
i 
 
 316 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPPIY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 317 
 
 A. D lolO. 
 
 !l 
 
 ! 
 
 SECTION at the opening of his reign, was exalted as the 
 in. Arbiter of European affairs, and the " Balance of 
 rower placed in his hands. 
 
 His penetrating mind perceived the lofty station 
 to which he had been raised by the election of 
 his compeers. His ardent temperament would 
 not permit him to reject the offered distinction, 
 and his wealth and ability enabled him to hold 
 the pre-eminence, generally, with honor to himself 
 and his country. Indeed, it was the commence- 
 ment of a new era in European politics, and 
 England was called to occupy a position, in her 
 advances from which, she has never since retreated. 
 The political scene now opens. The King's 
 first step was to answer the solicitations of the 
 Pope ; and he dispatched Bambridge, Archbishop 
 of York to make arrangements with the Sovereign 
 Pontiff. But his Holiness was in need of more 
 effectual assistance than the counsel of an Arch- 
 bishop ; for, the French had advanced their con- 
 quests in Italy ; and had now invested Bognonia, 
 where the Pope himself was confined with sick- 
 ness ; and, after a brief resistance, the place was 
 obliged to surrender on very severe conditions. 
 
 This success of the French arms, created 
 general alarm, and it was determined to check its 
 further advance. For this purpose, Henry imme- 
 diately entered into an alliance with Ferdinand, 
 the King of Spain. 
 
 ?1 
 
 / 
 
 V 
 
 Battle of Flod- 
 ' den Field. 
 
 It would not be necessary for me, in a history SECTION 
 of this kind, to cause a digression by narrating a JH. 
 trifling circumstance, which gave umbrage to the v^^^^^-v^ 
 King of Scotland, w^ere it not, that it laid the Origin of the 
 foundation in his mind of a smothered resentment 
 which never could be allayed till it expired with 
 his life, amidst the slaughters of Flodden Field ! 
 The circumstances were these ; King James had 
 granted letters of marque to one of his subjects, 
 against the Portuguese Nation, from whom he 
 could gain no redress, for injuries which they had 
 committed. Not content with making reprisals 
 of the vessels of Portugal, the Captain attacked 
 and plundered several English ships, under a pre- 
 tence that they conveyed Portuguese goods. In 
 consequence, his ships were captured by the 
 English Admiral. The principal was slain in the 
 action, and his comrades conveyed to London, and 
 presented to the King, who pardoned them, and 
 sent them to Scotland. King James demanded 
 satisfaction ; but the English Monarch answered 
 his messenger, " That it did not become him to 
 impute a breach of treaty to an ally for shewing 
 mercy to pirates." Whatever influence the dis- 
 astrous Battle of Flodden Field may have upon 
 the history of Scotland — it was this incident that 
 gave rise to it — so fatal in its results, may be the 
 guilty indulgence of secret revenge ! 
 
 But to return. The alliance with Ferdinand 
 for the protection of Italy and the Popedom, 
 
318 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 319 
 
 War with 
 France. 
 
 i 
 
 
 SECTION necessarily involved a war with France. A Par- 
 ^^'' liament was called, in which soldiers were granted; 
 and preparations made for the immediate invasion 
 of France. 
 
 Many disasters attended this first equipment, 
 owing to the treachery of the King of Spain ; but 
 at length, an alliance having been formed with 
 the Emperor Maximillian, and preparations hav- 
 ing been made on a grand scale, the King deter- 
 mined to invade France in person. The prodi- 
 gious expense of fitting out this immense arma- 
 ment, both by sea and land, must of itself discover, 
 the rapid advance which the country had made in 
 riches and power. The fleet was increased to 
 forty-two sail, and some of them, ships of consid- 
 erable bulk, conveying six or seven hundred men 
 — a circumstance, which will tend to shew how 
 much the knowledge of navigation and maritime 
 affairs had progressed, since the commencement of 
 the reign of Henry VII. 
 
 During these preparations, it was thought 
 necessary to engage the King of Scotland in a 
 treaty of peace — but his passions had been 
 before-hand. His revenge had seized the first 
 opportunity for which it had been anxiously wait- 
 ing ; and he had, already, entered into an alliance 
 with the King of France. 
 
 Every precaution had been taken for the secu- 
 rity of the kingdom, during Henry's absence, the 
 Queen had been appointed Regent ; the brave 
 
 >i. 
 
 Earl of Surrey was placed at the head of the SECTION 
 army, and the King was about to embark with all III. 
 his forces. But the tragical part of these prepara- ^"*^* "* 
 tions was still to be enacted. The guilt of the 
 House of York had not yet been fully expiated ; 
 and another victim was now to be added, to its 
 list of illustrious sufferers. The wary council of 
 Henry intimated, that it would not be safe for him 
 to hazard his person in war, whilst Edmund De- 
 la-Pole, Earl of Suffolk, the representative of the 
 House of York was yet alive ; and who, in case of 
 his death, might exchange the Tower for the 
 Palace, and once more plunge the kingdom in 
 civil war. This voice prevailed : and De-la-Pole, 
 who must, long since, have considered the bitter- 
 ness of death as past, was summoned to his fate 
 and fell under the stroke of the executioner! 
 
 At length the expedition set sail, and on the The Kin? 
 fourth of August, the army invested Teronenne. '*'^' *^' ^'*°'^ 
 
 A n 1513 
 
 The King s pavilion was of the most sumptuous 
 description, and in the midst of martial array, he 
 failed not to discover his taste for magnificence 
 and display. The Emperor too, condescended 
 to serve under him, an honor for the first time 
 conferred upon a King ; and which no doubt, was 
 highly flattering to the lofty and aspiring temper 
 of Henry. After the "Battle of the Spurs," a 
 name which it acquired, from the rapidity of the 
 flight of the French horse. Terouenne despair- 
 ing of effectual relief, surrendered ; and on enter- 
 
 I 
 
320 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION ing the city, the King took precedence of the 
 ^^^' Emperor. Every thing indeed was propitious. 
 
 Ohap II 
 
 Tournay was next invested, and in a short time, 
 compelled to surrender. It was here, as if he had 
 been on a royal progress, that Henry established 
 his court. He invited the young Prince Charles 
 of Spain, to a splendid entertainment, and cele- 
 brated solemn jousts and tournaments, in which 
 himself and Sir Charles Brandon answered all 
 comers, performing prodigies of valor. But these 
 feats of arms and chivalry, have nothing to do 
 with the solemn facts of history, further than they 
 can be shewn to exert an influence upon those 
 facts. In this case, it is evident, that in the edu- 
 cation of Henry VIII. these gay and splendid 
 exercises gained the ascendant ; and that when 
 he came to the throne he exerted all his influence, 
 to establish them on their ancient foundations; 
 and to obtain for them, a portion of their ancient 
 splendor. But the day of chivalry was gone ; and 
 his attempt was preposterous. Another era had 
 burst upon the world ; knowledge and science, 
 navigation and commerce, the discovery of new 
 worlds and the pervading light of truth, had given 
 a new impulse to the human mind ; and an ex- 
 pansion pf thought, which looked with contempt 
 on the display of mere physical strength and dex- 
 terity. Certainly, Henry, for a time, conducted 
 these games with great spirit, and greater magni- 
 ficence ; but, it was their expiring blaze : for, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 321 
 
 shortly they were totally extinguished by the in- SECTION 
 creasing light of learning and Christianity. HI. 
 
 But Tournay, was the scene of a much greater ^^^^^^^^^^ 
 event, than the festive entertainments of Henry — Rise of woi. 
 an event, which opened a new scene in the history ^*'^* 
 of his reign, and introduces to us a person of high 
 genius, upon whose commanding energies, the 
 history of England, is for a season, to depend. This 
 was Thomas Wolsey, a person of unknown origin, 
 but who, Tyy his abilities and the instrumentality 
 of the Grammar school of his native town, had 
 passed through the University with honour, and 
 accompanied the King in this expedition as Almo- 
 ner, in the train of Fox, Bishop of Winchester. 
 Whatever advances in the King's favor, this in- 
 dividual might, previousl}^ have made, he was now 
 suddenly exalted to honor, and appointed Bishop 
 of Tournay, by the King : and in virtue of that 
 office, administered to the citizens, the oath of 
 fealty to their new Sovereign. 
 
 In the mean time, England itself is made the Battle of 
 theatre of war. James IV. of Scotland, hurried ^^^"^^'^^ ^'^^^* 
 
 ... A. D. 1513. 
 
 on by his restless impatience for revenge, invades 
 the borders of England with a formidable army of 
 fifty thousand. But the project was to end in his 
 dishonor and distruction. He was encountered 
 by the Earl of Surrey, at Flodden, where after a 
 desperate fight of three hours, the King was slain, 
 with a vast number of his chief nobility and about 
 ten thousand men. The events connected with 
 
322 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION this defeat belong to the History of Scotland ; but 
 HI- in this brief episode of our history, we may trace 
 the fatal effects of revenge, which like every other 
 inordinate passion, ends in its own overthrow.* 
 
 Nothing further is transacted in France ; and 
 the King leaving his new acquisitions in that 
 country, under the government of Sir Edward 
 Poynings, returned to England. 
 
 Although nothing of very great importance to 
 this country, appears to depend upon this gorge- 
 ous expedition into France ; and though the con- 
 quest of Terouenne and Tournay, appear but a 
 very indifferent equivalent for the wealth and 
 treasure expended upon the expedition ; yet it 
 must not be admitted that it was nothing more 
 than an empty show of kingly pride and magnifi- 
 cence. 
 
 A little reflection will tell us, that such an 
 expedition, and attended with such success, must 
 have had a very decisive effect in establishing 
 amongst foreign nations the reputation of England. 
 The courage and enterprize of her soldiers — the 
 skill and hardihood of her sailors— the prowess 
 and chivalry of her nobility, had a tendency to 
 inspire that respect for her naval and military 
 glory, which the country at that time certainly 
 obtained, and which it has never rehnquished. 
 In celebration of his late successes, the King 
 ferred on the ^^^^^.^^^^^^ ^^ coufcr sigual houors, upon the 
 
 Leaders. 
 A. D. 1514. * Apostle James, Epis. i. 15. 
 
 Honors con- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 323 
 
 distinguished men, who had graced the expedition SECTION 
 by their courage and abilities. Accordingly, on the ^n. 
 second of February, Thomas, Earl of Surrey, was v.^^^^^^ 
 created Duke of Norfolk. Sir Charles Somerset, 
 Earl of Worcester ; Sir Charles Brandon, Duke of 
 Suffolk; and Sir Edward Stanley, Lord Mont- 
 eagle. Nor was Bishop Wolsey forgotten: the 
 aspiring almoner was made Bishop of Lincoln, 
 and to crown the whole, the King himself received ; 
 a cap of maintenance and a sword, from Pope 
 Leo X. who had now succeeded to Julius IL 
 And that the gift might want nothing to render 
 it acceptable, it was accompanied with a decree of 
 the Lateran Council, which transferred the title 
 of " Most Christian King" from the French 
 Monarch, and conferred it upon Henry. 
 
 The scene now suddenly changes: and an Mairicage of 
 incident occurred of a more romantic and tender ^^'^ ^""'^'' 
 character ; but as it was in reality, no romance, 
 but exercised an influence on the aspect of public 
 events, it must not be omitted in this history. It 
 was the marriage of the Princess Mary, the King's 
 sister. It will be remembered, that Henry VII. 
 solemnly contracted this Princess, when very 
 young, to Prince Charles of Spain. The parties 
 had now arrived at the appointed age ; and the 
 King sent an embassy to the Court of Flanders, 
 to make arrangements for the completion of the 
 treaty. But he soon found there was no intention 
 on the part of that Court to fulfil the contract, 
 
324 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and, he was more disgusted with their frivolous 
 III- excuses and unnecessary delays, then he would 
 have been with an open and determined refusal. 
 The King of France, wearied with the fatigues of 
 war, thought this a favorable opportunity of 
 making up the breach between himself and Henry, 
 and having gained the mediation of the Pope, he 
 sued for the hand of the illustrious Princess. Her 
 affections had long been placed upon Brandon, 
 Duke of Suffolk, the most princely and accom- 
 plished nobleman of his day ; but the suit of 
 Lewis prevailed, and she was doomed to be immo- 
 lated as another victim on the altar of political 
 expediency. But it would ill suit the character 
 of this work to enter into the details of this event, 
 suffice it to say, that Lewis, w^orn out with age 
 and sickness, did not long survive. In three 
 months the Queen of France was a widow ; and 
 shortly after, with the full consent of her brother, 
 bestowed her hand on the Duke of Suffolk, from 
 this union descended the Lady Jane Gray, who 
 is afterwards to act a brief and mournful part in 
 
 our history. 
 Repuution At this period by the success which attended 
 their arms; and the splendor and influence of 
 their government, the English people had acquired 
 in a very great degree, the respect and admiration 
 of the world, in which their generous and accom- 
 plished King justly obtained an ample share. 
 But unfortunately for himself, he found in Wolsey 
 
 of England. 
 A. D. 1515. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 325 
 
 Bishop of Lincoln, a man, whose abilities enabled SECTION 
 him to manage the most difficult affairs of state ^^^' 
 with wisdom and prudence ; and to him, the ^^^^-^^^-xl^ 
 King consigned the chief management of public 
 affairs. We must now follow the acts of this 
 extraordinary individual, under whose conduct, 
 the kingdom advanced in its course. 
 
 We have already noticed his appointment to wnisej's 
 the Bishopricks of Tournay and Lincoln. He^''^^'""^- 
 now succeeds on the death of Bambridge, to the 
 Archbishoprick of York, whilst through the influ- 
 ence of the Kings of France and England, he was 
 raised to the dignity of Cardinal, appointed Legate 
 to the Pope, and armed with such peculiar author- 
 ity, that his power was superior to that of the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury. And to render his 
 dignity and authority complete, he w^as made Lord 
 High Chancellor. His ecclesiastical preferments 
 were so rich, and the sources of wealth at his 
 command, so many, that his annual income equal- 
 led, if it did not exceed the revenues of the crown. 
 His state and magnificence were equal to his rank 
 and dignity. His household consisted of eight 
 hundred persons ; among whom were ten Lords, 
 fifteen Baronets, and fifty Esquires; and w^hen 
 he made his appearance in public, he affected the 
 greatest pomp and splendor — riding on a mule 
 nobly caparisoned. 
 
 Henry, having thus found a person upon whom 
 he might devolve the cares of government, gave 
 
326 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CilAP. II. 
 
 SECTION himself up to the more splendid exercises of the 
 JI^« joust and tournament, and to the pomp and plea- 
 sures of his court. His tried and prudent minis- 
 ters remonstrated with him, on the fatal tendency 
 of his conduct ; and exhorted him to attend to the 
 business of the nation. But in vain. AYolsey it 
 is to be feared, acted in this, a treacherous part ; 
 and for the purpose of securing his own ad- 
 vancement, encouraged the King in his penii- 
 cious course, and in every possible way, adminis- 
 tered to his luxurious ease, magnificent pursuits, 
 and licentious pleasures. This may be considered 
 as the period of the King's moral ruin, engulphed, 
 as he was, in pleasure and enslaved by passion. 
 
 The whole power and patronage of the state 
 were now engrossed by Wolsey ; and the old and 
 prudent ministers of the King began to retire 
 from their attendance at the council table, where 
 their presence had become unnecessary. Even 
 the Duke of Suffolk, who of all Henry's friends, 
 never lost his confidence, through the influence of 
 the Cardinal, was an exile from court. Notwith- 
 standing, such was the versatile talent, princely 
 generosity^ and firm bearing of the Cardinal, that 
 if he had been left to himself without injudicious 
 interference, and if he had not set his heart on 
 the Papal chair, in all probability, the King 
 might have lived and died in peace. But this 
 was not to be. Great events were to be accom- 
 plished, in which, both were to be actors against 
 
 \ 
 
 } 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 327 
 
 their will. The King was to be roused from the SECTION 
 luxurious and dignified repose in which he vainly HL 
 thought to consume his days ; whilst the Cardinal ,^^^^]^-v!^ 
 by his intricate policy, wrought out that, which, 
 beyond all things, he w^ould have deprecated ; and 
 in which he was at last ensnared and destroyed. 
 But many a step was yet to be taken. The unrav- 
 elling of the divine plan was as slow as it w^as sure ; 
 and we have before us, two men, of elevated minds 
 and noble character, ruined by the prosperity of 
 their situation. Their unbounded means allowed 
 full scope for the natural bias of the heart, to 
 display itself without control ; and w^hilst they 
 were both fitted by the powers of their under- 
 standing to elevate and advance the interests of 
 their country, yet all the good that was accom- 
 plished, resulted from the overruling of their 
 licentiousness. A phenomenon, in the moral gov- 
 ernment of the w^orld, divinely announced by the 
 Sacred Penman. Book of Psalms Ixxvi. 10. 
 
 The Cardinal's superior abilities, as a ruler, Abie admin- 
 were soon developed in the administration of the ^'^'^^^""''^'^'^ 
 Commonwealth- He was indefatigable in busi- 
 ness, and vigorous in the execution of the laws. 
 Nothing escaped his vigilance. His scrutiny 
 extended to ecclesiastical as w^ell as civil affairs. 
 He brought all public extortioners to a severe 
 account. He visited perjury w^ith condign pun- 
 ishment ; and established courts for the purpose 
 of defending the poor against the oppression of 
 
 Cardinal. 
 
328 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 329 
 
 SECTION the rich. In short, he was a determined reformer ; 
 WJ» and wherever disorders existed, his powerful mind 
 
 Chap. II. , . , , -r^ , 
 
 K^^^y^^^ was always prepared to apply a remedy. But he 
 was not popular ; and this, perhaps, may be a 
 proof of his impartiality and sincerity. During an 
 insurrection in London, which was caused by the 
 jealousy of the citizens against the Foreign me- 
 chanics and artizans ; the all-powerful Cardinal, 
 instead of hastening to the place of tumult as the 
 first magistrate under the King, was glad to shut 
 himself up in his palace, and to fortify it with 
 cannon. A fact sufficient in itself; to convey to 
 us a distinct idea, of the barbarous arrangement, 
 of the civil power, at that time. 
 The great The REFORMATION ! the luost important and 
 
 purposeof God g]QpJQyg gyent of this or any other age, since the 
 promulgation of Christianity, is now before us. 
 It is the great object which is to guide our inqui- 
 ries, and to which, for a long time, w^e have seen 
 every event in our history tending ; and it is in 
 the sudden and effectual deliverance from the 
 usurpations of Popery, fraught with such incon- 
 ceivable blessings to millions of the human race, 
 that we are to look for the manifest finger of 
 God. Had we been following the rise of the Pope- 
 dom, w^e should have found at this time, that the 
 Popish church had arrived at the " ne plus ultra" 
 of error in doctrine — superstition in worship, and 
 viciousness in practice ; and that the measure of 
 her iniquities was full ; whilst her Lords, the 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 fold 
 
 \y 
 
 Popes, had arrived at a most prodigious height of SECTION 
 pride, presumption and impiety. Indeed, nothing II** 
 can more fully discover the truth of these impu- 
 tations, than the open and profligate sale of what 
 were termed " Indulgences ;" the conditions of 
 which were : " That without distinction of persons 
 or sins, w^hoever performed certain religious rites, 
 and paid certain sums of money, should obtain a 
 full remission of their sins." The agents employed 
 in the transfer of these indulgences, carried on 
 their infamous traffic, in a manner the most un- 
 disguised ; and opened their courts or shops even 
 in taverns, brothels, and gaming houses. Such 
 open licentiousness and blasphemy could not 
 escape general observation. Discussions on the 
 lawfulness of such extraordinary assumptions, 
 were excited throughout Europe. The flagitious 
 lives of the clergy — the increase of learning, and 
 the discovery of printing, gave strength and vigour 
 and extension to the inquiry. The immortal 
 name of Luther is well known in conjunction 
 with this subject, and indeed, is closely connected 
 with the whole of this extraordinary ecclesiastical 
 revolution, as it respects the Continent of Europe. 
 But our design is to trace the progress of the 
 Reformation in England, which did not depend 
 upon the same causes, nor the same persons — was 
 more slowly developed, and thus providentially 
 escaped those innovations which characterized 
 the Lutheran and Genevese Reformation. And 
 
 ) 
 
'ff 
 
 330 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 331 
 
 SECTION it will appear, not a little remarkable that, the 
 III- Cardinal himself was the first great Instrument. 
 He had been appointed as we have seen, the Pope's 
 legate plenipotentiary, with full power to inquire 
 into, and correct all ecclesiastical abuses. He ex- 
 erted this authority with such vigour and dispatch, 
 that he became extremely odious with all ranks of 
 the Clergy. Loud complaints were made against 
 the rigorous severity and exactions of the Cardinal, 
 which at length, through the Archbishop, reached 
 the ears of the King, who so far interfered, as to 
 rebuke the severity of his Minister. 
 
 It is well known that the Cardinal's ambition 
 had, for a long time, been placed on the dignity of 
 the Popedom, and this object he steadily pursued 
 through all his course. He never lost sight of the 
 dazzling prize, night or day. It w^as the key- 
 stone of all his policy, and was mixed up with all 
 the national treaties which he had power to con- 
 trol. He courted the favour of foreign Princes, 
 whose influence could avail, and especially at this 
 time, of Francis King of France, for whom he ob- 
 tained the restoration of Tournay ; on which occa- 
 sion also the Princess Mary, not one year old, was 
 affianced to the infant Dauphin of France. 
 
 Another eminent personage, whose actions had 
 a powerful influence on the future events of this 
 reign, must now be introduced to the reader. 
 This was Charles V. of Spain, who was elected 
 Emperor, in the room of Maximillian. This saga- 
 
 chap. n. 
 
 Charles V. 
 
 Emperor, 
 
 A. D. 1519. 
 
 / 
 
 cious Prince, whose mind w^as occupied with the SECTION 
 splendid schemes of an unbounded ambition, soon HL 
 perceived that it was his interest to stand well with 
 the prime minister of England. With this great 
 man, to resolve and to act, were the same thing. 
 He lost no time, but though somewhat behind his 
 rival, yet, by munificent presents and well-timed 
 flattery, he contended successfully y^\\\\ Francis for 
 the post of favour. 
 
 The Cardinal cautiously weighing the balance, 
 of things — perceived that the Emperor was the 
 more potent Monarch, and reflecting, that in case 
 of a rupture between him and Francis, the power 
 of the King of England must decide the contest, 
 resolved to give all his influence to the Emperor ; 
 in ratification of which, he sent him more valuable 
 presents than he had received. This deep policy, 
 by which he rejected the interest of the French 
 party, although it is said, France had promised 
 him the votes of thirteen Cardinals, was as unsuc- 
 cessful as it was dishonest. It was, as we shall 
 see, a false step for his ow^n interests, and could 
 never be retrieved. 
 
 An interlude now occurs in the political drama, 
 with the details of w^hich, I must forl)ear to embla- ^^"^^^ *^'^*^ 
 
 King's of 
 
 zon my pages, as I do not find that it bears any France and 
 reference to the course of events. It was a Ions:- ^"s^^"^- 
 
 ° A. D. 1520. 
 
 projected interview between the Kings of France 
 and England ; and conducted on such a scale of 
 expensive magnificence, that it defies all compari- 
 
 luterviewbe 
 
332 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 333 
 
 SECTION son with similar displa3^s, whether ancient or 
 Ilf- modern, and acquired for the plains of Ardres, 
 where the interview took place, the name of "the 
 field of the cloth of gold". 
 
 The King immediately on his return, not con- 
 tent with the honors he had gained on the plains 
 of Ardres, determined to display his learning ; 
 and entered into a theological dispute with the 
 celebrated Luther, whose writings had now ac- 
 quired great celebrity. The King, it is said, was 
 more induced to undertake the work, because Lu- 
 ther had attacked his favorite author, Thomas 
 Aquinas, with great asperity. Be this as it may, 
 the work entitled '' De septem Sacramentis " w^as 
 accomplished, and in a splendid dress, was pre- 
 sented to the Pope, by Doctor John Clark, dean 
 of Windsor ; and was received with the greatest 
 demonstrations of joy and triumph: and there is 
 nothing, if succeeding events would have allowed, 
 which Henry might not have obtained from the 
 See of Rome. His writings were compared to 
 those of Saint Austin and Jerome : and in the very 
 next consistory, the high and honorable title of 
 '" DEFENDER OF THE FAITH " was Conferred upon 
 him. Nor was this all — the fame of his scholar- 
 ship resounded through all the states of Christen- 
 dom. Innumerable authors dedicated their works 
 to him, as the first in rank and letters ; and his 
 name was everywhere lauded by sages, reverenced 
 by saints, and celebrated by poets. Nor must 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 i 
 
 all this be considered as empty flattery. The SECTION 
 work had real merit. — It was superior to that of HI. 
 his learned antagonist in propriety of language, 
 in the force of his reasoning, and the learning of 
 its citations : but as the learned Collier says of it. — 
 '' It is true he leans too much upon his character, 
 argues in his garter-robes, and writes as it were, 
 with his sceptre.* 
 
 But alas ! a tragical event which now happened 
 threw a gloom over these innocent employments. 
 The House of Buckingham had not yet expiated 
 the guilt of their fathers, and Edward the present 
 accomplished Duke, was destined to fall a victim 
 to unerring justice. His high and haughty bearing 
 towards the Cardinal, had provoked his resent- 
 ment, and from secret intelligence, he was made 
 acquainted with certain expressions which had 
 been uttered, in private, by the Duke, which when 
 brought into light, seemed to bear the construc- 
 tion of treason. He was, in consequence, appre- 
 hended and tried ; and, on very slight grounds, 
 condemned to die. He refused to sue for pardon, 
 and was beheaded in the Tower ; and whatever 
 portion of guilt may attach to his character, it is 
 manifest his life was in the power of the Cardinal, 
 and it is to be feared, that he was instigated to 
 destroy him, through the influence of revenge. 
 
 At length the war which had long been foreseen, 
 broke out between the Emperor and the King of 
 
 * Curiosities of Literature. 
 
334 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 335 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION France, and which continued, with partial inter- 
 "I- ruptions, to devastate the fairest portion of South- 
 ern Europe for the space of forty years. Wolsey, 
 with a splendid retinue, was sent as ambassador 
 and umpire, to settle the dispute. Great prepa- 
 rations were made by all parties to give solemnity 
 and importance to the embassy. The Cardinal, 
 at first, appears honestly intent on fulfilling the 
 object of his mission, and of bringing the war to 
 a conclusion. But in the midst of the negoci- 
 ations, a private interview with the Emperor, 
 changed his purposes ; and after fonning a private 
 treaty with the Emperor, by which he lost the 
 confidence and friendship of the French Monarch, 
 he returned to England. 
 
 But this deceitful policy whilst it ended in his 
 own disappointment, was one of those necessary 
 links in the course of events, which led to the 
 Reformation in England. But no doubt it had a 
 still more striking influence in the affairs transact- 
 ed on the Continent, but which belong to another 
 portion of history. 
 
 ^ At this very juncture, the heart stirring ambi- 
 tion of the Cardinal was awakened in all its inten- 
 sity by the death of Leo X. The Cardinal 
 had certainly laid his plans with great care, and 
 no person on public grounds, could have higher 
 pretensions to the Popedom. But his ambitious 
 hopes were to meet with a severe check. The 
 very King whom he had selected as his patron, 
 
 Vacancy in 
 the Papacy, 
 A. D. 1522. 
 
 and in whom he had reposed his confidence, failed SECTION 
 him. Wolsey lost no time, but before his envoy 
 could even arnve at Rome, Adrian, who had v^^^^v^x^ 
 been tutor to the Emperor, w^es elected to the 
 Papal chair. No doubt as we have hinted above, 
 this failure may be traced in a great measure, to 
 the alienation of the French Monarch from Wolsey, 
 on account of his private treaty with the Emperor, 
 and which soon after led him to declare war against 
 England. But the conduct of the Emperor in- 
 flicted a deep wound on the mind of the Cardinal, 
 which he did not fail to resent ; and which led to 
 a new course of policy, on w^hich great events are 
 made to depend ! 
 
 But whatever might be the feelings of Wolsey, The Emperor 
 he is obliged to dissemble : for one part of the ^^'''^ Kn-umd. 
 private Ireaty, was to secure an mterview between 
 the Emperor and the King of England — one prin- 
 cipal reason of which was, to treat of a marriage 
 between him and the Princess Mary. The Mar- 
 quess of Dorset and the Cardinal with a noble 
 retinue, met the Emperor at Calais. He was 
 received in London by the King with great pomp 
 and rejoicings, and on the nineteenth of June was 
 installed a Knight of the Garter, with great mag- 
 nificence. But nothing surpassed the dignity and 
 splendor of Wolsey. In all things he affected the 
 ceremonial and dignity of the Pope. On Whit- 
 sunday the King and Emperor, rode in great 
 state, to St. Paul's Cathedral ; where the Cardinal 
 
 \ 
 
336 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 SECTION performed high mass, with unusual pomp. At 
 Ifl- the commencement of the service, two Barons pre- 
 sented him with the bason and water ; after the 
 Gospels, the ceremony was performed by two 
 Earls ; and at the last lavatory, by two Dukes : 
 a priestly state, which it is said, raised the 
 indignation even of some of the Spaniards. But 
 what ought chiefly to be remarked is, that, the 
 two Monarchs, received the Sacrament together, 
 and sw^ore upon the holy gospel to observe the 
 league concluded between them — to unite their 
 forces against Francis, and to marry the Princess 
 Mary, when of a proper age to the Emperor — we 
 shall see how remarkably these solemn engage- 
 ments were frustrated, affording high proof of the 
 vanity of human wisdom, and a striking illustra- 
 tion of the truth of Holy Writ.* 
 
 The Emperor departed under the convoy of the 
 Earl of Surrey, the English Admiral, who carried 
 on a desultory and merciless w^arfare on the coast 
 of France, whilst the Marquess of Dorset, enacts 
 the same predatory scenes on the borders of Scot- 
 land. The amount of private suffering inflicted 
 on families, villages, and towns, by these torturing 
 expeditions must have been fearful. But prepa- 
 rations were making on a more extensive scale, 
 and to raise the necessary supplies, the King 
 caused a survey of the whole kingdom to be made, 
 which, manifested the rapidly increasing wealth 
 
 * Prophecy of Isaiah liv. 24, 25. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 337 
 
 of the nation ; and induced the King by the exer- SECTION 
 cise of his own authority, to command loans of III. 
 his richer subjects. But this method was utterly v^^^-ii[/ 
 insufficient, and the King and his Minister were 
 obliged to summon a Parliament. The arbitrary 
 authority, and munificent disposition of the Cardi- 
 nal, were unfriendly to these popular assemblies. 
 He knew their power, and disliked to encounter 
 them. He had carried on the government for seven 
 years without their assistance ; and nothing but 
 a sense of necessity could have induced him to woiscy and 
 assemble them. The Cardinal exerted all his the house of 
 
 Commons. 
 
 eloquence to induce the House of Commons, to 
 grant a liberal supply ; but when that failed, he 
 attempted to overawe their deliberations. He 
 entered the House with great warmth, and told 
 them " that he desired to reason with those who 
 opposed his demands," to which he received in 
 answer, " It was the order of that House, to hear, 
 and not to reason, but among themselves." With 
 this rebuke the Cardinal departed, resolving no 
 doubt, to have as little, as possible, to do with 
 such refractory materials ; nor did he court ano- 
 ther interview wdth them of seven years. 
 
 This line of policy w^as most injurious to the 
 commonwealth. There was wealth in the country, 
 and ability in the people, which might have been college of 
 turned to great advantage ; but these, by not being Phys'^^'ans 
 called into exercise, were in a great measure lost, 
 to the community. In this Parliament, the College 
 
338 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPII-Y 
 
 f 
 
 SECTION of Physicians was instituted ; and important pri- 
 III- vileges granted to its members. An act was also 
 
 ^^^AJ^^-^ passed to enable the King by his letters patent to 
 annul all attainders of High Treason, and to 
 restore their heirs ; and the subsidies being grant- 
 ed, this septennial session ended. 
 
 In the mean time the Duke of Suffolk wath a 
 train of the first nobility, entered France at the 
 head of thirteen thousand well disciplined and 
 effective troops, and having formed a junction with 
 the forces of the Emperor, they were victorious, and 
 advanced within a few miles of Paris ; but from 
 the extreme coklness of the weather, by w^hich it 
 is said, all the corn in France * w^as frozen and 
 destroyed, they wxre compelled to put an end to 
 the campaign. It would be useless and tedious 
 to enter into a minute detail of the military ex- 
 ploits of this period. But it should be remarked, 
 that during this inroad of the English into France, 
 their King, Francis, was conducting his forces into 
 Italy ; and that in the midst of his successes, his 
 arms received a temporary check by the death of 
 Pope Adrian VI. 
 
 Woisev arrives Wolscy's ambitiou w^as again roused. Every 
 
 at -reat power, possiblc cffort was made, and at the intercession 
 
 A. D. 1523. 
 
 of Wolsey, the King wdth his own hand, wTote in 
 his favor, to the Emperor. Notwithstanding, the 
 Emperor again failed him, and Julio de Medici 
 was made Pope by the name of Clement VII. 
 
 * Echard. 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 339 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Wolsey though greatly mortified, still concealed SECTION 
 his resentment, and endeavoured to make the best ^I* 
 terms he could with the new Pope, Nothing 
 that he asked was denied; and his powers in 
 Ecclesiastical matters, were increased to the au- 
 thority of a Pope, in England. At this juncture, 
 the mind of Wolsey appears to have contemplated 
 great designs ; and his first object was, to build 
 two colleges, one at his native town Ipswich ; and 
 the other, at Oxford. And in order to fulfil his 
 designs, he readily obtained a license from the 
 Pope, to suppress some of the lesser monasteries, 
 and to apply their revenues to these important 
 institutions. But he had more difliculty with the 
 King, who, for some time, refused to give his 
 consent. This may be considered as the first 
 invasion of the Papal superstition in England; 
 and, we may wtII stop to admire the consci- 
 entious scruples of a Monarch, who, led on by 
 circumstances, and taught by this example, after- 
 wards, and in a few" short years from the time of 
 which we are speaking, destroyed every vestige of 
 the Monastic institutions in England ! How little 
 was any thing of the kind contemplated by him at 
 this time ! How little could he have imagined, 
 that he, should be guilty of such excesses ! and 
 that he, the '* Defender of the Faith," should be 
 the greatest enemy the Papal church ever had, in 
 England ! Had such things then been proposed 
 to him, would he not have answered in the words 
 
340 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 SECTION of Hazael: ''But what! Is thy servant a dog that 
 HI. he should do this great thing'?" 
 
 Whilst these projects were entertained by the 
 Cardinal, the Scots, at the instigation of France, 
 under the Duke of Albany, invaded the English 
 frontiers. The Earl of Surrey, now Duke of 
 Norfolk, at the head of a formidable army, repel- 
 led the invasion. The Scots shortly after, made 
 overtures of peace, and stipulated to give up the 
 French interest, on condition, that the King would 
 consent to contract a marriage, between the 
 Princess Mary and their young Monarch. It will 
 be remembered, that the Princess had been so- 
 lemnly affianced to the Emperor ; and this offer, 
 afforded an opportunity of putting the intentions 
 of the Emperor to the test. He did not wait for a 
 formal communication on the subject, but hearing 
 of the treaty, he was the first to despatch an em- 
 bassy to require, that the Princess should im- 
 mediately be delivered into his hands, promising 
 to proclaim her Empress, and to appoint her 
 Regent of the Low Countries. But this negocia- 
 tion which would have changed the whole com- 
 plexion of English affairs, and might have proved 
 fatal, as we shall see, to the English Reformation, 
 was suddenly interrupted, and never renewed, by 
 an event, which filled all Europe with surprise 
 and astonishment ! 
 King of France rj.^^ ^^^ betwccn the King of France and the 
 
 taken prisoner. ^ . _ • ta i i 
 
 A D. 1525. Emperor was vigorously carried on m Italy, and 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 341 
 
 i 
 
 <t 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Francis after a series of brilliant exploits, closely SECTION 
 pursued the forces of the Duke of Bourbon, the in. 
 Emperor's General ; and was now besieging him 
 in the town of Pavia. The vigour of the French 
 King afforded slender hope, that the city would 
 be able, long to sustain the siege ; and the Duke 
 was dubious what course to adopt. But a singu- 
 lar circumstance decided the fate of the contest. 
 Wolsey ever vigilant for an occasion to gratify his 
 smothered resentment, thought this a favourable 
 opportunity, by an unexpected stroke, to throw 
 the affairs of the Emperor, into embarrassment. 
 Accordingly, he suddenly stopped the pay of 
 the Duke of Bourbon's soldiers, which depend- 
 ed upon the English treasury. This " untoward" 
 affair, exasperated the Duke, and drove him 
 to utter despair ; and he resolved to attempt 
 the most desperate measures. On a dark night, 
 he ordered part of his men, to attack the besiegers 
 on the worst defended part of the town ; whilst he 
 himself, with a select body, issued from a postern 
 gate, which by a circuitous path brought him into 
 the rear of the enemy. Every thing succeeded to 
 his wishes. The watch was slender and the 
 soldiers being suddenly awoke out of sleep, were 
 seized with fear ; and whilst their whole attention 
 was directed to that part of the town, from which 
 the assault was made, and the Duke of Bourbon 
 attacking them at the same time in the rear, the 
 terror was greatly increased. The moment was 
 
 *Wi' 
 
'I 
 
 342 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 343 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 States of Eu- 
 
 SECTION favorable for the Duke, nor did he neglect it. 
 ni. He seized their artillery, and discharged it upon 
 the confused camp. Great numbers of the enemy 
 were slain, whilst to complete their overthrow, 
 the French King, himself, bravely fighting with 
 his own hand, and endeavouring to restore courage 
 to his men, was taken prisoner in the field. This 
 remarkable event happened on the 24th day of 
 February, A. U. 1525. 
 
 This surprising change, when the tide of vic- 
 
 roT,e alarmed at ^Q^y sccmcd to bc OH tlic poiut of declaring for 
 
 tV^C SUC'CSS ot 
 
 the Emperor. Fraucis, thrcw thc King of England and his Prime 
 Minister into great perplexity. Nor indeed, Henry 
 and Wolsey alone. Every Monarch and Prime 
 Minister in Europe were alarmed at the gigantic 
 povv'er, which this turn of fortune had placed in 
 the hands of the Emperor. The balance of power 
 w^as in imminent danger of being destroyed, and 
 the independence of their several kingdoms and 
 states threatened with destruction. Henry, by a 
 tacit consent, w^ithout a formal recognition of his 
 title, assumed, that it was his duty to come for- 
 ward on this emergency, as the Arbiter of Europe. 
 A council was summoned, in which it was deter- 
 mined, that Henry, as an ally in chief, should 
 claim a share in the success of their arms, and 
 demand the restoration of his inheritance in France; 
 and stipulate, that when the Princess Mary should 
 be delivered into the hands of the Emperor, Fran- 
 cis should be set at Hberty, under the auspices of 
 
 r 
 I 
 
 % 
 
 <^ 
 
 the King of England. But late events had en- SECTION 
 larged the views of the Emperor ; and the pros- HI. 
 pect of universal Monarchy now^ opened before 
 him. The embassy of the King of England met 
 with a very cold reception in Spain ; and to dis- 
 cover more effectually his intentions, and how 
 little he regarded his long contemplated alliance 
 with England, he married the Infanta of Portugal, 
 as more in unison with his ambitious views. From 
 this moment w^e may date the separation between 
 the Emperor and the King of England. Their 
 solemn vows and engagements came to an end. — 
 Even their private friendship ceased, and the 
 English ambassadors were recaUed. 
 
 In the mean time, every effort was made by 
 Henry and the other Princes of Europe, to obtain 
 the release of the King of France. But in vain : 
 the Emperor remained inflexible, and made such 
 exorbitant demands, that the King of France 
 though cruelly suffering under his confinement, 
 could not, in honor, accede to them. At length, 
 however, after a year's painful captivity, the French 
 Monarch was released ; and to secure the stipula- 
 tion of the treaty concluded at Madrid, Francis 
 w^as required to deliver up his two sons as hosta- 
 ges. The exchange was made on the borders of 
 France, with great formality. It was on this 
 occasion, after fulfilling the agreement and deliv- 
 ering up his sons — the Dauphin and the Duke of 
 Orleans — the chivalrous and impatient Monarch 
 
344 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 345 
 
 departs from 
 his engage- 
 ments. 
 A. D. 1526. 
 
 SECTION mounted a spirited charger, and giving him the 
 ^I'- reins, galloped off exclaiming '' I am King ! " I 
 am Kmg ! 
 
 The interpretation of this brief but emphatic 
 King Francis declaration, soon made itself manifest ; we have 
 already remarked, that the conduct and success of 
 the Emperor, had alarmed the fears of the Euro- 
 pean States ; and the Pope and Venetians and 
 Princes of Italy, had combined for their mutual 
 safety and independence; nor did the King of 
 France hesitate to unite with them in a treaty, 
 which is celebrated under the name of the " Cle- 
 mentine League." But how, we ask in astonish- 
 ment, could Francis be a party to such a League, 
 in contradiction to his most solemn oaths and en- 
 gagements?- Undoubtedly, Francis was a man of 
 high honor, and would not for his crown, have been 
 thought guilty of a breach of his word, much less 
 of his oath. Upon what principles then, are we 
 to account for a line of conduct, which, to all unso- 
 phisticated minds, must expose him to a charge 
 of the blackest perjury '? 
 
 By a stipulation of the " Clementine League," 
 that iniquitous Poiver, which arrogates to itself a 
 supremacy in impiety, undertook to absolve him 
 from his oath. The Pope discharged him from 
 the obligation of an oath, which had been taken 
 in the name of God, and ratified in Heaven ! 
 Unhappy Monarch ! still more unhappy Pontiff, 
 thus to dispense with the immutable laws of mor- 
 
 Tlie cause of 
 
 it. 
 
 % 
 
 \ 
 
 ii 
 
 4 
 
 J 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 ality and religion, and to fasten the impiety on the SECTION 
 Son of God, by violating them, as his vicegerent, HI. 
 in his Name ! 
 
 The King of England was honored with the 
 title of " Protector" of this famous league. But 
 the King stood out upon his prerogative of Arbiter, 
 and refused to become a party where he was com- 
 petent to act as judge. Francis however, lost no 
 time in acknowledging the friendship of Henry in 
 promoting his deliverance from prison, and honored 
 him with every mark of respect and affection ; 
 and never, afterwards, seemed to forget the obli- 
 gation he was under to his generous sympathy, 
 and unwearied exertions in his favor. 
 
 Indeed, such was now the good-will manifested First causes of 
 towards each other by these two Monarchs, that 
 a treaty of peace and alliance was entered into, in 
 which it was stipulated that the Princess Mary, 
 should be given in marriage either to Francis him- 
 self, or to his second son the Duke of Orleans ; 
 and that Henry should unite with him for the pur- 
 pose of compelling the Emperor to reasonable con- 
 ditions, in the restoration of his children. But 
 how little of all this was to be accomplished ! and 
 how different from that contemplated in this 
 treaty, was to be the destiny of the august parties 
 concerned ! Nay such is the obscurity and dark- 
 ness which cloud, in human minds, the vision of 
 the future, that in the settlement of this treaty, 
 the first hint was thrown out ; and the first seeds 
 
 the Reforma- 
 tion. 
 
346 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION of that prolific harvest of good and evil were 
 "I- sown, which changed the whole face of civil 
 society. I mean the illegitimacy of the Princess 
 Mary, which was suggested, during this negotia- 
 tion, hy the Bishop of Tarbe, as a question which 
 might admit of doubt ! 
 
 Other events were also transacting essentially 
 connected with the approaching crisis, which was 
 now fast hastening to its accomplishment, in 
 which we shall perceive the overruling hand of a 
 BENEVOLENT PROVIDENCE, inasmuch as not one 
 of the happy results, was contemplated by the 
 actors in the preparatory causes. So far from it, 
 the events themselves being so entirely different 
 from the intentions of the parties, by whose in- 
 strumentality they were accomplished, that it 
 would be absurd to suppose them the results of 
 their contrivance. Yet it would be still greater 
 folly, to suppose events of such magnitude, and 
 fraught with such inconceivable blessings to man- 
 kind, not to be the result of contrivance :— The 
 contrivance, doubtless, of that Almighty Being, 
 who is '' excellent in Power f * and " worketh all 
 things after the counsel of his own will." 
 Dreadful vis- But to procccd. Drcadful disorders continued 
 
 itation on the • t.^-i j .i -n 
 
 Pope. ^^ ^^^v ; and the Pope made heavy complaints 
 
 A. D. 1527. to Henry, and sought his immediate assistance. 
 
 The King like a faithful son of the church, an- 
 
 swered the appeal of the Pontiff, by sending 
 
 * Book of Job xxxvii. 23. 
 
 
 
 i; 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 347 
 
 him a sum of money, upon the receipt of which the SECTION 
 Pope, at the head of a great army, took the field I^^* 
 against the Imperialists. For a time he was suc- 
 cessful ; but Heaven was preparing a dreadful 
 punishment for this perfidious man. His in- 
 trigues, treachery, and resources were boundless ; 
 but, at length all failed him ; and the wily plotter 
 was besieged in the city of Bome itself, by the 
 Duke of Bourbon. An assault was made, the 
 Duke in the moment of attack, received a mortal 
 wound, but the city Y,^as carried by storm. That 
 proud city never saw^ a more calamitous day, no, not 
 even when sacked by the barbarous Goths. The 
 churches and monasteries were spoiled — the pala- 
 ces of the Pope and Cardinals ransacked — the 
 warehouses of the merchants plundered. Heaps 
 of wealth and riches were piled in the streets, 
 and the spoil was increased to a vast amount 
 from the ransom of innumerable prisoners, whilst 
 the slaughter was immense, and the streets flowed 
 with blood. To increase the indignity, the Pre- 
 lates and Ecclesiastics of rank, were placed on 
 mules and asses, and led in procession, through 
 the miserable streets, and, to complete the over- 
 throw, the Pope was taken prisoner. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the excitement caused 
 throughout Europe, by the capture of the Pope. 
 The Emperor himself was almost alarmed at the 
 success of his own arms, and in answer to the 
 representations of Henry VIII. condescended to 
 
348 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 SECTION apologize for the unexampled ruin which had 
 ni. been caused. But the Emperor temporized, which 
 roused the indignation of the King of England, 
 and he resolved to enter into a stricter alliance 
 with Francis, w^hich was accomplished under the 
 auspices of Wolsey. The Emperor somewhat 
 alarmed by these new treaties, came to the reso- 
 lution of making peace, and allowing the claims 
 of the two Kings, with respect to the Pope, and 
 the two sons of Francis. But whilst the terms 
 were preparing, the Emperor determined on new 
 projects ; and in order that he might divide the 
 counsels of the two Kings, he once more tempted 
 the Cardinal by an offer of an extravagant bribe. 
 But it was now too late, the settled wrath of 
 Wolsey was not to be moved, and he remained 
 inexorable ; whilst the Emperor was obliged to 
 encounter the united power and resentment of the 
 kings of France and England. 
 
 Brilliant pe- This was a mcmorablc period of English history. 
 ^-RcWn ^ Under the wise and vigorous policy of the Cardi- 
 
 A.D 1528. nal, the country had rapidly increased in wealth 
 and dignity. In all transactions with Foreign 
 powers, England was regarded as the Head of the 
 balance of Powder. The King was justly consid- 
 ered as the most powerful Monarch in Europe. 
 The Emperor courted his approval as the Arbiter 
 of Christendom. The Pontiff acknowledged him 
 to be the bulwark of the Papal throne. Francis 
 embraced him as his deliverer and ally. His own 
 
 % 
 
 T 
 
 % 
 
 -I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 349 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 marnagc. 
 
 kingdoms were in great peace and prosperity; SECTION 
 and had he died at this time, in the nineteenth HI. 
 year of his reign, he would have been considered 
 a most fortunate Monarch ; and in all probability, 
 would have been canonized by the Church of 
 Rome. But he was yet to live, to develope his 
 own character, and to disclose those hidden evils 
 of his heart, which were to be visited with great 
 personal calamity and anguish to himself, but 
 providentially overruled, in their ultimate effects, 
 to great national advantages. 
 
 We are now approaching the era of the Refor- The question 
 mation, which was w^rought out of circumstances "^ ^^'^ ^'"=''* 
 not in the remotest degree, connected with it— nay, 
 which arose out of a circumstance connected with 
 and recognizing the Sovereign authority of 
 THE Papal Church ; and which in its carrying 
 out, shewed a retributory providence on that pro- 
 fane and impious power. 
 
 It will be remembered that Henry VII. on the 
 death of his son Arthur, obtained a dispensation 
 from the Pope to overrule the law of nature and 
 God ; and to contract his son's widow to his next 
 son, Henry VIII. Nor was this flagrant violation 
 of the divine law, the only evil connected with this 
 ill-omened alliance with the Princess of Spain. 
 Her first marriage with Arthur was propitiated 
 by the sacrifice of an innocent victim, the unfor- 
 tunate Earl of Warwick ; and her nuptials, as she 
 herself represented, solemnized in blood. Yet 
 
 -if) 
 
350 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 351 
 
 The King's 
 divorce. 
 
 SECTION she herself, as far as we can learn from history, 
 JII. was an amiable and excellent person, and won 
 
 Chap. u. ^^^ estccm of all who approached her. Her hus- 
 band too, to whom she had now been married 
 eighteen years, could find no fault in her. But 
 none of these things prevailed to avert the blow 
 which was now impending; and which every 
 circumstance declared to be from Heaven. 
 
 We should not be justified from the facts of 
 history, to admit the suggestion for a moment, 
 that the King's latent affection for Anne Boleyn, 
 made him resolve to divorce his Queen — at the 
 same time, that it confirmed and strengthed his 
 resolve, will not admit of dispute. But for some 
 time, foreigners had suggested that the King's 
 marriage was illegitimate ; and that the authority 
 of the Pope had not power to render it lawful. 
 This suggestion, no doubt, had a powerful effect 
 on the haughty spirit of the King, in whose 
 mind there was a peculiarly ardent desire to live 
 in his posterity. Besides, at a very early period, 
 when the divorce was only in contemplation, 
 Wolsey had proposed a marriage with the sister 
 of the King of France,* a very improbable cir- 
 cumstance, had the King s affections been prepos- 
 sessed; and of which, Wolsey could not have 
 been ignorant. But be this as it may, the King 
 determined upon a divorce, as the only satisfactory 
 redress, and formally propounded the question to 
 
 ♦ Echard. 
 
 f 
 
 f 
 
 I ? 
 
 1 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 the Bishops of England, l^hese with one excep- SECTION 
 tion, Fisher, of Rochester, pronounced the marri- lU. 
 age unlawful By this decision, the King's mind 
 was confirmed in all its fears, respecting the 
 succession to the crown ; which indeed, as appears 
 from the annals of the time, became a matter of 
 interest to the whole nation. 
 
 An embassy was immediately dispatched to 
 Rome, to obtain a divorce ; and nothing could sur- 
 pass the desire of the Pope, to gratify the wishes of 
 the King. In this he was heartily sincere, and 
 longed for nothing so much, as such an opportu- 
 nity of shewing his gratitude to Henry. But his 
 hands were tied! He was in captivity; and at 
 the mercy of the Emperor, and it was this cir- 
 cumstance alone, which prevented him from im- 
 mediately granting the divorce. He promised 
 the ambassador, that as soon as he was at liberty, 
 he would grant the dispensation ; and to shew 
 that he was sincere, he gave them such advice, 
 that if it had been followed, the whole complexion 
 of this affair would have been changed. He 
 advised the King to cause judgment to be passed 
 in England, and on authority of that sentence, 
 contract another marriage, and afterwards send to 
 Rome for a confirmation, which must, of necessity, 
 be granted. 
 
 But the King's councillors saw that, if by any 
 possibility this confirmation should be denied, the 
 nation would be plunged into all the evils of a 
 
\. 
 
 *» 
 
 .^ 
 
 352 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. \\. 
 
 SECTION disputed succession. This decision of the council 
 III. was followed by endless discussions and delays, 
 upon which were suspened events of signal im- 
 portance to the nation ! 
 
 Another embassy was now sent to Rome for 
 Legantine authority, to try the cause in England ; 
 and a Legate was desired, who should be armed 
 with a decretal Bull, to confirm his authority on 
 passing judgment for the divorce. In answer to 
 this request, Campeggio was sent to England, 
 with the authority required. But he was strictly 
 charged, not to allow the Bull to go out of his 
 hands. It was at first, the policy of the Pope to 
 temporize, in order that Henry might be induced 
 to use his influence more effectually with the 
 Emperor, to obtain his release. By this delay, 
 England was lost to the Papacy. At last, how- 
 ever, the Pope's self-interest prevailed over every 
 other consideration ; and he devoted himself en- 
 tirely to the wishes of the Emperor, as the only 
 means by which himself and his family, could be 
 restored to their estates and dignity. 
 
 From this moment, the King's suit became 
 entangled with inextricable difficulties. The Pope 
 had resolved to establish himself in the Imperial 
 favour, the Emperor w^as bound in honor to defend 
 the cause of the Queen of England, not only as 
 being her kinsman, but as having been solemnly 
 appealed to, by herself. 
 
 • 
 
 \ 
 
 ^. 
 
 OF ^^LIS 
 
 TORY. 
 
 353 
 
 The Pope meantime, with all the subtilty and SECTION 
 craft, for which he was notorious, sent Campana, III. 
 one of his most faithful and honored adherents to ,^^J1^^^ 
 England, who might, in the most flattering man- The Popes 
 ner, assure the King of his unshaken friendship **"""''• 
 and devoted service ; and openly command his Le- 
 gates to expedite the business of their commission : . 
 but he had sent instructions for Campeggio, who 
 was ordered to burn the decretal Bull, with which 
 he had been entrusted, and to delay the adjudica- 
 tion by every possible expedient. He also pledged 
 himself to Henry's ambassadors, who had been 
 sent to Rome, that he would confirm the sentence 
 of the court in England, whilst at the same time 
 he was bound by strict engagements to the Empe- 
 ror, not to confirm it ! Indeed, the Imperial party The impen- 
 at Rome, became stronger every day : and at ^^''^' ^^^^^^ 
 
 . ^ ^ ^ that the suit 
 
 at length, they demanded an avocation of the suit, should be tri*.^ 
 But this was a bold step ; and one for which the *^ ^°"''' 
 Pope was not yet prepared : and he determined, 
 for the present, till his treaty with the Emperor 
 was completed, to uphold the authority of his Le- 
 gantine Court in England. 
 
 This Court was formally opened with great The process 
 pomp and ceremony at the great hall, Blackfriars, ''•'maiiy ope..- 
 on the thirty-first of May, by Cardinal Wolsey in '1 d. 1529. 
 conjunction with Campeggio. Citations were im- 
 mediately issued for the appearance of the parties 
 in the suit, on the eighteenth day of June follow- 
 ing. The Queen twice appeared before this Tri- 
 
 A A 
 
354 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION bunal ; and, both times, solemnly protested against 
 lil- the Place, the Judges, and the Lawyers ; and ap- 
 
 \^^%K^ pealed to the Pope and the Emperor. The Court 
 pronounced the Queen contumacious, and pro- 
 ceeded to examine witnesses, and to debate the 
 subject of the divorce ; and, in a few days, they 
 might have determined this important affair. But 
 the Pope's treaty with the Emperor was nearly con- 
 cluded, and on the Emperor's stipulating to restore 
 the family of the Pope to the government of Flo- 
 rence, the Pope agreed to the " Avocation " which 
 was proclaimed in England, on the nineteenth of 
 July. Campeggio having now played his part, 
 abruptly broke up the Court, and left the En- 
 glish Cardinal to the tender mercies of his enraged 
 Monarch. The King, however, delayed the exe- 
 cution of his wrath, till he could take a review of 
 his situation. Every evil seemed to crowd upon 
 him, at once. The political sky was black with 
 storms. His future policy seemed to be involved 
 in impenetral)le darkness. The Emperor and 
 Pope w^ere in firm alliance, and the Pope's nephew 
 married to the Emperor's daughter. Through 
 the interest of the Lady Margaret of Flanders, 
 a peace had been concluded between the Emperor 
 and the King of France ; and to complete his diffi- 
 culties, he was deprived of the counsels of his 
 sagacious Minister. 
 The Kin-'s In this dilemma he determined to throw himself 
 
 Ti^n. ^^''^^' upon the good-will of his people, and to summon 
 
 i 
 
 ^1 
 
 ^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 355 
 
 a Parliament. In the mean time, to punish the SECTION 
 Cardinal, not with a view of utterly destroying IH. 
 him, but chiefly to strike a wholesome terror into .^^i^v'-O 
 the see of Rome, he was commanded to give 
 up the Great Seal, which was immediately trans- 
 ferred to Sir Thomas More, the greatest lawyer 
 of his age, and remarkable for his piety and learn- 
 ing. The Attorney General was next ordered to 
 file an information against him, because he had, 
 contrary to the statute of Richard II., procured 
 Bulls from Rome. To this he pleaded guilty, 
 through ignorance of the Statute ; upon which he 
 was sentenced, according to the law, to forfeit all 
 his possessions to the King. These proceedings 
 produced a very unhappy effect upon the mind of 
 Wolsey ; and he began to sink under the pressure 
 of his past labours and his threatened fall. But 
 the affection of the King for his long-tried and de- 
 voted Minister, still lingered, and he frequently 
 sent him messages, with assurances of his protec- 
 tion, and promises of pardon. But his enemies 
 were on the alert, and found means to have him 
 impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors. — 
 The articles of impeachment passed the upper 
 house ; but were rejected by the house of Com- 
 mons, through the strenuous exertions of his faith- 
 ful secretary, Thomas Cromv/ell, whose name must 
 ever stand high in the annals of his country. 
 
 The King finding that the court of Rome took F-^^an'^^'e^th 
 little concern in the calamities of the Cardinal, "* a. a TIso. 
 
 m 
 
356 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 357 
 
 nil 
 
 ill 
 
 Hl| 
 
 SECTIOiN ceased to punish him ; and he was permitted to 
 ^^^' retire to his Archiepiscopal palace at York. His 
 spirit was now broken, and he appeared humble 
 and submissive ; but the very ruins of his greatness 
 were considerable. — In this journey he travelled 
 with a hundred and sixty horses in his train, fol- 
 lowed by seventy-two waggons. In his retirement 
 he spent some months in acts of religion and char- 
 ity. But it was too peaceful and honorable a con- 
 clusion for such a career as his. Perhaps his pride 
 and ostentation might have been sufficiently visited 
 by such a change of fortune ; but he had a princi- 
 pal share in the death of Buckingham, whom he 
 had sacrificed to his pride and revenge. The divine 
 chastisement pursued him to his retreat. His 
 enemies again conspire, and accuse him of treason, 
 and he was arrested by the Earl of Northumber- 
 land, who had authority to convey him to the 
 Tower. The Cardinal now saw that his end was 
 near ; and he was seized with deep remorse for 
 the evils of his eventful life. A consciousness of 
 guilt depressed his spirit. His religion offered 
 him no consolation, and he rapidly declined, 
 under the agonizing tortures of his mind. His 
 shattered frame could not sustain the fatigues of 
 his journey. He sickened on his arrival at Shef- 
 field, and with the greatest difficulty, reached 
 the town of Leicester. After his arrival at the 
 Abbey, where he was hospitably received by the 
 Monks, his illness rapidly increased, and with it. 
 
 ^ 
 
 his remorse for the past. He expired on the SECTION 
 twenty-eighth day of November, and with his latest I^i- 
 breath shewed how deeply he felt, when it was ^^^i^^^^-^ 
 too late to rectify it, the whole error of his life. 
 " Had I" said he, " served my God as zealously as 
 I have served my King, He would not have forsa- 
 ken me in my grey hairs." 
 
 Thus died this extraordinary man, who, with His character. 
 all his advantages of mind and station, left the 
 world, without establishing for himself the regard 
 of posterity. In council, he was more cunning 
 than wise, more temporizing than prudent. In 
 prosperity, he was ostentatious and haughty. In 
 adversity, abject and dispirited. In morals, he was 
 licentious and base. In religion, infidel. In 
 his judgments, he was stern and inflexible. His 
 reforms were dictated by his extravagances. He 
 was adulatory and subservient, where his interests 
 could be served ; proud and disdainful where his 
 influence could be serviceable. And to conclude, 
 he was effeminate in parade, pusillanimous in 
 danger, and revengeful of injuries. 
 
 Notwithstanding this almost total absence of 
 moral excellency from his character, his memory 
 has been preserved from utter contempt and exe- 
 cration, by his more than princely munificence and nis founda- 
 endowments ; and amongst others, Christ Church, ^'''°^- 
 Oxford, will testify to a late period, the extent of 
 his power, and the capaciousness of his mind. 
 
 M 
 
? 
 
 Ill 
 
 358 
 
 SECTION 
 Ilf. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 THEOCRATIC THILOSOPHY 
 
 The Reform 
 atiun 
 
 
 What he might have been, had he not been a 
 Romanist and a Cardinal, it is impossible to say : as 
 it was, his unwearied ambition in pursuit of the 
 Papacy, gave a direction to the whole external 
 policy of his country. The course which he pur- 
 sued, as we have seen, brought the whole power 
 of the Emperor, to act in opposition to the wishes 
 of the King his master — a circumstance which 
 eventually hastened his own destruction, and 
 gave an extraordinary impulse to the destinies of 
 England ! 
 
 The scene now changed : V/olsey had run his 
 proceeds. (>ourse, and disappeared. He had brought the 
 Church, his Country, and the King s suit, exactly 
 to that point, which it is evident, his talents, his 
 prejudices, and his connexion with the Popedom, 
 permitted him. We are now, to follow the rise 
 and advancement of another rem.arkable individ- 
 ual, under whose auspices, a new era was to 
 commence. This was Doctor Thomas Cranmcr, 
 Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, whom the 
 famous divorce case of the unhappy Catharine, 
 was destined to bring into public view. Cran- 
 mer being in the company of Bishop Fox and 
 Gardiner, at Waltham, he gave it as his opinion, 
 that the King should obtain the judgment of the 
 principal Universities and Divines of Europe ; 
 and, that if they declared against the lawfulness 
 of the marriage, it must necessarily be void, inas- 
 much as the Pope's dispensation could not dero- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 359 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 gate from the laws of God. The novelty and SECTION 
 reasonableness of this judgment pleased the King, HL 
 and he desired to see the person who had spoken 
 with such penetration and wisdom. Cranmer 
 appeared at Court, and conducted himself with 
 such candour and modesty, that the King con- 
 ceived an high opinion of his learning and probity, 
 which he could never be induced, by the artifices 
 and calumnies of his enemies, to alter. 
 
 In accordance with the suggestion of Cranmer, 
 the case of the King's divorce was propounded to 
 the chief Universities and Divines, who declared 
 the Kings marriage unlawful. An earnest appeal 
 was now made to Rome, seconded by the remon- 
 strance of the Bishops and the chief Nobility of 
 the realm : but to no purpose, the Pope was now 
 obliged to conform to his treaty with the Emperor, 
 and to insist upon an " avocation " of the suit, in 
 order that it might be determined in the supreme 
 court at Rome. 
 
 But a Power was at hand, more irresistible 
 than that of Kings and Cardinals — a power which "t"',';"'^^^^^"; 
 was to lay the deep foundations of the Reforma- 
 tion, the most striking event that ever occurred 
 in the annals of mankind — this was the British 
 Parliament. Happily, after the death of Wolsey 
 whose mind fertile in expedients, had rendered 
 his Master independent of every power but his 
 own, the King was obliged to have recourse to 
 Parliaments : and nothing will tend to shew more 
 
 The Parlia- 
 
 vocalion assists 
 
 ^. 
 
ff it 
 
 f* 
 
 \ 
 
 360 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ''I 
 
 ■M 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION forcibly the strength of mind and freedom of 
 11^- thought, to which the body of the nation had at- 
 tained, than the energy and wisdom displayed by 
 these assemblies. There had been but two par- 
 liaments summoned in fourteen years. Their dis- 
 patch of business could not arise from exercise or 
 skill in debate. Their decisions and enactments 
 discover the mind of the people. It is said that the 
 parliaments of that day were obsequious to the will 
 of the Monarch. I can discern no reasonable 
 ground for this calumny. If by obsequiousness, is 
 meant a compliance, which involved the sacrifice of 
 their independence, I can find no attempt, on the 
 part of the King, to overawe their deliberations ; 
 nor can I perceive any symptoms in them, of a spirit, 
 that w^ould have submitted to such a dictation. 
 Their decisions, therefore, were independent ; and 
 if the King and his Parliament willingly concur- 
 red in their enactments — the circumstance cannot 
 be imputed as a reproach to either party. It is an 
 important and interesting fact to discover, that the 
 Reformation proceeded from the Nation ; and that 
 their representatives in parliament, were made the 
 grand instrument of recovering the nation from 
 the ignominious bondage of Papal usurpation : 
 and of restoring to our forefathers, their lost rights 
 of civil and religious liberty. But at that period, 
 there was another constituent, if 1 may so express 
 myself, in parliament — the Convocation of ths 
 Clergy : — and it is not a little remarkable, that the 
 
 / 
 
 ^ 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 361 
 
 very first act of the Reformation ; and that too, SECTION 
 in which its essential principle was involved, was 111- 
 passed by the Convocation of the Church of Eng- 
 land. 
 
 It will be remembered, that Cardinal Wolsey, Theconstitu. 
 was found guilty of a '' Premunire " under statutes, '''" l^'^^p'' 
 
 " "^ ' anti- Papal. 
 
 which had been enacted in the reign of Richard II. 
 against all persons who should execute any con- 
 stitution from the court of Rome, without a Royal 
 license. The matter was debated in Convocation, 
 and it w^as clearly perceived, that the whole body 
 of the Clergy were guilty of a breach of the same 
 Statutes. The Convocation agreed to submit their 
 case to the King's clemency : and in their address 
 he was styled, " Protector and supreme head of 
 the Church of England, " to which however, was 
 added on the representation of certain scrupulous 
 members, " as far as is agreeable to the law of 
 Christ. " 
 
 If any thing can place in a strong and over- 
 whelming light, the fact, that the exercise of the 
 Papal authority in England, w^as a usurpation, 
 both in Church and State, and directly at vari- 
 ance with the spirit and letter of the constitution, 
 it is, that the whole authority of the Pope was 
 destroyed, at one blow, by the revival of statutes, 
 which had been in slumbering existence for two 
 hundred years ! So that through that long period, 
 at least, the constitution of England had been 
 Protestant. It might be shown that it existed 
 
 t. 
 
If« 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 362 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Sil 
 
 SECTION at a period long antecedent.* But this is not the 
 HI. place. Suffice it to say, that what occurred in the 
 reign of Henry VIII. was only a revival of Pro- 
 testanism which slumbered in the constitution ; 
 and Englishmen will deserve to lose their liberty, 
 when they passively submit, and allow the Pope 
 of Rome to exercise any Jurisdiction, whether 
 temporal or spiritual, within the boundaries of 
 their dominions. But I must not enlarge; my 
 object is now to trace the rise and full develop- 
 ment of this great principle in the history of our 
 Country. I have elsewhere expounded the rea- 
 sons, upon which we ought, at present, to be deter- 
 mined in our adiierence to this inherent principle 
 of our constitution. "I* 
 
 In this new Session of Parliament, loud com- 
 plaints were made against the usages of the Eccle- 
 siastical court; and the parliament vigorously 
 pursuing their object, passed an act which was 
 the foundation of the national protest against the 
 Papal supremacy. This was an act for restrain- 
 ing the payment of annates, or first fruits, to the 
 Court of Rome. It is important to observe, as it 
 corroborates the observations which I have just 
 offered, that respecting these first fruits, it was 
 observed in the Act — '' that they were founded on 
 iNO LAW, but being first granted to defend Christ- 
 endom against the infidels, they had since been 
 kept up as a revenue to the Papacy." 
 
 * Elements of the British Constitution, by the Author. 
 t Catechism of the Constitution of Enjrland " JVhittaker.'* 
 
 Important 
 act of the Le- 
 gislature. 
 
 A. D. 1531. 
 
 J 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 363 
 
 These proceedings in England, caused great SECTION 
 anxiety at Eome; and a correspondence ensued 1^1- 
 between the Pope and the King, which ended in ^^Jr^/-^>^ 
 a formal citation of the King to appear in person 
 at Rome, or by proxy, to answer to the appeal of 
 the Queen of England; Sir Robert Came was 
 despatched as the King s excusator. The Impe- 
 rialists urged an immediate sentence in favor of 
 the Queen ; but the wiser Cardinals, fearful of an 
 entire breach with England, advised caution. The 
 King's agents made use of every expedient, and 
 bribes and promises gained many of the Cardinals 
 to the King's interest, and especially the Cardinal 
 of Ravenna, the great oracle of Rome and of the 
 Consistory. But still nothing was done. Endless 
 debate and contention arose in the Court; and 
 they concluded, by advising the King to send a 
 proxy to Rome to answer to the merits of the 
 cause. 
 
 But in the mean time, another session of Par- Principles of 
 liament was opened in England ; and from the ^nfoid.^''^'''" 
 delays and confusions which attended the discus- 
 sion of this matter at Rome, the King and the 
 people clearly perceived, that in case of any differ- 
 ence between the Pope and the King, the Clergy 
 must necessarily, on account of their oath, coincide 
 with the former, against their lawful Monarch. 
 This result of a Foreign jurisdiction within the 
 Realm, tvas then too palpable not to be discovered ; 
 and in an interview which the King desired with 
 
364 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOisOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 365 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 ii 
 
 f 
 
 SECTION the Speaker of the House of Commons, his 
 IH. Majesty addressing him, said, " that he had found 
 that the chief Clergy, were hut half subjects, or 
 something less, for that every Bishop and Abbot on 
 entering upon his dignity took an oath to the Pope, 
 inconsistent with that of his fidelity to their King, 
 a contradiction which he desired might be remedied 
 by Parliament!' This matter was thus seriously 
 debated in Parliament and so treated, that shortly 
 afterwards, it led to the final renunciation of the 
 Pope's authority. Towards the end of this ses- 
 sion, the Lord Chancellor More, who deprecated 
 these innovations on the Papal Supremacy laid 
 down his office, and retired into private life. The 
 seals were immediately conferred on Sir Thomas 
 Audley. 
 
 In answer to the citation from Rome, for the 
 King of England to appear in person or by proxy, 
 the King's agents were instructed to refuse obedi- 
 ence, on the grounds — that it would be inconsist- 
 ent with his Coronation Oath, by which he was 
 bound to maintain the dignity of the Crown, and 
 the rights of his subjects. A Protest was subse- 
 quently made in the King's name : to the effect, 
 " that as He was a Sovereign Prince, so the Church 
 of England was a free and independent Church 
 over which the Pope had no just authority .'" 
 
 I mention this for the purpose of shewing that, 
 the Church of England was never, in reality, an 
 integral portion of the Church of Rome ; that is. 
 
 Church of 
 England al- 
 ways indepen- 
 dent. 
 
 
 11. 
 
 ^ 
 
 legally subjected to the Pope of Rome ; and that, SECTION 
 whatever power he claimed or exercised, was by in. 
 usurpation, allowance, or the force of circumstan- ^Jil^^^i^L' 
 ces. But we shall perceive more of this at every 
 step, which will serve to demonstrate that the 
 Church of England, was always a free and inde- 
 pendent branch of " the Holy Catholic Church. '* 
 
 The King had now been harrassed for five years FuIi of Queen 
 in the toils and perplexities of his divorce, and it ^'^^^'^""**' 
 was now evident to him and the nation , that no 
 decision ever could be expected, from the Roman 
 court ; and it was determined that he should pro- 
 ceed under the sanction of his own authority. He 
 had now for a considerable time, separated from 
 the company of his discarded Queen, who, con- 
 scious of her own integrity, resisted all persuasions 
 and threats, and determined to rest her cause on 
 the decision of the Pope. But the hour of her de- 
 gradation was at hand; and her share of that 
 throne which she had never tarnished, was to be 
 given to another, in her very presence, and at a 
 moment, when she was persuaded it was her own 
 indisputable right: and this was true as far as 
 Catharine herself, was concerned. She was the 
 lawfully married and long recognized wife of the 
 King; and she had done nothing to forfeit the 
 title. But it was an evil project from the begin- 
 ning. She ought never to have been the wife of 
 her husband's brother : and the crime, as we have 
 shewn, rests Avitli those who contracted the mar- 
 
 I 
 
 Ja^-. 
 
366 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HLSTORY. 
 
 367 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 The King 
 
 A. D. 1532. 
 
 SECTION riage. Nor was she guilty of the blood of War- 
 IH. wick. — The same parties must account for that 
 bloody deed. But the punishment fell upon her 
 comparatively innocent head ; and she was visited 
 for the sins of her fathers. In the midst of her 
 indignities, she acknowledged the hand of Heaven 
 in her affliction, and submitted. ^ 
 
 The King was married to her rival, the cele- 
 h^Xh ar'the ^^^^^^ ^^"^ Boleyn, on the fourteenth of Novem- 
 French Court, bcr, at Calais ; a lady of extraordinary beauty, 
 great abilities, and dazzling accomplishments. — 
 Anne Boleyn had attained by this union, the full 
 accomplishment of her ambitious wishes ; and like 
 all simply ambitious persons, in the pursuit of 
 their object, she was not over scrupulous in the 
 manner by which it was obtained. It is re- 
 corded, that she lived in the court of Queen Cath- 
 arine, and openly received in her very presence, 
 the attentions of the King, during the process of 
 the divorce. From her earliest infancy she was 
 instructed to please and dazzle, and to make the 
 best advantage of those exterior graces, with which 
 she was adorned by nature. Wealth, alliance, 
 and distinction, were the grand and exclusive ob- 
 jects pointed out to her aspiring mind, as worthy 
 of her pursuit. The lessons inculcated, she learnt 
 to perfection — and they had their reward. Her 
 family were enriched — they received titles and 
 honors, and she became Queen of England. But 
 it was a short lived splendor — a brief carreer of 
 
 
 1 
 
 Chap II. 
 
 • i 
 
 glory ; she was soon called to experience greater SECTION 
 calamity, than the unfortunate Queen whom she HI. 
 had supplanted ! 
 
 We are novv^ entering upon a most important Political Pro. 
 period of our history, full of great and striking '"'""""'"^ ^^ 
 
 " ^ varices. 
 
 events. This year began with an act of Parlia- a. d. 1533. 
 ment, which shewed the steady progress of the 
 Reformation. All appeals to Rome were strictly 
 prohibited by statute ; and it was enacted that all 
 who attempted to execute censures from Rome, 
 should incur a premunire. And what is chiefly 
 worthy of remark is, that the act itself observes, 
 that the statute proceeded on the ground, that all 
 former Kings had asserted the independence, and 
 defended the liberty of the Kingdom against the 
 usurpations of Rome, and that the state of England 
 was a complete body, and competent within itself of 
 dispatching all suits^ whether ecclesiastical or civil* 
 In this manner, political protestantism 
 was advancing to occupy its legitimate and lasting 
 position in the constitution, when the see of Can- 
 terbury became vacant, by the death of Arch- 
 bishop Wareham. He was a man of great attain- 
 ments as a canonist, a clever statesman and a pa- 
 tron of men of letters, but he was credulous, su- 
 perstitious and persecuting. The person who 
 succeeded him in his high and responsible office, 
 was Thomas Cranmer, a person who has been 
 ^already introduced to the reader, — amaneminent- 
 
 * Echard. 
 
368 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 W 
 
 SECTION ly fitted by his learning and temper, and religion, 
 M^' for the work to which he was appointed. It was 
 to be his distinguished lot as the instrument of 
 God, to lay the still more imperishable foundations 
 of RELIGIOUS PROTESTANTISM, in our favored 
 land. Little did Fox and Gardiner, those wary 
 politicians imagine, that such an elevation awaited 
 the retired and humble fellow of Jesus College, 
 when they had condescended to mention his name 
 before the King.— Least of all, did Cranmer him- 
 self entertain such ambitious thoughts. But his 
 first interview with the King had made such a fa- 
 vorable impression upon the Royal mind, that 
 without hesitation, a messenger was dispatched 
 to Germany, where Cranmer then was, to an- 
 nounce to him his appointment to the Archiepis- 
 copate. He was astonished and confounded at 
 the intelligence ; and with characteristic humility 
 and modesty, shrunk from the responsibility of 
 such an office ; and declined to accept it. He 
 used every endeavour to be excused; but by the 
 command of his Sovereign, he gave way and was, 
 at length, consecrated to his high functions. 
 The first judicial act of the Archbishop, under 
 gives sentence, ^^ I'^ceut act of Parliament, was to give sentence 
 and stands (iod- m thc casc of thc Kiug's divorcc, which was de- 
 
 PitltEiL "^^^^^"^ ''''^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ beginning. This 
 beth. took place in May, and on the thirteenth of Sep- 
 
 tember, the Princess Elizabeth was born, des- 
 tined, after many vicissitudes, to be the future 
 
 Archbishop 
 Cranmer 
 
 OK ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 369 
 
 L'iliation. 
 
 Queen of England ; and Cranmer had the peculiar SECTrOx\ 
 honor of standing her Godfather. m. 
 
 These were the events transpiring in England; ^'"'''- "• 
 and, which created, as might be expected, great ^^C2^u 
 sensation in the different courts of Europe. 1 he '^^.^*'' "" ''*'''''''' 
 Emperor was filled with resentment— the King of ''^'' 
 France received the Ambassadors of Henr}^ with 
 
 greater coldness than he had a right (o expect ; 
 
 whilst the Pope and his Conclave were both indig- 
 nant and alarmed. The Imperial Cardinals were 
 extremely violent, and urged the Pore to inflict 
 immediate censure and excommunicaiion upon the 
 contumacious King. But the Pope was too subtle 
 a politician, to enter rashly upon such violent 
 measures ; and, shortly after, in an interview which 
 he had with the King of France, he entered into 
 a secret treaty with that Monarch, to give Henry 
 every satisfaction if he would return to his obedi- 
 ence to the Church, and place matters in the same 
 condition in which they were, prior to the sentence 
 of Archbishop Cranmer. This proposition of the 
 Pope was made in earnest. There was nothing he 
 desired so much as a reconciliation with England. 
 Henry also, received the overture with evident satis- 
 faction ; and, the Bishop of Paris, although it was 
 winter, undertook a journey to Rome with a mes- 
 sage from the King, that he would consent to the 
 conditions. The matter appeared now to be finally 
 settled ; and the Consistory appointed a day, with- 
 in which time, Henry was to certify his intanticns 
 
 B B 
 
370 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTIOiN in writing. The King lost no time; and dis- 
 IW. patched a messenger with the required document, 
 signed hy himself. Reconciliation between Eng- 
 land and the Papacy, now appeared inevitable, 
 and the steps of the Reformation seemed as if 
 they must be retraced. But the Providence of 
 God, frustrated the designs of all parties. 
 His intention The King's mcsscnger who had to encounter 
 tmteT'^ ^^^^ ^^^^' ^^^ niountains, and tempestuous weather, was 
 delayed considerably beyond the appointed day. — 
 The Imperialists seized the opportunity of infla- 
 ming the mind of the Pope against King Henry, 
 whom they accused of dishonest intentions ; and 
 of seeking delays and concessions for the purpose 
 of deluding him ; and urged him to take imme- 
 diate steps for pronouncing sentence against a per- 
 son, who set at nought their authority, and treated 
 his kindness, with contempt. They succeeded; 
 and the Pope, forgetting to consult his ordinary 
 prudence, brought the whole subject of the divorce 
 before the Consistory. The cause was hurried 
 through the court with such precipitancy, that a 
 final sentence was passed ; and, in one session, the 
 work of three was accomplished. It was declared 
 that the King s marriage with his brother's widow 
 was good, and he was required, on pain of censure, 
 to live with her, as his wife. Two days after this 
 sentence, the messenger arrived. But it was now 
 too late ! The die was cast. The Pope and some 
 of the wiser Cardinals wished, if possible, to re- 
 
 If 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 371 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 trace their steps; and another Consistory was SECTION 
 called : but they were now infatuated. — Their pride HI. 
 overcame their discretion; and it was resolved, 
 that their former sentence should be confirmed ; 
 and the execution of it, by the temporal sword, 
 was confided to the hands of the Emperor. 
 
 Upon what a slender thread, appear, sometimes, 
 
 to hang the destinies of States and Kingdoms ! 
 
 Had the messenger of Henry VIII, arrived at 
 Rome at the time appointed, — in all human proba- 
 bility, reconciliation would have ensued. But the 
 Almighty Ruler had benevolent purposes in view, 
 for this Country ; and those great and beneficial 
 changes which were in progress, might have been 
 prevented by such an occurrence. But by the 
 simplest means, over which, neither the King nor 
 his messenger could exercise any control, the arti- 
 fices of the Pope and the desires of the King were 
 frustrated ; and when, on the arrival of the mess- 
 enger, the mistake appeared, and the matter once 
 more placed within their own power, their pride 
 was made the means of their own overthrow, and 
 the advancement of the Divine purposes ! 
 
 The breach as might be expected, was final ; Reformation 
 and the reformation rapidly advanced. We proceeds. 
 have seen how steadily and firmly, the Parliament ^' ^' '''^^* 
 proceeded, step by step, to break down the tower- 
 ing fabric of Papal authority, which had been 
 erected in this Kingdom. Other important acts 
 quickly followed : forbidding all appeals to the 
 
372 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 1 1 
 
 SECTION court of Rome, on the alleged ground, that no 
 in. power conlcl cispense with the law of the land, ex- 
 ^^^'^^^^ cept the King and Parliament — confirming the 
 King's divorce — settling the succession to the heirs 
 of Queen Ann — and transferring to the King, the 
 power of appointing Bishops. The Clergy also in 
 Convocation, were most explicit on all these im- 
 portant topics. They acknowledged that the Con- 
 vocation ivas of right to be summoned hy the King, 
 and that no Canons should he enacted or executed, 
 tvithout his assent, and formal ly condemned all ap- 
 peals to the Court of Rome, 
 
 These proceedings became deeply interesting to 
 the whole nation. The authority of the Pope was 
 made the common subject of conversation in public, 
 of argum.ent in books, and, of long debates in 
 Parliament ; while great preparations were making 
 to strike the final blow. But there were some 
 dissentients of high rank, whose character and 
 conduct we must notice, in order to shew the true 
 grounds upon which they suffered. — For as yet, 
 scarcely a single step was taken for the establish- 
 ment of RELIGIOUS PROTESTANTISM. 
 
 Sir Thomas Sir Thomas _More, the late Chancellor, who 
 MoieandFish-j^ad retired into private life, and Fisher, Bishop 
 
 er, Bishop o^„t-», t, r t • t 
 
 Rochester. of Kochcster ; both men oi learning, and of un- 
 
 A. D io3o. blemished character, obstinately refused to concur 
 
 with the nation's will in these legislative enact- 
 
 m-cnts ; and even went so far as to encourage, by 
 
 their sanction, the plot of the maid of Kent, which 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 373 
 
 was set on foot by some of the intriguing dissatis- SECTION 
 fied Monks. These eminent individuals were com- HI. 
 mitted to the Tower, for refusing to take the oath ^"''''' "' 
 of succession, because it implied, that t!ie King's 
 former marriage was unlav;ful, to which they 
 would not assent, inasmuch as it was an attack 
 upon the Pope's authority : and shortly after, the 
 Parliament passed the Act which placed the top- 
 stone on the pinnacle of Political Protestantism, 
 by transferring the usurped authority of the Pope 
 to the Sovereign ; and adding to his other titles — 
 " Supreme Head on earth, of the Church of Eng- 
 land ! " This, if any thing, was a still greater 
 stumbling-block in the way of More and Fisher. 
 They adhered to the lawfulness of the King's 
 former marriage, and to the supremacy of the Pope, 
 and died on the scaffold as traitors to the law^s of 
 their country. They w'ere certainly, in every res- 
 pect, the Martyrs of the Pope — for his authority, 
 they contended, and died. It is lamentable, that 
 such Englishmen should ever have died in such a 
 cause, and against the independence of their coun- 
 try. Their courage and firmness in suffering, 
 were worthy of a better service. And if their sen- 
 tence should now be deemed severe, it w^ill be 
 sufficient to observe, that it is almost impossible 
 for us to judge, with accuracy, on that question. 
 
 The Parliament of that day, had to contend jurisdictional 
 with great difficulties in breaking down the ])ai- ^"'^"''^.v^^the 
 
 p c ^ .' 1-T1T1 Vo\ie, given to 
 
 Tiers oi a powerful usurpation, which had been the King. 
 
374 
 
 THEOCRATIC I'lULOSOPUY 
 
 II 
 
 If : 
 
 SECTION long exercised over the Church and Kingdom of 
 III. England. Their measures were not hasty and vio- 
 lent ; but sure and eifectual ; and, such were the 
 evils they discovered to exist in that system, which 
 had become interwoven with all parts of our polity 
 — that they determined to crush for ever^ that mon- 
 strous power which had, for so long a time, preyed 
 upon the vitals of the country : and finding it ne- 
 cessary to establish some order in ecclesiastical 
 affairs, they transferred the authority of the Pope 
 to the Monarch. A most happy change ! and as 
 much as it could be expected they should accom- 
 plish at that period. Indeed, with all our en- 
 lightened views on civil and ecclesiastical polity, 
 I know not that we can arrive at any other conclu- 
 sion. What was intended, and only intended, was 
 " supreme head " in temporal affairs. In any other 
 sense it has never been assumed; and in this 
 point of view the title is certainly correct.* 
 
 Great events and changes were now at hand. 
 Light broke in upon the darkness and superstition 
 of ages, and laid the foundation of the transcen- 
 dant principle of Religious Protestantism ; and, it 
 is now time to introduce to the notice of the reader, 
 an individual, who had the principal share in these, 
 and future transactions of vast importance ; this 
 was Thomas Cromwell, whose name deserves a 
 
 ♦ " Elements of the British Constitution," by the Author. 
 Vide " Ecclesiastical Power " Brotvtif Leicester, Whittaker 
 and Co. London, 
 
 Tliomas Crom 
 well siicceeils 
 Wolsey. 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 375 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 very high place in the annals of his country. He SECTION 
 was of humble birth, the son of a blacksmith ; but IH. 
 a person of enlarged mind, and shining talents ; 
 and at the time of Wolsey's death he had advanced 
 himself to the rank of secretary to that practiced 
 Statesman. The Cardinal's degradation, brought 
 him into public notice — not by a base desertion 
 of his patron — ^but from a noble ingenuousness of 
 mind, which led him to use all his powers of elo- 
 quence, in defence of the fallen Premier, against 
 the accusations of his enemies. Besides, his great 
 qualifications, and knowledge of public affairs, 
 pointed him out to the King, as a most suitable 
 successor to his late minister ; and in promoting 
 those well directed Acts of the legislature which we 
 have recapitulated, he no doubt, was the chief in- 
 strument. He was accordingly raised to the high- 
 est honors in the State, created a Baron and Lord 
 Privy Seal ; and appointed visitor, by delegation 
 from the King, of all the monasteries in England. 
 He was also constituted the King's Vice-gerent in 
 Ecclesiastical matters, and took precedence of all 
 subjects, next to the members of the Royal Family. 
 Vigour despatch and integrity marked his pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 He was not long in making use of the power inquiry into 
 vested in him, and issued commissions to enquire ^^^'^•^"'* 
 into the state of the religious houses. There were 
 at this time more than six hundred monasteries in 
 England, possessing immense wealth and influ- 
 
 houses. 
 
 Vt 
 
mmm 
 
 376 
 
 THEOCllATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 377 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION ence in the country. Their enormous power and 
 III- pride, with their accompanying vices, were at 
 their height ; and the Divine Judgments, even now 
 impended over their heads. The most monstrous 
 impieties and disorders were discovered. Their 
 iniquities reached to Heaven, and cried for ven- 
 geance. They w^ere the strong-holds of crime and 
 imposture. — Dens of profligacy. Some were the 
 abodes of luxurious ease and debauchery. Others 
 were the seats of factious contentions and angry 
 resentments. Some were the habitations of cruel- 
 ty, whilst in others, were found instruments for the 
 coining of money. These were the off-shoots of 
 Popery and its legitimate productions! For it 
 ought to be observed, that these institutions were 
 really the Pope's own children; and not under 
 the jurisdiction of the Bishops — a circumstance 
 which, in some measure, accounts for this strict 
 and searching investigation under the sole author- 
 ity of the King. 
 
 Wales annex- The report of the Commissioners was laid he- 
 ed to England, fo^e Parliament, which was followed by an act 
 
 A.D. 1536. n 1 . 
 
 for the suppression of all the lesser monasteries, 
 amounting in number, to three hundred and seven- 
 ty-two. It may be observed, that in the same ses- 
 sion, an act was passed for the incorporation of the 
 Principality of Wales with the Kingdom of England. 
 But we are now approaching an event of super- 
 fust proposed ^^^'^^'^ importance, which was to lay the chief cor- 
 byconvooation. ucr stone in the foundation of Religious Pro- 
 
 Translation 
 of the Bible 
 
 
 I 
 
 antisni. 
 
 TESTANTISM — the translation of the BIBLE; and SECTION 
 I rejoice to find, that it sprung from the same HI. 
 source as that, which gave rise to the first act of ^^^^ll^^JXl^]^ 
 political Protestantism — the Coi^ vocation of 
 THE Clergy. 
 
 Nor must Anne^Boleyn lose her share in the Queen Anne, 
 glory of this work. She forwarded the advance- ^^^'^'^ ^''''''' 
 ment of the project at Court, with all her power, 
 and prevailed upon the King to give his consent. 
 Insuperable would have been the prejudices of the 
 King to such an innovation, had it not been for 
 the judicious management and eloquence of this 
 accomplished Queen. And we may remark, that 
 had she been elevated to her high dignity for the 
 accomplishment of this one ol)ject, such a result 
 would have been sufficient. Soon after her mar- 
 riage with the King, she became strongly at- 
 tached to the doctrines of the Reformation ; 
 which, indeed, she openly avowed by appointing 
 Latiiner and Shaxton as her Chaplains, and pro- 
 curing their appointment to the Biishopricks of Wor- 
 cester and Salisbury. Through her influence, 
 Latimer was rescued from very imminent danger, 
 into which he had been brought by his bold and 
 uncompromising language. The Queen even com- 
 mitted her household to his management, and lis- 
 tened with great attention and delight to his dis- 
 courses. Indeed, her conduct was most exemplary. 
 She was constantly employed in doing good ; and 
 expended great sums in acts of charity and bene- 
 
378 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION volence. But her career had been ambitious. 
 ^^^- Her path like the brief splendour of a shooting 
 star, was short, and she fell, an early victim to 
 the malignant spirit of revenge and faction. 
 
 It would not be necessary to say more upon 
 this subject were it not the design of this work to 
 search into the moral causes of things ; and to 
 shew the results of the actions of intelligent agents, 
 under the superintendance of an All-wise and 
 Almighty Being. It is in such transactions as 
 these, which stand out so prominently in history, 
 that we are to find materials for our inquiry, and 
 which must be lighted up as beacons to warn, or 
 as stars, to direct our course. 
 
 These great and important changes in the civil 
 and ecclesiastical management of affairs, did not 
 take place without great opposition from the 
 Popish party in the nation : add to which, that 
 these discontents were fomented by the unceasing 
 efforts of the agents employed by the Pope and 
 the Emperor. Every artifice was made use of, to 
 instigate the minds of the people against the 
 Queen, the Archbishop, and the Secretary Crom- 
 well. The Queen was the first victim. Her 
 ruin was effected through the machinations of the 
 most artful and infamous of women, assisted by 
 the power of the Duke of Norfolk. This degra- 
 ded woman, was Lady Guilford and wife to the 
 brother of the Queen. Her mind was inflamed 
 with jealousy and hatred against her husband, 
 
 The Queen's 
 disgrace and 
 fall. 
 
 If , 
 
 4 
 i 
 
 .i 
 
 \ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 379 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 and, to gratify her malignity and resentment, she SECTION 
 filled the King's mind with representations of the II^* 
 Queen's indiscretions and infidelity, and even 
 implicated her own husband, the Queen's brother, 
 in the guilt ! The King was completely entang- 
 led in the toils of this artful female. The Queen 
 was arrested. The inhuman Duke of Norfolk 
 presided at her trial. The result had been de- 
 termined and is well known. She was beheaded 
 on Tower Hill, after she had shared the throne of 
 England nearly five years. 
 
 Of her innocence there cannot exist the sha- Her innocence. 
 dow of a doubt. Posterity, in this respect, have 
 awarded a just sentence. 
 
 But is there no clue by which we may be ena- Moral causes 
 bled to trace the progress of this fatal dispensation'? "" '^^ """'"* 
 There is no doubt, as we have shown, that Queen 
 Anne was instructed in, and was too much actu- 
 ated with, the spirit of ambition, and that she 
 sought her elevation, by an abandonment of that 
 decorum and propriety by which true moral integ- 
 rity is always directed. She not only permitted 
 the marked attentions of the King, whilst maid 
 of honor to the Queen ; but consented to marry 
 him before his divorce had been legally pronoun- 
 ced ; and consequently, whilst he had yet a wife. 
 To some, this may appear drawing the bonds of 
 morality too strictly ; but it is Christian morality ; 
 and which none ever ye't transgressed wdth impu- 
 nity. Some persons consider such frailty pardon- 
 
 It 
 
la w wwffl^ i ijBigBjs is ' amMsms 
 
 380 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The Kin- 
 marries. 
 
 
 SECTION able in a woman.— But the same inflexible law of 
 
 "f. morality holds its authority over women as well 
 
 as men : and the frailties of Anne Boleyn, met 
 
 with a severe and fearful retribution. Under the 
 
 preaching of Latimer, both her moral and religi- 
 
 ous views were enlightened and improved ; and 
 
 she died poUtkalhj and religioushj, a Protestant. 
 
 Her last words were : " To Christ I commend 
 
 my soul. "—And she has the singular honor of 
 
 being the first English Protestant, whose death 
 
 is recorded in history ! 
 
 The marriage of the King with Jane Seymour, 
 two days after the execution of his Qu^n, does 
 by no means, shew that this new passion was the 
 cause of her death. I do not suppose that it hast- 
 ened it a single hour, except that it served to es- 
 trange the King s mind, and overthrow this barrier 
 to her protection. But wicked and licentious men 
 often burst through the hallowed bonds of mar- 
 riage, to indulge a wayward and capricious fancy, 
 without contemplating a divorce. No — her doom 
 arose from other causes, the King was fully inflii- 
 enced with a persuasion of her guilt, and infuriated 
 with anger and jealousy ; and his early marriage 
 with Jane Seymour, was to testify his abhorrence 
 of her conduct and memory. His violent and un- 
 bridled passions were his tormentors. 
 Princess Mary Thcse trausactions were followed by a change 
 
 makes a solemn r i > v.xai*iigv^ 
 
 avowal. ^* counsel. 3'he Emperor again appears on the 
 
 scene of English history ; and seizes the opportu- 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 381 
 
 A> 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Convocation 
 sets. 
 
 nity, for bringing about a reconciliation between SECTION 
 the King and the Princess Mary, who was now J II. 
 about twenty years of age : this was accomplished 
 on the condition that she would make a full sub- 
 mission in writing, which she did to the following 
 effect — ' She acknowledged the King to he Head of 
 the Church of England, under Christ — iitterhj re- 
 nounced the authority of the Bishop of Rome --pro- 
 mised to he obedient to the laws then made ; all 
 
 which she declared to jlow from her inward helief 
 and judgement, in which she would ever continue* 
 The greatest vigour prevailed in the councils of 
 the nation, and the Convocation proceeded to ex- ' 
 amine many points of religion, and to inquire into 
 various corruptions and abuses ; and in the midst 
 of their deliberations, Cromwell conveyed to them 
 a Royal message— ''That they should re-form the 
 rites and ceremonies of the Church, according to 
 the rule of Scripture, which ought to be preferred 
 to all glosses and decrees of Popes. " This mes- 
 sage was followed by long and strenuous debates 
 in that learned body, the result of which was, that 
 they established the Authority of Scripture— the 
 three creeds — the first four general Councils, and 
 three of the seveti Sacraments — Baptism, Eucha' 
 rist and Penance. These were great and decided 
 inroads upon the darkness and superstition of Pc- 
 pery, and were generally approved by the higher 
 and middle classes of society. But great discon- 
 
 * E chard. 
 
382 
 
 TFIEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION tent prevailed amongst the lower orders, which 
 IW- was instigated by the Monks and Friars, and at 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Rebellion 
 of the lower 
 orders. 
 
 A. D. 1537. 
 
 length broke out into serious rebellion. 
 
 It is unnecessary to enter into a detail of these 
 rebelHons. They were so formidable that if the 
 Emperor had been at liberty to land his forces in 
 England, for the purpose of executing the Pope's 
 commission, it is impossible to say what might 
 have been the consequences. But as it was, it 
 rather furthered the Reformation ; for the com- 
 plete triumph of the King, destroyed all hope of 
 resistance and enabled his Commissioners to pro- 
 ceed to the destruction of the remaining Monaste- 
 ries. The infatuated people however, still vented 
 their murmurs and complaints against such whole- 
 sale extirpation of establishments, which they had 
 regarded with veneration. The Council at length 
 had recourse to a method, which tended, in some 
 measure, to weaken the prepossessions of the 
 people. They brought to light several of the im- 
 postors which had been practiced by the Monks, 
 amongst these, was the ''Rood of Grace" at 
 Boxley in Kent. This image had been the resort 
 of multiudes. It was observed to bow its head — 
 to roll its eyes — and by its countenance, to shew 
 satisfaction or displeasure, to the astonishment of 
 the credulous people. This abominable imposture 
 was exhibited at Saint Paul's cross, where all the 
 secret springs which governed its motions, were 
 openly shewn and explained. But it would require 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 383 
 
 a volume to tell of all the cheats and impositions, SECTION 
 which were brought to light, but with which my IH. 
 design has nothing to do, except to shew the depth v^^^i^^-Ii^ 
 of ignorance and superstition into which the nation 
 was sunk, prior to the Refonnation. 
 
 But these proceedings created at Rome, the wrathofthe 
 most lively indignation against the King and his H,7t',^„"^f^,,"^^^ 
 ministers; and Paul III, who had succeeded Cle- Bible, 
 ment, issued a fearful Bull against them : enume- ^' ^' ^'^^' 
 rating all their crimes, and commanding the King 
 and his accomplices to appear at Rome, within 
 sixty days : declaring, on refusal, that the King 
 had fallen from his crown, and they from their es- 
 tates ; and requiring all Christians to make war 
 upon them, and to seize their goods, and even all 
 the subjects of the King, and make slaves of them ! 
 
 But the Clergy were now too far advanced with 
 the changes of the times, to attempt to give effect 
 to the Pope's injunctions. They declared against 
 his authority to wield the temporal sword ; and 
 to crown the triumph of the Reformation at this 
 period, the Bible was completed ; and the un- 
 wearied Cromwell issued injunctions to the Clergy, 
 to provide Bibles in all the Churches, and to 
 encourage the people to read them. Cranmer 
 was so delighted at this event, that he wrote a 
 letter of congratulation to the Secretary, in which 
 he says: " I rejoice to see the day of the Refor- 
 mation now risen in England, since the word of 
 God doth shine over it, without a cloud." 
 
u 
 
 384 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 III. 
 
 Chap. 11. 
 
 Flames of 
 Maityrdoin re- 
 kindled. 
 
 m' 
 
 r 
 
 p 
 
 I 
 II 
 
 But this bright clay was soon to be overcast, to 
 the great grief of the Archbishop and his friends. 
 Through the influence of Bishop Gardiner, to 
 whom the King was personally indebted — he was 
 persuaded to believe, that a little severitv exer- 
 cised against Heretics, would have a tendency to 
 establish his cause over all Europe ; and advised 
 him to begin w^ith those who denied the " Real 
 Presence" in the Sacrament, especially, as that 
 point had also been declared upon, by the reform- 
 ing Princes of Germany. The King listened to 
 the insidious counsel, and the horrid lot fell on an 
 individual of the name of Lambert, a Divine of 
 considerable eminence, who was tried in the pre- 
 sence of the King, and condemned to be burnt. 
 And as Queen Anne Boleyn was the first Protest- 
 ant after the Reformation who met a public death — - 
 so, Lambert has the honor of being the first Protes- 
 tant martyr. He was miserably tormented in the 
 fire — but his patience and resignation never forsook 
 him for a moment. Nothing could tend more 
 forcibly to shew the bent and purpose of his mind, 
 than his conduct in the midst of his torture s ; and 
 with his expiring breath, his brief but emphatic 
 cry was ; " None but Christ ! none but Christ !'' 
 Parliament His martyrdom was followed by the enactment 
 Pmei" ^^ Parliament, of the six bloody Statutes,* as they 
 have been justly denominattd ; which show how 
 deeply the King and the Country, generally, were 
 
 * Echard. 
 
 I) 
 
 OF ENGUSH HISTORY, 
 
 385 
 
 embued with the doctrines of Popery ; and how SECTION 
 much was yet to be done, before the nation could I^** 
 be expurgated from the deadly errors with which v,^rv-xly 
 it had been so fatally infected. After all, it does 
 not appear that it was ever sincerely intended to 
 carry this act of the six Articles into execution. 
 It seems to have been more a state expedient, re- 
 sorted to for the purpose of deceiving the world ; 
 for, although more than five hundred persons were 
 presented under the provisions of this bill, they 
 were all discharged ; and during the authority of 
 Cromwell the act was never enforced. 
 
 But this great man, through too great obsequi- cromweirs 
 ousness to his master, fell into grievous error, in ^"^*^' 
 counselling Parliament to pass one Act for giving 
 to the King's proclamations, the force of law ; and 
 another, for enabling the court, to pass sentence of 
 attainder, in the absence of the attainted persons, 
 — a law opposed to every principle of nature and 
 justice; but this breach on humanity and the 
 acknowledged rights of Englishmen, whilst it 
 throws a dark shade upon his political integrity, 
 was dearly exacted of him, as we shall see, by the 
 just Arbiter of human actions. 
 
 The monastic institutions of England had now Monasteries 
 ceased to exist. Under the vigorous administra- ^"pp^^'^'*^**- 
 
 ^ ^ A. D. 1.539. 
 
 tion of the King's \ice-gerent, six hundred and 
 forty-five monasteries were utterly extirpated. 
 And whilst one cannot but deeply lament, that 
 such magnificent fabrics, upreared with immense 
 
 c c 
 
386 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION labour and expense, should be totally annihilated , 
 IH. and wishing as we do^ that the advice of Bishop 
 Latimer had been followed, and one or more of 
 these institutions had been left in each County, for 
 Collegiate establishments — yet as a necessary mea- 
 sure, to secure the full tide of prosperity which 
 was to flow in upon the country, we cannot but 
 rejoice in their destruction. — It was a necessary 
 link in the series of events, which, under the Di- 
 vine Conduct, was to introduce the full unfettered 
 Monastic in- liberty of the ''everlasting gospel." It is not 
 
 stitutions in- j^^^^gj ^^gy ^^ couceivc, how the true profession 
 
 consistent with ' •' ^^ 
 
 Christianity, of Christianity could have existed, whilst these 
 strong-holds of licentiousness, indolence, and su- 
 perstition remained, and under the sanction of its 
 venerable name, exhibiting every feature which was 
 inconsistent with its character. What has Christi- 
 anity to do with such mock exhibitions of piety — 
 concealing the desperate wickedness of the human 
 heart, under the garb of its holy profession *? — 
 Dreadful enormity ! Sufficient to cover the hea- 
 vens with perpetual storms, and to turn the sun 
 into sackcloth of hair ! But had these institutions 
 been as pure as their founders intended they should 
 be — had the secluded fathers of the cloister, been 
 as holy, as humble, as temperate, as prayerful as 
 their vows professed them to be — what connexion 
 would these abodes have had, with Christianity ^ 
 None whatever. They would even then, have 
 been entirely inconsistent with the spirit and char- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 387 
 
 k 
 
 acter of true Religion. Can the wearing of sack- SECTION 
 cloth and wallowing in ashes — can the spending IH- 
 of days and nights in prayer and abstinence, be 
 an acceptable sacrifice in the sight of the Father 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercy ? 
 Mistaken folly, which could only tend to destroy 
 every vestige of that holy religion which the Son 
 of God came to establish. Christianity, indeed, 
 demands all the moderation, all the humility, all 
 the devotion of the heart, which monastic institu- 
 tions were intended to cultivate — but Christianity 
 demands all these sacrifices to be offered in the 
 midst of our active duties ; and in the diligent ex- 
 ercise of all our mental and bodily faculties ; and 
 it may be laid down as an incontrovertible maxim 
 — that no duty can be pleasing to the Author of 
 Christianity, which is abstracted from, or incon- 
 sistent with the personal and relative duties, con- 
 nected with our station in society ; and that, 
 whoever places himself without the pale of the 
 duties which he owes to his fellow-men, is guilty 
 of treason against the Author of his being. I can 
 not, therefore, see how Christianity could have 
 flourished in connexion with these institutions, even 
 at their best estate ; but as they had been degra- 
 ded, it was utterly impossible. There was also a 
 great political reason. — They were a dead weight 
 upon the community. Their revenues were im- 
 mense, — one million five hundred thousand pounds 
 a year — a sum which would now equal six times 
 
lii 
 
 lip I 
 
 388 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION that amount. In short, I consider their extirpa- 
 I^^- tion, in order to make way for the plans of the 
 Divine Benevolence to have been as necessary for 
 our country, as the destruction of Druidism. — I 
 scarcely knov\^ which stood most in the way of the 
 advance of Christianity. Both were remarkably 
 destroyed, not gradually and slowly, but by a 
 sudden and irresistible blow. They were not suf- 
 fered to fall by decay. — They were blotted out, 
 not by the workings of a long conducted de- 
 sign, but by the force of circumstances, and by 
 instruments suddenly raised up, and eminently 
 fitted for the work. 
 
 What did the King of England intend of all 
 this, when he commenced the suit of his divorce, 
 which was really the source of all the changes of 
 that period ^ What did the Emperor intend, when 
 he opposed the Kings suit and prevented the Pope , 
 from granting his request, which laid the founda- 
 tion for these innovtions on the Papal authority ? 
 What did the Pope and his Cardinals intend of all 
 this, when he condemned the proceedings of the 
 King of England ? What of all this did the Mes- 
 senger intend, who conveyed the King's submis- 
 sion and desire of reconciliation, when his arrival 
 at the City of Rome had been delayed ^ What 
 did Wolsey intend of all this, when he selected 
 Cromwell as his Secretary, instructed and honored 
 him ? Yet all these circumstances were necessary 
 links in the chain of events which, necessarily, led 
 
 Results not 
 contemplated 
 by the agents 
 employed. 
 
 \f 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 389 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 to the accomplishment of the changes which we SECTION 
 have briefly recorded. The agents employed in in. 
 conducting these transactions, were utterly blind, 
 as to their real bearing and ultimate direction. — 
 Was the divorce of Henry permitted merely to sa- 
 tisfy his scruples or to gratify his licentious 
 passions'? Was the opposition of the Emperor 
 merely to exercise his own ambitious designs ^ — 
 Or, was the impetuosity of the Pope in passing a 
 hasty sentence intended, merely to shew the pride 
 and arrogance of that impious power? It is 
 impossible to indulge the supposition for a mo- 
 ment ; because we see they were steps of a series 
 which were overruled by an Almighty Power, and 
 led to the accomplishment of events, at the bare 
 contemplation of which, the actors themselves 
 would have turned pale with grief and shame. 
 
 The principal business of the reign had now, 
 in a great measure, been accomplished : the action 
 rapidly advances, and the scene hastens to its 
 close. 
 
 The King had been deeply afflicted by the cromweii 
 death of his Queen, Jane Seymour, who expired "^^gociates a 
 after giving birth to a Prince, afterwards, Edward uie K^ng. ""^ 
 VI, — the Josiah of England. His wise and sa- ^- ^- *'^^- 
 gacious minister, Cromwell, saw the vast impor- 
 tance of gaining a Queen who should strengthen 
 his councils, and afford her influence to promote 
 the Eeformation. Circumstances favoured the 
 projects of the Minister, and he was allowed to 
 
V , 
 
 390 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 I 
 
 i! 
 
 SECTION make enquiries among the Princes of Germany — 
 HI' the pillars of the Reformation. Anne of Cleves, 
 sister of the Duke of that name, and related by- 
 marriage, with the Duke of Saxony, was selected 
 by him as the most suitable match. The beauty of 
 her portrait by Holbein, was satisfactory : nor was 
 it exaggerated. But she was unaccomplished: 
 her manners were so ungainly, and her carriage 
 so inelegant, that the King took an insuperable 
 dislike to her ; and although he suffered the solem- 
 nization of the marriage to take place, out of res- 
 pect to her illustrious relatives, yet he determined 
 not to proceed beyond the formal celebration of the 
 nuptials. He never took her to wife, nor rested 
 till the marriage was annulled by his Parliament. 
 It has generally been stated, that the King s 
 personal displeasure with Cromwell, on account of 
 the trouble and vexation which accrued to him 
 from this match, was the cause of the downfall 
 and ruin of that eminent minister. But this was 
 not the case, although it formed a plea for the 
 designs of his enemies. The King was on the 
 most friendly terms with him, and shortly after, 
 exalted him to higher honors ; for he was created 
 Earl of Essex, which however was the summit of 
 his greatness. His career was run. A secret 
 and powerful reason gave his enemies an advan- 
 tage. The popular cry was against him for what 
 had been transacted under his administration — 
 all who opposed the Reformation hated him, the 
 
 The full of 
 Cromwell. 
 
 t 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 391 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 principal of whom were the persecuting Gardiner, SECTION 
 Bishop of Winchester, and the treacherous Duke Ml. 
 of Norfolk. This latter person, at this fatal mo- 
 ment, possessed a powerful influence from the cir- 
 cumstance, that the King determining to choose 
 his own wife, had fixed his affections on the ac- 
 complished Catharine Howard, niece to the Duke 
 of Norfolk. At his instigation and by his hand, 
 Cromwell was arrested for high treason, and com- 
 mitted to the Tower. From those dungeons he 
 never came forth : for he was attainted without 
 being heard, — the very ground on which he had 
 counselled the condemnation of others ; which, as 
 it was a most unjust and unconstitutional proce- 
 dure ; so he was made to experience all its bitter- 
 ness in his own case. He was executed on Tower 
 Hill, just three months after he was created Earl 
 of Essex. But a heavier retribution was preparing 
 for his implacable and unrelenting persecutors. 
 
 After the death of Cromwell, which happened so The Refc 
 unexpectedly, the Reformation received a sudden ^'''" ^"'^'^'■^* 
 check; and the Romish party, at the head of 
 which was the Duke of Norfolk, obtained a signal 
 triumph. From this moment, the King's councils 
 became unsteady, and for the seven remaining 
 years of his reign, he found no Minister upon 
 whose faithfulness or ability he could rely. He 
 deeply lamented, when it was too late, the loss 
 of that celebrated statesman, Cromwell. Besides, 
 the judgments of God, were now about to be 
 
 orma- 
 
' 3 
 
 s 
 
 392 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 •6> 
 
 munlerers of 
 Queen Anne 
 Boleyn. 
 A. D. 1542. 
 
 SECTION visited upon his own head for the evils which he 
 
 ^il- had committed. Others had served as instru- 
 
 K^^'^^^^^ ments ; he was the great actor. But, great as he 
 
 was, and, he was great indeed, there was one on 
 
 high, that was mightier ; and who in this world, 
 
 brought him to a severe account. 
 
 Divine inffic- '^^^ ^^^^t blow he rcccived, fell where he was 
 
 tions on the niost deeply sensible. He was so charmed with 
 
 Kin^, and the , . 
 
 the conversation, beauty, and accomplishments of 
 his Queen, that in the ardour and generosity of his 
 feelings, he ordered public thanksgiving to be of- 
 fered in Saint Paul's church, for the perfect hap- 
 piness which it had pleased God to bestow upon 
 him. But alas ! what is man in his best estate ? 
 The heaven which appeared to him in all its bright- 
 ness and without a cloud, was quickly shrouded 
 in blackest storms and night. His Queen whom 
 he had regarded as an angel of light, was exhib- 
 ited to his astonished eyes, defiled with the dark- 
 est stains of sin and guilt ; and, as her accomplice 
 in crime, the Lady Eochford, the chief murderer 
 of the unfortunate and innocent Anne Boleyn ! 
 
 Who can tell the agonies of the King's mind *? 
 He alternated for some time, between grief and 
 rage — between affection for his Queen, and ven- 
 geance against her accusers. But he was, at 
 length, compelled to believe his own dishonor, by 
 the most overw^helming evidence ; and he was 
 justly punished where he had so signally offended. 
 He had before punished the innocent ; it is now 
 
 J 
 
 
 tv 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 393 
 
 Persecution 
 f Gardiner. 
 A. D. 1543. 
 
 retributed upon him, to the full; and he was SECTION 
 called upon, under trying circumstances, to punish HI. 
 the guilty, in whose condemnation the innocence ^"**'* "* 
 of the former was vindicated. Not only the Queen 
 and the Lady Eochford were executed ; but the 
 whole House of Norfolk were implicated in the 
 odium. The Duke of Norfolk himself, for the 
 present escaped ; and was employed by the King 
 in offices of trust and command. — ^But his punish- 
 ment only slumbered, it was not reversed. 
 
 In the mean time the sanguinary Gardiner, seizes 
 the opportunity, whilst no firm hand was at the 
 helm, to light up the fires of Martyrdom. The 
 six statutes were put in force, and Barnes, Ger- 
 rard and Jerome, were condemned and burnt. — 
 Cranmcr himself was fearfully assailed by the Ro- 
 mish party. Their utmost strength was put forth 
 to extinguish that burning and shining light. — 
 The plot was deeply laid by Gardiner, Bishop of 
 Winchester, and a long paper containing an ac- 
 count of his heretical principles and practices was 
 delivered to the King. But their malice failed of 
 its object. The unwavering esteem and attach- 
 ment of the King for this most exemplary Prelate, 
 assisted and aided by the influence of Catharine 
 Parr, whom the King had married, overcame the 
 solicitations of his enemies. 
 
 At length towards the evening of this busy and 
 memorable reign, a reconciliation was effected ^''!° ""^ ^^^ 
 
 King and E 
 
 between Henry and the Emperor Charles V. and peror. 
 
 Recnncilia- 
 
 £m- 
 

 394 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION a league was entered into, in which it was agreed 
 
 III- that the Princess Mary should succeed next to 
 
 ^^^-^/^^ Prince Edward, and in connexion with this, a 
 
 Kxtraordinary circumstancc took place of a most extraordinary 
 
 turn of events. i • p 
 
 nature, because it confounds all human foresight, 
 and shews how ardently men engage in the accom- 
 plishment of an object which is to end in their 
 own destruction. The Earl of Arran was, at that 
 time. Regent of Scotland, during the minority 
 of the unfortunate Mary Queen of Scots. Henry 
 sent an embassy to the Regent, to project a 
 marriage between the young Queen and Prince 
 Edward; and to offer the Princess Elizabeth to 
 Arrmis eldest Son. The King's offers were so 
 agreeable to the Earl of Arran and the Scotch 
 nobility, that they were immediately agreed to, 
 and confirmed by Parliament. But all the Clergy, 
 headed by Cardinal Beaton, assisted by the Queen 
 mother, and aided by every kind of influence from 
 France, frustrated the design. How steadily do 
 the purposes of God march to their destination 
 over the counsels of men! What Englishman, 
 without intuitive horror, can contemplate Queen 
 Elizabeth as the unknown wife of an Highland 
 Chief ^ What Papist does not deplore the course 
 adopted by his party, which prevented the banish- 
 ment of the Great Protestant Queen — who expelled 
 Popery from her isle ? But I forbear to enlarge, 
 the sacred oracle comes to my aid, " the counsel of 
 the Lord standeth for ever — the thoughts of his 
 heart to all generations." — Ps. xxxiii. 11. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 395 
 
 1 
 
 Events, important events now crowd upon one SECTION 
 another as the reign hastens to its close. The ^II* 
 King was obliged by his league with the Emperor, ^^^'V'-x^ 
 to engage in a war with France. He discovered Policy of the 
 to the last, the energy and love of display which "^^*^*^ ' 
 were inherent in his character. The sails which 
 wafted him, for the last time, to the coast of 
 France, were of cloth of gold ; and he marched 
 in sovereign pomp at the head of his army, to lay 
 seige to Boulogne, which after six weeks w^as 
 obliged to surrender. Nothing was gained by 
 this enterprize. But a deeper policy was playing 
 elsewhere. The Council of Trent was then sit- 
 ting, and every effort was made by the Pope and 
 Emperor to assemble sufficient force to procure 
 obedience to its Canons and Decrees. It was the 
 policy therefore of the Emperor, to beguile the 
 King of England, and to protract this war, in 
 order to divide the power of these Monarchs, and 
 to prevent them from rendering assistance to the 
 Princes of Germany. 
 
 The extraordinary part acted by the Emperor 
 on this occasion, and, indeed, throughout this instrument 
 whole reign, over the destinies of which, he exer- '" ^^^^ "^"*^ °^ 
 cised a powerful influence, marks him out as an 
 extraordinary man, and an eminent instrument in 
 furthering the plans of Divine wisdom. Of course 
 it is not within the design of this work, to follow 
 his career, when unconnected with our own Coun- 
 try. On the present occasion how clever, how 
 
 God. 
 
 i 
 
1 
 
 396 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 
 Cranmer's 
 designs frus- 
 trated by Gar 
 diner. 
 
 SECTION remarkable his policy ! His design was to hold 
 III- sufficient power in Europe, at that critical moment, 
 to enforce the decisions of the Council of Trent. 
 For this purpose he had collected an immense 
 army ; whilst by his treaty with Henry, and the 
 consequent French war, he brought the two Kings 
 of England and France, under his mediation and 
 control ! 
 
 Cranmer in the mean time, had made consider- 
 able advances with the King; and was oil the 
 point of accomplishing some substantial plans of 
 Reformation. But the ever watchful Gardiner, 
 who was Ambassador at the Court of the Empe- 
 ror, hearing of these intended innovations, wrote 
 to the King in strong terms, assuring him, that the 
 Emperor was so affected by these changes, that if 
 he persevered, he would unite with the King of 
 France against him. The Archbishop was obliged 
 to desist ; and to add to his grief, the illustrious 
 Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, his friend and 
 ally on all occasions ; and who, like himself had 
 never suffered the loss of the King's favor, was at 
 this juncture removed by death. By this bereave- 
 ment he was left without a friend, and almost 
 the only individual of eminence, who had courage 
 and ability to carry out the principles of Religious 
 Protestantism. But he had little opportunity. 
 The Kings days were numbered; and his own 
 too, had his enemies obtained their wishes. 
 
 ^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 397 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The flames of Martyrdom again ascended, to SECTION 
 defile the pure canopy of Heaven, and to demand HI. 
 vengeance from the insulted Power above, Ann 
 Aiscough, a gentlewoman, was barbarously rack- The Romish 
 ed, and afterwards burnt in Smithfield, with two f^j^L'S. 
 others, for denying the corporeal presence in the 
 Sacrament. Others were also immolated ; and 
 the fury of the Romish party raged. They made 
 another assault upon the Archbishop, the circum- 
 stances of which are so remarkable, that they must 
 not be omitted in this work. 
 
 The nobles of the Romish faith, assembled and cranmer's 
 accused Cranmer, before the King, as being the extraordinary 
 grand source of all the heresy in the kingdom ; *''^^^^' 154^ 
 but alleged, that no person dared to give evidence 
 because he stood so high in the King's favor. 
 But they affirmed, that if the King, would once 
 allow the Council to commit him to the Tower, 
 he would then see, how many would appear to in- 
 form against him. The King consented ; and it 
 was resolved that it should be put into execution 
 the following day. But the King, like Darius, 
 on a similar occasion, set his heart to deliver Cran- 
 mer. He sent for him to the palace, and dis- 
 closed to him the whole design. The Archbishop 
 thanked the King for not allowing him to be sur- 
 prised ; and submitted himself to the King's plea- 
 sure, only making one request, that he might be 
 allowed to answer for himself before judges, who 
 were capable of forming a correct judgment on 
 
hS ■' 
 
 *i 
 
 
 398 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 SECTION such matters. The King astonished at his com- 
 in. posure, and utter disregard of the fatal consequen- 
 ces generously said, that he saw he must take care 
 of him, since he took so little care of himself , The 
 King then instructed him when he appeared before 
 the Council, to demand to see his accusers, before 
 he was committed to the Tower ; and to desire the 
 members to be treated by them, as they would de- 
 sire to be, under similar circumstances. — " And if/' 
 said the King, " they will not listen to the force of 
 reason, shew^ them this ring, and appeal to me in 
 person. " The King then took off his seal-ring, 
 and delivering it to the Archbishop, dismissed him. 
 Next morning according to expectation, he recei- 
 ved a summons to attend the Council at Whitehall. 
 Even in the lobby of the council chamber, the 
 venerable Prelate received such treatment, as fully 
 shewed him what he was likely to expect in the 
 presence of the Council. When admitted, all the 
 King had told him, was verified. The force of 
 reason had no effect upon his judges ; till at length 
 the Archbishop shewing the ring, appealed to the 
 King — immediately, the members of the Council 
 rose up in great confusion and hastened to the 
 King, who severely rebuked them ; and expressed 
 his esteem and kindness for the Archbishop, in 
 such terms as fully convinced them, that all 
 attempts against his personal safety were utterly 
 hopeless. 
 
 ^ 
 
 ) 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 399 
 
 The King's mind was daily perplexed and har- SECTION 
 rassed with the dissensions and animosities which I^'- 
 every where prevailed ; and to add to his calami- .^^^t^^^ily 
 ties, he was afflicted with a grievous ulcer in his The Queen 
 leg, from the pains of which he suffered exceed- "^''''^^ ^ ^^' 
 ingly. His temper was greatly affected, and he 
 became peevish and fretful ; and a circumstance 
 happened, which gave the unrelenting Gardiner, 
 in concert with the Lord Chancellor Wriothesley, 
 an opportunity of attempting to sacrifice the life of 
 the Queen, to the interests of the Romish party. 
 She was strongly attached to the doctrines of the 
 Reformation, and encouraged its professors with 
 all her influence. One day conversing with the 
 King, his displeasure was aroused by the freedom 
 of her remarks ; Gardiner seized the opportunity 
 of inflaming his mind against the Queen. Wriot- 
 hesley joined him ; and they possessed the King's 
 mind with the idea that heresies would be inter- 
 minable, unless the Queen received a severe check 
 which might prove a warning to others. The 
 King was prevailed upon by their representations 
 and artifices, and actually signed the articles upon 
 which she was to be impeached. But she was 
 also to be delivered out of their atrocious hands. — 
 The Lord Chancellor on his departure, accidentally 
 dropped the paper, which was found by one of 
 the Queen's attendants and conveyed to her. She 
 saw the danger and immediately hastened to the 
 King's apartment, and after a little discussion with 
 
t! 
 
 400 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 401 
 
 I , 
 
 V 
 
 \ 
 
 SECTION him, pleasantly said — ' that her object in holding 
 III- these little disputes with him, was for instruction, 
 K^^^sy^^u and to divert his mind from his many cares and 
 solicitudes. Next day whilst the Eoyal pair were 
 walking in the garden, Wriothesley came with 
 the intention of conveying her to the Tower : but 
 the King calling him aside, rebuked him sharply ; 
 and when the Queen interposed to mitigate his re- 
 sentment, he told her, that of all persons in the 
 world, she had the least occasion to plead in his 
 behalf Gardiner he never afterw^ards restored to 
 favor ; and erased his name from his Will, where 
 it had been placed as one of his Executors. 
 
 Visitations But the Dukc of Norfolk, and his son the Earl 
 NorVik.''"'^ ""^ ^^ Surrey, a young nobleman of aspiring temper, 
 
 A. D 1547. and great abilities, the acknowledged head of the 
 Romish party, did not so easily escape. The 
 father it will be remembered was particularly im- 
 plicated in the execution of Queen Ann Boleyn ; 
 and both, in that of the Secretary Cromwell. 
 They had assumed some part of the royal arms, 
 and it was intimated they were meditating ambi- 
 tious designs in case of the King's death. But 
 their ruin was thought to have been effected, 
 chiefly through the influence of the Seymours to 
 whom they were obnoxious. The Earl of Surrey 
 was tried at Common Law, condemned and exe- 
 cuted. The process of the father's trial occupied 
 more time — he was only saved at length by the 
 King's death, which happened the night before 
 
 1} 
 
 i 
 
 his intended execution ! But he was severely pun- SECTION 
 ished in the death of his beloved and accomplished HL 
 son, aff*ording us an example that there is One vjr^v^^iij 
 w^ho seeth and judgeth, and who suffers noiq^Jo 
 commit injustice with impunity ! 
 
 In the mean time, the King's malady increased The King's 
 to a most afflicting degree, and his pains and suf- p^''''^^*^ ^®'^'- 
 ferings were intolerable. His manly and majestic 
 form became bloated with disease ; his fine and 
 symmetrical limbs, swollen and deformed ; his 
 activity and vigour, consumed by wasting humours, 
 and his mind tortured with pain and anxiety. In 
 a word he became a loathsome spectacle to others, 
 and a burden to himself Behold ! the mighty and 
 puissant Henry VIII. — first, in the joust and tour- 
 nament — first, in splendour of the embattled field 
 — first, amongst Princes — suffering under the re- 
 tributory hand of a just and righteous God, who, 
 in this world, will in no wise spare the guilty. — 
 How justly applicable to his situation, are the 
 words of the inspired Asaph ; " When Thou wdth 
 rebukes dost chasten man, for sin ; Thou makest 
 his beauty to consume away like as it were a moth 
 fretting a garment. Every man, at his best es- 
 tate is altogether vanity !* " 
 
 During the short time that his wasting life The King's 
 lingered in its socket, he finished his noble foun- *^*'*^^* 
 dation of Trinity College, Cambridge, one of the 
 finest institutions in Europe. His Will was signed 
 
 * Psalm xxxix.- 
 
 ■Burial Service. 
 
 D D 
 
i 
 
 402 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION on the thirtieth of December, in which he fixed 
 I"- the succession in Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth : 
 
 Chap. If '•' > 
 
 and preferred the children of his second sister by 
 Charles Brandon, to those of his eldest sister the 
 Queen of Scotland. On the twenty-seventh of 
 January his strength and spirits failed him, and 
 it was manifest that his end w^as approaching. — 
 But none would dare to announce to him the un- 
 welcome tidings. Sir Anthony Denis was the 
 only one who had sufficient courage to warn him 
 of his approaching fate. The King with great 
 humility received the communication, expressed 
 his sorrow for the sins of his life, and, though mul- 
 tiplied and heinous in the sight of God, yet, he 
 said ; that he trusted in Christ whose mercies tvere 
 greater than his sins: and when asked by his friend- 
 ly monitor, whether a Churchman should be sent 
 for, he answered; " If any, let it he Cranmer.''' 
 
 " If any," — what ! was this a suitable expression 
 from the lips of him, who was " Defender of the 
 Faith" and "Most Christian King^ Unfortu- 
 nately for Henry, he had been placed in an unfa- 
 vourable position for himself; and had too many 
 opportunities of witnessing the duplicity, and 
 treachery, and perjury, and ambition of Church- 
 men, to entertain the hope of receiving any bene- 
 fit from their advice or prayers — affording another 
 signal proof, that whatever may be the pretensions 
 of the Ministers of the Gospel, a practice at vari- 
 ance with such pretensions, will not only repel 
 
 *> 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 403 
 
 mankind from embracing its doctrines, but drive SECTION 
 them into infidelity. Happily, Henry had no de- "'• 
 sire to take refuge in such an expedient ; but with """'"' "* 
 a knowledge and perception which would have 
 done honor to a better creed ; and might have been 
 the source of better fruits, he expressed his un- 
 shaken faith and confidence in the Author of 
 Christianity. In his professed ministers, with the 
 Pope at their head, he had no confidence ; but he 
 . doubted not of the Divine power and beneficence 
 of the Son of God. //"there were any of his Min- 
 isters in whom he could place any reliance— but 
 he was reputed an heretic— it was '^Cranmer." 
 It was a high and memorable testimony to the true 
 principles of Christianity. Cranmer was not only 
 a minister of Christianity, but a Christian altoge- 
 ther ; and though the circumstances of the times 
 were against him, yet his character prevailed in 
 the King's mind, over almost insurmountable pre- 
 judices. The Archbishop was summoned; but 
 did not arrive till the Monarch was speechless, and 
 desiring him to give some sign whether he died 
 in the faith of Christ; he tenderly pressed his 
 hand, and, soon after expired, on the twenty-eighth 
 of January, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, and 
 thirty-eighth of his reign. 
 
 He was fond of martial and chivalrous exploits, character, 
 but still more addicted to pleasure. He was gen- 
 erous, and capable of friendship, but this was 
 counterbalanced, by being quick in his resentments 
 
Hi 
 
 404 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and capricious in his attachments. He was pro- 
 ni. found and penetrating as a politician, and^ generally 
 
 y^^^;-^ prudent in the methods he adopted, for securing 
 his ends. If he was imperious and, sometimes, 
 cruel, we shall find that he was forced into it, by 
 the peculiarity of his situation. With all his en- 
 dowments as a warrior, and with all his love of 
 show, his wars were generally just, and his treaties 
 with foreign countries faithfully kept, for the honor 
 of his Country. He was eminently the instrument 
 of Providence, and endued with great zeal ; which 
 by the infirmity of human nature was defaced with 
 striking defects. But I need not enlarge, the his- 
 tory I have written, is the record of his character. 
 The great event of his reign, was the establish- 
 ment of POLITICAL Protestantism, of which he 
 must be considered the founder. 
 Church of But the rcligious or doctrinal parts of the Re- 
 
 pj^f"^'"'"^- formation, were delayed, from the inflexibility of 
 the King, and his determination not to open the 
 door to what was esteemed, heresy ; and, from the 
 intolerance and ignorance of the Parliament. The 
 King too, was afraid to bring a reproach upon his 
 Supremacy, and thus afford a ground for triumph 
 to the Eomish party. But it was well. It served 
 to check that precipitancy, which too often attends 
 great changes, if they become popular ; and was 
 intended, we may hope, to preserve the Church 
 of England as an exemplar church in Christen- 
 dom. It was evident to the humblest capacity, 
 
 t 
 
 .. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 405 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 that Henry and his Parliament, were incapable SECTION 
 of conducting the Reformation beyond the limits III. 
 which it had attained, at the time of his removal ; 
 and other instruments, better adapted to its further 
 progress, were about to be called into action. 
 
 Vigorous efforts had been made in the body pol- 
 itic, for its future extension and prosperity. Du- 
 ring this reign, the Constitution had been far from 
 slumbering : *the feudal system, Avhich had been 
 broken down by the civil wars, into fitting mate- 
 rials for the foundation of a flourishing republic, 
 had received their direction through the wise policy 
 of Henry VII, and under the sway of Henry VIII, 
 became entirely subject to the Sovereign authority. 
 It was necessary, before the Constitution could be 
 consolidated, that the chief power should become 
 permanent, and free from all control, except that 
 of Law. The nobility at this period, shorn of their 
 feudal power were left defenceless, and at the 
 mercy of the Monarch ; whilst the commons un- 
 supported by their ancient and natural leaders, 
 were utterly unable to wield the power which had 
 been placed at their command. 
 
 Had a powerful Aristocracy existed at this time, _^ _ 
 
 acting under legal forms, it would have been im- ^^ '° *^^ ^«'S" 
 possible to have accomplished the changes which ° ^"^' * 
 took place during this reign. They were carried 
 by the kingly power, aided and sanctioned by the 
 good common-sense of the lower House, who pla- 
 ced no opposition in the way of transactions which 
 
 Began to ral- 
 
406 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 !; 
 
 SECTION concurred with their own wishes. It is true, if 
 M'« the Aristocratic power had possessed its legitimate 
 authority, the Sovereign power would not have 
 been able to have acted independent of law, and 
 committed so many acts of tyranny and oppression. 
 The elements of goverment were acquiring a new 
 form and character ; and time and experience were 
 wanting, to consolidate them. In order to this, 
 they were to pass through periods oftrial and pur- 
 gation. But every rank in the state was awaken- 
 ing to new energy, from the long night of igno- 
 rance. Learning began to revive, and the great- 
 est men of the age thought it no degradation, to 
 give their aid in preparing the rudiments of edu- 
 cation. Henry VIII, with a versatility of talent 
 for which he was remarkable, wrote an introduc- 
 tion to grammar ; and Wolsey, besides writing an 
 introduction to Lilly's grammar, drew up a system 
 of instructions to be used in the school which he 
 founded at Ipswich. 
 
 The celebrated Erasmus found great encourage- 
 ment, he was patronized not only by the King and 
 his Ministers, but by the Nobility and Gentry in 
 general. The foundations w^ere laid deep and 
 broad, and adapted to receive the superstructure, 
 which has since been raised upon it. The boun- 
 daries of commerce were enlarged, and what was 
 of more consequence to the state, the English 
 began to apply themselves to the arts of industry 
 and trade. Hitherto, these mechanical and fine 
 
 Erasmus 
 comes into 
 England. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 407 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 arts, had been carried on in England by foreigners, SECTION 
 of whom, by an order in council, fifteen thousand in. 
 were obliged to leave the MetropoHs at one time ; 
 Improvements also, were introduced in gardening 
 aad agriculture, and the whole nation appeared to 
 roise itself to vigorous and successful exertion, 
 wKch is now to be taken up under new auspi- 
 ces, and to be conducted to new achievements. 
 
 f 
 
 ■4i 
 
1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 409 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 EDWARD VI ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGIOUS PEOTES- 
 
 TANTISM. 
 
 ward VI. 
 
 F i * 
 
 SECTION The son of Henry VIII, who was destined to 
 HI. fill the high station which had just been vacated, 
 ^i^;-^ was only nine years of age, when he was crowned 
 Reign of Ed by the name of Edward VI. But he was endued 
 A. D. 1547. ^^^^ extraordinary qualifications ; and though so 
 young, he was one of the most remarkable Kings 
 that ever graced the English throne : and it is ob- 
 servable, that the influence of his character, aided 
 by circumstances, produced more signal and effi- 
 cient changes for his country, than any Monarch 
 that ever swayed the British Sceptre. He mani- 
 fested early indications of a superior understanding, 
 of high integrity, and supreme veneration for Reli- 
 gion. He was endued with a quick apprehension 
 and great desire for learning ; and was so profi- 
 cient in the Languages, that at eight years of age 
 
 \ 
 
 f\ 
 
 If 
 
 Chap. HL 
 
 he was in the habit of writing letters in latin, to SECTION 
 the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury. At HI. 
 six years of age, he had been placed by his father 
 under two of the most celebrated scholars of their 
 day ; Doctor Cox, as his preceptor in Philosophy, 
 Morality and Divinity ; and Mr. Cheke, as his 
 tutor in Language and Mathematics. Under their 
 wise management, with the assistance of his God- 
 father, Archbishop Cranmer, his rapidly expand- 
 ing mind, was trained in the exercise of just and 
 holy principles, drawn from the fountain of Eter- 
 nal Truth — the Bible itself Thus it was, that 
 at the age of nine years when he came to the 
 Throne, he appeared almost a miracle amongst 
 men, for the soundness of his judgement — the gen- 
 erosity of his sentiments — the enlightened vigour 
 of his mind, and the chastened fervor of his piety. 
 On his father s death, the young King was re- 
 ceived by the Council, in the Council-chamber at 
 the Tower, with great respect. The late King's 
 will was read, which was drawn up with that 
 wisdom and sagacity, for which he was so remark- 
 able. Sixteen of the most noble and eminent per- 
 sons in the kingdom, were appointed with equal 
 powers, as executors of his Will, and to act as a 
 Council of Regency to his son, till he should at- 
 tain the age of eighteen. But unfortunately, this 
 disposition of affairs was departed from, through 
 the foolish ambition of the Earl of Hertford, uncle 
 to the King, who prevailed upon the majority of 
 
410 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 !*l 
 
 SECTION the Council, to give him a pre-eminence, and con- 
 c„!l^„ ^'' "P^^ ^™ ^^^ ^itle of Protector of the realm, 
 .^^-v-^ He was a person of many virtues, enlightened 
 principles and unaffected piety.— But he was too 
 much exposed, through a candid and easy disposi- 
 tion, to the artifices of the designing; and his un- 
 due elevation, laid the foundation of many troubles 
 to himself and others. From the first moment, a 
 party in opposition, was formed in the Council, 
 at the head of which, was the Lord Chancellor 
 Wriothesley, 
 
 uoT ''"''"'• To grace the solemnity of the coronation, seve- 
 ral titles of honor were conferred upon the chief 
 nobility. These it will be necessary to mention, 
 in order to introduce to the reader, the names of 
 those persons, who are to be the most distin- 
 guished actors in this reign. The Protector was 
 made Duke of^merset ; the Earl of Essex, Mar- 
 quis of Northampton ; Lord Lisle was created Earl 
 of Warwick; Wriothesley Lord Chancellor, Earl 
 of Southampton ; and Seymour, Rich, WiUough- 
 by and Shefliield, were made Baron's. We are as- 
 sured that during the ceremony, this youthful 
 Sovereign when he was presented with the three 
 swords, as King of England, France and Ireland, 
 with a nobleness of mind, which was only equal- 
 led by its simplicity, SELid— Another sword is yet 
 wanting, the Holy Bihle~the sword of the Spirit, 
 without which, they could all do nothing. This de- 
 claration was a presage of the great and mighty 
 
 411 
 
 work to be achieved during this reign, and of the in- SECTION 
 strument through which it was to be accomplished. HI. 
 Whilst the elevation of the Duke of Somerset, was ,^^iti^>il[;, 
 productive of various private and public evils, that 
 will speedily unfold themselves, yet it was over- 
 ruled, and proved favourable to the Reformation. 
 
 The Duke of Somerset gave all his influence to cranmer's 
 Cranmer, who was now left unshackled, to pursue auaiiOcations. 
 the great w^ork which he had at heart. He had 
 hitherto waited upon the Reformation, and had 
 effected little more, than securing the outworks of 
 the citadel of Religious Liberty. But he had been 
 waiting and learning in the school of trial and ex- 
 perience ; and by unwearied application and re- 
 search, he had acquired vast stores of knowledge 
 human and divine, which were now about to be 
 dedicated, with singular wisdom and moderation, 
 to fulfil the beneficent purposes of God towards this 
 favoured land. Never was an instrument more 
 eminently fitted for such a stupendous w^ork. He 
 was endued with every virtue, which moralists 
 have enumerated, and every grace which divines 
 have applauded. He was patient, gentle, perse- 
 vering, and courageous. His integrity, sincerity, 
 and fidelity, were unimpeachable. He was a 
 faithful friend, a zealous servant, and an indulgent 
 master. He was charitable, generous, and forgiv- 
 ing. In a word, he was humble ; never haughty, 
 never abject. He never courted those in prosper- 
 ity, nor forsook a friend in adversity. In real learn- 
 
«r 
 
 412 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 413 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 His infirmi 
 ties* 
 
 SECTIOxN ing and acquirement he was the most solid man of 
 ni. his day, or, perhaps of any day, before, or since.— 
 Henry VIII, with his usual penetrating judgment, 
 contrasted him with Cardinal Wolsey, in a just 
 and striking manner.—" The one," he used to say, 
 " lost his friends by his pride and ostentatiousness ; 
 the other, gained his enemies by his humility and 
 mildness. " 
 
 Yet Archbishop Cranmer was but man, as the 
 sequel of this history will painfully illustrate. 
 Whilst therefore as Englishmen, we hold him 
 high in admiration, as, perhaps, the greatest bene- 
 factor, England ever had ; we must learn by his 
 infirmities, to look beyond the instrunent, to the 
 HAND that fashioned and prepared him for the 
 unparalleled work. 
 
 Every thing was now ready for the action of 
 this Eeign : But before we enter upon the gen- 
 eral affairs of the kingdom, it will be necessary to 
 afford the reader a brief view of the posture of 
 affairs in Europe at this juncture ; and to intro- 
 duce to his notice, the great leaders of the histori- 
 cal epoch. Charles V. the Emperor, was yet in 
 the height of his prosperity ; and was, at this time, 
 by his consummate policy, endeavouring to divide 
 the Lutheran Princes of Germany, for the pur- 
 pose of destroying the Reformation. Francis, the 
 King of France, is said never to have looked up 
 after the death of Henry VIII ; and in the short 
 space of three months, followed him to the grave. 
 
 State of Eu 
 rope. 
 
 Chap. IIL 
 
 War with 
 
 He was succeeded by his son, Henry II. The SECTION 
 Pope, Paul, like all his predecessors, was engaged III. 
 in dissimulation and intrigue ; endeavouring by 
 the alternate use of his temporal and spiritual 
 power, to thwart and overreach the Emperor. 
 England was appealed to, by the Duke of Saxony, 
 and the other Princes of Germany. But in the 
 present nascent state of affairs, nothing could be 
 done but to offer a pecuniary aid. 
 
 The war against Scotland, which had been 
 entered into by Henry, for their breach of contract, ^^°^^*°^- 
 respecting the marriage of his son with the Prin- 
 cess Mary, had never been settled ; and the Scots 
 emboldened by the death of Henry, and haughty, 
 from their alliance with the French, had made 
 frequent incursions into England. The Protector 
 however, with great prudence and moderation, en- 
 deavoured to persuade them, to agree to the marri- 
 age, and to refrain from war. But in vain. The 
 more he attempted to reason with them, the more 
 insolent they became, and the more determined 
 to persevere in their invasions of the English bor- 
 ders. At length he put himself at the head of an 
 army of eighteen thousand men, and marched for 
 Scotland. In ten days he came in sight of the 
 Scotch army, thirty thousand strong, drawn up 
 near Musselburgh. With singular moderation, the 
 Protector still endeavoured to negotiate. To the 
 most reasonable and favorable terms, they would 
 not condescend an answer ; but sent him an im- 
 
414 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPFIY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 415 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 .ii< 
 
 SECTION pertinent message. Alas! they were verifying 
 J II. the truth of that Divine Oracle : — " Pride goeth 
 before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a 
 fall." An engagement ensued, in which the Scots 
 were routed with dreadful slaughter: more than 
 ten thousand men being left dead in the field ; 
 and, what makes this victory more signal, is the 
 almost, incredible fact, that the English lost only 
 sixty men ! and there can be no doubt, that if the 
 Protector had followed up his success, he might 
 have dictated his own terms ; and the great Eliz- 
 abeth, after all, would have become the wife of the 
 Earl of Arran ! But the simple news from Court 
 that his Brother, was acting an .unusual part. 
 
 Extravagant hastened his return. This was Thomas, Lord 
 
 rora'almL?' ^'^^y"^^^^' ^^^^ High Admiral, a man of aspiring 
 thoughts, violent and impetuous in temper, pre- 
 sumptuous and arrogant in his manners, and 
 obstinate and revengeful in his disposition. This 
 man, elated with the exaltation of his family, pre- 
 sumed to solicit the hand of the Princess Elizabeth ; 
 but finding no encouragement in that quarter, he 
 formed the design of marrying the widow of Henry 
 VIII, Queen Catharine Parr, in w^hich, he, at last, 
 succeeded. Still more elated, he became extra- 
 vagant in his pretensions to power. His Brother, 
 the Protector, was mild and forbearing towards 
 him, but at length — for the detail is unconnected 
 with English History, he -was condemned and 
 executed for High Treason. 
 
 # 
 
 The great work of Reformation proceeded : The SECTION 
 Archbishop whose efforts had been restrained III. 
 during the last reign, favoured by the young King, ,^^^!^^\J^ 
 the Protector, and the majority of the Council, Homiiios 
 lost no time in carrying out the principles which p"^^''^^- 
 had been established. Under their sanction, a the Lord'i'sVp" 
 commission was issued for a general visitation of ^^' '^^""^^^ *^ 
 the churches. When this Commission arrived in '^ ^"^ *^^ 
 the dioceses of Gardiner and Bonner, they refused 
 submission to its authority ; and were imprisoned 
 for a short time. An English Bible was ordered 
 to be kept in every Church ; and to supply the 
 deficiency of well-instructed teachers, the twelve 
 first Homilies were now published. The same 
 subject engaged the attention of Parliament. 
 Many of the arbitrary and unconstitutional acts 
 which had been passed, during the last reign, 
 were rescinded — such as giving the authority of 
 law to the King's Proclamation, and the statute of 
 the sia^ articles. It was established also as unlaw- 
 ful to prohibit the laity; from communicating in 
 both kinds : and the revenues of the chantries 
 were granted to the King. 
 
 Whilst things were thus progressing in Eng- 
 land, the Reformation in Germany was nearly ex- 
 tinguished, by the power and artifice of the Em- 
 peror ; and many eminent Reformers of the Con- 
 tinent, took refuge in England; amongst whom, 
 were Peter Martyr, Bucer, and Fagius. These 
 eminent persons were hospitably entertained by 
 
 1^ 
 
416 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ill! 
 
 i. 
 
 SECTION Cranmer, and afterwards honorably employed in 
 
 11^' the Universities. 
 
 v^^^-^;^-^ Many foolish and absurd practices such as car- 
 
 Eucharisticai rying caudlcs on Candlemas day, ashes on Ash- 
 service. Book ^^j 11 IT -TV 1 oi 
 
 of Common VVcdnesday, and palms on Palm Sunday were for- 
 Prayer. bidden. By a general order, all images, some of 
 
 which were of the grossest character, were re- 
 moved out of the Churches, and Auricular Con- 
 fession was abolished. 
 
 Whilst the greatest activity prevailed, wisdom 
 and prudence presided in the councils of the Ref- 
 ormation. Nothing was innovated for the sake 
 of change. The primitive usages of the Church 
 were brought under examination, and delivered 
 from the inventions and superstitions of later ages, 
 and it was this steady resolution of our Reformers 
 adhering to the primitive model, which has given 
 to the English Reformation such a peculiar solid- 
 ity and consistency with Truth. Eighteen Bish- 
 ops, and many Divines were employed to examine 
 into the Eucharistical service ; and such was the 
 diligence and research with which they pursued 
 their inquiry, that their labours were crowned 
 with great success, and the Communion Ser- 
 vice was restored, nearly to its present primitive 
 form ; whilst the whole Liturgy which came next 
 under their review, happily resulted in the ''Book 
 of Common Prayer" nearly in its present state. 
 Origin of the It has bccu, iudccd, a matter of astonishment 
 
 English Litiir- 
 
 gy. to all who have considered the admirable form of 
 
 ^11 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 417 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 our National Church, that a w^ork so near perfec- SECTION 
 tion, could have been produced at such a time and HI. 
 under such circumstances; and some have not 
 scrupled to affirm, that its framers, if not inspired, 
 must have been under a peculiar and Divine super- 
 intendence. But without having recourse to any 
 miraculous interference to account for the majesty, 
 simplicity, and purity of such a work, it will be 
 sufficient to observe, that its Compilers did not 
 invent nor innovate : they had recourse to the an- 
 cient Christian records — not the Records of the 
 Roman Catholic Church — but the Catholic Church 
 as it existed long before the usurpations of the 
 Bishop of Rome. This, and this alone, accounts 
 for the extraordinary character of the English Li- 
 turgy. The Reformers, exercising a sound and 
 enlightened judgment upon these ancient writings, 
 produced a work, which at this day, is the delight 
 and solace of millions ; and as a religious formu- 
 lary, stands next to the Bible, in the general es- 
 teem of mankind. 
 
 Nor must this searching into antiquity be con- 
 founded with " the traditionary unwritten verities" 
 for which authority is claimed by the Church of 
 Rome. Nor must it be imagined that any thing 
 was rejected, merely because it had been handed 
 down in the written records of the Roman Church. 
 By no means. The Reformers consulted all the 
 ancient Liturgies and Records ; but they had also 
 
 E E 
 
 '-^SSSi^L 
 
■¥ 
 
 418 
 
 V 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. 1H. 
 
 Heretical 
 i^ects. 
 A. D. 1549 
 
 SECTION "a more sure word of Prophecy/'* in the shining 
 I"- lamp of Truth itself. To its all-discerning, all- 
 correcting influence, they exposed these human 
 records. Hence they were enabled to detect their 
 errors, and to rectify their mistakes. Indeed, it 
 has been ascertained, by actual investigation, that 
 three fourths of the English Prayer Book are ex- 
 pressed in the language of Scripture.f 
 
 But this bright day of the Eeformation was dar- 
 kened by a passing cloud, which, in some measure, 
 eclipsed its glory and tarnished the reputation of 
 its promoters. At the period under review, un- 
 known sects sprung up in Christendom; and 
 strange opinions were promulgated by men of 
 ardent dispositions and inquiring minds. It would 
 indeed have been strange had it been otherwise, 
 and utterly inconsistent with the acknowledged 
 principles of human nature. It was necessary to 
 expect, that when the human mind delivered from 
 the bondage of centuries, began to exert its ener- 
 gies, it should entirely reject the authority of its 
 ancient instructor, whom it had found to be the De- 
 mon of oppression. Such was the result. Men of 
 " corrupt minds and destitute of the truth," plung- 
 ed into every species of error. Perhaps the worst 
 of these sects were the Anabaptists of Germany, 
 who not only denied the authority of Infant bapi • 
 tism, but impugned the doctrine of the Trinity, 
 
 * II Pet. i. 19. 
 
 t British Reformation, Note p. 12. 
 
 
 <<i 
 
 J 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 419 
 
 and entertained infamous notions on the subject SECTION 
 of morals. The Gospellers, also were another ^I^- 
 similar sect, who entertained hideous notions of the ^^^^v^nI^ 
 character of God, as the author of evil. Many of 
 these had found their way into England. A com- 
 mission was appointed to examine these enthusi- 
 asts, and they were generally reclaimed by reason- 
 ing and instruction, from their absurdities and 
 impieties. 
 
 But there was one unfortunate woman of the Joan Bocher. 
 name of Joan Bocher, a wild fanatic, who denied 
 the Incarnation of Christ, and so vain was she of 
 her notions, and so resolute in maintaining them, 
 that she scorned all attempts to instruct her. She 
 was summoned before the council, and condemned 
 in the absence of Archbishop Cranmer, as an ob- 
 stinate blasphemer, and delivered over to the 
 secular power, for punishment. But the young 
 King with a firmness and wisdom above his years, 
 could not perceive that it was consistent with 
 justice or humanity, to deliver up to death an 
 unfortunate being, whose wild ravings, pointed 
 her out as a fitting inmate for an asylum. The 
 council employed Archbishop Cranmer to obtain 
 from the King, the execution of their sentence. 
 Cranmer represented to the King, that in punish- 
 ing this woman they were not acting after the 
 example of the Romanists, who punished men for 
 not believing their traditions, however wicked, 
 and unreasonable — but that he, as God's vice- 
 
 
 ) 
 
 ik0i 
 
420 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 Advantage of 
 
 SECTION gerent, was bound to punish all open blasphemy, 
 ni. against the plain, fundamental and acknowledged 
 doctrines of Holy Writ. The King it is said, was 
 silenced, but not satisfied, and with tears, he sign- 
 ed the warrant for her execution, adding at the 
 same time, " That since he resigned himself to his 
 judgment, if he sinned, it should lie at his door,''* 
 It ought to be observed, that every effort was 
 made for twelve months, by the Archbishop and 
 many others, to recal this wretched W'Oman to a 
 right judgment, but in vain ; she grew more inso- 
 lent ; and at length, died at the stake, making use 
 of indecent jeers and reproaches. 
 
 In this matter the young King was more en- 
 
 eariy instruc ]ig,]^tened than his w^isest counsellors. He had 
 
 tionin theHoly ~ 
 
 Scriptures. bccu cducatcd in a better school. The pure prin- 
 ciples of Christianity were laid, at the commence- 
 ment, as the foundation of his judgment. It is 
 true, as alleged by Archbishop Cranmer, that the 
 Law of God, by Moses, does grant authority to put 
 open blasphemers to death, and we may, therefore, 
 conclude that such a punishment is a just reward 
 for their crime ; but the author of Christianity 
 who established the law on "better promises," 
 so far from giving his sanction to that part of the 
 old dispensation, has excluded it, as well by many 
 declarations, as by the whole tenor and spirit of 
 the gospel. 
 
 ♦ Echard. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 421 
 
 
 b 
 
 / 
 
 i'. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 But this was not the only solitary instance in SECTION 
 which our reformers offended in punishing bias- HI. 
 phemy with death. There was one other case, 
 that of a Dutchman, George Van Parre, who de- J^eath is the 
 nied the Divinity of Jesus Christ, He was a ^^^^ \utt1^e 
 person of unblemished character, and suffered with author of 
 ffreat composure. His blasphemy, and that Qf ^^^"^^'^"^^y» 
 
 ^ i- X ,/ (Iocs not enjoiu 
 
 Joan Bocher were of equal turpitude ; and under it. 
 the Jewish dispensation, would have been justly 
 visited by death, because the judges, under that 
 dispensation, acted by a direct prescript from Him 
 who is the Arbiter of life and death ; but our 
 Reformers in carrying this practice into execution 
 under the Christian dispensation, acted without 
 warrant, and were guilty of invading the Divine 
 prerogative. But we do not presumptously con- 
 demn them. Far from it. When their situation 
 is considered, their forbearance and gentleness, 
 and their conscientious regard to principle, were 
 admirable ; and we never find them imagining the 
 death of an individual for simple speculative opin- 
 ions, which had not in them, the character of 
 blasphemy. This appears to have been their dis- 
 tinction, and affords no handle w^hatever to the 
 persecutions of Popery. But it must also be 
 remembered that Religious Protestantism was 
 not yet fully developed, nor established — that it 
 was still as it were in its infancy, and that this 
 distinction, strong as it might appear to them, has 
 long since been blotted out from the Statute Book 
 of Protestantism. 
 
422 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION During the important transactions which had 
 in. carried forward the Reformation with such rapidity. 
 Chap III. -^^ encmics were not idle. The laity, who had 
 gained possession of the Church lands, on condi- 
 tion of paying annuities to its former possessors, 
 used their influence, to obtain for the disbanded 
 IMonks, preferment in the Church, for which they 
 w^ere eminently unfitted. They became so many 
 firebrands in the villages and retired parts of the 
 country ; whilst the emissaries of the Pope, w^ere 
 scattering sedition throughout the land. The peo- 
 ple roused by these efforts, at length broke out 
 into open rebellion, which for nearly a tw^elve- 
 month filled the country with rapine, confusion, 
 and bloodshed. Devonshire, Norfolk, and York- 
 conduct of the sJiire, were the principal scenes of these disturb- 
 ances, but by the singular prudence and temper 
 of the Protector, tranquillity w^as at length res- 
 tored. It w^ould not forward our undertaking to 
 enter into a detail of these violent transactions. — 
 The demands of the rebels w^ere most exorbitant, 
 and serve to shew how easily the people are roused 
 by designing men, who appeal to their passions, 
 to demand changes, which, in the end, would be 
 destructive to their own w^elfare and the prosperity 
 of their country. They demanded that the old 
 service and ceremonies should be restored — the 
 act of the six articles enforced — the English Bible 
 be called in, and the doctrine of Purgatory be re- 
 established ! 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 423 
 
 The good 
 
 ■<ij 
 
 But another thing arose out of these Rebellions SECTION 
 connected with the progress of the national His- WI« 
 tory — the advancement of the Earl of Warwick, ^x'v'^J 
 to reputation. He had accompanied the Protector Rise of the 
 in the Scotch war, and obtained a great share in ^'.^j. ° 
 the honor of the victory of Musselburgh. He was 
 now employed in the suppression of the rebellions, 
 and by his courage and superior conduct, brought 
 them to a happy termination. Ambition had en- 
 tered into his soul, from the first. — It had been 
 nurtured by the open and generous temper of the 
 Protector, and encouraged by his subsequent suc- 
 cess. He was the son of the Dudley, who had been 
 executed with Empson, in the commencement of 
 the last reign, and was a person of great abilities 
 and noble qualities ; but his understanding, hu- 
 manity, and generosity, were sacrificed at the 
 altar of insatiate ambition. At this unholy shrine 
 all the vices found admission ; and dissimulation 
 and artifice, expelled morality and religion from 
 his breast. Thus he stood a moral wreck within, 
 but dazzling with external splendor, and destined 
 to act a conspicuous part in the History of his 
 Country. 
 
 There was another evil spirit, united with him conspiracy 
 in council, who was ready for any wicked design, ^?ainst the 
 
 / J ./ o ' Protector. 
 
 which might have a tendency to restore the Ro- 
 mish Supremacy. This was Wriothesley, who 
 had been Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII, and 
 had been created Earl of Southampton at the cor- 
 
 w 
 
 v 
 
424 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION onation of Edward VI. This man, who was of a 
 Cb*.',,,. "°J'"* ^""^ determined spirit, had sold himself, 
 body and soul, to the cause of Popery, and in the 
 hope of securing his object, combined with the 
 Earl of Warwick and other members of the Coun- 
 cil, to effect the destruction of the Protector. It 
 would be useless to follow the details of their plot 
 They prevented the Protector from making peace 
 with France and Scotland, which would have res- 
 tored stability to the English affairs. Their coun- 
 try, their honor, were forgotten ; and after many 
 intrigues and much difficulty, they accomplished 
 their purpose, and he was committed to the Tower. 
 Yet they could produce nothing against him, that 
 was worthy of death. He was deprived of all his 
 offices, laid under a severe fine, and after a few 
 months, discharged from prison. This was suffi- 
 cient for the present, and placed the Earis of 
 Southampton and Warwick, at the helm of the 
 State. It was now fully expected both by the Pa- 
 pists abroad and at home, that their affairs would 
 be restored. But the Earl of Warwick finding 
 the young King peremptorily opposed to any at- 
 tempt of that kind, and perceiving that nothing 
 would sooner establish him in the King's favour 
 than zeal for the Reformation, he forsook the Po- 
 pish party, and affected to be a great promoter of 
 the Reformation. Lord Southampton, stung with 
 rage and disappointment, retired from Court, and 
 went and poisoned himself Arundel, who was 
 
 "A 
 
 425 
 
 'i 
 
 \ 
 
 k 
 
 ) 
 
 another of the Earl of Warwick's associates, was SECTION 
 shortly after fined in a very large sum for embez- HL 
 zlement ; and the third. Sir Richard Southwell, ^^^^^^y%^ 
 imprisoned for seditious practices. 
 
 The important business of this reign, received Reformation 
 no check from this change of masters in the ""^t*^ ^^^ f^^^ 
 
 *-• of V> arwick- 
 
 King's Council Chamber. The Reformation a.d 1550. 
 advanced, and that great work the " Ordination 
 Service" was given to the Church — a work of 
 extraordinary merit, and which must be classed 
 amongst the first of uninspired compositions. At 
 the same time Ridley, one of the most learned and 
 zealous Prelates of his day, was appointed Bishop 
 of London, in the place of Bonner who had been 
 deprived. Hooper w^as made Bishop of Glouces- 
 ter, whose labours and bright example were of 
 great advantage to the awakening Church ; whilst 
 the admirable young King, now thirteen years of 
 age, displayed every virtue which can adorn the 
 human mind. His industry and abilities were 
 above his years. He kept a journal w ith his own 
 hand, of all the events of his reign. He drew up 
 a scheme for the improvement of the government ; 
 and composed a discourse, in French, against idol- 
 atry, which he dedicated to his uncle, the Pro- 
 tector. 
 
 The councils of the Reformers were conducted Temper of 
 with great moderation, which did not so much ^^^'^ Reformers. 
 arise from their perceiving the value and import- 
 ance of the doctrines they inculcated, as from 
 
\ 
 
 426 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION their sincerity in believing them. In the midst 
 ^I^' of all the opprobrium and vexation to which they 
 
 K^^^y"^^ were exposed^ Bonner and Gardiner, were the 
 only two persons of eminence, who felt the exer- 
 cise of their power. The violence and opposition 
 of these Prelates were such, that they could not 
 be restrained ; and in consequence, they were de- 
 prived of their bishopricks. But the Princess 
 Mary gave them the greatest uneasiness. Her 
 hatred to the Reformation was profound, and in 
 opposition to the law, mass was constantly said in 
 her chapel. This open breach of the law, was 
 the source of unmeasured grief to the King ; and 
 he feared, that by permitting its continuance, he 
 was giving his countenance to idolatry. The 
 King's council endeavoured to restrain her to its 
 private observance — ^but the Emperor Charles V. 
 still exercising an influence over English politics. 
 Designs of cucouraged her in her opposition. A remark- 
 
 t e mperor. ^^^^ project also was entertained of conveying her, 
 suddenly, to the Netherlands, at that time under 
 the government of Philip, who was afterwards 
 her husband. But this project, which if carried 
 into effect, would undoubtedly have excluded her 
 Signs of the from the throne, was not to be permitted. A 
 dreadful chastisement was even now impending 
 over our country ; and the selfishness and hypo- 
 crisy ; the licentiousness and folly ; the infidelity 
 and sectarianism, which prevailed, were to pass 
 through a bloody sea of purgation, before the 
 
 times. 
 
 Il 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 427 
 
 Almighty Buler, would permit a permanent state SECTION 
 of prosperity to be estabUshed. It is melancholy in. 
 to remark, that instead of the blessings of the , 
 Reformation, creating that gratitude which, they 
 so eminently demanded — ^instead of manifesting 
 that piety and disinterestedness which ought to 
 have been inspired — men discovered the most sel- 
 fish and mercenary views, thought more of the 
 plunder they could obtain, than of the more exalt- 
 ed blessings which were placed within their reach. 
 They rejoiced more in their exemption from the 
 superstitious inconveniences of Popery, than in 
 the possession of a purer creed, and more elevated 
 worship; and, thus, released from the hard re- 
 straints of their old religion — they rushed into the 
 contrary extreme. In a word, the nation was igno- 
 rant, sordid, infidel, and selfish ; and with a blind 
 and obstinate perverseness hated the light, and re- 
 jected with contempt, the offered boon of restored 
 Christianity. Was it possible, that such degraded 
 selfishness and wilful obstinacy, could escape the 
 avenging hand of the most high "? The Avenger, 
 indeed, was near ; and all attempts to avert the 
 threatened indignation were in vain. The young 
 King himself, would fain have done it ; and when 
 he continued to lament the obstinacy of the Prin- 
 cess Mary, and said, that he ought not to consent 
 to Idolatry, Cranmer, Bidley, and Poinet, were 
 deputed by the Council, to endeavour to reconcile 
 his mind. They argued. That though he ought 
 
428 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Designs of 
 Warwick. 
 A. D. 1551 
 
 SECTION not to consent to sin, yet he was not always obliged 
 W^' to punish it. The King burst into tears, and la- 
 mented his sister's obstinacy, and the hard circum- 
 stances of his situation, which obliged him to give 
 a tacit consent to such an impious mode of ivorship* 
 The aspiring mind of the Earl of Warwick, ever 
 watching its opportunity, seized hold of this dis- 
 position of the King, and attempted to turn it to 
 his own advantage. He perceived the extreme 
 dislike of the King to the Princess, whose bigotted 
 attachment to Popery, made him apprehensive in 
 the event of her succession, of all the evils which 
 afterwards occurred. 
 
 The mind of the ambitious Earl now aimed at 
 great things, and he indulged the prospect of se- 
 curing the succession of the Crown in his own 
 family. The Council, he knew, entertained the 
 same apprehensions as the King ; and he laid his 
 plan on the ground of the illegitimacy of the Prin- 
 cess Mary. If this were entertained as sufficient, 
 the Princess Elizabeth must be involved in the 
 same sentence, as her illegitimacy was confirmed 
 by a similar act of the Legislature. It was true, 
 indeed, that the succession had been secured by the 
 Will of King Henry VIII, in the Princesses Mary 
 and Elizabeth, — but he proposed that, that Will 
 should be counteracted by the Will of the present 
 King. And as Elizabeth would be more likely to 
 be an obstacle in the way than Mary, he proposed 
 
 * Echard. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 429 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 to marry her to the King of Denmark. The next SECTION 
 in succession was Lady Jane Grey, granddaughter IH. 
 to King Henry's sister Mary and Brandon, Duke 
 of Suffolk, and with her, he projected a marriage 
 with his youngest son Guilford, and he himself 
 was created Duke of Northumberland. 
 
 But the late Protector, the Duke of Somerset, circumvents 
 was in his way, and he lost no time in seeking \^^J^l "" 
 an opportunity to destroy him. He placed a spy 
 in his family, and from some unguarded expres- 
 sions of indignation, which this infamous person 
 had urged him to make against the Earl, he was 
 arrested for conspiring against the life of a privy 
 councillor, and for entertaining treasonable de- 
 signs. He was brought to trial and accused 
 further by the infamous informer, of a conspiracy, 
 to assassinate certain members of the council. 
 He was acquitted of the crime of treason, and 
 found guilty of felony, for expressing an intention 
 of imprisoning a Privy councillor. But the cir- 
 cumstances of the intended assassination were 
 aggravated to the King, who was struck with 
 horror at the thought of such heinous guilt, and 
 he delivered the Duke to the will of his enemies. 
 He was soon brought to the scaffold, and never 
 did an execution create such universal interest 
 and regret. The people, indeed, would have risen 
 to his rescue, had he not intreated them to submit 
 to the execution of the law. His end was not the 
 composure of the philosopher, but the patience 
 
 \ 
 
430 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and resignation of the advanced christian. The 
 I^'* hour of affliction had been to him a season of 
 improvement. In his address to the people, he 
 declared he had acted with sincerity, in all the 
 Keligious changes which had been effected during 
 his government ; and expressed his satisfaction in 
 having been instrumental in such a work. He ex- 
 horted them to live consistently with the doctrines 
 tvhich had been promulgated amongst them, other- 
 wise, he observed, they were to expect signal judg- 
 ments from Heaven. He continued his speech 
 for some time, with great presence of mind, and 
 taking leave of those around him, without the 
 least change of countenance, he undressed himself 
 for the block, and saying, " Lord Jesus, save me," 
 the executioner severed his head from his body. 
 
 Thus fell this excellent man and benefactor to 
 his country — a person of singular candour, genero- 
 sity, and piety — the friend of the poor and the 
 oppressed, and the promoter of justice. He was 
 not ambitious; but he had the weakness to be 
 vain of his exalted station and dignity, as Gover- 
 nor to the King, and Protector to the Realm. 
 The chief blot which rests upon his memory, is 
 the pulling down St. Mary's Church and the 
 houses of three Bishops, for the purpose of erect- 
 ing the magnificent building of Somerset house, 
 in the Strand. I am not his apologist; but I 
 cannot think such a man would be guilty of sacri- 
 lege ; and I must yet think that there was some- 
 
 Or ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 431 
 
 thing peculiar in the case, to which the histories SECTION 
 I have seen, do not afford a clue. Peace to the HI. 
 memory of the Duke of Somerset ! If Cran- ^^^^^v^O 
 mer was the Luther — he was the Duke of Saxony, 
 of England. Indeed, the Reformation seemed to 
 come to a close with the life of this nobleman ; 
 for the topstone of Religious Protestantism 
 was laid in the promulgation of the ever justly 
 celebrated XXXIX Articles of Religion.* 
 
 By the death of Somerset, the King was entirely Eariofwar- 
 thrown into the hands of Northumberland, and'^f X^T 
 
 A. D. iooZ. 
 
 he determined to make use of his power to secure 
 the purposes of his ambition, under the cloak of 
 regard for the Reformation. 
 
 He had concluded a peace with France; and 
 allied himself, by inter-marriages, with the most 
 powerful families in the kingdom ; and, as we 
 have seen, married his son to the Lady Jane Grey, 
 whom he had determined to raise to the throne. 
 His arrangements having been completed, and the 
 King's health beginning rapidly to decline, it was 
 not difficult to persuade him, from his extreme 
 desire of securing the stability of the Reformation, 
 to alter the succession which had been estabhshed 
 by the Will of his father, and confirmed by Act 
 of Parliament. The Judges were consulted, and 
 gave their opinion unanimously, against the le- 
 gality of any settlement they could draw up, with- 
 
 * Thev were in reality 42 at this time, but they were re- 
 duced to xxxix in the reign of Elizabeth. 
 
432 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION out the sanction of Parliament. The King remo- 
 III' ved their objection by promising to call a Parlia- 
 ment which should ratify the settlement. There 
 was still another difficulty. It had been made 
 Treason, to alter in this reign, the succession to 
 the Crown. This was overruled by obtaining the 
 King's pardon for what they should draw up. — 
 Hales, who w^as a zealous protestant, was the only 
 Judge who ultimately refused to act. Archbishop 
 Cranmer refused to consent, till he was personally 
 solicited by the young King ; and, assured by the 
 Judges, that he might legally subscribe it. Every 
 thing was now ready, and to complete his design, 
 he prevailed upon the King to command the pre- 
 sence of his sisters, to be a solace to him in his 
 sickness. The Princesses not having the slightest 
 idea of these changes, or of any alteration in the 
 succession, immediately obeyed the King's injunc- 
 tion, and commenced their journey. Had Mary 
 reached London before the King's death — she had 
 never ascended the throne of England ! But it 
 was ordered otherwise. — The Country was not so 
 easily to escape the avenging scourge prepared for 
 it, nor the Duke of Northumberland the retribu- 
 tion which his crimes deserved. 
 
 We have already remarked how little the spirit 
 
 peculations of of j-eiiorion actuatcd a vast number of those, who 
 
 the times. ^ ° 
 
 in appearance, were the most active promoters of 
 the "Reformation. During the King's decline, 
 when he was incapable of bestowing an accurate 
 
 Shameful 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 433 
 
 ^^: 
 
 ^^' 
 
 attention to business. In the hands of Northum- SECTION 
 berland, every thing became venal. The voracious HI- 
 Courtiers systematically assailed the Revenues of 
 the Church. A Court of lay-delegates was ap- 
 pointed, under whose sanction, great evils were 
 perpetrated. Even Bishops were deprived by 
 their authority : and in every See, as it fell vacant, 
 the best manors belonging to them, were seized 
 by such as had sufficient interest with the Court 
 to obtain the grant. The sons of the chief Nobility 
 and Gentry were frequently presented to Preben- 
 dal stalls, under the pretence of being enabled to 
 pursue their studies, preparatory to taking Holy 
 Orders. Northumberland himself, the foremost 
 Reformer, was the greatest plunderer. And one 
 circumstance connected with the sacrilegious rob- 
 bery of these times must be mentioned, not only 
 to shew the daring extent to which the Duke car- 
 ried his peculations, but, also, to illustrate the 
 Christian integrity of Archbishop Cranmer. The 
 Duke had a design of erecting a Principality in 
 the North, by the possession of which he intended 
 to exalt his family. Tonstal the Bishop of Dur- 
 ham, was at that time in confinement, under a 
 suspicion of treasonable practices. To forward 
 his scheme of aggrandisement, he fixed his eyes 
 upon the jurisdiction of the county Palatine, lodged 
 in that See ; and determined, at once, to annex it 
 to his Principality. For this purpose he resolved 
 to ruin the Bishop, and a Bill of Attainder was 
 
 F F 
 
 »^" 
 
434 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF Ex\GLISH HISTORY. 
 
 435 
 
 SECTION brought against him in the House of Lords. Ton- 
 stall, was a man of candour and moderation, but 
 
 Chap. III. ' ^ ' 
 
 v^x^v^v^ a strenuous opposer of the Reformation, Cranmer 
 however, with his characteristic love of truth and 
 justice, resolutely opposed the Attainder ; yet all 
 the Popish Lords and Bishops concurred with it : 
 but it was rejected in the Commons, and the 
 King's approaching dissolution put an end to the 
 design. 
 The Piety of The dccp Unfeigned piety of this young Prince, 
 
 the King. ^^^^ more strongly marked as he approached the 
 end of his brief, but illustrious career. During his 
 sickness. Bishop Ridley preached before him, on 
 the subject of Christian charity, and shewed under 
 what peculiar obligations, men of eminent station 
 w^ere, to exercise it. The King afterwards desired 
 the Bishop to sit dowm, and with a reverence for 
 his office, w^hich Popery never taught, desired the 
 holy man to be covered. He then resumed the 
 heads of his discourse ; and said, that he looked 
 upon himself in his station, to be principally con- 
 cerned in the exercise of the duty, and desired the 
 Bishop, as he had pointed out to him the duty 
 generally, so he would also direct him how to per- 
 form it in particular. The Bishop, it is said, was 
 so delighted and overcome with such noble and 
 generous indications of the Christian temper, that 
 he burst into tears of joy. We need not enlarge. 
 The result of this conference was the foundation 
 of three of the noblest institutions in the Country, 
 
 ■: 
 
 Saint Bartholomew's Hospital— the Bridewell and SECTION 
 Christ Church, Newgate Street — and the enlarge- HI. 
 ment of Saint Thomas's Hospital, Southwark. He J^;^^>ii[j 
 set his hand to these foundations on the twenty- Hisdeath, 
 sixth day of June. His time on earth was now 
 drawing to a close, and the few remaining days 
 of his life, were spent in solemn preparations for 
 death. His mind was wholly exercised in offering 
 up prayers and ejaculations ; and a few moments 
 before his dismissal, he was heard with great ear- 
 nestness to pray, that God to ivhom ke committed 
 his soul, would quicldy deliver him out of this mis- 
 erahle and sinful life. He then interceded fer- 
 vently for his subjects, and prayed that God would 
 preserve England from Popery, and maintain his 
 true Religion amongst the pcojyle. Immediately 
 the pangs of death fell upon him, and yielding up 
 his soul, he said to Sir Henry Sidney, who ten- 
 derly embraced him in his arms, " I am faint. " — 
 " Lord have mercy upon me and receive my spi- 
 rit. " Thus died the Josiah of England — anointed 
 by God to a high and transcending station, that 
 under his auspices, the Church of God, might be 
 delivered from the yoke of the oppressor and res- 
 tored to its primitive position as a Witness for the 
 Truth. 
 
 His mind and body were adjusted in the nicest His person 
 mould, and united with peculiar harmony. In his ^^^ character, 
 person he w^as straight and w^ell proportioned. — 
 He had great vivacity in his looks. — His eye was 
 
 
436 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION marked with peculiar lustre, and his aspect Avas 
 111- benign and princely. His mind was of a superior 
 order ; his attainments incomparable for his age : 
 his exactitude in arranging his studies, and storing 
 up his knowledge, surprising; whilst his judg- 
 ment was clear, and his perceptions just. His 
 Christian integrity, charity, and holiness were 
 unblemished. In short, he was the perfect model 
 of what a Christian Prince should be. He was 
 just and merciful, and attentive and compassionate 
 to the poor. His zeal for Religion w^as attended 
 w ith great moderation and temper ; actuated with 
 love to God, and extensive benevolence towards 
 man. The work of the reformation, which was 
 completed in his reign, partakes of this character; 
 and established the Church of England on a model, 
 nearer to the primitive Form and Government, 
 than w^as attained elsewhere at that eventful pe- 
 riod. This was the great event intended by the 
 Almighty Disposer of things, to be achieved in 
 this reign, and for which he prepared the most 
 fitting instruments. How little did Henry VIII, 
 contemplate the establishment of Religious Pro- 
 testantism under his son's administration, when 
 he appointed the Reverend Doctor Cox and Sir 
 John Cheke, as his tutors ! How little he con- 
 templated such an issue, when he formed the Coun- 
 cil that should take the Government of the king- 
 dom, during the minority of his son — the chief 
 person in which was Wriothesley, the Lord Chan- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 437 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Progress of 
 
 cellor, a violent and bitter opponent of the Refor- SECTION 
 
 mation ! We perceive how every thing was made HI. 
 
 to succeed this great enterprise — even the pride 
 
 and ambition of the unworthy Northumberland! 
 
 The hand of an overruling Providence, directed 
 
 every event through this short and turlmlent reign, 
 
 to determine towards the grand point. 
 
 Nor was this all : the whole body of the nation 
 received fresh impulses, wdiich were about to be ^^^"^ ^'^^lon. 
 brought into action. The poor w^ere patronised 
 and raised by the King and his Council. — It was 
 the prevailing policy under the administration of 
 the Duke of Somerset. The order of the Nobility 
 which had sunk too low, was strengthened and 
 invigorated. Trade and commerce were extended, 
 particularly by the abolition of the Charter which 
 had been granted to the Merchants of Antwerp, 
 and Hamburgh, whose agents were established as 
 a Corporation, in the Still Yard, London Bridge. 
 This society of foreigners, had monopolized almost 
 all the trade and energy of the Country, and ex- 
 ported forty times as much as all the English 
 merchants together. The abolition of this Com- 
 pany, gave the greatest possible impulse to the 
 English commerce. Nor must it be omitted as a 
 remarkable fact, that the first poor law, in 
 England was framed in this reign, by the house 
 of Lords. It was to be collected by the Church- 
 w^ardens, and its collection legally enforced by the 
 Bishop. 
 
MWM«C!IMR"*'M<SMl 
 
 438 
 
 SECTION 
 III. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 But the whole scene now changed, and with a 
 mournful hand w^e are about to pourtray the savage 
 bigotry— the ferocious cruelty— the furious intole- 
 rance which are inherent in human nature ; and 
 which only require a suitable opportunity to bring 
 them into action. Such an opportunity was now 
 afforded to the adherents of Popery, whose inflex- 
 ible attachment to their religion, and unceasing 
 efforts to support it, would demand our admiration, 
 did we not know that their zeal was founded in the 
 grossest ignorance of the first principles of Chris- 
 tianity, and is exercised to perpetrate the grossest 
 libel on its Divine Author. In asserting this, there 
 is no intention to convey an idea that Romanists are 
 worse than other men — that they are more cruel, 
 more vindictive, more intolerant. — But the system 
 in which they are educated and brought up, has a 
 direct tendency, when the occasion offers, of mak- 
 ing them the worst example of the worst passions 
 of man. On this ground, I consider the system 
 of Popery one of the greatest evils, that ever af- 
 flicted the human race. It is an outrage and blas- 
 phemy on the Character of God ; for it multiplies 
 and commits its impieties under the sanction of His 
 Holy religion. It is also the greatest outrage upon 
 human nature, for it covers him with moral turpi- 
 tude and disgrace, under the pretence of carrying 
 out the most sublime principle of his nature. It 
 has, in enforcing the unity of the Church by penal 
 Statutes, been the greatest enemy to the unity of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 439 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 the Church; because, when its usurpation was SECTION 
 removed as too intolerable to endure, it caused the III. 
 human mind to draw back with horror from a reli- ^"''''' "^• 
 gion so monstrous and offensive to humanity : But 
 it has still more effectually destroyed the unity of 
 the Church, as it has enforced by the most deadly 
 persecution, not only opposed to Scripture, and to 
 the general voice of the Church, but to reason ; so 
 that men have been led to conclude, that no con- 
 sistent and genuine standard of Christian verity 
 and discipline does exist, to which a rational and 
 confident appeal may be made. In short, the 
 system is not only unchristian, but inhuman. It 
 is the natural offspring of man's fallen and cor- 
 rupt nature, instigated by Satanic influence. It 
 can have no other origin. No individual human 
 being, could ever have contemplated such a com- 
 plex and vicious system. It has been generated 
 by degrees, through generations of time, and ga- 
 thered strength as it advanced from the depths of 
 moral corruption. 
 
 "The corruptions of the Romish Church" says 
 Doctor Whateley in his ' Errors of Romanism, ' 
 " crept in one by one, originating for the most 
 part, with an ignorant and depraved people ; but 
 connived at, cherished, consecrated, and success- 
 fully established, by a debased worldly minded 
 ministry ; and modified by them just so far, as 
 might best favour the views of their profligate 
 ambition. '* 
 
■ 1 ■ * 
 
 440 
 
 SECTION 
 
 III. 
 Chap. III. 
 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 But we must not enlarge. The following pages 
 will confirm what we have written respecting the 
 System of Popery, and will shew that it had its 
 commission, for a season, as the scourge of the 
 Almighty, to chastise and punish the sins of a 
 '' disobedient and gainsaying people ; " whilst, at 
 the same time, they will afford an awful exhibition 
 of the anti-Christian character of the Apostate 
 Church of Rome. 
 
 '' AND I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNKEN 
 WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, 
 AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MAR- 
 TYRS OF JESUS, AND WHEN I SAW HER 
 I WONDERED WITH GREAT ADMIRA- 
 TION ! *" 
 
 * Revelation, xvii. 6 
 
 t 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 f 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MARY I RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TOPERY FEARFUL 
 
 PERSECUTION OF THE PROTESTANTS. 
 
 Mary, justly surnamed the ^^ Bloody," on the death SECTION 
 of Edward VI. in obedience, as we have shewn, m. 
 to his wishes, was on her way to London, and v^^^^i^^I^ 
 within half a day's journey of that Metropolis, Mary sue 
 when she received a private communication from t^Ir Edward'"*' 
 the Earl of Arundel^ acquainting her with the a. d. 1553. 
 King's death and advising her to provide for her 
 personal safety. With that promptness, which 
 characterized her family, she resolved to hasten 
 into the county of Suffolk, where she recollected 
 XhQ people were peculiarly hostile to the Duke of 
 Northumberland, for the slaughters he had occasi- 
 oned in the late rebellions. She fixed her head 
 quarters at Framlingham Castle, which was a 
 place, not only of great strength, but situated near 
 the Sea, from whence, in case of failure, she 
 could easily escape to the Continent. 
 
 ^% 
 
442 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 443 
 
 SECTION 
 HL 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Queen Jane's 
 Proclamation. 
 
 At the same time she wrote to the Council, ap- 
 prising them that she was fully aware of the King s 
 death, and of their designs in favour of a rival 
 Candidate ; but that she was ready to pardon what 
 was past, if they would now return to a sense of 
 their duty and allegiance. This communication 
 convinced the Council that the King's death could 
 no longer be concealed ; and they hastened with- 
 out delay to proclaim Queen Jane, w^ho had been 
 nominated by the late King, as his successor ; but 
 the King s act had not been confirmed by Parlia- 
 ment, otherwise, her succession would have stood 
 on better grounds than that of Mary or Elizabeth. 
 With respect to the interesting individual, a wiser 
 choice could not have been made. She was a per- 
 son endowed with many excellencies, and adorned 
 with great accomplishments both of body and 
 mind. She was only sixteen years of age, but 
 possessed of wisdom and prudence far above her 
 years. When the deputation waited upon her with 
 the offer of the Crown, she steadily refused it, al- 
 leging that she would not invade the right of the 
 late King's sister. But at length, overcome by 
 the entreaties of her father and her husband, she 
 suffered herself to be proclaimed. 
 
 But the Proclamation was coldly responded to, 
 by the people. They affirmed that Parliament 
 had reposed in Henry YIII. the power of appoint- 
 ing the succession by testament ; but that this 
 prerogative did not descend to his heirs, unless 
 
 
 Chap. JV. 
 
 Queen Mary 
 at Framling- 
 
 empowered by the same authority. Besides, they SECTION 
 agreed, that if the succession of the King s sisters HL 
 was set aside on the ground of illegitimacy, why 
 was not the strict Law of Inheritance recognized 
 in the person of Mary Queen of Scots ? But the 
 chief aversion of the people to the succession of 
 the Lady Jane, arose from their hatred to North- 
 umberland, whose ambition they feared, and 
 whom they had never forgiven for his share in the 
 death of the Duke of Somerset, whose blood was 
 about to be required at his hands. 
 
 In the mean time, whilst the Council was thus 
 engaged in proclaiming Queen Jane, Mary, at ^^^ ^^^^^ 
 Framlingham Castle, had declared herself Queen 
 of England ; and directed letters to the Nobility, 
 Gentry, and official personages to join her stand- 
 ard. Many from the surrounding country resorted 
 to her ; but her affairs were most unpromising, 
 till a body of the Nobility and Gentry from Suf- 
 folk who were all attached to the Reformation, 
 waited upon her, and urged her to declare whether 
 she would alter the form of Religion which had 
 been established in the late King's reign. To 
 their application she gave a full and explicit an- 
 swer, attended wdth the most solemn assurances 
 — that she would make no mnovation or change 
 whatever, hut would he satisfied with the private 
 exercise of her own religion. The Gentlemen who 
 waited upon her, having received that promise, 
 were possessed with such a firm belief of her sin- 
 
444 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION cerity, that they hesitated not another moment, 
 I'l- to hazard their lives and fortunes in her cause. — 
 
 Chap IV" 
 
 K^^^^^^-^s^ The Earls of Bath and Sussex — the sons of Lord 
 AVharton and Mordaunt — and many others imme- 
 diately raised considerable forces, and with unsus- 
 pecting confidence, joined her standard. But to 
 their mortification, they v^ere about to receive a 
 severe and practical lesson of the treachery of 
 Popery ! 
 Duke of Nor. Nor was the Council of the Duke of Northum- 
 
 thumberland iit. ,. ^^ oi- i ^ 
 
 and the Coun- bcrland inactive. One of their number. Sir Ed- 
 "1- ward Hastings, was dispatched into Buckingham- 
 
 shire, to levy recruits: whilst Northumberland 
 at the head of eight thousand men, marched out 
 of London, intending at one blow to settle the 
 contending claims : But his courage and ability 
 were all in vain. A dark and gloomy cloud im- 
 pended over his head, and the avenger of blood, 
 seemed to attend him at every step. The silence 
 of the grave prevailed, as he passed through the 
 streets of the Metropolis. Not a cheer saluted 
 his ear : not a single blessing was invoked upon 
 his enterprize. 
 Every thing Evcry attempt to frustrate the accession of 
 favors Mary. Q^^^^^ jj^^.^ ^^^^ ^^ nothing, in the most extra- 
 ordinary manner ; and, as it were without human 
 intervention. 
 
 The Duke of Northumberland when he arrived 
 at Cambridge, where he expected to meet Sir 
 Edward Hastings, with his auxiliary forces, found 
 
 445 
 
 i 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 he had passed over to the Queen with four thous- SECTION 
 -and men. The naval force which had been sta- "I. 
 tioned on the coast, to intercept her flight, espoused 
 her cause. Many of the chief Nobihty followed 
 in their train. The Council itself felt the univer- 
 sal influence, and struck with fear, proclaimed 
 Mary at Saint Paul's Cross; and at last, the Duke 
 of Norlhumberland himself, smitten with the gen- 
 eral infatuation, proclaimed Mary at Cambridge, 
 and shouted ' Long live Queen Mary ! ' But it 
 delayed not his own fate ; next day he was arrest- 
 ed, and committed to the Tower, with three of his 
 sons, and the iniquitious Sir Thomas Palmer, who 
 was his perjured accomplice, in the murder of the 
 Duke of Somerset. 
 
 All opposition being at an end, the Queen made The Queen 
 her entry into London, with great pomp and so- ^"^''''^ i^ondon. 
 lemnity, and proceeded to the Tower. Her first 
 act was to set at liberty several eminent indivi- 
 duals, confined within its walls, amongst whom 
 was Gardiner, the Bishop of Worcester, a man, 
 who, through a series of years, had experienced 
 every change of human fortune. He, was now 
 destined to act a principal part in the government 
 of his country. He was endued with great quick- 
 ness of apprehension, and of insinuating manners. 
 Throughout the long reign of Henry VIII, he had 
 been constantly employed by the King, in the 
 most difficult State transactions of the period; 
 and had become deeply versed in all the arts of 
 
446 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION dissimulation, and political stratagem. He was 
 III- a respectable scholar, skilful in the Canon and 
 the Civil laws^ but no Theologian. His powers 
 and attainments of mind, were now to find ample 
 scope for their exercise. He was delivered from 
 confinement in the Tower, and created Lord High 
 Chancellor of England ; and the change he short- 
 ly effected, displayed the energy of his mind, the 
 boldness of his spirit — the sagacity of his move- 
 ments — the cruelty of his disposition ; or, rather, 
 exhibited the inherent cruelty of that religion 
 which urged him to the commission of barbarities 
 which have stigmatised his administration, with 
 the title '' of the Reign of Terror." 
 
 The Queen herself, from her earliest years, had 
 undoubtedly suffered much, from the circumstan- 
 ces of her Mother s divorce, and from her obsti- 
 nacy in adhering to the supremacy of the Pope, in 
 contradiction to the will of her imperious Father. 
 Under this persecution she had learnt to dissemble, 
 and throughout the reign of her brother, she dis- 
 covered a stern and conscientious adherence to the 
 principles of Popery, which, from the extent of the 
 innovations carried on under his rule, settled into 
 a kind of melancholy despair ; and from the mo- 
 ment she ascended the throne, she felt it to be 
 her most sacred duty, under the most awful sanc- 
 tions of her religion, to restore her country to its 
 former position with the Church of Rome. It is 
 not intended by this remark, to palliate the crimes 
 
 The Queen 
 and Popery. 
 
 '^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 447 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 of which she was afterwards guilty ; but to lay SECTION 
 opon the true cause of her actions. Her guilt in JH. 
 the light of the Supreme Being will be measured 
 by the opportunities she had of knowing better; 
 and by the obstinacy with which she adhered to 
 her old prejudices, when the light of Truth dis- 
 covered their inconsistency with reason, humanity 
 and the first principles of the Gospel of Christ.— 
 Nay, what appears most to perplex all enquiry 
 into her character is, that the best historians say, 
 that she was naturalhj, of a generous and obliging 
 temper ! But it matters not. She was faithless, 
 and cruel, and arbitrary in her zeal for her reli- 
 ^ gion, which has an inherent tendency to destroy 
 every just and virtuous sentiment of the human 
 heart ; and which, if she had been an angel, would 
 have produced the same effects in her character. 
 
 These are the two personages we are now to r r 
 
 r n • Ai 1 • "vy»* Lu Leading ac- 
 
 lollow m the history of our Country. The Queen t^'^'" the 
 was an uncompromising bigot, and thoroughly a """ 
 Romanist. Gardiner was a Political Protestant, 
 but a Religious Papist, and willing to give way to 
 his Mistress to the fullest extent of her wishes. 
 Yet it is a remarkable fact, that this very man, 
 who was signally an instrument in the hands of 
 God, for punishing a guilty nation, was also the in- 
 strument of rescuing it from becoming a Province 
 and dependency of Spain ! 
 
 The machinery of the State was now prepared The Duke of 
 to commence its operations. But before any thing ^^^^^^^- 
 
»mm 
 
 448 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION could be transacted for the development of the 
 "^- great designs of the reign— the Duke of Northum- 
 
 v^ii^!^C^ berland must suffer the penalty of his ambition 
 and many crimes. For the occasion of his trial, 
 the aged Duke of Norfolk was created Lord High 
 Steward. The reader will recollect that this No- 
 bleman with his son, was condemned to die, during 
 the reign of Henry VII, that his son was execu- 
 ted, and that he was rescued from the same fate, 
 by the death of the King, which happened a few 
 hours before the time appointed for his execution. 
 He had, since that time, been confined in the 
 Tower ; and Heaven now, in compassion to his 
 accumulated sufferings, or for some wise and be- 
 nevolent purpose, raised his head once more among 
 The Duke of his Peers. Before him was now arraigned the 
 
 Northumber- ^^^^ proud and ambitious Northumberland. His 
 
 land arraigned. ^^.^^ ^^^ bricf-His rcspite short. On the twenty 
 second of August, he was brought to the scaffold, 
 with his son and the Marquess of Northampton. 
 He declared that, he had always been of the Old 
 religion, and exhorted the people to stand by it to 
 the last. What a display of the hypocrisy of his 
 character ! But through all the transactions con- 
 nected with his death, it was abundantly manifest 
 that the blood of the Duke of Somerset was requi- 
 red of him. As he was led through the City, a 
 Lady held up before him a bloody handkerchief, 
 which had been dipped in the blood of that inno- 
 cent Nobleman, saying to him '' Behold the blood 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 449 
 
 of that worthy man, the great Uncle of that excel- SECTION 
 lent King, which shed by thy malicious hands, HI- 
 does now manifestly revenge itself upon thee. " v^^^^^^O 
 And afterwards, when his head was severed from 
 his body, it was on the same block on which the 
 Protector had suffered, and to complete the retri- 
 butory vengeance, his body was thrown into the 
 same grave and covered with the same stone. 
 
 Thus perished the Duke of Northumberland, 
 whose pride and ambition became formidable to 
 the State, but more so to himself; inasmuch as 
 they destroyed in his bosom every vestige of hu- 
 manity and religion, and brought him to an un- 
 timely and ignominious end. 
 
 The funeral rites of the late King were per- Funeral of 
 formed by Archbishop Cranmer with unfeigned ^^^^^ ^'^^^ J^^^' 
 sorrow, not only on account of the love he bore to of the Queen. 
 him and the Refonnation, but as considering his 
 death as the certain forerunner of his own. Yet the 
 Queen to pave the w^ay for her designs declared in 
 Council, that though she w^as herself firmly fixed 
 in her religion, yet she would not compel others to 
 the ejcercise of it, only as they should he moved by 
 the motions of God's Spirit, and the labours of faith- 
 ful preachers : Scarcely had these w^ords passed Preaching 
 her lips when a circumstance occurred, which dis- '°^^' '^"^^ ' 
 played her true intentions, and shewed that it was 
 but a covering of falsehood and deceit. The next 
 day Bonner, the Bishop of London, went to Saint 
 Paul's, when his Chaplain preached the sermon, 
 
 o G 
 
450 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH H18T0RY. 
 
 451 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION and took occasion to extol his Patron and to con- 
 
 in. demn the hardships he had suffered. The people 
 
 were indignant at this charge against the memory 
 
 of their late beloved King, and a riot ensued. 
 
 Stones were thrown at the preacher and a dagger 
 
 liurled with such violence, that it entered the side 
 
 of the pulpit. Rogers and Bradford two eminent 
 
 ministers greatly beloved by the people, interfered 
 
 and allayed the disorder. This event hurried the 
 
 measures of the Queen and her Chancellor. All 
 
 preaching was prohibited, except by those who 
 
 were licensed by Gardiner. Rogers and Bradford 
 
 on account of their influence with the people, were 
 
 imprisoned, and the work of persecution and death 
 
 now began in earnest. 
 
 By this arbitrary edict and the still more arbi- 
 trary authority given to the Lord Chancellor Gar- 
 diner, not only were the Protestant Clergy silenced, 
 but their Churches and pulpits were thrown open 
 to the advocates of Popery. Every thing began 
 to be carried with a high hand : the Queen felt 
 her power ; and no longer thought it necessary to 
 act under a mask. The Nobility and Gentry of 
 Suffolk, bv whose zeal and loyalty she had been 
 seated upon the throne, relying with confidence, 
 upon her solemn declarations, thought themselves 
 entitled not to obey these injunctions : but orders 
 were immediately sent to the Bishop of Norwich, 
 to enforce the regulations, and to take care that 
 none should preach without a special license. As- 
 
 Arbitrary 
 
 conduct. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 tonished at such a breach of faith, some of the SECTION 
 most influential persons who had been foremost in l^* 
 her cause, waited upon the Queen to remind her 
 of her promises. But she sent them an answer, 
 more imperious than her father would have used, 
 — That the members ought not to rule the head, but 
 they were to learn to obey, and not to govern. And 
 when one of the number, not satisfied with this 
 arbitrary answer, continued to insist upon the ful- 
 filment of her engagements ; he was condemned, 
 as pertinacious, to stand three hours in the pillory. 
 The Bishops of Exeter and Gloucester, Coverdale 
 and Hooper, for not acting up to the injunctions, 
 were imprisoned. Images were set up in many of 
 the Churches! and the old rites performed, by 
 order of the Government, contrary to the ex- 
 isting laws. That upright Judge, Hales, the only 
 one on the Bench who had not concurred in the 
 Letters Patent, for the exclusion of the Queen, 
 when he had on his circuit at Kent, charged the 
 Justices to see the Laws put into execution, on his 
 return w^as committed to the Marshalsea. Nor did 
 this satisfy their unrelenting bigotry. — He was 
 dragged from one prison to another, w^om out with 
 privations and hardship, and so terrified with un- 
 known apprehensions, that he lost his senses. He 
 was then set at liberty, but his insanity increased 
 and he perished miserably by drowning ! Had 
 this just and honorable man been burnt at the 
 stake, it would have been a merciful and honor- 
 
452 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION able dismissal for him, but to have his life and 
 I^*- senses drained from him by slow cruelty and tor- 
 ment, and thus degraded and despoiled of every 
 thing that distinguished him as a man, to be cast 
 forth a miserable spectacle to his fellows^ was a 
 martyrdom indeed! Whilst to mark more strongly, 
 the spirit which actuated this barbarity, one Brom- 
 ley who made no scruple in giving his name for the 
 Queen's exclusion, was preferred, because he pro- 
 fessed himself a Papist, to be Lord Chief Justice ! 
 At the same time Judge Montague who had yielded 
 with great reluctance to the Law-advisers of King 
 Edward, although he had sent his son, with a body 
 of men to declare for the Queen, and had a large 
 family of six sons and eleven daughters, was im- 
 prisoned and heavily fined. Perhaps it would be 
 impossible, in the records of any Country to find, 
 in so short a space of time, or under any Govern- 
 ment, at any period, such a display of perjury, 
 ingratitude, falsehood, and tyranny, as that con- 
 tained in this one paragraph. 
 
 Cranmer still escaped, but he was marked 
 out for peculiar vengeance. But it was a bold 
 and difficult task to assail so great a man, who by 
 his Christian deportment and the amiableness of his 
 disposition, had won the esteem and veneration of 
 all men. But nothing could deter the Queen from 
 seeking his life. He was cited before the Council 
 but set at liberty through the influence of Gardi- 
 ner ! who was jealous of Cardinal Pole whom the 
 
 Cranmer re- 
 fuses to fly. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 453 
 
 .1 
 
 Queen wished to recall and to place in the See of SECTION 
 Canterbury. The friends of Cranmer, who now Ill- 
 saw the gathering storm, advised him to fly ; but ^^^I^^^>^ 
 he steadily refused, saying — that he ivould 7iot dis- 
 suade others from flying in such a threatnlng storm, 
 hut that it was unbecoming a man in his station^ 
 who had been so deeply concerned in the changes 
 which had been made in the last reign. Fortunately 
 many obeyed the monitory voice in time, and fled. 
 An order was issued for strangers to leave the 
 kingdom, and more than a thousand Englishmen 
 escaped, before it was discovered and checked. — 
 Amongst these were Coxe, Sandys, Grindall and 
 Home, all destined to hold high places in the 
 Church in happier days. 
 
 But the Queen's desire for Cranmer's ruin could cranmer 
 not be stayed ; and by her command he was com- '"^P^^^oned. 
 mitted to prison in company with Bishop Latimer, 
 the most sincere and simple hearted of men. 
 
 To engage the minds of the people, and to call 
 away their thoughts from dwelling too much upon 
 the severity of her measures, she gave orders for 
 her coronation. She raised her friends to high 
 oflices of trust and honor ; and to gain the minds 
 of the Commons, she granted a largess of all the 
 taxes which were due to the Treasury — declared 
 her intention of paying both her father's and bro- 
 ther s debts ; and that she desired nothing so much 
 as the hearts of her subjects, and wished them 
 earnestly to pray for her. 
 
454 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION What are we to say to all this "? Was it al- 
 III. together a political stratagem and sheer hypocrisy, 
 
 ^^^ii^^-^ intended to blind and delude the nation "? Or was 
 Examination it a gcncrous cffort to inducc the people to enter 
 
 of her conduct, j^^^ her plans for restoring the Country to its for- 
 mer position as it respected religion ^ That she 
 intended by this munificent act of bounty to secure 
 the good-will and affection of her subjects, there 
 can be no reasonable doubt : nay, we may infer, 
 without difficulty, that she intended it to act as a 
 bribe to gain their compliance with her wishes, 
 and if her wishes were honorable, the act would 
 still continue an act of bounty/. But were not her 
 wishes honorable '? Her great object was to se- 
 cure the honor of God and the salvation of her 
 people. She cannot be regarded as acting the part 
 of a hypocrite. She firmly believed in the autho- 
 rity of the Pope and his Church, as much as any 
 Protestant believed in the authority of Jesus Christ 
 and his Church. She acted up to the principles 
 of her creed, and nothing more. She bribed, she 
 flattered, she deceived, she persecuted, all in good 
 faith. Whatever tended to secure the eternal sal- 
 vation of her subjects, whether imprisonment, or 
 torture, or burning, she considered as lawful, nay, 
 meritorious. The imperious dictates then, of her 
 religion, made her deceitful, treacherous, cruel, 
 vindictive and bloody. This consideration unlocks 
 the mystery, not only of the character of Mary, 
 but of every other Papist. As a woman she might 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 455 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 be just and merciful and generous, but as a Papist SECTION 
 when her religion was concerned, it would be her I^I- 
 duty to cast away every kind sentiment and gene- 
 rous emotion, and to hack and torture the human 
 body without pity or remorse. Would to God, that 
 mankind would agree. Papists themselves inclu- 
 ded, to banish such a detestable system from the 
 
 earth ! 
 
 It has often been wondered how the Parliaments Conduct of 
 of that period, could be so easily influenced to give J^^^'^^^^^°^ 
 their consent to the restoration of the Romish re- a. d. 1553. 
 ligion. But let the wonder hereafter cease ; and 
 let it be remembered, that every art, and every 
 crime for such a desirable end was considered a 
 virtue by the Queen ! In many places the Mem- 
 bers were returned by violence and threats. In 
 some, the freeholders were prevented by persons 
 employed by the Court, from proceeding to the 
 poll : whilst in others, false returns were made ; 
 and to crown the whole, many members who were 
 zealous for the Reformation, were for cibli/ ejected 
 from the House. Indeed, so notorious was all this, 
 that their Acts were afterwards repealed, on this 
 very ground. 
 
 With this House, of her own returning, the 
 Queen immediately went to work to accomplish 
 her designs, a Bill was immediately passed to re- 
 peal the divorce of her mother. It was succeeded 
 by another, which annulled all the Acts made in 
 King Edward's reign, empowering the Queen to 
 
456 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Cranmer de 
 J) rived. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION restore religious worship to that state in which it 
 in. existed, before the breach her father made with the 
 See of Rome. Next followed an Act against all 
 assemblages of persons on the subject of religion ; 
 and to complete the Session, the Lady Jane Grey, 
 Lord Guilford Dudley and Archbishop Cranmer, 
 were tried for high treason and condemned, and 
 their attainder confirmed ])y this Parliament. 
 
 The venerable Archbishop, was now legally 
 deprived of his Archbishoprick ; but as he had 
 been invested by the Pope, it was determined to 
 degrade him by the same authority, according to 
 the Canon Law; and he was reserved, amidst 
 daily privation and apprehensions, for severer pu- 
 nishment. 
 Secret ncgo- In the mean time, the Queen was in secret com- 
 
 tiatiunswith munication with the Court of Rome, through 
 Commendine, the Pope's legate at Brussels, who 
 had been sent over in the disguise of a merchant, 
 and under that character, obtained an interview 
 with the Queen. With him she consulted on res- 
 toring the Pope's supremacy, and sending Cardi- 
 nal Pole as Legate plenipotentiary to England. — 
 Eut Gardiner, the Lord Chancellor, was jealous 
 of this Cardinal Pole — a man of high integrity, 
 singular candour, and inflexible fidelity to the 
 Pope; and he determined if possible, to retard 
 his arrival in England. For this purpose, he 
 wrote to the Emperor, who had projected a mar- 
 riage between his son Philip and the Queen, inti- 
 
 Rome. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 457 
 
 Public (lii- 
 content. 
 
 mating that his Mistress indulged an affection for SECTION 
 the Cardinal and entertained the idea of marrying Til. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 him, which is probably the truth. However, after 
 some difficulty, the Queen was induced to write 
 to the Cardinal, to delay his journey for a time, 
 and she consented to marry Philip, without whose 
 power, she saw the difficulties in her way would 
 be insurmountable. 
 
 When the rumour of the Queen's marriage be- 
 came known to the Public, it excited universal 
 alarm ; even the energies of the miserable Parlia- 
 ment were roused, and they sent a deputation of 
 their House to the Queen, with the Speaker at 
 their head, with an address, not to marry a stran- 
 ger. The penetrating mind of the Chancellor saw 
 that the Lion of England was awakened. He 
 found the marriage was loudly protested against, 
 throughout the nation ; and that it was in every 
 man's mouth that England must now preserve it- 
 self, or be for ever in bondage. Every precaution 
 was therefore taken. The Articles of Marriage 
 were drawn up on the most favourable terms ; but 
 nothing would satisfy the people. They took up 
 arms under the Duke of Suffolk and Sir Thomas 
 Wyatt ; and if their first leader had not been pu- 
 sillanimous, and their second, rash and imprudent, 
 so formidable were the materials for supporting 
 the Rebellion, that Mary must have been hurled 
 from the throne. But her hour was not yet come ; 
 
 W 
 
458 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 459 
 
 SECTION the Rebellion was crushed and the projects of 
 
 II'- Government advanced. 
 ^^^Iii^>i^ This insurrection hastened the execution of the 
 
 Execution of Lady Jauc Grey and her husband Lord Guilford 
 the Lady Jane. -^^^^^^^^ . ^^^ ^^^ followed by that of her father, 
 
 the Duke of Suffolk, whose weak ambition and 
 incapacity, had in a great measure, brought this 
 ruin upon the family. The same event was also 
 made a x^lea for the imprisonment of the Princess 
 Elizabeth. 
 The storm The lingering storm now burst upon the nation 
 bursts upon the ^.^^ tcufold violcnce. The overthrow of her 
 
 Clergy. . 
 
 enemies fortified the Queen with new strength. 
 She issued a commission to proceed against the 
 Archbishop of York, the Bishops of Saint David's, 
 Bristol, and Chester, and to deprive them of their 
 Bishopricks, for having contracted marriage. 
 The Bishopricks of Lincoln, Hereford, and Glou- 
 cester, were also declared void. And thus, were 
 seven of the Protestant Bishops deprived at once, 
 without any form or legal process, by an arbitrary 
 exertion of power. Scory, Bishop of Chichester, 
 and Barlow, Bishop of Bath and Wells, left the 
 country and fled. Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and 
 Latimer, were in prison. Vast numbers of the 
 Clergy were deprived in the most summary man- 
 ner, on various pretences ; and it is said, that out 
 of sixteen thousand Clergy, then in the kingdom, 
 twelve thousand were ejected from their ecclesias- 
 tical functions ! These unheard of severities 
 
 V 
 
 caused great disquietude in the nation, induced SECTION 
 loud complaints, and provoked great opposition HI. 
 amongst all ranks of people ; and a new Parlia- ,^J!^^^>-vl/ 
 raent was now to be assembled. 
 
 But Gardiner was prepared. He had o])tained 
 great supplies of money from the Emperor, whose 
 desire to carry his measures, had made him listen 
 to the suggestions of the crafty Englishman ; and 
 he not only agreed to whatever marriage articles 
 Gardiner might draw up, but w^as induced to send 
 four hundred thousand pounds, to enable him to 
 carry the elections against all opposition. 
 
 Not only was this effected, but the leading men Gardiner 
 in Parliament, were pensioned and their votes se- patriotic 
 cured, to second the plans of Government. It 
 must however, be acknowledged, to the honor of 
 Gardiner, and as affording, at least, one redeem- 
 ing trait in his character, that it was due to his 
 vigilance and wisdom, that the nation was saved 
 out of the hands of the Spaniards. This was the 
 great good effected by him, during his administra- 
 tion. He acted the Englishman. The integrity 
 and independence of the country was preserved, 
 which enabled it immediately to collect its strength 
 after it was freed from the oppression of this san- 
 guinary reign. Such are the instruments, some- 
 times made use of by God, for securing his designs. 
 The Almighty Governor, did not intend the de- 
 struction, but the punishment of the distracted 
 country. So strong indeed were the articles of 
 
 I 
 
460 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Arrival of 
 Philip. 
 A. D. 1551. 
 
 SECTION the marriage, the ratification of which Gardiner 
 in. obtained in this Parliament, that Philip was en- 
 tirely excluded from all participation whatever, in 
 the authority of the Crown of England. But 
 both the Emperor and his Son relied on the good- 
 ness of her cause, and in the opportunities which 
 would arise of exerting their wealth and influence. 
 In the mean time Prince Philip landed at South- 
 ampton on the twentieth of July, from whence he 
 proceeded with great pomp to Winchester, where 
 his marriage wdth the Queen w^as solemnized ; 
 and on the ninth of August he was solemnly in- 
 stalled at Windsor, Knight of the Garter. His 
 reserved and haughty air was most uncongenial 
 to the feelings and habits of the English, and had 
 it not been for his immense wealth, he would have 
 been utterly despised, and openly insulted. His 
 gold seduced the people into an acquiescence 
 with the pride and austerity of his manner. Nay, 
 w^ith his seducing treasures, he bought the senators 
 and Commons of the Land, and for all-corrupting 
 gold, they were willing to barter both their Coun- 
 try and their Religion. Perfidious Idolatry ! 
 w^hich worships the golden mammon, because it 
 has the power to bestow temporal good, and for 
 this precarious and transient possession, barters 
 virtue, religion and immortality. It is said, that 
 when Philip entered Winchester to his marriage, 
 there followed in his train, twenty carts laden 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 461 
 
 ■ii 
 
 with bullion ; and ninety two horses and two carts SECTION 
 laden with coined gold and silver. 
 
 But the most remarkable thing w^hich attended 
 his arrival, was, that the life of the Princes Eliza- 
 beth the future Queen was saved by his interposi- 
 tion. On his arrival at London, to grace his entry, 
 he obtained the pardon of Hoi gate Archbishop of 
 York, and by his earnest entreaties the release of 
 the Princess Elizabeth, who had been secured as 
 a necessary victim. Nor was this the only time 
 as we shall see, that he was made the instrument 
 of saving her from destruction ! 
 
 The third Parliament of Queen Mary was now Parliament 
 assembled, and still more obsequious than the ""'^''' *''^' '''*" 
 
 ^ Queen. 
 
 preceding, was prepared to go every length to 
 execute the will of their Mistress. This Parlia- 
 ment was intended to strike a decisive blow ; and 
 every thing which force and persuasion and money 
 could effect, was done to secure the proper mate- 
 rials in Parliament. Whilst Cardinal Pole, who, 
 in the beginning of the Eeign, had been appointed 
 Legate by the Pope, and was waiting in Flanders 
 the auspicious moment, now hastened to England, 
 to complete the long wished for re-union with the 
 Church of Rome. Never was a person better 
 suited for the task which he had undertaken. 
 He was mild, persuasive and sincere ; and in the 
 name of the Universal Pastor, he addressed the 
 King and the Queen, and afterwards the Parlia- 
 ment, inviting and exhorting them in the most 
 
462 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 463 
 
 SECTION eloquent manner, to return to the sheepfold of the 
 III. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Church. It was a moment of high exultation 
 
 h 
 
 H 
 
 to the Queen who had been labouring for this 
 Remarkable consummation, and to the w^hole Eomish party, 
 
 fact . . . . . 
 
 to behold their wishes accomplished ; and it is 
 remarkable, that at the moment, the Cardinal 
 was making his plausible speech before the King 
 and Queen, and exhorting them to return to their 
 allegiance to the supreme Bishop, the Queen felt 
 peculiar internal sensations, which were, indeed, 
 the first advances of disease and death ; but which, 
 at such a moment of joy, were mistaken for the 
 natural symptoms of child-bearing, and in conse- 
 quence of that persuasion, a solemn *' Te Deum" 
 was sung at Saint Paul's, for the joyful prospect 
 of a successor! But it w^as far otherwise: her 
 days and her actions were numbered ; and it was 
 remarkably, the hand of God that was smiting 
 her with a fatal disease, at the moment of her 
 greatest triumph. 
 
 The obsequious Parliament, returned a most 
 favorable answ^er to the exhortations of the Cardi- 
 nal, in an address to the King and Queen ; '' that 
 they would intercede with the Legate, to reconcile 
 them with the See of Rome ; offering to repeal all 
 the laws they had made against the Pope's autho- 
 rity, in token of their repentance. " — This was 
 enough. The Legate attended Parliament, and 
 after an elaborate speech, in which he shewed the 
 advantages and necessity of union, he reconciled 
 
 Address of 
 the Commons. 
 
 A. D. 1554. 
 
 them to the body of the Church, granting them SECTION 
 and the nation a plenary absolution, which all HI. 
 present received upon their knees ! The rest of v^JI-v-xL' 
 the day was spent in singing '' Te Deum ; " and 
 at night the general satisfaction was signified by 
 lighting of bonfires ! 
 
 Soon after this solemn reconciliation, the Par- Restoration 
 liament fulfilled its pledge, and passed that famous ^ l^^ . ^^.^ 
 
 J^ o ' r authority in 
 
 Act, by which the Pope's authority was recognized England. 
 and restored ; and all Acts which had passed since 
 the twentieth year of Henry YIH, were repealed. 
 It was on this occasion, when a clause had been 
 inserted in the Bill by the Lords, for the purpose 
 of exempting certain lands which had been granted 
 to Lord Wentworth, out of the See of London, 
 and which was much opposed by the Commons, 
 Gardiner, w^hen the Bill was presented for the 
 Royal assent, boldly cut it out of the parchment, 
 exclaiming, Now, I truly do the office of a Chart';- 
 cellor, alluding to the word cancelling, from which 
 the name is derived. He was now in the height 
 of his prosperity, and obtained great reputation 
 for bringing about so great a change in so short a 
 time, and with so little opposition. Ambassadors 
 were sent to Eome, to convey the joyful tidings 
 of the restoration of England to the Apostolic See. 
 As a public acknowledgment for the accomplish- 
 ment of this great event, a solemn procession was 
 appointed in England, in which Bishop Bonner 
 had the honor of carrying the Host. This pro- 
 
464 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION cession happened on Saint Andrew's day, which 
 in. was thence called the 'Feast of the Reconciliation" 
 Could the curtain now drop, and the future be 
 hidden from our view ; the system of Popery, bad 
 as it may, even now, have appeared to the Reader, 
 might yet be saved from the utter execration and 
 detestation of all intelligent beings. — But alas ! 
 what we have already narrated, has been but the 
 prelude to its character ; and we are compelled by 
 the evidence of the most appalling facts to conclude, 
 that the solemn farce which had just been transact- 
 ed, has no more connexion with Christianity, than 
 the sacrifices of Moloch, or the rites of Druidism. 
 But not to enlarge. Every thing was now in rea- 
 diness for that dreadful persecution, which would 
 have disgraced the Heathenism and barbarity of 
 a NERO ; but which displays in its true colours, 
 the character of that apostate Church, w^hich is 
 ''drunk with the blood of the Saints ; " the mani- 
 festation of which we cannot but acknowledge, as 
 one design of the Supreme Being, in pemitting 
 such scenes to be enacted, in order that as a Nation, 
 we might never again be induced to trust its smiles 
 or believe its promises. 
 Fury of the This persccutiou began in the month of January, 
 contrary to the advice of Cardinal Pole, who was 
 a man of a mild temper, and entertained more ex- 
 alted views of the Christian character than the 
 Church to which he belonged. He exhorted the 
 Queen to proceed by persuasion and tenderness ; 
 
 Queen and 
 Chancellor. 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 465 
 
 but Gardiner, whose religion was entirely politi- SECTION 
 cal, and whose mind was embued with the severe m. 
 and bloody principles of the Romish System, ad- v^JI^C^^ 
 vised the Queen to enforce the Statutes against 
 heretics. Nor long. Rogers, Prebendary of St. Martyrdom 
 Paul's, a learned and excellent Clergyman had "^ ""^^'^ 
 the honor to stand foremost, in this "noble army 
 of Martyrs " His trial was brief and summary, 
 as such exhibitions usually are, where the sen- 
 tence is determined beforehand. After his condem- 
 nation, he was treated with unnecessary cruelty ; 
 and was not permitted to take a last farewell of 
 his wife and children. On the fourth of February, 
 he was brought to the stake, and when a pardon 
 was offered to him if he would recant, he steadily 
 rejected it, on such conditions, and said — He would 
 not exchange a short fire for everlasting burnings ; 
 declaring, that he gave up his life with joy^ as a 
 Testimony of the Doctrine he had preached. The 
 excellent Bishop Hooper, who was condemned at or Hooper. 
 the same time, was sent to Gloucester the seat of 
 his own Diocese, at which he greatly rejoiced; 
 and on the ninth of February, was committed to 
 the flames, in which he endured exquisite tor- 
 ment, calling upon God! and after a long and 
 fearful trial he expired, saying "- Lord Jesus, re- 
 ceive my spirit ! " At the same time, Saunders, 
 w^as burnt at Coventry; and Rowland Taylor, 
 Rector of Hadleigh in Suffolk, w^as condemned, 
 and dispatched to his own parish, to be made a 
 
 H H 
 
 Of Saunders. 
 Of Taylor. 
 
466 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Christian 
 Martyrdom 
 its peculiarity. 
 
 SECTION spectacle by fire, and a terror to his people. A 
 HI. few months CLfter Lawrence Saunders, his friend 
 
 ^^1^^41*7 Hobert Glover * a gentleman of Mancetter was 
 
 Of Glover, burnt on the very same spot. 
 
 By this terrific blow, struck at one time, and 
 in distant parts of the kingdom, the Queen and 
 her accomplices — there is no want of candour in 
 using such a term — thought to have created such 
 a panic throughout the ranks of the Reformers, 
 that the heresy of Protestantism would have been 
 for ever silenced and subdued. But alas ! they 
 knew not what they did. They reckoned not upon 
 the invincible power of Truth ! when through the 
 understanding, it seizes the throne of judgement. 
 Least of alb did they understand the power of Di- 
 vine Truth, when it has found its way through the 
 medium of the Scriptures and by the teaching of 
 the Eternal Spirit ; unto the understanding and the 
 heart. Their minds were not sufficiently free to 
 discern, that this was exactly the spirit which 
 animated the Protomartyr Stephen and the whole 
 band of primitive martyrs,-(- and that the only ef- 
 fect of persecution, was to strengthen its vigour, 
 and extend its influence. This is religious Pro- 
 testantism in its vital principle. — It examines the 
 doctrines of the Church by Scripture, and believes 
 them, because assuredly derived from that source. 
 Its faith, then, rests on the '' Record of God. " It 
 cannot renounce truths derived from such a source, 
 
 « Narrative by the Rev. B. Richings, Seeley. \ Acts, vii. 
 
 ■( 
 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 467 
 
 nor, believe those which are opposed to a Divine SECTION 
 testimony. If a man clearly perceives this, and '^'* 
 
 Ch a p f \^ 
 
 the truth has gained not only his understanding, 
 but his affections, no power, short of Omnipotence 
 can destroy its dominion over his soul. He will 
 endure the torture of the rack, the agony of the 
 cross, the horrors of the fire, not with stupid in- 
 difference, but with submission and patience, iini" 
 ted tvith compassion for his persecutors ; and as 
 long as he retains the faculty to know that his 
 faith rests on the Record of God ! his soul will 
 pass through the fiery abyss, purified it may be, but 
 undismayed and unconquered. It is true that in- 
 dividuals have died, with great heroism, for their 
 religion who were not Christians, nor acquainted 
 with the knowledge and principles of Christianity. 
 But on a careful enquiry, it will be found, that 
 wherever anything may be discovered superior to 
 a slavish superstition, or blind adherence, the 
 same principle, in some measure, has animated 
 the martyrs of all religions. The Jew for ins- 
 tance, in all his persecutions for religion, has en- 
 dured '' as seeing Him that is invisible, " relying 
 upon what he knew to be a divine Revelation. In 
 the martyrdoms of the Jews, you behold that stern 
 unrelenting fortitude, which could not have been 
 crushed by any power save that which inspired it. 
 But the inflexible sternness of the Jew is quite dis- 
 tinct from that kindlier emotion wliich character- 
 ized the Christian sufferer. The latter had a 
 
-n f ■— *^ 
 
 468 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 469 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION double support ; he had the Revelation of the Jew, 
 III. which inspires him with similar fortitude, and he 
 has the Revelation of Christianity, which endues 
 him with the spirit of his Divine Master — love — 
 The Mahommedan and the Hindoo have shewn, 
 The Protest- that they can meet suffering and death for their re- 
 ant Martyr j- -^^^ rpj^^ dcVOtioU of the OUC is fouudcd OU the 
 alone manifest- '-' 
 
 ed "Love." Korau being a divine book, the other, on the Shas- 
 tar. The fortitude of the one is characterized by 
 ferocity ; the other, by stupid indifference ; neither 
 of which, entered into the composition of the Chris- 
 tian Protestant Martyr. But the distinction is as 
 marked, as is the difference between light and 
 darkness ; as great, as between truth and falsehood. 
 It is not to be doubted also, but that the Papist 
 would be willing to suffer, perhaps, to die for his 
 religion. Indeed, both Queen Mary and her 
 Chancellor Gardiner, had endured considerable 
 hardships for adherence to their religion. But it 
 is remarkable, that there have been very few ex- 
 amples of martyrdom in that church since A. D. 
 300. And it must be recorded as a singular fact, 
 that, throughout the long and arduous period of 
 the Reformation, not one Papist suffered capital 
 punishment for adherence to his religious tenets. 
 Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher were politi- 
 cal Martyrs ; and suffered for adhering to the tem- 
 poral supremacy of the Pope. — But it is not neces- 
 sary to pursue this discussion further. 
 
 ( 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 When the Lord Chancellor Gardiner perceived SECTION 
 that these dreadful severities, so far from accom- HI. 
 plishing his wishes, only seemed to awaken the ,^^^^^J^^ 
 spirit of Martyrdom ; and, that seven persons were Bonner takes 
 immediately apprehended, who discovered the "^,.^ ^ 
 
 •^ -C^Jr ' cution. 
 
 same steady resolution to suffer, he could not 
 calmly contemplate the awful results of continuing 
 such tremendous executions. This is, certainly, 
 another relieving trait in his character: and in 
 justice it ought to be mentioned, that he refused 
 personally to interfere in the trials and condemna- 
 tion of the heretical Protestants. He therefore, 
 abandoned their further persecution to Bonner, 
 who rejoiced at the opportunity ; and whose cruel 
 and brutal temper, enabled him to perpetrate the 
 most inhuman cruelties, without pity or remorse, 
 but I must not dwell upon these infernal tragedies. 
 The details connected with them, are incredible ; 
 and it is almost impossible to believe, that they 
 were ever transacted upon earth. 
 
 In the midst of these cruel persecutions, the Hopes of the 
 Queen, whose zeal for the extermination of heresy ^^"2*"^ 
 
 Queen blasted. 
 
 increased every day, was considered to be drawing a. d. 1555. 
 near to her confinement. In the month of May, 
 the Envoys were appointed who were to carry the 
 tidings to foreign Courts. In the beginning of 
 June, the Queen was seized with sudden pains, 
 and it was reported in the City, that she had borne 
 a son. The Papists were inspired with new hopes, 
 and " Te Deum " was sung, in all parts of the City 
 
470 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION by the zealous Ecclesiastics ! But, vain delusion ! 
 IJI* it was the ciisis of a disease, which convinced her 
 K^Jr^^}^%^ husband King Philip, that all his hopes of chil- 
 dren from this alliance, were at an end ; and as 
 he could never hope to gain any authority in Eng- 
 land without issue, he resolved to abandon his 
 English enterprise for the present. Indeed the 
 highest honors awaited him ; for his father Charles 
 V. after a long career of unexampled glory and 
 prosperity, v»ith a greatness of mind, superior to all 
 his conquests, resolved to give up his dominions 
 to his son ; and to relinquish the state and splen- 
 dour of the most extensive empire, for the simpli- 
 city and frugality which could be maintained, on a 
 pension of a hundred thousand crowns a year. — 
 This extraordinary person, as we have seen, for 
 more than thirty years, had exercised a very con- 
 siderable influence over the Councils of our Coun- 
 try up to this very period ; and he had seen as it 
 were a favourable termination to his vast designs in 
 the marriage of his son with the Queen of England. 
 But in this respect, though a man of the greatest 
 penetration and sagacity, his designs were frus- 
 trated. — England never fell under the power of his 
 son : but on the contrary, its independence was 
 secured ; its prosperity consolidated ; and it was 
 destined to become a greater Empire, than that 
 which he was about to abdicate. 
 Philip sue- After the departure of Philip to take possession 
 
 ceeds to the t • -, • i i i i 
 
 Empire. <^* hi'*^ ^'^^w dignity, the nation was not backward 
 
 ) 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 471 
 
 to evince their horror and disgust at the proceed- SECTION 
 ings of the Government. Indeed this feeling was IM- 
 so strongly marked, that the inhuman Bonner, J^ii^C^ 
 slackened his hand ; and the flames of the living 
 funereal pile ceased, for a period of six weeks. But 
 this was a state of apathy, which did not comport 
 with the fiery zeal of the religious Queen. She 
 wrote to her ecclesiastical Butcher, and exhorted 
 him, to perform the office of a good Pastor ; and 
 either to reclaim the heretics, or to proceed against 
 them according to Law. This was a joyful admo- 
 nition. With renewed vigour, after this short 
 pause, he renewed his employment. New fires 
 were immediately kindled. His fury raged every- 
 where, and the ''good Pastor" made dreadful 
 havoc of the defenceless sheep. Cardmaker, for- 
 merly a Prebendary of Bath ; and Wame a trades- 
 man, were burnt in Smithfield. Seven were con- 
 demned, and sent into Essex, where they were 
 burnt at the several places of their abode. That 
 eminent Clergyman, Bradford, was burnt in the 
 same fire with a young apprentice, w^ho was much 
 encouraged by his exhortations in the fire. Many 
 other fearful examples followed about the same 
 time, and the persecution raged in all parts of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 But the greatest spectacle was reserved for the Martyrdom 
 end of the year, when a commission was sent ""^ ^•''^*'y ^°^ 
 to Oxford to proceed against two famous Christian 
 Bishops, Ridley and Latimer. They were condem- 
 
472 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 473 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION ned as obstinate heretics, and the writs were im- 
 III' mediately sent down for their burning. Perhaps 
 the annals of Martyrdom, from the death of Ste- 
 phen, do not produce two more illustrious exam- 
 ples of the power of true religion upon the heart 
 of man. They were not only endued with forti- 
 tude to meet the '" fiery trial " which awaited them, 
 but filled with joy and cheerfulness in the antici- 
 pation of it. The night preceding. Bishop Ridley 
 trimmed his beard and washed his feet, and invi- 
 ted his friends to be present at his marriage on 
 the succeeding day. When the Martyrs arrived 
 at the stake, they embraced each other with great 
 affection ; and Ridley, with his wonted cheerful- 
 ness, said — ''Be of good courage, Brother, for 
 God will either assuage the flame, or enable us to 
 bear it. " Nor was the holy veteran Latimer, be- 
 hind him; for as ^they w^ere preparing for the 
 stake, he cried out to Ridley — '' Be of good cour- 
 age. Brother, for we shall this day light such a 
 candle in England, as by God's grace, shall never 
 be extinguished." Thus perished in the flames, 
 two of the most able and excellent men, that 
 God ever raised up to adorn his Church. Ridley 
 holds an exalted place amongst the leaders of the 
 Reformation. He was a man of great learning 
 and deep piety, and was highly esteemed for the 
 solidity of his judgment. Latimer, who was more 
 than eighty years of age, was a man of primitive 
 and Apostolic simplicity of manners ; aud whose 
 
 V 
 
 sermons were not more dreaded by the Papists, SECTION 
 than by the time-serving and licentious Courtiers. HI. 
 But whilst the severity of his rebukes was dreaded v^^I^v'-xL/ 
 by many, he was reverenced by all, for the honesty 
 and integrity of his character ; and admired and 
 loved by the truly upright. 
 
 The Lord Chancellor Gardiner, who now for Dj,.jne visi. 
 his active zeal and successful policy, was expecting Nation on the 
 
 chief Persecu- 
 
 a Cardinal's hat, and the dignity of Archbishop, t^,., 
 although he would not personally assist at the 
 bloody tribunal, yet w^as principal in these arbi- 
 trary measures, and was particularly alive to the 
 importance of the proceedings against these ex- 
 cellent Bishops. But his persecuting career was 
 drawing to a close, and all his ambitious views, 
 were about to perish, in a moment. The Almighty 
 Judge, was about to vindicate the outraged laws 
 of humanity and Christianity, and make him an 
 example to all future generations ! 
 
 During that day on which Ridley and Latimer 
 were committed to the flames, he was all impar 
 tieiice, and would not sit down to dinner, till he 
 was assured that the fire was kindled. When the 
 messenger arrived at four in the afternoon, he sat 
 down, cheerfully, to dinner : but, whilst he sat at 
 table, he was suddenly seized with a complaint 
 which proved fatal ; and he only survived to the 
 following November. During his distressing af- 
 fliction, he was deeply afl'ected with his situation, 
 and expressed deep remorse for the actions of his 
 
 'y 
 
 I 
 
474 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION past life, frequently saying. '' I have erred like 
 III- Saint Peter, but I have not repented as he did ! " 
 Chap. IV. ^^^^^ ^.^^ Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester and 
 
 Lord High Chancellor; a man of consummate 
 ability in all transactions, where intrigue and cun- 
 ning, and treachery were available — a true Papist 
 — without conscience, without religion; tempo- 
 rizing, artful, and ambitious. In the month of 
 November, and within a short time of his death, 
 three persons were burnt in one fire at Canterbury, 
 as it were, a sacrifice to his inhuman Manes ; and 
 in the month of December, the celebrated Philpot 
 was added to the holy-martyred-band. His death 
 concluded the year, in which sixty-seven persons 
 perished at the stake ! 
 
 The designs of God were now fast accomplish- 
 ing. The whole nation had been severely punish- 
 ed for their violent and rapacious conduct, during 
 the progress of the Reformation under King Ed- 
 ward ; and for preferring their own interest to the 
 cause of true reUgion. Popery also, in some mea- 
 sure, had been allowed to develop its true charac- 
 ter ; and the Reformers had had an opportunity 
 of shewing by their constancy, fortitude and meek- 
 ness, not only the sincerity of their, profession, 
 but the truth and power of that holy Religion, for 
 which they contended to the death. 
 
 The people, generally, began to discover a just 
 abhorrence of the conduct of the Queen and her 
 advisers: and under such a dreadful discipline. 
 
 State and 
 feeling of the 
 Nation. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 475 
 
 1 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 their minds were preparing to throw off the detes- SECTION 
 table and oppressive yoke, with more heartfelt HI. 
 abhorrence. Even the House of Commons par- 
 took of the general feeling ; having forgot the in- 
 fluence of Spanish money, they began to repent 
 of many of the Laws which they had enacted 
 against the Reformers. They refused to grant the 
 Queen an aid of two fifteenths — they refused to 
 pass several oppressive Acts, and becoming vio- 
 lent, they were summarily dissolved. 
 
 But the maddened Papists advanced to the per- 
 petration of further cruelties. It was even con- 
 templated to establish the Inquisition in England ; 
 and in the beginning of the year, to satiate their 
 "'drunken" rage, the great victim of all, who had 
 been reserved through the policy of Gardiner, to 
 the beginning of this year, was brought forth to 
 be made a spectacle to the terrified people. This 
 was Archbishop Cranmer. 
 
 Indeed, in the month of September in the pre- 
 ceding year, and previous to the death of the late ^"^ ^""^ ^' 
 Lord Chancellor, a Commission had been sent a. d. 15o6. 
 down to Oxford, to proceed against him. He had 
 appeared before this tribunal, in Saint Mary's 
 Church, and answered their objections with great 
 learning and modesty. The mock sentence of 
 this Court was, that he should appear before the 
 Pope within eighty days: but in the space of 
 twenty days, letters arrived from the Papal seat, 
 commanding that he should receive condemnation. 
 
 Commission 
 an- 
 mer. 
 
476 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION and be delivered to the secular arm ; preparatory 
 ni. to v^hich he was to be degraded from all his Ec- 
 clesiastical functions ; and for this purpose Bishop 
 Bonner and Thirleby, were invested with new 
 powers. In the month of February, these Pope- 
 delegates arrived at Oxford, to go through the 
 ceremony of degrading the venerable Archbishop. 
 The Primate of all England, who had been the 
 adviser and friend of Kings, the Godfather and 
 instructor of Princes, was in derision, dressed in 
 Episcopal robes made of canvass, which were then 
 taken from him, one by one, attended with formal 
 curses and imprecations. In the performance of 
 these ceremonies, Bonner proceeded with all that 
 insolence and malignity, which could be dictated 
 by the most inveterate hatred ; but it is said, that 
 Thirleby did his part with evident grief, and even 
 with tears. Compassion ! how exalted are thy 
 claims ! Thy presence is lovely, even in an ad- 
 versary ! 
 
 Nothing now remained, but the infliction of his 
 final sentence ; but this would not satisfy them. 
 They had another object in view of much more 
 consequence to their cause, if they could accom- 
 plish it. It was, if possible, to obtain a Recanta- 
 tion. Every engine was set at work for this pur- 
 pose. The most eminent English and Spanish 
 divines engaged him in continual conferences. 
 They removed him from prison, to the Dean's 
 lodgings. They afforded prospects of life — of 
 
 His Recan 
 tation. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 477 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 preferments — of the highest favor, if he would sign SECTION 
 the document of Recantation, which they had pre- HI. 
 pared. This great man had withstood their in- 
 trigues, their solicitations, and their threatenings 
 for three years. He had gone through the cere- 
 mony of degradation, with meekness ; and would 
 from thence, have gone boldly to the stake ; but 
 the sudden change from degradation to honor, — 
 from death to life, seemed to shake his fortitude 
 and resolution ; and yielding to his infirmity, and 
 urged by their importunity, in an unhappy mo- 
 ment he subscribed the fatal document, in which 
 he was made to renounce all his former opinions, 
 as heretical and damnable. It was a denial of 
 Christ and his doctrine. But the goodness of that 
 God whose Truth he denied, did not forsake him, 
 although he permitted his crime to be visited upon 
 him, with accumulated punishment. Like Peter 
 he fell ; like Peter he repented. 
 
 His Recantation was immediately printed and 
 
 His re-esta- 
 
 circulated through the country, to the utter grief "^^"' '" '^^" 
 
 and confusion of his friends, and the triumph of 
 his enemies. But this did not satisfy the furious 
 Queen, embodying in herself, all the cruelty and 
 perfidy of her religion, she said : That his repent- 
 ance was good for his soul ; but since he had been 
 the great diffuser of Heresy over the nation, it was 
 necessary to make him a public example. A writ 
 was accordingly sent down to burn him, with 
 orders that it should be done suddenly, that no 
 
 Truth. 
 
478 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 479 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Martyrdom 
 of Cranmer. 
 
 SECTION time might be allowed, for him to make known 
 JII. his real sentiments to the people; and that he 
 might die under the full power of his Recantation. 
 But Cranmer suspected their designs ; and drew 
 up a long confession of his faith, in full accord- 
 ance with all that he had ever professed and 
 taught. 
 
 On the twenty-first of March, the day secretly 
 fixed for his execution, he was brought to Saint 
 Mary's Church, on which occasion. Doctor Cole, 
 Provost of Eton, preached the sermon, in which 
 he exhorted Cranmer, to persist in the faith into 
 which he had prof essed his return^ even to the death ; 
 which it was the will of the civil Governors to in- 
 flict upon him that day ; and since his conversion 
 ivas from the immediate hand of Heaven, nothing 
 could he more acceptable to God, and to all good 
 men, than a public declaration of the reality of it. 
 
 This unexpected declaration of his approaching 
 fate, with the exhortation which accompanied it, 
 filled the Archbishop with perplexity and dismay. 
 But summoning his recollection, and rousing his 
 former courage, he boldly stood forward, and 
 commenced an eloquent and masterly address to 
 the people — recounting the principal heads of his 
 Truth and doctrine — affirming that the kingdom 
 of Anti-Christ ivas contained and established 
 in the power of the Pope ; and in conclusion, 
 representing how greviously he had ofl^ended God, 
 by renouncing the Truth, he declared before all 
 
 Chap. IV 
 
 s: 
 
 men, the surprising resolution he had taken — that SECTION 
 the right hand ivhich had so impiously offended by HI. 
 subscribing the Recantation, should be the first 
 sufferer in the flames I On this emphatic an- 
 nouncement, the whole assembly was thrown into 
 confusion ; and some mocking and calling upon 
 him not to dissemble any more, he cried out, that 
 he had ever loved simplicity ; and that, except in 
 that one instance, he had never dissembled in his 
 life. They were now filled with indignation and 
 WTath; and with bitter revilings and clamour, 
 they rushed upon him, and dragged him to the 
 place of execution — the same place from whence 
 his two friends and fellow labourers, Ridley and 
 Latimer, had a short time before ascended in 
 their chariots of fire. Ready for the same convoy 
 and on the same plot of ground, stood Thomas 
 Cranmer, one of the most excellent of men, degra- 
 ded, indeed, from all his honors, and still more by 
 the denial of the truth ; but now, fully restored 
 and established, he appeared more glorious in his 
 recovery, than he had been abased in his fall ; and 
 from the temporary obscurity, his faith, and hope 
 and constancy, shone forth with increasing splen- 
 dor. His meekness and patience, amidst the low- 
 bred railing, the scurrilous abuse, the most op- 
 probrious jests, were truly astonishing. The se- 
 renity of his mind was not once disturbed. — The 
 purpose of his mind was firm and unshaken ; and 
 when the flames were kindled, his Christian for- 
 
480 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION titude, influenced by the sincerity of his repentance 
 MI' and supported by the power of God, appeared 
 conspicuous. He stretched out his right hand, 
 into the midst of the flames, and with unwavering 
 firmness held it, till it was consumed, sometimes 
 saying, '"That unworthy hand! " and at last, cry- 
 ing out " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit ! " he ex- 
 pired in the inhuman torment. 
 
 Thus perished the great Reformer of the Angli- 
 
 Remarkable 
 
 interposition of ^^^ brauch of the Catholic Church— the sincerity 
 
 Providence. 
 
 of whose Protest against Popery, was more solemn 
 and convincing at his death, than it had been in 
 his life. And, as if to afford a demonstration to 
 the senses, that his repentance was accepted in 
 heaven ; and to avouch as it were, for the integrity 
 of his servant, it was permitted by God, that 
 when his *' unworthy right hand " and his whole 
 body were consumed to ashes, that his HEART 
 should be found entire, — unscathed and uninjured 
 by the fiery element. I ask not whether it was a 
 miraculous interference, or, whether some un- 
 known natural cause operated to secure that part 
 of his frame from destruction — the fact is univer- 
 sally asserted, and discovers the Finger of God. 
 This eminent man was in the sixty-seventh year 
 of his age, and had been endued with singular 
 qualifications for the great work, he was destined 
 to accomplish. His character ispourtrayed in his 
 actions, over which, Christianity exercised almost 
 a sovereign influence. It is. much easier to disco- 
 
 «• 
 
 of ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 481 
 
 ver his virtues than his blemishes. One might SECTION 
 have suspected from his conduct at last, that his ^^I. 
 
 . . Chap. TV. 
 
 meekness bordered upon timidity, or meanness of 
 spirit ; but we are checked in this suspicion, by 
 the peril to w^hich he exposed himself on more oc- 
 casions than one, in opposing the will of Henry 
 VIII ; especially, in the noble letter which he 
 wrote to him, in vindication of the character of 
 Anne Boleyn, and of Cromwell, Earl of Essex, 
 after their condemnation. Perhaps his chief fail- 
 ing was a too great compliance with the wishes of 
 others, and a readiness to be overcome by kind- 
 ness and importunity. The temptation which 
 caused his fall, was founded on this infirmity, 
 strengthened by the horrors of being consumed by 
 fire : but if this were the case, the heroic manner 
 in which he met those horrors, will discover 
 how much his natural disposition was overcome, 
 and how much he was supported by '' the inspi- 
 ration of the Spirit of God," in his last conflict. 
 Perhaps some striking failure, like that of his re- 
 cantation was necessary, in order to moderate the 
 veneration which his uncommon worth might have 
 produced in our minds ; for such was his primitive 
 humility, his indefatigable industry and unfeigned 
 simplicity, that he will bear comparison with any 
 of the Fathers of the Christian Church, who lived 
 nearest to the Apostles. His fall discovered that 
 he was surrounded by the frailties and infirmities 
 
 I I 
 
482 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION of mortality ; his recovery, that he was supported 
 
 III- ])y the Power and Grace of God. 
 K^x^^r^ I^ i^ difficult to leave the contemplation of the 
 The two great character of a man, to whom we are as a nation, 
 
 Charters. ti«tiia i • -»-. 
 
 SO deeply mdebted. Amongst the national Refor- 
 mers of his time, he stood pre-eminent in wisdom, 
 in temper, and in prudence ; and it is not a little 
 remarkable, that, w^e are indebted to an Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, both for our Political and 
 lleligious freedom. Archbishop Langton was the 
 means of restoring the ''Magna Charta" — the 
 foundation of our political Rights — Archbishop 
 Cranmer the Maxima Charta, the bulwark of 
 our Religious privileges ! 
 
 But why should I indulge in these pleasing 
 speculations ? — a bloody page is open before me, 
 unequalled in barbarity in the annals of any nation. 
 The fires of martyrdom blazed on every side, and 
 multitudes followed their leaders into eternity. — 
 Into the detail of these harrowing executions I can- 
 not enter, but must refer the render to the Mar- 
 tyrologists of that day.* 
 
 The cruelty of the infuriated Bonner, increased 
 with the number of his victims. The martyrdom 
 of Cranmer took place in March. In the January 
 
 * A new edition of Foxe, has been published by Seelei/. — 
 The Reformation Society, has published an excellent abridg- 
 ment, by Mr Seymour. An afTectin,^ Narrative of tlie Mar- 
 tyrdom of Robert Glover and Mrs. Lewis of 3Iancetter, by 
 the Rev. Mr. Riciiings, the present Vicar. 
 
 A year of 
 burnings. 
 A. D. 1.350. 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 483 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 preceding, five men and two women were burnt SECTION 
 in Smithfield ; and one man and four women at HI. 
 Canterbury. In March, two women were burnt 
 at Ipswich; and three men at Salisbury. In 
 April, six Essex men were burnt in Smithfield ; 
 a man and a woman in Rochester ; and another 
 woman in Canterbury. Six men were condemned 
 by Bonner, who became w^eary of delay and per- 
 suasion ; and after the respite of one day, they 
 were sent to Colchester to be burnt ; and to com.- 
 plete the catalogue of one month, a blind man and 
 a cripple w^ere burnt in the same fire at Stratford. 
 In May, three women in Smithfield. But why 
 should I enlarge ? these were minor exhibitions 
 of that spirit which then had the ascendant. In 
 the month of June, eleven Men, and t\vo Wo- 
 men, w^ere burnt in one fire at Stratford ! Nor 
 did the merciless Man confine his executions with- 
 in the realm of England ; in Guernsey, a Mother 
 and her two daughters were burnt in the same lire! 
 Other horrors were perpetrated actually too revol- 
 ting to be narrated. Suffice it to say that, within 
 this year, Eighty-five persons were martyred ! 
 
 But still the fury of the persecutors raged. — The 
 bodies of the dead were dragged from their graves, J"^=™^"^': 
 treated with ignominy, and publicly burnt. Com- 
 missions w^ere issued for searching out and bring- 
 ing the heretics to judgment : tyranny and cruelty 
 triumphed ; and without entering into particulars, 
 it will be sufficient to observe, that during this 
 
 Burninsrs and 
 
484 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION year Seventy-nine persons were condemned and 
 III. burnt. 
 
 In the midst of these fatal exhibitions, which 
 filled the nation with apprehension and dread — a 
 sudden blow was preparing, which was to inflict 
 a deep wound on the unhappy Queen, and increase 
 the discontent of the people, to the utmost. This 
 was brought on by the intolerable pride of the 
 Pope, who used to say that all Kingdoms tvcre 
 subject to him — a)id that he ivould suffer no Prince 
 to he too familiar with liim, and that he would set 
 the ivorld on fire, rather than submit to act beneath 
 the dignity of his station. This lofty minded Monk 
 to forward his intrigues against the House of Aus- 
 tria, induced the King of France to break the 
 truce into which he had entered with Philip King 
 of Spain. AYith great reluctance the Queen of 
 England was induced to send assistance to her 
 husband. The French were defeated, and the 
 Pope was left at the mercy of the Spaniards. He 
 raged — he threatened — and by his arts and policy 
 he soon restored his affairs to their former position. 
 But not so, England. It was for her punish- 
 ment that all this machinery of war was set in 
 motion. The French turned all their force against 
 the possessions of England in France. They were 
 entirely successful. In one week, Calais, which 
 was thought impregnable, and which had been in 
 the possession of England, since the reign of Edward 
 in, was taken by assault. The surrender of Ca- 
 
 The French 
 
 4* 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 485 
 
 
 k 
 
 \ 
 
 lais was speedily followed by that of Guisnes and SECTION 
 the Castle of Hainnes ; so that in the most unex- ^11- 
 pected manner, and in a few days, the English ^^^-v-xLy 
 were expelled for ever, from every foot of ground 
 which they possessed in France. 
 
 This event was a severe blow to the nation and pnncess 
 tended, greatly, to increase the vexation and discon- Elizabeth in 
 
 t r\ 1 IP danger. 
 
 tent of the people. The Queen, herself, was a. a i558. 
 deeply afl'ected by the loss, which she felt could 
 never be retrieved ; and it is said, that this afflic- 
 tion hastened her death. Be this as it may : her 
 misery and wretchedness, were, at this moment, 
 complete ; and her remaining days were now num- 
 bered. But her cruelty was yet unmitigated, and 
 her savage ministers, were anxious to secure the 
 stability of the concpiests they had made with so 
 much troLd)le and bloodshed. Their chief counsel 
 was against the Princess Elizabeth, whom they 
 intended to supplant by Mary Queen of Scots. — 
 But she was endued with such wisdom and pru- 
 dence, that without any dereliction of principle, 
 she finally escaped their hands. But other vic- 
 tims were found ; and more than eighty were this 
 year consigned to the flames ; making a total of 
 Two Hundred and Eighty-four, besides hundreds 
 who perished by hardship, imprisonment, and 
 exile. But the bloody scene was now drawing to 
 its close, and the Divine intentions, both as it 
 respected the punishment, and the full portraiture 
 
486 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOisOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 '487 
 
 SECTION of the Papal System were advancing to their com- 
 
 IJI. pletion. 
 ,^^ili^^i^ A formidable fleet, with a considerable land 
 The Army forco w^as scnt into France — but it seemed as if 
 struck Avith ^1^^ soldiers had lost their wonted courage. They 
 
 fear. ^ 
 
 Isaiah xiii. 7. wcrc repelled, with great loss, from the French 
 coasts ; and, under the impression that Heaven 
 fought against them, ingloriously returned to their 
 owm country. Indeed, the hearts of the people, 
 were filled with forebodings of the Divine Judg- 
 ments, which they attributed to the bloody deeds 
 of their Governors. Nor were their fears vain. — 
 The heavens grew black with storms — tempests 
 of wind and rain, of hail and thunder : and floods 
 in various parts, to an unprecedented degree, de- 
 vastated and inundated the kingdom ; and to mark 
 with greater distinctness the Divine hand, three 
 fourths of the people were smitten with a conta- 
 gious disease, resembling the plague ; and so fa- 
 tally did it rage, that in many Counties, there 
 were not men suflicient to reap the harvest ! 
 
 "Whilst the judgments of the Almighty Gover- 
 nor thus terrified the people, every thing tended 
 to shew that the anger of offended Deity was 
 directed against the Rulers of the land. The 
 Parliament w^as called, but refused to grant sup- 
 plies : Every thing seemed to come to a sudden 
 stop: the country spoiled of its strength, was 
 sunk in disgrace, and reduced to despair — the 
 Queen's malady rapidly increased — Cardinal Pole 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 who had been raised to the Primacy, and was her SECTION 
 confidential adviser and support, was struck with I^. 
 death — and the Queen herself, exhausted by dis- 
 ease, yielded up her unhappy and ignominious 
 spirit ; and the dark curtain of unalterable futurity 
 fell on the direful transactions of her reign ! 
 
 We have little patriotism, if w^e do not weep Mary's rcii 
 over this calamitous page of our history — and over ^'|;''' '''''' ^"^ 
 the blasted reputation of a Queen, who was form- 
 ed by nature with abilities, to adorn and benefit 
 her country, but who w^as seduced from the paths 
 of humanity, by the enchantments of Antichrist. 
 Her soul was entirely despoiled by its influence 
 of every amiable trait, and of every vestige of 
 Christian virtue. And what renders this the 
 more deplorable, is the fact — that she wished to be 
 and was, a most religious woman. She was aus- 
 tere and self denying in her manner of life. 
 She was strict and severe in her religious 
 duties ; and a stern and gloomy piety, was observ- 
 able in all her deportment. In short, she was a 
 good and consistent Papist. Had she been a 
 Christian, how meek, and holy, and merciful 
 would she have been ! and with her abundant 
 zeal, how " full of good fruits ! without partiality, 
 and without hypocrisy," but destitute of the spirit 
 of Christianity, and with a mind formed on the 
 principles of the UomLjh superstition, her reign 
 
! 
 
 488 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION afforded free scope for the fall development of ifs 
 III- character. Nourished and fed by the Queen's 
 authority, it expanded and grew out in all its hid- 
 eous deformity, before the astonished eyes of the 
 people ; and stalked through the land like some 
 inhuman monster, ready to devour without pity, 
 the innocent and the helpless. Perfidious when it 
 promised ; oath breaking, when it swore. Proud 
 in its oppression, tyrannical in its injustice, and 
 vindictive in its cruelty. 
 
 Such, indeed, was the horror, inspired by its 
 deeds during these five years, that the hearts of 
 the people sickened, and their faces grew pale at 
 the mention of its name for many generations — 
 nay, through all generations to our own. — We have 
 given liberty to the Tyrant-oppressor, We had 
 forgot that its nature is " UNCHANGED and 
 UNCHANGEABLE ! and that it will act con- 
 sistently with its character, just to the extent of 
 its abilitv. 
 
 I 
 
 ! 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ELIZABETH FINAL TIIIUMPII AND ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 OF PROTESTANTISM. 
 
 The clouds and thick darkness which attended the SECTfON 
 conclusion of the last reign, and seemed to threa- IH. 
 ten the extinction of the British name, were sud- ^^^Jli^:^ 
 denly dispersed ; and a brighter sun arose than Elizabeth 
 England had ever seen ; designed, not only to en- '"r^'^';.,« 
 lighten her own happy isle, but to extend its 
 cheering rays to the utmost extremities of the 
 earth. At its first dawn, as if by a miraculous 
 agency, the gloom which overspread the minds of 
 the people disappeared — the pestilence and famine 
 which wasted them, fled — and the hearts of all 
 men instantly revived. Hope looked down from 
 heaven with a benign and cheering aspect. Truth 
 arrayed in light, descended, once more to bless 
 and instruct mankind. Christianity was ordained 
 to prevail against the machinations of Popery and 
 
490 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Joy of tlie 
 nation. 
 
 SECTION to lend its powerful name and heavenly principles, 
 III- to establish the prosperity of the nation^ on a solid 
 
 Cmap. V. T . •1111 
 
 and imperishable basis. 
 
 Elizabeth, on the death of Queen Mary, was 
 at Hatfield, where she had lived for some time in 
 great seclusion, devoted to the pursuit of learning 
 and the demands of Religion. The violent advi- 
 sers of the late Queen, were filled with apprehen- 
 sions for their safety ; but opposition was in vain. 
 The tide had set in Avith irresistible impetuosity ; 
 and in right of her birth, and by the Act of Suc- 
 cession, Elizabeth ascended the throne. She was 
 immediately proclaimed at Westminster, amidst 
 the most unbounded demonstrations of joy. All 
 past sufferings seemed to be forgotten amidst the 
 transports of the moment. " God, save Queen 
 Elizabeth ! Long and happily may she reign ! " 
 resounded from all sides. Even the adherents of 
 Popery were obliged to disguise their feelings, 
 and put on the semblance of joy. A sorrowful 
 countenance, on that day, was considered crimi- 
 nal by the delighted people. In short, it was a 
 day of national jubilee, and the Popish Priests, 
 who could not join in this festival of mind, when 
 a whole nation delivered from the shackles of an 
 ignominious bondage, delight in the exercise of 
 their recovered liberty, were obliged to retire from 
 the animated scene, to hide themselves in corners 
 and to vent their griefs in the inmost recesses. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 491 
 
 Elizabeth, herself, who during the last reign, SECTION 
 had lived in daily alarm, and whose life w^as, as Ul. 
 we have seen, preserved almost by a constant mi- ^J^^^^^^^^, 
 racle, when she heard that she was proclaimed Fitness of 
 Queen, fell dowm upon her knees, and after a short bJ^^j^^^j. ^^^' 
 pause, broke forth in the words of the Royal Psal- ii'gii station. 
 mist : " It is the Lord's doing ; and is marvellous 
 in our eyes. " Like all truly great minds, she 
 was endued with a reverence for Religion ; trust 
 in divine Providence and a high regard for the 
 Supreme Being. Indeed, her whole character, 
 marked her out as an extraordinary personage, 
 designed to accomplish the high and benevolent 
 purposes of the Most High. She w^as at this pe- 
 riod, twenty-five years of age. Her person was 
 graceful, and as historians assert, her mien noble, 
 her stature commanding, and her w^alk majestic. 
 Her face was not adorned with all the properties 
 of finished beauty ; but her countenance beamed 
 with an intelligence, which made all smaller de- 
 fects vanish. Her manner inspired awe, rather 
 than affection : but when occasion required, she 
 could assume the most powerful charms, and adopt 
 such a mixture of grace and majesty, as few were 
 able to resist. Her spirit Avas great and magnani- 
 mous, her mind enlarged, and her understanding 
 adorned w^ith all the advantages of education and 
 study. Besides the Greek and Latin, she was 
 accpiainted w^llh all the European languages. In- 
 deed, during the last reiqn she had been a most 
 
492 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION indefatigable student, and had made considerable 
 ill- advances in the knowledge of History, Philosophy, 
 Chap. V. j^^^'^'^^^ ^^^ Ehctoric, Her apprehension was 
 
 quick, and her memory strong ; and she delighted 
 to dwell on the actions of the wise and great who 
 had adorned her Country, and to set before her- 
 self the illustrious monuments of her predecessors. 
 She would often speak of the mighty triumphs of 
 the English, at Cressy, Poictiers, and Agincourt ; 
 and was accustomed to say, '* These victories were 
 more owing to the assistance of Heaven, than the 
 arms of men " — a sentiment which it has been the 
 design of this work to illustrate. 
 
 Such was the gifted individual now called by 
 Providence, to sway the English sceptre at a time 
 of great difficulty and danger. The nation was 
 involved in war. Its valuable possessions in 
 France had just been lost. Pestilence and famine 
 were wasting the land. The treasury Avas utterly 
 exhausted, and all the evils of religious difference 
 prevailed. But she was admirably fitted for the 
 work. Her powerful mind soon began to act 
 upon the disordered elements around her, and the 
 glory and prosperity of the country were rapidly 
 advanced, and permanently established. 
 
 On her arrival at London, she was met by the 
 Nobility and Bishops, whom she received with 
 great cordiality, except Bonner, whose atrocious 
 cruelty, although under the sanction of law, made 
 it impossible to notice him, without becoming 
 
 Bonner ab- 
 horred. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 493 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 Chap, V. 
 
 The P()p«''s 
 
 partaker of liis crimes. When she arrived at the SECTION 
 Tower, and entered those gates as Queen, through HI- 
 which she had, lately, been conducted as a priso- 
 ner, she remembered her low estate, and kneeling 
 down, she returned hearty thanks to God, who had 
 so hoimteously chmiged her Prison to a Palace, 
 And to shew the fine moral tone which then pos- 
 sessed her mind, one of her first acts was, to send 
 a particular acknowledgment of gratitude to King 
 Philip, for the important services which he had 
 rendered her, during the life time of her sister ; 
 and to which, indeed, she owed her safety and 
 life. 
 
 When the notification of her accession reached 
 the Court of Rome, through her Ambassador, the ^'''^*' •■'^'"''• 
 Roman Prelate, Paul III, in his usual style, sent 
 her a proud and insulting message — '' That Eng- 
 land ivas a Fee of the Pajmcij, and that it ivas a 
 high presumjition in her to assume the Crown with- 
 out his consent, especially/, since she was illegitimate : 
 But if she ivould renounce her 2)Tetensions and refer 
 herself ivhoUi/ to him, she might expect all the 
 favor that could consist with the dignity of the 
 Apostolic See,'' On the receipt of this message 
 Elizabeth was filled with high resentment, and 
 recalled her Ambassador, which amounted as it 
 were, at the very onset of her reign, to a declara- 
 tion of war. 
 
 King Philip sent her a different message, and phiiipVmps 
 earnestly solicited her hand in marriage — a cir- '''"*'• 
 
494 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION cumstance which discovers the secret motives by 
 ni. which he was urged, when he protected EUzabeth 
 in the last reign, from the resentment of her 
 Sister. At present, the Queen did not absolutely 
 reject his advances, but thought it prudent, in the 
 infancy of her affairs, to allow the matter to rest 
 in abeyance. 
 
 The state of her council next engaged her atten- 
 tion ; and she resolved to retain such of the Min- 
 isters of the late Queen, as she had reason to con- 
 clude, were moderate and w^ell disposed men ; but 
 at this early period, she discovered that discrimi- 
 nating judgment, for which she was ever remark- 
 able, in advancing to her councils those distin- 
 guished men. Sir William Cecil and Sir Nicholas 
 Bacon, whose names are famous in the annals of 
 the world. 
 
 The former of these individuals who is better 
 known under the title of Lord Burleigh, w^as one 
 of the most able and upright statesmen, which 
 this country has ever produced. He was descend- 
 ed from a good family, and was educated at Gran- 
 tham Grammar School, from whence he was re- 
 moved to Saint John's College, Cambridge. He 
 soon became remarkable for his assiduity and 
 attention to study ; and in those literary studies 
 he was fully prepared for that high station in the 
 councils of his country, which it was his destina- 
 tion to fill. 
 
 Cecil, Lord 
 
 Burleigh. 
 
 495 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Sir Nicholas 
 Bacon 
 
 He had married the daughter of Sir John SECTION 
 Cheke, by whom he was recomxmended to the HI. 
 Protector Somerset, and was employed in import- 
 ant offices of the state, during the reign of Edward 
 VI. He was preserved through the dangers of 
 the succeeding reign for great purposes ; and a 
 few days after the accession of Elizabeth, he w^as 
 raised to the rank of a Privy Councillor, and 
 created first Secretary of State; and to him, 
 must be allotted a great share of the prudence 
 and wisdom and integrity, Avhich adorned the 
 transactions of this reign. 
 
 Nor was Sir Nicholas Bacon inferior to his 
 colleague in office. He was also educated at 
 Cambridge. He studied law at Grays Inn, and 
 became so distinguished, that he was appointed 
 by Henry VIII, as attorney of the Wards, a office 
 in which he was continued during the Reign of 
 Edward VI, and, happily, his great moderation 
 and consummate prudence preserved him during 
 the dangerous reign of Queen Mary. To this 
 eminent person, Elizabeth committed the great 
 seal, but his modesty, for which he was as eminent, 
 as for his great qualifications, would not permit 
 him to assume the name of Lord High Chancellor; 
 and he adopted the humble name of Lord Keeper. 
 
 These arrangements having been made, the 
 wheels of Government w^ere immediately set in 
 motion, and the action of the reign, rapidly ad- 
 vanced to fulfil its destined course. The corona- 
 
 Cornnation, 
 A. D 15,;9. 
 
 1 1 
 
496 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION tion which took place in the month of January, 
 III. was solemnized with great splendour and magni- 
 .^^^Sl^J:^^ ficence ; and with such universal joy and satisfac- 
 tion, that the anniversary of it was observed 
 throughout the whole reign, as a Religious Festival. 
 Obstinacy of Such was the early manifestation of the Queen's 
 
 IhoirjBithlpt ^i^^ ^^i* respect to Eeligion, that the perse- 
 cuting Bishops, who had so lately embrued their 
 hands in blood, were exceedingly discouraged. 
 They felt themselves so deeply committed to the 
 cause, for which they had proceeded to such extre- 
 mities, that they could not comply as they had 
 done before, w^ith the changes which they saw to 
 be inevitable. This feeling prevailed so far, that 
 none of them would assist Oglethorpe, Bishop of 
 Carlisle, by whom the ceremony of the Coronation 
 was performed. 
 
 It will be remembered, that at the death of 
 Queen Mary, the nation was involved in war with 
 Peace with Fraucc and Scotland. Her council strongly re- 
 commended a peace, which she determined, if pos- 
 sible, to achieve. But the restitution of Calais 
 opposed great difficulties in the w^ay of the nego- 
 tiation. At length it was agreed, that Calais 
 should remain in the hands of the French for 
 eight years ; and at the end of that period, it 
 should either be restored, or, they should pay a 
 sum of Five hundred thousand pounds ; upon which 
 a general peace was concluded, much to the satis- 
 faction of the people. 
 
 France. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 497 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Parliament now met, in which it was SECTION 
 noticed that the Queen, had, in her Writs of Sum- HI, 
 mons, assumed the title of Supreme Head of the 
 Church of England, and a bill was enacted for res- 
 toring to the Crown the first fruits and tenths, 
 which had been alienated during the last reign. 
 Their next act was for the re-establishment of Po- 
 litical Protestantism, by which all the acts 
 made against the Pope's powder in the Reign of 
 Henry VI II, were revived. They also enacted an 
 oath, in w^hich the Queen was acknowh^dged, " Su- 
 preine Governor in all causes, and over all persons' 
 — a title which may be considered the true, as 
 it is the last established, title of the Kings and 
 Queens of England. The Queen w^as also em- 
 powered to grant commissions, for judging and 
 reforming ecclesiastical matters. In this enact- 
 ment was laid the foundation of the High commis- 
 sion Court, which was nothing more than distri- 
 buting that power, which in the reign of Henry, 
 was confined to one person. 
 
 These innovations on the authority of the Pope 
 awakened all the zeal of the Popish party, and the '^^r'nt-'-a 
 most flagrant and seditious language against the 
 Government, was used in their public discourses ; 
 upon which, recourse was had to the arbitrary 
 precedent which had been adopted by the late 
 Queen ; and a general prohibition not to preach, 
 without license was issued. At the same time, an 
 unexpected novelty was exhibited to the nation, un- 
 
 Confcrence 
 
 K K 
 
498 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V 
 
 Romish 
 Bishops are 
 obstinate. 
 
 SECTION ^^^^ ^^^ sanction of Government. A public and 
 III. solemn Conference was appointed to take place, 
 between the Romish Bishops and the Protestant 
 Divines. Nine persons were appointed on each 
 side, to dispute on these three points — " Worship 
 in an unknown tongue " — *' The authority of every 
 particular Church to alter rites and ceremonies" — 
 and '' The propitiatory sacrifice of the Mass. " 
 
 The Conference was held on the last day of 
 March in Westminster Abbey, in the presence of 
 the Privy Council — ^l^oth Houses of Parliament — 
 and an immense concourse of Spectators. Truth 
 was mighty and prevailed ; and the applauses of 
 the assembly were so much in favor of the speak- 
 ers on the Protestant side, that the Romish 
 Bishops became obstinately dumb, and refused 
 to proceed according to the rules which had been 
 prescribed. Nor was this all; the Bishops of 
 Winchester and Lincoln, proceeded to inveigh 
 against the proceeding: ''That the faith of the 
 Church ought not to be examined, but in a synod 
 of Divines ; that it gave too great encouragement 
 to Heretics to dispute with them ; and that the 
 Queen and Council ought to he excommunicated, 
 for suffering them to argue against the Catholic 
 Faith, before a new tribunal. " For this uncalled 
 for rebuke, the two Prelates were sent to the 
 Tower. The Lord Keeper dismissed the assembly 
 with a terse, but significant announcement to all 
 the Bishops ! — " Since you are not willing that we 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 499 
 
 f 
 
 should hear you, you shall, very shortly, hear from SECTION 
 
 us. 
 
 >> 
 
 Lnmediately after the breaking up of this Con- 
 
 ni. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 ference, the Parliament proceeded to the Re-es- Formularies 
 tablishment of RELIGIOUS PROTESTANT- ^fiotm^el': 
 ISM. The '' Book of Common Prayer " with the 
 Ordination Service, as appointed in the fifth year 
 of Edward VI. was confirmed and established; 
 and before the Parliament was dissolved, all the 
 Religious Houses founded by Queen Mary, were 
 suppressed. 
 
 A general Visitation was appointed, the Liturgy integrity of 
 in English, was introduced into all the Churches, '^^^"^^^^^^ 
 and images were removed without any tumult. — 
 The Oath of Supremacy was offered to all persons 
 holding ecclesiastical promotions — and it is a re- 
 markable circumstance, affording demonstrative 
 evidence, that neither the Revenues of the Church 
 nor the Churches themselves, changed hands at the 
 Reformation ! for out of the nine thousand four 
 hundred Ecclesiastical preferments, only fourteen 
 Bishops, six Abbots, twelve Deans, twelve Arch- 
 deacons, fifteen heads of Colleges, fifty Prebend- 
 aries, and eighty Rectors, were dispossessed ! — 
 Hence it is evident, that the change which took 
 place at the Reformation, did not affect the char- 
 acter of the Church as a Corporate body. It con- 
 tinued in the same line of propriety in which it 
 had been from the beginning : the alteration was 
 in its Doctrine and manners ; and in this respect. 
 
500 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION SO far from being a schism, it was restored to the 
 IH' sacred unity of the Church, by establishing its 
 
 ^^^^^;.,^ doctrines on the primitive and Apostolic model. 
 Vacant See The ucxt important step which occupied the at- 
 
 of Canterbury teutiou of thc Quecn and her ministers, was the 
 ^^' selection of a suitable person to fill the See of Can- 
 terbury, which had become vacant on the death of 
 Cardinal Pole, who only survived Queen Mary, 
 the space of four hours. Both Cecil and Sir Nic- 
 holas Bacon recommended Doctor Matthew Parker 
 to the appointment ; and the Queen who was pre- 
 possessed in his favour, determined to raise him 
 to that high dignity. He was a person of distin- 
 guished learning and piety. He had commenced 
 his studies at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, 
 and afterwards became Tutor and Master of that 
 College. In the reign of Henry VIII, he became 
 chaplain to Queen Anne Boleyn ; and in the reign 
 of Edward VI, he was appointed Dean of Lincoln ; 
 but in the persecution of Mary, he was deprived 
 of all his preferments, and retired into great seclu- 
 sion ; where he devoted his time to the noblest 
 purposes, living amongst his books, in meditation 
 and prayer. When he first received the news of 
 his appointment, like his predecessor Cranmer, 
 and with the same primitive spirit, he resolutely 
 opposed it; and, it was some months before he 
 could be prevailed upon to accept the dignity with 
 which the Queen delighted to honour him. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 501 
 
 ] 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Queen s '* Conge d'elire" was issued to the SECTION 
 Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, July twenty- HI. 
 eighth, 1559, and on the first day of August they ,^ 
 certified to the Queen, the election of Matthew 
 Parker as their Archbishop, in order that it might 
 be confirmed by her Letters Patent. Shortly after, 
 a commission was issued for his consecration ; and 
 after that, a second, directed to Anthony, Bishop 
 of Landaff, William Barlow, formerly Bishop 
 of Bath, and Bishop elect of Chichester, John 
 Scory, formerly Bishop of Chichester, and Bishop 
 elect of Hereford, Miles Coverdale formerly Bis- 
 hop of Exeter, John de Bedford and John de Thet- 
 ford, suffragan Bishops, and John Bale, Bishop 
 of Ossory, in order that all, or at least four of 
 them, should proceed to the consecration of Parker. 
 
 The Election of Doctor Parker was confirmed 
 on the eighth of December, by four of the Epis- 
 copal Commissioners ; and on the seventeenth of 
 December, they proceeded to his Consecration. 
 The Act of Confirmation is to be met with, in 
 Archbishop Bramhall's works — large fragments of 
 it are quoted by the Author of the life of Archbi- 
 shop Parker. The following passage is from Cam- 
 den, a contemporary author, and one of the most 
 exact and judicious writers which England has 
 produced — "Matthew^ Parker, a man pious, lear- 
 ned, and of discreet behaviour, who from being 
 Chaplain, in ordinary, to Henry VIII, had been 
 appointed Dean of the Collegiate Church of Stoke 
 
 i 
 
 
502 
 
 THEOCUATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 503 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 SECTION Clare, was duly elected Archbishop of Canterbury 
 ni. and consecrated at Lambeth, after the preachhig 
 
 ^^^l^J:,^ of a sermon, the invocation of the Holy Ghost 
 and the celebration of the Eucharist, by the im- 
 position of the hands of three who had been for- 
 merly Bishops — of William Barlow formerly Bis- 
 hop of Bath, John Scory formerly Bishop of 
 Chichester, Miles Coverdale formerly Bishop of 
 Exeter, and John, Suffragan of Bedford.* " 
 successionai I havo bccu morc particular in the account of 
 
 ministry of the ^j^jg trausactiou, bccausc the Romanists have en- 
 
 Church pre- iat 
 
 served. dcavoured to throw discredit upon the Anglican 
 
 Ordination, as if by some informality, the succes- 
 sion of the Christian Ministry had been inter- 
 rupted. But happily, for the peace and unity of 
 the English Church, the public Records have been 
 strictly preserved, and their testimony became too 
 powerful to be successfully contradicted. The 
 fact of Archbishop Parker's consecration, has been 
 placed beyond all suspicion of doubt; and the 
 Apostolic Ministerial succession of the Church of 
 England, can no longer afford the shadow of a 
 dispute. The commission which Christ gave to 
 his Apostles, for perpetuating the Christian Min- 
 istry, has descended to us, and in its authority, 
 
 ♦ Camden, Eliz. p. 38. The original of this Consecration 
 is yet preserved in the Registers of Canterbury, and in the Li- 
 brary of Corpus Christi College Cambridge, and may be seen 
 in the Appendix to Courayer's Vindication ; and the whole 
 account perfectly agrees with the public Records which are in 
 Ryraer's Collection ; but the Romanists allege without any 
 foundation, that there is a doubt of Barlow's Consecration. 
 
 J 
 
 I 
 
 f 
 
 I! 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 the several orders of the English branch of the SECTION 
 Catholic Church, exercise their spiritual functions HI. 
 with one additional circumstance of immense 
 importance and value. And it is an important 
 consideration, which gives to the commission of 
 the Church of England an authority, incomparably 
 superior to that of the Church of Rome, that the 
 former holds its commission with the true decla- 
 ration of Christ's Doctrine, whereas the latter has 
 adulterated the very purport of the commission, 
 with the Inventions of Man ; and indeed, to such 
 a fearful extent, that it may be justly regarded as 
 having abrogated the authority of its commission. 
 — ''Whosoever" says the Divine Oracle, *' trans- 
 gresseth and ahideth not in the doctrine of Christ ; 
 iiATH NOT God. He that abideth in the doctrine 
 of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."* 
 
 After the establishment of Archbishop Parker Bishop 
 in the See of Canterbury, the other vacant Bish- ^y appointed. 
 opricks were filled up with the most learned Di- 
 vines in the kingdom. — Their learning and piety 
 shed a lustre on the reign which they adorned. — 
 And no wonder : for it was a custom with Eliza- 
 beth, when an individual was recommended to 
 her, to ask, *" If there were not others to be found 
 of greater learning and |;i^/^, to ivhom she might 
 recommend the care of the Church^ 
 
 An opportunity now occurred, which enabled 
 the English Government to exhibit before the eyes 
 
 * 2. Epist. John, i. 9 
 
 s wise- 
 
504 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 505 
 
 ^y 
 
 SECTION of Europe, the vigour and capacity which anima- 
 
 ni. ted its Councils, 
 K^Jr^.^^s^ It will be remembered, that Mary the young 
 Eniiiish iia- Queen of Scotland, very much agamst the wish 
 ^)|*"^"'J', ^f '^ of England, had been married to the Dauphin of 
 France. Fraucc. Hc had now become King, under the 
 
 name of Francis II. and, in right of his Queen, who 
 was nearly allied to the English throne, assumed 
 the arms and title of King of England. This was 
 intended, not only as an insult to Elizabeth, but 
 as a pretext for invading the kingdom, and was 
 eagerly hailed as a favourable opening, by the 
 Romish party The Queen and her Ministers saw 
 the formidable evils to which they might be ex- 
 posed from this quarter, and resolved to seize the 
 first opportunity to ward off the threatened danger. 
 In Scotland, the Mother of Mary was Regent 
 during the minority of her daughter. She was 
 violently opposed to the Reformation, which in 
 that Country was carried on with great heat and 
 imprudence. The people broke out into open 
 insurrection ; but she was so effectually supported 
 in her arbitrary measures by the French, that 
 they were driven to despair. In this extremity, 
 they applied to Elizabeth. A treaty was conclud- 
 ed with the States of Scotland, the English flag 
 was soon floating in the Frith of Forth, and a 
 fine army penetrated Scotland by land. The 
 French, though strongly fortified in Leith, were 
 obliged to capitulate, and immediately to agree to 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 ^ 
 
 the terms of Peace dictated by Elizabeth — that SECTION 
 the French should instantly evacuate Scotland, lU- 
 that the King and Queen of France and Scotland, 
 should no longer bear the arms of England — that Treaty of 
 none but natives should enjoy office in Scotland ^^ j^ [.^^^ 
 — that during the Queen's absence, the Kingdom 
 should be governed by twelve persons, seven of 
 whom, should be chosen by the Queen of Scots, 
 and five by the States ; and that she should nei- 
 ther make Peace nor War without the consent of 
 the States ; and to complete the triumph, ships 
 were dispatched from England, to convey the 
 French troops into their own country. 
 
 By the vigorous and successful termination of 
 this enterprize, and by her moderation towards the 
 Scots themselves, at a season of great extremity, 
 she gained so much their regard and confidence, 
 that she converted the power, which her enemies 
 had hoped to wield against her, into her strongest 
 support and security ; and obtained in that king- 
 dom a permanent and powerful influence. 
 
 Indeed, from this moment we may perceive the The results, 
 unfolding of the Divine purposes, with respect to i^^r Policy was 
 
 ^ r AT *^ accomplish. 
 
 the British Empire. James I. the son ot Mary 
 Queen of Scots, who was to succeed to the throne 
 of England, on the death of Elizabeth, was not 
 yet born, but the way for that great event in our 
 history, was preparing. In the circumstances 
 which we have just narrated, its foundation was 
 laid, and in the wise and prudent policy which 
 
506 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The Pope 
 virtually con- 
 firms the Re- 
 formation. 
 
 SECTION Elizabeth subsequently pursued in the affairs of 
 Ilf- that kingdom, the minds of the people were grad- 
 ually prepared to follow the destinies of England, 
 and eventually, to unite themselves with the En- 
 glish Nation. It is this grand object, which divine 
 Providence was intending to accomplish, that can 
 alone unravel many of the mysterious transactions 
 of this reign. 
 
 Whilst the no])lest Princes of Europe were 
 soliciting the hand of Elizabeth in marriage, the 
 Pope, Pius II. with that artifice, which can suit 
 itself to all occasions, wrote to her in the most 
 affectionate terms, exhorting her to return to the 
 unity of the Church. It is said that he promised 
 to recal the sentence, w^hich had been pronounced 
 against her mother's marriage — confirm the Book 
 of Common Prayer in English, and permit the 
 people to use the Sacrament in both kinds. But 
 the Queen resisted his insinuations, whilst the 
 Pope justified this change of policy in the Pope- 
 dom, by aftirming that he would humble himself 
 even to heresy itself inasmuch as whatever was done 
 to gain souls to Christ, was becoming that See, 
 The Pope though rejected in his first addresses 
 still persevered ; and when, in the following year, 
 he sent the Abbot Nortiniago as far as Flanders, 
 the Queen sent him a positive message, not to 
 land upon her shores. And though the Emperor 
 and the King of Spain earnestly entreated that he 
 might be heard, she replied to them with some 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 507 
 
 courtesy, that she could not treat with the Bishop SECTION 
 of Rome, whose authority in England was totally HI. 
 abolished by Act of Parliament : but to the Pope's ^^x^"V"0 
 Nuncio she gave an absolute denial, which at once 
 concluded the negotiation. 
 
 In the mean time, the King of France, Francis Mary Queen 
 II died, and his widow the Queen of Scotland, ^^^^f^'- 
 
 ^ turns home. 
 
 made preparations for returning to her own conn- a. d. 1561. 
 try. She applied to Elizabeth for a safe passage, 
 which Elizabeth promised on condition, that she 
 would ratify the treaty of Edinburgh. This was 
 reasonable ; but the high spirit of Mary, yet untu- 
 tored by the sad lessons of experience, which she 
 had afterwards to learn, refused the condition, and 
 embarked for Scotland, where she safely arrived. 
 
 Soon after her arrival, she sent her Secretary, ner impru- 
 Lydington, a man of great ability and discretion, ^^"""^ 
 with a message to Elizabeth, in which she depart- 
 ed from the prudence she had hitherto exercised 
 in her native government ; and which, under the 
 circumstances, was not only impertinent but pre- 
 posterous. Instead of ratifying the articles of the 
 Treaty of Edinburgh, she offered to enter into a 
 solemn league with Elizabeth, provided she should 
 be declared by proclamation, or Act of Parliament, 
 heir apparent to the Crown of England, Of course 
 such proposals could not be entertained for a mo- 
 ment — Elizabeth and her advisers saw that such 
 an acknowledgment would have divided the Na- 
 
508 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 509 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Extensive 
 warlike prepa 
 rations. 
 
 SECTION tion into two great parties, and essentially weak- 
 Ill- ened the Government, by destroying its unity. 
 
 Whilst, however, they rejected the alliance of 
 the Queen of Scots, on such grounds ; with a cau- 
 tious and prophetic policy, during the time of peace 
 they made the most extensive preparations for 
 w^ar. Arms were purchased in Germany to a great 
 amount : iron and brass cannon were cast ; gun- 
 powder prepared, w^hich was now first made in 
 England. The garrison of Berwick w^as strength- 
 ened. The castles wdthin twenty miles of Scot- 
 land w^ere rebuilt. Another was erected on the 
 Medway, for the use of the shipping : the naval 
 force was increased to a great extent, and furnish- 
 ed with twenty thousand able seamen. Commerce 
 and trade w^ere encouraged and extended; and 
 Elizabeth acquired the title of " Restorer of the 
 naval glory of England, and Queen of the North 
 Sea ! " 
 Their uiti- Thcsc preparations were made on the pros- 
 
 matedestina- pg^^; ^f y.^^ ^\\k). Fraucc, whicli was at that 
 
 tion. 
 
 A.D 15C2. time in a fearful state of confusion and anarchy, 
 on account of the Reformation, w^hich was opposed 
 with fatal violence by Charles IX, and his mother 
 the Queen Regent. The parties were strong and 
 pow^erful ; the contest long and dubious ; till at 
 length, the Popish party fatally triumphed in the 
 massacre of Saint Bartholomew, which I shall 
 advert to in its proper place. At present, Queen 
 Elizabeth, shewed her favour and concern for the 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Protestants in Normandy ; and sent them supplies SECTION 
 both of men and money. But her great prepara- HI. 
 tions, though not immediately necessary, were de- 
 signed by Divine Providence, to be her protection 
 and defence on a future day of peril, ofw^hich she 
 was then altogether unconscious ! 
 
 The Pope had now returned to other counsels The Pope's 
 and entered into a league with the Kings of Spain *^'"'^^'"' ^'""^■ 
 and France ; and a plan was formed for deposing 
 Elizabeth, a design in which many noble persons 
 in England wTre implicated. The parties w^ere 
 immediately arrested ; and Arthur Pole and his 
 brother, Great-grand Nephews of Edward IV, 
 Anthony Fortescue, who had married their sister, 
 and others, w^ere arraigned for a conspiracy to with- 
 draw themselves into France ; and from thence, 
 to return with an army into Wales, and to pro- 
 claim the Queen of Scots, Sovereign of England. 
 They confessed their guilt and were condemned ; 
 but their lives w^ere spared because they were of 
 the blood royal of England. 
 
 In the midst of these plots, a Parliament was parliament. 
 called, and it was thought necessary to pass some 
 strong measures, for supporting the Queen's supre- 
 macy against the machinations and assumed au- 
 thority of the Roman Pontiff. An act was passed 
 for publishing the Bible in Welsh; and the uiuie in Welsh. 
 Convocation which sat at the same time, put a '^* ^* ^'^^* 
 finishing hand to the Reformation, which had been 
 in progress for thirty years, by a revision and 
 
510 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTOUY. 
 
 511 
 
 band. 
 
 SECTION publication of the thirty ninth articles, in English 
 
 HI. and Latin, as in force at this day. 
 ^^^^^^^^ Whilst these peaceful and important matters 
 The Fari of wcrc transacting in England, the French Papists 
 Leicester pro- ^ ^^ Dukc of Guisc, cvcr plottiu"^ asaiust the 
 
 posed as a hus- ^ o o 
 
 peace of England, projected a marriage between 
 the Queen of Scots and Charles of Austria; a 
 match which it was the interest and policy of Eliz- 
 abeth, if possible, to prevent, inasmuch as such an 
 alliance would have brought the kingdom of Scot- 
 land under a forei^cn influence. The Queen there- 
 fore earnestly entreated her to take a husband out 
 of England, and recommended to her, Lord Robert 
 Dudley, whom she had raised to great honors. 
 The sincerity of Elizabeth cannot be doubted. 
 In expectation that her recommendation would be 
 accepted, she created her favorite. Earl of Lei- 
 cester, and promised Mary that if she would be 
 obedient in this matter, she should, by Act of Par- 
 liament, be declared her sister, daughter and suc- 
 cessor to the English crown. 
 
 Commissioners were afterwards appointed by 
 England and Scotland, to settle the preliminaries 
 of this marriage ; but it was frustrated by the se- 
 cret influence of the parties. Leicester, himself, 
 was averse to it, because his vain, ambitious 
 mind aspired to the hand of Elizabeth herself. — 
 The Queen of Scots was averse to it, because she 
 contemplated a better match with the House of 
 Lennox, nearly related to the crown of England, 
 
 by which she intended to strengthen her own title SECTION 
 to that crown. m^ 
 
 In the mean time, the Queen of Scotland had ,^^1^^%^ 
 sent for the Duke of Lennox, under pretence of Lord Dam- 
 restoring him to his forfeited inheritance in that ^'^^ p'*'^'''!;^^; 
 country; and shortly after, she persuaded Elizabeth 
 to allow his son, the Earl Darnley to follow his 
 father, for the purpose of sharing with him in the 
 joy of his restoration. But when she saw Darn- 
 ley, possessing every grace and accomplishment of 
 external form, and the next in the hereditary line 
 of succession to herself, she deliberated no longer, 
 but determined to make him King of Scotland. 
 
 ^ They were married with great pomp and mag- EariofMur- 
 nificence, and in all probability, although the ""^y ^^^ """ "*" 
 
 endowments of Lord Darnley \s mind were not" 
 
 equal to those of his person, they would have 
 been happy, had it not been for the cruel genius 
 of her illegitimate brother, which presided over 
 the destinies of the unfortunate Queen. As far 
 as I can disentangle this most intricate portion of 
 history, which prejudiced and contending histo- 
 rians have perplexed beyond measure, this person 
 was the foundation of all her personal evils. His 
 vigilance was unwearied. He watched her every 
 moment, and never rested in his opposition to her, 
 till he had forced her into exile, and pursued her 
 to the scaff"old. Whether this man was in his 
 conduct actuated by ambitious or patriotic views, 
 is a difficult question for us positively to decide. 
 
 Mary. 
 
512 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 513 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Evils of 
 Scotland. 
 
 SECTION Probably there was a mixture of both. But we 
 JII. must not enlarge, nor allow too much space to 
 Scottish History, in this review of our own. 
 
 The Leader of the Protestant party, highly 
 resented the marriage of the Queen with a Papist, 
 the evils of which were greatly magnified by the 
 violent harangues of John Knox and his adherents. 
 The discontented party took up arms with the 
 Earl of Murray at their head, but were routed by 
 the Queen's army, and obliged to take flight into 
 
 England. 
 
 The condition of Scotland was, at this time, so 
 disordered, and the spirit of the contending parties 
 so desperate, that their leaders considered them- 
 selves justified in adopting any measures, which 
 should strengthen their interests. Acting on this 
 infamous principle, the Earl of Murray, whilst in 
 exile, did not scruple to sow the seeds of discord 
 between the Queen and her husband, especially 
 through the Earl of Morton who was officially at- 
 tached to the person of the latter. Morton soon 
 found a fit occasion for the accomplishment of his 
 scheme, in the advancement of David Rizzio, 
 whom Mary had taken into her confidence, and 
 consulted on all occasions. 
 
 This man was an ItaUan, who first came to the 
 Court of Scotland, in the train of some foreign 
 Nobleman, and, on the departure of his master, 
 remained behind as Mary's musician ; but who, 
 shortly after, by his address and ability, raised 
 
 himself to a supremacy in her favour. The ban- SECTION 
 ished Lords by every method in their powder, in- TN. 
 flamed the jealousy of the King, and Rizzio was v^x^v^O 
 cruelly murdered by several of the nobles, headed 
 by the King himself. Murray and the other Pro- 
 testant leaders were recalled ; but Mary determi- 
 ned upon a deep and fatal revenge. She prevailed 
 upon the King by her blandishments, to withdraw 
 his personal authority, and to give up the other 
 assassins to her vengeance ! She then cast him 
 from her, with disdain, and followed him with 
 daily proofs of her displeasure and even hatred. — 
 Nor was she long without supplying herself witli 
 another favorite, in the person of the Earl of Both- 
 well, to whose counsels she entirely resigned her- 
 self; and through his influence, even the assassins 
 of Rizzio were recalled. 
 
 The unhappy King alone, w^as left as a fated 
 victim to his own absurd and impetuous jealousy, 
 to w^hich he had been excited by the artful insin- 
 uations of others, w^ho secretly laughed at the cre- 
 dulity which they had inspired ; but this afforded 
 no excuse for his crime, and upon his head the 
 blood of Rizzio w^as to be expiated. But the 
 Queen, who was to be the instrument of his pun- 
 ishment, and, of whose breast the demon of revenge 
 had taken full possession, was preparing for her- 
 self a long train of retri])utory judgments. 
 
 Whilst the Earl of Bothwell advanced every ^'^"'■^^•* ""^ 
 
 •^ Darnley. 
 
 day, in favour and dignity, the King was treated a. d. imi, 
 
 L L 
 
514 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 t 
 
 SECTION with contumely and neglect. He was so much 
 1^1- wounded by the Queen's conduct, that he deter- 
 mined to retire from the kingdom, and, had actually 
 made preparations for his embarkation, when he 
 was suddenly seized, with an alarming sickness 
 which was imputed to poison. A remarkable 
 change was observable in the Queen's conduct. 
 She visited the King at Glasgow, soothed him in 
 his sickness, and caused him to return with her to 
 Edinburgh ; where he was lodged in a house, a 
 short distance from the Palace, as a place of greater 
 tranquillity. But the diabolical plot for his des- 
 truction was hastening to its accomplishment. 
 
 The Queen visited him, and shewed him every 
 mark of attention and kindness ; and generally re- 
 posed at night, in a room under his apartment : 
 but one evening, she excused herself on account of 
 the marriage of one of her attendants, at the so- 
 lemnization of which, she wished to be present. 
 And on that fatal night, it was determined he 
 should perish. He was murdered in some inhu- 
 man manner; and to disguise if possible the deed, 
 the house in which he slept was blown up with 
 gunpowder. 
 
 Volumes have been written to clear this guilty 
 woman, from the crime of being the murderer of 
 her husband. Her station and dignity preserved 
 her, and her accomplices, from the awards of out- 
 raged law and justice : but the offended Majesty 
 of Heaven, pursued the culprits,— hurled one from 
 
 Divine Jus 
 ti<'c pursues 
 them. 
 
 > 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 515 
 
 her throne, to undergo every indignity, to spend SECTION 
 her days in a prison, and end her life on the scaf- HI. 
 fold ; whilst the other was ejected from his country .^^^^^^-^i^ 
 as a fugitive and a vagabond, to drag out a forlorn 
 and miserable existence in a foreign land ; and at 
 length, deprived of his senses, to end his days in 
 a dungeon ! 
 
 For the moment, however, their guilty pur- Botimeii 
 poses succeeded. Bothwell, who was effectually sanies the 
 
 1 ' t t -I n • 1 .i,-i 1 Queen of Soot- 
 
 shielded from punishment by the supreme autho- lanj. 
 rity, was, soon after, divorced from his wife, and 
 with the most indecent precipitation, married to 
 the Queen. The country was filled with dumb as- 
 tonishment at the enormity of these proceedings, 
 and the whole nation was involved in disgrace and 
 infamy. 
 
 But a signal and sudden vengeance from an un- Queen de. 
 seen and unerring hand, was even now preparing. ^^^''""*^^'- 
 The indignant spirit of the nation, slumbered in 
 sullen silence, ready in a moment, to be roused 
 into fearful action. That moment was precipita- 
 ted by an overt act of the parties themselves. This 
 was an attempt by the Earl of Bothwell to gain 
 possession of the young Prince — an attempt which 
 no doubt, was sanctioned by the Queen. But for 
 whatever purpose, this movement on the part of 
 Bothwell and the Queen, was made, the whole 
 nation were alarmed, and took up arms against 
 the Sovereign. The contention was brief: Mary 
 was taken prisoner, and obliged to resign her 
 
51G 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Detained in 
 Prison. 
 
 SECTION throne in favour of her son. Having effected her 
 III- escape, she fled into England. On her arrival in 
 that country, Elizabeth was inclined to receive 
 her v^ith sympathy and kindness ; but her wary 
 Counsellors, retarded the benevolent feelings of 
 the Queen, and insisted that the mode of her re- 
 ception required the most mature deliberation. — 
 They advised that the Queen of Scots should be 
 retained, till she gave satisfaction to the English 
 Government, for having assumed the Arms of En- 
 gland, and for the murder of the late King of Scot- 
 land, w^ho was an English subject. 
 
 Commissioners were appointed to decide upon 
 the conditions of her liberty, and her restoration 
 to the throne of Scotland. It would be tedious to 
 enter into a detail of their transactions. Suffice 
 it to say, that every arrangement was frustrated, 
 entirely by the Earl of Murray, who was at the 
 head of the Scotch Protestant party, and Mary 
 W'as detained a prisoner. 
 
 Whoever considers these circumstances with at- 
 tention, and their important bearing on the future 
 prosperity, tranquillity, and unity of the two king- 
 doms, must perceive, how these events, unknown 
 to the parties themselves, were tending to secure 
 these great purposes. What would have been the 
 effect in Scotland, had Mary married the Earl of 
 Leicester? Certainly, Elizabeth would have pro- 
 tected the marriage which she had solicited, and 
 Mary must have been fixed on the throne of Scot- 
 
 I: 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 517 
 
 i 
 
 land. What would have been the effect on Eng- SECTION 
 land, whose future Monarch was to be received Hi- 
 from Scotland, and whose education must have v^l^^^!-v^ 
 been under the direction of his mother "? In all 
 probability, the grand object of this reign, the es- 
 tablishment of Protestantism, would have been 
 frustrated. It does appear that Queen Mary was 
 made a victim for the welfare of the two kingdoms, 
 and her own enormous wickedness prepared the 
 way for that sacrifice; so that, whilst she w^as 
 "justly punished for her offences," her personal res- 
 traint was for the national advantage. 
 
 In the mean time, the fame of the Queen of ceat fame 
 England, reached the utmost boundaries of the^^^'*^^^^'^^- 
 earth, and many foreigners of distinction were in- 
 vited by it, to visit her Court. Amongst these, 
 Cicely, sister to the King of Denmark, was at- 
 tracted to see the splendour of her court, and to 
 observe the wisdom of her Government. Whilst 
 she tarried in England, she gave birth to a son, 
 to whom the indulgent Queen stood Godmother ; 
 and gave him the name of Edward Fortunatus, 
 and allowed him an annual pension. 
 
 An embassy also arrived from Muscovy, bring- 
 ing with them, presents of the richest sables ; and 
 what was of more consequence to the national 
 prosperity, they made the most advantageous offers 
 of trade and commerce, which gave rise to the 
 Russian Company : and it should not be omitted, 
 in a patriotic history like this, that with these Am- 
 
 ^Si 
 
li 
 
 518 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 519 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Rif<c of a 
 dreadful Pcrsc- 
 tutioa. 
 
 SECTION bassadors, returned Anthony Jenkinson, the first 
 III. EngHshman who sailed through the Caspian. He 
 afterwards published his Travels, which tended 
 to enlarge the boundaries of geographical know- 
 ledge. 
 
 Notwithstanding the prosperity of the Country, 
 and the apparent solidity of the government, no- 
 thing could damp the fiery zeal of the Eomanists 
 for the recovery of their lost power. Emissaries 
 from Rome, were sent to corrupt the Queen's sub- 
 jects from their allegiance ; and at the same time, 
 a great and powerful confederacy of the Roman 
 Catholic Princes was entered into, for the utter 
 extirpation of heresy. At the head of this confed- 
 eracy was Philip, King of Spain, who had been 
 singularly led to devote himself to the furtherance 
 of this fneritormis work. On his return from 
 the Netherlands to Spain, the fleet in which 
 he was conveyed, fell in with a dreadful tem- 
 pest : fortunately, the ship in which he sailed, 
 weathered the storm ; but with such difiiculty, and 
 as it were, against all hope, that his safety was 
 considered little short of a miracle. On reaching 
 the shore, overcome with the sense of a presiding 
 Deity, and affording another striking instance of 
 the intolerable spirit of the religion which he pro- 
 fessed, he fell upon his knees, and uttered a so- 
 lemn voAV, that the remainder of a life which had 
 been so Providentially saved, should he devoted 
 to the extirpation of hcresj/ / To this vow, which 
 
 1^ 
 
 in the mind of Philip was the most meritorious he SECTION 
 could make, and most becoming, in his estimation, HL 
 to the perfection of the Christian character, must ^'"^''•^• 
 be traced the origin of the Spanish Armada! It 
 would be unreasonable to impute it as a crime to 
 Philip, that he made not a better vow. Evidently 
 it was the best he knew how to make, it was 
 the fault of that system, under the influence of 
 which he had been brought up, and by the autho- 
 rity of which, he was blindly led. His vow was 
 as religiously kept, as it had been sincerely made. 
 His efforts were unremitting — his cruellies were 
 intolerable — and it was in consequence of this in- 
 human vow, that he placed himself as we have 
 just said, at the head of the confederacy, to carry 
 his vow of extirpation, throughout the world. In 
 furtherance of this object he entered into a secret 
 compact with Catharine of Medicis, for the total 
 destruction of the Protestants by fire and sword. 
 In this bloody scheme, more destructive to the 
 happiness and well-being of mankind, than had 
 ever been enterprised in any age or nation, were 
 associated two of the fiercest and most intolerant 
 of men, the Duke of Alva, Philip's vicegerent in 
 the Netherlands, and the Cardinal of Lorrain, 
 uncle to the Queen of Scots. 
 
 The legitimate effects of this alliance soon fol- 
 
 Eliz.iLcth 
 assists the Pro- 
 
 lowed. A persecution of the most fearful kind """''''' ^' 
 
 . testants. 
 
 raged m r ranee, under the Duke of Guise, in a. d. i5G9 
 which. King Charles IX and his mother the 
 
 ^•j 
 
520 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chai>. V. 
 
 Rise of rcli. 
 gious scets. 
 
 SECTION Queen Regent, were obliged to join by the over- 
 ^^*- whelming power of the Romish faction. In the 
 Netherlands, under the Duke of Alva, the most 
 bloody cruelties were perpetrated. Many escaped 
 to England, and were received with great kindness 
 by Elizabeth ! and the country which gave them 
 shelter was rewarded ; for to them, we are indebted 
 for the introduction of the manufacture of serges ; 
 and the extension of our trade. The Queen also, 
 as far as she was able, protected the Protestants 
 of France from the powerful influence directed 
 against them. 
 
 Whilst the excellent Queen and her wise Minis- 
 ters, were thus engaged in succouring the dis- 
 tressed, in upholding the principles of Protestan- 
 tism, and defending its professors in all parts of 
 the world,— fanatical zeal began to harrass the 
 Church, and to disturb the quiet of the Ecclesias- 
 tical order in England. It is the more necessary 
 to notice the origin of this spirit, because it after- 
 wards increased to such an enormous evil ; dethro- 
 ned the Monarch, and deluged the nation with 
 blood and slaughter. These " unruly and vain 
 talkers, " deeply impressed with an idea of the su- 
 perior excellence of the Geneva method of Church 
 government, broke out into violent invectives 
 against the order and discipline of tlie Church of 
 England. Many of them, indeed, simple and 
 well-meaning men, were made the instruments of 
 the more designing ; and it is well known, that their 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 < 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 521 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Knox, &c. 
 
 opposition was excited by the emissaries of Rome. SECTION 
 It will be necessary to observe, that the novel- H'* 
 ties which were introduced at this period, respect- 
 ing the Ecclesiastical order and discipline, were Caivin, 
 imported from Geneva, by the English fugitives 
 who had taken refuge there, during the persecution 
 of Mary. Calvin was the reformer of the Gene- 
 van Church — a man of great genius and learning ; 
 but of a vehement disposition. He revolted en- 
 tirely from the ancient regimen of the Church, 
 and established an ecclesiastical discipline of his 
 own, and a consistorial jurisdiction, with the power 
 of inflicting canonical punishment. From hence 
 the Puritans of Queen Elizabeth's day, drew their 
 opposition to the Church of England. It w^as in 
 that scheme that John Knox, the reformer of 
 Scotland was educated. Many of their proposi- 
 tions were valuable, and mighl: have been acted 
 upon, with great advantage to the nascent interests 
 of Protestantism. — But the Queen was peremptory, 
 and the Puritans, rigid. The first presbyterian 
 Church in England was founded at Wandsworth, 
 ill the year 1572. But I must not dwell upon 
 these details further than to observe, that together 
 with this departure from the Apostolic order, many 
 fanatical opinions made their appearance. Indeed, 
 such was the delusion inspired into vain and un- 
 stable minds, that it was considered law^ful by 
 them, to put to death any who opposed the truth 
 of the Gospel. Of course the^ were to be the 
 
522 
 
 'II 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Fanatics. 
 
 SECTION judges of the Truth, and of the extent of the op- 
 J^*' position which ought to be fatal. Such is the 
 danger of vaunting and innovation in reUgion. — 
 Nor was this a mere idle dream. It became a 
 dogma to be acted upon ; and one Peter Bourchet 
 was tried at common law, and executed, for carry- 
 ing this principle into practice. 
 
 To this period must be traced the enthusiastic 
 sect of the " family of Lere, " entertaining the most 
 wild and whimsical opinions ; unsound in doctrine 
 and corrupt in morals. This sect was of Dutch 
 origin. Whilst the Anabaptists, whose tenets 
 were of German origin, created great mischief and 
 disorder. There were two sects of these people, 
 greatly differing in their opinions. One generally 
 orthodox, but dissentient on the subject and mode 
 of Baptism, whilst the other, was a set of wild, 
 disordered fanatics, '' proud, fierce, incontinent, 
 abominable, and to every good work reprobate." 
 And to these must be added, as disturbers of the 
 Church, at this time, the Brownists, or followers of 
 a refractory Clergyman. Their principles narrow 
 and bigotted, were utterly at variance with every 
 thing that had ever been conjectured in Church 
 government. They asserted, that every Church 
 ought to be confined within the limits of a single 
 congregation ! and that the government should be 
 dcmocratical. But their arrogance was unbound- 
 ed ; for they unchurched the whole christian world, 
 and refused communion in hearing the word, in 
 
 id 
 
 { 
 
 i I 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 523 
 
 public prayer and administration of the Sacrament, SECTION 
 not only with the Church of England, but all HI. 
 other Foreign Reformed Churches.* It will only ^^^-v^'xL' 
 be necessary to observe, in briefly referring the 
 subject to our own days, that with the Puri- 
 tans, symbolize the Presbyterians ; the Baptists 
 of the present day, with the former class of 
 the Anabaptists; and the Independents, with the 
 Brownists. 
 
 Whilst these disorders were prevailing in Eng- storm of Per- 
 
 TTi.ii 11* xi sccution reach- 
 
 land, which however, were curbed with a very ^^ ^^^^-^.^^^^^ 
 firm and powerful hand, by the Queen and her a. d. ioto. 
 Ministers — the storm of persecution from abroad, 
 was extending its influence to our shores. Eleven 
 years had passed over the head of Elizabeth, since 
 she had assumed the government, and with the 
 assistance of her Council, she had conducted the 
 nation amidst the greatest difficulties, in a steady 
 course of improvement and prosperity. But every 
 attempt which had been secretly made by the 
 agents of the Church of Bome, were now more 
 openly urged to perplex the government ; and by 
 more vigorous measures, prevent if possible, the 
 permanent establishment of Protestant principles. 
 By the efforts, chiefly of one individual, Nicholas 
 Morton, a Bomish priest, who had been dispatched 
 by the Pope to denounce Queen Elizabeth as a 
 heretic, great numbers were drawn from their al- 
 legiance, and formed into a powerful confederacy ; 
 
 * Neal's HLst. Purit. p. 208, vol. 1. 
 
524 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION at the head of which, were the Earls of Northum- 
 IIf« berland and Westmoreland. The confederates 
 having united their forces, with a body of ten 
 thousand men, marched to the rescue of the Queen 
 of Scotland. They were pursued by the Queen's 
 army, under the Duke of Sussex. But the armies 
 never met, and the rebellion was dispersed with- 
 out a blow. Scarcely had this insurrection been 
 quelled, when Murray the Regent of Scotland 
 was assassinated ; and the Romish Lords in that 
 country, were induced to unite in the Foreign 
 Popish alliance to which we have alluded. lin- 
 mediately, Philip the King of Spain, the Duke of 
 Alva, and the King of France, made the most 
 earnest demands to the English government, for 
 the release of the Queen of Scots. But in vain. 
 Elizabeth sent them a most cautious answer. 
 That however anxious she might be, to reconcile 
 the Queen of Scotland and her subjects, yet in 
 nature, reason, and honor, she was bound, first, to 
 provide for the safety of her own kingdom. 
 
 This was answered by loud fulminations from 
 the Papal Throne. All his power was concentra- 
 ted and directed against the Queen of England, 
 in a plenary bull, which was affixed by some bold 
 adherent of the Papacy, to the gates of the Palace of 
 the Bishop of London. This extraordinary docu- 
 ment was inscribed with the following title. '' A 
 declaratory sentence of our holy Lord, Pope Pius V. 
 against Elizabeth the pretended Queen of England, 
 
 Plenary bull. 
 
 Ill 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 525 
 
 Rebellions in 
 uence. 
 
 and the heretics, her adherents. In which also SECTION 
 her subjects are declared absolved from their oath I^t« 
 of allegiance, and any other duty they owe her ; 
 and whoever shall henceforward obey her are in- 
 cluded in the same anathema. In the body of 
 the writing all the arrogance of that usurping 
 power is manifest. The Pope declares himself to 
 have " a power over all nations and kingdoms to 
 pluck up, destroy, scatter, consume, plant, and 
 build" — ^pronounces Elizabeth an heretic — de- 
 prives her of all her titles and dignities, and de- 
 clares her accursed and excommunicated with all 
 her adherents ! 
 
 The blind and infatuated Romanists responded 
 to this authoritative declaration of their head ; and ""''"^'i 
 their zeal was, every where, roused to second his 
 authority. Insurrections followed, and conspira- 
 cies of every form were entered into, against 
 the Queen and her Government. But, happily, 
 in vain. Every attempt was frustrated, and the 
 genius of the Queen and her Ministers triumphed 
 over all opposition. 
 
 After the tranquillity of the country was again piot in favor 
 restored, in order that a principal cause of these ^^^"^^"''^ 
 disquietudes might be removed. Commissioners 
 w^ere dispatched to Queen Mary, who were em- 
 powered to make her the most reasonable offers. 
 But, however reasonable, Mary had not sufficient 
 confidence in herself to ratify them, but referred 
 them to the Bishop of Ross ; who, had before, been 
 
 Scots. 
 
526 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION her ambassador, and who, after the death of Murray, 
 HI. was doomed to blast all the hopes of his unfortu- 
 nate mistress. By his imprudence, in conjunction 
 with the other Scotch Commissioners, the just 
 and simple demands of the English Government 
 w^ere rejected ; and to complete either his infatua- 
 tion or his perfidy, together with Ridolpho, a Flo- 
 rentine and emissary of the Pope, he inveigled 
 the Duke of Norfolk into a deep-laid plot, to at- 
 tempt the life of Elizabeth. The bare mention of 
 the atrocious deed filled the noble minded Duke 
 with horror : but drawn on by a secret attachment 
 to Mary, he was ensnared by their devices, and 
 involved by them in inextricable ruin. The Bi- 
 shop of Ross who was really guilty, escaped the 
 punishment he deserved, on the punctilio that he 
 was an Ambassador : but the unfortunate Duke 
 was left as a victim to justice ; and paid the forfeit 
 of his life, in the place, and on the same scaffold, 
 where his father, one of the persecutors and mur- 
 derers of Queen Anne Boleyn, met his fate twenty- 
 five years before ! 
 Massacre of But the anti-Protcstant alliance was still at 
 
 St. Barthoio- ^ork, and the infernal plot of Saint Bartholomew's 
 
 mew. 
 
 A. D. 1572. day, in France, was now advancing to its perpe- 
 tration; and, as a preparatory step, in order, if 
 possible, to shew that it was founded on the most 
 inhuman treachery, a splendid embassy was sent 
 to England, to make proposals of peace. Peace 
 was made ; and the Queen Begent of France pro- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 527 
 
 posed and urged a marriage between her son, the SECTION 
 Duke of Alcncon and Queen Elizabeth. But, WI. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 whilst these things were projecting, the direful 
 scheme for the extirpation of Protestantism, was 
 advancing in France. Preparations on a magni- 
 ficent scale were made for the celebration of a 
 marriage between the King of Navarre and the 
 Lady Margaret, sister to the King of France. — 
 To this solemnity, the heads of all the Protestants 
 were invited. The most profound dissimulation 
 prevailed. Promises were made of the most allu- 
 ring description. It was affirmed that there should 
 be a cordial renewal of love and friendship ; and 
 that a firm and lasting peace should be established 
 amongst all parties ! As a mark of esteem and 
 honor, the Earl of Leicester and Lord Burleigh, 
 were invited from England, and the sons of the 
 Elector Palatine from Germany. Such was the 
 detestable perfidy which preceded the massacre of 
 Saint Bartholomew's day ! To commence the re- 
 volting enterprises, the Queen Dowager of Navarre 
 who was a zealous Protestant, was poisoned by a 
 pair of gloves, before the celebration of the nup- 
 tials. But on the twenty-fourth day of August, 
 L572, at day-break, the bloody tragedy began. — 
 The Admiral Coligni, the noble leader of the Pro- 
 testants, was murdered in his own house, and his 
 body thrown out of the window : his head w^as 
 struck off and sent to the King and Queen-mother, 
 whilst the mangled body was exposed on a gibbet 
 
528 
 
 THEOCRATIC PTTILOSOPITY 
 
 SECTION with the feet upwards. For three days the mur- 
 I*I« derers ravaged the whole city ; and more than ten 
 thousand Lords, Gentlemen^ Presidents, and Peo- 
 ple of all ranks, perished by their hands. ''An 
 horrible scene of things, " says Thuanus, '' when 
 the very streets and passages resounded with the 
 noise of those that met together for murder and 
 plunder : the groans of those who were dying, and 
 the shrieks of such as were just going to be but- 
 chered, were everywhere heard ; the bodies of the 
 slain thrown out of the windows ; the courts and 
 chambers of the houses filled with them ; the dead 
 bodies of others dragged through the streets, their 
 blood running down the channels in such plenty, 
 that torrents seemed to empty themselves in the 
 neighbouring river ; and in a word, an innumer- 
 able multitude of men, women with child, maid- 
 ens and children, were all involved in one common 
 destruction ; and the gates and entrances of the 
 King's palace all besmeared with their blood. " 
 
 From the city of Paris the massacre spread al- 
 most throughout the whole kingdom. It would 
 be endless to mention the butcheries committed at 
 Valence, Romayn, Rouen, &c. We shall there- 
 fore only add, that, according to Thuanus, above 
 thirty thousand Protestants were destroyed in this 
 massacre ; or, as others with greater probability 
 affirm, above one hundred thousand. But how was 
 the news of this butchery received at Rome, that 
 "faithful city, that holy mother of Churches !"— 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 529 
 
 How did the " Vicar of Christ, the successor of SECTION 
 Saint Peter, and the father of the Christian world III. 
 relish it?" Let Thuanus tell the horrid truth.— ^"*^- ^• 
 *' When the news," says he, " came to Rome, it 
 was wonderful to see how they exulted for joy.— 
 On the sixth of September, when the letters of the 
 Pope s legate were read in the assembly of the Car- 
 dinals, at the Church of Saint Mark, in the most 
 solemn manner they gave thanks to God, for so 
 great a blessing conferred on the see of Rome and 
 the Christian world ; and decreed that on the Mon- 
 day after, solemn mass should be celebrated in the 
 church of Minerva, at which. Pope Gregory XIII, 
 and Cardinals were present ; and, that a jubilee 
 should be published throughout the whole Chris- 
 tian world ; and the cause of it declared to be, to 
 return thanks to God for the extirpation of the 
 enemies of the truth and church, in France. In 
 the evening the cannon of Saint Angelo were fired 
 to testify the public joy ; the whole city illumina- 
 ted with bonfires, and no one sign of rejoicing 
 omitted, that was usually made for the greatest 
 victories obtained in favour of the Roman church." 
 This inhuman massacre, unprecedented in the 
 annals of cruelty and blood, is, of itself, sufficient ^-^ disgust 
 to condemn the system of Popery, for ever, in the 
 estimation of every son of humanity. It spread a 
 general horror through all Europe ; and filled 
 the minds of the people of England with such in- 
 dignation, that it was with great difficulty, the 
 
 M M 
 
 Creates ffen- 
 
530 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION Queen prevented the nobility from fitting out a 
 JII. great armament, at their own expense, against 
 France. Fenelon, was at that time, the French 
 ambassador to this country, and he was so shock- 
 ed at the transaction, that he declared that for the 
 first time, in his life, he was ashamed of being a 
 Frenchman. But it had one good effect as it res- 
 pected England. It shewed the Queen, the charac- 
 ter of her enemies and the danger to which she was 
 exposed, from the powerful alliance wdiich had been 
 formed against the Protestant Fveligion ; and pre- 
 parations w^ere made against any exigency that 
 might arise. Portsmouth was strongly fortified. 
 The navy was strengthened. Musters of the train 
 bands were made, in every county ; and the youth 
 w^ere, everywhere, exercised in arms. Precautions 
 which were, afterwards, of great importance. 
 The Netherlands still continued in great con- 
 
 The Duke of 
 
 Alva and Don fyg^o^. Thc fcrocious Diikc of Alva, who boasted 
 *^'''"' that in the space of two years, he had dispatched 
 
 by the hand of the common executioner, thirty-six 
 thousand souls, was succeeded by Don John, a 
 man of great vigour of mind and perseverance.— 
 His boundless designs could not be confined 
 within the narrow limits confided to his trust ; his 
 ambitious mind aspired to greater things, and he 
 formed a design of rescuing the Queen of Scots ; 
 and, having formed a matrimonial alliance with 
 her, to lay claim in her right, to the Crown of En- 
 gland. With a depth of dissimulation, worthy of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 531 
 
 ! 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Death of tlje 
 
 the school in which he was educated, he professed SECTION 
 the greatest good-will towards Elizabeth, whilst HI. 
 at the very time, he had obtained the sanction of 
 the Pope to carry into execution the project which 
 he had designed. The English Government were 
 fully acquainted with his real designs : and this 
 discovery laid the foundation for the alliance 
 of Elizabeth with the revolted Princes of the Ne- 
 therlands, which ultimately secured the liberty 
 and independence of that illustrious Republic; 
 whilst Don John himself was carried off, by poison, 
 through the treachery of his inhuman kinsman,' 
 Philip, who feared him for his ambition ! 
 
 But during these transactions, an irreparable 
 loss was awaiting the English councils, in the ^'"'^ *^^^'p^''- 
 death of the Lord Keeper, Sir Nicholas Bacon ; a 
 man of singular wisdom, learning and eloquence. 
 He possessed a comprehensive knowledge of Eng- 
 lish law and equity ; and by the prudence and so- 
 lidity of his judgment, was a principal instrument 
 in settling the foundations of the ecclesiastical and 
 civil government of the country. His modesty 
 and humility were as remarkable as his endow- 
 ments. On one occasion, when Queen Elizabeth 
 remarked to him that his house at Redgrave was 
 
 too small for a person of his rank and station. 
 
 '' Not so Madam," he replied, - but your Majesty 
 has made me too great for my house. " This able 
 Statesman and faithful Counsellor, served his 
 country a^ Lord Chancellor, for more than twenty 
 
532 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 533 
 
 11 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Boundaries 
 of Commerce 
 and Navisa 
 
 SECTION years, through a period of great difficulty and dan- 
 IIL ger, and deserves to be had in honor in the grate- 
 ful recollections of his Countrymen. 
 
 But previous to the death of Sir Nicholas Ba- 
 con the boundaries of commerce had been exten- 
 
 tion extended. Jed by a treaty with the Emperor of Turkey ; and 
 A. D. 1580. ^ (j(3^pany was established to trade in all parts of 
 his dominions. A voyage of discovery had been 
 fitted out, under Martin Frobisher, who was the 
 first Englishman that ever attempted the North- 
 West passage : and this year. Sir Francis Drake, 
 returned home from a successful circumnavigation 
 of the Globe. His ship in which this great enter- 
 prize was achived, was drawn up into a creek near 
 Deptford, as a monument of his skill and bra- 
 very.* The Queen honored him with her pres- 
 ence at dinner, and conferred on him the Order 
 of Knighthood. 
 Duke of An- If there ever was a person with whom Queen 
 
 jou and Queen Elizabeth entertained serious thoughts of mar- 
 
 Eiizabeth. ^.^^^^ .^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^.^^^ brother to the 
 
 King of France. His addresses were most devo- 
 ted and persevering ; and, undoubtedly, had he been 
 a Protestant, he would have succeeded in obtaining 
 her hand ; but such was the dread of the nation 
 to a Popish alliance, and such the fear of her 
 Council, on weighing the consequences of such a 
 
 * I am told that the furniture of the drawing room in the 
 family mansion at Buckland Abbey, the seat of Sir Frayton 
 Fuller Drake, is entirely made of the wood of this celebrated 
 Ship. Tune 30, 1839. 
 
 '^ 
 
 ClIAP. V. 
 
 union, that it was abandoned. Indeed, to as- SECTION 
 suage the fears of the people, and to convince n^. 
 them that there was no intention of restoring Po- 
 pery, it was found necessary to make a public ex- 
 ample ; and two Priests who had been confined strange per. 
 for treasonable practices, were brouGjht to trial ^'.* 'i^"'" ^ ®' 
 and executed. The spirit of their enterprize was 
 remarkable: — After their condemnation, one of 
 them, named Campeio, being asked, " Whether 
 Queen Elizabeth was a lawful Queen," refused to 
 answer: but when he was asked, '* Whether he 
 would join with the Queen or the Pope, if he 
 should levy forces against her," he openly avowed 
 and testified, under his hand, that he would join 
 with the Pope. Magnanimity worthy of a better 
 cause! but which displays the power of that Im- 
 posture, which under the assumption of a divine 
 warrant, deludes the unhappy race of men with its 
 sorceries ; and urges them to sacrifice body and 
 soul in support of its abominations ! 
 
 About this time, died Buchanan, the celebra- Buchanan 
 ted tutor of James VI, son of Mary Queen of '^'^^* 
 
 •^ ^ A. D. 1582. 
 
 Scots, who W'as now eighteen years of age. It 
 was to the instructions of this accomplished scho- 
 lar, that James was indebted for those enlightened 
 principles, which enabled him, on his accession 
 to the throne of England, to steer so wdsely in the 
 midst of the conflicting opinions of that period. 
 On the death of his tutor, Elizabeth who watched 
 over the youthful Monarch, with the care and 
 
■ «■ 
 
 534 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Arclibisho]). 
 A. D. |;J8:j 
 
 SECTION foresight of a parent, dispatched her Secretary 
 i"- Walsingham to obtain an audience with the Kino- 
 for the purpose of giving him advice and counsel 
 in the management of his kingdom. The particu- 
 lars of this conference are well worthy the atten- 
 tion of the lover of history. I mention the subject 
 as a link in the series of events connected with 
 our History; and to shew, how Elizabeth and 
 her Council watched over the future Sovereign 
 of England. 
 
 Doathof ti>e The Church of England, also, suffered a great 
 loss in the death of Grindal, who had succeeded 
 Parker in the See of Canterbury. He was a man 
 of great gravity, piety, and moderation; and in 
 the midst of the violent dissensions wdiich pre- 
 vailed in the Church, respecting the Romish vest- 
 ments and other matters which were retained, he 
 pursued a conciliatory course, for which he w^as 
 much censured by Queen Elizal)eth, who peremp- 
 torily refused to give way to the innovating spirit 
 of the Puritans. He was succeeded by Whitgift, 
 well suited by his piety and learning, to fill That 
 high station : but he was of a different temper to 
 his predecessor ; and saw the reasonableness and 
 necessity of reducing the Clergy to a uniformity in 
 the celebration of Public Worship. This was, no 
 doubt, the only rational mode to be pursued ; and 
 if with this, a just spirit of compromise had been 
 united, the greatest good must have resulted. As 
 it was, the Archbishop by his persevering a])ility, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 535 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Walsingliara 
 
 in a great measure accomplished his purpose, and SECTION 
 restored the body of the Church to peace and uni- HI. 
 formity. But in the struggle, the Church lost 
 many of her most pious and zealous defenders ; a 
 circumstance, which in succeeding times, crippled 
 her efforts against the furious assaults of the Pres- 
 byterians and Independents. 
 
 The immortal Bacon was now no more; but 
 another Instrument w^as raised up, who has alrea- ^"^^""^^^^'y ^^ 
 
 , , . State. 
 
 ay been introduced to the reader, in the person of 
 Sir Francis AValsingham, if possible, still more 
 eminently fitted to detach and unravel the incessant 
 plots and stratagems of the Romish party. He was 
 descended of an ancient family at Chisselhurst, 
 and was, undoubtedly, one of the most penetrating 
 Statesmen and refined Politicians that any age ever 
 produced. He possessed an admirable talent in 
 discovering the recesses of the heart, and the se- 
 cret motives of men. At the time of his advance- 
 ment to be Secretary of State, the country was 
 filled with designing men, and the Government 
 in hourly peril : but nothing could elude his vigi- 
 lance. He sat, like a magician, amidst the plots 
 and stratagems of his foes, and by the spell of his 
 penetrating genius, dissolved every attempt against 
 the safety of the State. It would be tedious to 
 follow in all their details, the various Plots which 
 obtained at this period ; but we must not overlook 
 the fact of their existence, for the grand design of 
 the Reign was to frustrate the schemes of Popery 
 
 I 
 
536 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and faction ; and to establish Protestantism on a 
 WI. solid basis. 
 
 v^^-v-vL^ Even at this time, Ireland was made the seat of 
 thJpopilir^ constant Rebellion, which brought great misery 
 party. ^nd wrctchcdncss upon the unhappy and deluded 
 
 A. D. imu people, and must have been attended with im- 
 mense private, as well as public, suffering. Nor 
 did the emissaries of Rome, whilst there was any 
 hope of restoring their lost power, cease their ef- 
 forts in England. As long as Mary, Queen of 
 Scots lived, she afforded a kind of centre, round 
 which, their plots and designs revolved : and, their 
 restless and mischievous interference, at length, 
 brought that unhappy and guilty Princess to the 
 Scaffold. At this juncture, they conducted them- 
 selves with peculiar violence, attacked the Queen 
 through the medium of the press ; and excited the 
 people " to do for her what Judith did for Holo- 
 femes. " It was found necessary to put the laws 
 into active operation ; and, at one time, more than 
 seventy Priests were taken into custody : but in- 
 stead of inflicting upon them the extreme penalty 
 of the law, a much wiser plan was adopted, and 
 they were ordered to be shipped out of England. 
 Conspiracy of This statc of cxcitcment ended, for that time in 
 
 Throgmorton. 41,^ ^ • p rm ' 
 
 the conspiracy of Throgmorton, a gentleman of 
 Cheshire, the existence of which, was discovered 
 by intercepting a correspondence between him and 
 the Queen of Scots. Many noble persons were 
 implicated in this conspiracy, especially Mendoza 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 537 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 ClIAP. V. 
 
 the Spanish Ambassador, who was sent back with SECTION 
 great disgrace, to his own country. It appeared HI. 
 from the confession of Throgmorton, who alone 
 suffered on this occasion, that the whole affair ori- 
 ginated, in the general movement of the Catholic 
 Princes of Europe, under the Duke of Guise, and 
 was intended to prepare the way for the invasion 
 of England. 
 
 No sooner was this conspiracy defeated, than Release of 
 Queen Mary herself, wearied with such repeated ^^""'^ p'^'^^"'' 
 failures, made overtures to Elizabeth, in which 
 she appeared willing to submit to the reasonable 
 terms, which had been proposed to her. But, 
 whilst this negociation was pending with every 
 prospect of success, it was marvellously frustrated 
 by the following incident.— It happened that, 
 Creighton, a Scotch Jesuit, as he was sailing from 
 the Netherlands, was encountered and taken by 
 some Dutch Pirates. He carried with him certain 
 papers, which he was observed to tear and throw 
 overboard- But in vain— the wind counteracted 
 his purpose, for the shreds being blown back into 
 the vessel, were conveyed to Sir William Wade, 
 the Queen's Ambassador, who patching them to- 
 gether, discovered a new design of the Pope, the 
 King of Spain and the Duke of Guise, for invad- 
 ing England, and establishing Mary upon the 
 Throne ! 
 
 Upon this discovery, the most strenuous deter- 
 mination was manifested by the nation at large, to 
 
 
i 
 
 538 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 539 
 
 CllAP. V. 
 
 SECTION resist all aggression of the Popish confederates 
 !"• against the I'hrone of Elizabeth, and the liberties 
 of .the country ; and, a union of all the nobility 
 and strength of the realm, was formed under the 
 name of " The Association." The ardour and 
 spirit manifested by the Members of the Associa- 
 tion, convinced Queen Mary, how fruitless any 
 attempts would be, to shake the stability of the 
 Protestant Monarchy ; and she sent in, a full and 
 entire compliance with the terms of agreement ; 
 and proposed to enter into a strict league and 
 amity with the Queen of England, and even de- 
 sired that she herself might be comprehended in 
 the Association ! 
 
 Elizabeth was entirely satisfied, and the hour of 
 
 Queen Mary's liberty was at hand. But alas ! 
 
 it was now too late ; another enemy, more powerful 
 
 than Kings or Queens, was awakened against the 
 
 unfortunate Princess, and the hour of her final 
 
 destiny approached. She had not yet paid the 
 
 penalty of her extraordinary crimes ; and her re- 
 
 tributory punishment, was now hastened by the 
 
 irresistible power of public opinion. When the 
 
 favourable negotiation with Mary Queen of Scots 
 
 became generally known, the voice of the People 
 
 of England was strenuously raised up against her 
 
 deliverance. But that of the People of Scotland 
 
 was still more vehement. They insisted, that 
 
 both Kingdoms would be entirely ruined, if she 
 
 were allowed any share in the administration of 
 
 Voice of two 
 Kingdoms 
 raised against 
 her. 
 
 
 Chap. V 
 
 Government; and that the Reformed Religion SECTION 
 would be persecuted and rooted out, if the Papists . HI. 
 should again be restored to power. This demon- 
 stration of the national will was most decisive, 
 and Mary was still detained a prisoner. 
 
 But the rejection of her suit, when she was, she dispairs. 
 most probably, sincere in her professions, seems 
 to have thrown her into despair. She delivered 
 herself into the hands of the enemies of her Coun- 
 try, and wrote letters to the Pope and the confed- 
 erate Princes, no longer to delay their designs ; and 
 urged them, whatever might befal her, to hasten 
 their plans for the invasion of England. 
 
 In the meantime. Parliament met and confirmed Parliament 
 the Association, giving it the sanction of Law; confirms the 
 and passed many severe Statutes against the ^'","^1^ ^'" 
 Jesuits and all others, who should form any designs ^- ^- 1^^- 
 against the State, on the authority of the Bull of 
 Pope Pius V. Whilst the Queen, perceiving that 
 the storm was gathering from without, and that 
 the Roman Catholic Princes were aiming a deadly 
 blow at her, and the Protestant Religion, endeav- 
 oured to strengthen herself by foreign alliances. 
 She sent Sir Thomas Bodley to the King of Den- 
 mark, and to the Protestant Electors of Germany, 
 whilst she did not forget King James of Scotland, 
 but sent Sir Edward Wotton to assure him, how 
 sincerely she stood affected towards him, and to 
 remind him how necessary it was, for their mutual 
 security, to preserve a strict and inviola])le friend- 
 
540 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION ship between the two kingdoms. Elizabeth also 
 
 cnll'.y. ^"^''^^ '''*^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^'^^ the confederate States 
 v^.r-v-s^ of Holland, openly espoused their cause, and took 
 them under her protection. The eyes of all 
 Europe were now turned towards her ; and all 
 Protestant Christendom admired the heroic cour- 
 age with which she conducted the affairs of her 
 Kingdom. Nor was this all. In order to avert 
 the attention of the King of Spain, from his design 
 of invading England, the Queen and her Council 
 determined to carry the war into his own territo- 
 ries ; and, an expedition of twenty-one sail of the 
 line was fitted out under Sir Francis Drake, against 
 his possessions in the West Indies. The enter- 
 pnze was attended with great success, and the 
 fleet returned, laden with much booty. Nor must 
 it be omitted, that on their return, the ships 
 touched at Virginia, where Sir Walter Raleigh 
 had planted a colony, and brought from thence 
 Ralph Lane, the first man, who imported tobacco 
 into England. 
 
 JMtLe '^l'"'* ^^'' ^""^ ""^^'^ "^^^1 enterprizes were 
 Earl of Leices- carrying on, the Earl of Leicester, advanced, sud- 
 denly, to the height of his glory. He was appoint- 
 ed General of the Queen's auxiliary Forces, dis- 
 patched to Holland, where he was received with 
 the greatest honors, gifted with absolute authority, 
 and entitled Governor and Captain General of 
 Holland, Zealand and the confederate Provinces. 
 He had now every opportunity of signalizing him- 
 
 541 
 
 ten 
 A. D. 1586. 
 
 %' 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 The A'lmi- 
 
 self and benefiting his country ; but he had neither SECTION 
 capacity nor conduct to serve the cause, for which III. 
 he was exalted to honor. His ambitious vanity 
 and cupidity were gratified. He possessed ample 
 means of gratifying his base and inordinate desires ; 
 and, like every other thing which he undertook, it 
 ended in his disgrace. In this campaign, the 
 brightest ornament of the English Nation was ^^^'^^ ^'*^"^y- 
 extinguished, in the death of Sir Philip Sidney. 
 He was the admiration of all men, and possessed 
 every accomplishment of body and mind. He 
 was admirable as a soldier, a gentleman, a scho- 
 lar, and a christian. His last words to his attend- 
 ants were ; " Govern your will and affections by 
 the word of your Creator. In me, behold the end 
 of this world, and all its vanities ! " His obsequies 
 were solemnized with great magnificence in Saint 
 Paul's, and King James of Scotland wrote his 
 Epitaph, an honor justly due to so excellent a 
 person. 
 
 The opening of this year was signalized by the piotofSa- 
 discovery and defeat, of a formidable conspiracy ^*se. 
 against the Queen and Nation, which commenced 
 with a person of the name of John Savage, who 
 had been sedulously trained, principally by a Ro- 
 mish Doctor of the name of Gifford, to entertain 
 a belief that it was highly meritorious, in the sight 
 of God, to assassinate Princes who had been 
 excommunicated by the Pope. His attention was 
 directed to the Queen of England ; and he con- 
 
542 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 543 
 
 SECTION sented to undertake the dangerous and difficult 
 yj- task, and, indeed, entered into a vow for its accom- 
 ^,,^-v^v^ plishment. The Conspiracy daily strengthened, 
 but to throw the Queen and her Council into a 
 state of security, a book was diligently circula- 
 ted, in which, the Papists are exhorted to attempt 
 nothing against their Prince ; but with meekness 
 to submit, and to use no other Aveapons than 
 Prayers and tears ! 
 Babington is In the mcQu time, Ballard a seminary Priest of 
 
 drawn into it. ■ni,^* ^ . , 
 
 Klieims, was chosen, as a suitable instrument, to 
 assist Savage in the accomplishment of his vow. 
 He had an interview in France with Mendoza and 
 Charles Paget, on the subject of the meditated 
 invasion ; and, then, hastened to England in the 
 habit of a soldier, under the name of Captain 
 Foscu. By the advice of Mary Queen of Scots, 
 he discovered the whole design to Babington, a 
 young gentleman of Derbyshire, who had been 
 recommended to her attention by the Bishop of 
 Glasgow. He was well suited for their purpose. 
 He was of an ancient and respectable fiimily ; and 
 his fortune, generosity, and frankness of character 
 had gained him great influence, and the strong 
 attachment of many kindred minds. Amongst 
 these was Chydiock Fishbourne, a gentleman of 
 Devonshire, of whose romantic friendship many 
 interesting particulars are preserved in the "Curi- 
 osities of Literature." The whole band of Con- 
 spirators were men of ardent and confiding minds ; 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 DiscoveiA'. 
 
 and were inviolably united in their purpose, by SECTION 
 mutual confidence and esteem. — Another proof of lU. 
 the wickedness of that system, which gives to 
 crime, the sanction of Religion, and throws a 
 sacred lustre upon the deeds of blackest night ! 
 
 By such delusive principles of action were these 
 noble minded young men ensnared to their des- 
 truction ! Had they been determined villains, ur- 
 ged on, by malignant feelings, against the life of 
 the Queen, they would have hastened, at once, to 
 their bloody purpose; but they were not: and 
 they appear, on tlie page of history, rather as actors 
 in a tragedy, than as perpetrators of murder ; still, 
 they were determined in their purpose, secure in 
 their mutual fidelity, and confident in the accom- 
 plishment of their fatal design. But God had 
 raised up an instrument in the Secretary Walsing- 
 ham, who unravelled all their plans. By means 
 of his agents, he was present in all their delibera- 
 tions — he watched and perplexed all their move- 
 ments. Babington carried on a correspondence 
 with Mary Queen of Scots. — Every letter was con- 
 veyed to Walsingham, and copied ])y him, before 
 it reached the parties for whom it was designed ; 
 and, to shew how completely he was master of 
 their proceedings, a painting, which had been made 
 of the Conspirators standing in a group, with Bab- 
 ington in the midst, and intended as a present for 
 Mary, before it reached its destination, was actu- 
 ally copied, and presented to Elizabeth ! One of 
 
 ,.^^a**tsf#^' ■ 
 
544 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the conspirators named Barnwell, a peron of noble 
 
 ch.p." v. , ''y ^" I''^^^"''' ^a« known to the Queen, and 
 ^^.-v^ a few days, afterwards, as she was walking abroad 
 with a slender retinue, she observed Barnwell 
 walking at a short distance, and turning to the 
 Captain of her guard, she said in a voice loud 
 enough to be heard, " Am not I well guarded who 
 have not a man in my company, who wears a 
 sword ! 
 
 The conspi. How far Walsingham, whose object was to as- 
 and iri.d. ^«"^in all the parties connected with the conspi- 
 racy, would have carried his policy, it is impos- 
 sible to say. -His plans were hastened by the 
 Queen, who said, " that hy not avoiding danger 
 when she might, she should seem rather to tempt 
 than to trust Providence." Accordingly, by giving 
 them a slight intimation that he was acquainted 
 with their designs, Walsingham contrived to scat- 
 ter the band of Conspirators, and, thus, prevented 
 all attempts at resistance. They were afterwards 
 individually, apprehended and secured, except 
 Lord Windsor's brother, who was never found 
 His next care was to secure the papers of the 
 Queen of Scots. Thomas George was dispatched 
 to acquaint her with the affair, but not till she 
 was mounted for riding; she was, then, not per- 
 mitted to return, but conducted, under a shew of 
 honor, to the seats of the neighbouring Gentry At 
 the same instant, other Gentlemen of high con- 
 sideration, were appointed to seize her Secretaries 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 545 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 and to forward all her papers to the Council.— SECTION 
 They were opened in the presence of the Queen ; HI. 
 a great number of letters from foreign parts were 
 found, and copies of answers which had been 
 sent by her, with, at least, sixty alphabets of pri- 
 vate characters. Nothing could now ])e concealed 
 — all the artifices and intentions of the anti-Pro- 
 testant party, were before the Queen and her 
 Council. The conspirators were brought to trial, 
 and all of them, fourteen in number, executed. 
 
 The guilt of the Queen of Scots was fully con- 
 firmed by the testimony of her own Secretaries, 
 who confessed, that every thing was dictated l)y 
 the Queen herself, and co^Died in secret characters. 
 Sir Edward Wotton was immediately dispatched 
 to the King of France, to lay before him the whole 
 subject of the conspiracy, with the letters and cor- 
 respondence of the Queen of Scots, in order to 
 justify themselves in whatever steps it might be 
 thought necessary for them to take. 
 
 Long and serious debates ensued, as to the Mary ouren 
 manner in which they should deal with Mary. At of ^^"tssenten- 
 length, it was agreed, that she should be brought '1 n. i.w. 
 to trial, under the authority of a law which had 
 been passed in this reign, ''against such as raised 
 rebellion, invaded the kingdom, or attempted any 
 violence against the Queen. " The most noble 
 and learned persons, in the kingdom, were empow- 
 ered to act as Commissioners on this solemn occa- 
 
 N .\ 
 
 i 
 
51G 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 of Execiilion. 
 
 SECTION sion, and, before their tribunal she Avas found 
 in. guilty and sentenced to death. 
 
 But the Queen hesitated to give effect to the 
 
 The Warrant law by delaying the Warrant for her execution. — 
 Her Council strongly advised, and her Parliament 
 demanded the sacrifice, as the only method of se- 
 curing the peace and happiness of the kingdom : 
 but the Queen still hesitated, and her anxiety was 
 increased by frequent embassies which arrived 
 from foreign powers, especially from the King of 
 Scotland, to intercede for Mary's life. But whilst 
 the mind of the Queen was thus irresolute and 
 wavering, the discovery of another plot for her 
 assassination, which originated with the French 
 Ambassador, gave additional force to the demands 
 of the nation ; and she was induced to empower 
 her Secretary, Davison, to draAv out the warrant for 
 execution, under the great Seal. But next day, 
 changing her purpose, she sent him a message, 
 by Sir William Kellegrew, that the warrant should 
 not be drawn. Davison, immediatly apprised the 
 Council with the alteration in the Queen's mind, 
 but the warrant was now in their possession, and 
 they determined that the opportunity should not be 
 lost. Accordingly, they assured Davison of their 
 protection, and the warrant was dispatched on 
 its fatal errand. 
 
 When Elizabeth received intelligence of the 
 death of Mary, she was filled with grief and in- 
 dignation, and abandoned herself, for a time, to 
 
 Motives of 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 i, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 547 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 lamentation and tears. She severely rebuked her SECTION 
 Council for not waiting her pleasure ; and com- III. 
 manded Davison to be tried by the Star Chamber, 
 where he was condemned, in a penalty of ten 
 thousand pounds: nor was she ever afterwards 
 reconciled to him. Hume, in his perplexing ac- 
 count of this transaction, considered this conduct, 
 the result of artifice and duplicity. But impossi- 
 ble. There was no reason for dissimulation. Her 
 own subjects demanded the death of the Queen of 
 Scots, as an act of justice to the nation. She re- 
 sisted all foreign interference on the subject, as 
 an insult to the independence of the nation ; She 
 abruptly told the Scotch Ambassador, when he 
 was pleading for a respite for eight days, that she 
 would not grant an hour. Undoubtedlv also she 
 had a strong and secret aversion to execute 
 the supreme penalty of law upon Mary. She re- 
 flected that she was a Sovereign Princess ; and a 
 high sense of the royal prerogative, was in her 
 mind, an insuperable obstacle. Indeed, the follow- 
 ing letter which she wrote with her own hand, 
 to King James of Scotland, will place this subject Letter to the 
 beyond dispute. '^My dearest Brother, would to KingofScot. 
 heaven, you knew, but not felt, the inexpressible ^''"*^* 
 grief that overwhelms my mind, upon this deplo- 
 rable accident, which has happened, contrary to 
 my meaning and intention; which, since my 
 pen trembles to mention, you will fully understand. 
 1 request you, that as God and many others can 
 
 

 548 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 P;-liiy »)!• 
 A\'alsin'.>ham 
 
 SECTION witness my innocency in this matter, so you will 
 '!'• also believe, that if I had commanded it, I would 
 never deny it — that as I know this has happened 
 deservedly on her part ; so if I had intended it, I 
 vrould not have charged it upon others. There is 
 not any that loveth you more dearly and taketh 
 more care for the good of you and your affairs. 
 God preserve you long in health and safety ! '* 
 
 The great crisis of the reign was now^ approach- 
 ing ; and the expedition, wdiich had been for three 
 years, under preparation by the King of Spain, at 
 that time, the most powerful monarch of Europe, 
 was now ready to venture upon its design. But 
 the most profound secresy was observed; and 
 wdiilst many conjectured, none but the Pope of 
 Eome, w\as fully acquainted with its destination. 
 Philip had conveyed this inteligence to him, by 
 a letter ; in which he earnestly sought his benedic- 
 tion and prayers, for the success of his enterprize. 
 But the inventive and penetrating genius of Wals- 
 ingham, w ho had been raised up, by an overruling 
 Providence to conduct the counsels of England 
 through the intricacies and surprising dangers of 
 that day, determined, if possible, to gain posses- 
 sion of this secret. Nor was his determination in 
 vain. Walsingham had ascertained, that the secret 
 w\is lodged with the Pope, from some person who 
 had access to the council chamber of Philip ; and 
 by means of a Venetian Priest, whom he retained 
 in his interest, at Rome, he obtained a copy of the 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
 1 ' 
 
 y 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 549 
 
 letter which was in the hand-writing of Philip, SECTION 
 and the contents of which, he had not yet divulged HI. 
 to his Privy Council. The original was taken out ^"^''- '^• 
 of the Pope's cabinet by a Gentleman of his bed- 
 chamber, who stole the key out of the Pope's poc- 
 ket whilst he slept! By this timely discovery, 
 Walsingham was enabled to counteract the designs 
 of the Spanish king, and, actually, by his dextrous 
 management, retarded the expedition a w^hole year. 
 For, he caused the Spanish bills at Genoa, which 
 w^ere to supply the expedition with money, to be 
 protested ; and, thus, by cutting off the very sinews 
 of war, he prevented them from putting to sea ; 
 whilst to give the finishing stroke to his policy. 
 Captain Drake was dis^Datched, w ith a fleet, to the 
 coast of Si)ain, where he entered their harbours, 
 destroyed their shipping, and performed prodigies 
 of valour ; whilst Cavendish, in the East, w^as car- 
 rying havock and desolation into all parts of the 
 Spanish dominions. 
 
 In England, all was bustle and activity. The k.ii1 of Essex. 
 Earl of Leicester was recalled from the Nether- 
 lands, in disgrace. Indeed, he was 'a bad man, 
 and ambitious, for wicked ends — he brought no 
 honor to his Country, and his actions form no ne- 
 cessary link, in the events of its history. Elizabeth 
 treated him as he deserved, but overcome by his 
 artful entreaties, she averted from him the ven- 
 geance, prepared for him, by her Council. No 
 sooner had the storm blown over his head, than 
 
550 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Spanish Arma 
 (la. 
 A. D, 1588. 
 
 SECTION he devised new schemes of ambition ; but being 
 ^it- thwarted by Lord Burleii^h and Hutton, who had 
 
 C"AP. V. 
 
 succeeded Bramley, as Lord Chancellor, he retired 
 from court with disgust, and, shortly after, ended 
 his inglorious career, in death. 
 
 Rumours of the intended expedition against 
 England, had now spread over all parts of the 
 world ; and the minds of men were held in painful 
 suspense, as to the result of the enterprise. Im- 
 mense sums of money had been lavished upon it, 
 and the preparations, which had extended over a 
 space of four years, were now completed. The 
 Spaniards confident of success, called it " The in- 
 vincible Armada," a word which in their language 
 means ''a fleet of men of war. " It consisted of 
 two hundred and fifty ships, most of which, were 
 greatly superior in strength and size, to any that 
 had been seen before. It had, on board, near 
 twenty thousand soldiers, and eight thousand sai- 
 lors, besides two thousand volunteers of the most 
 distinguished families in Spain. It carried two 
 thousand six hundred and fifty great guns, was 
 victualled for half a year, and contained such a 
 large quantity of military stores — as only the 
 Spanish Monarch, enriched by the treasures of 
 the Indies, could supply. Tlie troops on board, 
 were to be joined by thirty-four thousand more, 
 Avhich the Duke of Parma had assembled, in the 
 neiglibourhood of Nieuport and Dunkirk. For 
 Irnusportincr these, be had, with incredible labour, 
 
 f 
 
 n 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 551 
 
 CUAP. V. 
 
 provided a great number of flat bottomed vessels, SECTION 
 and had brought sailors from the towns of the Bal- I^I- 
 tic to navigate them. Most of these vessels had 
 been built at Antwerp ; and, as he durst not ven- 
 ture to bring them from thence, by sea, to Nieu- 
 port, lest they should have been intercepted by 
 the Dutch, he was obliged to scud them along 
 the Scheldt, to Ghent, from Ghent to Bruges, by a 
 canal which joins these towns, and from Bruges 
 to Nieuport, by a new canal which he dug for the 
 purpose. This laborious undertaking, in which 
 several thousand workmen had been employed, 
 was already finished, and the Duke now waited 
 for the arrival of the Spanish fleet ! hoping that, 
 as soon as it should approach, the Dutch and En- 
 glish ships, which cruised upon the coast, would 
 retire into their harbours. 
 
 On the other hand, the Queen with incredible 
 industry, made suitable preparations for opposing 
 such a formidable Invasion. Lord Howard of Ef- 
 fingham was appointed Admiral ; and under him, 
 served Drake, Hawkins, Frobisher ; all of them 
 renowned, as seamen of courage and capacity. — 
 The principal fleet was stationed at Plymouth. A 
 smaller squadron, consisting of forty vessels Eng- 
 lish and Flemish, was commanded by Lord Sey- 
 mour, second son of Protector Somerset, and lay 
 off Dunkirk in order to intercept the Duke of Par- 
 ma. The land forces of England were more nu- 
 merous than those of the encmv, but inferior in 
 
 i 
 
 . 
 
552 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 553 
 
 Chai'. V. 
 
 SECTION point of discipline and experience. An army of 
 ^I^- twenty thousand men was disposed^ in different 
 bodies, along the South coast, w^ith orders to retire 
 backwards and waste the country, if they could 
 not prevent the Spaniards from landing ; twenty- 
 two thousand foot and one thousand horse, com- 
 manded by Lord Hunsdon, were reserved for guar- 
 ding the Queen's person, and appointed to march 
 w^hichever way the enemy should appear. In the 
 midst of the general consternation, the Queen 
 alone was imdaunted. She issued all her orders 
 with tranquillity ; animated her people to a steady 
 resistance; and employed every resource, which 
 cither her domestic situation or her foreign alli- 
 ances could afford her. She even appeared on 
 horseback in the camp at Tilbury; and riding 
 through the lines, discovered a cheerful and ani- 
 mated countenance, exhorted the soldiers to re- 
 member their duty to their country and religion, 
 and professed her intention, though a woman, to 
 lead them into the field against the enemy, and 
 rather perish in battle, than survive the ruin and 
 slavery of her people. '' I know," said she with in- 
 trepidity, " I have but the weak and feeble arm of 
 a w^oman ; but I have the heart of a King, and of 
 a King of England too ! " The heroic spirit of Eli- 
 zabeth communicated itself to the army, and every 
 man resolved to die, rather than desert his station. 
 The Spanish Armada was ready in the begin- 
 ninsjf of Mav : and it is sufficicntlv remarkable, to 
 
 \ 
 
 be noticed as an intervention of Providence, that SECTION 
 its sailing was retarded by the death of the Mar- J^^* 
 quis of Santa Croce, the Admiral, one of the most 
 experienced Captains of the age, and by that of 
 the vice- Admiral, the Duke of Paliano. The com- 
 mand of the expedition was, therefore, given to the 
 Duke of Medina Sidonia, a man entirely inexpe- 
 rienced, in sea affairs. — A circumstance, which in 
 some measure, served to frustrate the whole de- 
 sign ; which w^as also rendered less efficient, by 
 some other accidents. Nor was this all. — Upon 
 leaving the port of Lisbon, the Armada, next day, 
 met with a violent tempest, which sunk some of 
 the smallest of their shipping, and obliged the 
 fleet to put back into the harbour. After some 
 time spent in re-fitting, they put again to sea : but 
 Providence still watched its movements. Being 
 descried by Fleming, a Scotch pirate, who was 
 roving in those seas, he immediately sailed to- 
 wards the English fleet, and informed the Admiral 
 of their approach. — Effingham had just time to get 
 out of port, when he saw the Spanish Armada, 
 coming full sail towards him, disposed in the form 
 of a crescent, and stretching the distance of seven 
 miles, from the extremity of one division to that 
 of the other. The English Admiral considering, 
 that the Spaniards would probably be much supe- 
 rior to him, in close fight, by reason of the size of 
 their ships and the number of their troops, w^isely 
 resolved, to content himself with harassing them 
 
r 
 
 554 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION in their voyage, and with watching attentively, 
 III. all the advantages which might be derived from 
 " storms, cross winds, and such like fortuitous ac- 
 cidents." It was not long, before he discerned a 
 favourable opportunity for attacking the vice-Ad- 
 miral, Eecaldo. — This he did in person ; and on 
 that occasion, displayed so much dexterity in work- 
 ing the ship, and in loading and firing his guns, 
 as greatly alarmed the Spaniards for the fate of 
 their vice- Admiral. Several other rencounters oc- 
 curred, and in all of them, the English proved vic- 
 torious, through the great advantage which they 
 derived from the lightness of their ships, and the 
 dexterity of their sailors. The Spaniards, how- 
 ever, still continued to advance, till they came 
 opposite to Calais ; there, the Duke de Medina 
 having ordered them to cast anchor, he sent infor- 
 mation to the Duke of Parma of his arrival, and 
 entreated him to hasten the embarkation of his 
 forces. Tarnese accordingly began to put his 
 troops on board. But, at the same time, he in- 
 formed Medina, that agreeably to the King's in- 
 structions, the vessels which he had prepared 
 were proper only for transporting the troops, but 
 utterly unfit for fighting; and for this reason, 
 till the Armada was brought nearer, and the 
 coast cleared of the Dutch ships which had block- 
 ed up the harbours of Nieuport and Dunkirk, he 
 could not stir from his present station, without 
 exposing his army to certain ruin, the consequence 
 
 I 
 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 555 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 of which, would probably be the entire loss of the SECTION 
 Netherlands. In compliance with this request, HI. 
 the Armada was ordered to advance ; and it had 
 arrived within sight of Dunkirk, between the 
 English fleet on the one hand, and the Dutch on 
 the other, when a sudden calm put a stop to all 
 its motions. In this situation, the three fleets 
 remained for one whole day. About the middle 
 of the night a breeze sprung up ; and Lord Howard 
 had recourse to an expedient which had been hap- 
 pily devised on the preceding day. Having filled 
 eight ships with pitch, sulphur, and other combus- 
 tible materials, he set them on fire, and sent them 
 before the wind, against the different divisions of 
 the Spanish fleet. When the Spaniards beheld 
 these ships, in flames, approaching towards them, 
 it brought to their remembrance the havock which 
 had been made by the fire ships, which had been 
 employed against the Duke of Parma's bridge, at 
 the siege of Antwerp. The darkness of the night 
 increased the terror with which their imaginations 
 were overwhelmed, and the panic flew, from one 
 end of the fleet to the other. Each crew, anxious 
 only for their own preservation, thought of no- 
 thing but how to escape from the present danger. 
 Some of them, took time to weigh their anchors, 
 but others cut their cables, and suffered their 
 ships to drive with blind precipitation, without 
 considering, whether they did not thereby expose 
 themselves to a greater danger than that, which 
 
 ^j 
 
556 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 557 
 
 CllAl'. V. 
 
 SECTION they were so solicitous to avoid. In this confu- 
 HI. sion, the ships ran foul of one another ; the shock 
 was dreadful and several of them received so much 
 damage as to be rendered unfit for future use. 
 
 When day-light returned. Lord Howard had 
 the satisfaction to perceive, that his stratagem had 
 fully produced the desired effect. The enemy 
 were still in extreme disorder, and their ships 
 widely separated and dispersed. His fleet had 
 lately received a great augmentation, by those 
 under Lord Seymour, and Sir William Winter, 
 who had left sufficient force to guard the coast of 
 Flanders. Being bravely seconded by Sir Fran- 
 cis Drake, and all the other officers, he made 
 haste to improve the advantage which was now 
 presented to him, and attacked the enemy in dif- 
 ferent quarters, at the same time, with the utmost 
 impetuosity and ardour. The engagement began 
 at four in the morning and lasted till six at night. 
 
 The Spaniards displayed in every rencounter 
 the most intrepid bravery ; but, from the causes 
 already mentioned, they did very little execution 
 against the English; while many of their own 
 ships were greatly damaged, and twelve of the 
 largest were either run aground or sunk, or com- 
 pelled to surrender. It was now evident that the 
 purpose of the Armada, was utterly frustrated. 
 The Spanish Admiral, after many unsuccessful 
 rencounters, prepared therefore to make his way 
 home; but as the winds were contrary to his 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 i . 
 
 The Armada 
 
 return through the channel, he resolved to take SECTION 
 the circuit of the Island. The English fleet fol- IH. 
 lowed him for some time ; and, had not their am- 
 munition fallen short, through the negligence of 
 the public officers in supplying them', they had 
 obliged the Armada to surrender at discretion. 
 
 Such a conclusion of that vain glorious enter- 
 prise, was sufficiently illustrious to the English, ^"^"*^^ "^'' 
 but the event of their escape was fatal to the 
 Spaniards. The Armada w^as attacked by a 
 violent storm in passing the Orkneys; and the 
 ships having already lost their anchors, w^ere 
 obliged to keep at sea, w'hile the mariners, unac- 
 customed to hardships, and unable to manage 
 such unwieldy vessels, allow^ed them to drive on 
 the Western Isles of Scotland, or on the coast of 
 Ireland, where they were miserably WTCcked. Not 
 one half of the fleet returned to Spain, and a still 
 smaller proportion of the soldiers and seamen ; yet 
 Philip, whose command of temper, w'as equal to 
 his ambition, received with an air of tranquillity 
 the news of so humbling a disaster. " I sent my 
 fleet (said he) to combat the English, not the ele- 
 ments. God be praised, that the calamity is not 
 greater." This calamity, however, was sensibly 
 felt all over Spain, and there was scarcely a single 
 family of rank in the kingdom, that did not go into 
 mourning for the death of some near relation ; 
 insomuch, that Philip, dreading the effect which 
 the universal face of sorrow might produce upon 
 
558 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Elizabeth's 
 care for her 
 successor. 
 
 A. D. 1589. 
 
 SECTION the minds of the people, imitated the conduct of 
 HI. the Roman senate after the battle of Cannce, and 
 published an edict to abridge the time of public 
 mourning. 
 
 The reign, which had now accomplished its 
 grand object, rapidly advanced to its conclusion. 
 Elizabeth had reached the summit of her greatness 
 and prosperity. In the benevolent purposes of 
 the Supreme Governor, she had been made the 
 instrument of humbling the Popish power, which 
 had, for ages, triumphed over the liberties of man- 
 kind ; and to complete her satisfaction. Sir Philip 
 Sidney returned from Scotland, bringing the most 
 satisfactory account of the state of the King's mind, 
 whom she had long designed as her successor. — 
 He charged Sir Philip to declare his perfect re- 
 conciliation to the Queen, and his entire devotion 
 to the Protestant Religion, and his firm purpose 
 to preserve an inviolable friendship betw^een the 
 two kingdoms. The Queen continued to watch 
 over him with the most careful solicitude ; and by 
 her advice, attended with the most costly presents, 
 he shortly after contracted marriage with Ann the 
 daughter of Frederick, King of Denmark. 
 
 These mighty events, of such consequence to 
 the future prosperity of the country, were followed 
 by the death of that exemplary man and eminent 
 statesman. Sir Francis Walsingham. He was 
 one of the greatest Patriots which adorn the an- 
 nals of our history. He devoted his whole time. 
 
 Death of 
 Walsingham. 
 A. D. 1590. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 559 
 
 and all the resources of his capacious mind, to the SECTION 
 service of his country ; and at his death, afforded in. 
 a singular proof of his integrity and singleness of ^^^^^v^^^ 
 mind ; and, it ought to be gratefully remembered 
 by his countrymen, that the man, who for so many 
 years, had had the control of the public purse, 
 died so poor, that his friends were ol)liged to bury 
 him privately, by night, lest his body should have 
 been arrested for debt. 
 
 France, throughout all this period, was plunged state of France 
 in the evils of civil war. It would be endless to 
 enter into a detail of all the treachery and cruelty 
 exercised ])y the Popish party in that country ; and 
 which was, at last, permitted to prevail. The hu- 
 manity of the English Government, and its sincere 
 desire for the prevalence of Protestant principles, 
 frequently urged them to interfere ; and at this 
 time, the French King, Henry IV, who was a 
 Protestant, solicited the aid of Queen Elizabeth, 
 against the formidable Popish factions which pre- 
 vailed, and resisted his authority ; and the Earl 
 of Essex, who now appeared on the stage of pub- 
 lic life, was dispatched to his assistance at the 
 head of a chosen body of men : but to little pur- 
 pose. — The strife was desperate, and the King to 
 end the contest, embraced the Roman Catholic 
 religion ! — Fatal resolve ! to which I apprehend, 
 in a great measure, may be traced the disastrous 
 Revolution of 1792. But to return. Still new 
 
560 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION plots of the most vicious character, were invented 
 in. by the Romanists. A person, of the name of Hus- 
 ket, was sent on a mission from the English exiles 
 abroad, supported by the counsel and money of 
 Spain, to induce Ferdinand, Earl of Derby, to as- 
 sume his title to the English throne, derived from 
 his great grandmother Mary, who was daughter 
 to Henry VII. Boundless promises of support 
 were made to him, if he would advance his claim ; 
 and, on the other hand, he was threatened with the 
 most direful vengeance if he should dare to refuse. 
 The Earl, however, justly fearing lest some snare 
 was laid for him, impeached Husket ; who on his 
 own confession, was condemned ; imprecating 
 curses upon the heads of those, by whose counsel 
 he had been induced to act. But Husket's exe- 
 cution did not save the unfortunate Earl, who 
 died, in the most deplorable manner by poison ! 
 
 But no sooner were the unwearied Papists dis- 
 appointed in one project, than another was attemp- 
 ted. Their grand design was now to make the 
 Infanta of Spain, a centre for all their machina- 
 tions ; and a book was written, the joint labour of 
 three noted persons — the Jesuit Parsons, Cardi- 
 nal Allen, and Francis Eaglefield. The scope of 
 this work, was to prove the descent of the Infanta 
 from Constance, daughter of William the Conque- 
 ror, in which they entered into such minute gene- 
 alogical computations, as confounded all the disqui- 
 sitions of Heraldry. — But it suited their purpose. 
 
 Wicked lie- 
 signs of the 
 Papists. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 561 
 
 Would, that they had allowed such means to SECTION 
 suffice ! But this slow and uncertain method of HI. 
 effecting their purpose, was far from satisfactory, ^^^^i^^^i^ 
 Assassins were hired abroad to attempt the life of Frederick 
 the Queen. But not finding an immediate occa- °^^^' 
 sion, her life was attempted by poison, and one 
 of her Physicians, Frederick Lopez, a Jew, was 
 bribed for that purpose. This wretched man, 
 made a full confession of his crime ; and the day 
 after, Francis Cullen, an Irish fencing master, was 
 executed for engaging to assassinate her. 
 
 During this time, incessant expeditions were 
 fitted out against the power of Spain, both at pri- 
 vate and public expence, in which the most heroic 
 deeds were achieved and immense treasures pil- 
 laged from the Spaniards. It would require a 
 volume to speak of these enterprizes, conducted 
 by men, whose names deserve to stand high in the 
 naval annals of their country. Sir John Norris, 
 Sir Walter Baleigh, Sir Martin Frobisher, Rich- 
 ard Hawkins, son of the celebrated Sir John Haw- 
 kins, and James Lancaster. But the chief utility 
 of these expeditions, was the nautical skill and en- 
 terprize acquired by our countrymen, which laid 
 the foundation for their superiority over all other 
 nations. 
 
 But the Queen's Council having found a leader Rise of the 
 on whose judgment and courage they could de- ^'^''^ °^ ^^^''- 
 pend, determined upon a more decisive step, and 
 sent out a splendid expedition under the Earl of 
 
 o o 
 
562 
 
 THEOCRATIC IMULOSOPllY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 /> 
 
 SECTION F^ssex who had been advanced to great power. — 
 III. All the eiinneiit men of that day were engaged in 
 this enterprise. The fleet set sail with secret or- 
 ders, which were not to be opened till they had 
 passed Cape Saint Vincent ; — the first time I find 
 this custom on record. The damage occasioned 
 to the Spaniards by this expedition, in all parts, 
 was beyond precedent, and surpassed the bounds 
 of calculation. On their return they were received 
 with eminent marks of the Queen's favour, espe- 
 cially the Earl of Essex. — But, unfortunately, this 
 nobleman's aspiring temper, too much emboldened 
 by success, made him presume upon the favour of 
 his Royal Mistress ; and he shewed his displeasure 
 at certain appointments which had been made, du- 
 ring his absence. This extravagant pride, which 
 he had not judgment to control, as it was injuri- 
 ous to his country, so it laid the foundation of his 
 own ruin. 
 
 In the following year, the King of Spain, whose 
 resources were boundless, in the hope of retrieving 
 his past defeats, made great preparations against 
 England, and the Earl of Essex was again dis- 
 patched to meet him, with a fleet of one hundred 
 and twenty sail. In this expedition the spirit of 
 pride which haunted him, was manifest, in a 
 serious quarrel which he entertained against Sir 
 Walter Ealeigh, who had landed, without his per- 
 mission, and made a successful attack upon the 
 Spanish tow^n of Fayall. On the return also of 
 
 t 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 d63 
 
 Ciup. V. 
 
 the fleet, he was again displeased at several pro- SECTION 
 motions which had taken place. Sir Robert III. 
 Cecil, son of Lord Burleigh, had been appointed 
 Chancellor of the Duchy, which he had intended 
 for one of his friends. But, what more particularly 
 ofTended him, was the honor which the Queen had 
 conferred on the Lord Admiral Howard, who had 
 been created Earl of Nottingham. This promo- 
 tion, to which that nobleman was entitled, for his 
 high services, gave him precedence over the Earl 
 of Essex, inasmuch as he was, from his station, a 
 chief officer of the kingdom. However, on this 
 occasion, the vain glory of Essex was fully grati- 
 fied ; for he was created Earl Marshal of England. 
 The ninth Parliament of this reign had now been 
 assembled. In this Parliament, the executive a. d. irm. 
 government brought in many solid and useful laws, 
 which were enacted; and the House voted an 
 address of congratulation to the Queen. From 
 this address, which is an authoritative record, 
 will best be seen what was the grand object de- 
 signed by Providence, in this reign. After remark- 
 ing favorably on the laws which had been passed, 
 they congratulate the Queen on the restoration 
 
 OF THE TRUE ReUGION ; THE HAPPY GOVERN- 
 MENT OF THE Kingdom; and its deliverance 
 
 FROM foreign ENEMIES. 
 
 It had hitherto been the policy of the Queen warwith 
 and her Advisers, to prevent the French nation f'^"^*- 
 from uniting with their inveterate enemy, the 
 
 Parliament. 
 
564 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHlLOiSOPllY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION King of Spain. But, at length, in spite of all their 
 ni. efforts, by the interest of the Pope, France was 
 prevailed upon, to enter into a Treaty of alliance 
 with Spain. Upon this, it was strongly debated 
 at the Council Table, whether it would not be 
 more advantageous for England, to endeavour to 
 make peace with Spain. At this debate a remark- 
 able circumstance occurred. The wise and saga- 
 cious Burleigh inclined for peace ; but the Earl of 
 Essex, with all the warmth and inexperience of 
 his youth, strongly urged the continuance of the 
 War, and affirmed, that no peace could be made 
 with Spain, which would not be dishonorable 
 to England. The Lord Treasurer remarked to 
 him, that lie breathed nothing, hut hloocl and slaugh- 
 ter. The debate continued for some time, with 
 much warmth on the part of Essex, when Lord 
 Burleigh drew from his pocket, the Book of 
 Psalms ; and, as if prophetic of the future, without 
 speaking another word, pointed to the verse. 
 '' The bloody minded man shall not live out half 
 his days. "* This debate occasioned the Earl of 
 Essex to publish an apology, and reasons in justi- 
 fication of his opinion. 
 
 But another incident occurred, in which this 
 gifted, but undisciplined nobleman was concerned, 
 which strongly marked the predominant evil of 
 his disposition, and set on fire the whole train of 
 his passions, so as never to be extinguished. It 
 
 * Psalm Iv. 23. 
 
 Pride of Essex 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 565 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 happened at a debate respecting Ireland, in which SECTION 
 the Queen was present, with the Lord Cecil, the ^^^• 
 High Admiral, and Wendebank, clerk of the 
 closet, that the Queen proposed Sir William 
 Knolles, as the fittest man for the difficult task of 
 subjugating Ireland. Essex obstinately asserted, 
 that Sir George Carew was greatly to be preferred 
 to him. But the Queen was inflexible ; and 
 Essex forgetting himself, turned his back upon his 
 Sovereign, as if in contempt of her opinion. The 
 spirit of her fathers was roused, she gave the in- 
 solent Earl a box on the ear, and commanded him 
 to leave the Council chamber. This was too hu- 
 miliating for the high and chivalrous spirit of 
 Essex to bear. He was stung with resentment, 
 and laying his hand upon his sword, declared 
 that he would not have submitted to such an in- 
 dignity, even from her Father. The Lord Burleigh 
 endeavoured to soften his resentment, which he, 
 in some measure, effected, and a reconciliation 
 ensued. But the wound was never healed in the 
 breast of Essex. This was the last business, in 
 which that great and distinguished statesman, Bur- 
 leigh engaged. He had pursued a long, and ar- 
 duous, and patriotic course ; and never did mortal 
 man, run a more glorious race. He was endowed 
 by God, with singular abilities for his high station. 
 His learning and attainments were profound. 
 His wisdom, oracular. His integrity, unimpeach- 
 able, llis piety sincere, and his industry unpar- 
 
 Charactor of 
 Lonl Burleigh. 
 
566 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 567 
 
 H 
 
 SECTION alleled. He was not only the ornament, but the 
 IIJ- grand support of the Councils of his country. 
 
 ^^^Jl^^^;.^^ His services were so valued by the Queen, that she 
 entertained for him the most profound respect and 
 esteem. She would never permit him to continue 
 standing in her presence, but desiring him to sit, 
 would remark : '' My Lord, we make use of you, 
 not for your legs, but for your head. " Her esti- 
 mation of his worth was still further exemplified 
 in his last illness. On one occasion, when she 
 was visiting the couch of her dying Minister, on 
 entering the door of the appartment, his atten- 
 dants desired her Majesty to stoop her head, she 
 generously answered. "For your Master's sake I 
 will stoop, but not for the King of Spain." Nor 
 was the struggle long; his strength had been 
 already consumed in the service of his country ; 
 His Death, and after a few days, he peacefully resigned his 
 A. D. 151)8. g^^i .^^ ^1^^ jQ^Yi year of his age. England, these 
 
 w^ere thy worthies, raised up by an Almighty 
 power, to conduct thee in that auspicious course 
 in which He had determined thee to move, and 
 to build thee up, as an Exemplar State, amongst 
 the nations of the Earth ! Let the name of Bur- 
 leigh be honored by posterity to our latest descen- 
 dants, as the great adviser of Queen Elizabeth in 
 all her contests, for the Establishment of our Pro- 
 testant Constitution and the Restoration of the 
 Catholic Church in these Realms. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 i 
 
 Nor is it a little remarkable, that Philip the SECTION 
 King of Spain and the great antagonist of Eng- HL 
 land, ended his fatal career at the same juncture ; 
 a person of great sagacity, perseverance and fore- ooath of 
 sight ; and who had scarcely lost a day since his ' '^' 
 memorable vow, in his endeavours to extirpate he- 
 resy by fire and sword. In the execution of that 
 vow he had waded through rivers of blood. All 
 his treaties, alliances, artifices and w^ars were to car- 
 ry it into effect. In the furtherance of his schemes 
 what tongue can tell the cruelties he perpetrated, 
 the agonies he inflicted, and the lives he destroyed ! 
 
 He was unsuccessful in all his Foreign wars ; 
 but fastened the fatal bondage of Popery on his 
 own unhappy country ; which it is now, after a 
 lapse of three centuries, shaking off, amidst all the 
 horrors of civil war and intestine convulsion. But 
 his hour of retribution had arrived ; and I have it 
 in my power, to draw aside the curtain of his death- 
 bed, and, to lay open to the reader, the secret spring 
 of all his actions. A short time before his death, 
 he sent for his confessor, who immediately waited 
 upon the anxious and dying Prince. "Father 
 Confessor! said he, as you occupy the place of 
 GOD, I protest to you, that I will do every thing 
 you shall say to be necessary, for my being 
 SAVED ; so, that what I omit doing will be placed 
 to your account, as I am ready to acquit myself 
 of all that shall be ordered to me." This extraor- 
 dinary record is preserved in the " Curiosities of 
 
 ■; t 
 
 'J 
 
568 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 569 
 
 SECTION Literature/'* and is more important, when placed 
 ^n. in its proper connection, than thousands of contro- 
 versial volumes on the system of Popery. Philip 
 was not vindictive. He was not of a malignant 
 disposition. He was not cruel. He did not per- 
 secute Protestants to the death, because he was in- 
 sensible to the claims of Christianity. — All his 
 most cruel, bloody acts, were dictated by a high 
 sense of religious obligation! In this brief dis- 
 cription the whole genius of Popery is exhibited. 
 It has usurped the authority of God, and by its 
 power, depraved and prejudiced man, is enabled 
 to wield the sword of the Most High. Philip 
 believed his Confessor to be " in the place of God " 
 to him. His desire was to be '"saved," and he 
 appealed to him for his sincerity, and enquired, 
 whether he had done every thing to secure it. — 
 His crimes, therefore, must not be imputed to him, 
 but to his religion. How awful is the delusion ! 
 How supernatural and mighty its influence ! and 
 how strikingly is the situation of its unfortunate 
 victim pourtrayed, in Holy Writ — " He feedeth on 
 ashes : a deceived heart hath turned him aside, 
 that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say : Is there 
 not a LIE in my right hand? " •)• 
 
 The grand integral portions of the British Em- 
 pire were now fast advancing to an Incorporation, 
 which was to consolidate its strength, and to ex- 
 tend its power and influence to the remotest boun- 
 
 Advancc of 
 the Country. 
 
 •H 
 
 :l 
 
 
 Payp, 2Do, Vol. 1. 
 
 •f- Iixiiab, xliv. 20. 
 
 daries of the earth. The accession of Scotland was SECTION 
 to take place, by the descent of the English crown f IH- 
 to the Sovereign of that kingdom; and Ireland, ^^^^i^^;-^ 
 which had been a kind of dependency upon En- 
 gland, since the time of Henry II, was now under invasion of 
 the vigorous counsels of Elizabeth, to be brought '^^^^'j^gj,^ 
 under the full authority of the English sceptre. 
 Through the whole of this reign, Ireland had been 
 the scene of endless insurrections, and the cause 
 of infinite troubles to England. The insubordi- 
 nation of the Irish people, had offered a favorable 
 opportunity to Philip, the King of Spain, for pro- 
 moting his hostile designs against Elizabeth. Par- 
 tial invasions of Ireland had been attempted by 
 the Spanish Government, many years before the 
 fitting out of the *' Invincible Armada,'' — and now 
 an army of several thousand Spaniards, attended 
 by a Pope's Nuncio, had landed on the Irish shore, 
 intending to form a junction with the Earl of Ty- 
 rone, who was at the head of a most formidable 
 rebellion. The power of the rebels increased daily, 
 and they committed the most frightful ravages in 
 all parts of the country. To quell such a formid- 
 able rebellion, w^as a difficult enterprise ; and it 
 was the subject of deep debate, who should be 
 sent on such an important work. The Queen and 
 her Council considered the Earl of Essex too rash 
 and inexperienced, for such an undertaking: but 
 he aspired to it ; and his secret enemies urged him 
 to undertake it, in the hope that, it would prove 
 
I ! 
 
 570 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 571 
 
 SECTION his overthrow. Preparations were made, and in 
 ^^^' the end, the Earl of Essex was appointed Deputy 
 of Ireland, and General of the English forces. 
 
 But '"his heart was lifted with pride, " and his 
 counsels were rash and imprudent. He allowed 
 opportunities to pass, which might have been fol- 
 lowed up with advantage, and lost time in pursu- 
 ing trifling successes, which could lead to no im- 
 portant result. The Queen was highly incensed 
 at his movements, blamed his whole conduct, and 
 freely told him, that, she believed that he had other 
 thoughts in his head, than doing service to his Prince 
 and his country. Essex was exasperated by these 
 reflections ; and at the first rise of his resentment, 
 resolved to hasten into England with a select body 
 of men, to chastise his enemies, and overpower 
 them by force. By the entreaties of the Earl of 
 Southampton, he was deterred from putting this de- 
 sign into execution : but instead of attending to 
 his duty, and rectifying his past misconduct, with 
 an infatuation which discovered the evil influence 
 under which he laboured, he left his command, 
 and without permission, returned into England ; 
 where he was, by the Queen's order, committed to 
 the custody of the Lord Keeper. He was suc- 
 ceeded as Deputy in Ireland, by Mountjoy ; who 
 may be termed the Agricola of Ireland. This ex- 
 cellent commander entered upon his task with 
 great zeal and energy ; fortified all the principal 
 towns of the kingdom, afforded no rest to the rebel 
 
 %: 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 forces — soon drove them into the fastnesses of the SECTION 
 country, and entirely subdued the rebels in Ulster m* 
 and Leinster, and indeed, in all places was victo- 
 rious. Sir George Carew was not less success- 
 ful in Munster, where he prevailed against the 
 forces of the titular Earl of Desmond : and thus 
 for the present, the war was triumphantly conclu- 
 ded, and the final subjugation of Ireland greatly 
 advanced. 
 
 The ACTION of the Reign now rapidly advanced 
 to its consummation. Essex, after a confinement 
 of six months, was arraigned with great formality 
 before the Queen's Council, for his misconduct 
 in Ireland ; and by the sentence of the Court he 
 was degraded from all his offices and civil employ- 
 ments. By this blow he appeared to be awakened. 
 He became so submissive and sensible of his 
 faults, that the Queen granted him his liberty; 
 advising him for the future, to make discretion his 
 Keeper — to retire into the country, and by no 
 means to visit the Court. He was still more af- 
 fected by the Queen's clemency, and sent her a 
 most humble and submissive message, with which 
 the Queen was so much gratified, that she said, 
 *' would to heaven his actions were answerable to 
 his words ! he has long tried my patience, I must 
 now try his humility. " Essex grew confident of 
 her returning favour, and his humility vanished, 
 with the prospect of returning prosperity ; and he 
 ventured to ask the Queen for the monopoly of 
 
572 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V 
 
 Death of the 
 
 I- 
 
 SECTION sweet wines. True to her purpose of trying his 
 ni. temper, she answered^ That she must first under- 
 stand the value of it : that benefits were not to he 
 bestowed blindfold ; that a spirited horse must be 
 kept short of provender, in order to bring him under 
 due management. This unexpected answ^er was 
 more than he could bear. He was fired with in- 
 dignation, and urged on by his secret enemies, he 
 bhndly rushed into the most desperate counsels, 
 which hastened his destruction. 
 
 He secretly raised soldiers, fortified his house, 
 Earl of Essex, y^j^^j.^ ]^g j^^d asscmblcd morc than three hundred 
 
 A. D. 1601. 
 
 Gentlemen of rank and fortune : — but the Queen, 
 having dispatched a messenger to the Lord Mayor 
 to preserve tranquillity in the City, sent the mem- 
 bers of her Privy Council to the Earl's house, who, 
 immediately made many of them prisoners, whilst 
 he, rushing out with his principal followers, en- 
 deavoured to raise the citizens in his cause : but 
 no one answered his appeal ; and returning to his 
 house, after a fruitless resistance, was taken, and 
 shortly after, suffered on the scaffold the just re- 
 ward of his deeds. Thus fell the Earl of Essex, 
 the victim of pride and vain glory ; by which the 
 influence of his noble rank, his undoubted abili- 
 ties, and his personal courage were lost to his 
 country : nay, by its fatal indulgence, he became 
 a pu])lic burden and disgrace, and his name has 
 descended, covered with dishonour. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 573 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Parliament. 
 
 The Queen had now assembled her last Parlia- SECTION 
 ment, in which there prevailed the most perfect III. 
 unanimity and good feeling. — For, in an address 
 to the Queen, in which the Commons condemned The Queen's 
 the practice of monopolies, the Queen addressed ''^^"^"" '" ^'' 
 them in a speech that deserves to be written in 
 letters of gold, and inscribed on the walls of all 
 our palaces. After observing, that she would not 
 allow any privileges which might be injurious to 
 her subjects ; she added, " The splendor of Royal 
 Majesty hath not so blinded my eyes, that I should 
 suffer licentious power to prevail over Justice. I 
 am not one of those Princes, who can be deceived 
 by the glory of a name. I know the Common- 
 wealth is to be governed for the good of those 
 committed to me, not of myself to w^hom it has 
 been entrusted ; and I am sensible that an account 
 must one day be given before a Superior Judge. 
 I think myself most happy that, by God's assist- 
 ance, I have so prosperously governed the Com- 
 mon w^ealth ; and that I have had such loving sub- 
 jects, that for their good I w^ould most willingly 
 part not only with my kingdom, but with my life." 
 
 Philip, indeed, the general persecutor of Pro- 
 testant Christendom, was no more ; but the ex- 
 terminating war which he had commenced, was 
 carried on, in Flanders, with increasing fury. The 
 confederate States, how^ever, were invincible ; and 
 with the help of the English Queen, defended 
 themselves w^ith great fortitude and success. Nor 
 
 \ 
 
574 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Tyrone's re 
 bellion. 
 A. D. 1602. 
 
 SECTION was this all. The unwearied Spaniards dispatched 
 II*' a formidable armament to assist the disaffected in 
 
 Chap. V 
 
 Ireland, who had not yet relinquished their hopes 
 of final triumph. This expedition was under Don 
 John D'Aquila, who, to shew his sacred errand, 
 published a flaming manifesto, in which he assu- 
 med the title of " General of the Catholic King, 
 in God's war, for maintaining the truth in Ire- 
 land. '* 
 
 He was immediately joined by Tyrone and the 
 principal rebels, which swelled his army to more 
 than six thousand men, with a considerable body 
 of horse : but the Lord Deputy with his wonted 
 vigour, without waiting for a reinforcement, with 
 nothing but the remnants of an army, attacked 
 them with his usual bravery. They were routed 
 with great slaughter, and the whole expedition, 
 which at one time, had the most formidable pros- 
 pects of success, disappeared at one blow, and 
 melted away like snow in summer. Don Alfonzo 
 O'Campo was taken prisoner, with three other 
 Spanish leaders and six ensigns; one thousand 
 two hundred men were slain. — And whilst this ex- 
 pedition was so suddenly dispersed, the greatest 
 permanent good to England was achieved. The 
 Spaniards were finally expelled from the country 
 — the Rebels entirely subdued— the Queen's au- 
 thority fully established — the hearts of the Protes- 
 tants revived— and Ireland, for the first time, 
 conquered ! 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 575 
 
 Every thing was now tending to its close. The SECTION 
 Pope, who perceived that the illustrious Queen in III. 
 the course of nature, must soon follow her distin- v^^^^^^-^Lj 
 guished Statesmen, and be removed from the seat The Pope's 
 of power, which she had so long upheld and adorn- attempts. 
 ed, boldly sent two ' Breves ' into England ; one 
 addressed to the Clergy and the other to the laity, 
 in which, he assumed the authority to exclude any 
 person from the English Crown, however nearly 
 allied by blood, who would not swear to use his 
 utmost endeavours to restore the Roman Catholic 
 Faith. This Breve was aimed at the King of 
 Scotland, and laid the foundation, as the cele- 
 brated Camden affirms, for the Gun-powder Plot, 
 which will be developed in its proper place. 
 
 The principles of Protestantism were now fully Contest 
 established in the Realm.— That the Pope ofr'":'^' 
 
 1 Papists. 
 
 Rome can have no civil or Ecclesiastical authority 
 in England — That the Bible alone is the " Infal- 
 lible standard of faith and morals ; and that the 
 visible Catholic Church can have no other tem- 
 poral head than the Sovereign power of the realm. 
 Of the triumph of these principles which are sim- 
 ple and reasonable, the Romanists themselves, 
 became important witnesses, in the famous contest 
 which arose at this period, between the order of 
 the Jesuits and the Romish Priests. The secular 
 Priests in their books, highly extolled the Queen, 
 and made it appear — '* That during the first eleven 
 years of the reign, not a single Papist had his life 
 
576 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap 
 
 SECTION called in question, on account of his Religion 
 
 "'• that even in the ten years which followed the pub- 
 lication of the Bull of Pope Pius V, and the re- 
 bellion of the Papists, not more than twelve Priests 
 had been put to death for treason, till the year 
 1780, when the Jesuits crept into England — they 
 asserted, that the wicked designs of the Jesuits 
 threw every thing into confusion ; and enforced 
 the making of severe laws against them— that by 
 the procurement of Parsons, not less than fifty 
 Jesuits had been yearly sent, to disturb the peace 
 of England.— That Parsons, the arch-Jesuit, in- 
 cited the Spaniards to invade England ; and set 
 up the title of the Infenta of Spain to the English 
 crown.— That Holt, a Jesuit, persuaded Husket 
 to raise a rebellion, and hired Cullen, York, and 
 Williams to assassinate the Queen — that Watson 
 a Jesuit, persuaded Squire to poison her. Inso- 
 much, as they aver, that the Queen, whose judge- 
 ment was, that conscience ought never to he forced, 
 was under the necessity of using severity, or of be- 
 traying the safety of her Country. " These and 
 other reproaches, the English Romish Priests cast 
 upon the Jesuits, and which are extant in their 
 own writings. 
 Banished Nor wcrc the Jesuits behind in their recrimina- 
 
 al. ''' ""'"' ti^^s- But the Queen and her Council would be- 
 lieve neither the pretensions of the one, nor the 
 excuses of the other. In spite of their animosities, 
 they believed, they were both ready to pervert 
 
 mi 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 577 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 the minds of the Queen's subjects ; and both were SECTION 
 banished by Proclamation. — Which under Provi- Wl. 
 dence, was a most seasonable decree ; for at that 
 very moment, a powerful effort was making, and 
 Winter and Tesmond, Jesuits, were sent over 
 into Spain, where they were forming a dangerous 
 conspiracy to cut off Queen Elizabeth, and to ex- 
 clude James the King of Scotland from the suc- 
 
 cession. 
 
 The work of this illustrious Queen had now 
 
 Illustrious 
 
 been accomplished. Her latest effort was to treat *=>^^''ac<^«' ""'i 
 
 Death of the 
 
 With the French King, for the life of a Protestant quc€ 
 
 e'en. 
 
 nobleman the Duke of Bouillon ; and her last sue- ^' ^- *^^' 
 cours were sent to assist the Protestants of Geneva 
 against the designs of the Duke of Savoy. Whilst 
 she was thus acting for the lasting benefit of man- 
 kind, her sun, which had shone so long and so 
 brightly, rapidly declined. The infirmities of age 
 hastened by the consuming anxieties of a long 
 and arduous reign, suddenly undermined her con- 
 stitution. She retired to the palace of Richmond, 
 which she called her '* warm box," and which, she 
 said, had now become necessary for her distempered 
 body; and in the retirement of ivhich, she could 
 better attend to the duties of Religion, and the 
 salvation of her soul. It was at this time, that 
 she permitted her coronation ring, which had 
 grown into the flesh and become painful, to be 
 filed from her finger ; a circumstance which did 
 not fail to be considered as an inauspicious omen, 
 
 p p 
 
578 
 
 Til KOCH ATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION signifying the dissolution of her marriage with her 
 1^1- people. She was afflicted with a swelling in the 
 throat, which induced a loss of appetite and ex- 
 treme weakness. In this state, she was troubled 
 with anxieties respecting those transactions which 
 had lately taken place. — She feared lest her seve- 
 rity, had urged the Earl of Essex into treasonable 
 courses, and thought she had been too hasty in 
 his execution. On the other hand, she thought 
 she had been too lenient in the pardon of the Earl 
 of Tyrone, as if she had encouraged rebellion by 
 her clemency. But she soon rallied from these 
 desponding thoughts, and bore her exhausting 
 sickness with great patience and resignation ; of- 
 fering to those around her, the lessons of wisdom 
 which she had gleaned from a long and painful 
 experience. " She was filled, " she said, '' with 
 this life, and desired to be translated to a state of 
 immortality." She observed, " Death, which w^as 
 abhorred of so many, was but a just debt, which 
 all must pay to nature: and ''that our spirits, of 
 right, must be restored to God, from whom they 
 came. " 
 
 Her strength gradually wasting, she was waited 
 upon by the Lord Keeper and the Secretary of 
 State, to enquire into her mind with respect to 
 her successor. Her answer was — *' I have said, 
 my throne is the throne of Kings ; and that no 
 mean person shall succeed me. " — and when they 
 pressed her for a further declaration, she answered, 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 ■'9 
 
 ;i' 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 579 
 
 " I have said that a King is to succeed me ; and SECTION 
 who should that be, but my nearest kinsman, the I^I« 
 King of Scotland. " 
 
 She had now done with the world, and all its 
 busy and tumultuous affairs; and gave herself 
 entirely to the duties of religion, and to solemn 
 reflections on the tribunal before which, she was 
 about to appear. The Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 was constantly at her side, and with him, she 
 united in humble and fervent prayer. 
 
 On one occasion, when the excellent Bishop 
 was exhorting her to put her trust solely, in the 
 merits of Christ, and to stay herself upon him, she 
 answered; '"I do," — and added "that she was 
 weary of this miserable life^ subject to so many 
 calamities and dangers ; that she earnestly desired 
 to pass to that eternal light, which jioioed with the 
 7nost perfect felicity, and that she was hastening 
 to her heavenly kingdom, to the presence and holy 
 arms of her good Saviour. " 
 
 Then, somewhat turning herself, with a serene 
 countenance, and tranquil mind, she rested her 
 head upon her right hand, and in this manner, 
 composed herself for her dissolution. The mo- 
 ment was fast approaching, which the Archbishop 
 perceiving, directed her to fix her thoughts on God. 
 to which she replied ; "I do ; nor do they wan- 
 der from him." These were her last words ; but 
 from the motion of her hands and eyes, it was 
 evident that her whole mind was absor])ed in 
 
580 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 581 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION heavenly meditation and mental prayer. Thus 
 III- gradually and silently she sunk to rest, and on the 
 fourth of March, about midnight, expired in the 
 seventieth year of her age, and the forty-fifth of 
 her Reign. 
 
 The tidings of her death filled the whole coun- 
 try with inexpressible grief, which displayed itself 
 in floods of tears. In reality, no Prince since 
 the foundation of the World, engaged the hearts 
 of her subjects, in a degree equal to Queen Eliza- 
 beth. The nation deplored her as a family would, 
 which had lost its only parent. Her subjects ad- 
 mired her for her great qualifications : they loved 
 her for her disinterested patriotism and princely vir- 
 tues. Coxcombs in thinking, have attempted to 
 sully the fairest reputation that was ever acquired, 
 by dragging to the light, and enlarging upon, the 
 frailties of the woman. Even Hume has not been 
 ashamed to retail the idle impertinencies of Mel- 
 vil the Scotch Ambassador. Frivolties utterly 
 unworthy of the page of history ; and by which it 
 is impossible to believe she could have been actu- 
 ated, in the discharge of her high and responsible 
 duties. 
 
 The men of her own day were assuredly, the 
 best judges of her personal worth and excellency. 
 We, may be allowed, with justice, to pass an 
 opinion on the result of her actions. The wisdom 
 and greatness of her reign were celebrated by the 
 ablest pens of that period; and all subsequent 
 
 writers have agreed that during her administration, SECTION 
 she conferred the most inestimable benefits upon ^^^^^' y 
 her Country. She was not perfection. Her man- 
 agement of the Puritan divines was not judicious. 
 They were undoubtedly the ablest preachers and the 
 most exemplary men in the church, and their ser- 
 vices ought to have been secured by concession. 
 But they were repelled by an unconciliating and 
 arbitrary policy. Had she conceded to the de- 
 mands of the more violent, who doggedly adhered 
 to the platform of discipline adopted by the foreign 
 reformed churches, she would have fallen into a 
 still greater error, and swept away all the land- 
 marks of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. 
 These were preserved, unfortunately with many of 
 those secular incumbrances which the more rea- 
 sonable Puritans would have abolished, whilst the 
 spirit of religion, without which, the sacred edifice, 
 in all its proportions is reared in vain, was in a 
 great measure extinguished. But these things 
 are yet to appear. We are never safe when we 
 depart from well established principles ; we are 
 never secure when we listen not to the voice of 
 moderation and reason. 
 
 
I fl 
 
 i 
 
 582 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION This mighty Princess was an eminent instru- 
 ^I*» ment in the hand of God^ for the furtherance of 
 his benevolent purposes towards England; and 
 in Judgement, Justice, Courage^ Clemency, and 
 Patriotism^ must remain^ to the latest posterity, the 
 admiration of mankind. She succeeded her father 
 in the high office of Arbitress of Europe ; and held 
 the dignity with as firm a hand, founded on more 
 just and sacred principles. Spain in its arbitrary 
 and intolerant course was checked and driven back. 
 In France, the Protestant House of Valois was 
 supported by her counsels, and that of Bourbon, 
 by her aids. Scotland was secured by her policy 
 — The Netherlands, by her armies — Ireland by 
 her power. The King of Portugal was relieved 
 by her bounty, and the King of Poland with her 
 sympathy. Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, 
 took up, and laid down their arms at her pleasure. 
 The fame of England extended beyond the limits 
 of Europe, and penetrated the remote parts of Asia, 
 Africa, and America ; and the name of Elizabeth, 
 was honoured amongst the Turks, the Persians ; 
 Barbarians and Indians. 
 
 In almost all the kingdoms of the world, she en- 
 larged the boundaries of commerce, and procured 
 extensive privileges for the encouragement of her 
 merchants. Her Navy ; enlarged beyond former 
 example, rode triumphantly over her seas, the 
 dread of her enemies and the safeguard of her Isle. 
 And to crown all, in the midst of the most un- 
 
 I * 
 
 i I 
 
 ( 
 
 i 
 
 ^. 
 
 c 
 
 i' 
 « 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 dQ3 
 
 CHAP. v. 
 
 heard of difficulties, she established the rational SECTION 
 and eternal Principles of POLITICAL and RE- HL 
 LIGIOUS PROTESTANTISM ! and bequeath- 
 ed them in all their excellency to future genera- 
 tions, to be upheld by them, with the same firm 
 and unyielding magnanimity ; and to be considered 
 as unchangeable, as they are unimpeachable ! 
 
 

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 Class (^ ^^ Book ^ Cl\ Id 
 
 Columbia College Library 2 
 
 Madison Av. and 49th St. New Tork. 
 
 Bouglnt witln the A. A. Low Ktand. 
 
 B-side the main topic this book also treats of 
 Subject No. On page Subject No. On page 
 
 y 
 
 \\ 
 
 1 1 
 
 tj 
 
■*>is».*i»fc,j9»^ 
 
 THE 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF 
 
 ENGLISH HISTORY; 
 
 BEING AN ATTEMPT TO IMPRESS UPON HISTORY 
 
 ITS TRUE GENIUS AND REAL CHARACTER; 
 
 AND TO PRESENT IT, 
 
 NOT AS A DISJOINTED SERIES OF FACTS, 
 
 BUT 
 
 AS ONE GRAND WHOLE 
 
 ( 
 
 BY 
 
 THE REV. J. D. SCHOMBERG. B. A., 
 
 OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. 
 
 Late Master of Stoke Grammar School, Leicestersliire, and Vicar of Polesworth, 
 
 Warwickshire; Author of the Elements of the British Constitution; 
 
 Church of England its own Witness, 8cc, 
 
 VOL II. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 WHITTAKER AND CO. R GROOMBRIDGE. 
 
 LEICESTER: J. G. AND T. C. BROWN, BIBLE AND CROWN, 
 
 AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 MDCCCXLII. 
 
 
:| 
 
 r 
 
 I 
 
 -• «t«»»ii»S.^Toiiian<nimMmJnwig;.ifcj 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 u 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 Section IV., p. 1 From the Accession of the House 
 
 of Stuart to the Abdication of James II. 
 
 Section IV., p. 645--From the Reign of William III. to 
 our own times. 
 
 73180 
 
[ 
 
 "■WWl' ':^%,.^ aft^-»A(fflM-nM -fe-"- 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY, &c. 
 
 SECTION IV. CHAPTER I. 
 
 JAMES THE FIRST THE SOVEREIGN POWER UNDEFI- 
 NED, AND ARBITRARY— THE PRINCIPLES OF THE 
 CONSTITUTION VINDICATED BY PAR^JAMENT. 
 
 In accordance with the wishes of the late Queen, SECTION 
 and in consequence of his own undoubted right, IV. 
 the Lords of the council immediately proclaimed ,^^^^^^^ 
 James VI of Scotland, King of England, Ireland, Accession of 
 and France, under the title of James I. and dis- *'7'^ ,^3^ 
 patched an honorable embassy, to acquaint him 
 wuth the event. 
 
 The exaltation of this Prince to the throne of 
 England, opened a new era in English History, 
 by the vast accession of strength which the king- 
 dom derived from the union of the two crowns. 
 
 Nor did this arise so much from the riches or num- 
 ber of people which it acquired, as from the ter- 
 mination of those unhappy disputes, which had 
 
 VOL. II. A 
 
i 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Grandson of 
 Margaret 
 daughter of 
 Henry VII. 
 
 a THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION subsisted for centuries, and had occasioned an 
 ^^' immense expenditure of national wealth, and a 
 prodigious waste of human life. Henceforward, 
 their destinies are to be united ; and that which 
 violence and the sword had not been able to effect, 
 was brought about by the simplest means, under 
 the superintending Providence of the Most High, 
 and for the furtherance of his benevolent purposes 
 with respect to the British Empire. 
 
 It is difficult to say which of the two nations 
 most rejoiced at the accession of the King of Scot- 
 land to the throne of England. The English 
 felt unbounded satisfaction in receiving a Prince 
 (whose title was undoubted) descended from the 
 union of their two great families, and whose repu- 
 tation for learning and experience, ranked him 
 with the most gifted of men. The Scots were 
 filled with exultation in the triumph they experi- 
 enced, of giving a race of Kings to their more 
 powerful neighbours, whose encroachments on 
 their independence, they had, hitherto, resisted 
 with success. It was well the Scots did not per- 
 ceive the disastrous consequences which followed 
 this union, and which arose, not from any essen- 
 tial evil in the union itself, but from the state of 
 their own country and government at that period. 
 The union of the two crowns was to be for their 
 ultimate advantage ; but not, as we shall see, for 
 their immediate happiness. Their national crimes 
 and barbarity required a long and tedious remedy. 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 3 
 
 But the King was now on his way. On the SECTION 
 fourteenth of April, he left Edinburgh for London, IV. 
 and at the very outset of his reign discovered the v^^!!^!::^ 
 peculiarity of his disposition and habits. He His Morbid 
 journied,— not with the ardour of a Monarch, but ^'^'^^°'^^'««- 
 with the tranquillity of a philosopher,— not with 
 the care and solicitude of a King succeeding to 
 the cares of a great Empire, but as a private gen- 
 tleman in the pursuit of amusement and pleasure. 
 His progress to the metropolis of his new King- 
 dom, which occupied about a month, was conduct- 
 ed as a hunting expedition, and attended with 
 vast concourses of people, who in every place, 
 hailed the Royal hunting party with unbounded 
 demonstrations of joy. He was magnificently and 
 freely entertained on his route, and presented with 
 rich gifts at every stage of his progress, so that a 
 Scotchman in his train, who remarked this pro- 
 fuse liberality, was heard to remark : " This peo- 
 ple would spoil a good King." The King dis- 
 covered his satisfaction, by the utmost condescen- 
 sion and familiarity, and by the liberality with 
 which he bestowed titles of honor. Such, indeed, 
 was his promptitude in this respect, that before 
 he had well reached the seat of his government, 
 he had conferred the title of knighthood on more 
 than two hundred and thirty seven individuals, 
 and admitted to the dignity of Privy Councillors, 
 many of the first nobility of Scotland 
 
Jl 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chav. I. 
 
 Person and 
 Character. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPIIV 
 
 James has been greatly censured for his profu- 
 sion in bestowing these honorary distinctions; 
 but without due deliberation. There is every rea- 
 son to believe, that the conduct of James was dic- 
 tated by the soundest maxims of policy :— with that 
 deliberation and foresight, which, in many other 
 respects, shewed him superior to the age in which 
 he lived. The fountain of honor had been sealed 
 up, during the last reign, and the country unduly 
 deprived of its just rewards ; and undoubtedly, if 
 the income of the individuals was sufficient to sus- 
 tain the dignity, the Crown was adorned and the 
 country benefited by their creation. 
 
 The personal appearance of the King was not 
 prepossessing. His countenance was homely and 
 his features harsh, but not devoid of expression. 
 In stature he was somewhat above the middle size 
 and his form, well proportioned : but his dress 
 was plain and ill adapted to his person. He was 
 endowed by nature with great abilities, which 
 had been fostered and strengthened by early cul- 
 ture, and a somewhat severe discipline under the 
 celebrated Buchanan. He became deeply versed 
 in every kind of ancient learning— his mind well 
 stored with the lessons of past experience, and his 
 taste grounded on the best models of antiquity ; 
 so that, when he came to the English Throne, he 
 was undoubtedly, one of the most erudite and ele- 
 gant scholars of the day. Many historians have 
 attempted to throw discredit upon the learning 
 
 \ 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. Q 
 
 and acquirements of this Monarch. But in vain. SECTION 
 His written speeches in Parliament, his pabHshed IV. 
 works and his promptitude and readiness on all 
 occasions are testimonies in his favour, which 
 cannot be gainsayed. But with all his learning uis ECuca- 
 and wisdom he had great defects. It must be re- «'"»• 
 membered that he had other instructors than 
 Buchanan. The Duchess of Mar was his precep- 
 tress, a woman of high feeling and dignified sen- 
 timent, and the young King was early instructed 
 to entertain the most lofty ideas of the kingly 
 character ; and from his earliest years, was addres- 
 sed as the " Lord s anointed." But his position as 
 the King of Scotland had still more to do with 
 the formation of his character. He ascended the 
 throne of that kingdom, at an early age, under very 
 unfavourable circumstances. He had to contend 
 with every evil to which the kingly power has 
 ever been subject. His immediate attendants 
 were abject and parasitical. His nobles were 
 proud, insolent and tyrannical, his subjects bigotted 
 and severe ; and the great proportion of the peo- 
 ple, ignorant and barbarous. His power was pro- 
 tected by expedients, and his government conduct- 
 ed by stratagem. Hence arose the versatility of 
 his character. His flatterers produced in him, a 
 predominant vanity and affectation of learning, 
 highly unbecoming, and almost inconsistent with 
 his leal attainments. The distance and haughti- 
 ness of his nobles, induced the necessity, almost, of 
 
'•^i^mSsmmm 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 MHiisUr? of 
 
 ) THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION creating favorites, to supply the place of more 
 IV. becoming and dignified friendships ; and, the ex- 
 treme difFiculties of his government, which he had 
 not power, openly, to combat, exercised him in 
 the wiles of dissimulation and cunning. Under 
 these circumstances, it is not surprising, that all 
 historians have found such difficulty in describing 
 his character. We shall not further anticipate, 
 that which properly belongs to the conclusion of 
 the reign; but it was necessary, in conformity 
 with our plan, to form a just perception of the dispo- 
 sition of the chief ruler, in order to form a proper 
 estimate of the acts of his administration. 
 
 Such was the character of the Monarch, under 
 the late Queen, ^j^Qg^ auspiccs, England was uow to advance in its 
 'omZ '" course; and in his first act, he discovered that pru- 
 dence and wisdom, which was reasonable to be 
 expected from his long experience in government. 
 By his letters he retained the distinguished min- 
 isters of the late Queen in their places, and after- 
 wards, on his arrival, confirmed their appoint- 
 ments. Sir Eobert Cecil, afterwards created Earl 
 of Salisbury, principal Secretary of State ; Tho- 
 mas Lord Buckhurst, afterwards Eari of Dorset, 
 Lord Treasurer; Sir Thomas Egerion, Lord High 
 Chancellor; and Charles, Eari of Nottingham. 
 Lord High Admiral. 
 
 The nation was now ready, once more to start 
 in its career, and with such eminent men as asso- 
 ciates to the executive power, every thing bid fair. 
 
 i 
 
 ) 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 7 
 
 for a powerful and prosperous reign. But the SECTrON 
 King's pacific disposition, his love of ease, and IV. 
 manner of conducting public business, did not 
 afford that scope for the exercise of their talents, 
 which they would have enjoyed under a more en- 
 ergetic and enterprising Monarch. To these 
 famous and long-tried Councillors, the King added 
 the Earls of Northumberland and Cumberland, 
 the Lord Thomas_ Howard, and the Lord~Henry 
 Howard, afterwards the Earl of Northampton. 
 In the appointment of the two latter noblemen, 
 the King was doubtless actuated, as much by gra- 
 titude as policy, the one, being brother, and the 
 other, son, to the late Duke of Norfolk, who had 
 suffered, during the last reign, for his devotion to 
 the interests of his mother. In their appointment 
 also, inasmuch as they were both supposed to be 
 the adherents of Popery, the King, in some mea- 
 sure, checked the discontent of the Romanists, 
 who, already, began to surmise, that they had little 
 to expect from the temper of the King or the 
 change of Government. 
 
 Scarcely had these things been transacted, when 
 Ambassadors arrived from Foreign powers, as 
 well to congratulate the King upon his accession, 
 as to convey assurances of amity and good will 
 First, in point of time, was Frederick V. Count 
 Palatine of the Rhine ; a person of great enterprise 
 and high Protestant principle, whose fortunes 
 were destined to be nearly allied to tho.se of Eng- 
 
 Foreign 
 Ambassadors. 
 
 U 
 
mK^mmi'^i^^^is^^mii^&^m^m«,i^imm 
 
 '• ii y i '" 
 
 8 
 
 THEOCRATIC P1IIL080P1IV 
 
 I 1 
 
 . 
 
 ! I 
 
 SECTIOiN land. The States of Holland who had been so 
 IV. many years struggling for their independence^ 
 
 .^^^^.^^^^ were early in soliciting the good will of James. 
 An Embassy also arrived from the Emperor of 
 Germany, Hodolphus IL w^ho had succeeded to 
 the dominions of the House of Austria. Nor did 
 the King of Denmark, Christian IV. forget to 
 congratulate his brother-in-law, on his advance- 
 ment to the English Throne. Whilst, on the part 
 of the great and heroic Henry IV. of France, 
 Monsieur de Eigni w^as sent, with offers of alli- 
 ance and friendship. 
 Breve of At this momcut a conspiracy was discovered, 
 
 Clement \ III. "vvhich indeed, would scarcely deserve to be men- 
 tioned, did it not involve, in its consequences, the 
 disgrace and ruin of tw^o great and illustrious 
 men, who had stood high in the favour and coun- 
 cils of the late Sovereign. The scheme of the 
 conspirators was the same as that which had been 
 attempted in the last reign, to dethrone the pre- 
 sent monarch, and to place Arabella ^tuart, his 
 cousin-german, and equally descended, with him- 
 self, from Henry VII, upon the throne. The foun- 
 dation of this conspiracy was the Breve which had 
 been sent into England by Pope Clement VIII, 
 during the reign of Elizabeth, excluding from the 
 succession, every claimant, however nearly allied 
 in blood, w^hose sentiments were known to be ad- 
 verse to the Romish religion. — Nay, the instruc- 
 tions of tlie Breve were much stronger, and com- 
 
 . 
 
 1 
 
 « 
 
 ^ 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. fl 
 
 nianded, that they should admit none to succeed SECTION 
 
 to the kingdom ivlten that miserable woman should IV. 
 
 die, hut such a person, of whose good inclinations 
 
 to the. See of Rome, they should, at least, he well 
 
 persuaded. Pope Clement VIII, still filled the 
 
 Papal throne. The Breve was still in force: 
 
 and although the supporters of the Papacy had 
 
 some reason to hope, that for his mother's sake, 
 
 James would be favourable to their cause, yet 
 
 when they remembered the open declaration of 
 
 his sentiments in Scotland; when they observed 
 
 the manner in which he was received by his pro- 
 
 testant subjects in England ; his retention of the 
 
 ministers of the late Queen in office, and heard 
 
 his declarations respecting the Church of England, 
 
 all hope of favour died within them, and they saw 
 
 that they had nothing to expect but from their 
 
 own exertions. 
 
 In this conspiracy. Lord Cobham and Sir Wal- Conspiracy 
 ter Raleigh were concerned : but to what exTent ^'''™ '"• 
 the latter illustrious person was implicated, re- 
 mains in great obscurity. Weldon asserts his in- 
 nocence : but his statements are denied by Bishop 
 Goodman.* With us, probably it will be suffi- 
 cient to know, that the evidence on his trial was 
 incomplete ; and that he was condemned more by 
 the force of authority, than direct testimony.— 
 Lord Cobham was pardoned after he had laid his 
 head upon Hiq block; and Sir Walter Raleigh 
 
 * Sec liis Aulicus CoquinaritT, B. 78. 
 
 W 
 

 wiwi»niii i »iiwg« i ii|iT;gi|Tr>~airTS^ 
 
 10 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Church, 
 
 SECTION was committed to prison, where he continued 
 IV. many years, and employed his refined and vigorous 
 powers in the pursuit of literature. It was during 
 this confinement, he produced his admired and im- 
 mortal work, on the History of the World. The 
 two Romish Priests who were engaged in this 
 abortive and ill-timed conspiracy, and Mr Broke, 
 brother of Lord Cobham, were condemned and 
 executed, 
 state of the The first subjcct of enquiry to which the royal 
 attention was directed, was the state of ecclesias- 
 tical affairs— a subject of all others, most conge- 
 nial to the mind and taste of the Monarch ; and 
 which, in its results, was likely to involve great 
 and serious consequences. 
 
 Whitgift, the Archbishop, a man of great capa- 
 city and judgement, had dispatched the Dean of 
 Canterbury, immediately on the death of the 
 Queen, to congratulate King James on his acces- 
 sion, and to assure him of the duty and allegiance 
 of the English Clergy. The manner in which his 
 messenger was received, and the gracious answer 
 returned by the King, assured the Archbishop of 
 his good-will towards the Church of England, and 
 afforded general satisfaction . But whilst the King 
 was on his progress towards London, he was pre- 
 sented with an address, signed by nearly a thou- 
 sand of the Clergy, and which, on that account, 
 was styled, the *' Millenary Petition," in which 
 they earnestly requested a further Reformation in 
 
 ^ 
 
 / 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 II 
 
 the doctrine, discipline, and government of the SECTION 
 Church. The Clergy belonging to this party ^^' 
 were denominated *' Puritans." Their desire for 
 alteration in doctrine, was extremely limited ; their 
 objections to the ceremonies of public worship, 
 trifling, but, their complaints against Ecclesias- 
 tical arrangements and government, weighty and 
 powerful, and deserving of the most serious con- 
 sideration. 
 
 Whilst it is evident that the King entertained 
 very favorable views of the Church of England, 
 and was generally satisfied as to its doctrines and 
 discipline, there were some subjects on which he 
 desired information. For this purpose as well as 
 to give audience to the Puritan Divines, he ap- 
 pointed a conference at Hampton Court, which 
 commenced its sitting on the fourteenth day of 
 January. The King, who was surrounded by Hampu 
 many of the chief nobility, acted as President on ^""'*' Confer. 
 this important occasion, and discovered more a.d. ico3. 
 capacity, vigour and learning than on any future 
 occasion. The first days conference with the 
 Archbishop and other Bishops, was occupied in 
 the discussion of certain inquiries propounded by 
 himself. These points were on the form of Abso- 
 lution ; on Confirmation of children ; on Lay-bap- 
 tism m cases of urgency, and on the abuses which 
 existed under the name of Excommunication. 
 The King delivered his opinions on each point, 
 with great eloquence and precision ; and discovcir- 
 
 tofr 
 

 ,}'. 
 
 12 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 ^i^ 1 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION ed such traditional and theological learning as 
 IV. filled the audience with admiration ; and on all 
 the subjects under discussion, judicious alterations 
 or explanations were introduced into the Rubric 
 of the *' Book of Common Prayer. " 
 
 Discipline of In this Confcrcnce with the Bishops, the Kinff 
 
 the Church in- • i i • m • , ^ 
 
 vaded. carried himself with great affabiUty and candour, 
 
 and his observations were, generally, just and per- 
 tinent. But unfortunately whilst the members of 
 this Conference possessed every qualification for 
 judging, and every requisite for enforcing it, either 
 through prejudice or the selfishness of power, 
 their decisions on discipline, was inconsistent with 
 the character and authority of the Church. Ac- 
 cording to the notes drawn up by Bishop Bancroft 
 and printed in Strype,* it was agreed, that excom- 
 mimication as then used should be taken away, both 
 in name and nature ; and a lorit out of Chancery, 
 to punish the contumacious, should be framed. 
 It seems incredible to us, who can view the case 
 dispassionately, that persons of such eminence for 
 piety and learning, should have agreed to a propo- 
 sition, so utterly subversive of the first Principles 
 of the Christian Institution. On what ground, 
 could they agree to dispense with the power of 
 the Church to excommunicate its turbulent or re- 
 fractory members, and refer that awful responsi- 
 bility to the Court of Chancery '^ The Power of 
 Excommunication is the indefeasable right of 
 
 * Strypo's Whitgift, ii. 492. 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 13 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 the Holy Catholic Apostolic Church ; " which SECTJON 
 cannot he assumed by any other power, or exer- IV. ' 
 cised by any delegated authority. It is a prerog- 
 ative sole and independent, and stands upon the 
 same authority as the order of the Christian Min- 
 istry itself. If one can be dispensed with, so may 
 the other. They both stand on the divine com- 
 mission. 
 
 It IS true, that James may have found great 
 abuses and inconveniences attending the applica- 
 tion of this power, as it was then exercised, when 
 the principles of civil and ecclesiastical govern- 
 ment were imperfectly understood. Perhaps he 
 thought by this method, to remedy them But 
 instead of such a result, he perpetuated a grievous 
 infliction upon the Church, which, as it proceeded 
 on a false principle, we shall, no doubt, find pro- 
 ductive of serious mischief When the Papal su- 
 premacy was overthrown, it was unfortunate that 
 the Sovereigns who succeeded, did not per- 
 ceive thepropriety of separating the civil, from the 
 spiritual supremacy.* The Sovereign, it is clear 
 was rightful political head of all ecclesiasrical 
 persons and causes. But what had that power to 
 do with the spiritual authority of the church^ 
 What right had the Sovereign to invade the pre- 
 rogative of the Church, and wield the spiritual 
 sword ? or what right had the Church to descend 
 trom her proper sphere, and in her judgments, em- 
 
 * See Courraycr on the Supremacy. 
 
sfmammmmmi 
 
 14 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i( 
 
 SECTION ploy the temporal sword. In short, this great 
 ^ I^- point was not understood at the Reformation, 
 .^V-v^ aiid, the misapprehension has been the source of 
 numerous and inveterate evils. 
 
 The conference proceeded, and on the sixteenth 
 of January, the Puritan Divines were admitted, 
 at the head of whom was Doctor Reynolds, pro- 
 Doctrine ana fessor of divinity at Oxford. In doctrine, the only 
 alteration proposed, was the introduction into the 
 XVI Article, immediately following the words 
 " after we have received the Holy Ghost, we may 
 depart from grace, " of a qualifying clause. It 
 was also proposed, that the Lambeth Articles 
 which were highly Calvinistic should be inserted. 
 The observations of the King on this subject for 
 their sound sense and practical wisdom, are wor- 
 thy of record. '' Meantime I wish that the doc- 
 trine of predestination may be tenderly handled, 
 lest, on the one side, God's Omnipotency be ques- 
 tioned by impeaching the doctrine of his eternal 
 predestination ; or, on the other side, a desperate 
 presumption arreared, by inferring the necessary 
 certainty of persisting in grace." 
 
 When an exception was taken to the reading 
 of the Apochry pha, the King desired them to mark 
 those chapters which were exceptionable ; and a 
 minute was made to omit the reading of such por- 
 tions, as were inconsistent with the canonical Scrip- 
 ture. But when objections were made to the sur- 
 plice, the sign of the Cross in Baptism, and the 
 
 Ceremonies es- 
 tablished. 
 
 ) 
 
 N 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 , i)etuated. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. J5 
 
 use of the ring in Marriage, the King interrupted sECTroN 
 he earned Professor and said, ke apprehended T 
 that the Surplice was a very comely garment ,- that ~ 
 the Cross was as old as Constantine, who could not 
 be charged with Popery; besides, that it was no 
 more a significant sign than imposition of hands 
 whchwas not objected to, and thus, these points as 
 they deserved, were summarily dismissed. 
 
 But when Doctor Reynolds arrived at the prin- ^ , ,r 
 cipal pomt in dispute, and pointed out the griev- ^'^1^- 
 ances m Church Government, and the abuses of "'■■°*''" 
 he Ecclesiastical courts; and entreated the King 
 to restore the local clerical assemblies, which they 
 enjoyed in Archbishop Grindal's time, and, that 
 Church matters which could not be resolved there 
 might be reserved for the Archdeacons' visitation,' 
 and from thence, if necessary, be transferred to the 
 Diocesan Synod-the King, remembering what he 
 had suffered under Presbyterian tyranny in Scot- 
 and ; and still smarting under the galling inflic- 
 tion lost all patience and burst into a flame • and 
 without waiting for any further remark, he obser- 
 ved, that he saw they were aiming at a Scots Pres- 
 bytery; and, after indulging in a lively sally at 
 the expense of the Scotch Reformers, ended with 
 the arbitrary announcement—" If this be all your 
 party have to say, I will make them conform, or I 
 will hurry them out of the land, or else worse " 
 
 I have been particular to give a just and per- 
 spicuous view of this conference because it is es- 
 
 1 
 
l(i 
 
 THKOCUATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 l| 
 
 SECTION sential to ouv history ; and forms a very important 
 
 ChII'i. ^'"^ '" ^^"^ ^"'^ '**' '^^'"^^•^- An opportunity was 
 afforded to those in power, of consuhing the best 
 interests of the Church and Nation. Dissent at 
 this period, was unknown. It was not contem- 
 plated by the Puritans. For, some time after this 
 Conference, in their defence for refusing subscrii> 
 tion to the Book of Common Prayer, " willingly 
 and from their hearts," they use these words. 
 " We protest before the almighty God. that we 
 acknowledge the Churches of England as they be 
 established by public authority, to be true visible 
 Churches of Christ, that we desire the continuance 
 of our ministry in them, above all earthly things, 
 as that, without which, our whole life would be 
 wearisome and bitter to us." 
 
 Notwithstanding this declaration, no doubt there 
 were amongst the divines, many who were endued 
 -with a rash, innovating spirit, and, who from their 
 residence abroad, had imbibed the Presbyterian 
 views of discipline; but they were, generally 
 speaking, moderate in their demands, and deter- 
 mined, if possible, to preserve the unity of the 
 Church. The Bishops, also, were temperate and 
 judicious men, and sincere in their desires to ben- 
 efit the Church, by remedying abuses and amend- 
 ing the Ecclesiastical laws. But the King's arbi- 
 trary conduct, which shewed itself at the conclu- 
 sion of the conference, put an end to all salutary 
 Reform ; extinguished all hope in the breasts of 
 
 OF ENGU.SH m.STORY. 
 
 17 
 
 the moderate Reformers, stimulated the decision section 
 of the wavenng, and inflamed the minds of the l^ 
 intemperate. c„^; , 
 
 In all probability whatever had been the deci- 1?C^ 
 «ion of this conference, a very great number of™"''-' f"'™^' 
 persons would have remained dissatisfied; and the .ea::"""" 
 
 Z?d Th i ' "'^'' ^"" ""'"' ^^- --i- 
 
 which he did. was guided by rule, founded on an 
 mtimate knowledge of the subject. His view of 
 the case generally, was most reasonable. He felt 
 
 assured that, those were the true principles of 
 Church polity, which came nearest to the ancient 
 and universal practice. It was wise, therefore, 
 and just, to stand upon the grand principle o^ 
 Church government, and not to submit to any in- 
 novation. His resolution on this point, founded 
 on reason and knowledge, was firm and immo.^ 
 
 situation during the early part of his life-the 
 
 and peculiar character of his education, which 
 eminently fitted him for taking a just view oTtWs 
 most important subject, he will appear an em nen 
 instrument in the Hand of God and " ' 
 
 an mit T, ™T' " ^^'--^-l matters, 
 nd migh, through rashness or ignorance, have 
 VOL. n. p 
 
'vmmmimmiii- 
 
 i ^gF^«li*wIgit ii « 
 
 18 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION overthrown the whole frame-work of the Church 
 IV. Establishment. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 But not in 
 Charity. 
 
 True Power 
 of the Church. 
 
 Notwithstanding, whilst the King and Bishops 
 were fully justified in permitting no innovation on 
 the essential principle of Church Government, 
 they might, by a conciliatory conduct, have availed 
 themselves of the learning and piety of the Puri- 
 tans, to the incredible advantage of the Church. 
 I do not mean that they should have dispensed 
 with uniformity in worship. I think they were 
 bound to maintain it. But, as most of their ob- 
 jections were really trifling, by a little concession, 
 great good might have been obtained, at little cost. 
 Unfortunately, conciliation was not attempted. 
 
 Nor was this the worst. A false and arbitrary 
 position was taken up, and persevered in, which 
 has been the foundation of unheard-of evils in 
 the Commonwealth. Not content with exacting 
 uniformity in the administration of public Worship, 
 which they had a solemn right to do, and depriv- 
 ing those of their Ecclesiastical functions, who 
 would not submit to the decisions of the Church 
 —they proceeded to coerce, and fine and imprison 
 them for disobedience. Upon no principle divine 
 or human, could such a course be justified. The 
 Author of Christianity granted no such authority. 
 His commission to his Church was great, awful 
 and irresponsible. But it was wholly spiritual. 
 No carnal, no earthly instrument of coercion, was 
 allowed. The Church requires no aid to strength- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 19 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 I 
 
 en her judgments. They are inconceivably grand, SECTION 
 and beyond the aid of human power, which can IV. 
 only encumber them. It is as if the speed of the 
 tempest could be accelerated by machinery, or the 
 voice of thunder increased by the discharge of artil- 
 lery. The Church, indeed, demands the counte- 
 nance and support of the Civil Governor, because 
 she IS " by many infallible proofs " a divine insti- 
 tution. But if he attempts more than this, and 
 uses his temporal power, for counteracting or en- 
 forcing her decrees, he invades her prerogative 
 and must create immeasurable evils in her admin- 
 istration. 
 
 But, if Jesus Christ, did not grant any such 
 temporal power to his Church-nay, it would be 
 derogatory to his divine character to suppose the 
 possibility of it, inasmuch as he has granted to 
 It, a power, infinitely transcending all earthly 
 power ; and which, can only be degraded and 
 injured by its interference-if Jesus Christ has 
 not sanctioned it, upon what ground can any hu- 
 man authority assume the power of coercing the 
 human mind? It is unjust and arbitrary to 
 attempt it : and, if attempted, impossible to accom- 
 plish. 
 
 This simple principle, as grand as it is simple ,„ , . , 
 was not understood by King James. He migl; ^^ ' 
 have learnt it, in the troublous school in which he 
 was educated. But his extravagant notions of the 
 singly Prerogative, were exasperated by the sha- 
 

 20 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION dow of opposition, and he commenced a system of 
 cJaI* I. ^^^^^°' ^^^^^^ ^as rapidly followed by the most 
 serious evils, and overwhelmed his House with 
 destruction. But I must not anticipate. 
 
 But other matters were transacted in this con- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 21 
 
 Catechism, 
 Canons, Bible 
 
 ference, which have been rendered important from 
 the direction and character which they have given 
 to our Ecclesiastical affairs. By a decree of this 
 Conference, the Canons were compiled by the 
 Convocation which sat concurrent with the suc- 
 ceeding Parliament. These Canons, or regulations 
 for the discipline of the Church, are one hundred 
 and forty-one in number, but are not considered 
 binding on the Laity, because the King presuming 
 on his prerogative, did not condescend to ask the 
 sanction of Parliament. The general character of 
 these Canons is harsh and arbitrary, and suited 
 to the period at which they were promulgated. 
 Many of their enactments have been superseded 
 by later statutes. Others have been rendered obso- 
 lete by the change of times and customs, whilst as a 
 whole, they are inoperative and inconvenient. We 
 must not forget to acknowledge our obligations to 
 this Conference, for that concise and beautiful sum- 
 mary of the Christian Sacraments, which is ap- 
 pended to the Catechism of the Church, and res- 
 pecting which, we can have but one wish, that it 
 may be perpetual. 
 
 This vain attempt of the King to give the force 
 of law to his royal prerogative, has been the source 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 of prodigious evil. The Church has been left SECTION 
 without a directory or rule. Ministerial authority U 
 m fact, abolished, and every man left without a "— 
 master, to do what was right in his own eyes : nor 
 can I perceive the justice of the distinction be- 
 tween the Clergy and Laity. I can easily con- 
 ceive how a Clergyman may be amenable to his 
 diocesan, without any such rules, in all simple 
 Ecclesiastical admonition and censure ; but surely, 
 where Canons are sanctioned and enforced by 
 cml punishments, the Clergy ought to be as much 
 under the protection of law, as the Laity. It is 
 slavery to admit any such distinction. A Clergy, 
 man does not lose his citizenship, by the impo- 
 sition of the hands of the Bishop and Presbytery. 
 
 But we are still more immeasurably indebted Ve,.„„ of 
 to it, tor the present authorised translation of the "'^ ^*"' "^ 
 Holy Bible. This, indeed, was the glory of the 
 reign ; and had King James lived and reigned for 
 no other purpose than to accomplish this magnifi- 
 cent work, he had not lived in vain; his reign 
 would have answered a great and sufficient pur- 
 pose. As a complete work, it was perhaps, one of 
 the greatest achievements ever accomplished by 
 human ability and has stood the test of the severest 
 criticism, which the learning of later years has 
 been able to exercise. It is true, some of the 
 words which it contains have become obsolete 
 some passages are obscure, and even some errors 
 have been discovered ; but still as a composition. 
 
I 
 
 .1 
 
 22 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION like the Book of Common Prayer, it stands unri- 
 
 Ch'aI' I ^'^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ l^^g remain the Palladium of 
 English Protestantism as well as the standard of 
 the English language. Through its medium the 
 sacred lamp of Truth has shone with a pure and 
 steady light, and through the energies of the 
 British Nation, has penetrated into the darkest 
 and most remote corners of the earth. The names 
 of the translators deserve to be recorded to our 
 latest posterity.* 
 
 * Their number was forty seven, and they were divided into 
 SIX Committees to meet at Westminster, and the two Univer- 
 sities. 
 
 Andrews, D. of Westminster, 
 
 - Overall, D. of St, Pauls, 
 Saravin> 
 Gierke, 
 Layfield 
 Leigh, 
 Burleigh, 
 Kinge, 
 Thomson, 
 Bedwell, 
 
 Barlow, D. of Chester, 
 
 Hutchinson, 
 
 Spenser, 
 
 Fenton, 
 
 Kabbett, 
 
 Sanderson, 
 
 Dakins, 
 
 Pentateuch. — The story 
 from Joshua to the First 
 Book of Chronicles exclusive. 
 
 The Epistles of St. Paul, 
 and the Canonical Epistles. 
 
 Lively, 
 
 Kichardson, 
 
 Chaderton, 
 
 Dillingham, 
 
 Harrison, 
 
 Andrews, 
 
 Spaldinge, 
 
 Birge, 
 
 The Classes at Camhridge were 
 
 From the First of Chroni- 
 cles with the rest of the story, 
 and the Hagiographia, viz- 
 Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Can- 
 tica, Ecclesiastes. 
 
 23 
 
 Parliament. 
 
 The first meeting of parliament which immedi- SECTION 
 ately followed, passed over without any thing re- IV. 
 markable except the King's speech, which was a ,^^^^^^ 
 kind of prologue to the parliamentary scenes Meeting of 
 which were shortly to be transacted. It was a ^ 
 master piece of eloquence, adorned with learning 
 and replete with enlightened views, far superior 
 to the age in which he lived. He propounded 
 with precision, the duties of Kings and subjects. 
 He went further; and with a frankness, which 
 almost amounted to rashness, he removed the hal- 
 lowed vail, which the hand of time had thrown 
 over the institutions of the Monarchy ; and called 
 
 Duport, 
 
 Brathwaite, 
 
 Radcliffe, 
 
 Ward, 
 
 Downes, 
 
 Boyse, 
 
 Warde, 
 
 The Prayer of Manasses, 
 and the rest of the Apocrypha. 
 
 Hardinge, 
 
 Reynolds, 
 
 Holland, 
 
 Kilby, 
 
 Smith, 
 
 Brett, 
 
 Fareelowe, 
 
 Ravis, D. of Ch. Ch. 
 
 Abbot, D. of Winchester, 
 
 Montague, D. of Worces, 
 
 Thompson, D. of Winds, 
 
 Savile, 
 
 Perin, 
 
 Ravens, 
 
 Harmer, 
 
 At Oxford. 
 
 The four greater Prophets 
 with the Lamentation, and the 
 twelve lesser Prophets. 
 
 The four Gospels, Acts of 
 the Apostles, Apocalypse. 
 

 2J 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i 
 
 If 
 II 
 
 SECTION the attention of mankind to the abstract principles 
 chII* I ""^ Government— principles Avhich they had scarce- 
 ly ever ventured to investigate. He boldly stated 
 the grand and fundamental law of our Constitu- 
 tion— that the Monarch is amenable for his actions 
 to none but God— a statement sufficiently start- 
 ling when made as an abstract proposition, without 
 its proper limitation or rational safeguard. The 
 King fully believed the abstract principle, found- 
 ed on a divine and original right, which flowed 
 from his legitimate title to the throne. He 
 considered himself as "the anointed of God," 
 and acknowledged no limitation to his prerogative, 
 but the good of the people. Indeed, the power 
 and sovereignty of the English Kings at this 
 period, was undefined. All the rational principles 
 of Government were inherent in the constitution, 
 but they had not then been fully examined, and 
 were not understood. The King led the way, and 
 boldly commenced the examination ; and was thus 
 made the unconscious instrument of evolving the 
 true principles of our civil polity. This position, 
 that the King - can do vo wrong, " and is answer- 
 able to God, alone, for his actions, is now fully 
 recognized as a fundamental maxim of our politi- 
 cal system ; but rendered perfectly consistent with 
 reason and common sense, by the adoption of ano- 
 ther principle, that the official advisers of the 
 Monarch are answerable for their conduct, to the 
 representatives of the people,— an arrangement 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 25 
 
 which places the rights of the people as well as SECTION 
 those of the Monarch, under the divine sanction, IV. 
 and gives to both, an interest in the impartial ,^^^^^^-i^ 
 administration of the Most High. The authority 
 of the Prince emanates from the Divine Power ; 
 the rights of the people are secured by the sanc- 
 tion of divine justice. " Passive obedience and 
 non-resistence" are idle terms which have occupied 
 the volumes of Polemics ; but which have no 
 meaning under our happy constitution. It cannot 
 be presumed, that the Sovereign powder is more the 
 object of the divine care, than the multitude of the 
 people. Both are recognized by the state as 
 equally the subjects of his care. The prerogative 
 of the King is secured from popular invasion ; the 
 rights of the people, from royal aggression. 
 
 In this same speech, to which we have been Extreme 
 directing the reader's attention, the King drew a ''^^^ ' 
 strong contrast between a legitimate Sovereign 
 and a usurper, in which he ventured to assert — 
 that the former, considered himself ordained to 
 secure the wealth and prosperity of the people, 
 whilst the latter, viewed his people as ordained to 
 satisfy his inordinate desires and appetites — thus 
 claiming for ''rightful" Sovereigns, a kind of 
 moral as well as political perfection. These over- 
 wrought statements, inconsistent with the sobriety 
 of truth, afforded, no doubt, ample materials for 
 thought to the reflecting and independent spirits 
 
 views of the 
 
26 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 [ 
 
 |l 
 
 SECTION of the age, and laid the foundation for consequen- 
 ChI; I. ""^^ ^'**^^ anticipated by this sagacious Prince. 
 ,.,^-v-^ With equal candour he declared his sentiments 
 ^^^t ',^ '^' all-important subject of Religion, and 
 shewed by what means the Romish Religion 
 might not only be tolerated, but brought into 
 unity with the established Catholic faith of the 
 realm, if its guardians would do as the Church of 
 England had done— trace back the Institutions of 
 Christianity, abolish all innovations on the primi- 
 tive doctrine and practice, and bring the usages of 
 the church, as near as possible, into conformity 
 with the Catholic and Apostolic Institution. If 
 they would act on this principle, the King promi- 
 sed to "meet them half-way;" by which he 
 meant, that he would subject the Reformation of 
 the English Church, to the same ordeal; and 
 ground the union of the two churches on the 
 result of the investigation. This reasonable and 
 enlightened view of the subject, gave general dis- 
 satisfaction to the nation, which had just escaped 
 out of the merciless hands of Popery, and still 
 remembered with horror, the fires and tortures of 
 that intolerant domination. The people imagined 
 that the King spoke too favorably of Romanism ; 
 and the Puritan clergy, especially, not only took 
 umbrage at the royal declaration, but even made 
 it a subject of outcry and alarm. But time, which 
 tries our opinions, has fully established the solidity 
 and accuracy of the King's statements. The 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 27 
 
 Romanists. 
 
 knowledge and experience of modern times have SECTION 
 only served to illustrate and confirm their truth ; IV. 
 and, to demonstrate, that it is the only true prin- ^"*''' '' 
 pie upon which Ecclesiastical Reform can be 
 conducted, and the only ground on which we can 
 be justified even in acknowledging the Church of 
 Rome as an Institution of Christ. 
 
 But this is not all : not only did the King give offends the 
 offence to the Protestants by these declarations, 
 he gave still greater offence to the Romanists, by 
 a declaration equally candid and reasonable, that 
 " the Papists were unsvfferahle in the Kingdom, as 
 long as they maintained the Pope to he their spirit- 
 ual head, and to have the power to dethrone Kings.'' 
 
 In this Parliament also he commenced his 
 efforts for accomplishing the union of the two 
 kingdoms, a grand political project, in which he 
 again shewed himself superior to the prejudices of 
 the age. He took the name of King of Great 
 Britain, and quartered the arms of the two nations 
 on his flags, and to give a striking idea of the 
 peaceful advantages of such a union, he caused the 
 iron gates of the frontier towns to be converted 
 into ploughshares. But in vain. All he could 
 accomplish, was the appointment of Commissioners 
 to treat upon the subject ; but the prejudices of 
 both countries were immoveable. Scotland was 
 doomed to suffer a century of barbarism, and 
 placed in a situation, of all others, the most sin- 
 gular and unhappy. Its Monarch from being the 
 
28 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I ill 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Peace with 
 Spain. 
 
 « 
 
 SECTION most limited, had, by his accession to the English 
 IV- throne, become the most powerful Sovereign in 
 Europe. Its nobles from being the most free and 
 independent chiefs of Christendom, had, by the 
 union of the two crowns, become the most subject 
 and dependent, whilst the people exposed to the 
 absolute dictation of their Monarch, and to the 
 uncontrolled jurisdiction of their aristocracy, suf- 
 fered all the miseries peculiar to both those forms 
 of Government. 
 
 The war in which Queen Elizabeth had been 
 engaged with Spain, was not yet concluded; and 
 James, on his accession to the English throne, 
 found himself placed in an anomalous situation : 
 as King of Scotland, he was at peace with Spain, 
 as King of England he was at war with that 
 power. But his ruling policy was peace, which 
 arose partly from an open and pacific disposition, 
 but still more, from a solid conviction of the justice 
 and advantage of a system of peace. The King 
 of Spain and the Pope also, from different motives, 
 favored pacific measures, and a treaty of peace 
 was soon concluded, with an interchange of the 
 most magnificent presents ; and a perfect recon- 
 cilation was established between the two Monarchs 
 — a reconciliation which was as hearty and sin- 
 cere on the one side, as it was hollow and decep- 
 tive on the other, and which, in the end, proved 
 most disastrous to the House of Stuart. Peace 
 itself may be bought too dear, when purchased at 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 29 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 the expense of principle ; and in this instance, it SECTION 
 is to be feared, to gratify some personal peculiarity IV. 
 the King rejected the lessons of national experi- 
 ence. A system of peace, in itself, must be good, 
 and is, certainly, most consistent with the princi- 
 ples of eternal truth and justice. It was the po- 
 licy pursued by Henry VII ; but there was more 
 vigour in his administration, and a more effective 
 preparation for war ; and it may be laid down as 
 an established maxim, that amidst the uncertain 
 and fluctuating changes of political affairs, arising 
 from the violence and suddenness of human pas- 
 sions, a system of peace can never be adopted, 
 without a serious preparation for war. 
 
 Scarcely had this important treaty been con- 
 cluded, and the emblems of peace were floating 
 from every tower and eminence in the kingdom ; 
 when, before the meeting of Parliament, which 
 had been summoned, a fearful conspiracy was dis- 
 covered; which had for its object, the destruction 
 of the King, Lords, and Commons at one blow. 
 The cellars under the two houses of Parliament 
 were hired, and stored with gunpowder, which, 
 on the opening of the Session was to be fired; 
 and to involve all the members of the Legisla- 
 ture in one common and tremendous ruin. Never 
 did a more infernal project enter into the human 
 mind: and, in the Records of Crime, it stands 
 unparalleled for the wicked ingenuity of its con- 
 trivance, and the cruel barbarity of its intended 
 
 Gunpowder 
 Plot. 
 
 A. D. 1605. 
 
30 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 rators. 
 
 1i 
 
 SECTION execution: and affords to mankind, another strik- 
 
 c^Ja'p I ^"^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ intolerant spirit of that Apostate 
 v^^-v-^;^ Church, which gave it birth. 
 
 The conspi- The principal conspirators, were generally, men 
 of ancient family, unspotted character, and inde- 
 pendent fortune. Catesby, who may be consid- 
 ered as the chief projector of the plot, was des- 
 cended from Catesby, of infamous memory, the 
 wicked counsellor of Richard III, whose evil ge- 
 nius he inherited ; and on whom the Divine ven- 
 geance, was about to retribute the crimes of his 
 progenitor. The conspirators met for the purpose 
 of consultation, in a place behind Saint Clement s 
 church, and when they had resolved upon the 
 manner of executing their enterprise, their next 
 step was to consult their spiritual guides, on the 
 lawfulness of undertaking it. The individual, 
 whom they chiefly consulted on this occasion, was 
 Henry Garnet, superior of the Jesuits in England, 
 in connexion with Oswalde Tesmond, and John 
 Gerard, associates of the same order. The pro- 
 ject was highly applauded ; and they were assured 
 that they might proceed with a good conscience ! 
 and perform the deed ; since their design was against 
 heretics, and persons excommunicated. 
 
 Satisfied of the religious and meritorious char- 
 acter of their undertaking, they proceeded without 
 delay, to bind themselves to its accomplishment, 
 by solemn oaths, which were administered by the 
 Jesuit, Gerard ; and such was the resolution and 
 
 of ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 31 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 religious fury inspired into their breasts ; that al- SECTION 
 though twenty persons were possessed of the dread- IV. 
 ful secret, no emotions of pity, no hope of reward, 
 no fear of punishment prevailed on any of the con- 
 spirators to abandon the plot, or, to make a dis- 
 covery of it. Every arrangement was now made, 
 and the conspirators waited with impatience for 
 the meeting of Parliament. The most difficult 
 and dangerous part of the enterprise, was com- 
 mitted to Guido Fawkes, who had been in the 
 Spanish service, and was a j^erson of desperate 
 courage, and a furious Romanist. To him was 
 intrusted the care of the cellars, in which the gun- 
 powder was stored. Suspicion was absent. The 
 fatal day was rapidly approaching; and Guido 
 Fawkes, with blind, fanatical zeal, was fully re- 
 solved to fire the train, and to sacrifice himself, 
 that he might avenge the Church, and destroy the 
 enemies of God. 
 
 Nothing was now wanting but the flight of time 
 to crown their barbarous plot with success. It ^^i^strated. 
 was deep as hell ;— secret as the grave !— and im- 
 penetrable as the shades of night. But it was not 
 to succeed ; there was an overruling Power above, 
 with whom " the darkness is no darkness at all ;" 
 and to whose all-seeing eye, the hearts of men and 
 their secret machinations are naked and exposed. 
 He, saw through the clouds and mystery with 
 which they had thought to conceal their murder- 
 ous design ; and, in his righteous providence, he 
 
 The Plot 
 
30 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 rators. 
 
 SECTION execution : and affords to mankind, another strik- 
 IV". ing proof of the intolerant spirit of that Apostate 
 
 ^^^^r^^^^^^ Church, which gave it birth. 
 The Conspi- The principal conspirators, were generally, men 
 of ancient family, unspotted character, and inde- 
 pendent fortune. Catesby, who may be consid- 
 ered as the chief projector of the plot, was des- 
 cended from Catesby, of infamous memory, the 
 wicked counsellor of Richard III, whose evil ge- 
 nius he inherited ; and on whom the Divine ven- 
 geance, was about to retribute the crimes of his 
 progenitor. The conspirators met for the purpose 
 of consultation, in a place behind Saint Clement s 
 church, and when they had resolved upon the 
 manner of executing their enterprise, their next 
 step was to consult their spiritual guides, on the 
 lawfulness of undertaking it. The individual, 
 whom they chiefly consulted on this occasion, w^as 
 Henry Garnet, superior of the Jesuits in England, 
 in connexion with Oswalde Tesmond, and John 
 Gerard, associates of the same order. The pro- 
 ject was highly applauded ; and they were assured 
 that they might proceed with a good conscience ! 
 and perform the deed ; since their design was against 
 heretics^ and persons excommunicated. 
 
 Satisfied of the religious and meritorious char- 
 acter of their undertaking, they proceeded without 
 delay, to bind themselves to its accomplishment, 
 by solemn oaths, which were administered by the 
 Jesuit, Gerard ; and such was the resolution and 
 
 I 
 
 L 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 31 
 
 Chap, I. 
 
 religious fury inspired into their breasts ; that al- SECTION 
 though twenty persons were possessed of the dread- IV. 
 ful secret, no emotions of pity, no hope of reward, 
 no fear of punishment prevailed on any of the con- 
 spirators to abandon the plot, or, to make a dis- 
 covery of it. Every arrangement was now made, 
 and the conspirators waited with impatience for 
 the meeting of Parliament. The most difficult 
 and dangerous part of the enterprise, was com- 
 mitted to Guido Fawkes, who had been in the 
 Spanish service, and was a person of desperate 
 courage, and a furious Romanist. To him was 
 intrusted the care of the cellars, in which the gun- 
 powder was stored. Suspicion was absent. The 
 fatal day was rapidly approaching; and Guido 
 Fawkes, with blind, fanatical zeal, was fully re- 
 solved to fire the train, and to sacrifice himself, 
 that he might avenge the Church, and destroy the 
 enemies of God. 
 
 Nothing was now wanting but the flight of time The pio, 
 to crown their barbarous plot with success. It f'-'>s"-ate.i. 
 was deep as hell ;— secret as the grave !— and im- 
 penetrable as the shades of night. But it was not 
 to succeed ; there was an overruling Power above 
 with whom " the darkness is no darkness at all •" 
 and to whose all-seeing eye. the hearts of men and 
 their secret machinations are naked and exposed 
 He, saw through the clouds and mystery with 
 which they had thought to conceal their murder- 
 ous design ; and, in his righteous providence, he 
 
 The Plot 
 
32 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 III 
 
 SECTION determined to bring the hidden deed to light, and 
 ^^' to exhibit it, in all its frightful enormity, before 
 
 ^"4!^ . the eyes of an astonished world. The discovery 
 arose from the same fanaticism which gave it 
 birth. Just before the perpetration of the final 
 act, a conscientious scruple arose in the breasts of 
 the confederates, not awakened by any generous 
 sentiment, but generated by their bigotted parti- 
 alities — whether it would be lawful to destroy the 
 righteous with the wicked — the Popish, with the 
 Protestant lords. The case of conscience was 
 formally proposed by Catesby to their spiritual 
 director ; and, it was resolved by Garnet to this 
 effect, that if the advantage would be greater by 
 destroying the innocent with the guilty, it was 
 lawful to destroy the whole. This difficulty sur- 
 mounted, nothing was left but for every man to 
 hasten to his post ; and in silence to await the ca- 
 tastrophe. All were obedient to their solemn en- 
 gagements ; and all, but one, fully coincided in 
 the decision of Garnet ; and this one, had a private 
 partiality to gratify. He wished to save Lord 
 Monteagle, and, in order to prevent his attending 
 Parliament, wrote to him a letter couched in the 
 following mysterious terms : " My Lord, out of the 
 love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care 
 for your preservation; therefore I would advise 
 you as you tender your life, to devise some excuse 
 to shift off your attendance at this parliament ; for 
 God and man have resolved to punish the wicked- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 33 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 n ss of this time And think not slightly of this SECTION 
 advertisement : but retire yourself into the coun- IV 
 try where you may expect the event in safety • for 
 though there be no appearance of any stir yet I 
 say they will receive a terrible blow this parlia- 
 ment, and yet they shall not see who hurts them 
 This council is not to be contemned ; because it 
 may do you good, and can do you no harm • for 
 the danger is past as soon as you have burned the 
 letter; and I hope God will give yon the grace to 
 make good use of it, to whose holy protection I 
 commend you." 
 
 This letter was received only ten days before , , 
 «ie meeting of parliament, and although the no--Sr" 
 bleman to whom it was addressed, treated it with 
 levity, as a frolic to deter him from attending 
 Parliament, yet, from prudential motives, he was 
 urged to lay it before the principal Secretary of 
 State. And so powerful was the suggestion, that 
 although It was seven o'clock when the letter was 
 put into his hands, he presented it to the Earl of 
 Salisbury that very night. The noble Secretary 
 did not appear to attach much greater importance 
 to the epistle, than Lord Monteagle ; but observed 
 that some expressions contained in it, reminded 
 him of certain intimations which he had received 
 from foreign courts, to the effect that the Roman 
 Catholics intended to back their petition to the 
 l^arhament, in a manner, which was not expected, 
 and, could not be refused. This seeming co-inci 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 C 
 
34 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION dence so far prevailed on the mind of the Secre- 
 JV. tary, that he was induced to submit the epistle to 
 the scrutiny of the Council ; who resolved, that it 
 was of sufficient importance to be shewn to the 
 King. But still, it did not appear to require im- 
 mediate or urgent dispatch. The King was on 
 a hunting excursion ; and the document was qui- 
 etly reposited in the cabinet of the Minister. The 
 day after his return, which was the first of No- 
 vember, the letter was placed in his hands, with 
 a detail of the circumstances connected with it. — 
 The King on perusing the letter, collected from 
 the manner and style of the composition, that the 
 warning it contained, was not to be despised. 
 The Secretary in order to elicit the grounds upon 
 which the King's judgment was formed ; observed, 
 that its inconsistency proved it to be the product 
 of folly or madness ; and to shew this, directed 
 the King s attention to the passage, " The danger 
 is past as soon as you have burned this letter," and 
 observed, that the warning could be of no use, if 
 the burning of the letter would remove the danger. 
 But the King in return, requested him to consider 
 the phraseology of the former sentence. — " They 
 shall receive a terrible blow this parliament, and 
 not see who hurts them ; " and, that this taken in 
 conjunction with what he had just quoted, ap- 
 peared to him to imply some sudden danger, such 
 as might be expected from gunpowder. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. ok 
 
 The result of this conference, was an order to SECTION 
 the Lord Chamberlain, to search the rooms and IV 
 cellars connected with the two houses of Parlia- C""- '• 
 ment. This search was not commenced till the '"^^'^^ 
 
 afternoon of the fourth of November — Th. T a 
 
 r^i 1 , . '^luvcmuer. — i tie Lord and to a dii • 
 
 Chamberlain was accompanied by Lord Monteagle --'^• 
 who ^as curious to see the end of this mysterioui 
 affair. When they came to the vaults under the 
 Houses, where the wood and cools of the conspi- 
 rators were housed, they asked in a careless man- 
 ner, to whom they belonged, and who the person 
 was. who seemed to have the care of them This 
 person was, Guido Fawkes ; who represented 
 Piercys servant, under the assumed name of 
 Johnson. Their report having been made to the 
 Council, the King was more fully confirmed in 
 his suspicions ; and it was resolved, that the vaults 
 should be thoroughly examined. Accordingly a 
 commission was given to Sir Thomas Knyvett' a 
 gentleman of the Privy Chamber and a Magistrlte 
 of Westminster; who, with a few attendants, ar- 
 riving about midnight, and, only twelve hours 
 before the meeting of Parliament, found a person 
 of suspicious character, muffled in a large cloak 
 standing at the entrance of the vault. Ihis was 
 Guido Fawkes, ever faithful to his desperate trust 
 who discovered, at the very moment of his capture' 
 his fitness for the murderous service he had uni 
 dertaken : with an oath of brutal fierceness, he 
 declared, that if he had been taken within the 
 
3G 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 37 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 Circumstan 
 ces of the dis-r 
 covery. 
 
 SECTION cellar, he would have set fire to the train. On his 
 IV. person was found a dark lantern, with every mate- 
 rial necessary for the accomplishment of his pur- 
 pose. 
 
 Every thing was now discovered. Sir Thomas 
 Knyvett hastened to the palace and acquainted the 
 Lord Chamberlain and the Council in w^aiting, 
 with the discovery. Such was their impatient 
 joy, that they hastened to the Kings apartment 
 and awoke him from sleep, to convey to him the 
 joyful intelligence. 
 
 Such were the circumstances, attending the se- 
 cret working and discovery of this inhuman plot. 
 During a w^hole year, it had been elaborately 
 wrought without exciting a whisper of suspicion : 
 Never was a band of conspirators more faithful to 
 a desperate enterprise. Never were conspirators 
 more confident of success. Nothing was heard — 
 nothing known, till within twelve hours of its in- 
 tended perpetration. Yet it was silently and sig- 
 nally frustrated. Lord Monteagle, had not the 
 most distant suspicion, when he conveyed the 
 mysterious letter to the Secretary of State, that 
 the two houses of Parliament were to be destroyed 
 by gunpowder — the Earl of Salisbury himself, had 
 no idea of such a catastrophe — the mine was pre- 
 pared, but they were unconscious of their danger: 
 the volcano was charged beneath them, and pre- 
 pared for explosion, but they were secure : a sud- 
 den thought darted into the mind of the King, 
 
 Chap 
 
 and discovered the whole ! Yet it was but a con- SECTION 
 jecture; and, he had so little confidence in it, that W 
 It was agreed, lest they should bring odium upon 
 themselves for such a suspicion, that, if Sir Tho- 
 mas Knyvett found no material of destruction un- 
 der the houses, they should pretend, that the 
 search was made after some stolen furniture of the 
 iving s. Yet the impression was strong enough 
 to lead to the discovery. In the first place, on the 
 nnnd of Lord Monteagle, to induce him to lay the 
 letter before the Secretary ; on the mind of the 
 Secretary, to lay it before the Council : on the 
 Council, to submit it to the King: on the King 
 to cause the houses to be examined. How little 
 was It in the intention of the Conspirator, who 
 wrote the letter, that it should lead to the disco- 
 very- of the Plot ! Every word he used, was stu- 
 died, with a design of avoiding such a result.-Yet 
 It led to It, by a surprising chain of circumstances. 
 U . Thou great and overruling Power, whose pur- 
 poses are inconceivably wise and benevolent it 
 was thy doing !-It is thine to frustrate the designs 
 of the wicked, and to bring to light, the hidden 
 works of darkness and death ! 
 
 The perpetrators of the intended deed, them- i.p.ty„r..e 
 selves, attributed the discovery, to a supernatural c"-" "^ 
 agency. They were secure of their own fidelity 
 Ihey were confident in their cause, and certain 
 of success ; and thus, when Guido Fawkes was 
 examined before the Council, he boldly avowed 
 
 Rome. 
 
38 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION bis intention ; and declared that, '' the Devil, and 
 IV. not God, had betrayed his good design. " But 
 this declaration, was as much a blasphemy 
 against God, as the conspiracy was an outrage 
 against nature. IIow fearfully responsible is the 
 system, which makes the Almighty and Blessed 
 God, the abettor of treason, of treachery, of cru- 
 elty and murder ; and, the Devil, the patron of 
 humanity and benevolence ! Nor yet would we 
 involve the whole body of Roman Catholics in the 
 guilt of this atrocious conspiracy ; nor, must the 
 whole responsibility be considered to rest upon 
 the immediate actors in this intended tragedy. — 
 It was zeal for their religion, which engaged them 
 in the enterprise. They sought the sanction and 
 advice of their spiritual guides, and obtained their 
 approval — nay, absolution was granted to them 
 beforehand. The conspirators believed their trea- 
 son to be a most pious deed, and most acceptable 
 to God. It was not Guido Fawkes, who said; 
 " It was the Devil and not God who had betrayed 
 his good design, " biit the Spirit of Romanism. 
 A serious responsibility, no doubt, attaches to him 
 and to his associates, but the chief evil and res- 
 ponsibility is attributable to the system itself. — 
 The guilt of the transaction, must rest upon the 
 Church of Rome. All the circumstances of the 
 conspiracy were known and approved of, at Rome. 
 Nay, whilst the Plot Avas preparing, prayers were 
 offered up for its success, in the principal seat of 
 
 of ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 39 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Guilty of 
 
 Christendom! Nor will this appear incredible, SECTION 
 when it is considered, that Garnet, who heard IV. 
 the confessions of the Conspirators, encouraged 
 and absolved them, and was executed for his 
 treason, is reckoned, with the approval of the 
 Church, amongst the martyrs of the society of the 
 Jesuits. At Louvain, he was addressed in prayer : 
 and Widdington informs us, that his bones were 
 preserved as relics ; and his image set up over al- 
 tars : whilst his portrait was publicly sold at 
 Rome, with an inscription to the effect, that he 
 was executed for the Catholic Faith. * 
 
 Can a system of Religion which generates such 
 monstrous evils, be from God? Can he who is ^^^'p^"^'"^- 
 the source of benevolence and love, be supposed 
 to countenance such refinement in cruelty •? Can 
 Jesus Christ who came into the world, *'not to de- 
 stroy men's lives but to save them," be considered 
 the author of such furious and malignant passions, 
 and of wholesale extirpation ? Can Jesus Christ, 
 who forbad all persecution for the furtherance of 
 his Religion, and who ''died for his enemies," 
 be supposed to acquiesce in the furtherance of a 
 scheme, unworthy of the most brutal of men ? 
 Yet, on the ground of religion, it is sought to be 
 justified by the adherents of Romanism. Vain 
 attempt ! even, at the bar of fallible reason, which 
 
 * Peter Henricus Garnettus, Anglus, Londini pro fide 
 CathoUca suspensus et necatus 3 Mali, 1606. Lathhury, 
 
40 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION pronounces it a most glaring insult upon the 
 cul' I ^^^^^^^y ^^ Heaven, and a most unpardonable 
 blasphemy against the Son of God. For admit- 
 ting every pretension of the Roman CathoHc 
 Church, put forth as the grounds of persecution 
 —that it is the only true, infallible and authorized 
 Church ; and that there cannot, by any possibility, 
 be salvation out of her pale— yet, supposing all 
 this to be true— it would be contrary to reason 
 and to the avowed principles of Christianity, to ex- 
 tirpate its enemies by fire and sword. Nor would 
 such a course of policy be inconsistent only with 
 the precepts of Christianity, but contrary to the 
 dictates of humanity and common sense, which 
 would teach them to prolong to the utmost extent, 
 the lives of miserable and infatuated Heretics, 
 who at the hour of their death, must be consigned 
 to eternal damnation. Under such circumstances, 
 to hurry them off the stage of life, and place them,' 
 for ever, without purgatorial remedy, beyond the 
 boundaries of hope, is not only antichristian, but 
 inhuman ! One circumstance, connected with the 
 subject, deserves yet to be recorded. Whilst the 
 principal conspirators were defending themselves 
 in a house which they had fortified, against the 
 Sheriff of AVorcester, strange to say, the house 
 was blown up with gunpowder, by a spark which 
 accidentally fell upon their ammunition. By the 
 explosion their faces were so blackened and their 
 bodies so scorched, that when the gates were open- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 41 
 
 ed they presented a remarkable spectacle, and ap- section 
 peared hke infernals. Catesby and Pie;cy were 'v 
 slain m the attack. The others were taken pris- ^-- '• 
 oners. What a striking retribution ' ^^v^. 
 
 But we shall not enlarge further on this melan- r.u, of v„ 
 choly subject. It has little to do with the direct -'-• 4'"" 
 history of our country, except that it filled the ' nf ! ''" 
 nunds of the men of that generation with horror ^ -"f" 
 and induced the legislature to repress the adher^ 
 ents of Popery, by grievous penalties, and civil 
 disqualifications ; and. indeed, has influenced our 
 whole political economy, from that time to a very 
 recent date-a subject we shall not anticipate. 
 
 Ihe second session of the first Parliament which 
 had been destined to destruction on the fifth of 
 November, met in perfect safety on the ninth of 
 that month. The King, in his address, entered ri «■ • 
 minutely „Uo the circumstances of the late con-SrIX "* 
 ^Piracy, in which he evinced extraordinary mode- 
 ration and temper, and discovered a mind deeply 
 enibued with the sense of a divine interposition 
 A portion of his speech on this occasion, in which 
 his great penetration and candour are eminently 
 seen, must not be omitted ; " for" added the King 
 however the blind superstition of their errors b 
 religion, has been the only motive in this desperate 
 attempt. It must not be thought that all who pro- 
 ess the lloMAN religion are guilty of the same : 
 for as It IS true that no other Sect, or Heresy, no, 
 r.ot excepting Turk. Jew, or Pagan, or hos 
 
42 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION that worship the Devil, did ever maintain by the 
 IV. grounds of their religion, that it was lawful and 
 meritorious to murder Princes or People upon 
 the account of that ; yet it is true on the other side, 
 that many honest men blinded perhaps with some 
 opinions of Popery,— as the Eeal Presence, the 
 number of the Sacraments and some such school 
 questions, do either not know, or not believe, all 
 the true grounds of Popery, which is indeed the 
 MYSTERY OF INIQUITY, and therefore, we justly 
 confess, that many Papists, especially our forefa- 
 thers, laying their only trust upon Christ and his 
 merits, may be saved ; detesting in that point; 
 the cruelty of the Puritans that will allow no sal- 
 vation to any Papist. As on the one part, many 
 honest men, seduced with some errors of Popery, 
 may yet remain, so none of those who truly know 
 and believe the whole grounds of Popery, can prove 
 either good Christians or faithful subjectsr 
 
 The tempest of passion which had been excited 
 in the minds of men by the discovery of this atro- 
 cious Plot, after the execution of the conspirators 
 and the enacting of severe penalties against the 
 adherents of Romanism, began to subside ; and a 
 period of tranquillity ensued, highly favourable to 
 the culture of the peaceful arts. The '' peaceful 
 King" himself led the way. His candour, conde- 
 scension, speculative reasoning and exhibition of 
 learning on all public occasions, roused the genius 
 of the nation, and turned the minds of men to the 
 
 State uf 
 Peace. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 43 
 
 study of letters. Many of the bold and adventu- SECTION 
 ous, whose ardent spirits had been engaged in IV 
 foreign and warlike pursuits, taking example from ^""•- '• 
 their Sovereign, now exercised themselves in the ^'^'^'"'^ 
 subtleties of dispute, and applied themselves to a 
 practical knowledge of the Constitution, as well as 
 to the abstract principles of Government. In 
 short, there was a great and sudden developement 
 of the national mind. Learning was extended : the 
 liberal and mechanical arts were enlarged, and pre- 
 parations were making, on an extensive scale for 
 great and fundamental changes in the common- 
 wealth. 
 
 The celebrated Camden, author of the " Bri- m r 
 tannia" which searches into the origin, manners '-™"«° 
 and laws of the ancient Britons, was not less illus! 
 trious for his virtues, than his learning. Francis 
 Bacon, Lord High Chancellor, likewise adorned 
 this age. He was a man of universal genius- 
 a philosopher and statesman ; and has been called 
 the light of science, and the father of experimental 
 philosophy. Shakespeare "the poet of nature" 
 still flourished. His works are replete with wit 
 vanety and genius. He excelled, both in the' 
 comic and tragic muse; but unfortunately he 
 wanted the taste and refinement, which have since 
 been introduced into the cultivation of our language • 
 and, his compositions are full of barbarisms and 
 conceits which characterized the age in which he 
 "^ecl. Indeed, his writings possess every defect 
 
'^ 
 
 44 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION which can be imagined ; but his extraordinary 
 IV. genius, triumphs over every disadvantage, and 
 makes him both read and admired. Ben Johnson 
 also adorned this reign ; and his works, replete with 
 learning, but with less genius than Shakespeare, 
 delighted his countrymen. 
 Improvement Whilst learning flourished, the boundaries of 
 in Commerce, rjy^^^^ ^^^^ Commcrce wcrc extended. With an 
 activity befitting the character which he had as- 
 sumed as 'nhe pacific King," he turned his atten- 
 tion to this branch of national prosperity. He 
 enlarged the patents of the East India Company, 
 which had been granted by Queen Elizabeth, and 
 gave them a perpetual charter. The King and 
 his son Prince^Henry, who had just received the 
 honor of knighthood and was the admiration of all 
 men, went to Deptford to view a ship of twelve 
 hundred tons burden, which had just been built 
 by the Company ; and which was named by the 
 Royal visitors.—" The Trade's increase ;" whilst 
 the King completed a man of War of sixty-four 
 guns, the largest ever yet known in England. 
 stru.^sies of Whllst England was advancing in its tranquil 
 the Reforma- cQursc, and uudcr its mild Government, every rank 
 lion in France. .^ ^^^.^^^ eujoycd the amplcst freedom and secu- 
 
 rity—the neighbouring kingdom of France was 
 yet convulsed with the struggles, which the 
 Church of that Kingdom was making, to free it- 
 self from the yoke of Papal domination. Its 
 Prince, Henry IV, a man of heroic courage and 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 45 
 
 1 
 
 < 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 enlarged views, favored the Reformation. But in SECTION 
 vain. His talents and capacity for business IV. ' 
 were unequalled ; and his courage invincible ; but, 
 he was unable to effect his purposes against the 
 power of the Jesuits, who, at that time, gave law 
 to Europe ; and, he was obliged to make consid- 
 erable concessions to the Roman Catholics ; but 
 this insolent Order were not satisfied; and the 
 King was stabbed in the mouth, by one of their 
 mstruments. On which occasion he was warned, 
 " T/iat the hand of God was visible in the action ] 
 for, he had now denied his Religion but with his 
 mouth ; but let him betvare of denying it with his 
 heart, for if he did, it teas feared God would strike 
 him there also^—B. prediction, which was soon to 
 be fulfilled. For, this enterprizing Monarch, with 
 a perseverance and courage Avhich nothing could 
 daunt, had so far promoted the peace and unity of 
 his kingdom, that a solemn treaty was entered 
 into between the contending parties, known by 
 the name of the Edict of Nantz, which granted 
 greater privileges to the Protestants than they had 
 ever before enjoyed. This noble-minded King, 
 had still greater projects for his Country in view , 
 
 -p . 1 . -, """^J "^ \ic>v. Assassination 
 
 ■But his doom was fixed ; and a tragedy was about "' "•' ^'"8 "f 
 to be transacted, which filled all France and ''"""* 
 Europe with consternation. His assassination 
 took place in the open day ; and in the streets 
 of Pans ! He was returning to his palace, seated 
 in his chariot, and surrounded by crowds of his 
 
 Assassination 
 f the I 
 France. 
 -A. D. 1610. 
 
46 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION admiring and applauding subjects, when the as- 
 IV. sassin Ravilliac darted upon him, and stabbed 
 him to the heart. Like Guy Fawkes, he gloried 
 in the horrid deed; and declared, that he did 
 it, because the King favoured two religions in 
 his kingdom; and that in contending with the 
 Pope, he was fighting against God ! When shall 
 this fatal delusion be banished from the earth '? 
 Deterioration Durfng this pcriod, the English people, as we 
 of the King's ^i^^Q remarked, were enjoying a season ofpro- 
 c aracter. f^^^^ tranquillity. But a state of repose from 
 more various and active pursuits, is not always 
 productive of advantage to the human mind. 
 Under the effects of indolence it becomes relaxed ; 
 and yields itself, without a struggle, to the allure- 
 ments of pleasure and the suggestions of vice. 
 On this occasion, we perceive its deleterious effects 
 on the mind of the King. Cecil, Earl of Salis- 
 bury, on the death of the Earl of Dorset, had be- 
 come Lord Treasurer, and, with uncommon ability 
 managed the whole business of the state ; whilst 
 the King employed his time in a succession of 
 dissipating amusements, The disposition of the 
 Queen greatly tended to promote the taste of the 
 Court, for these gay and frivolous diversions, by 
 which they contrived to waste their time, and to 
 turn day into night. They employed their whole 
 time as if they had been born for pleasure. Plays, 
 interludes, masquerades, and banquettings, seem 
 to have consumed the fleeting period of their lives. 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 47 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Eu It was dear-bought indulgence. These inces- SECTION 
 an and .ntoxxcating draughts of pleasure, enerva^ 'v 
 ted their minds; and the King, as he was emi- 
 nent m station, became the most conspicuous in 
 rum. The vigour of his understanding was im- 
 paired-and, lost to every noble sentiment, he 
 became the slave, not of vicious indulgence, but 
 of weak and effeminate passions. He became the 
 slave of favoritism. 
 
 A great portion of the histoiy of this Reion is „■ 
 
 OCCUnied m »„.>,.„«• ^l. • ^^eign is Riseand fall 
 
 occupied m narrating the rise and fall of Robert ""-"'' ^-^<' 
 t-arr a person whom the King had raised from """""'"• 
 an inferior situation, through every grade of title 
 and honor to the Dukedom of Somerset. It is a 
 long instructive, and tragic story. After being ex- 
 alted o the highest dignity, and filling every sta- 
 tion of authority and power, he was tried and con- 
 demnedfor murder, and though pardoned, he died 
 
 dntr^^r'" circumstances of great wretch- 
 edness. But, remarkable as it may appear, none 
 of the acts of this favorite and minister, who a 
 one time engrossed all the powers of ihe stLt 
 has any thmg to do with the history of England 
 e-ep so far as his licentiousness and profllga'; 
 tended to alienate the minds of the people from 
 heir Sovereign, and to hasten the cafastrophe Z 
 the reign. Noris there a long delay. Whilst 
 he King was engulphed in pleasure, and devo d 
 
 with f ""'';' ''^ '^^"^^^^' -^- ^^ '-ded 
 with favors and ennched with a profuseness, which 
 
48 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 49 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Death of 
 
 SECTION would have ruined any treasury in Europe ; and, 
 IV. whilst the splendor and festivities of the Court 
 were increased by the arrival of Frederick V. 
 Count Palatine of the Rhine, who had been con- 
 tracted in marriage to the King's daughter, the 
 Princess Elizabeth— a sudden gloom overspread 
 the nation— the voice of the Almighty was heard 
 
 the Angel of death was commissioned — the 
 
 King s eldest son was smitten, and the whole 
 nation, at once, plunged into "lamentation, and 
 mourning, and woe." 
 
 Prince Henry, who fell at the early age of 
 r.ince Henry, eighteen, was" the hope of the nation. He was en- 
 dowed with extraordinary powers of mind, pos- 
 sessed of high intelligence, gifted with every 
 moral virtue, and skilled in every manly exercise. 
 He had a soul full of noble sentiments— he was 
 chaste, temperate, of high honor and warlike ge- 
 nius. At his early age, he had a greater aptitude 
 for business, and commanded more respect than 
 his father, and promised fair to be one of the 
 greatest Princes that ever lived. But it was not 
 to be. He was presented to the nation with all 
 his bloominng and princely qualities about him, 
 and immediately taken from them, that they might 
 learn to appreciate the extent of the divine inflic- 
 tion. The vices and follies and weakness of the 
 King, were to be punished in his children ; and the 
 Monarchy itself, was to be humbled and circum- 
 scribed ; and the first step in this great transaction 
 
 / 
 
 i 
 
 Chap. f. 
 
 was the removal of Prince Henry, whose high and SECTION 
 
 transcendme aualitips mi^i,* i, , shCTJON 
 
 fc^f 1 1 • ^^""^^ '"'ght have opposed an ef- iv. 
 
 fectnal barrier to the changes and disorders of the 
 
 subsequent reign. Amongst many other excellent 
 
 thmgs handed down to us, respecting this Prince 
 
 one anecdote shall be recorded. One day as he' 
 
 was huntmg the Stag, it happened that the game 
 
 was kdled m the chace, by a butcher's dog The 
 
 company present, endeavoured to incense him 
 
 agamst the owner of the dog, and told him-that 
 
 had h.s father been so interrupted, he would have 
 
 sworn in such a manner, that no person could 
 
 have endured it. «' Away ! " said the'prince, ' aH 
 
 the diversion in the world, is not worth an oath ! " 
 
 the State, and the chief support of the national-"—^ 
 Counsels the Earl of Salisbury. His capacity ""'" 
 was equal to his high station, and he was one of 
 those wise and prudent persons, gifted by divine 
 Providence, for managing the most difficult and 
 intricate affairs, connected with the civil polity of 
 States and Empires. Who can contemplate the 
 death of this great Statesman at this conjuncture 
 m such near connexion with the death of the Prince 
 in whom was observed all the quahties of a great 
 King, without perceiving, that the twofold be- 
 reavement, was intended as an infliction upon the 
 
 ruined the helm of power. Robert Carr, the great 
 
t 
 
 50 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION favorite, was created Earl of Rochester, and be- 
 IV. came Prime Minister. Under that profligate 
 ^"''** ^* Statesman, every thing became venal— confusion 
 reigned in every department — the business of the 
 State was conducted without order ; and its policy 
 directed by no principle of honour, morality, or 
 religion. The consequences of such a system, as 
 we shall see, rapidly unfolded themselves ; and 
 the gulph appeared, upon which the vessel of the 
 State was steering, and into which, it was about 
 to be plunged. 
 
 But whilst these disasters were preparing for 
 the Nation, they were in the end, to work out the 
 most striking advantages ; and at this juncture, 
 when the evils began to make their appearance, 
 the Almighty Ruler, discovered the instrument or 
 the means, by which the remedy would be effected 
 — the source, from whence the prosperity and 
 glory of the kingdom would be renewed, and its 
 happiness recovered ! 
 
 This was Frederick Y, Prince of the Palati- 
 nate, whom we have mentioned above, as having 
 arrived in the Country before the death of Prince 
 Henry. By that event, his nuptials had been de- 
 layed ; but his marriage was at length solemnized 
 with great magnificence ; and he returned to his 
 kingdom, attended with the best wishes of the 
 whole Nation, which seemed to be gifted with a 
 prophetic intimation, that their Country would, 
 one day or other, be essentially served by the des- 
 cendants of that marriage. 
 
 The Elector 
 Fredeiiek. 
 
 ) 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH IIISTOUY. 
 
 5i 
 
 tion invaded. 
 
 haJhL'T"' !^"'^;'-^"^"^'"*>' -'-^-h the King SECTION 
 Had hitherto enjoyed, were now at an end. The IV. 
 
 profuseness and immorality of the Court had at ^"*''- '• 
 traeted the attention of the nation, and the weak- ^'^^'^^ 
 ness and pusillanimity of the Government, invited 
 opposition : and a struggle was about to commence 
 between the King and the Parliament, which was 
 not to cease, till the final expulsion of the Stuart 
 dynasty ! Strong and powerful reasons must have 
 existed for such an arduous and fatal contest, which 
 will, no doubt, be evolved, as we advance in our 
 enquiry. 
 
 We have already had occasion to notice the ex- P„„eip,e, „f 
 treme and arbitrary views which the King enter- "" <^•'"^""'• 
 tained of his Royal Prerogative. No doubt, they 
 had been instilled into his mind, at a very early pe- 
 riod, by those who had the care of his education. 
 13ut, these tyrannical maxims of Government were 
 also the fault of the age. On the breaking up of the 
 feudal Chieftainship in England, the chief power 
 had centered in the Sovereign, and the limits of 
 the Royal Prerogative, though well defined by 
 theMaffua Charta. had often been transgressed 
 with impunity. The great principles of the 
 Constitution had grown into obscurity ; and that 
 rational liberty, which would secure equallj', the 
 rights of the King and the liberties of the sub- 
 ject, had not yet been evolved from those latent 
 pnnciples. This was now to be done. Every- 
 thing in the character of James, facilitated the ac- 
 
52 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 by arbitrary 
 Institutions, 
 
 SFXTION complishment of this important work. His pre- 
 I^ . decessor conducted her government upon arbitrary 
 principles, but she wielded her power with uncom- 
 mon wisdom and felicity. She was exact and 
 scrupulous in all her awards, and carried her gov- 
 ernment with a just and impartial hand. She 
 acted as an absolute Monarch ; but always for the 
 good of her country. But she left the institutions 
 of arbitrary power to be managed by less skilful 
 hands. Of these, the " High Commission Court " 
 and '' the Star Chamber, " were powerful instru- 
 ments of tyranny ; and were, of themselves, suf- 
 ficient to lay the liberties of the subject, prostrate 
 at the feet of the Prince. To the former of these 
 courts, all Ecclesiastical causes were carried. — 
 The lives and liberties of the Clergy were subject 
 to its control. The Judges in this court did not 
 proceed by information, but if necessary, on rumour 
 and suspicion. They were both accusers and 
 Judges. They had the power of administering 
 an oath, by which individuals could be made to 
 criminate themselves and their friends ; and, on a 
 refusal of taking the oath, they had the power of 
 punishing by imprisonment. The court of the 
 " Star Chamber, " was equally arbitrary in civil 
 affairs. These inquisitory Courts were suited to 
 her disposition, and were managed by Elizabeth, 
 with such dexterity and prudence, as secured them 
 from becoming the ground of pubHc complaint. — 
 But James, with all his vaunting of the Royal 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 53 
 
 Prerogative, did not inherit the arbitrary disposi- SECTION 
 tion of Elizabeth, and he knew not how to manage TV. 
 these unwieldy attributes of arbitrary power. Yet ^"'''- ^' 
 he proclaimed his intention of acting upon the a^i^T^. 
 maxims of his predecessors ; and, not contenting ''''^• 
 himself with their silent adoption, he condescen- 
 ded to justify his high assumptions of kingly 
 power, by arguments, drawn from the - divine 
 right " of Kings ; and to expound and establish his 
 extravagant opinions before Parliament. In the 
 mean time, the energies of the nation were awak- 
 enmg; and the spirit of liberty darting its pene- 
 trating glance through the mists of ages, was about 
 to demand the restoration of its unalienable rights 
 whilst the Almighty Power, tempering the evils 
 which must necessarily result from the contest of 
 such mighty principles, watched over the struggle 
 with an impartial balance; and, was preparing 
 for the emancipated energies of mankind, vast 
 tracts of knowledge and glory, which had never 
 been traversed by the energies of the human mind. 
 His Omnipotence could have achieved, at once, 
 the mightiest and most beneficial changes ; but 
 this, as we have had occasion to remark, is not 
 the conduct of the divine economy. The possibi- 
 lity of rapid changes in the moral history of man, 
 IS imagined on the supposition, that there exist nj 
 controlling passions in man. Were men always 
 mchned to justice-had they no selfish views to 
 gratify— no prejudices to foster— and no appetites 
 
54 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 (map. 1. 
 
 Parliament 
 asscmbied. 
 A. D. 1G15 
 
 SECTION to serve — their improvement would be rapid and 
 IV. uniform. But human happiness is retarded, by 
 human depravity ; and it would be totally ruined 
 and subverted, were it not for the wise and bene- 
 volent ordination of the Great King, who, '' order- 
 ing the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, " 
 makes them subservient to his benevolent purposes. 
 The second Parliament of James I. was assem- 
 bled on the fifth of April. Great efforts had been 
 made by the friends of the Court, to secure the 
 return of such members, as might easily be indu- 
 ced to comply with the wishes of the Government. 
 But in vain. No sooner was Parliament assem- 
 bled, than the House of Commons, instead of 
 voting supplies for the necessities of Government, 
 commenced a searching inquiry into the state of 
 the Nation. They inveighed strongly against the 
 King's prodigality, animadverted upon the in- 
 crease of Popish recusants, which they attributed 
 to the admission of several of the Popish nobility, 
 to the Councils of the King — reprobated the silen- 
 cing of many respectable and laborious ministers, 
 and expressed their dissatisfaction at the various 
 treaties in which the King had engaged, for the 
 marriage of his sons with the daughters of Popish 
 Princes. These were the subjects of animadver- 
 sion ; and such was the bold spirit of freedom, 
 in which their remonstrances were framed, that 
 the King without waiting for any supplies, or 
 allowing them to pass a single act, dissolved the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 55 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 Rise of the 
 
 Par lament on the seventh of June. This was SECTION 
 easily accomplished by the force of the Royal W. 
 Prerogative ; but it was not so easy to dissolve 
 the rugged breast of opposition, or allay the deter- 
 mined spirit of liberty which had been awakened 
 in the minds of his subjects. On the contrary, 
 the attempt to silence by force, the just remon- 
 strances of the people, only aggravated the evil 
 and the natural dissatisfaction was increased and 
 perpetuated. 
 
 It is also remarkable, that, the King himself, k,so „f the 
 became the instrument of increasing the for- "^""""y "'^"y- 
 midable character of the opposition which was 
 now developing itself. He had, by an unusual 
 policy, discouraged the residence of the nobility 
 and gentry in London, where they had been in 
 the habit of spending their immense incomes iu 
 attendance on the Court, and impoverishing their 
 families by their waste and extravagance. What- 
 ever may have been the King's motives, whether 
 he was afraid lest they should unite their counsels 
 against the Government, or whether he disliked the 
 restraint which their presence imposed upon him, 
 he used every means to restrain them to their resi- 
 dences in the country ; and thus laid the foundation 
 for a new and independent power, which after- 
 wards exercised great influence on the affairs of the 
 state. The effect of the King's policy acted like 
 magic. The revenues of the gentry, which had 
 been expended in imitating the splendor and ex- 
 
56 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION travagance of the Court, confined to the more sim- 
 IV. pie and less expensive habits of dignified retirement, 
 soon accumulated into wealth. Theirbond of union 
 was also strengthened by frequent intercourse and 
 mutual hospitality ; whilst, by acts of benevolence 
 to their neighbours and dependents, their influ- 
 ence became greatly enlarged and extended. 
 This was the rise of the " Country party." Its 
 growth was rapid, and it soon began to exercise a 
 powerful influence on the destinies of the nation. 
 Rise and fall Robcrt Carr, Duke of Somerset, had now al- 
 
 of the King's most ruu his short, profligate and splendid career, 
 
 favorite. ^^^ ^.^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ j^ y^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ 
 
 ness ; whilst its rapid decline was precipitated by 
 the sudden rise of another favorite in the person 
 of Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, equally as pro- 
 fligate and unprincipled as himself. This indivi- 
 dual, was a younger son of Sir George Villiers of 
 Brookesby, in Leicestershire, where the family 
 had resided, from the Conquest. His person was 
 handsome, and his manners accomplished. He 
 was well skilled in every elegant and graceful ac- 
 compHshment, and deeply versed in all the arts 
 of address and gallantry, which had received their 
 last polish in the Court of France. With such 
 endowments it was imagined, he w^ould be alto- 
 gether captivating in the eyes of the English Mon- 
 arch, who, in the words of Lord Clarendon, " of 
 all wise men living, was most delighted with hand- 
 some persons, and fine clothes. " Nor was the 
 
 57 
 
 
 I'l 
 
 
 % 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 anticipation vain. Soon after his appearance at SECTION 
 Court, he was appointed cup-bearer to the King, IV. 
 an office, the duties of which he discharged with 
 such admirable grace, that, in a few weeks after 
 his first advancement, he received the honour of 
 Knight-hood, and was made a gentleman of the 
 bed-chamber. Nor did the captivated Monarch 
 rest, till every title of honour, and every emolu- 
 ment of place, was heaped upon his aspiring favo- 
 rite. He was made Knight of the order of the 
 Garter, and in rapid succession, created Baron, 
 Viscount, Earl, and Marquess; and appointed 
 Master of the Horse, and Lord High Admiral of 
 England. Alas ! it was a towering height, too 
 suddenly raised to be permanent ; and, like the rise 
 of all bad men, whilst productive of evils to others, 
 generally ends in destruction to themselves. 
 
 But to return. The Duke of Somerset, who 
 had long been in the ascendant, and had the dis- 
 posal of all the honors and privileges of the State, 
 had, by his private licentiousness, which ended in 
 treachery and murder, prepared for himself a fear- 
 ful retribution ; shortly after the appearance of 
 Villiers at Court, he was tried and convicted of 
 the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury ; and smitten 
 before the rising splendor of the new favorite, he 
 was given up by the King, imprisoned and con- 
 demned to die ; and, though pardoned by the Royal 
 clemency, he passed the rest of his life in infamy, 
 and died in obscurity. 
 
58 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION But a more remarkable and exalted personage, 
 
 IV'. must now be introduced to the notice of the reader, 
 
 ^^^^s/^"^^ — the high-principled^ virtuous, and accomplished 
 
 Charles I. sou of the Sovcrcign^ w ho this year, with great 
 
 created Prince , . •i,i i n rr ' ^ i^ ^ J 
 
 of Wales. solemnity, received the honour oi Knight-nood, 
 A. D. 1616. and was created Prince of Wales. On this occa- 
 sion, the people had a transient view of their future 
 Sovereign, on whose devoted head, were to rest 
 the destinies of the nation. He was about seven- 
 teen years of age, of a delicate form, slender and 
 well-proportioned, and of a most engaging appear- 
 ance. — His deportment was grave — his manners, 
 affable ; and his skill in manly exercises, as well 
 as the more elegant accomplishments, was attend- 
 ed with a solidity and consistency rarely to be 
 found in persons of his age and station. 
 
 The King's great anxiety, which in the sequel, 
 overruled all the national councils, and had an in- 
 fluence over the affairs of Christendom, was to 
 find a match for the young Prince, whose virtues 
 and endowments had rendered him the delight of 
 the nation. After some overtures made to the 
 Court of France, the King, at length, fixed his 
 determination on a daughter of the King of Spain ; 
 at that time, the most flourishing monarchy in Eu- 
 rope. He could not have undertaken a more dif- 
 ficult task. Every political obstacle was in his 
 way. The Spanish Armada, and all the troubles 
 of the late reign, were still fresh in the memory 
 of the people. They had but just escaped from 
 
 ? 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 59 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 all the horrors of the Gunpowder Plot. The most SECTION 
 stringent statutes and Acts of Parhament, were in IV. 
 force against the adherents of Popery; and its 
 abettors were considered as the greatest enemies 
 of the nation. In defiance of all these considera- 
 tions, the King commenced his negociations with 
 the Court of Spain. Gondomar, at that juncture, 
 was the Spanish Ambassador at the English court, 
 
 a man of great abilities and polished manners. 
 
 His wit and gaiety gained the Eoyal favour, and 
 by flattering the weakness and vanity of the King, 
 he gained a great ascendancy over his counsels. 
 He urged the King, by every argument, to engage 
 him in the pursuit of the scheme. The suit was 
 encouraged in Spain : but every pretext was made 
 to cause delay. The Court of Rome temporized, 
 and delayed to grant a dispensation : in order, if 
 possible, to gain more favorable terms, and greater 
 toleration for the Roman Catholics in England. 
 But difficulties and delays seemed only to increase 
 the ardour of the King, and he laboured to render 
 his government as lenient as possible, towards his 
 Roman Catholic subjects. 
 
 Symptoms of dissatisfaction were discovered The k 
 
 ing's 
 
 from every quarter, at the laxity with which '''''^^^*^"^- 
 the Laws were administered against the Papists ; ""^ * 
 but the King's infatuation was now manifest; 
 and every future act of his life, seemed to have a 
 tendency to hasten the catastrophe of his reign. 
 The dissatisfaction which had been created in his 
 
60 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Scotch Refor- 
 mation, 
 
 SECTION English dominions was now extended to Scotland. 
 IV. He made a royal progress into that country, chief- 
 
 ^tl^^^ ly for the purpose of regulating ecclesiastical 
 matters, and restoring the ancient Government of 
 the Church. In our history at the reign of Eliza- 
 beth, we have noticed the manner in which the 
 Reformation was conducted in that Country, and 
 
 Spirit of the have shewn, that it was brought about by means 
 very different from those which led to the same 
 result in England. In the one case, it was ac- 
 complished by legal authority, without the concur- 
 rence of the common people. In Scotland, it was 
 carried in opposition to the Civil power, by tumult 
 and violence, aided by popular enthusiasm. The 
 spirit of insubordination at that time, in Scotland, 
 was increased, by the discovery of certain peculiar 
 and atrocious attempts of the Papal adherents, 
 in unison with the Executive power, to over- 
 throw the nascent religious liberties of the 
 Nation; and the resentment occasioned by the 
 discovery, was further aggravated by the wicked 
 and flagititious lives of the leading Ecclesiastics. 
 The abhorrence created by such enormities in 
 rude and untutored minds, was soon transferred 
 from the persons of the offenders, to the offices 
 which they enjoyed ; and it is easy to perceive, 
 that the same fervor which was prepared to 
 abolish the additions and superstitions of Popery 
 would overthrow its whole polity, and not leave a 
 vestige of it remaining, if not restrained by the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 61 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 civil power. In England, part of Germany, and in SECTION 
 the Northern kingdoms, such restraint was impo- IV. 
 sed, so that the ancient Episcopal Jurisdiction, 
 under certain limitations, has been retained. But 
 in Scotland it was otherwise. The sovereign 
 authority was overawed and could make no effec- 
 tual resistance to the wild extravagance of the ,ed t,. extrava- 
 times. The popular indignation and disgust was ^^"«^- 
 directed and increased, by the zeal and insubordi- 
 nation of the Presbyters of the Church, who were 
 roused to unite with the people from a sense of 
 the common danger. At the head of the Presby- 
 ters was that extraordinary man, John Knox, 
 whose character and conduct have given toihe 
 Scottish Church, its peculiarities both of doctrine 
 and government. He had imbibed the principles 
 which he propagated with such zeal and success, 
 during his residence in Geneva. Zinglius and 
 Calvin the Reformers of Switzerland, were in a 
 measure, under the necessity of carrying on the 
 affairs of the Church without the concurrence of 
 their Bishops, by whom, in fact, they were deserted. 
 The Church of Geneva, formed under the inspec- 
 tion of Calvin, was esteemed the most perfect 
 model of Presbyterian Government. Knox stu- 
 died and admired the system ; and, on his return 
 home, warmly recommended it to his countrymen. 
 Nor in vain. It was admirably suited to their 
 disposition and was adopted with ardour, and such 
 was the astonishing effects the combined doc- 
 
 [ 
 
If 
 
 4 
 
 g2 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION trine, discipline, and worship, produced upon their 
 IV. minds, that unchecked by authority, they ran into 
 
 '^""'- '• such violent extremes as to confound all rational 
 ^iTIC^s. principles of conduct and behaviour. Their minds 
 were absorbed in divine contemplations; and 
 leaving the plain and practical statements of the 
 Hdy Scriptures, which are always consistent with 
 reason and common sense, they fancied themselves 
 the subjects of divine inspiration, and the peculiar 
 favorites of heaven. These extravagant notions, 
 which were fostered by the simplicity and fervor 
 of their religious exercises, produced a sternness 
 and inflexibility of character which was almost 
 superhuman. And, afterwards, when this ex- 
 treme agitation of the religious passions subsided, 
 it left behind a determined obstinacy, which no 
 reason could convince, no force overcome. " It 
 was," to use the words of a popular* writer, 
 " this gloomy fanaticism which had, by degrees, 
 infected all ranks of men, and introduced a sullen, 
 obstinate spirit into the people, that chiefly led 
 James to think of extending to Scotland the more 
 moderate and cheerful religion of the Church of 
 
 England." 
 The Ki,v..s It is certain that James, while King of Scotland 
 great aversion ^.^^ obliged against his judgment, to declare in 
 to presbyuri. ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Eccksiastical Government of that 
 
 kingdom, yet he entertained a secret dislike to the 
 whole Presbyterian system. At a very early age, 
 
 • Russell's modern Europe. Part II. Let. II. 
 
 anism. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 63 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 he experienced much trouble and anxiety, from SECTION 
 the boldness and insolence of the Presbyterian IV. 
 Clergy, who, from a zeal for the glory of God, 
 as they conceived, and for the safety and purity 
 of the Kirk, contended " for the most tyrannical 
 and inquisitorial powers, which they exercised 
 with less forbearance, and with all the arrogance 
 of a Roman Consistory. " On one occasion, when 
 King James had granted permission to some of the 
 Popish Nobility, who had been banished, to re- 
 turn to their homes, one of the Presbyterian Min- 
 isters declared from the pulpit, - that the King by 
 this act, discovered the treachery of his own heart, 
 that all Kings were the devil's children, and that 
 Satan had now the guidance of the Court "* An- 
 other affirmed in the principal church of the Capi- 
 tal, " that the King was possessed of a devil, and 
 that his subjects might lawfully rise and take the 
 sword out of his hand."t Such was the rash and 
 inconsistent language of the Ministers of the Gos- 
 pel, which at that time, led to serious disturban- 
 ces in the city, and afterwards, increased to more 
 serious and dreadful evils. On this occasion, 
 the citizens of Edinburgh rose in the most tumul- 
 tuous manner and surrounded the House of Ses- 
 sion, where the King was present, and demanded 
 some of his Counsellors whom they named " that 
 they might tear them in pieces." On his refusal, 
 some cried -Bring out the wicked Haman," 
 
 » Robertson, Hist. Scot. Vol. ii. | Idem. 
 
 ! 
 
Chap. 1. 
 
 g4 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Others shouted, "the Sword of the Lord and 
 IV. Gideon ;" and James, for some time, was a pns- 
 oner in the heart of his own capital, and at the 
 mercy of an enraged populace * 
 „.... Soon after his accession to the English thro- 
 to restore Epis-jjg nominated Bishops to the vacant BishopncKS 
 '■"""'• of Scotland, but their dignities were little more 
 
 than nominal for some time. The principal oh- 
 iect of his visit to his native country, was to gam 
 from the Scottish Parliament an acknowledgment 
 of his supremacy in Ecclesiastical affairs. He 
 did not however obtain it. But in the Parliament 
 of Perth A D. 1621, the revenues of the Bishops 
 were restored, and thejr re-assumed their seats in 
 Parliament : and in the assembly of Glasgow, their 
 Ecclesiastical power was, in a great measure, re- 
 restored They were declared moderators in every 
 diocesan assembly, and to have the right of or- 
 daining and depriving of ministers, and the visit- 
 ing of Kirks. The presentation to vacant bene- 
 fices was placed in their hands, and, they were 
 intrusted with the powers of excommunication 
 and absolution. The next step was to conler 
 upon them their peculiar Ecclesiastical character; 
 and a commission was issued to empower three 
 English Bishops to proceed to the consecration ot 
 the Bishops of Scotland, which, after some delay, 
 was accomplished. Episcopacy was then in re- 
 ality, established. Nothing remained but to bring 
 about a uniformity in worship, and to impose the 
 
 * Robertson. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 65 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 The Kinj 
 not influenced 
 by principJe. 
 
 Liturgy. Many consultations were held ; but the SECTION 
 King being assured that the attempt would raise IV. 
 a commotion in the Kingdom, wisely stopped short 
 of an innovation, for which the people were totally 
 unprepared, and which, in the succeeding reign, 
 produced such unhappy results. 
 
 But the zeal of the King to restore the govern- 
 ment of the Catholic Church, arose merely from 
 a desire to establish the frame-work of Episcopacy 
 as more agreeable to Apostolical antiquity ; and' 
 perhaps, for the purpose of consolidating the Royal 
 prerogative ; but we are afraid, that the holiness 
 and salvation of men, which is the sole object of 
 the Church, entered not into his calculations. 
 —His moral character had greatly deteriorated. 
 He became vain, deceitful, fond of pleasure, im- 
 perious and arbitrary. He even made war upon 
 rehgious duty, and issued a license to the common 
 people, to indulge in all common pastimes on the 
 Babbath, after evening prayers. This license was 
 called " the Book of Sports," as it enumerated the 
 different pastimes which were allowed. Nothing 
 indeed, can more forcibly display the unprincipled 
 state of the King s mind, than this permission to 
 trample upon the sanctity of the sabbath, except 
 the limitations which accompanied it. No Papist 
 —no Puritan— none, in short, who had not at- 
 tended the services of their Parish Church were 
 to be benefited by this indulgence. It was pro- 
 bably imagined, that the Church of England 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 E 
 
 
Chap. T. 
 
 gg THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION would be built up by such unhallowed means.— 
 IV. That such an agreeable license would crowd her 
 temples with worshippers, and attach them to her 
 interests. Alas! when the Church has such de- 
 fenders, what is to be expected but a departure 
 from that holiness, which is the strength of the 
 Church ; and a declension from those fundamental 
 doctrines which can alone secure its prosperity, 
 and the favor of its divine head ? The Archbishop 
 who was then at Croydon, forbad the King's de- 
 claration to be read in that Church, in which he 
 was followed by many of the Clergy ; but, where 
 it was read, it gave very serious offence, and was 
 one cause of the many evils which were about to 
 be visited on our unhappy country. 
 
 At this time also, another event occurred which 
 had a tendency to render the Government unpopu- 
 lar—the public execution of the celebrated Sir 
 Walter Raleigh. He had been for some time re- 
 leased fro"^ prison, and might have lived the rest 
 of his life in peace ; but his restless and energetic 
 mind urged him to new and desperate enterprises. 
 He was informed by Captain Kemish, a bold lea- 
 der and navigator, of a valuable gold mine on the 
 coast of Guiana, but which had been taken pos- 
 session of by the Spaniards, who had a small town 
 on the spot, called Saint Thomas. Their design 
 was to secure this mine. Sir WaUer made such 
 representations to the King, that he obtained a 
 commission under the Great Seal of England, and 
 
 Sir Walter 
 Raleigh has- 
 tens his own 
 ruin. 
 
 A. 1). 1618. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 
 
 67 
 
 Chap. T. 
 
 set out on his expedition with ten ships, well section 
 equipped, for war or peace. It was an un u;t un- T 
 dertakmg and he might have succeeded in his 
 projects, had he not been required to acquaint 
 the King, with the names of the coast and river 
 where he meant to disembark. Gondomar, the 
 bpanish Ambassador, became thus fully acquain- 
 ted with the whole design, and gave timely notice 
 to the Spaniards on the coast of Guiana. In con- 
 sequence. Sir AValter Raleigh, . after encountering 
 every difficulty, when he arrived at the river on 
 which Saint Thomas was situated, met with a 
 formidable resistance. Saint Thomas was taken 
 after a desperate attack by Captain Kemish and 
 the eldest son of Sir Walter Raleigh, in which 
 the latter was slain. But the mine itself was for- 
 tified and defended by such superior numbers that 
 Its capture was impracticable. On the return of 
 Captain Kemish. the whole fleet was greatly dis- 
 couraged with the intelligence. Captain Kemish 
 Bhot himself ; and. Sir Walter Raleigh was obliged 
 hy his mutinous companions, to return home — 
 He was re-committed to the Tower.-Gondomar 
 made such violent representations of this breach 
 of peace, to the King, that he was obliged to sa- 
 orifice Raleigh to his resentment. He was tried 
 and condemned; and the next day, met his fate 
 on the scaffold with a noble and generous firmness. 
 Feehng the edge of the axe, he said; "Tisa 
 sharp remedy, but a sure one, for all ills." then 
 
68 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 State and 
 rhurcli Puri- 
 taTis. 
 
 SECTION calmly laid his head upon the block, and received 
 IV. the fatal stroke. 
 Chap I. Whatever justice there might be in his sentence. 
 
 Origin of the his death gave general dissatisfaction, as he was 
 universally considered a sacrifice to the court of 
 Spain. Indeed, every thing was sacrificed to the 
 King's desire of accomplishing the marriage of his 
 son, with the Infanta of Spain. His whole mind 
 was absorbed in this one subject : and on finding 
 himself opposed by the complaints of the people, 
 and the remonstrances of the Parliament, his most 
 strenuous exertions were used, for the purpose of 
 extending the royal prerogative. This was ano- 
 ther fatal mistake, which could not fail to be pro- 
 ductive of the most serious evils. All the opposi- 
 tion which he received from the nation, only 
 served to increase his determination; and such 
 was the intensity of his zeal, that he accounted 
 all those as his enemies, who opposed his Prero- 
 gative ; and included under the name of Puritans, 
 all who resisted its unconstitutional exercise. — 
 Those who opposed the doctrine of unlimited power 
 in the Sovereign, were called State Puritans, and 
 those w^ho entertained objections to the Ecclesias- 
 tical rites and discipline, were denominated Church 
 Puritans. The Church Puritans were, at that 
 time, really few ; and might have been easily pro- 
 pitiated : but the arbitrary policy which was now 
 adopted, rapidly increased their number; and, 
 uniting with those, who stood by the principles of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 69 
 
 ? 
 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 the Constitution, they soon formed the majority SECTION 
 of the nation. The King, without disguise, threw JV. 
 all his influence into the opposite scale. The way 
 to preferment and dignity in the Church and State, 
 was to maintain the absolute authority of the 
 Prince, to exclaim against the rigours of Calvin- 
 ism, and to speak favorably of the Romanists. 
 Thus were formed the two great parties in the 
 State, which at a period not far distant, came into 
 fearful collision with the Court, nor rested from 
 the furious contest, till the evil was purgated and 
 the Constitution triumphed. 
 
 Some great names, whose zeal in the cause of Preferments 
 the royal prerogative, was exercised through the '" "" ^''""'=''- 
 whole contest, were now promoted to fill the va- 
 cant Bishopricks : Buckeridge, Neile, Harsnet, 
 and Laud. The last of these, was aman of great 
 parts and piety ; and destined to act a prominent 
 part in scenes, which were now rapidly advancing 
 upon the ration. 
 
 Under the sanction of the Court, and wherever Extrava-ant 
 tne influence ot the new Bishops extended, the statements" of 
 pulpits resounded with the inculcation of arbitrary '"" ""''"• 
 principles, unknown to the Constitution. Every 
 thing was to be carried by blind power. But 
 the spirit of the Constitution would not tolerate 
 this usurpation ; and the free-born spirit of our 
 forefathers, was roused to oppose it. As might 
 be expected, at such a crisis, the opinions enter- 
 tained by both parties were extravagant. On one 
 
70 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION side, it was maintained — that the King was not 
 IV. bound by the laws, nor by his coronation oath — 
 that he was not obliged to call Parliaments to 
 make laws, but might do without them ; and that 
 it was a great favour to admit the consent of the 
 subject in granting subsidies.* On the other 
 side, it was strenuously insisted, that subordi- 
 nate magistrates might lawfully make use of 
 force and defend themselves, — the commonwealth 
 and the true religion in the field, against the 
 chief Magistrate, when he became a tyrant — 
 when he forced his subjects upon blasphemy and 
 idolatry — when any intolerable burdens were laid 
 upon them ; or, when resistance was the only ex- 
 pedient to secure their lives, fortunes, and liber- 
 ties.l Such were the violent and extravagant 
 statements, to which the opposing parties had re- 
 course in the commencement of this great struggle, 
 and which ought to have admonished the Executive 
 against proceeding in its dangerous course, with- 
 out a vigorous preparation. 
 
 Whilst the King's policy w^as thus fostering the 
 most deadly evils in the commonwealth, he still 
 strongly pursued his negociations with the Court 
 of Spain ; and, after many delays, the articles of 
 the marriage were drawn up, and it was agreed, 
 that the marriage should be solemnized in Spain, 
 and afterwards reiterated in England. — That the 
 
 * Sermon before the University of Oxford. 
 •\ Cowell, Vicar-General of Canterbury. 
 
 Great conces 
 sions to the 
 Romanists. 
 
 ? 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 71 
 
 CfiAP. I. 
 
 Infanta's household might be Roman Catholics ; SECTION 
 and, that a suitable place should be provided for IV. 
 public worship, according to the Church of Rome; 
 that she should be attended with a competent num- 
 ber of Chaplains, and a Confessor; and, that the 
 children of the marriage, should not be compelled 
 in matters of religion, nor their titles to the crown 
 prejudiced by their being Catholics. Nothing was 
 now wanting, but the dispensation of the Pope to 
 permit a daughter of the Church, to marry a here- 
 tic ; and the hopes of the King seemed to be on 
 the point of being realized. But at that moment 
 of his exultation, the first blow was preparing by 
 a divine Hand, which was to crush the weak and 
 tottering fabric, that he had so industriously reared 
 on false principles, and which he had attempted 
 to support by unconstitutional means. 
 
 In the month of March, the Queen, who had The Queen's 
 been afflicted with a lingering dropsy, sunk under '^^^^^• 
 her disease in the forty-sixth year of her age.— 
 Her death was a subject of deep concern to the 
 King. Nor without reason ; for, she was a vir- 
 tuous woman, and a dutiful wife. But she re- 
 quires little notice from the historian.— She had 
 no great qualities, and was devoted to frivolous 
 pleasures and puerile amusements. 
 
 But a heavier blow was impending, which now Misfortunes 
 suddenly advancing upon him from an unexpected "^^^'^ king's 
 quarter, plunged him into inextricable difficulties. '". d'",9. 
 The greater part of the European Continent had 
 
i 
 
 72 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 SECTION long been in a state of anarchy and confusion ; and 
 IV. now, unexampled scenes of slaughter and blood- 
 shed were about to be transacted, in which Eng- 
 land was to be involved. Matthias, the Emperor 
 of Germany, had fixed his mind upon his cousin 
 Ferdinand, as his successor in the empire ; and, 
 during his life, appointed him King of Bohemia. 
 The Protestants of Bohemia were very numerous, 
 and enjoyed complete religious freedom. By this 
 appointment, both their civil and religious privi- 
 leges were invaded. A furious .civil war broke 
 out, during which the Emperor died, and was suc- 
 ceeded by Ferdinand, who determined to subdue 
 the Bohemians by force of arms. In this he was 
 assisted by the whole power of the Spanish Mon- 
 archy, w^hich was the principal branch of the 
 House of Austria. All the Protestant Princes of 
 Germany united with the Bohemians, who elected 
 for their King, Frederick, Elector Palatine of the 
 Rhine, and son in-law to the English Monarch. 
 — The English nation were loud in their demands 
 for war. People of all ranks were on fire, to en- 
 gage in support of the Elector Palatine ; and to 
 rescue their Protestant brethren from the dangers 
 to which they were exposed. The Archbishop of 
 Canterbury was at his post at this critical juncture, 
 and wrote a letter to the King's Council, in which 
 he strongly urged the necessity of a vigorous inter- 
 ference, and pointed out the advantages, which 
 might result to the Protestant Faith. But the 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 73 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 King could not be moved. His happiness was too SECTION 
 much involved in the success of his negociations IV. 
 with the Court of Spain, to permit him to inter- 
 fere. But even had he been disposed to listen to 
 the wishes of his people, he would have been pre- 
 vented by the influence of Gondomar, the Spanish 
 Ambassador, whose influence over him, was even 
 superior to that of the Duke of Buckingham. In 
 consequence, James refused to acknowledge the 
 title of his son in-law as King of Bohemia, or, to 
 send the least aid to the Confederates. The King 
 of Spain openly espoused the quarrel, and sent an 
 immense army, under his General Spinola. The 
 war became a matter of concern, to the whole 
 Christian world : but the King of England, who 
 ought to have been foremost, as the first Protes- 
 tant power, was obliged to stand neutral ; and all 
 that was supplied from our shores in this glorious 
 struggle, was a body of volunteers, consisting of 
 the best and noblest fiimilies in the kingdom, who 
 abandoned by their infatuated King, jeoparded 
 their lives for the honor of their country. 
 
 It IS true, James was neither an inattentive nor th*- King 
 unfeeling observer of these events. He was inde- ^^"p^^ ^"^^ ' 
 fatigable as a peacemaker ; and was most anxious 'Tai62a 
 to prevent the further efi-usion of blood, by negotia- 
 tion and treaty. But whilst he was thus amused 
 and beguiled by the Roman Catholic leaders, the 
 combatants, on both sides, were actively engaged 
 in making preparations for a decisive contest. The 
 
\ 
 
 II 
 
 74 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 under the in- 
 fluence of the 
 Spanish am- 
 bassador. 
 
 SECTION fatal hour approached ; and the opposing forces 
 IV. were now rapidly concentrating on the city of 
 Prague. The details of that dreadful conflict be- 
 long not to this history. The Bohemians were 
 defeated ; and the Elector Palatine, not only ex- 
 pelled from his newly acquired kingdom, but dri- 
 ven as a fugitive from his paternal dominions, 
 placed under the ban of the empire, and obliged, 
 with his wife and children, to seek a shelter and 
 subsistence in a foreign land. 
 
 The misfortunes of his family seemed to rouse 
 the King to action ; and an order in Council was 
 made to promote the restoration of the Palatinate ; 
 a sum of money was dispatched to the Confede- 
 rates, to encourage them not to lay down their 
 arms ; whilst Sir Edward Villiers was sent to ne- 
 gotiate with the Emperor. But, the credulous 
 King was still beguiled, and the honor of the na- 
 tion insulted by these transactions : Gondomar was 
 supreme in his Councils — a circumstance which 
 he announces in a letter to the Duke of Lerma in 
 the following terms: — that he had lulled King 
 James asleep, so that he hoped neither the cries of 
 his daughter nor her children, nor the repeated sO' 
 licitations of his Parliament or his subjects, should 
 he able to awake him. 
 
 But he was mistaken. The Parliament was at 
 hand, to avenge the wrongs of their country, and 
 A. D.Te^iT.* to redress their own. No sooner was it assembled 
 than petitions poured in from all sides, complain- 
 
 Parliament 
 meets on the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 75 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 ing of grievances and extortions of such a serious SECTION 
 character, that the Commons were obliged to at- IV. 
 tend to them immediately ; and in consequence, 
 some of the chief instruments of these cruel and 
 arbitrary proceedings were severely punished; 
 among w^hom were Sir Giles Montressor, and Sir 
 Francis Mitchel, the Empson and Dudley of their 
 day. The House then made such determined and 
 pressing representations to the King, that Lord 
 Digby was dispatched to obtain a peremptory an- 
 swer from the Emperor, relating to the Palatinate. 
 On his return, he was commanded by the King 
 to give an account of his journey to the House, and 
 of the failure of his mission, and to intimate that 
 nothing was now left but war. But though the 
 Ministers of the Crown encouraged the Pariiament 
 to war, the House was fully convinced that there 
 was insincerity in those professions. They were 
 fully alive to the circumstances of his situation, 
 and knew the affection he entertained for the Span- 
 ish alliance. They perceived the danger to which 
 the Protestant ReHgion was exposed, not only in 
 the late calamities, by which it had been oppressed 
 in Germany, but the severities which the Protes- 
 tants were made to endure in France, under Louis 
 XI IL and they determined to try the spirit of the 
 King, by a strong remonstrance on the state of 
 the nation. This remonstrance was answered by 
 an indignant letter from the King, to the Speaker 
 of the House. The House with great calmness, 
 
76 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION re-considcred the grounds of their remonstrance : 
 ' IV and, feeling assured that they were not only just 
 
 Chap, l- 
 
 and reasonable, but cogent and necessary, they 
 followed their remonstrance with a petition de- 
 claratory of their right to take into consulera -n 
 every thing which concerned the honor and safe y 
 the King, the welfare of lleligion and state 
 ofthekingdom; and in conclusion, they stated 
 
 that .Ureas his Mojesfy se.necl to alruJge th.n of 
 
 the ancunt ri^ileoe of Parliaue^rt, tUy ..r^/o " 
 
 ced to pray his Majesty to alio. ,. It is said tha 
 
 ,vhen fhe members of the House, appoint d/or 
 
 the purpose, waited upon him with the p^ition 
 
 the King called for twelve chairs, saying twelve 
 me rs.li b _^ -^ ^^ ^^^^ 
 
 kings are come to me ; and hi* repiy, 
 characteristic of his manner, distinctly points out 
 the important principles which weijat issue, be- 
 tween him and his ParUament. He said, Jhat 
 their first Petition was nmoorthy of answer that 
 thei/ai^ing advice ahout his sons match, and urgmg 
 IZto a U - intrencUng upon ^^f-roga^ 
 -that he eould not allow the style calhng it their 
 ancient and undoubted inheritance ; hut could rather 
 hare wished, that they Ud said, that then pra-. 
 lenes were derived from the grace and permission of 
 ^ancestors and Myself since most of thern grew 
 
 from precedents, shewing rather a toleration, than 
 an Inheritance, . 
 
 Tti this reply, which was in the form of a writ- 
 
 Remarkson In tnlS ftJpM , XT^nfrwaS 
 
 " Divine ten communication to the House, the Kmg was 
 
 Right" 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 77 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 historically right, but morally, and politically SECTION 
 wrong. The rights of civil Society, had been IV. 
 slowly evolved from the ignorance and darkness 
 of feudal times : and had, from time to time, been 
 acknowledged and ratified by the sovereign power. 
 Hence, arising as they did, from the necessities 
 and experience of mankind, they were, generally, 
 in conformity with right reason like the unwritten 
 or common Law; which, therefore, is considered 
 as co-incident with the Divine will. Thus these 
 social rights, become the undoubted inheritance 
 and birth-right of the people, with which the King 
 had no more power to interfere, than he had to 
 abridge the divine Law of the ten Commandments. 
 The Rights of the People depend on the same title 
 as the Right of Kings — on the will of the Supreme 
 Being ; and when their privileges are in confor- 
 mity with reason and Revelation, they are equally 
 held of '^Divine Right." Both the King and 
 people are under equal obligations to exercise their 
 privileges, within the proper limits prescribed by 
 law. James recognized the supremacy of God, 
 and acknowledged himself amenable to him ; but, 
 he seemed to imagine he was in the place of God 
 to the people, and that they were solely dependent 
 upon his grace and bounty ; forgetting, that they 
 had rights derived to them, from the same eternal 
 source as his own, for the exercise of which, they 
 w^ere equally responsible; and, that both were 
 bound to acknowledge, and act under, the supre- 
 macy of Law. 
 
78 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Resolution 
 of the Com- 
 mons. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The King's answer plainly convinced the Com- 
 mons that their privileges were in danger. They 
 saw, that if the absolute and independent rights 
 of the nation, were made to depend upon the will 
 of the Monarch, all the ancient documents which 
 secured them, and which were deposited in the 
 public archives, were so many rolls of w^aste paper, 
 and their long cherished ideas of freedom illu- 
 sory. They determined, therefore, on a bold step, 
 and resolved to enter upon the journals of the 
 House, a brief transcript of Magna Charta and 
 transmit it as a solemn Protestation to their suc- 
 cessors in Parliament. This memorable declara- 
 tion deserves to be written in letters of gold, as it 
 certainly lies at the foundation of our present liber- 
 ties. It was couched in the following terms. 
 "That the liberties, franchises, privileges, and 
 jurisdictions of Parliament, are the ancient and 
 undoubted birth-right and inheritance of the sub- 
 jects of England, and that the arduous and urgent 
 affairs concerning the King, State, and defence of 
 the realm, and of the Church of England, and the 
 maintenance and making of laws, and redress of 
 grievances, which daily happen within this realm, 
 are proper subjects, and matter of counsel or de- 
 bate in ParUament ; and that in the handling and 
 proceeding on these businesses, every member of 
 the house of Parliament hath, and of right ought 
 to have, freedom of speech to propound, treat, rea- 
 son, and bring to conclusion the same.'* 
 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 79 
 
 This was a noble and patriotic declaration, full sECTIO^r 
 of manly sentiments and constitutional principles • iv 
 and, in style and manner, worthy of any assembly) 
 of any age or nation. But it ill suited the ge- 
 mus of the King, and was destructive of all his 
 abstract speculations on Government, and his ex 
 treme notions on the extent of the Royal Preroga- 
 tive He took immediate alarm, and hastened to 
 London where, on the thirty-first of December 
 in a full assembly of the Council, and in the pre^ 
 sence of the Judges, he declared the protestation • 
 
 null and mvalid-with his own hand, tore the 
 abhorred instrument out of the Journal book of 
 the House, and dissolved the Parliament by pro- 
 clamation. This act may be considered as the 
 declaration of War between the Royal Preroga- 
 tive and the popular rights, and, especially, as it 
 was followed up by the arbitrary imprisonment of . p, . 
 several of the leading Members of the Commons -"-- 
 Whose names deserve to be recorded like tb^ir '"' '''""'''' 
 
 declaration, and to be had in . u '"^ *''• '"'" 
 
 , uu 10 oe naa in remembrance bv '">P"soned. 
 
 our latest posterity. ^ 
 
 The King unfettered by Pariiament, pursued th . .k- 
 his former unjust policy without making ZZl-^l^^'' 
 parationsto support it; and more effectually to "'""• 
 
 :rvL ''".'^'^""^^--^-^^^'^-.eaUnd 
 activity, were m great favor with the people-he 
 
 Wd injunctions to the Archbishop to restrain 
 the preaching of his clergy, whilst the Roman 
 Catholics were treated with the utmost indulgence 
 
80 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CriAP. 1. 
 
 SECTION — arbitrary doctrines were propagated from the 
 IV. pulpits of the Court party and the public sup- 
 plies were raised by the sole authority of the 
 Royal Prerogative. The Archbishop who stood 
 by the doctrines of the Reformation and the prin- 
 ciples of the Constitution, nobly remonstrated 
 against the proceedings of the Executive, and 
 solemnly advised the King to return to the spirit 
 of the Constitution, and to the legitimate method 
 of raising money by the consent of Parliament. 
 As might be expected at such a time when mode- 
 ration was not a virtue, the venerable Prelate lost 
 favor at Court, and a remarkable accident which 
 happened to him, whilst it served to shew the 
 merciful disposition and great clemency of the 
 King, destroyed his influence with the Govern- 
 ment. Being on a visit to Lord Zouch's and 
 going out, one day, with a hunting party, whilst 
 the keeper was running amongst the deer to bring 
 them to "a favorable mark," the Archbishop shot 
 an arrow which unfortunately pierced the unhappy 
 man in the side, and killed him. The Archbishop 
 who was of a meek and gentle disposition, was 
 overwhelmed with grief ; he made every provision 
 for the poor man's family, but he could not over- 
 come the melancholy impression which it produ- 
 ced upon his mind ; and, he retired to one of his 
 own alms-houses at Guildford. The compassion 
 of the King s nature was awakened, he sent for 
 him to Lambeth, recollected not his free remon- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTOllV. 
 
 ■J 
 
 81 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Disonlers of 
 
 •strances and solemn admonitions, but granted him .. ectfov 
 a royal pardon and dispensation, in o^er that no U " 
 exception might be taken as to his Episcopal 
 character. But no consideration could induce the 
 Archbzshopto return to the Council, or. to take an 
 active share m public affairs 
 
 ofe?ent:"Thtr'"t '^T'^^' ^'^^ P-^-- " 
 ox events. The Council-board met with no inter- ""'^'»"- 
 
 ruption to its proceedings. Many of the Puri- 
 tans discouraged at these threatening appearances, 
 and despairing of better times, retired to the new 
 plantations in America. Popish Recusants were 
 enlarged-the penal laws were suspended-a great 
 number of Jesuits flocked over as Missionaries- 
 and the Protestant Religion was threatened with 
 subversion. In the State, everything became ve- 
 nal. The Duke of Buckingham, and his mother 
 who was a zealous Papist, entirely ruled in the 
 Councils of the country, and had the disposal of all 
 places of trust and emolument ; whilst Gondomar 
 ambassador to the King of Spain, directed the foi 
 reign policy of the nation-a proof of which will 
 be seen in the fact, that Lord Vaux, a Roman Ca- 
 thohc was permitted to transport four thousand 
 men to reinforce the armies of the King of Spain 
 directed against the States of Hoi land-where the 
 Kings banished children resided-and against 
 heir patrimony the Palatinate, which he had made 
 such efforts to preserve ! Whilst every thing being 
 now in a favourable situation for the purpose. Lord 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ClIAl'. I. 
 
 J'rincr, 
 A. n. 1G2;5 
 
 SECTION Digby who was created Earl of Bristol, was des- 
 IV. patched as Ambassador, to bring the treaty of 
 marriage with Spain to a conclusion. 
 
 The treaty now rapidly progressed, and it is 
 
 highly probable, that by his determined persevc- 
 
 Rmkinsi.ain i^ancc, and with the aid of the Earl of Bristol, a 
 
 f-niMts the ' 
 
 man of great talent, industry and integrity ; the 
 King wonld eventually have carried his scheme, had 
 it not been frnstratecb by one of the vices of his own 
 character — his subserviency to favoritism. The 
 Duke of^Buchingham, whose licentious profligacy 
 was ready to avail itself of any opportunity, which 
 might lead to his personal indulgence, or the gra- 
 tification of his passions, ingratiated himself in 
 the flivor of tlie Prince, and represented to him the 
 unsatisfactory method of being married by treaty ; 
 and picturing to his free and open disposition, the 
 dazzling visions of Chivalry and Romance, he in- 
 duced the Prince to unite with him in a request to 
 the King, for permisfcion to visit the Court of 
 Spain, in order that he might have an opportunity 
 of seeing and conversing with his future Queen. 
 Conducts him The King was taken by surprise, but on a little 
 t'^spam. reflection, saw the impropriety and rashness of 
 such an enterprise, and seemed to have resolution 
 sufficient to prevent its execution. But he was* 
 overcome by their importunities, and in granting 
 permission, shewed the weakness of his nature — 
 the evil genius, which counteracted and rendered 
 void all the better qualities of his mind. The 
 
 ( 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. go 
 
 folly and rashness of the whole proceeding was section 
 
 Mon of their departure, as in the whole account of <^"- '• 
 by the Eai-1 of Clarendon. The fool respect- ^^^ 
 
 ' '''^''; ^'^ King asking him the reason he 
 answered^ because he had sent the Prince il 
 fepam But says his Majesty, " what if he should 
 come back safe ? " "Whv tliP„ " 4 , 
 
 1 Ml take my cap off from your head, and put 
 It on the King of Spain's." ^ 
 
 The Uyo adventurers lost not a moment, but , , ,- 
 
 immediatelv on obtaininn- ^„ • • ' '* ""'""' 
 
 y Oil ootaining permission, set out with <• ■'""■'•tan,.-. 
 
 r '"r'^"*^- ^" "-»• --y tl-rough Fra 
 % delayed one day, to view the grandeur of the' 
 
 city, „d the splendor of that voluptuous court ; 
 
 Pnnce and his companion were admitted incoc.- 
 nito, to a private dancing masque in the Palace 
 where they had an opportunity of viewing to a^ 
 vantage, al the distinguished ladies of the French 
 Court ; and amongst the rest, the Prince saw and 
 admired his future Queen ! This was the Kin^s 
 
 ster, Henrietta Maria, a Princess of great beau'ty 
 and many accomplishments ; and who was desti- 
 "ul to exercise great influence over the Councils 
 of our country, during a troublous period of its 
 
 Wy No farther delay of consealienceoccut 
 * and tlie royal party aiTive<l safely i„ Spain 
 
^'4 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Nothing could exceed the joy with which the 
 
 ^^^' Prince was received in Spain. The whole people 
 
 <^^^-v^>i^ ^vas moved as the heart of one man, and his mar- 
 
 Generouscon-riagewith thc Infanta was carried by universal 
 
 duct of the , *' 
 
 Spaniards. acclamatiou. It was desired by the King in Coun- 
 cil, that he should enter the Eoyal Palace, in the 
 same state as the Kings of Spain after their Coro- 
 nation. A guard of honour was appointed to at- 
 tend upon him. A general Pardon was proclaimed, 
 and the prisons thrown open. The Queen w^el- 
 comed him w^ith magnificent presents ; and King 
 Philip IV. " one of the most magnificent Mon- 
 archs that ever sat upon the Spanish throne," 
 presented him with a golden key, which would 
 unlock all the doors of his private apartments ; 
 into which the Prince might, without interruption, 
 have access at all times. His gallant conduct 
 and generous confidence, approved itself to the 
 manners of the Spanish people ; and his grave de- 
 portment and modest reserve suited the genius of 
 that nation. He was universally admired and 
 loved, and every effort was made by all ranks of 
 people, to secure his esteem and regard for their 
 country. The Ecclesiastics, induced by the open- 
 ness and candor of his disposition, sedulously la- 
 boured to attach him to their religion. Even the 
 Pope himself condescended to write to him, for 
 the purpose of effecting such " a glorious conver- 
 sion. " But the Prince was unmoved either by 
 their flattery, or their arguments ; and stood firm 
 
 \\ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 85 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Im 
 
 to the principles of his religion, which he defended SECTION 
 with great knowledge and ability ; and afforded IV. 
 at that early age. a bright example of moderation 
 candour, and firmness. Nothing could resist the 
 impression which his conduct made on the minds 
 of all men ; and the long promised dispensation 
 from the Pope, at length arrived. The articles of 
 the marriage were sworn to by the King the 
 Prince and the Privy Council. The InfanU was 
 called the Princess of England-a Chapel was 
 building for her in England, and a fleet was pre- 
 pared for her convoy. All opposition in England 
 ceased, and the marriage seemed to be inevitable. 
 But it was not to take place. The Pope who 
 granted the dispensation died ; which of necessity 
 caused new delays, and the Duke of Buckingham. „ ,. 
 who had rendered himself odious to the whole brel 2t 
 Court of Spain, by his pride and licentiousness, "'"'"• 
 took occasion from this interruption, to shew his 
 resentment, and ruin the whole project. By false 
 and exaggerated statements, he obtained a letter 
 from James to command their return. The Prince 
 obeyed, and took a solemn and affectionate fare- 
 well of the King of Spain and the Infanta. No 
 doubt, the Prince felt some indignation at the de- 
 lays which had occurred, and especially the dis- 
 appointment of returning without his bride : but 
 there is no reason to think that he had the most 
 distant idea of dissolving his engagement with the 
 Infanta, for whom he had always expressed the 
 
 lam 
 
SCy 
 
 THEOCRATIC IMllLOSOPnY 
 
 Tliclr ivtmij 
 
 SECTION Avanncv.t attachment. Such hoAvcver wore tlu; re- 
 
 ^^- presentations of the Duke of llueldnirluini, tliat 
 
 lie Avas scdueed from tlie path of honor, and he 
 
 determined, in conjunction Avith tlie Duke, to break 
 
 olT the treaty with Spain. 
 
 They hmded at Portsmouth, on the fifth of 
 Xic'''" ^^^h)ber, and never was the heir to a tlirone re- 
 ceived witli such transport by an admiring nation, 
 as the Prince was, on his return. The national 
 joy was spontaneous and unbounded; and without 
 any edict, thanksgivings were offered up for his 
 safe return. The King was at Poyston, where 
 they waited upon him. It was a heavy blow to 
 him. when he heard them recount in the most 
 exaggerated terms, the delays and vexatious inter- 
 ruptions which they had experienced and the entire 
 failure of the negociation ; wdiich they attributed 
 to the insincerity and duplicity of the Spaniards, 
 while the Duke severely reflected upon the con- 
 duct of the Earl of^ristol, whom the King knew 
 to be a most faithful servant. The rumour of 
 these things quickly spread through the kingdom 
 and gave general satisliiction. The Prince and 
 the Duke stood high, at this moment, in the pub- 
 lic estimation ! 
 sinctiity i.r Whilst Charles and Buckingham w^ere emj^loy- 
 utsiMtuarcs. ^j j^^ seeking pretences which might give some 
 appearance of justice to their intended breach of 
 treaty, the dispensation from the new Pope arrived 
 in Spain. On this occasion, every demonstration 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 87 
 
 <'llAI'. I. 
 
 of joy was manifested by the people. Bonfires SECTION 
 were lighted in every city, and town, and village IV. 
 of the kingdom. The day after, the marriage was 
 fixed. Preparations were made on such a magni- 
 ficent scale as Spain had never witnessed. The 
 Infanta's household was arranged — her dowry of 
 two millions of mcmey prepared, and her voyage to 
 England determined: when behold! the marriaire 
 proxy was countermanded from England, and at 
 one blow, a treaty broken off, which, for seven 
 years, had been the chief object of the King's solici- 
 tude ; and that too, at the very moment, when it 
 seemed certain of accomplishment; and with it, 
 the restoration of the Palatinate, which the Court of 
 Spain always considered as included in the treaty. 
 A Parliament was now called, and the Duke, 
 
 Intrigues «»f 
 
 who had fully ingratiated himself with the Prince, Buckingham 
 perceived that nothing could save him from the ^' ^^' ^^^^' 
 resentment of the King, but establishing his char- 
 acter with Parliament. In this he succeeded to 
 the utmost of his wishes ; and such was his 
 l)ower and influence w^ith the two houses, that he 
 determined upon the ruin of the Earl of Bristol, 
 who had already received instructions to return 
 home. In the mean time, he made use of his 
 popularity to obtain an impeachment against the 
 Earl of ^liddlesex, the Lord High Treasurer, a 
 man of great abilities, whose high qualities and 
 independence marked him out for ruin. The 
 King was highly displeased at these proceedings. 
 
88 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and only awaited the return of the Earl of Bristol 
 
 cZ\ I. ''P'''' ""^^^'^ ^^^^'^y ^^ ^0^1^^ rely, to humble his 
 audacious favorite. In the mean time, he pointed 
 out to them the evil consequences likely to result 
 from such measures and told the Duke, that in 
 this fit of popularity he ivas j^repanng a rod for 
 his oivn hack; and, turning to the Prince, he pro- 
 phetically said : that after his death he wowld have 
 a surfeit of P arliaynentary impeachments, and 
 would remember, to his sorrow, how much he had 
 contributed to weaken the power of the Crown hi/ 
 his late conduct:' But to no avail : the House of 
 Commons were encouraged by all the influence of 
 the Prince and the Duke of Buckingham, and sup- 
 p()rted by the wishes of the nation. The treaty 
 with Spain was annulled— large supplies granted, 
 and war declared against both the Emperor and 
 the King of Spain. 
 
 On the arrival of the Earl of Bristol, such was 
 the influence of the Duke, that the King who was 
 unworthy of such a servant was obliged to yield, 
 and he was committed to the Tower. This noble- 
 man had left the Spanish Court with great repu- 
 tation, and his conduct deserves to be recorded as 
 an honor to his country. When the Earl was 
 preparing to leave Spain, the Spanish King, who 
 was fully acquainted with his high integrity and 
 unshaken fidelity to his master, entreated him to 
 fix his residence at Madrid, where he should 
 enjoy all the advantages of rank and fortune. 
 
 Earl of Bris 
 tol imprisoned 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 89 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 rather than expose himself to the inveterate ma- SECTION 
 lice of Buckingham. Bristol expressed his grati- IV. 
 tude for the princely offer, but at the same time, 
 shewed the King that it was necessary for him to 
 decline it. '' Nothing " he said " would aid more His hi-h 
 effectually to establish the injurious reports of his ^'^^'•'''^'^*'^* 
 calumniators than remaining at Madrid ; and that 
 the highest dignity in the Spanish monarchy 
 would be but a poor compensation for the loss of 
 that honor, which would be endangered by such 
 exaltation." Philip was charmed with this an- 
 swer and begged him, so far to submit to his 
 desire to serve him, as to accept a present of ten 
 thousand ducats, assuring him, that his acceptance 
 of it should for ever remain a secret, and should 
 never come to the ears of his master. Bristol's 
 answer was truly magnanimous. " There is one 
 person" he replied " who must necessarily know it ; 
 he is the Earl of Bristol, who will certainly reveal 
 it to the King of England." 
 
 In vain did this heroic nobleman demand an 
 opportunity of justifying himself, and laying his 
 whole conduct before Parliament. He was, after 
 a short time, released from confinement, but strict- 
 ly ordered to retire to his country seat, and to 
 abstain from all appearance in Parliament. 
 
 The affairs of the State were now in great per- The Kin? 
 plexity, and the King's fatal policy was working "'^^^'^'°^**™» 
 out for him a fearful retribution. The growth of 
 Popery during this period was extraordinary, and 
 
90 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CnAF, I. 
 
 Ill 
 
 SECTION in spite of all the disadvantages under which it 
 '^- laboured, it was found by Parliament that more 
 than sixty places of power and emolument were 
 in the hands of its professors. The country 
 swarmed with Jesuits and seminary Priests, and 
 such was felt to be the critical state of affairs! that 
 the House of Lords was roused to unite with the 
 Commons, in a formal petition to the King to jmt 
 the ].aws into execution ; and to bind him hy his 
 Koyal word, that in all future treaties of marriage 
 for his Son, he would not stipulate to relax the 
 execution of the laws against Koman Catholics. 
 It required all his - King craft" and political dis- 
 sraulation to meet the occasion ; but he gave 
 them a solemn assurance that he never had in- 
 tended a toleration of Popery ; and that he never 
 would endanger Protestantism, by attempting to 
 relax the Laws against Papists. 
 
 But alas ! the dissimulation of the King was 
 soon to be made manifest : for, instead of aUend- 
 ing to the wishes of his Parliament, or observing 
 the solemn promise which he had made to them, 
 he entered, immediately, into a negotiation with 
 France for the marriage of HenriettaJIaria, sister 
 to Lewis XIII, with his son Charles. Nor did 
 he pay the least attention to his solemn promise, 
 but made even greater concessions to the Poman- 
 ists, then he had done in his treaty with the Court 
 of Spain. And further to shew his disregard of 
 the wishes of his people, he received the Arcli- 
 
 which he 
 breaks. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 91 
 
 Ijishop of Am])run, who had been sent to England SECTION 
 in disguise, with every token of respect and confi- IV. 
 dence. lie held frequent conferences with this ^'"'''- ^' 
 Prelate, who w as a person of great ability and 
 experience, and if we could believe the French 
 authors who have written on that subject, the 
 King declared himself fully inclined to a reconci- 
 liation with the Church of Rome. But this must The King ne- 
 be false : Every action of his life — every word of '^' f^^'*'^'[»*«- 
 his mouth clearly shcAV that it would have been ll7y. ""' 
 impossible for James ever to have become a Pa- 
 pist. Every thing shews that the King was fully 
 acquainted with the merits of the question between 
 the two churches. lie acknowledged that the 
 Church of Rome had been a true Church at the 
 very beginning of Christianity; and, that the 
 Bishop of Rome enjoyed great privileges and held 
 a Prunmy in rank, at a very early period. But 
 no person knew better, the errors of the Church of 
 Rome and its departure from the Apostolic doc- 
 trine ; and no person more strenuously denied 
 the siqncmacTj of the Pope, or would more pertina- 
 ciously have resisted its application. The King's 
 conviction on these subjects was so perfect, that 
 it was morally impossible that he could ever have 
 been induced to act in opposition to it. At the 
 same time, it is certain, that he made great con- 
 cessions to the Archbishop. He released many 
 of the Roman Catholics who had been imprisoned 
 for recusancy, and all the penal Statutes against 
 
92 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 93 
 
 
 SECTION them were again suspended. Nay, such was the 
 iV. Archbishop's influence, that he obtained permis- 
 
 .^^^y^Ku s^^^ to hold a confirmation at the French Ambas- 
 sador's Chapel, where that rite was administered 
 
 His real views ^^ ^^^ thousaud Romau Catholics, in the presence 
 of a great concourse of spectators ; and it is not 
 improbable, that he discoursed with him, as the 
 French writers assert, on his intention of calling 
 a convention to settle rehgious differences, and to 
 lay a foundation for a general toleration. Of this 
 we have no reason to doubt, because it was his 
 favorite project, in which he shewed the superior- 
 ity of his mind ; but he no less discovered his 
 weakness in thinking it practicable. 
 
 We cannot but regret, that he was not allowed 
 to try the scheme, which he considered a remedy, 
 for many of the evils with which his throne was 
 surrounded. Is it not evident, that the Pope 
 would not authorise the lawfulness of any conven- 
 tion, in which the infallibility of the Church and 
 his Supremacy were not acknowledged? But to 
 acknowledge these, would be destruction to the 
 principles of Protestantism. All hope, therefore^ 
 of any reconciliation with the Church of Rome is 
 a chimera : but, chimera as it is, the speculative 
 mind of James, aided by his compassionate heart, 
 thought it not impossible; and it is evident to 
 every attentive reader of history, that he steadily 
 kept this object in view throughout his whole 
 reign. Indeed, it is the knowledge of this fact, 
 
 built on a 
 visionary spe- 
 culation. 
 
 i ( 
 
 that can alone account for his conduct towards the SECTION 
 professors of that religion. His writings, as well ^^^ 
 as public speeches declare, that he held their prin- 
 ciples in abhorrence ; that he considered them 
 idolatrous in w^orship, and apostate in doctrine- 
 yet he did not despair of recovering them by rea- 
 son and argument. They rebelled against him : 
 they conspired to take away his life, yet he forgave 
 them. He endeavoured to palliate their crime in 
 Parliament, and render them less odious to their 
 countrymen ; and it is impossible not to admire 
 the amiable, though mistaken policy of the King. 
 What did he accomplish ? Let the state of things 
 at the conclusion of his reign, and the transactions 
 of the succeeding reign, answer that question. 
 To the very last, he placed this mistaken confi- 
 dence in Popery. Although deluded and dishon- 
 oured, flattered and despised, he still fostered the 
 generous hope of reconciling them. The treaty 
 of marriage between his son and the Princess Hen- 
 rietta of France, was hastened to a conclusion, 
 with a precipitation which is remarkable ; as if it 
 was determined by Heaven, he should behold with 
 his eyes an alliance, which was destined to in- 
 volve his family in disgrace and ruin, and to bring 
 his dynasty to an end — a fact which has been re- 
 marked by the author of the life of Cardinal Rich- 
 lieu, who must be regarded as an unprejudiced 
 witness : — " As this match, " he observes, " was 
 against all the maxims of good policy, so it drew 
 
94 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 95 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 Circiini>:tan- 
 oosattomlin;^ 
 the Kin-j's 
 tli'ath. 
 A. J J. |(]2o. 
 
 SECTION upon his son. King Charles, all those mischiefs 
 IV- which, perhaps, never befel any King succeeding 
 to an hereditary Crown : and his sons born of that 
 marriage, and seduced, ]jy their Mother's per- 
 suasions, have been most unfortunate since his 
 death. " 
 
 But we must not enlarge. The die w^as now 
 cast. The days of the King were numbered, and 
 the scene hastens to its close. The voice of the 
 nation prevailed over the backwardness of the 
 Monarch, and an army of twelve thousand men, 
 was dispatched under the Count Mansfeldt, to the 
 relief of the Palatinate. But through the treach- 
 ery of the French, the expedition never reached 
 its destination. The Government of that kingdom 
 had promised a free passage through their territo- 
 ries ; but their promise was so long delayed, that 
 the troops cooped up in their crowded vessels were 
 visited with pestilence. The contagion was so 
 fatal, that only one third of the men landed on the 
 coast of Holland ; and this miserable remnant, 
 w^as so wasted with sickness and desertion that 
 not a vestige of the armament w^as left behind.— 
 Such a disastrous result— such an extermination, 
 was a signal mark of the divine displeasure. The 
 Palatinate was, at a future period, to be recovered, 
 and to become the source of English prosperity and 
 glory : but not to him or his son, who, at that time, 
 w^as doomed '^to drink the dregs of the cup of 
 trem])ling and wring them out." His own tardy 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 and reluctant help, which came not at ihe proper SECTlOiN 
 season, w^as now offered too late ; and his army, IV. 
 like that of Sennacherib's, fell before the Angel 
 of Jehovah. Nay, the fatal commission extended 
 to himself, and the King was smitten with death. 
 He was seized whilst in his palace at Whitehall, 
 with the ague, which daily increasing, he retired 
 to Theobald's, attended Ijy his faithful servant. 
 Bishop \^jjliams, the Lord Keei^er, wdio contin- 
 ued his attendance till midniglit, and, perceiving 
 little hope of recovery, he acquainted the Prince. 
 The next morning, he entered the King's apart- 
 ment to acquaint him with his approaching disso- 
 lution, and kneeling down said ; he knew he should 
 neither displease vor discourage him, if he brought 
 him the message of Isaiah to ITezekiah, *' to set his 
 house in order,'' for he concluded that his days 
 would he but few. To which i\\Q King answered: 
 / am satisfed, and I desire you to assist m^ in jnr- 
 jmring to go hence and to be with Christ, whose 
 mercy I earnestly pray for, and hope to find. He 
 desired the Prince to l)e summoned to his bed- ^''"• 
 side ; and, amongst many wise precepts which he 
 offered for his future consideration and conduct — 
 he emphatically admonished him — To Jove his in- 
 tended wife, but not her religion ! 
 
 He noAV dismissed all cares of the world ; and the iiis i.a<t 
 remaining period of his life was devoted to reading ^'^'•'^• 
 and prayer, in which he w^as attended by Bishop 
 Williams, wdio never left his royal master, nor 
 
 Ailvire to his 
 
W^mmf 
 
 ti 
 
 i i i 
 
 96 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION undressed himself, till after his death. On Wed- 
 ^^« nesday, the time was more particularly devoted to 
 
 Chap. I. -. -.. . -t • • t* 
 
 solemn discourses on repentance and remission or 
 sins — of the Resurrection and eternal life ; which 
 was followed, on the Thursday, by the adminis- 
 tration of the Holy Sacrament, in w^hich the King 
 participated with great devotion ; and, as it is 
 stated, by those who were present, with '' singu- 
 lar comfort. " After this he grew sensibly weaker 
 and languished through the two succeeding days, 
 during which time it is said, it was necessary for 
 the Lord Keeper to interfere, with his authority, 
 to repel the Romanists who w^ere watching around 
 the chamber of the dying Monarch. On Sunday 
 morning, March, twenty-seventh, he expired in 
 the fifty-ninth year of his age, and the twenty- 
 third of his reign, leaving the affairs of his king- 
 dom, in a most perplexed and unsettled condition. 
 We have seen with what high pretensions of 
 title, reputation, and learning, James ascended 
 the English Throne. His actions are now before 
 us ; and we are enabled to judge with accuracy of 
 his real character, as it has been evolved by the 
 actions of his life. The judgment of posterity is 
 unfavorable to his memory. He certainly possess- 
 ed great attainments and extensive learning ; but 
 he wanted that solidity of judgment, which was 
 necessary to turn them to good account. Hence, 
 his superior abilities were used for the purpose of 
 ostentation and display — which rendered him open 
 
 97 
 
 Chap 
 
 to the pernicious influence of flattery. His perso- SECTION 
 nal gratification made him lose sight of the dignity IV. 
 of the Monarch ; and, on this principle, he expo- 
 sed himself to all the evils of favoritism. His 
 moral qualities, like his intellectual endowments, 
 v^rere of the highest order ; but they lost their char' 
 acter for want of consistency. Though he was 
 not vicious, his virtues became vices, for want of 
 regard to a fixed principle of virtue. His friend- 
 ship degenerated into familiarity— his wit, which 
 was enriched with ih^ stores of learning, into ril)- 
 aldry— his generosity, into profuseness— his wis- 
 dom, into pedantry— his compassion, into weak- 
 ness—his foresight, into dissimulation ; and his 
 love of peace, into pusillanimity. He had no true 
 notions of Religion, for, he had no integrity of con- 
 duct. He was Calvinistic in his views of Chri-s- 
 tian doctrine, and Episcopalian in his notions of 
 Church government ; but he aff'orded no evidence 
 of his being a Christian indeed. He promoted 
 the translation of the Bible— but his life was not 
 regulated by its Divine precepts. He defended 
 the Church, but he did not adorn it, by fulfilling 
 the vows of his baptism. His actions were not 
 guided by Christian principle, nor directed to any 
 great end.— His own selfish gratification was the 
 foundation of his policy, and the Pole-star of his 
 course. 
 
 Never was a mind endowed with such solid ad- 
 vantages, so greatly deteriorated by the circum- 
 VOL. II. a % 
 
98 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. 1. 
 
 SECTION stances of situation. With such endowments, his 
 IV. name might have been gloriously enrolled in the 
 annals of his country. His memory might have 
 left a sweet fragrance behind, grateful to his sur- 
 viving subjects, and salutary to succeeding gene- 
 rations. But with such a capacity for doing good, 
 what evils did he not bring upon his family, and 
 his country ! He was not insensible to the evils 
 which surrounded him. He saw the danger which 
 threatened the monarchy, from the inroad of pop- 
 ular aggression, and he pursued that line of policy 
 which he thought best adapted, to check the evils 
 w^hich he apprehended. He thought to stem the 
 spirit of freedom by the bulwarks of power — ^but 
 in vain : — It was an unrighteous attempt in the 
 sight of Him, "by whom Kings rule and Princes 
 decree righteousness ; " and the resistless torrent 
 of public opinion was permitted, for a season, to 
 overflow, and carry away with it, every vestige 
 of the monarchy and of legitimate government. 
 The policy of the King was dictated by the prin- 
 ciple of selfishness, without reference to the will 
 of the Searcher of Hearts, who demands of all his 
 creatures, whether kings or people, a steady up- 
 rightness and integrity of purpose, founded on the 
 unalterable principles of Justice and Charity. But 
 neglecting this high and lofty position, he had re- 
 course to subterfuge, dissimulation and stratagem ; 
 and endeavoured to strengthen himself by allian- 
 ces foreign to the happiness and interests of his 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 99 
 
 Chap. I. 
 
 kingdom. But in vain did he attempt to fortify SECTION 
 himself by ivicked counsels. — Every thing he pur- IV. 
 posed, failed of its intention, and wrought out for 
 him a fearful retribution ; so that, on this unfortu- 
 nate Prince, might seem to have been laid the 
 '' Burden of Damascus, " recorded in the sublime 
 Prophecy of Isaiah. '' Because thou hast forgot- 
 ten the God of thy Salvation, and hast not been 
 mindful of the Rock of thy strength, therefore thou 
 shalt plant pleasant plants, and shall set it with 
 strange ships : In the day thou shalt make thy 
 plant to grow, and, in the morning shalt thou 
 make thy seed to flourish ; but the harvest shall 
 be a HEAP, in the day of grief and desperate 
 
 SORROW." * 
 
 * Isaiah, xvii. 10, 
 
Tr^ssrsersraB 
 
 ft 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 101 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 CHARLES I ARBITRARY POLICY OF THE EXECUTIVE 
 
 INVASION OF THE CONSTITUTION BY PARLIAMENT 
 CIVIL WAR AND SUBVERSION OF THE MONARCHY. 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION Such, was the critical and alanning situation of 
 1^'- affairs on the accession of Charles I. to the throne 
 
 .^^^lii^)^ of his father, whose fatal policy had laid the foun- 
 charies I. dation of a struggle, between the arbitrary principle 
 t' ^' ^f t and the spirit of freedom inherent in the constitu- 
 
 State 01 the a 
 
 nation. tiou, and which rendered a rupture between the 
 
 Sovereign and the people, inevitable. This is the 
 grand object which is now before us, and which 
 rapidly progressed when the reins of government 
 were seized by a young and vigorous hand, urged 
 on by the counsels of a rash and unprincipled min- 
 ister in the person of the Duke of Buckingham. 
 It was evident, that under such circumstances, the 
 State must soon be hurried either within the bar- 
 riers of despotism, or, plunged into the gulf of con- 
 fusion and anarchy. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The awful and monitory page must now be un- SECTION 
 folded ; and, from the calamities of the past, may I^« 
 we learn wisdom for the future ! The adherents 
 of Popery had rapidly increased during the last 
 reign, and at the death of James, were rampant 
 for power ; pursuing their designs with all sub- 
 tlety and perseverance. The Puritan Clergy had 
 greatly augmented their numbers and influence, 
 and were in great credit and esteem w^ith all ranks 
 of people ; w^hilst that portion of the Clergy, w^ho 
 adhered to the arbitrary principles of the Sove- 
 reign, were in equal discredit, and considered the 
 enemies of their country ; in addition to which, 
 the constitutional part of the nation, under the 
 name of " State Puritans, " and with whom, the 
 " Church Puritans " coalesced, now formed a ma- 
 jority of the kingdom. Both these latter parties. 
 by the arbitrary policy adopted by the government 
 in Church and State, had been driven into the 
 opposite extremes. The one verged to Preshyteri- . 
 anism — the other to Republicanism, 
 
 Notwithstanding these deep seated evils, which 
 were secretly and infallibly w^orking some great 
 catastrophe in the State — the appearance of things 
 at the commencement of the reign, w^as highly 
 flattering. Just as, when nature is preparing, in 
 her subterraneous caverns, some grand explosion, 
 the appearance of the heavens may be clear and 
 unrufiled, affording no intimation of the event; so, 
 on the accession of Charles, every thing bore the 
 
 I 
 
»t!!«» 
 
 102 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 103 
 
 SECTION appearance of tranquillity and continued happiness^ 
 
 I^' and his Coronation was solemnized with universal 
 
 ^^^-^y^ij demonstrations of joy. He had not only gained 
 
 popularity by his conduct, during the late Parlia- 
 
 character of mcnt, but hc had always been a great favorite 
 
 the King ^^j^j^ ^Yi^ nation, and not without just reason. He 
 
 was in the twenty-fifth year of his age, of a fine 
 and commanding form, of grave and modest de- 
 portment, and of eminent proficiency in learning. 
 He was free from all vices and licentious excesses 
 — religious, chaste, and temperate. He was per- 
 fect in vaulting, and all other manly and martial 
 exercises ; and was accounted the best marksman, 
 and most expert manager of the horse, of any per- 
 son in the three kingdoms. 
 
 Such was the Sovereign who now ascended the 
 English throne : endowed with every qualification 
 which could adorn the man, or distinguish the 
 Monarch ; as if Heaven determined, by the inno- 
 cence and splendor of the victim, to shew its ab- 
 horrence of the character and conduct of his father, 
 and to demonstrate to all future generations, the 
 madness of fanatic zeal and popular licentiousness. 
 
 After the obsequies of the, late King, in which 
 Charles dispensed with the usual forms of eti- 
 quette, and acted as chief mourner, his marriage 
 with the sister of the King of France, was solem- 
 nised with great magnificence. The Queen her- 
 self was in the bloom of youth, and adorned with 
 every grace, which could render her attractive in 
 
 His marriage. 
 
 the eyes of her husband. She had great beauty SECTION 
 and vivacity ; and possessed a lively wit and he- ^^' 
 
 ^ ^ P 1 • ^ Chap. \\. 
 
 roic spirit — but there was one root ot bitterness — K^^^\r^su 
 her religion — which was the bane of her own and 
 her husband's happiness, and the foundation of 
 innumerable calamities to the nation, which had 
 adopted her. 
 
 The Archbishop of Canterbury, Doctor Abbot, 
 who, in the last reign, had been an active Coun- 
 sellor ; and had, with great fidelity, resisted the 
 arbitrary policy of the court, was now on the de- 
 cline. He had been a celebrated preacher, and 
 was a person of eminent piety and unbounded hos- 
 pitality ; laborious and zealous in the discharge of 
 his high duties, moderate in his political and re- 
 ligious view^s : in high repute with the nobility 
 and gentry, and a decided favourer of the puritani- 
 cal Clergy, who, alarmed at the advance of Popery, 
 and oppressed by the rigorous and arbitrary mea- 
 sures of the Government, were fast verging, as we 
 have hinted to the principles of Presbyterianism. 
 
 Williams, the Bishop of Lincoln, a person of wiiiiams, 
 towering genius, and of an aspiring temper, was ^'^^^^^^ 
 still Lord High Chancellor. He was admirably 
 fitted for his high station, as w^ell by the superi- 
 ority of his natural endowments, as by his exten- 
 sive learning and political sagacity. He was un- 
 corrupt in morals, and patriotic in purpose. His 
 beneficence and generosity were princely. His 
 manners were bland and insinuating. His mode- 
 
 rl 
 
#^ 
 
 104 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION ration was just, and averse to the extreme arbi- 
 
 IV. trary policy of the court party. He endeavoured 
 
 K^^^r^ to temper the views of the contending parties and to 
 
 bring them to an amicable understanding. But 
 
 his genius, and skill, and perseverance were in 
 
 vain: there were other master-spirits at work, 
 
 which scorned the maxims of experience, and set at 
 
 nought the lessons of prudence and moderation. 
 
 laud, Bishop Doctor William Laud, was now Bishop of Saint 
 
 oi St. David^s. j^g^^.-j'g . ^^ eminence to which his own abilities, 
 
 seconded by the favour of the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, had elevated him. He was a man of a gen- 
 erous and ardent disposition — of an elevated and 
 heroic temper. He was possessed of solid learning 
 and unquestionable integrity — but without that 
 practical knowledge of men and things, which 
 could have enabled him, successfully to struggle 
 wdth the difficulties of the times. His zeal for 
 the honor of God and the unity and strict disci- 
 pline of the Church, was bold and uncompromi- 
 sing. He placed himself in the fore-front of the 
 battle; and, with unshaken resolution, determined 
 to oppose the latitudinarian views of the Archbi- 
 shop and the Puritan divines. In order to accom- 
 plish this, he adhered to the arbitrary policy of 
 the late reign ; and maintained extreme views of 
 ancient ecclesiastical polity, totally at variance 
 with the genius of the times, and to avoid the er- 
 ror into which he saw the country hastening, he 
 pursued the opposite extreme, and carried his ob- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 105 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 servances within the pale of superstition. His SECTION 
 maxim was, " There is no end of yielding : " and, IV. 
 he carried his plans with an inflexibility, which 
 amounted to obstinacy. The consciousness of his 
 rectitude, led him to disdain all conciliatory mea- 
 sures. His zeal was without caution — his wisdom 
 without prudence. In short, to use the words of 
 Lord Clarendon, he sought the accomplishment 
 of his wishes, " without the least condescension 
 to the acts and stratagems of the Court, and with- 
 out any other friendship or support, than what the 
 splendor of a pious life, and his unpolished integ- 
 rity would reconcile to him ; " and to sum up this 
 review of his character, it will only be necessary 
 to add what Judge WhUlock, who was not only a 
 contemporary, but a fine and accurate discerner of 
 the motives and actions of men, used to say — that 
 he ivas too full of fire though a just and a good vnan ; 
 and, that his want of experience in state matters, 
 and his too much zeal and heat for the Church, if 
 he proceeded in the way he was in, would set the 
 nation on fire. 
 
 The fatal tragedy now opens. The temporary Confitiencc 
 popularity which Charies and the Duke of Buck- ll^l'd!^'"' 
 ingham had enjoyed, for breaking off the Spanish 
 match, threw them off their guard ; and the King 
 entered upon the government w^ith the most impli- 
 cit confidence in Parliament. Contrary to the pru- 
 dent advice of the Lord High Chancellor, the 
 writs were immediately issued, before the friends 
 
 J? 
 
106 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Arbitrary 
 conduct of the 
 Commons. 
 
 SECTION and servants of the King could have time to se- 
 IV. cure their interests in the elections. But the 
 
 Chap. II. -gj^^ ^}^o\l\(li brook uo delay ; and confident in his 
 own integrity and the love of his subjects, he re- 
 jected all interference with the election of the 
 members, and on the meeting of Parliament, he 
 would not allow his Ministers to mention the a- 
 mount of subsidies required to carry on the war, 
 which had been engaged in through their own so- 
 licitations, but left himself in their hands, and, 
 threw himself upon the generosity of the House. 
 But his confidence was misplaced. Instead of 
 entering upon the business of the Session, and 
 granting liberal supplies for supporting the dignity 
 of the crown and the honor of the country, in the 
 important contest in which it had embarked, they 
 proceeded to endless debates on topics of popular 
 interest ; and petitioned the King on the state of 
 Religion and the increase of Popery. We might 
 have esteemed their determination to enquire into 
 grievances, at the commencement of a new reign, 
 both prudent and patriotic, had it not been for two 
 circumstances, which shewed that a consciousness 
 of their power had rendered them arbitrary and 
 tyrannical. They summoned to the bar of the 
 House, two Clergymen ; one, to answer for a book 
 which he had published, in which it was consid- 
 ered he had made some important concessions to 
 Popery ; and another, for maintaining in a sermon 
 before the King, extravagant opinions of the Royal 
 
 '! 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 107 
 
 Prerogative. These individuals were severely re- SECTION 
 primanded, and without reference to any other IV. 
 tribunal, fined to a great amount. v-x^C-x^ 
 
 This petty and unconstitutional warfare arose, impolicy of 
 in a great measure, from the temper of the times, '^ '"^" 
 and the ill-defined authority of the House of Com- 
 mons ; and ought to have been met by an insinu- 
 ating remedial policy. This was the advice of 
 the Lord Chancellor Williams : but the Court 
 stood on its high pretensions, and shewed their 
 contempt of the House of Commons, by raising the 
 obnoxious individuals to the Bench. There was 
 also another subject, which was entirely in their 
 own power, and which discovered that the Com- 
 mons were actuated by factious and selfish princi- 
 ples — w'ithout the least provocation, and after re- 
 ceiving from the King the most conciliating answer 
 to their Petition, as if in mockery of his wants, 
 they granted supplies w^hich were utterly inade- 
 quate to the necessities of the State. 
 
 The Plague now raging in London, it became Advice of 
 necessary that the Parliament should be adjourn- ^''^'""p^^''' 
 ed ; but the King, hoping to obtain further sup- 
 plies, proposed to adjourn the Session to Oxford. 
 The Lord Chancellor Williams, with his usual 
 wisdom, endeavoured to prevent it. He had se- 
 cret information that complaints were prepared 
 against the Duke of Buckingham ; and his judg- 
 ment told him, it was unlikely that the Commons 
 would vote supplies twice in one Session. But his 
 
 <' 
 
 liams rejected. 
 
108 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ingham, 
 
 SECTION counsel was overruled, and his fall determined, by 
 
 IV. the Duke. 
 .J^^^;^ The Parliament met at Oxford, and every thing 
 The Com- fell out as the Chancellor had predicted. As soon 
 mons proceed ^^ ^^ ^^^^ assembled, regardless of the welfare 
 
 to accuse the _ , t j • 
 
 Duke of Buck- of their Country, they entered upon topics con- 
 nected with controversial divinity ; and appointed 
 a Committee of Religion. Mr. Montague, was 
 again summoned, and his book ordered to be ex- 
 amined. His cause was warmly recommended by 
 the Bishops, to the Duke of Buckingham, who 
 justly insisted, that all differences in the Church, 
 ought to be decided in an Ecclesiastical assembly, 
 and was the privilege of Convocation. But to no 
 purpose. The Commons conscious of their power 
 in holding the supplies, loudly complained of the 
 public management ; and. most of all, of the un- 
 bounded power and mal-administration of the 
 Duke himself. The Duke was indignant; and 
 the Lord Chancellor again ventured to administer 
 faithful and wholesome counsel ; and advised the 
 Duke to meet the storm with mild and conciliatory 
 measures ; using this remarkable expression, that 
 no wise jnan would think of being angry with the 
 People of England. But the Duke was too high 
 and towering to listen to the well directed advice, 
 and retired w^ith displeasure. 
 
 To all the Petitions of the Commons, the King 
 returned the most gracious and prudent answers ; 
 notwithstanding, they ended their debates by a 
 
 and insult the 
 King. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 109 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Summarily 
 dissolved. 
 
 short declaration, in which they thanked him for SECTION 
 his gracious answer concerning religion — assured IV. 
 him of their true and hearty affections, and decla- 
 red their loyal intention to seme him in due time, 
 and in a Parliamentary way. 
 
 This was really a solemn mockery, and was 
 highly resented by the Court, which was then at 
 Woodstock ; and it was resolved that the Parlia- 
 ment should be dissolved. When the Lord Chan- 
 cellor heard of this resolution, he saw the impolicy 
 of such a hasty step, and hastened, if possible, to 
 prevent it. He used every argument to dissuade 
 the King from such a step. — It is said, that he 
 mingled tears with his supplications ; but, his 
 counsel was again rejected, through the influence 
 of the mighty Duke ; the Parliament was summa- 
 rily dissolved, and the fatal strife perpetuated. 
 
 The result of this contest was to be of the great- "^^^ "p*^'- 
 est possible advantage to the community. The *°°^ *^ 
 arbitrary exercise of the Sovereign power was to 
 receive a severe check, and the constitutional lib- 
 erties of the nation secured by the petition of 
 RIGHT ; only second, among our national docu- 
 ments to the MAGNA CHARTA itself. It is one of 
 those events in History, at the completion of which 
 we are astonished. It was brought about without 
 design. The chief actors themselves, whilst in a 
 great measure, they pursued their own selfish pur- 
 poses, were made the instruments of a good which 
 they could not have anticipated. And whilst it 
 
 k, 
 
110 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION dicovers to us the benevolence of an overruling 
 IV- Providence, it establishes the fact, that whilst the 
 antagonist principles of government are restrained 
 within their proper boundaries, the struggle car- 
 ried on between them, however violent, may be 
 expected to be beneficial. 
 Character of Sir Johu ElHot, a gentleman of Cornwall, was 
 .rjoinLii.ot ^|^g ^^^^^ instrument in promoting the violent pro- 
 ceedings of Parliament, which we have already- 
 related ; and, indeed, through the whole of this first 
 struggle, which comprised a period of little more 
 than four years, he was one of the chief actors ; 
 and in order to attain his purpose he sacrificed all 
 his powers, and eventually his life itself. He pos- 
 sessed considerable parts and great energy of char- 
 acter ; but he was a man of violent and outrageous 
 passions. In his early life, he had travelled in 
 company with the Duke of Buckingham, and on his 
 advancement, he became his obsequious flatterer ; 
 but an extraordinary incident produced a violent 
 change in his conduct, and induced him to become 
 the bitter and irreconcileable enemy of his friend 
 and patron. It happened on some occasion, that 
 Sir John Elliot received a slight insult from a gen- 
 tleman of high respectability in his own parish, 
 for which he entertained a deep revenge, and even 
 attempted his assassination. After the commis- 
 sion of the atrocious act, he hastened to the Duke 
 of Buckingham, in order, through his interest, to 
 secure his pardon : but he was somewhat mistaken 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 in his confidence. The Duke insisted upon a SECTION 
 large pecuniary fine, as a ransom. After the fine ^^' 
 was paid, it appeared that he had not dispatched 
 his victim, who recovered. Guilty as he was, 
 he applied for the restoration of his money, which 
 could not be granted. From that moment, he en- 
 tertained a \iolent prejudice against the Duke of 
 Buckingham, and pursued him with unrelenting 
 hatred to the day of his death. 
 
 Notwithstanding the insufficiency of the sup- Fruitless ex- 
 plies which had been granted by Parliament, the ^^^^'^""cadiz. 
 King made every preparation in his power, for 
 carrying on the War with Spain — a treaty of al- 
 liance was entered into with the United Provin- 
 ces and France — Compulsory loans were raised 
 by the power of the royal prerogative, and a fleet 
 was sent out under the command of Sir Edward 
 Cecil, Lord Wimbledon, and the Earl of Es^ex. 
 But to no purpose. The fleet, which had been 
 delayed two months from the difficulty of provid- 
 ing the necessary equipments, was encountered by 
 violent storms. Disease invaded the Ships, whilst 
 mutiny and insubordination amongst the men 
 and incapacity in the Leaders, rendered the expe- 
 dition abortive, and covered all who were concern- 
 ed in it with disgrace and shame. 
 
 During this transaction another misfortune be- Bishop wii. 
 
 ,? , . , 1 r -n- 1- iTT^'i Hams removed. 
 
 fel the Monarchy m the removal of Bishop W il- 
 liams, from the office of Lord High Chancellor, 
 almost the only man of his day who had sufficient 
 
112 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION abilities and patriotism to have saved his country. 
 IV. But with all his temper and moderation, he could 
 
 ^^^lA^^^ij '^ot avoid the displeasure of the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, and the great Seal was committed to the 
 custody of Sir Thomas Coventry ; whilst Bishop 
 Laud was promoted to the immediate presence of 
 the King ; and became his Secretary and Coun- 
 cillor for Ecclesiastical affairs. 
 Another Par- Thcsc chaugcs wcrc highly displeasing to the 
 
 hament assem- nation, and iucrcascd the general disatisfaction ; 
 A. D. 162G. whilst on the assembling of Parliament, although 
 many of the late violent members w^ere displaced, 
 yet other ardent spirits were returned, amongst 
 whom was Sir John Elliot, who, at all hazards 
 w^as bent upon the ruin of the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham. The commons as usual began their busi- 
 ness with formal complaints against the conduct 
 of the Government — the toleration of Papists, the 
 mismanagement of the public Revenue, and, above 
 all, against the enormous power and corruption of 
 the Duke of Buckingham ; and the state of feeling 
 at that time, in the House and country, will appear 
 from the circumstance, that when a certain mem- 
 ber of Parliament observed, that there were many 
 gins and snares set for the Papists, but not one 
 mouse-trap for the Puritans, he was expelled the 
 house ! 
 
 The King who had been involved by his Father, 
 in a line of policy diametrically opposed to the 
 state of feeling which existed in the nation, con- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 113 
 
 Chap. IF. 
 
 ducted himself with great dignity and moderation. SECTION 
 But he was evidently ignorant of the extreme dif- IV. 
 Acuities of his position, and of the dangers with 
 which his throne was surrounded. He gave the 
 House, in answer to their complaints, the strong- 
 est assurances of his willingness to redress all 
 existing grievances; but at the same time, he 
 highly resented their inquiry into the conduct of 
 his favorite minister, and even said : " I will not 
 allow any of my servants to be questioned amongst 
 you, much less, such as are of eminent place . I 
 see you especially aim at the Duke of Bucking- 
 ham, I wonder what has so altered your affections 
 tow^ards him." 
 
 This answer was impolitic ; and discovered that Th? puuic 
 the King was ignorant of the extent of his prero- ""'""^ "''' '^ ^ 
 gative, and assumed as true, a most unconstitu- 
 tional maxim— that he was not only independent 
 in the choice of his ministers, but that their con- 
 duct was beyond the control of Parliament. It 
 was a feature of that policy against which the 
 mind of the nation was directed, and had a direct 
 tendency to inflame the public discontent. The 
 effect in. the house was as might be expected. 
 The attempt of the King to stem the torrent by 
 the force of authority, increased its turbulence, 
 and made it overflow its banks. The most vehe- 
 ment speeches w^ere directed against the Duke, 
 on which occasion. Sir John Elliot was most con- 
 spicuous for his ])oldness and severity. The King 
 
 forced. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 H 
 
-smtm 
 
 114 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. 11. 
 
 il 
 
 SECTION however, vindicated the honor of his friend and 
 ^ IV. ^ minister ; and maintained his high prerogative 
 in opposition to the power of Parliament ; " Re- 
 member, said the unexperienced Monarch, that 
 Parliaments are altogether in my power for their 
 calling, sitting and dissolution; therefore, as I 
 find the fruits of them good or evil they are to 
 continue, or not, to be." Such a high tone of 
 expressions set the House in a flame, and to allay, 
 in some measure, their resentment, the King com- 
 manded the Duke, personally, to vindicate his 
 own character in a conference of the two Houses ; 
 which he did, with great prudence and address. 
 Put nothing could allay the storm ; and, although 
 there can be no doubt that he was sincerely bent 
 on promoting the honor of his master and the 
 prosperity of his country, yet nothing could pre- 
 vent the retributory vengeance which was due to 
 his pride and ambition, and that licentious exer- 
 cise of power which made him obnoxious to a 
 
 whole nation. 
 
 It will not be necessary to enter into a detail of 
 his solemn impeachment by the whole body of 
 the Commons : suffice it to say, that it was con- 
 ducted by six of the ablest lawyers in the House, 
 Glanvile, Herbert, Selden. Pym, Wansford, and 
 Sherland. The prologue was made by Sir Dud- 
 ley Diggs, and the epilogue by Sir John Elliot, 
 who in the conclusion of his speech, compared the 
 Uuke " to a beast called Stellionatus, so blurred. 
 
 DuVe of 
 Buckingham 
 iro peached. 
 A. D. 1626. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 115 
 
 CilAP. II. 
 
 SO spotted, so full of foul lines, as they knew not SECTION 
 how to desenbe xt : one, who intercepted, consumed, ^V 
 and exhausted the revenues of the crown, not only 
 to satisfy his own lust, but the luxury of others- 
 and thus by emptying the veins of the kingdom' 
 had cast the whole body into a deep consumption." 
 
 Uudley Diggs and Sir John Elliot were imprison- -if-'" — 
 ed for the extravagant and libellous manner in '"'• 
 which they had conducted the impeachment. But 
 the Duke supported by the consciousness of his 
 fmmsterial integrity, invited the trial ; and on the 
 eighth of June, made his defence before the House 
 ot Lords ; and gave distinct answers to the thir- 
 teen articles which had been preferred against 
 him ; and, such was the force of his address and 
 the modesty and humility with which it was de- 
 livered, that his enemies who expected a haughty 
 and imperious answer, were entirely confounded 
 
 But whilst his defence was calculated to allay „ , , . 
 the general discontent, and to remove much of the -" - "ht' 
 prejudice entertained against him by moderate 
 and right judging men, it seemed as if nature her- 
 self had taken up the quarrel : for a phenome- 
 non happened at this juncture, which, by its 
 proximity to his residence, was interpreted as 
 an omen against him. This phenomenon was a 
 water spout, of large dimensions, which arose out 
 of the Thames in a circular form ; and when 
 elevated about twelve feet above the level of the 
 
 It 
 
116 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Parliament 
 dissolved. 
 
 SECTION river, was carried with great impetuosity to the 
 IV. other sile, and made a furious assault against the 
 garden walls of York House where the Duke then 
 resided: it then burst asunder and gradually 
 ascended till it vanished out of the sight of the 
 astonished spectators ; upon whose minds, as rela- 
 ted by the writers of that day, it left a strong im- 
 pression of the guilt and impending fate of the 
 mighty Duke. 
 
 But the King, wearied out with the vexatious 
 delays of the Commons, and their continued oppo- 
 sition to the Duke of Buckingham, against whom 
 they were intending to present a formal remon- 
 strance, determined on an immediate dissolution, 
 after it had sat more than eighteen weeks, with- 
 out passing one public act ; although it was a 
 period of time, greater than the longest session in 
 the reign of Elizabeth. 
 
 Undoubtedlv, in this Parliament there were 
 men of high attainments and of penetrating judg- 
 ment, whose determination it was, if possible, to 
 curtail and define the prerogatives of the crown ; 
 but they had no settled plan of operation, which 
 rendered their deliberations irregular and ineffi- 
 cient. The majority were actuated by selfish and 
 contracted views which made their opposition fac- 
 tious ; and drove them to irritating expedients 
 which tended to harrass and perplex the govern- 
 ment without benefiting their country. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Its character. 
 
 117 
 
 Irregular 
 
 But the precipitate policy of the King only ten- SECTION 
 ded to increase the evils, which it was intended to IV. 
 remedy. His necessities were extreme. Not ^"*''- "• 
 only did he require great sums of money to meet 
 the expenses of the war ; but his uncle and ally 
 the King of Denmark, together with his confede- „„^„„ 
 rates, met with a signal overthrow from the arms '«<^<^'"ho( 
 of the Emperor ; and was reduced to great ex- ™"°* *'''°'^- 
 tremity. ^ Charles used every effort to raise sup- 
 plies. Tonnage and poundage were levied— loans 
 of the gentry and nobility were exacted— the 
 crown lands were mortgaged-the ports and mar- 
 itime counties were taxed to a certain number of 
 ships. In short, every thing that precedent could 
 justify, or necessity invent was resorted to by the 
 Council. Vast sums of money were paid with 
 great cheerfulness for the King's service; but the 
 nation, generally, was much dissatisfied ; and loud 
 complaints were made against these exactions, 
 liishop Laud made himself conspicuous on this 
 occasion. He drew up a form of instruction for 
 the Clergy on the exigency of the times, and the 
 necessity that existed for a speedy and liberal 
 supply. His example was followed by other 
 clergymen, who considered it a sacred duty to 
 come forward in support of their King and Coun- 
 try ; nor should we have deemed their patriotic 
 efforts unworthy of the highest praise, had they 
 not favored a system of political policy which, if 
 established, would have been fatal to our Consti- 
 
 !! 
 
 ■tow:.. 
 
118 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION tional liberties. Of all the Clergy, Doctor Sib- 
 IV. thorpe, vicar of Brackley in Northamptonshire, 
 and Doctor Roger Mainwaring, were the most 
 active ; and advocated the most extreme and arbi- 
 trary principles of government. The latter, in two 
 Extreme scrmons, pubUshcd under the title of " Religion 
 opinions incui- jjj-^j Allegiancc, " advanced this doctrine — " That 
 '^'^'^ the King is not bound to observe the laws of the 
 
 realm concerning the su])ject's rights and liberties : 
 but his Royal will and command in imposing taxes 
 without consent of Parliament, does oblige the sub- 
 ject's conscience upon pain of eternal damnation." 
 Law alone It is truc, that Christianity strongly and unequi- 
 paramount vocally dcmauds our submission and obedience to 
 ScSuta"r*'the Powers that be;" but, we are no where 
 reason, called upou to violatc common sense ; nor, to yield 
 
 up our social advantages and civil freedom. Cer- 
 tainly, if we believe the New Testament, we are 
 bound to vield an absolute obedience to the gov- 
 eniing powers : but we are not bound to give our 
 assent to their unjust and arbitrary decrees ; much 
 less, can it ever become a duty to advocate a sys- 
 tem of policy, inconsistent with rational freedom, 
 or our acknowledged rights. Besides, as English- 
 men, we do not owe a divided allegiance to " the 
 Powers that be. " We do not owe allegiance to 
 the Executive or sovereign power, distinct from 
 the concurrence of the two Houses of Parliament, 
 but to their united will, which is — the law. And 
 to the King, as the Executive Magistrate, actiiig 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 119 
 
 Tinder the sanction of Law, we acknowledge the SECTIOiN 
 most absolute submission. But during the period IV. 
 of which we are writing, these principles were not .^^^^^^;^ 
 brought out into such bold relief as they are at not then un. 
 present. Neither the extent of the Royal Prero- *^*^''^^«^- 
 gative— nor the liberty of the subject— nor the ju- 
 risdiction of Parliament, were practically defined : 
 and hence it was, that such extravagant opinions 
 were held on both sides ; and which, required a 
 long series of years to adjust and rectify. And it 
 is easy to perceive, that, could such doctrines as 
 those of Doctor Mainwaring have been established, 
 and such methods of raising money perpetuated, 
 the liberty of the subject would have been at the 
 mercy of the Sovereign— the Monarchical power it- 
 self would have become exorbitant ; and, in all pro- 
 bability, the advance of the country in its glorious 
 career, as an exemplar state, would have been 
 frustrated. But this was not to be : and we are 
 deeply indebted to many heroic individuals of that 
 day, who endangered their own ease, and, even 
 liberty, by their opposition to the unconstitutional 
 exercise of the Royal Prerogative Amongst these 
 are the names of Sir Thomas Wentworth, Mr. 
 George Ratcliff, Sir George Strangeways, Sir 
 Thomas Grantham, and Sir Harbottle Grimstone. 
 
 These gentlemen were treated with considerable The Patriot, 
 severity, and imprisoned in Counties distant from '^^^'^ 
 their family and friends ; a measure, which had an 
 unhappy influence upon the public mind. The 
 
 
120 
 
 SECTIOxN 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 TTie Roman- 
 ists presume. 
 A. D. 1627. 
 
 The titular 
 Bishop of Clial- 
 cedon was sent 
 as Vicar Gene- 
 ral, and Arch- 
 dea<:ons ap- 
 pointed in all 
 the Dioceses of 
 England. 
 
 Receive a 
 check. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 popular discontent was still further increased by 
 the removal of Lord Chief Justice Carew, who was 
 succeeded by Sir Nicholas Hyde ; and still more, 
 when Bishop Williams, for expressing an opinion 
 in opposition to the loan, was summoned before 
 the inquisition of the Star Chamber ; whilst Bishop 
 Laud, on the death of Doctor Arthur Lake, was 
 translated to the See of Bath and Wells, and ap- 
 pointed Dean of the Chapel Royal, at Windsor. 
 
 In the midst of these perplexing difficulties new 
 sources of trial began to open upon the King, in 
 his domestic relations ; and he began to experience 
 some of the evils arising from the infatuated policy 
 of his father, in his marriage with a daughter of 
 France. By the marriage articles it w as agreed, 
 as we have already stated, that the Queen was to 
 have the choice of her own domestics — to be at- 
 tended with a certain number of Priests and a Bi- 
 shop, who should be allowed to exercise the pecu- 
 liar functions of the Episcopal office. Fortified 
 with such immunities — courted by the English 
 Bomanists, and supported by the authority of the 
 Queen, they found little difficulty in extending 
 their influence, and strengthening their cause. — 
 Emboldened by success, they proceeded to the 
 most unwarrantable lengths. A Vicar-general was 
 appointed, the titular Bishop of Chalcedon, and 
 Archdeacons through all the dioceses of England. 
 
 Not content with this public exhibition, they 
 set all order and propriety so far at defiance. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 121 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 that the Queen, who was entirely devoted to her SECTION 
 religion, was on some occasion of penance, order- IV. 
 ed to proceed on foot to Tyburn, to perform her 
 devotions. The King complained to the King of 
 France ; but still they carried themselves in the 
 most offensive manner, and became missionaries, 
 rather than domestics. The King's mind was 
 greatly affected by their dishonourable conduct ; 
 which influenced the behaviour of his Queen, and 
 created mutual disquietude. The King tried every 
 expedient in vain. Every effort he made, seemed 
 only to increase their opposition, and plunge him 
 into greater perplexity ; till at length, he determi- 
 ned upon their summary dismissal. Having re- 
 paired to Somerset House, he commanded the at- 
 tendance of the Queen's household, and addressed 
 them to the following effect ; — " He was driven " 
 he said, " to that extremity as personally to ac- 
 quaint them, that he desired their return into 
 France. That, though the deportment of some 
 had been inoffensive, yet others had so abused, 
 and affronted him, that he neither could nor would 
 any longer endure it. " The Bishop of Meiide, 
 and Madame Saint George, who had been the 
 greatest offenders, began to make their apologies, 
 but the King turned from them, and simply ob- 
 served, *' I name none, but I tell you my reso- 
 lution. " 
 
 The Queen was roused to immoderate warmth. The Queen 
 when she heard of the King's determination, broke •^''i'^^*^^' 
 
 
 
;»■ 
 
 122 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 a War with 
 France. 
 
 
 SECTION out into loud complaints, and reproached him for 
 *V. his ungracious conduct. The King, who was 
 ' passionately attached to his consort, employed 
 every tender and conciliatory method to pacify her, 
 but to no purpose ; till at length he insisted upon 
 
 hich leads to his authority, and peremptorily told her that it 
 must be so. From that time, she became a more 
 attached and obedient wife ; but the King's sor- 
 rows in that quarter, were only in their commence- 
 ment. He took every precaution to prevent any 
 offence on the part of the King of France ; but, 
 all his endeavours were ineffectual ; and he was 
 plunged into a new war with France, which grat- 
 ified, at once, the revenge and the disappointed 
 lust of the Duke of Buckingham. Accordingly, 
 he took upon himself the whole management of 
 the war, and left the English shores with a well- 
 manned fleet, and numerous land-forces; of which 
 he took the command, both as Admiral and Gene- 
 ral. The Protestant party in France, was at this 
 time, contending for freedom against the Popish 
 power, in alliance with the French monarchy. — 
 Rochelle w^as their chief strength, and which still 
 held out against the whole power of France. The 
 Duke, sailing to the town, offered them his assis- 
 tance ; but at this juncture, having suffered great 
 disasters, they were affraid to unite with the En- 
 lish forces, and involve themselves in new difTicul- 
 ties, without consulting the heads of the Protestant 
 union. In the mean time, the Duke landed his 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH inSTORV. 
 
 123 
 
 ClIAP. II. 
 
 Dlsarrace of 
 
 troops on the Island of Rhe, with the intention of SECTION 
 securing that important station as a field for future IV. 
 operations ; and he had now a fair opportunity of 
 discovering the energy and capacity of his mind. 
 But he utterly failed in all his efforts, and shewed, 
 that he did not possess sufficient talent for con- 
 ducting any great or noble enterprise. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the storm of indignation 
 which met the Duke on his return from this un- J!"^ ^^"''f ''^^ 
 
 Buckingliam. 
 
 successful expedition, lie went forth attended 
 with all the hatred which attaches to a great favo- 
 rite, and returned loaded with all the disgrace 
 which attends an unfortunate General. All were 
 loud in their complaints, except his gracious Master, 
 who received him with that warm affection, which 
 only served to increase the general resentment. 
 The citizens complained of their trade — the mer- 
 chants of their discouragements — the sailors on 
 account of their arrears of pay — all clamoured for 
 redress : and the odium of all the national griev- 
 ances fell upon the unfortunate Duke. 
 
 These evils were still further inflamed by the Deposition of 
 persecution and deposition of the venerable Arch-^^^*^"'^'*''*^°P 
 bishop; who had been opposed, from the beginning, 
 to the extreme and arbitrary measures of the Court, 
 and studied, by moderation in the reform of mani- 
 fest abuses, to meet the just demands of reasonable 
 men. His fall presents a noble instance of intre- 
 pid firmness and disinterested virtue. It will be 
 remembered that Sibthorpe, Vicar of Brackley, 
 
 I 
 
124 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Sir Robert 
 Cuttun. 
 
 SECTION was one of those, who vindicated, in extravagant 
 IV. terms, the absolute and independent power of the 
 Sovereign. Before his book was published, it was 
 necessary that it should receive the license of the 
 Archbishop. But the sentiments which it con- 
 tained, were such as the Archbishop could not 
 sanction ; and he steadily refused his " Imprima- 
 tur, " in opposition, even, to the command of the 
 King. His Sequestration immediately followed, 
 and the jurisdiction of the Primacy was placed in 
 the hands of six Bishops, of which. Laud was one. 
 
 In this exigency of affairs, the whole nation 
 with one voice, demanded a Parliament : and it is 
 a curious fact, that Sir Robert Cotton, the famous 
 antiquary, was called before the King and Coun- 
 cil to declarehis opinion, in point of history and 
 law, on the present juncture ; a task which he per- 
 formed in the most judicious manner ; and in con- 
 clusion, gave his advice that a Parliament should 
 be called. Such is the excellency of wisdom, and 
 the power with which it can, sometimes, invest 
 its possessor! 
 
 It was accordingly resolved in Council, that 
 the Parliament should meet on the seventeenth of 
 March ; and, before the writs were issued, it was 
 deemed proper to soothe the public mind by some 
 popular acts of the executive. The Archbishop 
 was restored— the Earl of Bristol and the Bishop 
 of Lincoln, who had suffered great hardships, re- 
 ceived the writ of summons ; and all those who 
 
 Parliament 
 Summoned. 
 A. D 1628. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 125 
 
 Promising 
 
 were under a sentence of arbitrary imprisonment, SECTION 
 were released. But in vain. These last hasten- I^- 
 ing to their respective Counties, were unanimous- 
 ly elected, and returned to Parliament, as Patriots 
 who had suffered for attachment to the Consti- 
 tution. 
 
 The opening of this Parliament was a solemn 
 
 ... ,.^ T -T'li appearances. 
 
 crisis m our history; and every individual con- 
 cerned in it, felt it to be so. The sermon was 
 preached by Bishop Laud, in which he exhorted 
 them to " unity" as the only means of saving their 
 country from anarchy. The King opened the 
 Session in person ; with an able and conciliatory 
 Speech. The House proceeded to their debates 
 with great temper and resolution. They felt it to 
 be their bounden duty to redress the grievances of 
 the subject, and at the same time, they saw the 
 necessity of granting supplies for the pressing de- 
 mands of the State. After a short debate, they 
 determined that grievances and supplies should 
 go, hand in hand ; and taking a review of the 
 dangers which threatened the State, they consi- 
 dered the most imminent to flow from the toler- 
 ation and increase of Popery. A remonstrance 
 was drawn up, consisting of eight articles, and 
 presented to the King against the adherents of that 
 religion, to which the King answered distinctly 
 on each article, through the Lord Keeper, and 
 gave the House the fullest satisfaction — assuring 
 them, at the same time, of the security of their 
 
126 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Petition of 
 Rights. 
 
 SECTION Rights and Liberties. The House immediately 
 I^' voted a liberal supply, and the breach between 
 the King and his Parliament seemed to be healed. 
 The King in the warmest manner, expressed his 
 satisfaction, and accounted it his greatest happiness 
 to be restored to unity with his people. 
 
 But the House was not to be flattered out of its 
 duty. It formed itself into a grand committee 
 on the State of the Nation ; and, in a few days, 
 drew up the " petition of rights," which they 
 transmitted to the Upper House. The good Arch- 
 bishop was at his post, and in a conference be- 
 tween the two Houses, in a mild and conciliating 
 speech proposed some amendments, the same in 
 effect, with the resolutions of the Commons, but 
 clothed in more moderate and becoming language, 
 which, however, were not satisfactory. The King 
 finding the Commons warmed with their subject ; 
 and startled at their bold and determined language, 
 proceeded to the House of Lords, and command- 
 ing the attendance of the Commons, he ordered 
 their Petition to be read — and gave his solemn 
 assurance and promise, that it should, in every res- 
 pect, be observed. This extraordinary method 
 silenced, but did not satisfy the House. They pro- 
 ceeded, however, to other business. A declaration 
 was made against Doctor Mainwaring on account 
 of the sermon to which we have already alluded ; 
 and the severity of his sentence will at once shew 
 how little a just toleration was understood, either 
 
 t 
 
 I f 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 127 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Its consider- 
 
 by the Prince, or the people. The worthy divine, SECTION 
 for publishing his political opinions, was impri- IV. 
 soned, and fined to the amount of One thousand 
 pounds; suspended from all ecclesiastical func- 
 tions, for three years ; and it was further ordered, 
 that his books should be publicly burnt, and that 
 he himself should make a public recantation. 
 
 In all probability, the solemn assurances which 
 the King had just made, would have caused the ^'"'" "''" 
 " PETITION OF rights" to siuk into oblivion, had 
 not a message from his Majesty, fixing an early 
 day for the termination of the Session, requesting 
 them to expedite their business, and not to cast 
 any aspersions on the Government or Ministry — 
 roused the fears and jealousies of the House. After 
 long deliberation, and frequent messages from the 
 King; it was, at length, agreed that the "peti- 
 tion OF rights" should pass into a Law. 
 
 The Bill was therefore proceeded with, and af- Passed into 
 ter several conferences, it received the royal assent 
 in full Parliament on the fifth of June, when, on 
 the conclusion of the King's speech a mighty shout 
 testified their sense of the importance of a measure 
 which may be justly esteemed next to the " magna 
 charta" itself, in the history of our constitution. 
 It was received by the nation with universal joy, 
 the bells were rung and bonfires lighted through- 
 out London and the Country, as if some solemn 
 and national jubilee had been celebrated. And, 
 had the Parliament been satisfied with this great 
 
 a Law. 
 
128 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION triumph, and proceeded with moderation in the 
 ^^- reform and conduct of the State, they would have 
 deserved the unbounded gratitude of posterity. 
 On their assembling the next day, the House ap- 
 peared to think its measures ought to be concilia- 
 ting; but, unfortunately, one word from Sir John 
 Strangeways, who w\^s afterwards an ardent loy- 
 alist and great sufferer in the civil wars, set the 
 House upon finishing the remonstrance which it 
 had prepared. The King was highly incensed 
 when this remonstrance, w^hich concluded w^ith a 
 vehement denunciation against the Duke of Buck- 
 ingham, was presented to him ; and, before ano- 
 ther remonstrance on the duties of tonnage and 
 poundage could be presented, he abruptly pro- 
 rogued the session. 
 
 During this time a formidable fleet and army 
 had been dispatched for the relief of Rochelle 
 under the Earl of Denbigh and returned without 
 striking a single blow. Amidst the conflicting 
 opinions which prevailed at the time, respecting 
 this extraordinary expedition, it is impossible to 
 decide as to the real cause of its return — suffice it 
 to say, that it was through intrigue and treachery. 
 Who the culprit was, it is not easy to determine ; 
 the odium fell, and, perhaps, not unjustly, upon 
 the Duke of Buckingham ; whose short and licen- 
 tious career was about to receive a fatal termination. 
 His unpopularity at this moment was extreme. — 
 No person ever seemed to draw down upon himself, 
 
 Treachery 
 and Death of 
 Buckingban. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 129 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Felton 
 
 njore conipletely the indig,.ation of a whole peo- SECTION 
 pie. But his hour was come. Every person IV. 
 seemed to forbode his impending fate and he 
 himself. It is said, entertained the most painful 
 apprehensions of its approach. The measure of 
 his iniquities was, indeed, full : and, a dreadful re- 
 tnbution was now preparing for him, by the hand r.iu>. 
 of a gloomy assassin.— This was Felton, who had '«»^^i"«es 
 
 rT?i™/?-*^f"^'' '^--S^he siege of the "l^at^ 
 Citadel of Samt Martine in his attempts on the 
 Island of Rhe ; and being refused some promo- 
 tion to which he considered himself entitled 
 threw up his commission in disgust, and determi- 
 ned upon revenge. His own grievance was in- 
 flamed, beyond all reason, by the strong and uni- 
 versal feehng against the Duke ; but, most of all 
 by the open declaration of the House of Commons' 
 " that the Duke was the great grievance of the' 
 nation, and the principal cause of all the evils 
 under which it suffered." This fired his private 
 revenge-and inspired him with the belief, that 
 by accomplishing the destruction of the Duke he 
 should perform a public benefit, and deserve to be 
 recorded as a benefactor to his country. Accord- 
 ingly, the day after (he Duke arrived at Portsmouth 
 for the purpose of superintending the embarkation 
 ot the troops designed for Rochelle, he effected 
 his atrocious purpose. It was nine o'clock in the 
 morning, and sustained with the most deadly reso- 
 lution, he stationed himself, with many others in 
 voj,. n. , ' 
 
' 
 
 130 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the anti-chamber of the Duke's dressing room. 
 IV. The Duke attended by a number of gentlemen 
 
 ^^^.^^^^ and officers of the army, and some French pro- 
 
 testant noblemen, was leaving his dressing room 
 
 The Duke of for breakfast, which he was never to enjoy. On 
 
 Buckingham. yej^^Qving the tapcstry which separated the rooms, 
 the Duke appeared in all his greatness, unconscious 
 of danger, and in earnest conversation with the 
 gentlemen around him. In an instant, the assas- 
 sin, like some furious animal, intent upon his prey, 
 springing behind his victim, struck his dagger 
 over the Duke's shoulder, with fatal precision, into 
 his heart. Whether, or, not, the Duke recognised 
 the hand which directed the fatal blow, he ex- 
 claimed " The villain has killed me," and drawing 
 out the weapon with his own hand, instantly ex- 
 pired! Thus fell, the great, and noble, and illus- 
 trious Villiers, at once, the pride and disgrace of 
 his country. In personal attractions and dazzling 
 acquirements he w^as superior to all men, whilst 
 at the same time, he exceeded all, in the impetu- 
 ousness of his passions, the unbridled licence of 
 his manners and the unbounded lust of his ambi- 
 tion. His murderer, who rejoiced in the crime he 
 had perpetrated, was immediately apprehended. 
 He persisted to the last in maintaining, that no 
 other person had any share in the transaction. 
 After his trial, he behaved himself with great hu- 
 mility, and with every sign of deep remorse, if 
 not repentance. Indeed, so great was his com- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 131 
 
 Chaf. 11. 
 
 Function that he requested the Judge, that the SECTION 
 hand which committed the deed might be struck IV. 
 off before his execution, which the Judge refused, ' 
 on account of its being illegal. 
 
 The Court was then at Southwark ; and the t„c King's 
 tidmgs of the Duke's death was conveyed to tlie '-'"°'''"^^'- 
 King by Sir Thomas Hippesly, who arrived in 
 town next day. It was Sunday morning, and the 
 King was attending prayers. Sir Thomas entered 
 the chapel with a mournful countenance, and ap- 
 proaching the King, privately announced the 
 tragic event. The King received the tidings 
 without a word, and. with the most settled com- 
 posure. No change was observable in his looks 
 or actions, till the conclusion of prayers, when he 
 hurried to his private apartment, and in floods of 
 tears, gave vent to the emotions of his heart. He 
 continued some days in retirement, and shewed 
 the sincerity of his attachment to his murdered 
 minister by the affectionate manner in which he 
 treated his relations and friends, and the carefulness 
 with which he discharged his debts. The body of 
 the Duke lay in state at York House, and was, with 
 great solemnity, entombed in Westminister Abbey 
 
 The death of the unfortunate Duke made it c,..^m« 
 necessary that certain changes should take place ""^''J"'"''""- 
 in the administration of public affairs. Sir Rich- """' 
 ardJVeston was made Lord High Treasurer— a 
 man of active and enterprising dispo ition, whose 
 first endeavour was to gain Sir Thomas Went- 
 
132 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 J 
 
 4 
 
 t ' 
 
 SECTION worth to the King s interest, in which he entirely 
 I^'* succeeded. He was created Viscount Wentworth, 
 and appointed President of the North, became one 
 of the most devoted friends of the Monarchy and 
 was certainly, one of the ablest Ministers the 
 Crown of England ever possessed. Bishop Laud, 
 was translated to the See of London, and the 
 Archbishop of Canterbury introduced and recon- 
 ciled to the King, whose sincere desire of assist- 
 ing the French Protestants had already determi- 
 ned upon the relief of Rochelle. A fleet was fitted 
 out under the command of the Earl of Lindsay : 
 but, there was one man in France, whose towering 
 genius was more formidable than fleets and 
 armies. The English fleet presented itself before 
 Rochelle ; nor, was there a single French ship to 
 oppose them ; but the prodigious mole which the 
 Cardinal Richelieu had constructed across the 
 entrance of the harbour, defied all their efforts. 
 Rochelle after unheard-of sufferings was finally 
 reduced — the Protestant cause in France entirely 
 ruined — their liberties oppressed — the Monarchy 
 aggrandised and rendered absolute; which, at 
 length, wrought out its own retribution in the 
 horrid Revolution of 1792. 
 
 The King opened the second Session of the 
 third Parliament, on the twentieth of January, in 
 a most gracious and patriotic speech, in which he 
 exhorted the Commons to put an end to all dis- 
 putes, by passing the bill for tonnage and pound- 
 
 Opening of 
 
 Parliament. 
 A. D. 1629. 
 
 M""* 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 133 
 
 age, as had been customary in all former reigns, SECTION 
 declaring he would receive it, ^' not as a matter of IV. 
 right, but as of his People's favour." , ^"*^- "• 
 
 It was justly expected that the House of Com- Conductor 
 mons would cease its hostility to the Crown, and ^^'^''^'^^''^ 
 proceed to the dispatch of business with modera- 
 tion and candour. But alas ! the spirit of dis- 
 cord prevailed against all the claims of justice and 
 honor, and evil Counsellors taking occasion from 
 the spirit of the times, fomented that religious ran- 
 cour which afterwards proceeded to such monstrous 
 licentiousness, and involved the whole Monarchy 
 in ruin. Instead of proceeding with their proper 
 business, and carrying on such Reforms in the 
 State as were absolutely necessary, their whole 
 attention was bent upon the discovery of grievan- 
 ances, not, always, of importance, and on the dan- 
 gers to be apprehended from the growth of Armin- 
 ianism. Certainly their fears on this ground were 
 imaginary. Experience has assured us, that 
 their is no necessary connexion between Armini- 
 anism and political delinquency. But the nation, 
 at this juncture, was deeply imbued through the 
 vigorous ministrations of the Clergy, with the 
 Calvinistic notions of dogmatical theology. The 
 Reformers of the Anglican Church were moderate 
 both in their views of doctrine and discipline; 
 but the Clergy who had taken refuge abroad, dur- 
 ing the Marian persecution, returned home, deep- 
 ly impressed in favour of the foreign Churches, 
 
134 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 and Arminian 
 tlicories. 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION especially that of Geneva, which was Presbyterian 
 IV. in discipline and Calvinistic in doctrine. The 
 Chap. . p^^^^^g^j^ clcrgy, although they conformed for the 
 
 sake of unity, yet adopted the general scheme of 
 theology first revived by Calvin in modern days ; 
 Calvinistic and though many of them did not advance further 
 than they were warranted by the articles of religion; 
 yet, others carried out its peculiarities into extra- 
 vagance. The principle of Arminianism is, not 
 only more accordant with the maxims of our 
 rational Constitution in Church and State ; but 
 more consistent perhaps, with the uniform teaching 
 of the Church than those of the Calvinistic theory, 
 w hich have only been embraced and inculcated by 
 a few eminent Doctors of the ancient Church. 
 Ihe Arminian doctrine teaches " that Christ has 
 not only redeemed all, but that there is a univer- 
 sal grace given to all mankind ; that this grace is 
 not an irresistible principle ; that man is a free 
 agent> always at liberty to obey all the emotions of 
 the Holy Spirit, or, resist them ; that with respect 
 to perseverance a man may, after justification fall 
 into new crimes." Whilst the Calvinistic theo- 
 logy maintains " the absoluteness of God's decrees 
 without any regard to the merit or demerit of man ; 
 and that God foreknew a determinate number 
 with whom he intended to manifest his glory ; 
 having predestinated them to be holy, he gives 
 them an irresistible grace, and makes it impossible 
 for them to be otherwise." It is easy to perceive. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 135 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 that this latter view of Christian doctrine is of a SECTION 
 much more sublime and mysterious character; IV* 
 and much more likely to lead men away from the 
 sober discharge of their relative and social duties, 
 not only, into the regions of doubtful and pre- 
 sumptuous disputation, but into those of obstinate 
 and wild fanaticism. But I must not enlarge too 
 far. The sequel of this history will afford, alas ! 
 too frequent opportunities of remarking, on the 
 evil of both these systems, when carried to their 
 extremes, and dogmatically insisted upon. The 
 truth, no doubt, is in the union of both; and I 
 apprehend, the doctrinal standard and the instruc- 
 tionary Formulae of the Church of England have 
 embodied their just and scriptural application. 
 No person, endued with reason, will attempt to 
 dispute the absolute sovereignty of the Most 
 High, nor hesitate to subscribe to the Apostolic 
 declaration that '' every good gift and every per- 
 fect gift Cometh down from the Father of Lights ;" 
 nor, will any Christian man withhold his assent 
 from the proposition, that man in his present fallen 
 state is as far gone as possible from original right- 
 eousness^ that he is of his own nature inelined to 
 evil, and that the condition of man is such, that he 
 cannot turn and prepare himself by his own natural 
 strength and good works to faith and calling upon 
 God* and, surely, none will dispute that man is an 
 accountable being, and that he is addressed every- 
 
 ♦ Articles of Religion, ix. x. 
 
 I 
 
136 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 ous 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION where in the New Testament, as under an obh'ga- 
 
 IV. tion to repent and believe the gospel. Now, it is 
 
 evident that these simple, undeniable propositions 
 
 contain the substance of both theories ; that they 
 
 are perfectly agreeable to the nature of things. 
 
 Distorted and fully substantiated by plain declarations of 
 
 views of Chris. Scripturc. It is CQually plain, that if I take any 
 
 tianity injuri- x ^ x j 
 
 one of these propositions and dwell upon it to the 
 exclusion of the others, I must give a distorted 
 view of the Christian revelation, in which, all are 
 inculcated. When, therefore, the Calvinist seizes 
 upon the doctrine of God's sovereignty exclu- 
 sively, and carries out his system into all its 
 legitimate conclusions — that God has elected a 
 certain determinate number of the human race to 
 be saved — that this number cannot be increased 
 or diminished by any human effort — that the elect 
 are called and sanctified by the Holy Spirit ; and, 
 that they cannot effectually resist his agency, but 
 must infallibly be saved, whilst the rest of mankind 
 must infallibly be lost — it is evident that such a 
 statement is repugnant to our ideas of man s free 
 agency, omits the Scripture doctrine of man's re- 
 sponsibility, and is incongruous and inconsistent 
 with the general tenor of the Christian Dispensa- 
 tion. It does not become men to lay down a 
 system which they may think most becoming the 
 Divine attributes, but to adopt, with humility, all 
 the leading points of Revelation, as alike essential 
 to the truth of His nature ; and, we may rest as- 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
 ■> 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 137 
 
 Kured, that, if any one point is excluded in its ad- SECTION 
 ministration, the results will be injurious to the ^V- 
 welfare and happiness of man. It was manifestly v^^^v^y 
 seen in the effect of the doctrine which w^as ex- 
 hibited by the Clergy, at the period at which we 
 have now arrived. The doctrines of predestination 
 and election, and the final perseverance of the 
 Saints were inculcated wdth great fervor and pow- 
 erful eloquence by the Puritan Clergy ; and, gen- 
 erally speaking, Avith the inculcation of holiness as 
 the necessary result of election, which is the re- 
 deeming property of the system ; but still, it w^as 
 not the harmonizing system of the gospel ; and it 
 produced in its professors an incorrect portraiture Puritan 
 of the Christian character. They w ere zealous ^''*-'"sy- 
 and indefatigable in their labours — men of consid- 
 erable learning, well versed in the Scriptures, and 
 of great piety, but evidently infected with an over- 
 weening prejudice in favor of their own peculiar 
 opinions — an undue persuasion of a peculiar divine 
 favor, rigid self-denial and a severity of manners 
 inconsistent with the simplicity of the gospel. At 
 the same time, they were bold and uncompromis- 
 ing in their denunciations of Popery ; and carried 
 their opposition to such an unreasonable extent, 
 as to demur in their conformity to the ceremonies 
 of their own church however sanctioned by an- 
 cient usuage, simplicity and propriety. King 
 James himself was educated in this system ; and 
 when he ascended the English throne was, nom- 
 
 i 
 
138 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION inally, of this school. His understanding enter- 
 IV. tained the dry and scholastic speculations of the 
 system, but his affections were never brought 
 under its controul ; so that it never produced in 
 him, anything but low and foolish conceits, harm- 
 less to himself and others. But the opposition of 
 the Presbyterians in Scotland, and a similar dispo- 
 sition which he discerned in the Puritan Clergy 
 of England, disgusted him with the Calvinistic 
 doctrine ; and he adopted and cherished the Ar- 
 minian theology as a counterpoise to the growing 
 popularity of Puritanism, and promoted its Divines 
 to the highest stations in the Church. Under the 
 Royal patronage it acquired strength, and, at this 
 period of our history, through the unwearied zeal 
 and earnestness of Laud, who was the great 
 patron of this school, it had acquired extensive 
 influence in the Anglican Church. 
 
 The Arminian party, became as it were, iden- 
 tified with the Government, and, of necessity, 
 supported the measures of the Executive, and ad- 
 vocated the rights of the Prerogative to an un- 
 warrantable extent — asserting the absolute power 
 of the Monarch, and avowing principles destruc- 
 tive of our constitutional liberties. — Hence their 
 religious tenets became the measure of their poli- 
 tical sentiments. It was a grand mistake. There 
 can be no necessary connexion between Armini- 
 anism and tyranny — any more than there is be- 
 tween Calvinism and Republicanism. The ten- 
 
 Arminian 
 
 Clergy. 
 
 OF ENGLISH IIISTOUY. 
 
 139 
 
 Commons. 
 
 dency of the one, is to rest in human forms ; of SECTION 
 the other, to verge into fanaticism. But the doc- IV. 
 trines themselves, have no principle in common ^"*'*' "' 
 wdtli any political theory. 
 
 The house of Commons, however, whether from Conductor 
 factious motives, or, really from fear of the spread '^^^ """""^ ""^ 
 of Arminianism, adopted this mistaken notion 
 and inveighed against Arminianism, as the root of 
 all bitterness and the cause of every grievance in 
 the body politic ! It is surprising to think how 
 men of such undoubted abilities should so far have 
 committed themselves. On the very first day of 
 the sessions when the house had entered upon the 
 discussion of the grievances respecting religion, 
 Mr. Rouse denounced Arminianism as "an Error 
 that made the grace of God lackey it after the 
 will of man, that made the sheep to keep the 
 Shepherd, and a mortal seed of an immortal God; 
 and that an Arminian was the spawn of a Papist, 
 ready to open the gate to Romish Tyranny and 
 Spanish Monarchy." And Sir Robert Philips is 
 reported to have said, ''two sects are damnably 
 crept in, to undermine King and kingdom ; the one, 
 ancient Popery, the other, new Arminianism." 
 Nor was the furious Sir John Elliot behind-hand 
 in these declamatory proceedings. "As to Po- 
 pery and Arminianism, " he said, ''our faith and 
 religion are in danger — for these like an inunda- 
 tion, break in at once upon us. In this Laud is 
 contracted all the dangers we fear." And it is 
 
140 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 "Violent 
 Proceedings. 
 
 SECTION important to observe, that on this same day the re- 
 IV- port of the Committee on Religion was presented to 
 the house, to which the name of Oliver Crom- 
 well was attached! In this report, loud com- 
 plaints were made against the promoting of Mon- 
 tague and Mainwaring to the bench — concluding, 
 "If these be steps to Church preferment, what 
 are we shortly to expect"? " 
 
 From this time there appeared an incurable 
 breach between the King and his Parliament, in- 
 cessant debates arose on the most irritating topics 
 — various remonstrances were drawn up on the 
 subject of Popery and Arminianism, so that the 
 public business was at a stand-still, and the King 
 found it necessary to adjourn Parliament in order 
 to allow time for reflection. But in vain. The 
 same litigious spirit prevailed; and, when the 
 King, a second time attempted to adjourn the 
 House, the order was resisted with great tumult : 
 the door of the house w^as locked — violence was 
 used to restrain the Speaker from leaving the 
 chair. But he was inflexible. Neither persuasion 
 nor threats could shake his fidelity to the King 
 and the Constitution. I say this, because at that 
 time, the power of adjournment was generally ac- 
 knowledged to reside in the Crown. Notwith- 
 standing, he was held in the chair by force, whilst 
 a protestation concerning Popery and Arminian- 
 ism was carried by acclamation. 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 141 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The King on hearing of these dissorders, sent SECTION 
 a messenger for the Sergeant and his mace, but IV. 
 the messenger was not admitted. He then dis- 
 patched Maxwell, the Usher of the Black Rod, to 
 dissolve the Parliament ; but the door was still 
 locked and all entrance denied. Provoked at their 
 rebellion, the King sent for the Captain of the 
 Guards, determined to force an entrance: but 
 fortunately, in the meantime, the House had ad- 
 journed. 
 
 At this unhappy juncture, it was the advice of Parliament 
 the prudent and sagacious Bishop of Lincoln, that ^J'J^.h^jo, 
 the King should invite the two Houses to a con- a. d. i629. 
 ference on the state of public affairs ; whilst he 
 himself, undertook to reconcile Sir John Elliot to 
 the Government. But his counsel was rejected, 
 and more strenuous methods adopted — Warrants 
 were issued for apprehending nine of the members 
 who were leaders in th^ late disorder, amongst 
 whom was Sir John Elliot; who, refusing his li- 
 berty on bail, was committed to prison, where he 
 shortly after died ; and the Parliament was dis- 
 solved, with a determination, on the part of the 
 King, if possible, never to summon it again. His 
 resolve was solemn and determined : but it was 
 vain. The benevolent purposes of the Most 
 High, had determined that England should ad- 
 vance, in the free exercise of all its energies ; and, 
 in the possession of the True Religion, to become 
 an EXEMPLAR STATE amongst the nations of the 
 
 1 
 m 
 
,** 
 
 142 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION earth. In the mean time a severe retribution was 
 ^V- preparing for all those, who were engaged in these 
 transactions ; and who, in the measures which they 
 adopted, were seeking their own gratification, ra- 
 ther than the welfare of their Country. Revolv- 
 ing years were destined to create a necessity which 
 Constitution was to ovcrpowcr the King s resolution, and oblige 
 •uspt:n' f . j^-j^ ^^ summon a Parliament, which was to be 
 the cause of his overthrow and ruin ; whilst the 
 Parliament itself, was to be swallowed up in the 
 anarchical gulf which it had created. Neverthe- 
 less, in compassion, as it were, to the Sovereign, 
 and as a reward for the sincerity, integrity, and 
 virtue of his character — the space of twelve years 
 is allotted to him, in which he was to enjoy a sea- 
 son of almost uninterrupted repose and prosperity. 
 His court was conducted with the greatest order 
 and regularity, which impressed a real dignity on 
 the splendid formality which prevailed in every de- 
 partment; whilst the calm reserve, and majestic 
 deportment of the King, gave a finishing lustre to 
 the whole. But he did not depart from the policy 
 of his father. During this period the government 
 of England was an Autocracy. The Constitution 
 was suspended ; and, it will be our duty to trace, 
 with all impartiality, the circumstances wJiich 
 transpired, and which led, after many years of 
 confusion, misery, and oppression, to the Resto- 
 ration of the Monarchy, and the final establish- 
 ment of our civil and ecclesiastical liberties. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 143 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The three principal persons who enjoyed the SECTION 
 greatest share of favor and influence about the IV. 
 person of the King, were Doctor William Laud, 
 Bishop of London, Lord Viscount Wentworth, 
 President of the North ; and James, Marquis of The King* 
 Hamilton. The character of the first is already ^'°'''*^'^- 
 before the reader. — The second, was endowed with 
 extraordinary natural abilities, which had been 
 carefully cultivated and adorned by education. — 
 He possessed a vigorous judgment — a teeming 
 fancy, and such powers of reasoning, that he was 
 said, " rather to demonstrate than to argue." His 
 justice and integrity are unimpeachable : but there 
 was a severity in his deportment, and a want of 
 condescension in his manners, for which his sur- 
 prising qualifications could not atone. 
 
 The Marquis of Hamilton, was a Scotch Peer 
 of high and noble descent. After the death of the 
 Duke of Buckingham he was made Master of the 
 Horse, Gentleman of the King's bed-chamber, and 
 Privy Councillor in both kingdoms. He was of a 
 remarkable aspect, but naturally dark and reser- 
 ved. He possessed, in an eminent degree, the arts 
 of management, and gained his object, more by 
 stratagem than by open assault; and, although 
 he seemed to carry every thing with great modesty, 
 yet he is supposed to have exercised a great influ- 
 ence over the councils of the Government. 
 
 Sir Thomas Coventry was Lord Keeper, a man 
 of great knowledge in his profession, unostenta- 
 
,*« 
 
 144 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION tious and retiring, and sustained his high dignity 
 IV. with universal reputation to his death. Sir Rich- 
 ard Weston, afterwards Earl of Portland, was 
 Lord High Treasurer — a person well descended — 
 admirably suited to his office, and of an aspiring 
 temper ; but of an abject disposition — insatiable 
 and discontented, profuse and imperious. The 
 Earl of Manchester was Lord Privy Seal. He was 
 a person of great wisdom and prudence, and inde- 
 fatiga])le in his attention to the duties of his office. 
 But he was too solicitous after the accumulation 
 of wealth ; yet his experience, gravity, and ability 
 secured for him a considerable share of reputation, 
 which he enjoyed to a great age. The Earl of 
 Arundel was Earl Marshal, a person of noble as- 
 pect and appearance. He affected a peculiar style 
 of dress ; and was thought the image and repre- 
 sentative of the ancient nobility. He lived in 
 great retirement and spent his time in antiquarian 
 researches ; and, expended vast sums of money in 
 the collection of paintings and statues. But he 
 had little learning and less patriotism, and desert- 
 ed his country in the hour of danger. The Earl 
 of Pembroke w^as Lord Steward, who adorned his 
 high station w^ith every requisition of birth, of 
 fortune, and eloquence. Such, indeed, was the 
 lustre of his character, that it is said '" no man 
 had sufficient courage to avow himself his enemy." 
 But in private life he was licentious and immoral. 
 Sir John Cook and Sir Dudley Carleton were 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 t 
 
 145 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Secretaries of State, the former a man of great in- SECTION 
 dustry, but of a contracted mind— the other a per- IV 
 son of eminent parts, but as entirely ignorant of the 
 constitution of his own country, as his colleague 
 was of foreign politics. 
 
 Such were the men who were called at this im- 
 portant period to preside over the destinies of their 
 country. Certainly, never was a King supported P„,.,„f.^ 
 oy such ministers, or ministers adorned by such '^°™"«>^"'- 
 a King. The King was a pattern of honour and 
 integrity; Strafford, of wisdom and justice; Laud 
 of sincerity and piety; and Hamilton, of courage 
 and action. The two first took the charge of the 
 civil government— the next, of ecclesiastical affairs 
 and the last, of the military department. The' 
 rest of the Ministry were not wanting, as we have 
 shewn, m the ability necessary for the discharge 
 of their respective departments; but they were 
 generally intent upon securing their own advan- 
 tage and that of their dependents; and, without 
 loresight or patriotism, anxious to ward off imme- 
 diate danger. Expediency was the law of their 
 movements ; and they were satisfied, if they could 
 secure peace and happiness during their days. 
 
 The first transaction of moment, was a treaty T,.oafc.,u, 
 ot peace with France; and by a happy concur-''""'''""' 
 rence. Paul Peter Rubens, the famous Painter of "*^"°' 
 Antwerp, arrived in England, to mediate a peace 
 with the Court of Spain ; which was shortly after 
 accomplished. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 K 
 
4 
 
 146 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Whilst the King was thus set free from all anx- 
 IV. iety respecting foreign affairs, and supreme and 
 ^J;i^^Xlily absolute in his dominions ; yet, such was the wis- 
 conduct of dom and prudence of his counsels, that scarcely 
 Ministeig, ^^ gj.pQp can be detected in the administration of 
 public affairs. Every mistake arose from the line 
 of policy in which they were involved. Various 
 methods were resorted to for the purpose of raising 
 supplies; but the greatest caution was observed, 
 and every effort made, to confine the levies within 
 the boundaries of Law and Precedent. But arbi- 
 trary power is not made for man ; and in the best 
 of hands, has a tendency to degenerate. It must 
 protect itself by the exercise of its power: and, 
 even, where its judgments are just, its punish- 
 ments are oftentimes wanton. 
 Of Archbishop Nor was this power permitted to slumber. Con- 
 siderable irregularity and disorder prevailed in the 
 discipline and worship of the established Church, 
 arising from the obstinate adherence of many of 
 the Puritan Clergy, to the doctrine and discipline 
 of the church of Geneva. In order to avoid an 
 ' open conformity to the Rites and Liturgy of the 
 Church, they had become afternoon preachers or 
 lecturers, and were maintained and followed by 
 the people. In order to prevent these irregulari- 
 ties, and to introduce a proper conformity in the 
 ministers of the Church, Articles of Instructions 
 were drawn up by Bishop Laud, and issued under 
 the King s authority—" That in all parishes the af- 
 
 Laud. 
 
 / 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 147 
 
 Chap. 1L 
 
 How far re- 
 
 ternoon sermons be turned into catechising-That SECTION 
 every lecturer read Divine service before lecture, IV. 
 m his surplice and hood.— That no lecturer be ad^ 
 mitted. that is not ready and willing to take upon 
 him the cure of souls," &e. 
 
 No person of the present day. will consider that h«. rar „ 
 these instructions were severe, or more than ne- •"*'■"="'''• 
 cessary ;to meet the evils which they were de- 
 signed to repress. It is evident that eloquent 
 preachers opposed to the ceremonies of the Church, 
 would take occasion, in their lectures, to speak dis- 
 respectfully of those ceremonies ; or. if not, their 
 known sentiments had a tendency to produce an 
 injurious effect. If the government of the Church 
 was to be upheld. Laud could not have done other- 
 wise. This, perhaps, will not admit of a question, 
 but the methods which were adopted for main- 
 taining the just authority of the Church, were not 
 only questionable, but eminently barbarous and 
 tyrannical. A great portion of the barbarity must 
 be referred to the age itself, which was little scru- 
 pulous as to the private feelings of their fellow 
 men. Another portion must be referred to the 
 obstinacy of the Puritans, whose objections to the 
 Liturgy of the Church were of the most frivolous 
 description. But we have no desire to apologise 
 for the severity of the punishments which were 
 exacted on the unhappy Recusants. We abhor 
 them as the exercise of arbitrary power ; and re- 
 joice, that we live in an age when the individual 
 
148 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CiiAi'. H. 
 
 Arbitrary 
 Measures. 
 
 SECTION happiness of the subject is regarded with proper 
 IV. respect. One clergyman, for reflecting in his 
 prayer, on the religion of the Queen as idolatrous, 
 was cited before the High Commission, suspended, 
 excommunicated, fined one thousand pounds, and 
 committed to prison. Another, was deprived of 
 his Prebendary, degraded, excommunicated, and 
 fined five hundred pounds, for preaching from the 
 words—'' I hate all those who love superstitious 
 vanities, but Thy law do I love. " Many others 
 WTre deprived for their non-compliance ; and dri- 
 ven by the severity of the Government, into foreign 
 exile. We lament the circumstances which ex- 
 patriated so many of our countrymen ; but an over- 
 ruling Providence conducted these evils to a bene- 
 ficial result. The colony of Massachusets Bay, 
 was formed at this juncture ; and, during the pe- 
 riod of Laud's administration, seventy-four Cler- 
 gymen went into voluntary banishment, as the 
 Pastors of congregations in the wilds of America. 
 The celebrated Doctor Davenant, Bishop of 
 Salisbury, was summoned before the Privy Coun- 
 cil, for preaching on the doctrine of Predestination 
 contrary to the Kings injunction, and escaped 
 with difficulty. But others were not so fortunate, 
 especially Doctor Alexander Leighton, a Scotch 
 divine, who under the excitement of an intempe- 
 rate zeal, published a furious book under the title 
 of "An appeal to the Parliament, or, a Plea 
 against Prelacy. " The author was arraigned be- 
 
 •|l 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 149 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 fore the Star Chamber; and he was sentenced to SECTION 
 imprisonment during the King's pleasure, and to IV. 
 pay a fine of ten thousand pounds. This was suf- 
 ficiently severe— but this was not all. His sen- 
 tence was not only severe, but wanton. He was 
 to be placed in the pillory, and publicly whipped, 
 his ears cut off, his nose slit, and his face branded ! 
 What an ignominy and disgrace for a learned and 
 excellent minister, though an intemperate bigot : 
 yet a free-man, and the father of Archbishop 
 Leighton ! 
 
 Notwithstanding, it must be allowed, that nei- 
 ther did the King nor his Ministers attempt to 
 pollute the streams of justice. They were allowed 
 to flow without interruption in their natural course. 
 The Judges were, generally, men of uncorrupt in- 
 tegrity, and gave their judgment, with freedom, 
 and courage, though often contrary to the judg- 
 ment of the King, who always gave his acquies- 
 cense to their decisions. 
 
 ninth ot May, was born Charles II. to the great <=''»ries ii. 
 delight of the King, who went in procession to ^^ "^ "*'' 
 Samt Paul's to return thanks, for such a joyful 
 event. Joyful indeed ! could he have foreseen, 
 that, in this son, the tarnished honor of the British 
 Monarchy was to be restored.— But happily, for 
 his present comfort, that event, together with 
 all the calamities which were to precede it, were 
 hidden from his view. 
 
1 
 
 150 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SEcrroN 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Extraordi 
 nary appear 
 ancn 
 
 Whilst the Monarch was thus engaged in offer- 
 ing up his devotions, it is said, an unusual star ap- 
 peared in a clear sky, and was observed by a mul- 
 titude of spectators : — and, whatever may be our 
 opinion of this appearance, the fact was not the 
 invention of an after-period, but believed at the 
 time. Medals were struck commemorative of his 
 birth, the device and motto of which remarkably 
 corresponded to his destiny — On one side appeared 
 a star, representing as it were, the rise of the mo- 
 narchy after a partial obscurity ; and, on the reverse 
 the motto, " Hactemis, Anglomm nulli " — the 
 truth of which can only be found in the extraordi- 
 nary circumstances of his Restoration. 
 The irruption Whilst iu the birth of this Prince the instru- 
 of Charles of j^ent was presented to the nation, under whose 
 
 Sweden. ^ i i • • i 
 
 auspices its ancient monarchy and constitutional 
 liberties w^ere, one day, to be restored. Peace was 
 concluded with Spain ; and the Marquis of Ham- 
 ilton was dispatched with six thousand men, to 
 the assistance of the celebrated Charles, King of 
 Sweden, who had made an impetuous irruption 
 into Germany, in favour of the Protestant Princes, 
 against the usurpations of the Emperor Ferdinand. 
 His progress was irresistible. Like an over- 
 whelming torrent he urged his rapid course into 
 the very heart of the German Empire ; nor met 
 with a reverse, till his devastating career received 
 a final check at the battle of Lutzen, which ended 
 at once, his conquests and his life. This famous 
 
 I 
 
 4 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 151 
 
 Chap. IT. 
 
 irruption lasted two years ; in which with amazing SECTION 
 rapidity, he made himself master of two hundred IV. 
 and ninety-six cities, forts and walled towns ; and 
 created a greater impression on the minds of men 
 than any preceding conqueror. But this belongs 
 to another History. 
 
 Every thing in England was in the most prospe- Prosperous 
 rous condition. The trade and commerce of the''"''"^''^'''"' 
 kingdom increased to an unprecedented degree ; 
 and London became, not only the mart, but the 
 Bank of Christendom. Nor was it less a season 
 of improvement in learning and science. On the 
 death of the Earl of Pembroke, Bishop Laud had 
 been elected, by a great majority, to the Chancel- 
 lorship of the University of Oxford ; and, undoubt- 
 edly, became the most eminent man in the kingdom. 
 He was the liberal patron of learning and religion 
 — the vigorous promoter of ecclesiastical discipline 
 and government, and the greatest benefactor in 
 all designs of public charity. The generosity and 
 patriotism of his soul may be judged of, from the 
 munificent designs he contemplated and placed in 
 his diary, most of which he lived to accomplish. 
 The King, who was equal to him in a desire for the 
 promotion of Religion, as well as in the strictness 
 of his devotions and the purity of his life, was 
 this year induced by the activity and zeal of the 
 Bishop, to undertake the repairing of Saint Paul's 
 Church, which was done at a vast expense— the 
 King contributing ten thousand pounds, from his 
 
 ? '4 
 
152 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Death of a 
 Patriot. 
 A D. 1631. 
 
 SECTION private purse ; whilst Sir Paul Pindar, with the 
 IV. generosity of a King, undertook the repair of the 
 
 f Chap II> • ^ 
 
 great partition at the West end of the choir — adorn- 
 ing the exterior with rich pillars of marble, and 
 with the statues of those Saxon Kings, who had 
 been its founders and benefactors ; and it is said, 
 that he expended four thousand pounds in repair- 
 ing the South transept. But all this vast expense 
 and the exquisite skill bestowed uj^on it, by that 
 celebrated Architect, were unfortunately lost in 
 the Fire of London. 
 
 Whilst these things were achieving, the nation 
 lost one of its brightest ornaments in the person 
 of the famous antiquary Sir Robert Cotton, to 
 whom his country is infinitely indebted for his 
 noble collections and writings. 
 
 Bishop Laud was still in the ascendant. His 
 bgious parties, ^^^i ^^^ activity wcrc undiminished, and his in- 
 fluence with the King unbounded. The promo- 
 tions in the church were entirely confined to the 
 Arminian Clergy. By this means, the Puritan 
 conforming Clergy, who were chiefly Calvinis- 
 tic in their theology, were driven into the ranks 
 of the disaffected ; and, the Church was des- 
 poiled of some of her best supporters. This was 
 a fatal mistake ; because it placed the two parties 
 in the Church in a hostile position to each other, 
 a circumstance, which had a tendency to propel 
 both into the extremes of their system. Bishop 
 Laud, by an intemperate zeal for the honor of God 
 
 State of Re- 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 153 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 and his Church, was carried beyond the bounds SECTION 
 of a rational moderation ; especially in an age, IV. 
 when the people, agitated by peculiar religious im- 
 pressions, were incapable of exercising a correct 
 judgement on his actions. Many of the religious innovations. 
 rites and ceremonies which he introduced, were 
 contrary to the established rubric of the English 
 Church ; and inconsistent with any of the genuine 
 usages of primitive antiquity. Not only were the 
 churches repaired and ornamented, and fitted up 
 for divine worship ; but they were adorned with 
 candlesticks, tapers, and crucifixes ; and embroi- 
 dered copes were enjoined to be worn at the ad- 
 ministration of the Sacrament. 
 
 These innovations were, perhaps, harmless. — Their char- 
 No virtue was thought to consist in these things, ^''^*"*» 
 they were simply intended to add to the external 
 pomp and ceremony of religion. But the grand 
 mysteries of Redemption — the majestic truths of 
 the Christian Religion, require no adscititious aid. 
 They are encumbered by it. If these additions 
 were supposed to add to the dignity of religion, 
 they were vain — if to its solemnity, they were su- 
 perstitious. As they had been so perverted, and 
 were in abhorrence with the nation, as the Inven- 
 tions of Popery^ their revival was injudicious. 
 
 Nor was this all. Laud was innovating also in 
 his Episcopal ministrations. He particularly dis- 
 played the genius of his religion, in the consecra- 
 tion of churches. Amongst many others, history 
 
. .. , i. » J W 
 
 BOHi 
 
 I M 
 
 t ' ! 
 
 *i 
 
 154 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 |i^ i 
 
 SECTION records that of Saint Catharine Creed as most con- 
 IV« spicuous. On entering the church he fell down 
 
 y^^Jr\^^^ upon his knees, and, in the name of the Trinity, 
 Consecration pronounccd the place to be holy : advancing to the 
 
 rine Creed's ^^slc, he scvcral timcs thrcw the dust of the floor 
 
 Church. into the air. Approaching the East end, he sol- 
 emnly bowed towards the altar. In the adminis- 
 tration of the Sacrament his conduct was still more 
 reprehensible. On approaching the table, he 
 gently lifted up a corner of the napkin, in which 
 the bread was laid ; and when he beheld the bread 
 he laid it down again, and retiring, a step or two, 
 from the altar, he bowed three several times to- 
 wards it. He passed through the same ceremo- 
 nies, with the wine. All this was superstitious, 
 that is, it was a human addition to 'the original 
 institution. Who can imagine Saint Paul guilty 
 of such ridiculous practices *? Who can find any 
 trace of such observances in the writings of the 
 Apostolic age. We know that such additions, at 
 a very early period, found their way into the 
 Church, even before the usurpations of Popery ; 
 but no antiquity, unless from the heginning^ can 
 give authority for usages which are not justified by 
 Scripture, or warranted by reason and propriety : 
 but what reason or propriety was there in the act 
 of throwing dust into the air "? It was evidently an 
 inroad upon the simplicity of Christian worship. 
 
 This affectation of ancient usages, which resem- 
 bled so much, those of the Romish Church, gave 
 
 ■4 
 
 '^m^f 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 155 
 
 great offence to the nation. He was not only con- SECTION 
 sidered as a favourer of Popery, but as preparing IV. 
 the way for its revival. These imputations were ,^^!^^^^^ 
 devoid of truth ; but the odium of them rested 
 upon his devoted head. His book against the Faiseiyac 
 Jesuit Fisher, is an incontrovertible proof, if there ^"^^^^^^p^- 
 were no others, that the public clamour against 
 him was unfounded. He had no intention what- 
 ever of restoring Popery. He was not only a po- 
 litical Protestant and would have been the last 
 man in England, to have sacrificed the indepen- 
 dence of his Country, to the absurd claims of an 
 Italian Bishop ; but he held in abhorrence, many 
 of their most prominent corruptions. No : his ob- 
 ject was to establish on a solid and immoveable 
 basis, the discipline and 'authority of the Anglo 
 Catholic Church, which had descended to us from 
 Apostolic times ; and which had been supported 
 and fostered by our ancient British and Saxon 
 Kings. At the Reformation it had been rescued 
 from the usurpations of the Popedom, and resto- 
 red, in a great measure, to its primitive forms and 
 doctrines. Its Reformation had been invaded by 
 the Calvinistic theology and Presbyterian disci- 
 pline of the church of Geneva, which spread with 
 great rapidity in the English Church. The Puri- 
 tans were embued with both, and, indeed, the 
 whole nation ; and there is every reason to believe 
 that, had it continued its course, the torrent of 
 opinion would have carried away the landmarks 
 
156 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 II 
 
 SECTION of the ancient Church, and changed both its gov- 
 IV. ernment and doctrine. But through the counsels 
 of three as great men as ever lived, it received a 
 powerful check ; which, though it could not stop 
 the overwhelming force which laid both the church 
 and Monarchy in ruins, yet the effort recalled 
 a vast portion of the community from the innova- 
 ting mania, and laid the foundation for the future 
 recovery of both. Laud was the chief instrument 
 in this unequal strife, and, for this purpose, all 
 the instruments of power and authority were placed 
 at his disposal. He was eminently fitted for the 
 task. He was inflexible in his disposition—sin- 
 cere and devoted to his cause, and elevated in his 
 piety. His zeal was fervent and unwearied — his 
 moral character unblemished ; and to crown the 
 whole, he was indued with the simplicity of a 
 child. Few men would have had the courage to 
 have undertaken the task, of turning the religious 
 tide of a whole nation. But he did not measure 
 his duty by the difficulties which opposed him, 
 but resolutely gave himself to the work, and pur- 
 sued it with incredible labour, and died a martyr 
 to it. But with this high character. Laud inher- 
 ited his share of the infirmities which belong to 
 human nature. His natural temperament was 
 warm and impetuous. His resolutions sudden 
 and precipitate, and his counsels capricious. His 
 steady purpose was to restrain the advance of Pu- 
 ritanism, and to increase the external grandeur of 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 157 
 
 measures. 
 
 the Church. He acknowledged no middle line of SECTION 
 policy — but pursued these designs with an inflex- IV. 
 ibility which yielded nothing to rank or learning. ^^^^^^^-^ 
 Toleration was a thing unknown, and in carry- 
 ing his designs into execution, his punishments Arbitrary 
 degenerated into cruelty. These instances are 
 not numerous, but they demanded a retribution 
 which Laud did not escape. Perhaps one of the 
 most wanton exercises of arbitrary power, was 
 enacted this year against a most excellent Clergy- 
 man, who had ventured to preach against the pic- 
 tures and decorations of the Church. He was 
 fined, whipped, put into irons, imprisoned a whole 
 winter in a miserable dungeon, and fed on bread 
 and water. The Eecorder of Sarum for removing 
 from the w^indow of the Parish Church a painting 
 of God the Father, was fined five hundred pounds, 
 removed from his Recordership, and committed 
 a close prisoner to the Fleet. Such cruelty was in- 
 tolerable, and shews that arbitrary power must 
 not be intrusted to man. Notwithstanding, the 
 great objects of the divine benevolence w^re ad- 
 vancing In the distance, we behold the glori- 
 ous REVOLUTION which was to terminate the 
 series of events. Popular licentiousness was to 
 be crushed. Intolerance and Fanaticism to be 
 purged out. Absolute Power to be humbled and 
 circumscribed. Toleration to be established, and 
 the Church to be rescued. But at the present 
 juncture every thing appeared secure to the imme- 
 
iv -^^■^^^^i^^:^'^ i."^^^.l^^"'"^3^^^^^^^'^^^l^^ 
 
 158 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 159 
 
 in Scotland 
 A. D. 1632 
 
 SECTION diate actors. The Royal Prerogative triumphed 
 — Commerce was extended — Learning advanced 
 — Science was patronized — the Arts flourished; 
 and, generally speaking, the People enjoyed great 
 political happiness. 
 
 In the midst of the steady prosperity of the 
 Corronation couutry— a splcudid Episode was enacted, which 
 as it may be considered the prelude to the great 
 disasters which are impending, must not be omit- 
 ted. It was the King's progress into Scotland, 
 and his Coronation in that Kingdom. His pro- 
 gress was attended with surpassing grandeur and 
 magnificence. On the eighteenth of June, the 
 King reached the capital of Scotland, which 
 he entered amidst happy throngs of people, and 
 was received with every demonstration of loyalty 
 and affection. Three days after, the solemnities 
 of the Coronation began. The King, attended 
 with a gorgeous train of official persons and no- 
 bility, descended from the Castle amidst the plau- 
 dits and acclamations of surrounding multitudes, 
 proceeded to the Abbey Church, where the ser- 
 mon was preached by Doctor Lindsay, Bishop of 
 Brechin ; and the ceremonies of the Coronation 
 were performed by the eminent Doctor Spotswood, 
 Archbishop of Saint Andrew's. Never was a more 
 brilliant spectacle witnessed in the ancient capital 
 of Scotland. Alas ! how transient is all subluna- 
 ry glory ! How baseless is the superstructure of 
 our high ambition ! Charles seemed to be seated 
 
 in the affections of his subjects, and his Throne SECTION 
 to rest on a rock of adamant. But its stability IV. 
 was illusory ; and, in the midst of the most flatr ^"^''- "' 
 tering demonstrations of public attachment, was 
 tottering to its fall. So true it is, that no person 
 ought to be accounted fortunate before his death. 
 
 Bishop Laud attended the King on this occasion 
 and their grand design was to establish the eccle- 
 siastical polity of Scotland, on the same model 
 as that which had obtained in England, and 
 which we have seen, in a reduced form, had been 
 estabhshed by James. The authority of the 
 Bishops was, subject to an assembly of Presby- 
 ters. Two things were now to be accomplished — 
 the liberation of the Bishops from their depend- 
 ence on the Presbyters, and the imposition of a 
 Liturgy. The King and his Minister were confi- 
 dent of success, and their confidence was in a 
 great measure, the cause of their failure, 
 
 A Parliament was assembled and a bill was in- Proceeding. 
 troduced to establish the Royal Prerogative, and ^^ P»^^ia'n«°«- 
 regulate the apparel of Churchmen ; but the lat- 
 ter provision of the bill met with strenuous oppo- 
 sition, lest it should lead to the introduction of 
 the Surplice— the most simple and decent gar- 
 ment that was ever worn. Such are sometimes 
 the violent prejudices of men ! According to the 
 custom of Scotland, the King, Lords, and Commons, 
 sat in one House. When the question was put, 
 the King, drawing a paper from his pocket said : 
 
IGO 
 
 SECTION 
 
 IV. 
 Ciup. H. 
 
 TllEOCnATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 " Gentlemen, I have all your names here ; and I 
 will know, who will do me service and who will 
 not, this day." The Lords expressed great anxi- 
 ety to separate the two parts of the hill, and 
 declared their willingness to give their assent 
 to that part of it which related to the Eoyal 
 Prerogative. But the King would have no dis- 
 tinction, and insisted that the two parts of the bdl 
 should stand or fall together. The King with his 
 own hand entered the votes ; and when the clerk 
 cast them up, he declared it carried in the affirm- 
 ative. This result was doubted by some Mem- 
 bers of the House ; but the King declared that 
 the Clerk's declaration should stand, unless some 
 one, at the peril of his life, should accuse him at 
 the bar of falsifying the Records of Parliament. 
 This attempt of the King to overawe the deliber- 
 ations of Parliament, was considered arbitrary and 
 unjust ; and the tide of popular feeling was turned 
 into the opposite extreme. A libel was immedi- 
 ately published, reflecting, in strong terms, on the 
 King's conduct, representing it as a breach of pri- 
 vilege and an infringement on the Rights of Par- 
 liament. This document was written by an ob- 
 scure person, but being found in the possession of 
 Lord Balmerino, he was arraigned before the 
 Council, and actually condemned to lose his head! 
 It is true he was afterwards pardoned; but he 
 never forgot the injury. Nor was he the only one 
 whom this Royal visit prepared for opposition to 
 
 OK ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 161 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 the counsels of Government. Other acts were section 
 parsed m this short Parliament, which were i„. ™ 
 
 tended to abridge the power of the Nobility and " 
 to enlarge the privileges of the people. The'fears 
 and jealousies of the Clergy were roused, when 
 they heard Bishop Laud, in the Royal Chapel and 
 m the presence of the King, enforce the advan- 
 tages of Conformity, and the reverence due to the 
 ceremonies of the Church. TJiese impressions 
 were confirmed, when the King, during his stay 
 erected and endowed a new Bishoprick in Edin 
 burgh, and promoted several of the Bishops to of- 
 fices of State; and their indignation was still fur- 
 ther increased, when a Committee of Divines was 
 appointed to frame a Liturgy for the Kirk of Scot- 
 land. Such was the state of things in Scotland 
 when the King, after an absence of five weeks' 
 returned home ; having travelled post in four days 
 from Berwick to Greenwich. 
 
 Laud, still ascended, I do not say the height p • 
 of ambition, butof dignity and honor The d2tho-- 
 of the venerable Archbishop, opened a way for his ' "' "^ 
 preferment to the Archiepiscopal Throne. The 
 King was too much delighted to have an oppor- 
 tunity of doing him honor, to hesitate a moment 
 as to the appointment; and as soon as the Bishop 
 appeare at Court, the King said to him, with 
 n.uch pleasantness-'. My Lord of Canierlury 
 you are welcome. " His intimate friend Docto; 
 Juxon succeeded him in the Bishoprick of London. 
 
» ^llll 
 
 162 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 CllAP. 11. 
 
 The power of Archbishop Laud was now too 
 great for opposition ; and he pursued his design 
 of agrandizing the Church with unwearied energy 
 His Policy, and zeal. He was not only supreme in Ecclesias- 
 tical matters, but his authority extended to the 
 Council table, the Star Chamber, and the High 
 Commission ; nor, did he lose any opportunity of 
 exercising his influence. He foresaw an impend- 
 ing storm ; and his object was to strengthen and 
 fortify the Church, against the attack, which he 
 saw would be inevitable. But every step he took 
 increased the evil, and hastened its downfal. He 
 thought the Church was to be saved by the secu- 
 lar arm ; and, for this purpose, he promoted the 
 ministers of the Sanctuary to the offices of State. 
 The country Clergy were made Justices of Peace. 
 — The dignified Clergy councillors of State. This 
 promotion of Ecclesiastics to civil offices, gave 
 great umbrage to the Gentry and Nobility ; and 
 so identified the Church and State, that their ruin 
 was inseparable. The safety of the Church does 
 not consist so much in the sanction and authority 
 of the Sovereign power, as in the learning, piety, 
 and humility of its ministers — in the purity of their 
 doctrine and the holiness of their lives. But this 
 system had a tendency to withdraw them from 
 their peculiar duties — to detach them from their 
 flocks, and to inspire them with a worldly and 
 time-serviTig spirit. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 163 
 
 In the meantime, the unwearied Archbishop sFCTin^ 
 ^t himself to rectify the abuses of the Church.^: 'Tv '^^ 
 His vigilance allowed nothing to escape him He ^"-•' "• 
 determined that the discipline of the Church should C^^ 
 not only be known, but felt. He pursued all o'-" "■^^• 
 fenders against morality and propriety, with im- 
 partial severity. He spared none. The most 
 noWe and distinguished persons of the realm were 
 
 c.^d into the High Commission Coui., and p J 
 ish d fo, their vices and follies. Such was the 
 ecclesiastical discipHne of the day. But it was a 
 mistaken notion, that pnvate^cLe was To b 
 
 of the Church, which never did, and never can 
 passess any power of coercion. The State has a 
 right, as the representative of the body-politic to 
 
 kals by eivil penalties, properly defined; and 
 that State has reached a high and noble pre-emi- 
 nence, which possesses moral courage sufficient to 
 Fomote the enactment and execution of such C 
 
 CI ret T ""' '^ ""' ^^'^^^^'^^-^ «f the 
 carnal, but spiritual." 
 
 erctt7""M"'"' "^ ^" ""«"?' *he ex- 
 ercse of a„s cxvil discipline by the authority of the 
 
 cha,ge of his duty, need only be known to be ad- 
 ™red and applauded. But unfortunately, ,vhi 't 
 
,(54 THEOCRATIC PIIILOSOPIIY 
 
 SFCTION he incurred the indignation and hatred of the worst 
 IV ' memhers of the Church, who were ready, at the 
 C"*-- "• first opportunity, to revenge themselves upon him 
 "^^^ ' for their supposed injuries ; he repelled from him, 
 by an unreasonable severity, some of its wisest 
 n. „uuus. friends and ablest supporters. His determination 
 to uphold, in all their strictness, his own doctri- 
 nal opinions, rendered him inexorable. He paid 
 no deference to the opinions of others ; but consi- 
 dered all who did not coincide with him, as ene- 
 mies to the Church. Amongst these were men, 
 .vhose very names are an eulogy-DavenaiU, Pri- 
 deaux, Brownrig, Oldsworth, Shute, Adall, &c. 
 all of whom were the warm and enlightened de- 
 fenders of the ancient government and discipline 
 of the Church. It was a cruel mistake when such 
 men as these, whose learning, and piety, and pru- 
 dence, so eminently fitted them for buikhng up 
 the Church, were excluded from her councils. 
 But he was guilty of a still greater mistake. The 
 Lord Chief Justice Richardson, on some com- 
 plaints from the Magistrates of Somersetshire, 
 made an order for the suppression of Sunday wakes 
 -an obnoxious remnant to this day, of the super- 
 stition and corruption of Papal times. The inter- 
 ference of the civil ^lagistrate, was considered an 
 infringement of the Episcopal office. The Chief 
 Justice was cited before the High Commission, 
 and commanded to rescind his order. Nor was 
 this all • for, when it was perceived that this con- 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 165 
 
 duct gave great offence, and caused the Puritans SECTION 
 to condemn, with still greater severity, all custo- IV. 
 mary diversions on the Lord's day, the King and .^^^ii^^:^ 
 his adviser with infatuated policy, ran into the Revival of the 
 opposite extreme, and in defiance of the Divine ^''''^ ""^ 
 Law,— revised and re-published the "Book of^^'"'''''' 
 Sports, " which had been promulgated in the reign 
 of his father. It is most difficult to account for 
 such a proceeding, in men of such high character: 
 In all probability, it was intended to act as a 
 check to Puritanism. But it was an expedient no 
 less absurd than dangerous ; and gave greater and 
 more just offence than any other act of their admi- 
 nistration. Heylin, the Chaplain and biographer 
 of Laud, considers this act as the greatest stain 
 upon his character ; and, it is a stain of that na- 
 ture, which is calculated to cast a doubt upon his 
 orthodoxy. Holiness, is the end and object of 
 Christianity, which does not consist in the austere 
 formal observance of times and seasons— nor in a 
 Pharisaic attention to a system of duties ; but in 
 the willing devotion of the heart— in the rational 
 application of the understanding, and in the fer- 
 vent exercise of the affections on the subjects which 
 are set before us in the Christian Revelation.— 
 AVhere this habit of mind prevails, there will be 
 a decent and cheerful attention to the external acts 
 of Religion ; but a still stricter regard to the reli- 
 gious operations of the mind, without which atten- 
 tion, acts however excellent, are mere formal 
 
166 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION exhibitions in the sight of God, who seeks those 
 IV. to worship him, *' who worship him in spirit and 
 
 Chap. IT. 
 
 Character. 
 
 in truth. " But, if the will, the understanding, 
 injurious to his and the afTcctions be engaged in the religious ex- 
 ercises of the Sabbath, it would be impossible for 
 the mind to descend from the sublime contempla- 
 tions of our holy Religion, to vain and frivolous, 
 much less, to vicious indulgences. It is true, nei- 
 ther the King nor the Archbishop, did condescend 
 to such practices ; but they gave their sanction to 
 them, and legalized the desecration of the Sabbath 
 by others. The very fact is injurious to their 
 orthodoxy, because the Author of Christianity has 
 instructed us to judge by an infallible test, of the 
 character of his faithful adherents. — '*By their 
 fruits ye shall know them. " These fruits are the 
 holiness of our actions. — I do not mean morality. 
 Holiness is more than morality. — Holiness is dic- 
 tated by Christian principle, and is the result of a 
 Divine influence. Morality is built on rational 
 principles, but it may be exercised without regard 
 to religious, or Christian motives. Holiness in- 
 cludes morality — but morality does not include 
 holiness. In one word ; if our orthodoxy be gen- 
 uine, it will produce the fruits of holiness. In 
 vain shall we plead our Christian Orthodoxy, if 
 our lives be not moral only, but holy. 
 
 The revival of the '' Book of Sports," gave gen- 
 eral disgust. It was generally opposed by the 
 Clergy, whether Puritan or not. Some read the 
 
 rier-y 
 ofleudcil. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 167 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Arbitrary 
 
 King s declaration regarding it as the order of their SECTION 
 superiors— others, accompanied it with the fourth iV. 
 Commandment by way of antidote ; whilst others 
 refused compliance. The Archbishop did not 
 punish their refusal with his usual strictness, which 
 shews that, he was not actuated by principle in 
 this unfortunate business. 
 
 At the same time, another incident occurred, 
 which increased the national dissatisfaction. This '^»*=^^"'-««- 
 was the prosecution of Prynne, a barrister of Lin- 
 coln's Inn — a man of considerable attainment and 
 capacity ; but a violent Partisan of the ultra-Puri- 
 tan party. He brought some learning from the 
 University of Oxford, which he improved by in- 
 defatigable industry : and being urged by a warm, 
 enterprising spirit, he became the mouth-piece of 
 the party, and one of the most voluminous and 
 violent compilers, the nation ever produced. Be- 
 sides his defending the Calvinian principles, he 
 became the common censor of the times ; and at 
 last, published a wild rhapsody against stage plays 
 and other diversions ; entitled, " Histrio-mastix." 
 This work, which consisted of a thousand pages, 
 and filled with libellous invectives and dangerous 
 insinuations ; was highly condemned by the Court, 
 and the Attorney General was ordered to prose- 
 cute the Author, in the " Star Chamber." Mr. 
 Prynne was fined £5000— expelled the Univer- 
 sity of Oxford, and Lincoln's Inn— degraded and 
 disabled from his profession in the Law — con- 
 
168 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 169 
 
 rnteitained at 
 iJolsover. 
 A. D. 1G3I 
 
 SECTION demned to stand in the pillory in Westminster and 
 '^- Cheapside ; and in each place to lose an ear, 
 and to be imprisoned for life! but other steps 
 "were already in progress Avhich should terminate 
 the calm and tranquillity, which had so long 
 The Kin- prevailed, and bring on those disastrous times, 
 which we shall soon have to consider. But still 
 all was secure. No signs had yet appeared 
 sufficiently decisive, to create a suspicion of the 
 coming storm. The King, it seems, entertained 
 no apprehension of danger ; for, during the sum- 
 mer, he made a progress into the north, and 
 was royally entertained by the Duke of Newcastle, 
 at Bolsover. Alas ! it was the last time they were 
 to meet under such happy auspices. 
 Origin of the The pretcusions of the Dutch to the freedom of 
 Ship Money. ^^^ British seas ; and the increasing insolence of 
 the Algerine pirates, made it necessary, that active 
 measures should be adopted by the English Gov- 
 ernment. In order to obtain the necessary sup- 
 plies, a project for raising money was framed by 
 Mr. Nov, Attorney General — a man of a versatile 
 genius and indefatigable industry. lie possessed 
 great knowledge of ancient laws and usages, and 
 discovered wonderful skill in adapting them to his 
 purpose. On this occasion he proposed, that every 
 Sea-port and place of merchandise, should supply 
 a number of ships and men, in proportion to their 
 wealth and the importance of their trade. 
 
 Certainly it was a most ready and effectual me- SECTION 
 thod of raising a Fleet, and answered admirably IV. 
 well. But the partiality of the imposition con- ^^Jjli^:-!^^ 
 demned it in the first instance ; for every rank in a. d. I635. 
 the state perceived, if the Government could, with 
 impunity, command the ships of the mercliants 
 for its use, it might, with equal justice, lay its 
 hands on the goods and chattels of every indivi- 
 dual. On this ground, the measure met with great 
 opposition, and was universally disliked. The 
 inconvenience which arose from its being a partial 
 tax, was easily remedied ; and each County was 
 made to bear a proportionable share. But this, 
 instead of removing, only increased its unpopula- 
 rity. It was now considered a national grievance. 
 Nor did the general opposition arise from any es- 
 sential defect or evil in the measure itself. — The 
 tax was moderate, equitable, and efficient. But 
 these considerations only rendered it the more for- 
 midable ; for it was perceived, if a tax of this kind 
 could be regularly levied and collected, without 
 the consent of Parliament, the Government was 
 independent, and the national liberties in danger. 
 Nor could the honourable disposal of the " Ship 
 money " — the activity of the Government, and the 
 important pubHc advantages which had been se- 
 cured, reconcile the people to the imposition. A 
 splendid Fleet of forty-one sail had already been 
 fitted out, under the Earl of Lindsay, which had 
 performed most useful service ; and a second was 
 
f 
 
 170 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 171 
 
 SECTION now sent out under Algernon, Earl of Northum- 
 I^' berland, created Lord High Admiral ; which ef- 
 
 ,^^^-^^-^|_y fectually secured the dominion of the English over 
 the narrow seas, the right to which had been ar- 
 gued between the famous Mr. Selden, and, the no 
 less famous Grotius. The work of Selden entitled, 
 " Mare Clausum, " was highly esteemed by the 
 King ; who required one copy of it to be kept in 
 the Council Chamber, another in the Court of Ex- 
 chequer, and a third in the Court of Admiralty : 
 and, if possible, to remove the dissatisfaction of 
 the people, wdth respect to the tax, he not only 
 desired the opinion of Mr. Selden as to its legality, 
 but, that of the twelve Judges. 
 Opinion of Tlic formcr, from historical documents clearly 
 
 jud^Ts^""^ '^^ proved, that the Kings of England, from the ear- 
 A. D. 1G66. liest periods, had been accustomed to levy money 
 from their subjects without consent of Parliament, 
 for providing Ships and necessary stores, for se- 
 curing the naval pre-eminence of the nation. The 
 Judges delivered the following opinion. — " We are 
 of opinion, that, when the good and safety of the 
 kingdom, in general, is concerned ; and the king- 
 dom in clanger, Your Majesty may by writ, under 
 the great seal of England, command all your sub- 
 jects of this your kingdom at their charge, to pro- 
 vide and furnish such a number of ships and men 
 victuals and amunition, and, for such time your 
 Majesty may think fit, for the defence and safe- 
 guard of this kingdom from such danger and peril, 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 and, that, by law, your Majesty may compel the SECTION 
 doing thereof in case of refusal or refractoriness : IV. 
 and we also are of opinion, that in such case, your 
 Majesty is the sole judge both of the danger, and 
 when and how, the same is to be prevented and 
 avoided. " The Judges who signed this document 
 were men of high character, and generally consid- 
 ered men of learning and integrity. Most of them 
 indeed, had shewn their independence on several 
 occasions, and ih^ Court had as often acquiesced 
 in their opinions. Their opinion has been greatly 
 censured by Clarendon. Whiielock attributes it 
 to the promises and solicitations of the Chief Jus- 
 tice Finjch, who certainly, entertained a great sym- 
 pathy with the politics of the Court. But I see 
 no necessity for imputing corrupt motives to the 
 Judges ; nor do I see any thing in the document 
 Itself, which it is necessary to condemn with such 
 severity. AYas it not the ancient prerogative of 
 the Sovereign ^ Was not the prerogative of the 
 Crown at that time undefined 1 nay, to the present 
 day, the Government is invested with such a power 
 in granting letters of marque and reprisal ; and in 
 cases of emergency, would not the Government be 
 justified in extending their powders to a degree suf- 
 ficient, to meet any danger with which the king- 
 dom might be threatened "i It is plain, that if the 
 Government neglected at such a crisis, to use all 
 the means at its disposal, it would fall under the 
 displeasure of the people. The Judges founded 
 
172 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Resisted by 
 Hampden. 
 
 SECTION their judgment on a case of emergency — Notwith- 
 IV. standing, the circumstances of the times were dif- 
 ferent. A struggle was pending, in which there 
 was a danger, lest the Royal Prerogative should 
 triumph over the liberties of the subject ; and, if 
 such a tax as this could have been levied, at the 
 will of the Monarch, that triumph, in all proba- 
 bility, would have been secured. But this was 
 not to be. 
 
 The solemn judgement of the highest legal 
 authorities, had, in a great measure, silenced the 
 murmurs of the people, and the tax was generally 
 paid : but the celebrated Hampden, a gentleman 
 of Buckinghamshire, regardless of the opinion of 
 the Judges, and undeterred by the example of 
 others, resolved to hazard the issue of a trial and 
 brave the indignation of the Court. He refused 
 to pay the obnoxious tax ; and an action was 
 brought against him in the Court of Exchequer. 
 Great preparations were made on both sides, and 
 the ablest advocates were employed. The Plead- 
 ings lasted twelve days, and the progress of the trial 
 was watched with intense anxiety, by the whole 
 British Public. The Judges gave a decision in 
 accordance with their former opinion, which they 
 discussed with great temper, and founded upon 
 precedents, necessity/, and the public benefit. But 
 the spirit of the nation was awakened, and they 
 plainly saw the danger with which their indepen- 
 dence w^as threatened. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 173 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 In the mean time, the Archbishop animated SECTION 
 with the most patriotic views, being appointed one IV. 
 of the Lords of the Treasury, and perceiving how 
 late Treasurers had risen from the rank of Gentle- 
 men to the estates and condition of Earls, deter- 
 mined if possible, to raise an honest man to that 
 eminence, especially, as it accorded with his gen- 
 eral scheme of aggrandizing the Church. He 
 succeeded, and Doctor Juxon, Bishop of London, 
 was appointed Lord High Treasurer of England. 
 But his name has a more distinguished honor at- 
 tached to it — as, probably, the most faultless man 
 recorded in the page of English History. His 
 elevation gave great umbrage to many of the No- 
 bility, who regarded with jealousy, the promotion 
 of a Churchman to that high office ; and they un- 
 generously hoped, that he w^ould soon sink under 
 the burden of his office. But the Archbishop who 
 had been long and intimately acquainted with him, 
 was not mistaken in the person he had recom- 
 mended. Juxon had early addicted himself to the 
 study of the civil Law, in which he had commen- 
 ced Doctor— a circumstance which fitted him for 
 the proper discharge of his high secular function. 
 He possessed a solid judgment, which was adorn- 
 ed with an excellent temper, and mild spirit. — 
 Every thing prospered in his hand. He found the 
 treasury not only exhausted, but anticipated. He 
 managed the revenue of the kingdom, with such 
 ability and success, that he not only supported the 
 
J^ 
 
 ,1 
 
 174 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 
 Chap. 11. 
 
 SECTION dignity of the King s household, and the splendor 
 IV. of the Court, beyond all precedent, but relieved 
 the Exchequer of all its engagements ; and placed 
 a surplus at the disposal of G overnment. His pro- 
 ceedings were characterised with calmness and cir- 
 cumspection ; and all his contracts concluded with 
 such justice, as to give satisfaction to all parties. 
 His general behaviour was so wise and prudent, 
 and his manners so mild and conciliating, that he 
 escaped the odium, which, at that time particularly, 
 attached itself to men in high offices of trust and 
 dignity. Such was the impression his character 
 produced upon the minds of men, that Lord Falk- 
 land, in a speech which he afterwards made 
 against the Bishops in Parliament, could not but 
 give him this testimony — '' That in an unexpected 
 place and dignity, he expressed an equal modera- 
 tion and humility; being not ambitious before, 
 nor proud after the possession, either of the Cro- 
 sier or the white Staff. " Hence it was, that he 
 weathered the most dreadful storm that England 
 had ever experienced, without any shipwreck of 
 his reputation, or principles ; and, at length, rode 
 triumphantly into harbour. Surely, observes an 
 accurate historian — "- There never was a more for- 
 tunate pilot, nor ever a more honest man ! " 
 
 But neither the exemplary conduct of the King, 
 nor the shining quaUties of his Ministers, could 
 prevent the catastrophe that was approaching, 
 which was to overwhelm them in the ruins of an 
 
 ^\ 
 
 CllAP. II. 
 
 View of the 
 
 arbitrary policy, inconsistent with reason and jus- SECTION 
 tice. Every thing was done whicli wisdom could IV. 
 suggest, or power effect, to establish their political 
 and Ecclesiastical views: — but in vain. — Every 
 thing they did, hastened its advance. 
 
 The trial and punishment of Prynne, which gave 
 such disgust to the whole nation, w^as attended by ^"t"'"«- 
 the birth of James II, in whose reign the policy 
 of his grandfather was to arrive at full maturity ; 
 and, in whose person, the dynasty of the Stuarts, 
 was, by the unanimous voice of a whole people, to 
 be banished from the throne of their ancestors ; 
 and to be attended with events, which discover, in 
 a wonderful manner the interposition of the Most 
 High. 
 
 During this distinguished period. Lord Went- 
 w^orth, who as President of the North had shown 
 great abilities for government in the discharge of 
 its important duties — had been appointed Lord Wentworti.'* 
 Lieutenant of Ireland. He found the affairs of p'''"""^'^"' 
 that country in a state of the wildest confusion ; 
 but his vigorous mind soon reduced the disordered 
 elements to order and regularity. Nothing could 
 surpass his vigilance and activity, and his exer- 
 tions were crowned with great success. He re- 
 plenished the exhausted Exchequer — called a 
 Parliament, from which he not only obtained sup- 
 plies for maintaining the army, but a sum of 
 money to discharge a debt of eighty thousand 
 pounds of arrears, which had been advanced by 
 
176 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION the crown. Nor, was his attention confined to 
 IV. civil affairs, but in convocation which sat concur- 
 Cfiap. h. ^g^^ ^^,^^1^ ^YiQ Parliament, a Canon was passed to 
 
 estabhsh *'the agreement of the Church of Eng- 
 land and Ireland, in the profession of the same 
 Christian faith ])y receiving the Book of Articles 
 of Religion agreed to by the English Convocation 
 held in London, in the year fifteen hundred and 
 sixty." This reception of the thirty nine articles 
 repealed the articles of the Church of Ireland, 
 established in sixteen hundred and twenty five, 
 in which, according to the Lambeth Articles, the 
 Calvinistic Theology was strongly asserted and 
 maintained. 
 
 Whilst the tranquillity of the country was still 
 secure, and even the Ship money was losing its 
 influence on the public mind, the indignation of 
 the people was once more roused, by the violent 
 and arbitrary proceedings of the High Commis- 
 sion. The unfortunate Prynne was once more 
 brought before them for a furious libel, written 
 in his imprisonment ; and which displayed more 
 of the madman than the philosopher, designating 
 Laud as the '' arch-piety, arch-charity, arch-agent 
 for the devil. " A second criminal, was a physi- 
 cian, of Httle celebrity in his profession, but of an 
 impetuous temper, which urged him, from a sense 
 of supposed injuries, to write an intemperate book 
 against the proceedings of the High Commission 
 Court: a third, was a disappointed Clergyman; 
 
 177 
 
 Fiirihor pro- 
 secutions. 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 and a fourth, was an associate of Prynne, who as- SECTION 
 
 si8.ed h,m m the printing and publication of his IV 
 
 writings. The proceedings of these men ought to 
 
 have passed unnoticed : but arbitrary power is too 
 
 fond of the exercise of its own authority, to allow 
 
 any opportunity of gratifying it to escape, and by 
 
 provoking opposition, prepares materials for its 
 
 own destruction. In the present instance, the sen- 
 
 tence denounced by the Star Chamber against the 
 
 delinquents, was not only severe, but wanton and 
 
 cruel. Prynne, as an incorrigible offender, was 
 
 condemned to pay a fine of five thousand pounds 
 
 to lose the remainder of his ears in the pillory to 
 
 be branded on the cheek with the letters S L as 
 
 a schismatical libeller, and to be perpetually im- 
 
 pnsoned. The physician, and lawyer were to un- 
 
 dergo the same punishment, except the branding 
 
 of the cheek, whilst John Lilburne, was to be 
 
 whipped from the Fleet prison to Westminster 
 
 Hall. They were all men of heated imagination 
 
 and ungovernable temper ; but, Prynne lived tj 
 
 repent of his rash conduct, and often, in after times 
 
 said, he wished that when they cut off his ears 
 
 they had cut off his head. Lilbume's fury had a 
 
 long career. After three years under different gov- 
 
 ernors, he was released from prison, and became 
 
 a leveller, modeller, and a violent opposer of all 
 
 who were in power, and was known by the name 
 
 of free-born John ; and, what is remarkable, after 
 
 a variety of fortune, and innumerable escapes and 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 M 
 
} 
 
 178 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 179 
 
 Prosecution 
 of Bishop 
 Williams. 
 
 ilil 
 
 III! 
 
 SECTION changes, he died a Quaker. He appears to have 
 IV. been one of the most obstinate of men ; and it was 
 ^"''- "• a common saying, that if the world was emptied 
 of all but himself, John would be against Lil- 
 burne, and Lilburnc against John. 
 
 These proceedings gave great offence to the na- 
 tion, and prepared the way for the approaching 
 crisis ; and the general dissatisfaction was still fur- 
 ther increased, by the prosecution of Doctor Wil- 
 liams, Bishop of Lincoln, whose character is well 
 known to the reader. He had lived in seclusion 
 from Court, for several years, but with great splen- 
 dor and hospitality. He had endeavoured to heal 
 the wounds of his country, but in vain ; and such 
 was his reputation and ability, that he was thought 
 a dangerous person in opposition. Both the King 
 and the Archbishop entertained insuperable pre- 
 judices towards him. Informations were laid a- 
 gainst him in the Star Chamber, on the slightest 
 grounds, which involved him, for many years, in 
 vexatious and intricate legal proceedings, attended 
 with immense expense ; and, at length, ended in 
 enormous fines at three different times, of eight, 
 ten, and five thousand pounds, with imprisonment 
 in the Tower. These violent and unjust proceed- 
 ings against an emnient Prelate ; and, one, whose 
 character stands deservedly high for patriotism, 
 fidelity and honor, increased the general odium 
 against the policy of the Government, and laid a 
 foundation for future evils. 
 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 These oppressions formed a strong and powerful SECTION 
 bond amongst all classes of the community ; a new IV. 
 impulse was given to society, which awakened the 
 slumbering passions of men— gave birth to a 
 religious and political enthusiasm— produced an 
 universal agitation, and created a power which 
 was invincible. During the painful struggle that 
 . ensued, a new form and position of society was to 
 be effected; and a new political order was to arise 
 out of the general fermentation and confusion that 
 prevailed. 
 
 It is consolatory to reflect, that in the midst of 
 such calamitous scenes as we are now about to tra- 
 verse, we are on a progress towards a more favor- 
 able destination. It is more than consolatory to 
 know, that, in the midst of civil strife and animos- 
 ities, the Divine Benevolence is overruling the 
 mass of licentiousness for the general good. "Ah ! 
 exclaims a French writer, "what would be the 
 lot of the generations to follow; what the despair 
 of him who reflects upon them, if in the chaos of 
 human affairs, the laws of an inexhaustible Wis- 
 dom did not exhibit themselves-if in the darkest 
 storm by which every thing appears ready to be 
 SJ^^llowed up, the lightning of Divine Providence 
 did not afford, through the gloom, a glimpse of a 
 better futurity. " In strict accordance with the 
 sentiment expressed in these lines, we cannot help 
 but perceive, throughout this history, a tendency 
 m the affairs of men to the better, and an approxi- 
 
(I 
 
 'I 
 
 180 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Affairs of 
 Scotland. 
 A. D. 1637. 
 
 t»i 
 
 i *'*! 
 
 SECTION mation towards an order of things more just and 
 IV. more beneficent ; in which, the privileges of every 
 one shall be better guarded, and the rights of all 
 more equally divided. 
 
 We have before noticed, that the Scotch nation 
 were deeply embued with the doctrine and disci- 
 pline of the Genevese Church ; but, through the 
 persevering policy of King James and his succes- 
 sor. Episcopacy was formally established. It was 
 not, however, pleasing to the people, who yet 
 submitted themselves to the wish of their Sove- 
 reign. But the presbyters of the Church were 
 not so docile. They strenuously resisted, what 
 they deemed an usurpation ; and after many inef- 
 fectual struggles, they yielded for the present, to 
 the force of authority, and had recourse to other 
 means, which, though slower in operation, laid 
 the foundation for a desperate and successful re- 
 sistance. They instituted private fasts in their 
 congregations, on which occasions, they inveighed 
 against the evils to be apprehended from Episco- 
 pacy, and all its dependencies ; and, in their 
 prayers, earnestly supplicated deliverance from an 
 imposition, which they considered tyrannical and 
 oppressive. 
 
 Origin of the Thcsc rcligious exercises had an immense influ- 
 ence on the minds of the vulgar, who, at length, 
 together with their presbyters, became possessed 
 with a belief of their own suggestions, and em- 
 bued with a rigid and fanatical zeal against all in- 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 181 
 
 Fanaticism. 
 
 novations on the Presbyterian discipline. But section 
 there were still more powerful elements at work. IV 
 
 I he JJishops who had been appointed during ^'""- "• 
 the present reign, by Court interest, were rash "^^^^^ 
 and imprudent ; and, influenced by the arbitrary 
 pohcy which obtained in England, acted in oppi 
 sition to the advice of the senior Bishops, who had 
 been elected during the preceding reign by their 
 fellow Bishops, for their wisdom and worth. Add 
 to these self-destructive measures, the grasping 
 avarice of the Nobility; whose opposition was 
 roused, when they saw the confiscated revenues 
 of the Clergy, about to be wrested from them • 
 whilst their jealousy was still-further increased by 
 the frequent appointment of the Bishops to the 
 highest civil offices ; a policy which it was thought 
 had a tendency to strengthen and consolidate the 
 Ecclesiastical power. Alas ! the King and his ad- 
 visers fondly imagined, they were building a 
 goodly fabric, which should be able to resist the 
 force of any storm which might be directed against 
 It; but, like the wall of " untempered mortar" it 
 was doomed to fall, and, in the tremendous rush to 
 overwhelm all engaged in its construction. Every 
 step they took, discovered their infatuation 
 
 Whilst Scotland was in this state of mind, a p ,, . 
 book of canons was published by the King's soleofrcrr 
 authority; and in which the observance of the Li- 
 turgy was commanded, a year before its comple- 
 tion . This imprudent haste gave timely warning. 
 
(I 
 
 182 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Violent 
 Opposition. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 A universal clamour was raised against the Bi- 
 shops. They were considered as instruments of 
 the English Archbishop, and it was represented 
 that their intention was, to introduce the '' Mass 
 Book " into the Scottish Church. Such was the 
 ignorance upon which the clamour was founded. 
 The spirit of opposition spread like lightning, and 
 it was perceived by all prudent men, that a rupture 
 was inevitable, should the imposition of a Liturgy 
 be attempted. Spotiswood the Archbishop of St. 
 Andrew's, with the rest of the senior Bishops, re- 
 presented their apprehensions to the King ; and, 
 in all probability, their advice would have been 
 acted upon, had it not been for the treachery of 
 the Earl of Traquair, Lord High Treasurer, who 
 insisted that there was no danger, and, that the 
 work should proceed. His treachery w^as to pre- 
 vail. The Liturgy was sent, with peremptory 
 orders to carry it through ; whilst the younger Bi- 
 shops, encouraged by the apparently zealous con- 
 duct of the Lord Treasurer, omitted all considera- 
 tions of prudence ; and, obtainingan act of Council 
 without any ecclesiastical sanction, hastened to 
 impose it. By this injudicious step, the Clergy, 
 who were the friends of the Episcopal order, were 
 seriously offended : and, to crown the whole, in- 
 stead of introducing it in the remoter Dioceses, 
 where little or no opposition was expected, they 
 determined to act with boldness, and to introduce 
 it at once, into the principal Church of Edinburgh. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 183 
 
 Things being in this position, consultations SECTION 
 were held by the opposing party, how they should IV. 
 commence their opposition, and rouse the people ^^^^Jt^ii^ 
 to an effectual resistance. The most active per- 
 sons, at this period, were two Presbyters of the 
 names of Henderson and Dick, and amongst the 
 laity. Lord Balmerino and Sir Thomas Hope, the 
 King's Advocate. These persons having arranged 
 their measures for the reception of the Liturgy, it 
 was determined to await the result. 
 
 The day appointed for the introduction of the circumstances 
 prescribed formulary, was Sunday the twentv- T'"'^ ^"'"'''^ 
 
 .-i.TP-l-, ^ . the imposition 
 
 tnird ot J uly. On that mornmg, the most splendid of the Liturgy. 
 and numerous auditory that ever adorned the walls 
 of the great Church, were assembled to witness the 
 solemnity. The Dean, arrayed in the surplice, 
 proceeded to the reading of the Liturgy.— This 
 was the signal for tumult and confusion ; the lower 
 sort of people, and, especially the women, uttered 
 loud execrations against the innovators ; and it is 
 reported that, one Janet Geddes, in her religious 
 fury, threw a stool at the head of the Dean, voci- 
 ferating,—- Dost thou say Mass in my very lug^" 
 The venerable Archbishop endeavoured to restore 
 order; but in vain. The civil Authorities were 
 obliged to interfere, and the violent rabble were 
 ejected from the Church. Still, the greatest tu- 
 mult prevailed, without. The doors were pelted, 
 and the windows broken with stones, and the 
 heavens were rent with cries of— "a Pope! a 
 
184 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTrON Pope! Antichrist! pull him down ! stone him!" 
 Ch,;,!. r"^;™!^'- scenes of riot and confusion took place 
 ^.-v^ m all the Churches ; and the Bishop of Edin- 
 burgh, whilst returning home, with great difficulty 
 escaped the fury of the enraged multitude. The 
 profound ignorance on which these proceedings 
 were founded, is abundantly manifest : but, what 
 are we to think of the tone and language of their 
 Presbyters, who from their pulpits declared " that 
 God, even to a miracle had graciously prospered the 
 work of Reformation, at the very commencement .?" 
 But the real actors in these transactions soon 
 began to appear. A petition was presented to the 
 Council against the Service Book, by Henderson 
 and Dick ; and another to the same import by the 
 Earls of Rothes, Lothian, Egglinton, and the 
 Lords Lindsay, Loudon, Balmerino. and others. 
 Both petitions were received by the Lord Treasurer 
 with a complacency suited to his treachery, whilst 
 Sir Thomas Hope, the King's Advocate, secretly 
 advised and directed their motions 
 
 the Council promised an answer, Edinburgh was 
 filled with a conflux of people from all parts ; but 
 instead of such an answer as they expected, a Pro- 
 clamation was made by order of the King com- 
 manding all men to return to their homes on pain 
 of rebellion, and forbidding all matters respecting 
 religion to be discussed at the Council board 
 1 he next day great crowds of women coUected 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 185 
 
 who pursued the Bishop of Galloway with bitter SECTrON 
 curses to the door of the Council. The multitude IV. 
 and tumult increased every moment ; till, at length ..^^^^^^^^ 
 the lives of all the obnoxious members of the 
 Council,were in the most imminent danger — the 
 people crying out, with as much sense and good 
 reason as the people of Ephesus, on a similar oc- 
 casion. "God, defend those that defend God's 
 cause ! God, confound the Service Book and all 
 the maintainers of it ! "--an imprecation, which it 
 required the whole civil force to prevent being 
 immediately put into execution. 
 
 This success at Edinburgh encouraged the dis- Further Pro- 
 sentients throughout the kingdom, and every hour «««iinss. 
 added to their strength. The King's Proclamation 
 was disregarded, through the connivance of the 
 Lord Treasurer and Sir Thomas Hope, and pro- 
 positions were made by the heads of the party to 
 the assembled Presbyters, not to be satisfied with 
 the abolition of the Service Book, but to insist on 
 the ejection of the Bishops. They were alarmed at 
 the proposal ; but, at length, overcome by threats 
 or won by promises, a petition to that effect was 
 subscribed and presented to the Council. The 
 seventeenth of November was fixed for an answer. 
 
 On that day still greater multitudes assembled, "^''^Eariof 
 and. amongst them the Earl of Montrose, whose ll7Z^Z"d 
 appearance, from his known abilities and influence, 
 presaged a threatening storm. A Proclamation 
 was made of the most condescending and gracious 
 
'I 
 
 186 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ■II 
 
 SECTION Character, assuring them-" How unwilling he 
 
 '"-'"■ wUh i '"^'^ '"'^J^'^*' ^''°"'^1 '^^ P°««e' sed 
 
 v^v^ w th groundless doubts and fears, touching their 
 
 rehgion: that as he abhorred all superstitions of 
 popery ; so he would be most careful, that no- 
 
 that wbch should most tend towards the advance- 
 -n of the true Religion, as it is now professed 
 wuhm his ancient kingdom of Scotland; and that 
 nothing was or should be done therein against the 
 laudable laws of that, his native kingdom. " 
 AZ:::, , ^'^'' proclamations of the same conciliatory 
 character were issued in quick succession, but to 
 no purpose. Counter protestations were made 
 and arm d men began to make their appearance in' 
 the Capital, and amongst others, threatened the 
 life of the excellent Archbishop. Never was a 
 project managed with greater art and subtlety • 
 and such was their activity, that in a few days a 
 new form of Government, of a most formidable 
 character, embodying the principles of a civil and 
 ecclesiastical Oligarchy, was established. 
 
 Ihis Government consisted of four distinct tabfes 
 or classes at Edinburgh-Noblemen, Barons. Bur- 
 gesses and Ministers. All matters connected 
 with their enterprise, was considered at each table 
 and was afterwards debated and concluded upon 
 ^t a General Table, which consisted of a select 
 number of Commissioners out of all the rest. In 
 this manner was framed the celebrated Scotch 
 
 Established in 
 Scotland. 
 A D. IG38. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 187 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Covenant under this ingenious and subtle title. SECTION 
 
 1 he Confession of Faith, of the Kirk of Scotland IV. 
 subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and 
 his household, in the year 1580. with a general 
 BAND for maintenance of the true Religion and the 
 King's person: and now subscribed in the year, 
 1638. by us Barons. Gentlemen, Burgesses, Min-' 
 isters, and Commons under subscribing, together, 
 with our resolutions and promises." 
 
 The "band" was adapted to the present oc- 
 casion, and formed the basis of the " covenant." 
 in which they abjured not only the Liturgy and 
 Canons, but the Episcopal Government; and 
 bound themselves to defend each other against 
 all persons whatsoever in its defence. 
 
 This was the famous SCOTCH COVENANT, c„„«.„,., 
 the original of which is preserved in the Library "^ '^' c»ve. 
 of Trinity College. Cambridge, which laid the """"• 
 foundation for civil war, and in the end proved 
 justly fatal, as well to its friends as its enemies. 
 It was publicly read, amidst the shouts and accla^ 
 mations of the people on the first of March ; and 
 its observance was ratified by the solemn oath'of all 
 the subjects of Scotland. Never did any human 
 contrivance, in so short a time, so effectually 
 change the forms of an established Government, 
 and produce such remarkable effects. It was ac- 
 tually considered by its projectors as a divine in- 
 strument, and almost adored. Mr. Cant, the 
 Presbyter, whose name well accords with his 
 
188 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHIU)SOPHY 
 
 SECTION doings, in his sermon at Glasgow told the people, 
 IV. " He was sent to them with a commission from 
 s^^^^sT^ Christy to hid them subscribe, it being Chris fs con- 
 tract : that he would not depart till he had got the 
 names of all refusers, of whom he would complain 
 to his Master, " 
 The Principle To US, who are at liberty to consider these trans- 
 /ere'actuated. ^ctions with impartiality, this appears little short 
 of blasphemy ; and, indeed, it is this false religi- 
 ous colouring, which can alone account for the 
 wild, and furious, and barbarous conduct of its 
 adherents, who, like the Mahommedans, were 
 prepared to extend their faith with their sword in 
 one hand, and their law in the other. The prin- 
 ciple which actuated the Scotch Covenanters, was 
 the spirit of Fanaticism, caused, by adopting a rule 
 of action founded on religious pretensions, unwar- 
 ranted by Revelation ; and the actions generated 
 by this false principle, were such as might be ex- 
 pected ; but, directly at variance with the spirit 
 of Christianity. — Christianity is simple, honest, 
 sincere ; and every deviation from it must produce 
 its legitimate effects. Superstition, on the one 
 hand, falls below its requirements, and is sordid 
 and degrading. Fanaticism breaks loose from its 
 commands, and, is wild and rampant. Supersti- 
 tion, to use the words of a living Author, rides 
 an Ass — Fanaticism a Tiger, 
 
 The true spirit of the enterprise soon began to 
 make its appearance. Every indignity and injury 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 189 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 were heaped upon those who refused to subscribe SECTION 
 the Covenant. Persuasion was followed by com- IV. 
 pulsion ; and the Liberty of the Gospel enforced 
 by blows and imprisonment ! The good old Arch- 
 bishop Spotiswood, fearing the hand of violence, 
 fled. His example was followed by the rest of 
 the Bishops, except four : and of these, three 
 saved themselves by recantation; but Guthrey, 
 Bishop of Murray, with admirable firmness, re^ 
 fused either to fly or recant ; but patiently endu- 
 red excommunication and imprisonment— main- 
 taining his integrity, and justifying the Episcopal 
 form of Government to the day of his death. 
 
 The dangerous state of affairs in Scotland could Treachery of 
 no longer be concealed ; and on the ninth of June h' *^^'^'''' "^ 
 the Marquis of Hamilton, whose character was "'"''''" 
 ''dark and deceitful as the Ocean," arrived at 
 Berwick, commissioned with full powers to treat 
 with the Covenanters. Had he been a faithful 
 servant, in all probability the future calamities, 
 which now impended over the two nations, might 
 have been prevented ; but, the unsuspecting con- 
 fidence of the King was misplaced. The Marquis 
 at the Council-board conducted the King's business 
 with every appearance of zeal and impartiality.— 
 But Bishop Guthrey, who could have no tempta- 
 tion to falsify, states, that after the business of 
 the Council table was concluded, he took the del- 
 egates of the Covenanters, the Earls of Rothes and 
 Morton, Lord Loudon, and the three ministers. 
 
190 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The King's 
 Proposals 
 
 SECTION Henderson, Dick and Cant, into the gallery, and 
 spoke in the following manner : — " My Lords and 
 Gentlemen, I spoke to you before those Lords of 
 the Council, as the King's Commissioner ; now, 
 there being none present but yourselves, I speak 
 to you as a kindly Scotchman: If you go on with 
 courage and resolution, you will carry what you 
 please ; but if you faint and give ground in the 
 least, you are undone : — a word is enough to wise 
 men, " 
 
 Many fruitless conferences were held, till, at 
 last, the Marquis arrived for the third time at 
 Edinburgh, and proposed, on behalf of the King, 
 the revival of the old Confession of faith and Cove- 
 nant signed by King James, A. D, 1580. The 
 proposal was accepted and signed by the Council 
 and the Marquis, as the King s Commissioner. 
 A Proclamation was also made, by which, the 
 Canons, the Service Book, and the High Com- 
 mission were discharged ; and a General Assem- 
 bly appointed to sit on the twenty-first day of 
 November. 
 
 These were great concessions ; and, probably, 
 as much as the Marquis and the majority of the 
 Scotch Nobility intended ; and all moderate men 
 hoped that matters w^ould now be composed. But 
 it was otherwise. The evils which prevailed, and 
 the disordered state of the public mind, required a 
 long and tedious purgation. The King s offer was 
 magnanimous ; every thing was granted that wis- 
 
 R^jected. 
 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 191 
 
 Chap. IF. 
 
 dom and prudence could demand, or Ihat the most SECTION 
 patriotic King could be expected to give. But IV. 
 the furious Covenanters instigated by their leaders, 
 rose m a tumultuous manner, proceeded to the 
 market cross ; and, with drawn swords in their 
 hands, published a vehement protestation against 
 the acts of the Council; and urged by ^fanatical 
 mpulse. attributed a sort of infallibility to their 
 own Covenant and Band ; affirming : " It was ap. 
 proved from Heaven with rare and nndeniahle in- 
 stances r whilst on the Sunday, violent declama- 
 tions were made against the King's declaration, 
 branding it with infamy, as " the depth and policv 
 of Satan." ^ ^ 
 
 It is remarkable, and worthy of serious reflec- 
 tion, how the extremes of error meet. The infal- '^"'■"^'Je'"'*- 
 libility of the adherents of Rome, was now claim- 
 ed by the disciples of Geneva ! So dangerous is 
 It. for men to swerve from the established princi- 
 ples of reason and common sense, and. so nearly 
 are Superstition and Fanaticism allied ! 
 
 Dismay now took possession of the hearts of all th. Uti 
 loyal and peaceable subjects, inasmuch as they ''"'"• 
 saw. that the designs of the popular leaders were 
 desperate ;— and this impression was more fully 
 confirmed by the conduct of the Lord Lorn, the 
 influence of whose House extended over 'five 
 counties. This nobleman, who soon after suc- 
 ceeded his father as the Earl of Argyle. and pro- 
 fessed. like many others, to stand with the King. 
 
 Stranj^e 
 
■ ■ ■■I W 
 
 192 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION but secretly corresponded with his enemies. — 
 IV. The most shameful and treacherous arts were 
 
 ,^^^t^^^^ made use of to secure the election of the most fu- 
 rious and enthusiastic Covenanters, as Commis- 
 sioners in the approaching assembly. The pulpits 
 resounded with the most furious discourses, and 
 all who subscribed the King s declaration were 
 denounced, as '' perjured villains" and enemies to 
 their country. In short, nothing was left untried : 
 another Joan of Arc, in the person of a female, 
 named Michelson, was brought before the people ; 
 and her ravings were imposed upon the credulity 
 of the ignorant as the dictates of inspiration. She 
 was accompanied by Rolloch a Presbyter of the 
 Church, who declared, '' That God spoke through 
 her ;" whilst she, constantly, affirmed, " that it was 
 revealed to her from God, that their Covenant was 
 approved from Heaven ! " 
 Conductor At the meeting of the Assembly, every thing 
 
 the Assembly, ^^g carried in the most tumultuous manner. Hen- 
 derson was appointed moderator ; and such was 
 the insolent demeanor of the Members, that the 
 Marquis of Hamilton, who acted as the Kings 
 Commissioner, was obliged to dissolve the As- 
 sembly. But to no purpose — They still continued 
 their sitting ; and entered a solemn protestation, 
 against the conduct of the Commissioner, in which 
 they asserted, '' that for the King to countermand 
 their sitting, ivas to prejudge the Prerogative of 
 Jesus Christ, and the liberties of tlie Kirk .'"- 
 
 193 
 
 CriAP. IF. 
 
 doctrine surely, only suited to the meridian of sfct.oa, 
 W When the self-continued Assembly rose. T"" 
 I f ;™"|.\"^'^1« composure, they dispatched a 
 letter to the Kmg, ^vhich he laid before his Scotch 
 council, who unanimously declared it was " a verv 
 humble and discreet document. " which induced the 
 Kmg to receive it, and declare his intention of 
 gomgtoYork. to take into consideration the af- 
 fairs of Scotland. In the mean time, every species 
 of falsehood was resorted to, to inflame the minds 
 of the people; and to induce them to believe, that 
 the Kmg was " laying traps " for them : and that 
 he was making " preparations for war. " These 
 false rumours prevailed; a conventional meeting 
 was called.-War was determined upon, and Gen 
 eral Lesley was appointed Commander in Chief- 
 a man of great experience in war. which he had 
 gained m Germany. 
 
 The false and fanatical fury of the people, now 
 led them into every extravagance. Eveiy moral 
 evil was perpetrated under the mask of Religion 
 The Presbyters of the Church, given up to the de' 
 lusion of their own errors, raged like the false 
 Oracles of ancient times; and in their addresses 
 from the pulpit, put forth the most indefensible and 
 unchnstian statements. Those who refused to sub- 
 scribe to the Covenant, were forbidden the Sacra- 
 ment and stigmatized, even as "Atheists: " whilst 
 the people were taught "the necessity of bearina 
 Arms agarnst the King, on pain of perjury and dZ 
 
 VOT IT 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 N 
 
194 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. 11. 
 
 SECTION nation''' One exhorted the people "never to be quiet 
 IV. till they had the King in their power ; " and, an- 
 other declared, " that the Judgments of God would 
 never leave the land till all the Bishops were hanged 
 up before the Lord, like the seven sons of Saul " 
 
 In all reason, the declaration of war, and their 
 whole conduct was little short of madness ; and, 
 must have brought upon them swift destruction, 
 had it not been for the craft of their policy, and 
 the treachery and dissimulation of the Scotchmen 
 who surrounded the person of the King, and acted 
 the part of spies. Never was a King so betrayed ; 
 and, never, were insincerity, cunning, and strata- 
 gem, so powerfully contrasted with honor, integ- 
 rity, and good faith. 
 
 War, of course, was now inevitable. But, 
 Charles was not only a beneficent man ; but a 
 merciful King : and in his preparations for war, 
 had nothing more in view, than by a display of 
 his strength, to reduce the Scots to obedience. 
 
 Such, indeed, was the wealth and power of En- 
 gland, that, in a very short time, he raised the 
 finest army that ever attended a King of England 
 into Scotland. Most of the Nobility, and the 
 flower of the Country waited upon the King, at 
 their own expense : whilst at sea, he was attended 
 by a powerful Fleet. The Earl of Arundel, a 
 staunch royalist, but of no experience in war, was 
 appointed General, and the Earl of Essex, a person 
 of high reputation, and the most popular Noble- 
 
 195 
 
 Power of 
 England, 
 A. D. 1639. 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 y* 
 
 I 
 
 man of the day was made Lieutenant General; SECTION 
 but any th.ng that might have been achieved b; W 
 the fidehty and prowess of these two individuals '^"- ' 
 was counterbalanced, by the unhappy appoint- 
 ment of the Earl of Holland, GenTal Tthe 
 Horse ; and of the Marquis of Hamilton, Admi- 
 ral of the fleet. 
 
 This powerful array was sufficient at that June- s.,ueP„,., 
 ture,tohave trampled Scotland under-foot from "^ '"' «""^ 
 one end to the other ; and to have made a complete 
 conquest of the whole kingdom. But the Scots 
 never intended any such display of English valour. 
 Ihey had provided other weapons of warfare 
 more powerful than swords and bucklers-Dis- 
 simulation, treachery, deceit and falsehood 
 _ When the King arrived at York, his Court was 
 immediately thronged with Scotchmen, who ex- Jy'l'"" 
 ercised every art that subtlety could suggest, to " 
 avert the impending storm, without yielding one 
 jot or tittle of the success, which had hitherto at- 
 tended their enterprise. They represented the 
 ^oodtntentms of their countrymen, and their sin- 
 cere loyalty to their King: and insinuated to the 
 English nobihty. that the destruction of the Scotch 
 army would enable the King to command more 
 than they would like to obey. The Earis of Rox- 
 burgh and Traquair, were said to be deeply con- 
 
 rtgiiir^efs't^ei^-'f^^^^^^ 
 
 ugiisn leaders. Iheir arts prevailed; for 
 When the Council intimated their suspicions to the 
 
196 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 }lil 
 
 ill 
 
 SECTION King, he would not believe that he could be be- 
 IV. trayed by men, of whose honour and integrity he 
 ^^^li^^;-!^ always entertained the strongest opinion. 
 
 Oath of But the Council was not so scrupulous ; and, 
 
 fidelity impo. Q]3ggj.yjj^g a manifest disaffection in many of the 
 
 English nobility, it was determined, before leav- 
 ing York, that a short declaration should be made 
 on oath, in which all were made to profess their 
 loyalty and obedience ; and to disclaim having any 
 intelligence or holding any correspondence with 
 the enemy. The Scots, without hesitation, took 
 the oath : but, the Lords Say, and Brooke, two 
 popular English Noblemen, refused ; and were 
 committed to the custody of the Sheriffs of York ; 
 but afterwards, through the extreme lenity of the 
 King, dismissed to their own houses. 
 
 A preliminary step was now taken ; and the 
 Earl of Essex was despatched with a body of horse 
 and foot, to take possession of the town of Ber- 
 wick. This movement had the appearance of en- 
 ergy, and the Earl was beset by the Scotch nobi- 
 lity, who endeavoured to perplex and delay him, 
 by pretended rumours, and false intelligence ; but 
 like a true soldier, he refused to listen to the re- 
 port of difficulty and danger, and nobly disdained 
 to attend to any thing but the execution of his 
 duty. He entered the town of Berwick, without 
 the appearance or intention of resistance. 
 
 The Earl immediately acquainted the King with 
 the false representations, which had been made to 
 
 False ru 
 mums. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 197 
 
 IV. 
 Chap. H. 
 
 him by persons of eminence about him ; but una- SECTION 
 bashed by such an exposure, they covered their 
 falsehood by further dissimulation ; and pretended 
 that they could scarcely believe the despatches of 
 the Lieutenant General. The King considered 
 their conduct as the result of timidity— a reproach 
 they were willing to incur, so that they might 
 prevent all suspicion, from rising in the King s 
 breast. 
 
 As the Armies were now approaching, the Scots y^uc profes- 
 who were directed in their motions by those about ^•°"*- 
 the King, sent the most humble and submissive 
 messages to the King; professing -the loyalty of 
 their hearts and affections, and desiring nothing so 
 much as to lay their grievances at hU Royal feet, 
 and leave the determination of them to his own ivis- 
 dom and pleasure, " 
 
 On the thirtieth of May, the Earl of Holland, c„„d„ct of 
 with a sufficient force, was ordered to dislodge "'" ^'"•' "' 
 General Lesley from the town of Dunce, of which 
 he had possessed himself with a body of six thou- 
 sand men. But the Earl returned without strik- 
 ing a blow— a mode of warfare which he adopted 
 afterwards on two several occasions, which leads 
 to the conclusion that he was playing a part, and 
 renders it necessary to brand him either as a cow- 
 ard or traitor. His future conduct will shew. 
 
 The same unheard of treachery was acted by 
 the Marquis of Hamilton, at sea. He arrived at 
 Leith with twenty ships of the line ; and, instead 
 
 Holland. 
 
*\ 
 
 198 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION of active operations he spent his time in fruitless 
 IV. correspondence with the Earl of Rothes, the Lords 
 K^^^-^^^^^ Lindsay and Loudon, and other leading Covenan- 
 ters : and whilst lying in the Frith, he received a 
 visit from his mother, a rigid Covenanter, which 
 led the people on shore to remark; "They knew 
 the Son of so gude a Mother, could never hurt 
 them." They were modest in their conclusions. 
 He did more: he possessed the King with the 
 danger to be apprehended from the further prose- 
 cution of the war ; and betrayed his master by 
 inducing him to listen to overtures, which were as 
 remarkable for their meanness as their insincerity. 
 Newinsoien- Such iudccd, was their insolcncc at this junc- 
 
 cies of the Scots a j i „ . 
 
 ture, and so secure were they of actmg with im- 
 punity, that they sent letters to the English No- 
 bility at Court, and even to the three Generals 
 Arundel, Holland, and Essex. The latter noble- 
 man as in duty bound, sent his letter to the King. 
 This was perhaps what they expected. The con- 
 tents of the letter w^ere couched in the most sub- 
 missive terms. They alledged the;^ had no intention 
 of waging war against England — hut of defending 
 their just rights and jmvileges, that their main griev- 
 ance was the interest of the Marquis of Hamilton, 
 (a deep disguise !) and that they desired hy his 
 means to he admitted to his Majesty s preseiice. 
 
 During these proceedings, the King discovered 
 all the generosity, honor, and clemency of his 
 character; and his determination, if possible, to 
 
 T 
 
 • 1 ^ 
 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 199 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 avoid the shedding of blood. But all these shi- SECTION 
 
 nmg virtues, whilst they gain by the contrast, were IV. 
 
 exercised in vain. His forbearing policy, whilst " 
 
 It laid him open to the treacherous designs of the 
 
 Scots, threw a damp over the ardor of his own 
 
 forces. The soldiers and seamen became weary 
 
 of acting a farce in which they plainly saw, that 
 
 neither reward nor honor was to be gained. The 
 
 Generals grew indifferent ; and all men began to 
 
 vacillate. We will not dare to say, that the vir- 
 
 tues of the Monarch were his misfortune. No 
 
 doubt, his conduct was approved and registered in 
 
 Heaven ; and, we shall find in the end, that those, 
 
 who by their wicked arts, imposed upon their 
 
 high-minded and gracious Sovereign, brought upon 
 
 themselves an ample retribution. 
 
 At length. Commissioners were appointed on 
 both sides, to treat of a Pacification; and after Jl". 
 five or SIX days debate, they agreed upon nearly 
 the same conditions, as those before granted by 
 the King— that all ecclesiastical matters should be 
 managed by the Kirk ; and all civil matters, by 
 Parliament : and that within forty-eight hours the 
 Scots should disband their army, and restore to 
 the King all the castles and forts of the kingdom. 
 —Terms highly dishonorable to the King, who, 
 by giving up all the management of civil affairs 
 to the Parliament, virtually disannulled the Mon- 
 archy ; and laid the foundation for all his future 
 difficulties. Charles was not wanting in courage. 
 
■Mb 
 
 ^ 
 
 200 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The King's 
 imprudence. 
 
 SECTION nor energy of character, nor in a just discrimina- 
 '^- tion of right and wrong ; nor, can we account for 
 a step, in which he sacrificed his own just prero- 
 gative, except on the ground of EXPEDIENCY; 
 hoping that a future opportunity would be offered 
 for rectifying the error — a most fallacious ground, 
 which should never be taken, under any necessity, 
 by a wise Statesman — a rule which Charles him- 
 self lived to learn, and died to establish. 
 
 Regardless of the manifest advantage which had 
 been gained by the Scots, the King, overjoyed by 
 the termination of the war, hastened to disband 
 his army, which he did with such precipitancy as 
 greatly to disoblige his friends. Even the Earl of 
 Essex, whose fidelity was unblemished, was dis- 
 missed in the crowd. The Gentry, who had served 
 the King at great cost and expence to themselves, 
 were unalterably offended. Feuds and factions 
 prevailed at Court ; and the King discovered, that 
 he had in this expedition, lost both reputation and 
 authority; whilst the perfidious Scots, who had 
 now engaged in a religious Crusade, as soon 
 as they found the King's army disbanded, openly 
 disclaimed the Pacification — published the most 
 scandalous and malicious libels, and dismissed 
 only a fragment of their ^army, retaining all their 
 officers in pay, and ready at a moment's warning. 
 The King was now sensible of his error ; but 
 the mischief was done, and was irretrievable. He 
 was so indignant at their breach of treatv, that he 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 201 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 General As- 
 
 and 
 ParliamenL 
 
 resolved not to appear, as he intended, at the SECTION 
 Creneral Assembly, wliich was indicted for the IV. 
 month of August, and appointed the Earl of Tra- 
 quair, the most versatile man in Scotland, as his 
 Commissioner. Mr. Dick was elected moderator. 
 Every thing was carried their own way ; and in oen.™, «. 
 five days, they concluded their business by con- "^""''^ """^' 
 firming what had been agreed upon in the Assem- 
 bly of Glasgow— the extirpation of Episcopacy— 
 the abolition of the five Articles of Perth, the High 
 Commission, the Liturgy, the 13ook of Canons, and 
 the Ratification of the Covenant. 
 
 The Parliament which succeeded, not only con- 
 firmed the decision of the Assembly, but proceed- 
 ed to make fresh demands upon the patience of 
 their insulted Sovereign. They required that the 
 coin should be regulated by the advice of Parlia. 
 ment ; that no Foreigner should command any of 
 their Castles, and that no honor should be granted 
 to a stranger who possessed not a competent es- 
 tate m Scotland. Ihe King hearing of their ex- 
 orbitant demands, sent immediate orders to his 
 Commissioner to prorogue the sitting. This was 
 answered by a protestation on the part of Parlia- 
 ment—a remonstrance was immediately framed 
 and the Earl of Dunfermline, and Lord Loudon' 
 were deputed to present it to the King. 
 
 The scene now changes to England, and opens .„.„:., 
 with the arrival of the Scotch Commissioners to """'-'" 
 assure the King of the ^'inte>,ntj/ andJMelity" of'""'"" 
 
 Commission- 
 
 ^ 
 
■ ra ti ^ «t -m '« » .1^ — ^ - ^ t^-'' 
 
 202 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION their countrymen! At their particular request, 
 IV. the King condescended to be present at the Com- 
 
 ^^^^^.-^^ mittee which had been appointed to meet them. — 
 After the Lord Loudon, a man of bold language, 
 had justified, in strong terms, the proceedings of 
 the Assembly and Parliament — the King drew from 
 his pocket a letter which had been intercepted, 
 Mr. Coivii, directed to the King of France. This letter, 
 
 ter to the which Contained a petition to the French King for 
 
 Trench King, aid, was in the hand-writing of Loudon. With 
 all imaginable effrontery he confessed and justified 
 it, on the ground that it was written before the 
 articles of the Pacification were signed. The trea- 
 son w^as so manifest that the King's Council were 
 obliged to commit him and Colvil to the Tower; 
 and, had they been brought to a speedy trial, the 
 circumstance would have brought great discredit 
 on the Scots, and proved a powerful check on their 
 proceedings. But, unhappily, the King's clemency 
 and the law of expediency again prevailed. 
 
 The tragedy now rapidly developes, and events 
 occurred which began to portend a fatal termina- 
 tion to the contest. The Cardinal Richelieu, 
 whose fertile mind was teeming with fresh projects 
 had formed a design against the maritime towns 
 of Flanders ; and- sent over the Count D'Estrades 
 to secure the neutrality of Charles, which was per- 
 emptorily refused — a circumstance which deter- 
 mined the conduct of the French Court, in the 
 pending struggle ; and shut out from the King all 
 
 Conduct of 
 France. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 203 
 
 effectual aid from France. Nor was this all.-The section 
 ^ary Scots secured the countenance of the Cardi! n 
 nal-appointed one of his secretaries a residence ^«-'"- 
 jn Scotland-received his Chaplain as a counsel- ^1^^. 
 lor and associate, from whom they had assurance 
 of arms and ammunition, and assistance proportion- 
 able to their enterprise. The Scots also entered 
 into a correspondence with Holland, for supplies 
 of arms; and were busily engaged in promoting 
 their interest and raising forces in Germany 
 
 J!ll ^'"^ T "°* ""^^'l"^'"*"^ ^'th thei'r pre. Ka.„rs.™r. 
 parations. and roused himself to manly exertions '■"' ""-» 
 He saw that his clemency had been misplaced' "^ '"'""■ 
 -The Earl of Strafford, who was a host in him- 
 self, was summoned from Ireland, to attend his 
 e^ouncils at this important juncture. But his hour 
 was past. He had exercised arbitrary power with 
 too much confidence ; and, in his turn was about to 
 experience all the cruelty of popular licentious- 
 ness. On his first arrival, as if to counterpoise 
 any advantage which might have been derived 
 from his superior abilities, Sir H. Vane, through 
 the influence of the Queen and Hamilton, was ap- 
 pointed Secretary of State; a man of no abilitief 
 but a busy, subtle Courtier, always consulting his 
 own interest, and changing at every turn of for- 
 tune. The appointment was highly disagreeable 
 to the Earl of Strafford, whose arrival, filled with 
 apprehension, the minds of all who were plotting 
 against the peace of their country. 
 
204 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION A Parliament was summoned to meet on the 
 
 IV. thirteenth of April, which had heen preceded hy 
 CiiAi'. n. 
 
 205 
 
 one in Ireland, under the management of the Lord 
 A Parliament Licutenaut, and considerable supplies had been 
 cuteimmcu g^^^^^^^j ^^^^ ^j^^. grcatcst leadincss, accompanied 
 
 A.D. 1610. ^vith a loyal address, in which they took occasion 
 to thank the King for placine/ over them so just, 
 wise, vigilant and 2)roJitahle a Governor, 
 
 Such was the posture of affairs at the meeting 
 of the fourth Parliament in this reign, after an in- 
 termission of almost twelve years. They certainly 
 entered upon their business with greater temper 
 and moderation than any of their predecessors ; 
 whilst their spirit and independence were admi- 
 rable. Whilst they failed not to impress upon the 
 King, the necessity of redressing grievances, they 
 manifested the sincerest affection for his person, 
 and loyalty to the throne ; and were proceeding to 
 the immediate granting of supplies, which was of 
 extreme importance, when the hopes of the King 
 and the nation were blasted by the treachery of 
 an individual in the King's Council— Sir H. Vane. 
 Let his name descend with execration to posterity. 
 The King's The King had proposed, by his Secretary, that 
 Message for a ^^ granting him twelve subsidies, he would not 
 
 supply of about ° , , . /»<-,!• i j. 
 
 £800,000. only forego the levymg of Ship-money, but agree 
 to its entire abolition ; and that he would not only 
 attend at present, to the redress of grievances, but 
 appoint a Session, the following Michaelmas, for 
 that purpose. A long debate ensued when Hamp- 
 
 I 
 
 L 
 
 den Kho watched Ins opportunity, put the ques- SECTrON 
 tion ,n a manner in which he knew it could not be S 
 passed, because it would justify the levying of ''""■ "• 
 Sh.p money-.' Whether the House would consent "^^^ 
 to the proposition as contained in the King's mes- 
 sage. " Serjeant LenOiall, the Speaker, a man of 
 unquestionable abilities and patriotism, i„ a speech 
 distinguished by eloquence and good sense, moved 
 the house to comply with his Majesty's desire for 
 the good of the nation, and to reconcile him to Par- 
 laments for ever. His manly oratory had a pow- 
 erful effect on the House ; and Mr. Hyde proposed 
 that the Question should be merely for a supply - 
 and, that afterwards, they should proceed to the 
 consideration of the amount. A great clamour was 
 raised by Hampden's party, but the Question was r . , 
 put and carried on Mr. Hyde's proposition ; when -"tr." 
 bir H. Vane stood up and declared ; " He had au 
 thorityto tell them, that if they passed a vote for a 
 supply, and not in the proportion and manner pro- 
 posed in his Majesty's message, it would not be 
 accepted by him ; therefore, he desired, that the 
 question might be laid aside. " 
 
 This one step was pregnant with inconceivable 
 evils. The malice which dictated it. is unfathom- 
 able. The King, afterwards, denied that he had 
 given him any such authority, and stated, that he 
 had given him orders to descend to six subsidies 
 rather than make a breach ; and Strafford had gi^ 
 ven as his advice, rather to relinquish all, than to 
 
4 
 
 206 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION bring on a crisis at that conjuncture. To complete 
 IV. the mischief which he had begun, he went to the 
 King that night, falsely represented the feeling 
 of the Commons ; and persuaded him to believe, 
 that it was in vain to expect any money from them 
 and Mr. Her. agaiust the Scots. Hc was seconded in these mis- 
 bert the King's representations by the King s Solicitor ; and these 
 Solicitor. ^^^ persons, and, these only, for reasons yet un- 
 known to the world, induced the King to dissolve 
 the Parliament, which was done next day, with 
 great haste and precipitation. The King soon 
 found that he had committed a mistake, expressed 
 his resentment against Sir H. Vane, and even en- 
 quired whether the Members might not be re- 
 called by Proclamation. But it was impossible ; 
 and the course of events hastened to the goal. 
 
 The Convocation still continued to sit, and 
 besides voting supplies to the King, concluded 
 upon several new Canons and an oath for uphold- 
 ing the Government of the Church of England. 
 These proceedings of Convocation gave great of- 
 fence to the factious and discontented. London 
 was filled with scandalous libels, chiefly by the 
 old offenders Prynne and Lilburne. The house 
 of the Archbishop was surrounded at midnight 
 by an infuriated rabble, and his life was only 
 preserved by a strong military guard which had 
 been provided. 
 
 An army of twenty thousand men was now 
 raised and the King resolved upon a second ex- 
 
 Convocation. 
 
 ^ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 207 
 
 Fdition into Scotland. The great difficulty was SECTION 
 to support such an army. His treasury was not IV 
 only exhausted but anticipated. But to shew the C""- "• 
 strength of the Monarchy, and, how easy it would ^^"'^^ 
 have been, at that time, to have rectified the dis- 
 orders of the State, it will only be necessary to 
 observe, that in the space of three weeks, the sum 
 of ^300,000 was supplied to the King by the 
 willing contributions of the nobility and gentry. 
 
 Another error was committed. In the choice Ear.of Essex 
 ot a general, the Earl of Ess,ex who had faithfully "'^"""s'l. 
 served the King in the last expedition, was passed 
 by, and the chief command entrusted to the Earl 
 of Northuml)erland. whose pride was only equal- 
 led by his stupidity. The Earl of Strafford was 
 appointed Lieutenant General, and Lord Conway 
 General of the Horse, a man without conduct or 
 courage. 
 
 Meanwhile the Scots, with the most unconquer- n.ia„.,„,- 
 aDie duphcity, declared the "intentions of the"f"'=s<^'"''» 
 array"_assuring the good people of England, that *™'- 
 they had no design either to waste their goods or 
 spoil their country, but to become petitioners to 
 the King his Majesty ; whereas, at the moment, 
 their leaders believed themselves under a written 
 engagement to assist the English Nobility, in ef- 
 tectmg a change of Government in England. The 
 document, indeed, was forged, but this circum- 
 stance was unknown to the Scots, at that time.- 
 ^ Scotch army had already begun their march 
 
 H 
 
208 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION under General Lesley and the Earl Moreton ; and, 
 IV. were suffered to enter Newcastle, by Lord Conway 
 
 Chap. u. ^^iq had Sufficient force, if he had had courage, to 
 have prevented it. There, having obtained such 
 comfortable quarters, they shewed their tender re- 
 gard for the goods of the people of England, by 
 demanding a contribution of c£800, a day, out of 
 Northumberland, the Bishoprick of Durham and 
 the town of Newcastle ! 
 
 The King in The Kiug's head quarters were at York, where 
 gieatdifficuity, he had to contend with every possible difficulty. 
 The uncertainty and distraction created by the con- 
 tending opinions of different parties — disaffection 
 in the army — remonstrances from England, and 
 the knowledge of an empty Treasury. 
 
 In this emergency he determined upon a grand 
 Convention of the Peers — the resort of the Mon- 
 arch in cases of sudden exigency. The result of 
 their deliberations was to call a Parliament, and 
 send Commissioners to the Scotch army, to treat 
 of a Pacification ; and, in order to suit the tem- 
 per of their political invaders, it was determined 
 that eighteen of the most popular Noblemen should 
 be deputed, for the purpose of managing this im- 
 portant mission, a business for which they were 
 eminently unfitted. 
 
 It was observed that the Scotch Commissioners 
 paid the most marked attention to the Earls of 
 Bedford, Essex, Holland and the Lord Mandeville, 
 which these Noblemen received with an indiffer- 
 
 Calls a Con 
 vcntion of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 209 
 
 Chap. JU 
 
 nation of their conduct • Knf f^ i « . 
 
 X 1 , ^^iiuucE, Dut to no purpose till 
 
 ^ length, the Scots upbraided the'. wS ' t 
 s nd,„g to their engagement. This led to a„ 
 
 ;tr~' '' "" '''"^^'^^'^ '^^' Saville T.,e,„. 
 r olut'"T7' «»rengtheni„g the Scotch in thei; -"- - 
 resoJution, had presented them with a forged in '""' 
 «trument, to which he had attached the names of 
 
 ftculties, by the failure of those supplies which 
 
 haUWo f"" '''''' -PP-ed confederals 
 tha they onee designed to retreat within their own 
 
 borders, and cast themselves upon his Majesty's 
 grace and merrv P^f 4i. i ^^^djebiy s 
 
 vltPrln ^^^""'^^^ ^"^ t^o^gh not so formally in- 
 Mtedas they believp^l v^f +u r i ^ 
 
 y utjievea, yet they found sufficient 
 
 ft h ;f . ; ?' """"'' l"'" """"""fen ,„ ,he 
 lailbofaforgedmslrumcnt! 
 
 Pon by the plausible reasoning of the Scotch <■'"""-•""- 
 
 Commissioners ; and led astray from their d^ "' ' 
 
 by P mising to themselves some advantage from 
 
 ScZ rl'X "^^'"'^"'"^ ^^- '°>-"y of the 
 vo. I """'^ "'^^ °°' ""P»-^ "Pon, but 
 
./ 
 
 210 
 
 TIIKOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION overruled Ijy circumstances. The same Noblemen 
 *V- were again dispatched, to conclude upon a cessa- 
 tion of arms ; and, in a few days, as they had pre- 
 determined, came to an agreement, in which, by 
 a just retribution, they sealed their own destruc- 
 tion in that of their country. The terms were, 
 that the Scots should retire beyond the Tees ; that 
 the sum of c£850, a day should be granted them, 
 and the Treaty adjourned to London ; by which, 
 every thing was gained to their cause. It was at 
 this time, that the Earl of Montrose, disgusted at 
 their conduct, deserted the cause of the Covenan- 
 ters, and wrote a letter to the King expressive of 
 his loyalty and affection. 
 
 The Scotch Commissioners, in London, were 
 made the rallying point of all the disaffected in 
 England. They became the missionaries of the 
 Covenanters. Multitudes of people, of all ranks, 
 resorted to them ; to whom, with great expres- 
 sions of loyalty, they freely dispensed their coun- 
 sel and advice. Such was the influence they ob- 
 tained in a short time, that it is said, the common 
 people almost idolized them ; considering them 
 the repositories of divine Truth. So easily are the 
 minds of men imposed upon by a bold inculcation 
 of the most extravagant and dangerous opinions. 
 The Brownists or Independents, of whom we have 
 already spoken, the only remnant of dissenters in 
 the kingdom, now flocked from all parts, and filled 
 the city with uproar and confusion. 
 
 Great evils 
 ensue. 
 
 Chap. if. 
 
 ^ O'' ENGLISH HISTORY. 21] 
 
 "• »^.. lengths ,ff„n^h;~,,; '''-"" 
 
 men were urginrr them at fl... Passions of 
 
 a fearful reaction I i v ^""°^ = ""' ''>' '^''^t 
 'u. reaction, the Divme author of r'hrJf 
 
 >ty was about to punish tl. r ^''"«t'an- 
 
 Church and State fo t '^\^'"''^''^ "^ the 
 
 The adher!:::viXi^^':u'"*^^ 
 
 fK^- . ^ ^'^^ chief author nf nil 
 
 th«r grievances ; the Papists were sc k „/ ^ 
 ruin and that of the King for the 1 T ^ '' 
 xvhif.h tv. ■ ^' "^ obstinacy with 
 
 which they maintained the Church of fL i 
 against their pretensions. "^^'"''' 
 
 The King, wearied with pernetn-.l ,1,^ 
 ments. harrassed by the confl T • '''''^PP"'"*" ^'f" p-.u- 
 
 own Counsellor- '^'"f'cting opinions of his "-'■''^ n- 
 
 counsellors, prevented from ariir.,. i ♦, a.d.igio. 
 want of sunnlipc = j • ^ °" "V tl'e 
 
 and sine ri^y' ; h :l:f """' '' ^^^ -*^^"*y 
 
 Parliament. ' cL es Tt ^"'""^"^' ^'^ ^^"^ 
 apprehend the leltLir^:^?^ f "" 
 Seated in the hearts ofZ , ^ '"'''°"'>'- 
 
 I'elieved and rTll ^^'P'"' ^« ^' firmly 
 
 ' '"^ '°"fi^^"' 'n the divine right of thi 
 
212 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION royal Prerogative, he fearlessly cast himself upon 
 IV. the affections of his suhjects. Nor was he decei- 
 
 ^^^^lAJ^^i^ ved. Never was a Monarch more justly beloved 
 by his people ; but circumstances conspired to 
 render their affection inoperative and abortive. 
 A formitiabie A coufcdcracy, consisting of the most active 
 
 Conspiracy, spirits of thc age, had for some time been formed 
 — not to injure their King — but to change the form 
 of Government ; and it will now be necessary to 
 bring those persons before the reader. The lead- 
 ers of the party were Lord Say, Lord Kimbolton, 
 Mr. Hampden, Mr. Pym, Mr. Stroude, and Mr. 
 Knightley. Their operations were very extensive. 
 Mr. Hampden was in the habit of paying an an- 
 nual visit to the friends of their cause in Scotland, 
 and Mr. Pym performed the same office, through 
 the counties of England. They held frequent con- 
 sultations, both in London and the country. — 
 Broughton Hall, the seat of Lord Say, was the 
 chief place of rendezvous, where they had a secret 
 apartment, approached by a private passage, into 
 which the servants of the establishment were never 
 permitted to enter. Long before the calling of 
 this Parliament, their schemes were finally ar- 
 ranged ; nor must the general feature of their plan 
 be omitted, as it was undoubtedly, amongst the 
 ruling causes of the catastrophe of this reign. 
 Their favorite maxim, upon which the whole 
 Plan of the thcory of their government rested, was : " That all 
 
 Conspirators, empire was founded in Property," from which, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 213 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 neously in our opinion, proceeded to reason-that IV. 
 as the Kings of England, by the alienation of the 
 Crown Revenues, had lost a great portion of their 
 natural power, they concluded that on that account 
 they ought to be deprived of a considerable por- 
 tion of their regal authority. They proposed to 
 accomplish this, by cutting off four great branches 
 ot the Royal Prerogative, which they termed the 
 mac,nalia of Government. Th absolute potcer of 
 making War and Peace~The sole disposal and or- 
 denng of the Militia.~The nomi^iation of all offices 
 of trust and emohment.-The right of deposing of 
 the common Revenues of the Crown. To manage 
 hese important trusts, four distinct Councils were 
 to be appointed, all of which, as well as the cre- 
 ation the Nobility, were to be fixed and directed 
 by Parliament, which was to meet annually, for 
 the dispatch of business. 
 
 This was the plan by which these eminent and t, 
 patnotic men, proposed to themselves, not only to orllTJl 
 redress the existing evils of the State, but to pro- "'^^ 
 vide a remedy against their recurrence. In car- 
 rying their scheme into execution, and making use 
 of the means which circumstances provided, they 
 not only failed of their enterprise, but involved 
 themselves, their King and their Country, in one 
 common and tremendous ruin. Results, surely, 
 which they never contemplated ; but of which, 
 they were the unhappy instruments ; and they 
 
214 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Temper of 
 Paaliament. 
 
 SECTION Stand forth as an awful warning to all projectors, 
 
 ChIk ir. ^^ ^^^ ^""^^^'^y ^^ attempting sudden changes in 
 government ; and, makes it manifest, that as the 
 great institutions of a State, can only be formed 
 by time and experience, so they must be re-mod- 
 elled and adjusted in the same gradual manner as 
 the wants of the society require. 
 
 From the first meeting of Parliament, neither 
 temper nor moderation was observed. The lead- 
 ing members were now determined, at all risks, to 
 pursue their measures. Committees were formed 
 for the consideration of grievances, and many vio- 
 lent speeches were made, which sufficiently de- 
 clared the temper of the House. Their first act 
 was unprecedented in the custom of Parliament. 
 They proceeded to expel from the House, all those 
 members who received emolument from monopo- 
 lies which were held under the King's Patent ; 
 and, to shew that they were in earnest, they fol- 
 lowed up their first step, by the impeachment of 
 the Eart of Strafford — a blow little anticipated by 
 the confiding Monarch. 
 
 Mr. Pym, his implacable enemy, who was ap- 
 pointed to carry up the impeachment to the Lords, 
 entered the House, a few minutes after the Earl 
 had taken his place, and, in the name of the Com- 
 mons of England, impeached him of high treason ; 
 and he was immediately given into the custody of 
 the Usher of the black rod. Having now got the 
 noble criminal into their power, they determined 
 
 Strafford im 
 peached. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 215 
 
 SECTION 
 
 IV. 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Conduct of 
 
 upon his destruction ; but his great abilities, his 
 matchless integrity, and unshaken fidelity were 
 almost insurmountable obstacles in their way ; but 
 they were prepared to use every means, however 
 dishonourable, to effect their purpose : and they 
 were so elated with the success of their first move- 
 ment, that they voted a gratuity of .4^50.000. to the 
 Scotch army, in addition to the grant of J850 a day. 
 
 The next project of the House was, to remove .o„au« 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury from the Councils ^''^'"^ "'' 
 of the King ; and. as a preparatory step, the King '""' ""* 
 was desired to release Bishop Williams from con- 
 finement. This eminent Prelate, on appearing in 
 the House of Peers, was astonished to find such 
 heats and animosities among the differing parties ; 
 nor did his conduct give less astonishment to the 
 House, who expected that he would immediately 
 have joined himself to the discontented party ; but 
 so firm and patriotic were his principles. thLt he 
 sacrificed the good opinion of the popular party to 
 the love of his Country. 
 
 At the same time, those notorious culprits, 
 Prynne, Burton, and Bastwick were released, and 
 brought to London in triumph, amidst the shouts 
 of the multitude, who mingled their acclamations 
 of joy with loud execrations of the Bishops who 
 had persecuted such godly men ! and, to increase 
 the effect, they were conducted to Westminster, 
 and allowed to present their petitions against their 
 prosecutors, at the Bar of the House. 
 
 of Others. 
 
216 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 II 
 
 I 
 
 M 
 
 Ciup. II. 
 
 Commissioners 
 attack ilie 
 Church, 
 
 SECTION These inflammatory proceedings produced a 
 ,/ „ Sreat influence upon the public mind. The Com- 
 mons declared the utter illegality of the Shii^mo- 
 ney. and proceeded to mark out the Lord Keeper 
 
 r:,!::! ^''''^''''"'^' ""'^ *^ ^^^^^'^'y Windebank for des- 
 truction; who, to escape the threatened storm, 
 fled. The Scotch Commissioners were lodged 
 in the heart of the City, in a house adjoining St. 
 Anlholin's Church, the gallery of which communi- 
 cated with their lodgings. This place they used 
 as a rostrum for publishing their sentiments on 
 all subjects ; especially, for inveighing against the 
 Bishops and the ceremonies of the Church. The 
 harangues of their Chaplains, were daily attended 
 by great multitudes of people; and on a Sunday, 
 from morning to night. Such, indeed, was the state 
 of things, that the Scotch Commissioners seem to 
 have given law to England ; and, at length, pub- 
 lished a manifesto, desiring Parliament to inflict 
 condign punishment on the Earl of Strafford, and 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, as " the great crim- 
 inals of the Nation. " 
 
 The passions of men under such stimulants be- 
 came ungovernable, and, by a strange fatality, 
 through the specious representations of foreign' 
 emissaries, their hands were turned against their 
 best friends, and. eventually, against themselves. 
 Alderman Pennington, with a great multitude of 
 the rabble, presented a petition signed by fif. 
 teen thousand persons, requiring the extirpation 
 
 OF ENGLISH UlSTOHV. 
 
 Fiillowed by 
 AMfrnian 
 
 217 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The Arch- 
 
 of Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and the whole SECTION 
 hierarchy of the Church— a wholesale extirpation, IV. 
 which even astounded a Parliament, many of 
 whose members were prepared for extreme mea- 
 sures. The petition, however, was not rejected 
 lest it should dishearten their friends, and its ul- 
 tra-violence prepared the way for whatever the 
 enemies of the Church desired. The canons which 
 were made in the late Convocation, were vehe- 
 mently attacked ; and, it w^as declared unlawful, 
 for the Clergy to make canons, or ecclesiastical 
 constitutions without the consent of Parliament. 
 
 This was the prelude to the persecution of the 
 Archbishop, who, on the eighteenth of December, ^^'^'"^ ''^'^^• 
 was impeached by Denzil Hollis, in the name of 
 the Commons of England, and committed close 
 prisoner to the Tower. 
 
 But the King was still on the throne ; and the TheConspi. 
 innovating leaders in the two Houses saw, that '■^^''■' ^^'''"'^" 
 
 cd to Power 
 
 the moment had arrived when a grand movement 
 should be made, to secure for themselves the seats 
 of power, from which others had been displaced 
 by their influence. Intimations, therefore, were 
 sent to the King at York, through the Marquis of 
 Hamilton, who had secured his interest with both 
 parties, that as the King had expressed his desire 
 for a Reformation, he w ould shew his sincerity by 
 taking to his Councils those men, who were known 
 to be friendly to it. This suggestion was cheer- 
 fully acceded to ; and, on one day, the Earls of 
 
I 
 
 1 1 
 
 218 
 
 III 
 
 ill 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. JI. 
 
 Conduct of 
 Parliament 
 displeasing:, 
 
 SECTION Her ford. Bedford. Essex, and Bristol, and the 
 '^- Lords Say. Saville. and Kin^bolton. .ere sworn 
 privy Counsellors. Provision was also made for 
 the satisfaction of Pym. Hampden, and the other 
 conspirators, but which was never effected, except 
 - the case of Mr. Oliver St. John, one of the most 
 inveterate of the party, who was appointed Attor- 
 ney General. The consequences of these appoint- 
 ments soon made their appearance. 
 
 Whilst the impeachment of the Earl of Strafford 
 was pending, the House of Commons with ereat 
 propnety, proceeded to secure the kingdom from 
 l^Z^'Tr'"'''' bybringingin the Tri- 
 
 and absolutely necessary to give stability to the 
 instiutions of the Country; but instead of voting 
 supplies for the King, they took care of their con 
 
 retjfT'' 7^r''^ "^fnendly assistance and 
 r be/ towards the supplies of the losses andnecessir 
 ties of the Scots ! " 
 
 to fhT^^' P'-'^^^^ding was necessarily, displeasing 
 to the King, who summoned the two Houses I 
 meet^him in the banquetting hall ; on which occa- 
 s on he made concessions sufficient to have recon- 
 ciled all reasonable men. and which would have 
 entirely satisfied the former Parliament. But the 
 Jeadmg members were now too sensible of their 
 vas influence, and determined to secure every ad- 
 vantage they could, from the King's necessities, 
 i heir league with the Scotch Commissioners be- 
 
 to the King 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 219 
 
 came every day more manifest, who now presented SECTION 
 to the House what they were pleased to call their IV. 
 " modest demands. " v^^^i^^"^ 
 
 The chief of these demands were, that the King Modest de- 
 should not employ any person in offices of trust, "*""^* 
 or grant them access to his person without the con- 
 sent of Parliament — that, full indemnity should be 
 made to the Scots for all their expenses and losses 
 during the confusion ; which last item, when the 
 Commissioners desired to see it in writing, amoun- 
 ted to ^954,128 9s. in addition to their J850, a 
 day — a " modest demand, " upon which Sir Jarvis 
 Hollis, a member of considerable w eight in the 
 house freely observed — '' Our younger brother of 
 Scotland, like Jacob, seems to supplant us and 
 take away our birthright. No man had a more 
 charitable construction of their intentions than I 
 had, while they made their addresses in humble 
 distance, as becoming subjects to their Sovereign ; 
 But now, Sir, when I see them swell in their de- 
 mands beyond all proportion : When I hear them 
 enlarge upon their first proposition, and require 
 things unfit for the King to grant, and dishonour- 
 able for this nation to suffer, I cannot but fix a 
 mark of danger upon them. I fear w^e have nou- 
 rished in our bosom, those, who will sting us to 
 death ! " 
 
 But, for this speech — eminently prophetic of the ^ ^^^^ ^^ 
 future — the honourable Member was expelled the the Pariia- 
 House ! It w^as now evident which way the cur- "'^"^ 
 
220 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION rent was tending. Debates ensued on the subject 
 IV, of Episcopacy, and the Pennington Petition ; on 
 which occasion, it was finely observed by Mr. 
 Grimstone: ''That Bishops exist, Jure Divino, 
 is a question : that Archbishops are not Jure Di- 
 vino is out of question. Now, that Bishops which 
 are questioned whether they are Jure Divino, and 
 Archbishops which out of question, are not Jure 
 Divino, should suspend Presbyters that are Jure 
 Divino, I leave to your consideration." Upon 
 which, it was still more finely retorted by the 
 learned and ingenious Mr. Selden :— " That the 
 Convocation is Jure Divino, is a question, that 
 Parliaments are not Jure Divino is out of question ; 
 that Religion is Jure Divino, there is no question ; 
 Now, that the Convocation which is questionable 
 whether Jure Divino, and Parliaments which out 
 of question are not Jure Divino, should meddle 
 with Religion which, questionless, is Jure Divino, 
 I leave to your consideration. " To which, Mr. 
 Grimstone replied, ''But, Mr. Speaker, Archbi- 
 shops are not Bishops. " To which Mr. Selden, 
 briefly answered— That, Mr. Speaker, is no other- 
 wise true, than that Judges are not Lawyers, and 
 Aldermen no Citizens. " 
 Bill for Trien. After impcachiug Judge Berkley, one of the 
 Biai Pariia- Judgcs who gavc his opiuiou in favour of Ship 
 money, the Commons agreed to a money Bill, 
 which received the Royal assent, together with the 
 Bill for TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS— an important 
 
 ments. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 221 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 event in the annals of our Constitution, and which SECTION 
 the King in the immortal work, entitled "Eikon 
 Basilite, " declares he did w illingly.* The 
 passing of this measure was received with univer- 
 sal satisfaction, attended with lighting of bonfires, 
 ringing of bells, and every other demonstration of 
 popular joy. The two Houses w^ere so sensible 
 of the boon which they had obtained, that they 
 returned thanks to the King, by the Lord Keeper 
 — " for having now sufficiently provided for the se- 
 curity of the Commonwealth; and, that there re- 
 mained nothing to be done, but such a return of 
 duty and gratitude, as might testify their duty to 
 his Majesty, and that their only end was, to make 
 him a glorious king. " 
 
 There was now a pause in the National Drama a solemn 
 — as if the Supreme Being in his abounding com- ^""** 
 passion, allowed a moment for reflection, that if 
 possible, the minds of men might have been sub- 
 dued to reason and moderation. But there was 
 no intention of this kind in the popular leaders ; 
 and the fatal Balance, which by the disposition of 
 its descending scales, was to give permission or not, 
 for the exercise of their violent and disordered pas- 
 sions, was placed in the hands of the King. Had 
 
 # « 
 
 That the world might be fully confirmed in my purposes, 
 at first, to contribute what I could in justice, reason, honour, 
 and conscience, to the happy success of this Parliament, I wil- 
 lingly passed the Bill for Triennial Parliaments ; which as gen- 
 tle and seasonable medicine, might, if well applied, prevent 
 any distemper from getting any plea or prevailing. " 
 
■ 
 
 222 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION he dissolved or even prorogued the Parliament, it 
 IV. is impossible to say what might have followed ; but 
 ^^X^^^'s^ to all human appearance, the lives of Strafford and 
 Laud would have been saved, and all the future 
 disorders of the State, avoided : but, on reviewing 
 the circumstances of his condition, and weighing 
 contending evils, he determined to continue the 
 session of Parliament, and the course of events 
 forthwith rushed to their accomplishment. 
 Impeachment Thc Commous wcrc uow iutcut upou the im- 
 cftheEariof pcachmcut of thc Earl of Strafford; but, such 
 22 iMar, 1611. wcrc thc difficulties they had to contend with, 
 . that the necessary preparations cost them four 
 months of incessant labour and debate. At length, 
 on Thursday the twentieth of March, the proceed- 
 ings of this important trial were opened in West- 
 minster Hall. At seven o'clock in the morning the 
 Earl landed at the stairs, attended by a very strong 
 guard. Never was " the pomp and circumstance " 
 of Justice on a more magnificent scale. On each 
 side, were arranged the Members of the lower 
 House, and above them, a gallery was erected for 
 the Scotch Commissioners and the Lords of Scot- 
 land ; and in the centre, were the Peers of England. 
 In front of the Peers, was a platform erected for 
 the Earl himself, and, towards the end of the Hall 
 was a chair of state for the King, with a covered 
 gallery for the Queen and Ladies of rank. Whilst 
 for the occasion, the Earl of Arundel was created 
 Lord High Steward; and the Earl of Lindsay, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 223 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Lord High Constable. The Earl of Strafford, on SECTION 
 his entrance, walked to his place with a" firm and IV. 
 manly step. His person was tall, and his appear- 
 ance majestic. He was habited in black, with 
 his " George, " suspended by a gold chain. His 
 elocution was clear — ^his manner polished, and his 
 arguments ready and convincing. The managers 
 of his impeachment were the most able Lawyers, 
 and eloquent Members of the Commons — Pym, 
 Whitelock, Oliver St. John, Digby and Hampden. 
 
 The charge against the Earl was opened at great Accused of 
 length, by Mr. Pym. His harangue was a kind 
 of exaggerated history of his actions whilst Presi- 
 dent of the North, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 
 — a detail, which in the hands of a favouring ad- 
 vocate, would have redounded to his honor, by 
 exhibiting the acts of a vigorous administration, 
 conducted with admirable ability. In the execu- 
 tion of such high and difficult trusts, it was im- 
 possible that acts should not take place, oppres- 
 sive indeed to individual interests, but necessary 
 for the public good. These were magnified by 
 his accusers, as flagrant instances of tyranny and 
 oppression. 
 
 The Earl was called upon to give distinct an- Accumulative 
 swers to every particular allegation ; and, because '^''^^^^''"• 
 no one charge amounted to an act of treason — a 
 new term was invented. All the charges were 
 added together, and the whole was termed "Ac- 
 cumulative Treason" — the absurdity of which, is 
 
222 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION he dissolved or even prorogued the Parliament, it 
 IV. is impossible to say what might have followed ; but 
 to all human appearance, the lives of Strafford and 
 Laud would have been saved, and all the future 
 disorders of the State, avoided : but, on reviewing 
 the circumstances of his condition, and weighing 
 contending evils, he determined to continue the 
 session of Parliament, and the course of events 
 forthwith rushed to their accomplishment. 
 impe«:hme,.t The Commons were now intent upon the im- 
 oftbeEariof peachmcnt of the Earl of StraflFord; but, such 
 sMar.iwi. WCTC the difficulties they had to contend with, 
 that the necessary preparations cost Aem four 
 months of incessant labonr and debate. At length, 
 on Thursday the twentieth of March, the proceed- 
 ings of this important trial were opened in West- 
 minster Hall. At seven o'clock in the morning the 
 Earl landed at the stairs, attended by a very strong 
 guard. Never was '' the pomp and circumstance '' 
 of Justice on a more magnificent scale. On each 
 side, were arranged the Members of the lower 
 House, and above them, a gallery was erected for 
 the Scotch Commissioners and the Lords of Scot- 
 land ; and in the centre, were the Peers of England. 
 In front of the Peers, was a platform erected for 
 the Earl himself, and, towards the end of the Hall 
 was a chair of state for the King, with a covered 
 gallery for the Queen and Ladies of rank. Whilst 
 for the occasion, the Earl of Arundel was created 
 Lord High Steward; and the Earl of Lindsay, 
 
 I 
 
 OK ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 223 
 
 \ 
 
 , \ 
 
 Accused of 
 
 Lord High Constable. The Earl of Strafiford, on SECTION 
 his entrance, walked to his place with a" firm and IV. 
 manly step. His person was tall, and his appear- 
 ance majestic. He was habited in black, with 
 his " George, " suspended by a gold chain. His 
 elocution was clear — ^his manner polished, and his 
 arguments ready and convincing. The managers 
 of his impeachment were the most able Lawyers, 
 and eloquent Members of the Commons — Pym, 
 Whitelock, Oliver St. John, Digby and Hampden. 
 The chaise against the Earl was opened at great 
 length, by Mr. Pym. His harangue was a kind 
 of exaggerated history of his actions whilst Presir 
 dent of the North, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 
 — a detail, which in the hands of a fevouiing ad- 
 Tocate, would have redounded to his honor, by 
 exhibiting the acts of a vigorous administration, 
 conducted with admirable ability. In the execu- 
 tion of such high and diflScult trusts, it was im- 
 possible that acts should not take place, oppres- 
 sive indeed to individual interests, but necessary 
 for the public good. These were magnified by 
 his accusers, as flagrant instances of tyranny and 
 oppression. 
 
 The Earl was called upon to give distinct an- Accumuiativ« 
 swers to every particular allegation ; and, because '^^''' 
 no one charge^ amounted to an act of treason — a 
 new term was invented. All the charges were 
 added together, and the whole was termed " Ac- 
 cumulative Treason" — the absurdity of which, is 
 
WBgft .wr^-tJ-BBStfssfflBWMs 
 
 224 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 225 
 
 A new charge 
 
 SECTION manifest, as the noble Earl himself observed : 
 IV. " Accumulation is a word taken from the Latin 
 Cumulus, a heap of corn, so called because some, 
 at least, of the individual parts are such ; but how 
 could that be called a heap of corn, in which there 
 was not one single grain." 
 
 After the Earl of Strafford had effectually an- 
 pieferred, gwcrcd all the articlcs brought against him, the 
 Commons put in a claim to offer additional evi- 
 dence on the last article " that he had advised the 
 King to land the Irish forces in England." At 
 this part of the trial Sir H. Vane and his Son 
 acted a conspicuous and despicable part. It was 
 pretended that the latter, in the absence of his 
 father, being entrusted with his keys, had found 
 the fragment of a paper containing notes, which 
 as Secretary, his father had taken at the Council 
 table, amongst which, a remark to that effect, 
 appeared to have been made by the Earl of 
 Strafford. 
 
 The Earl shewed the improbability of such a 
 charge, from the circumstance, that there never 
 existed any necessity for landing the Irish 
 troops in England. Whilst the King, who had 
 condescended to give his attendance throughout 
 the trial, affirmed, that he never had any intention 
 of bringing in the Irish army: and that he was 
 9iever advised so to do. 
 
 Indeed the whole trial, which lasted eighteen 
 days, was conducted on the part of his accusers. 
 
 without Effect. 
 
 L 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Strafford's 
 
 '>^ 
 
 with every species of injustice which the malice SECTION 
 
 and ingenuity of the mind of man could invent. IV. 
 
 But at length, the Earl having answered their ad- 
 ditional evidence, and being interrogated by the 
 
 Earl Marshal, he spoke to the following effect, 
 
 ''My Lords, I here stand charged with Accumu- 
 lative, or constructive Treason, a word unknown <^efence. 
 to the common law, statute law, or Practice; and 
 which was never heard of from the beginning of 
 this Government till this time ; so that I am ques- 
 tioned for my life and honour, upon a law that 
 cannot be shewn. Jesu ! Where has this fire 
 lain hid so many hundred years, without smoke 
 to discover it, till it thus burst forth to consume 
 me and my posterity ? It is extremely hard that 
 punishment should precede promulgation of a law ; 
 what man then can be safe? especially, when 
 there is no token set, by which he should know 
 his offence, no admonition by which he should 
 avoid it. If a man upon the Thames split his boat 
 upon an anchor, and it has a buoy floating to dis- 
 cover it, he is to charge his own non-observance ; 
 but if it has none, the owner of the anchor is to 
 pay the damage. My Lords be pleased to shew 
 that regard to the Peerage of England, as never 
 to expose yourselves to such constructive interpre- 
 tations of Laws ; if there must be a trial of inven- 
 tion, let the subject be of something less than the 
 lives and honours of the Nobility: therefore cast 
 into the fire these bloody and mysterious volumes 
 
 VOL. II. p 
 
-.•:^3w«-- 
 
 226 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 227 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION of constructive treason, as the primitive Christians 
 IV. did their books of curious arts, and betake your- 
 selves to the plain letters of our laws ; without 
 being ambitious of being more learned in the art of 
 killing, than our forefathers. It is now two hun- 
 dred and forty years, since any man w^as touched 
 for this alleged crime, let us not awaken those 
 • sleeping lions to our own destruction, by raising 
 up a few musty records, that have lain so many 
 ages neglected and forgotten. Do not through me, 
 wound the interest of the Commonwealth, nor put 
 such insuperable difficulties upon Ministers of 
 State, that men of wisdom, honour and fortune, 
 cannot safely be employed by the public : if you 
 weigh and examine them by grains and scruples, 
 the affairs of the kingdom will lie waste, no man 
 will concern himself, w^ho has any thing to lose. 
 My Lords, I would not have troubled you so long, 
 were it not for the interest of these dear pledges, 
 which a saint in heaven has left me. " At this, 
 his breath stopped, and he melted into tears for a 
 short space ; then recovering himself, he proceed- 
 ed, — " What I forfeit as to my own ruinous cot- 
 tage, is nothing ; but that my indiscretion should 
 extend to my posterity, wounds me to the very 
 soul : you will pardon my infirmity. Something 
 I should have added, but my voice and spirits fail 
 xne — only I have learned that the afflictions of this 
 present life, are not to be compared to the eternal 
 weight of glory whichshall be revealed hereafter. 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 The Com- 
 mons chano^e 
 
 and so My Lords, with all tranquillity of mind, SECTION 
 I freely submit myself to your judgment; and, IV. 
 whether that judgment be of life or death, 'te 
 Deum laudamus ; ' then, lifting up his hands and 
 eyes, prayed — 'In te Domine, confido; ne con- 
 fundar in ©temum. * " 
 
 Thus ended the trial of this great man, from 
 which the Commons retired with shame and de- ^j^^j ^.^^j^^j ^^ 
 feat, inasmuch as it was wtII understood, that the attack. 
 Lords would not, on such grounds, give judgment 
 against him. But with a malice and resolution, 
 which nothing could defeat, they determined to 
 proceed by way of attainder, in the preparation of 
 which, they would have none but themselves to 
 consult. Accordingly, on the twenty-third of 
 April, the Bill of Attainder was read a third time. 
 During the discussion, the doors of the House were 
 locked, when the Lord Digby, whose high honor 
 and rectitude shewed him to be the worthy son of 
 such a father as the Earl of Bristol, made use of 
 the following remarkable words — " In prosecution 
 we are accountable only for our industry or remiss- 
 ness ; but, in Judging we are responsible to God 
 for our rectitude or obliquity. In cases of life, 
 the Judge is God's stew^ard of the party's blood, 
 and must give a strict account for every drop. " 
 
 From this time. Lord Digby who had stood so lofJ Digby 
 high, sunk in the estimation of the Commons, ^^'^o**^^*^- 
 and became the object of their jealousy and hatred 
 
228 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Essex. 
 
 SECTION — a circumstance which shews the unchristian 
 IV. spirit with which they were actuated. 
 
 s^^t^}^ This was thought a fitting opportunity for the 
 Conduct of suppression of the Presidency of the North, when 
 
 the Earl of ^^^_^ ^^^ ^^ mal-administration, was brought for- 
 ward and exaggerated, to the prejudice of the Earl 
 of Strafford. Great efforts, however, were made 
 •by some of the leading men on both sides, from a 
 deep conviction of his innocence, to save the un- 
 fortunate Earl. But in vain. The Earl of Essex 
 had now taken a decided part in the politics of the 
 day, and had thrown his great abilities into the 
 popular scale, which gave it a fearful preponde- 
 rance. He was decidedly the leading man in the 
 House of Lords ; and, in the case of the Earl of 
 Straiford, he was inexorable. To some private 
 representations of Mr. Hyde, who suggested that 
 the Earl of Strafford might be proscribed from 
 ever hereafter taking any part in public affairs, he 
 sternly and proverbially replied : " stone dead has 
 no fellow : " and, afterwards, when the same Gen- 
 tleman was commissioned by the Earl of Bedford, 
 the most powerful and moderate Nobleman of the 
 party, to intercede with him, and to point out the 
 impropriety of urging the King to warrant the ex- 
 ecution of a man, against the solemn dictates of his 
 conscience, he ventured upon a declaration at once 
 base and unconstitutional : '' The King in consci- 
 ence, ivas obliged to conform himself and his opinions, 
 to the advice and conscience of his Parliament. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 229 
 
 
 Notwithstanding, the Bill of Attainder did not SECTION 
 make its way through the House of Lords. There 
 
 \^ HAP* 11. 
 
 was still too great a sense of honor and justice in v^^^v^x^ 
 that dignified assembly ; and, to remove their le- 
 gal scruples, a conference was held, in which the 
 King's Solicitor General, Mr. St. John, in the 
 presence of the King, Lords, and Commons, ar- 
 gued the legality of the Bill. Never was there a 
 more determined and implacable persecutor ; and, 
 for some of the positions which he advanced, ought 
 if justice had been done, to have been made to 
 change places with the prisoner. At one time he 
 averred, " That in the way of Bill^ private satis- 
 faction to each mans conscience was sufficient, if no 
 evidence, at all, had been given. " And at another 
 he said .- " We do, indeed, give law to hares and 
 deer, because they are beasts of chase ; but it was 
 never counted cruelty or foul play, to knock wolves 
 or foxes on the head, as they could be found, be- 
 cause they are beasts of prey, " 
 
 The King, perceiving that in all probability he The King's 
 would be called upon to give his assent to this conduct. 
 Bill, ventured upon a bold step ; and, in a con- 
 ference with the two Houses declared, that if the 
 Bill of attainder should pass, he could not in con- 
 science, give his assent to it, as he had been pre- 
 sent from the&st to the last, and felt assured that 
 no proof of treason existed against him. He said 
 he had no desire to screen him from any punish- 
 ment, which might be due to him, for conducting 
 
 t 
 
230 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION himself with pride or impetuosity : and hoped they 
 iV. would he satisfied with his Promise, that he never 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 A pretenite 
 for Agitation 
 
 should serve him in any office whatever. 
 
 This was a most unfortunate step, and every 
 thing which the enemies of the Earl could wish; 
 and, it is supposed that the King was urged to it 
 by the Lord Say, who was now an aspirant for 
 the highest offices of the state, and well knew the 
 effect it would produce. Accordingly, as soon as 
 the King had left the House, the greatest clamour 
 prevailed, and the House of Commons with great 
 vehemence declared, that the King s conduct was 
 a most unparalleled breach of privilege. This 
 afforded then a ground for agitation ; and being 
 resolved upon the death of Strafford they determi- 
 ned to gain by clamour, what they now perceived 
 they could not obtain at the tribunal of justice. 
 Every effort was made to rouse the multitude, 
 the Presbyteri- ^phe ultra-Puritau clcrgy who hailed the Scotch 
 lleformation, in their pulpit addresses, vehemently 
 insisted upon the necessity of Justice on certain 
 delinquents. This was the signal for new out- 
 rages. The common people assembled in vast 
 crowds, demanding *'Execntiony The great ring- 
 leader of these rioters w^as Cornelius Burgess, a 
 Presbyter of the Church, and a Doctor of Divin- 
 ity, who to his infamy was accustomed to boast — 
 '* These are my Band-Dogs, I can set them on, and 
 call them off again as I jdease^ 
 
 Conduct of 
 
 ans. 
 
 •f 
 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 231 
 
 cure 
 
 The Members of Parliament debased them- SECTION 
 selves by mingling at night with the lowest of IV. 
 the people in their club houses, and exasperating ^^x^v^^l/ 
 them by their harangues. They went so far, as Disgraceful 
 even to post up in all the public places of the city, '"^^^'^^^ ^° '^- 
 the names of those in both houses who opposed 
 the Bill of Attainder under the Title of •' STRAF- 
 FORDIANS and Enemies to their Country." 
 
 During these proceedings the Earl of Bedford, 
 having been promised the office of Lord High 
 Treasurer, had undertaken to use his utmost endea- 
 vours to save the Earl of Strafford. But his own 
 days were numbered, and he died of the small 
 pox before the fate of Strafford was decided. 
 
 In order to promote their designs the Commons i^^ passing of 
 pretended, that new designs were on foot for their 
 destruction, and a ridiculous accident effectually 
 served their purpose. Whilst Mr. Middleton and 
 Mr. Wray two very corpulent men were standing 
 up in the gallery to hear the debate — a board in 
 the floor giving way with a great crash, a member 
 cried out, that he smelt gunpowder, and the whole 
 house was thrown into confusion : the people in 
 the lobby, without waiting for further evidence, 
 rushed into the street ; and spread the report, 
 that the house was blown up with gunpowder. 
 The alarm spread from one end of the city to the ^ 
 other: the drums beat — the train bands were 
 marched down to the House ; and all men seemed 
 concerned in the fate of their representatives. 
 
 I 
 
232 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 From this circumstance, simple as it may ap- 
 pear, the House perceived the influence it pos- 
 sessed, and determined to use it. The friends of 
 of Attaiader. the Earl of Strafiford were alarmed, and deterred 
 from attending in both Houses — the Bill of At- 
 tainder was passed, being carried by seven votes 
 in a House of forty-five Members. 
 
 The difficulty, now, was to obtain the King s 
 consent. For this purpose an address was pre- 
 sented to him by the two Houses, whilst crowds 
 of people were tumultuously assembled in the 
 front of the Palace, vociferating Justice ! Justice ! 
 
 All this was a cruel mockery, and a profanation 
 
 The uncertain- 
 
 ty of the King^s^f ^\i ijjjj^ jg sacred amongst men; and was sure 
 to bring down a signal vengeance upon the heads 
 of all concerned in it. The King called his coun- 
 cil : they referred him to the Bishops to satisfy 
 his conscience : the Bishops referred him to the 
 Judges to satisfy him as to its legality. All were 
 overawed ; and no person had courage to give an 
 unbiassed opinion. Bishop Juxon alone, remain- 
 ed invincible in his integrity ; and nobly told the 
 King — ''that l,e ought to do nothing with an un- 
 sdti^jied conscience upon any consideration in the 
 xvorldJ' 
 
 At this juncture, when the struggle in the 
 King's breast was most violent, the Earl of Straf- 
 ford, understanding how the King was harassed 
 and perplexed by the importunities of honor and 
 conscience on one side ; and on the other, with the 
 
 resolveit by 
 the Earl him 
 self. 
 
 I' 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 233 
 
 fear of such a public rupture, as seemed to threaten SECTION 
 destruction to himself and his family — wrote a IV. 
 letter to his Majesty, which stands unrivalled 
 amongst the records of antiquity for its sublime 
 heroism and patriotism. The following are the 
 concluding words : 
 
 "Sir, my consent, herein, shall more acquit 
 you to God, than all the world can do besides. 
 To a willing man there is no injury done. And 
 by God's grace I forgive all the world with a 
 calmness and meekness of infinite contentment to 
 my dislodging soul ; so. Sir, to you I can give the 
 life of this world with all the cheerfulness imagin- 
 able, in the just acknowledgment of your exceed- 
 ing favours." 
 
 That night, at a late hour, overcome with fa- 
 tifiTue and anxiety, and alarmed with incessant P''^^^*^; ^f^ ^ 
 
 o J ^ remarkable ac • 
 
 rumours of tumult and insurrection, the King companiment. 
 signed the fatal Bill which delivered the Earl to 
 the will of his enemies ; and it is a remarkable fact 
 — so as to mark the avenging hand of Heaven— 
 that at the same time he passed another bill, over- 
 looked in the hurry and anxiety of the moment, 
 as of no consequence ; but which, was destined to 
 bring ruin upon all concerned in the shedding of 
 innocent blood. This was a bill for perpetuating 
 the sitting of the existing Parliamen1% 
 
 The King's mind now gave way to relenting The Kin; 
 and melancholy reflections ; and he wrote a most ^ 
 pathetic letter to the Lords — craving, if possible, 
 
 The Bill is 
 
 ig- 
 
 endeavours to 
 save the Earl 
 
 If 
 
234 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION the life of Strafford, even at the price of perpetual 
 IV. imprisonment. This letter was written with his 
 own hand, and delivered to the House by the 
 young Prince, as the first favor he asked of Parlia- 
 ment. The letter was received with a solemn 
 respect, but the Lords refused their intercession 
 and influence, 
 who prepares Nothing HOW remained to be done, and the 
 for Execution, jjarl prepared himself for death, in which he was 
 assisted by the advice and counsel of Archbishop 
 Usher. But he was not to die undisturbed by the 
 solicitations of his enemies. A message was con- 
 veyed to him by his brother-in-law, Mr. Daniel 
 HoUis a leading member of the House of Com- 
 mons — that " if he would employ his power and 
 credit with the King, for taking Episcopacy out 
 of the Church, he should yet have his life ;" to which, 
 without hesitation he replied — " that he would not 
 buy his life at so dear a rate,'' 
 which takes On the moming of his execution, attended by 
 place on the ]^-g frieuds and several noblemen and persons of 
 
 12th of May, ^ 
 
 quality, he proceeded with a firm step towards 
 the place of execution. On approaching the win- 
 dows of the Archbishop of Canterbury, he said to 
 the Lieutenant of the Tower: "Although I do 
 not see the Archbishop as I have hoped, pray 
 give me leavw to pay my last observance towards his 
 Rooms;'' but the Archbishop, being advised of 
 his approach, immediately presented himself, upon 
 which the Earl making a profound bow said ; " my 
 
 A. D. 1641. 
 
 ( 
 
 A 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 235 
 
 ClIAP. II. 
 
 Lord, your prayers and your blessing/" The SECTION 
 Archbishop lifted up his hands to heaven, and 'V. 
 with great feeling and devotion bestowed both ; 
 but unable to support the sudden effort, he sank 
 down on the floor of his apartment. 
 
 The Earl proceeded, and with a serene and conductor 
 steady countenance ascended the scaffold. Ob- s^f^^^;' 7 
 
 J ^ the s<iaffold. 
 
 serving his brother. Sir George Wentworth in 
 tears, he said : " Brother what do you see in me 
 to deserve these tears ? does my servile fear betray 
 my guilt, or, my assuming boldness any atheism. 
 Never did 1 throw off my clothes with more free- 
 dom and content, than in this preparation for my 
 grave. That stock must be my pillow ; here, 
 shall I rest from all my labours ; no thoughts of 
 envy, no dreams of treason, jealousy of foes, cares 
 for the King, the state or myself, shall interwipt 
 this easy sleep. Therefore, Brother, pity my ene- 
 mies, who, contrary to their intentions, have made 
 me blessed; rejoice in my innocence; rejoice in 
 my happiness ! " Then, kneeling down on the 
 scaffold, and addressing those around him, he 
 concluded with a solemn protestation of his inno- 
 cence : " Gentlemen," he said, " I hope you be- 
 lieve that neither the fear of loss or love of fame, 
 will suffer me to belie God and my own conscience 
 at this time : 1 am now in the very door going out, 
 and my next step must be from time to eternity, 
 either of peace or pain. To clear myself before 
 you all — / do here solemnly call God to witness. 
 
 h 
 
236 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 237 
 
 SECTION I am not guilty, so far as I can understand, of the 
 ^V. great crime laid to my charge ; nor ever had the 
 
 Chap. H. , . . *^ 
 
 least inclination or intention to damnify or preju- 
 dice the King, the state, the laws, or the religion 
 of this kingdom, hut with my best endeavours to 
 serve all, and support all, so may GOD be mer- 
 ciful TO MY SOUL ! " 
 
 Then rising up, with a kind of prophetic spirit, 
 he addressed himself to the people in the following 
 striking manner: ''I am come here by the will 
 and pleasure of God, to pay the last debt I owe to 
 sin, which is death, and to submit to that judg- 
 ment which has been passed upon me, which I do 
 with a quiet and contented mind. 1 thank God, 
 I freely forgive all the world : and I thank God, 
 I can truly say, that in all the employments I have 
 had the honour to serve his Majesty, I never had 
 any thing in my intentions, but what tended to 
 the joint and individual prosperity of King and 
 people ; though it has been my ill fortune to be 
 misunderstood. There is one thing in which I 
 desire to clear myself: I did always think the Par- 
 liaments of England the happiest constitution that 
 any kingdom lived under, and next under God, 
 the best means to make the King and his people 
 happy ; so far have I been, from being against 
 Parliaments. For my death, I here acquit all the 
 world, and beseech the God of heaven heartily to 
 forgive them that contrived it ; though in the in- 
 tentions of my heart I am not guilty of what I die 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 for. I wish this kingdom all the prosperity and SECTION 
 happiness in the world : I ever did it living, and IV. 
 now dying it is my prayer. Yet I earnestly de- 
 sire every one that hears me to consider seriously, 
 whether the reformation of a kingdom should be 
 written in letters of blood : Let me never be so 
 unhappy, as that the least drop of my blood should 
 rise up in judgment against any one of you: I ac- 
 quit you all, but fear you are in a dangerous road. 
 My Lord Primate, I here profess, and with that 
 I shall conclude, that I die a true and obedient 
 son to the Church of England in which I was born 
 and educated ; Peace and prosperity be ever with 
 it ! I desire heartily the forgiveness of every one, 
 for any rash and unadvised act, or for any thing 
 done amiss, and so my Lords and Gentlemen fare- 
 well! Farewell all things of this world!" 
 
 Having concluded his address, he continued in 
 prayer and supplication for a considerable time, 
 when rising from his knees and turning to his 
 brother, he said : " Carry my blessing to my eldest 
 son and charge him from me, that he fear God, 
 continue an obedient son of the Church of England 
 and a faithful subject of the King — that he enter- 
 tain no private revenge against any on my account, 
 and charge him to beware not to meddle with 
 Church livings, for that will prove a moth and 
 canker to him in his estate. " He continued : — 
 " One stroke will make my disconsolate wife, hus- 
 bandless ; my dear children, fatherless ; and my 
 
238 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 239 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 tim 
 
 SECTION poor servants, masterless ; and separate me from 
 IV. my dear brother and all my friends, but let God 
 be to you and them, ' ALL IN ALL. ' " 
 
 These were his last words : for, after he had 
 several times recommended his soul to the mercies 
 of God, with Christian magnanimity he submitted 
 his neck to the stroke of the executioner, who at 
 one blow, severed his head from his body. 
 The Earl of Thus fell, through the despotic power of popu- 
 straffoida vie ]^j. yiolcnce, Ukc some tall cedar of the forest, the 
 first subject of the land in power, wealth and wis- 
 dom ; of whom Archbishop Usher declared — ^Hhat 
 in all his life he never knew any layman, that so 
 fully understood matters of Divinity ; and, that his 
 resolution was no less firm than good, " And Car- 
 dinal Richelieu was so sensible of his abilities, 
 that he said : " The English people were so foolish^ 
 that they could not let their wisest head stand upon 
 its own shoulders, " 
 ©flawless power But what law or reason can ever exist in the 
 TzJ^I\in! arbitrary dictates of the popular will ? Calumny 
 and falsehood are its vital food : Folly and inso- 
 lence are the expounders of its laws. It knows no 
 shame ; and fearless of punishment, it spurns at 
 the claims of dignity and authority, and rather 
 than not attain its purpose, it will wade through 
 the blood of its friends as well as its foes. " It 
 operates alike to debase and corrupt, till there are 
 neither men left with the spirit to desire liberty, 
 nor morals with the power to sustain it. "* This 
 
 * Fisher Ames, an American writer. 
 
 »oo* 
 
 n 
 
 irresponsible power having broken through the SECTION 
 barriers of lawful restraint was now in the ascen- ^^|V.^^ 
 dant, and, hastening to run its course of anarchy, v^jl-^v^O 
 vice, madness, and unavailing remorse. 
 The Bill which rendered the sitting of Parliament obtained by 
 
 _ , . • artifice, 
 
 perpetual, was gained under the most specious 
 pretences. It was alleged, that as great sums of 
 money had been advanced for the public necessity, 
 on the credit of the House of Commons, the cre- 
 ditors of the State liegan to express their fears lest 
 the Parliament should be dissolved, and thus, to 
 refuse further advances of money. When the Bill 
 was brought up to the House of Lords, that as- 
 sembly, very prudently, wished to fix its continu- 
 ance for a limited period, two, three, or five years, 
 on which Mr. St. John, the manager for the House 
 of Commons, very pathetically exclaimed : " God 
 forbid, that we should be forced to sit one year. 
 But if the Bill pass for an indefinite time, we shall 
 have credit to disband the armies, and satisfy all 
 debts; and when the Act is passed, we shall 
 quickly dispatch both. " To this premeditated de- 
 sign of subverting the Constitution, the House of 
 Lords fatally acceded ; and the King, as we have 
 seen, in the hour of his agony, gave his assent 
 
 to it. 
 
 The mischiefs which followed this extraordinary and exercised 
 
 1 J- !• „+l„ with tyranny, 
 
 concession were beyond repair, and distinctly 
 marks that infatuation which precedes national 
 destruction or punishment. The House of Com- 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 240 
 
 THKOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 241 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION mons instantly became the dominant power, and 
 IV. the form of the English Government was essenti- 
 ally changed. Within a few days after the fall of 
 Strafford, many of the first officers of State re- 
 signed. Cottington was succeeded in the Master- 
 ship of the Wards by the Lord Say— Bishop Juxon 
 as Lord Treasurer, by five Commissioners — the 
 Earl of Northumberland as governor of the Prince 
 by the MarquTs of Hertford. The Earl of Lei- 
 cester was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 
 and the Earl of Essex, Lord High Chamberlain. 
 Things now rapidly took their necessary course. 
 
 to the destruc- 
 
 tion of Church rpj^^ Commons armed with irresponsible power, 
 now approached the sacred citadel of the Church ; 
 and, at this juncture, by a striking coincidence, 
 Oliver Cromwell, who was destined to become 
 the GENIUS of the movement, again appears on 
 the stage. During the debate for depriving the 
 Bishops of their votes in the upper House, when 
 great doubts prevailed as to the course they should 
 pursue, this remarkable person said to Sir Tho- 
 mas Checkley and Mr. Warwick: "lean tell you 
 Sirs, what I would not have, though I cannot tell 
 you what I would, " This Bill had been rejected 
 by the Lords with great decision before the death 
 of Strafford; but the Commons, re-inforced by 
 their newly acquired power, proceeded in order 
 to gratify their Presbyterian allies, with a Bill 
 for the abolition of the Bishops : but, for the pre- 
 sent, they were obliged to content themselves with 
 
 fixing the brand of impeachment on thirteen of SECTION 
 their order, who, in consequence, were committed IV^- 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 to the Tower. v^x^n/^^^ 
 
 In quick succession. Bills were passed for abo- various Re- 
 lishing tonnage and poundage — the Courts of the ''''"'* 
 Star Chamber and High Commission, which had 
 been the main instruments of oppressing the liber- 
 ties of the subject, and exercising the late arbi- 
 trary acts of the executive power. 
 
 It is supposed, that, at this time, a design was Goring's 
 formed by some of the officers of the English army Conspiracy. 
 to stand by the remaining prerogatives of the 
 Crown ; and to humble the arrogancy of the Com- 
 mons. Colonel Goring, a man of great courage, 
 but practised in every art of falsehood, was the 
 chief instigator of the Plot ; and, after engaging 
 many distinguished officers into the scheme, he 
 suddenly communicated the whole subject to the 
 House. The most exaggerated reports were im- 
 mediately circulated respecting the project ; and 
 the Lord Digby, for attempting to invalidate the 
 testimony of Goring, was publicly expelled the 
 
 House. 
 
 Such was still the confidence of the King, and The King's 
 
 - T ^^^ n A^ patriotic con- 
 
 his perfect reliance upon the good will ot the ^^^^^ 
 people, that on the resignation of the Earl of Nor- 
 thumberland, he appointed the Earl of Holland 
 general of the Army ; determining to visit Scotland 
 in person, and to be present in their ensuing Par 
 liament. It was a most patriotic resolve; and 
 
 VOL. II. Q 
 
242 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap II. 
 
 advice of Bish 
 op Williams. 
 
 SECTION perhaps, never did a King, inspired with the true 
 IV. spirit of heroism, place himself in circumstances 
 of greater difficulty and danger. Bishop Williams 
 who was now in favour, and whose advice was 
 
 contrary to the like that of Achitophcl, but whosc responses like 
 those of Cassandra were doomed to be rejected, 
 earnestly advised the King not to venture upon 
 such a perilous step. He shewed the King the 
 impossibility of restoring tranquillity to Scotland, 
 by any sudden movement, and that under his pre- 
 sent circumstances they would construe his personal 
 appearance among them, as the result, not of 
 courtesy, but fear — concluding in these striking 
 words : " Therefore, keep near to the Parliament, 
 all the work is within those walls ; do what you can 
 to win them man by man : for some of the Com- 
 mons are preparing a declaration to make your 
 Government odious : Stir not till you have molli- 
 fied the grand C(mtrivers with preferments. " 
 
 But such circumspect and stratagetic counsel 
 was not in accordance with the open and confiding 
 disposition of the Prince, and he determined upon 
 his journey. But, before his departure, a bill was 
 hastened through Parliament for the pacification 
 of the two kingdoms, at a cost to England, of 
 eleven hundred thousand pounds. 
 
 Soon after the King's departure, the majority of 
 the two Houses left London for their country seats, 
 to recruit their spirits after such laborious attention 
 to business : but the innovating leaders remained, 
 
 The King's 
 absence, 
 
 affords licence 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 243 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 motts. 
 
 »? 
 
 and commenced their attacks upon the Church SECTION 
 and the Liturgy ; which, however, for the present IV. 
 were discomfited by the firmness of the few remain- 
 ing Lords. Religion was, now, called in to their to the Com. 
 aid, and its solemn rites degraded into an abettor 
 of Rebellion. A day of thanksgiving was appoin- 
 ted, and the celebrated Doctor Burgess, already 
 introduced to the reader, preached before the hon- 
 orable House. The pulpits of the turbulent Pres- 
 byters everywhere rung with the praises of Parlia- 
 ment ; and the Scots, whilst the Clergy, whose 
 judgment and conscience would not permit them 
 to join in this species of adulation, were termed 
 
 MALIGNANTS. 
 
 In the mean time, the King determined, in order The Kin; 
 to remove every pretext for opposition, to yield to ^aw^orExpe 
 whatever might be demanded of hira in the Scotch aiency. 
 Parliament. All the exorbitant acts of the late 
 "Assembly," which had abolished Episcopacy, 
 and assumed to itself the power of inflicting eccle- 
 siastical censures, even upon the King — were de- 
 clared legal — the absolute government of the nation 
 given to the Lords of the secret Council, who during 
 the recess of Parliament were created Conservators 
 of the peace of the two kingdoms. — All the great 
 officers of State were to be chosen by Parliament, 
 without any regard to the opinion of the Sovereign. 
 His ow^n friends were to receive the benefit of the 
 general amnesty, on condition of not being ad- 
 mitted to his presence ; whilst his enemies were 
 
242 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap H. 
 
 advice of Bish- 
 op Williams. 
 
 SECTION perhaps, never did a King, inspired with the true 
 IV. spirit of heroism, place himself in circumstances 
 of greater difficulty and danger. Bishop Williams 
 who was now in favour, and whose advice was 
 contrary to the like that of Achitophcl, but whosc responses like 
 those of Cassandra were doomed to be rejected, 
 earnestly advised the King not to venture upon 
 such a perilous step. He shewed the King the 
 impossibility of restoring tranquillity to Scotland, 
 by any sudden movement, and that under his pre- 
 sent circumstances they would construe his personal 
 appearance among them, as the result, not of 
 courtesy, but fear — concluding in these striking 
 words : " Therefore, keep near to the Parliament, 
 all the work is within those walls ; do what you can 
 to win them man by man : for some of the Com- 
 mons are preparing a declaration to make your 
 Government odious: Stir not till you have molli- 
 fied the grand ccmtrivers with preferments. " 
 
 But such circumspect and stratagetic counsel 
 was not in accordance w4th the open and confiding 
 disposition of the Prince, and he determined upon 
 his journey. But, before his departure, a bill was 
 hastened through Parliament for the pacification 
 of the two kingdoms, at a cost to England, of 
 eleven hundred thousand pounds. 
 
 Soon after the King's departure, the majority of 
 the two Houses left London for their country seats, 
 to recruit their spirits after such laborious attention 
 to business : but the innovating leaders remained. 
 
 The King's 
 absence, 
 
 a'lFords licence 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 243 
 
 and commenced their attacks upon the Church SECTION 
 and the Liturgy ; which, however, for the present IV. 
 were discomfited by the firmness of the few remain- ^"*'*- "• 
 ing Lords. Religion was, now, called in to their ^^^^^X^ 
 aid, and its solemn rites degraded into an abettor ™'"^ 
 of Rebellion. A day of thanksgiving was appoin- 
 ted, and the celebrated Doctor Burgess, already 
 introduced to the reader, preached before the hon- 
 orable House. The pulpits of the turbulent Pres- 
 byters everywhere rung with the praises of Parlia- 
 ment ; and the Scots, whilst the Clergy, whose 
 judgment and conscience would not permit them 
 to join in this species of adulation, were termed 
 
 MALIGNANTS. 
 
 In the mean time, the King determined, in order The Kin? 
 to remove every pretext for opposition, to yield to ''''^' "P"" ''^ 
 whatever might be demanded of hira in the Scotch Jiel..;/ ^'"^ 
 Parliament. All the exorbitant acts of the late 
 "Assembly," which had abolished Episcopacy, 
 and assumed to itself the power of inflicting eccle- 
 siastical censures, even upon the King were de- 
 clared legal— the absolute government of the nation 
 given to the Lords of the secret Council, who during 
 the recess of Parliament were created Conservators 
 of the peace of the two kingdoms.— All the great 
 officers of State were to be chosen by Parliament, 
 without any regard to the opinion of the Sovereign! 
 His own friends were to receive the benefit of the 
 general amnesty, on condition of not being ad- 
 mitted to his presence ; whilst his enemies were 
 
 xpe 
 
244 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 wliich gives 
 general satis 
 faction. 
 
 but is not last- 
 ing. 
 
 SECTION rewarded with titles of honor, and the transfer of 
 IV. the Church lands — A bounty, which was even 
 extended to the refractory Presbyters, the ring- 
 leader of whom, Mr. Henderson, was gifted with 
 the revenues of the Royal Chapel, which were 
 equal to a Bishoprick! 
 
 All Scotland rang with the praises of the Mon- 
 arch ; and the loudest professions of loyalty and 
 submission were made by all ranks of people ; even 
 General Lesley, now Earl of Lieven, in a gene- 
 rous fit of admiration, declared that he never 
 would take arms into his hands against " so gude 
 a King. " 
 
 But it was a short-lived popularity. These con- 
 cessions were too exorbitant to be lasting. They 
 were granted by the King for the purpose of avoid- 
 ing a hostile collision, and in the hope, that when 
 the conflict of passion had subsided, the course of 
 the Government might easily be turned into its 
 legitimate and constitutional channel. But the 
 King's indulgence w^as misplaced. The Scots con- 
 sidered their cause — as all Revolutionists do — of 
 such vast importance to the world, as to justify 
 the violation of all their promises of loyalty and 
 fidelity ; and the Earl of Lauderdale, who had re- 
 ceived from the King, the gift of a Lordship with 
 c£20,000 a year, in a fury of Presbyterian zeal, 
 exclaimed: " That he would live to see the cause 
 not only go through England, hut also carried to 
 the walls of Rome. " 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 245 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Empty boast! which discovers how entirely SECTION 
 enthusiasm sometimes overcomes our discretion ; IV. 
 and, how completely our contracted views of 
 things are opposed to the grand economy of the 
 divine government. At the very moment when 
 this potent Earl was collecting, from what he saw 
 around him, the universal establishment of the 
 Scotch Covenant— the Presbyterian discipline of 
 the Scotch Kirk— and the civil government of the 
 Scotch Council, the Supreme Ruler was preparing 
 out of their own presumption, a series of national 
 punishments, which were about to fall upon the 
 heads of all engaged in these extreme and selfish 
 counsels. 
 
 These concessions which silenced if they did not The insh 
 satisfy the discontents of Scotland were no sooner *^^^*^'-^' 
 granted, than other distractions were at hand.— A ""* ^' '^**' 
 formidable rebellion in Ireland preceded by a 
 fearful massacre of the Irish Protestants. This 
 horrid deed was perpetrated by the Papists and 
 old natives, on the twenty third of October, and 
 stands unparalleled in the annals of mankind for 
 savageness and brutality. It was kept in such 
 profound secresy, that no tidings of it escaped ; 
 and it burst upon the astonished heads of the Pro- 
 testants like the sudden tempest of night, sweep- 
 ing all before it. Dublin alone escaped by a mi- 
 raculous discovery of the Plot on the preceding 
 evening. Fifty thousand Protestants without re- 
 gard of sex, age, or quality, perished in cold 
 
If 
 
 246 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHV 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 247 
 
 Chap. IK 
 
 a Popish Cove 
 oanL 
 
 SECTION blood ; and in such a merciless and barbarous 
 IV. manner, that the mind recoils from the narration. 
 
 The tidings of this new calamity flew like light- 
 Foiioweti by ning through England, and filled the minds of all 
 men with horror and indignation, whilst the Irish, 
 following the example of the loyal people of Scot- 
 land, published a "popish covenant;" and 
 insisted upon a redress of grievances. The King 
 was still at York ; and the Earl of Leicester who 
 had been appointed Lieutenant of London, during 
 his absence, summoned the Lords of the Council* 
 and, next day laid the disastrous affair before the 
 two houses, who had not the least idea what 
 course to pursue. Letters, however, were received 
 from the King, who stated the serious and formid- 
 able character of the Rebellion, recommended a 
 " sharp war ; " and with a fatal confidence, which 
 like an *' Ignis fat uus'' betrayed him to his ruin — 
 entrusted the management of it to his faithful Com- 
 mons. Never were subjects so honored and trust- 
 ed by a Prince — ^never was a Prince so deceived 
 and betrayed by his subjects. 
 
 Taking advantage of this disastrous state of 
 affairs in Ireland, the Leaders of the Commons 
 inflamed the minds of the people with the most 
 scandalous falsehoods, insinuating that the rebel- 
 lion of Ireland had been fomented by the Queen 
 for the purpose of restoring Popery ; and to de- 
 monstrate the malevolence of their intentions, 
 they proceeded to frame a grand Remonstrance, 
 
 The Com- 
 mons inflame 
 the public 
 mind. 
 
 Hcmons- 
 trance" 
 
 which should enumerate all the Grievances which SECTION 
 the nation had endured since the death of James I. IV. 
 It was an extraordinary and unjustifiable docu- .^Ji^^^^-iij 
 ment, compounded of truth and falsehood, enume- Their "grand 
 rating every error, every misfortune, every arbi- ' 
 trary act of Government; and, may be denomina- 
 ted, a magnificent libel against the King, Queen, 
 and Royal Family. It was drawn up ])y the 
 ringleaders of a vicious and unreasonable party, 
 daily advancing to power ; carried only by nine 
 votes, and, at an unusual time of night, when the 
 friends of the King and the miserable Constitu- 
 tiod had retired. On this occasion, Oliver Crom- 
 well declared to Lord Falkland, " that if the Re- 
 monstrance had not passed he would have sold all 
 he had the next morning, and never would have seen 
 England more, and he knew many other honest 
 men of the same Resolution* " 
 
 The very next day the King retunied to London, The King's 
 and was received with every mark of respect by ^*'''"""- 
 the Lord Mayor, Sir Richard Gourney — a man of 
 patriotism, wisdom, and courage, who, attended 
 with the Citizens, met the King at his entrance 
 to Moorfields, with every demonstration of loyalty 
 and affection. But these fair appearances which 
 might have been improved to the advantage and 
 prosperity of the Kingdom, were blasted by the 
 machinations of the prevailing party, who lost no 
 opportunity of using falsehood to corrupt the under- 
 
 * This Remonstrance may be seen in Rushworth. 
 
248 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION standing of the weak — bold scandal to encourage 
 tv« the seditious — boundless promises to inspire the 
 
 ^^^^,y.^^ ambitious, and abject flattery to gain the vulgar. 
 The KiDg's Shortly after his return, the King appointed a 
 
 administration, j^g^ Couucib which, cousidcriug the difficulties 
 of his situation, was arranged with great judg- 
 ment. The celebrated Lord Falkland was ap- 
 pointed Secretary of State — a man of great natural 
 parts, which he improved and polished to the 
 utmost by daily cultivation. His learning and 
 attainments were extensive ; and, his memory so 
 retentive that he never forgot anything he had 
 once read. He was superior to all those passious 
 which sway inferior minds, and was guilty of no 
 other ambition, than that of acquiring knowledge. 
 Integrity and sincerity were the guide of his ac- 
 tions ; and all his excellencies were crowned with 
 great modesty and humility. 
 
 Sir. J. Colepepper, a person of unblemished 
 reputation and of known abilities, but more of a 
 soldier bv education than a statesman, was made 
 Chancellor of the Exchequer. His quick concep- 
 tion and lively fancy gave him great power of 
 debate, in which he is said to have excelled. 
 
 Mr. Edward Hyde was also taken into the 
 King s Council, a man of sound capacity — of com- 
 petent learning, great industry, an eloquent speak- 
 er, and an elegant writer. 
 
 To these were added George, Lord Digby, 
 eldest Son of the Earl of Bristol, equally gifted 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 249 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 with his colleagues by nature, and, as accomplish- SECTION 
 ed a scholar as any of his age. He was of a fine IV. 
 and prepossessing appearance, and displayed great 
 elegance and gracefulness of manner. He was 
 possessed of an heroic courage equal to the most 
 daring enterprises ; but unfitted to carry them into 
 execution by the impatience of his genius, and an 
 overweening confidence in his own powers. 
 
 Several Preferments were also made in the 
 Church, of the choicest men in the kingdom. — 
 Doctor Williams w^as promoted to the Archiepis- 
 copate of York : Doctor King to the See of Chi- 
 chester : Doctor Hall to Norwich : Doctor Skinner 
 to Oxford, and Doctor Prideaux to Worcester. 
 
 But these promotions, however wisely and ju- ThoCom- 
 diciously made, gave disatisfaction to the Com- "'""' "^'^^^^'^ 
 mons. They sought for new grounds of complaint, 
 and took umbrage at the King, for dismissing 
 their guard which he had appointed during his 
 absence. They circulated their " Remonstrance '* 
 with all its calumny and slander upon its head, 
 through the length and breadth of the land. 
 
 They purposely delayed raising the supplies for increase 
 the army to be sent into Ireland — rejected an offer t'^^'r p^^^^, 
 made by the King, to raise ten thousand Volun- 
 teers, if the House would grant supplies for their 
 pay, and still aiming at the increase of their power 
 they carried a Bill for the impressment of soldiers, 
 by which they transferred that prerogative of the 
 Crown to themselves ; and the King, under the 
 
250 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 by very unlaw 
 ful means. 
 
 SECTION pressure of circumstances, passed it, together with 
 another for suppressing the votes of the Bishops 
 ' in the upper House. 
 
 Determined, as they had long heen, on the most 
 desperate measures, these invasions of the Eoyal 
 prerogative gave the clearest indication of their 
 design to effect a fundamental change in the Go- 
 vernment. They now advanced another step, and 
 in order to assert their authority in disposing of 
 all great offices of trust, they pretended to take 
 great offence at the King for appointing Colonel 
 Lundiford, to be Lieutenant of the Tower, in the 
 place of Sir W. Balfour ; and recommended Sir 
 J. Conyers. The Lords resented this interference 
 as a gross encroachment on the power of the ex- 
 ecutive. This obstacle only served to increase 
 their violence. Agitation of all kinds was set at 
 w^ork. The apprentices and common people were 
 excited to insurrection. Vast crowds assembled. 
 Petitions were presented, especially against Pre- 
 lacy, as the great grievance of the nation. Dis- 
 orderly mobs insulted the members of Parliament, 
 crying out '' No Bishops ! " Westminster Abbey 
 was forcibly entered and despoiled, and by the ad- 
 vice of the Judges, constables and a strong watch 
 were appointed by the Lords, to prevent a repeti- 
 tion of such outrages ; but they were actually sent 
 for by the Commons, and discharged ; and one of 
 the Judges who had issued the Writs was com- 
 mitted to the Tower. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 251 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Thus the barriers of Law were thrown down, SECTION 
 by one branch of the Legislature usurping to itself IV. ^ 
 all the powers of the state ; and rendered the more 
 formidable, because it refused not to secure its 
 authority by pandering to the ignorance, credu- 
 lity, and licentiousness of the people. The inso- 
 lence of the mob increased to such an extent, that 
 no person could attend his place in Parliament, 
 without endangering his life, unless he was a 
 known partisan of the popular leaders. 
 
 These proceedings of the Commons were highly The Ki„g 
 displeasing to the respectable part of the commu- ^'^^^'^^^'"^ t^"«''' 
 nity ; and, the King, who during his residence '"""" 
 in Scotland, had obtained positive evidence of the 
 guilty and treasonable practices of the principal 
 innovators, was urged by Lord Digby, at this 
 moment of their unpopularity, to impeach six of 
 their leading members, of treason. Most of their 
 names have long been familiar to the Reader.— 
 They were Lord Kimbolton, Mr. Pym, Mr. Ham- 
 pden, Mr. Mollis, Sir Arthur Hazlerigg, and Mr. 
 Strode. 
 
 It was a bold and striking measure, and had it 
 been executed with wisdom and caution, might 
 have put an effectual stop to the evils which af- 
 flicted the state. But it was otherwise ; and, its 
 failure only hastened the crisis of the national ma- 
 lady. When the House, instead of delivering up 
 the accused members, sent a message to the King, 
 that theij should be forthcoming when the charges - 
 
252 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION against them were exhibited — he was urged, con- 
 IV. trary to his own opinion, which was generally 
 
 ^^^^^l^p^ correct, to proceed to the House, and, in his own 
 person demand the traitors. With his usual guard 
 
 Ti.H King and some Gentlemen, who joined him on his way 
 ToZ^ " "" *^ *^^ "Aou^e, he entered the lobby, where he 
 commanded his attendants to wait and '' to give 
 offence to no man. " — Unattended, the King enter- 
 ed the House, and seated himself in the Speaker's 
 chair, which had been vacated on his appearance. 
 The King asked him, whether the accused members 
 tvere present, to which the Speaker with great pru- 
 dence and intrepidity answered — that he had nei- 
 ther eyes to see, nor tongue to speak any thing but 
 ivhat he was commanded by the House. The King 
 perceived they were gone ; and briefly stating his 
 views to them on the subject; he concluded by 
 assuring them : "Upon the word of a King, that he 
 never intended any force, but would prosecute them 
 in a legal way ; but if they were not sent to him, he 
 must take his own course to find the?n.'' 
 
 This appearance of the King, set the House in 
 a flame, and immediately after his departure, loud 
 
 Enables the crics of *' Brcach of Privilege!" resounded from 
 all sides till the whole city was filled with the 
 clamour. The House was adjourned, — the im- 
 peached Members took refuge in the city — a com- 
 mittee was selected to sit during the adjournment 
 at the Guildhall. All night the city was kept in 
 constant alarm. Men were employed on purpose 
 
 Commons 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 253 
 
 to run from one gate to another, crying out " the SECTION 
 Cavaliers are coining. '* iv. 
 
 The imprudence of the transaction was now ^^^i^^^^^-il^ 
 manifest ; and to remove these unfounded impres- to continue 
 sions, the King entered the city, next morning, '''^''" *?'^i'«» 
 to acquaint the Lord Mayor with the true grounds 
 of his proceedings. But the ferment of the com- 
 mon people was not to be allayed. The excitement 
 was designed to be kept up by the Committee at 
 the Guildhall, who were busily employed the 
 whole day in taking depositions, respecting the 
 King's visit to the House. The most exaggerated 
 statements were received ; and at last, they pub- 
 lished and distributed a Narrative of the transac- 
 tion, composed ;of the most audacious falsehoods, 
 in which they declared—" That the King came to 
 the House attended with a multitude of armed men. 
 in a hostile manner, to the great terror of all the 
 sitthig members— that upon full examination it ap- 
 peared, several soldiers. Papists and others, about 
 five hundred in number came with him, Sfc. " This 
 declaration, so contrary to the known facts of the 
 case, was perhaps, of all documents ever drawn 
 up by mortal man, except "the grand Remon- 
 strance, " the most wicked and scandalous. 
 
 False as it was, its circulation was most detri- with fatal 
 mental to the peace of the community. Hurry 
 and tumult prevailed in all parts of the city. Mul- 
 titudes of people ran to and fro, with terror de- 
 picted in their countenances. The shops were 
 
 suc- 
 
 cess 
 
II 
 
 254 
 
 TUEOCUATIC I'JIILOSOPIIY 
 
 Ciup. II. 
 
 ii 
 
 Force the 
 King to retire 
 
 SECTION closed, and men began to prepare for any enter- 
 ic* prise. The accused members were conducted in 
 triumph to their places in Parliament. The Mi- 
 litia were called upon to attend them — the Seamen 
 on the Thames united in the procession ; and, to 
 alarm the Court, a considerable body of Troops 
 with several field pieces, attended with immense 
 clamour of people and beating of drums, w^ere 
 paraded on both sides of Whitehall by land and 
 water. 
 
 The King highly indignant at these proceed- 
 ings, determined to retire from Whitehall to Ham- 
 pton Court, where he might be secure from these 
 popular insults. Every person saw it was likely 
 to be a dangerous step. But his honor as a Sov- 
 ereign was wounded, and his resolution could not 
 be shaken. But his residence at Hampton Court 
 could not protect him from daily disquietude, or 
 his family from terrifying apprehensions, and he 
 retired to Windsor. 
 
 The Commons now determined to secure them- 
 selves of the entire Sovereignty. They appointed 
 Captain Skippon, who had risen from the ranks, 
 and was quite illiterate, but a man of great expe- 
 rience in military affairs and of good conduct. 
 Major General of the City Militia. They accused 
 Lord Digby of treason, who fled ; and appointed 
 Sir J. Hothan, Governor of Hull, in order to se- 
 cure the Magazine of arms and ammunition in that 
 fortress ; and, to keep alive the spirit of agitation 
 
 and seize the 
 command of 
 the Militia. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 255 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 in the City, they adjourned the Houses, ordering SECTION 
 a Committee armed with full powers, to sit in IV. 
 the "Grocers Hall." To assist their delibera- 
 tions, the most preposterous alarms wxre raised, 
 one of which was, that mines of gunpowder were 
 prepared to bloiv up the TJmnes ! and to drown 
 the Citizens in their beds ! 
 
 In the mean time, the King, removed from the ThcKin?»s 
 scene of agitation, was enabled to review ^rith "^as"^"""^^"* 
 
 conduct, 
 
 N. S. 
 
 composure, the troubled state of Public Affairs, a. d. igi2. 
 and, after promising a general pardon for all that 
 was past, sent one of the noblest declarations to 
 both Houses of Parliament that any records of 
 any age or Nation can produce. It was sent by 
 a messenger, on the twentieth of January, and 
 couched in the following terms ; '^ That for the 
 preventing those manifold distractions in the King- 
 dom, they would speedily take into consideration 
 whatever they held necessary as well for the sup- 
 port of the regal authority and settlement of the 
 revenue, as the present and future establishment 
 of their j;rii;/%^5, estates, and liberties, the safety 
 of the true religion now professed in the Church 
 of England, and the ordinary ceremonies in such 
 a manner as might leave room for no just offence: 
 which when they had formed into one entire 
 body, so that he and they might be better able to 
 judge of them, he would then make it appear, 
 what small grounds some persons had for the jea- 
 lousies they seemed to apprehend ; and how ready 
 
25G 
 
 TIIEOCIIATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 257 
 
 ,1 
 
 ■*• 
 
 The two 
 
 \\ 
 
 SECTION he would be, not only to equal, but to exceed the 
 IV. most indulgent Princes in their acts of grace and 
 favour to their people : so that if these present 
 distractions did not by the blessing of God, end 
 in a happy accommodation, he would then be 
 ready to call Heaven and Earth, God and Man 
 to witness, that he had not failed in his 
 
 PART." 
 
 The Lords received the message w4th every de- 
 "'*"'*''''' '^"'monstration of joy, and desired the Commons to 
 unite with them in thanks to his Majesty for his 
 gracious offers. But this did not suit with the 
 temper and designs of the Commons, who were 
 now lost to every patriotic and constitutional sen- 
 timent. They determined to widen the breach. 
 A division took place between the two Houses. 
 The people were roused to send petitions from all 
 parts of the country — stating the danger and dis- 
 traction of the country; and praying that the 
 Tower and other places of strength and defence 
 might be placed in the hands of the Commons. 
 
 On the strength of these petitions, Mr. Pym 
 undertook to manage a conference with the House 
 of Lords, and in an inflammatory speech, which 
 was afterwards printed and sent on a peregrina- 
 tion of mischief through the country, he had the 
 audaciousness to tell them, " it would be matter 
 of deep regret if the House of Lords would not 
 unite with them in the good work, and that it 
 should be recorded in history, that the House of 
 
 A Conference. 
 
 Commons alone was left to effect the Salvation of SECTION 
 the Kingdom ! " ^^ 
 
 The King now plainly perceiving that the popu- ^"*''- "• 
 lar Leaders would accept of no reasonable compro- "iCC^^ 
 mise, and that they were gradually securing to ™^"' ^'"^^p ^^ 
 themselves the Sovereign power, he resolved to""'""""'"" 
 retire still further from London, and positively to 
 refuse his assent to the passing of any further act, 
 tdl he fully understood the extent of their de- 
 mands, and knew what returns they were prepared 
 to make for all his concessions. Whilst the King 
 was agitating these things in his mind, he receiv- 
 ed a petition from the united Houses, - for his 
 delivering up the Tower, with all the forts and 
 militia of England into their hands." 
 ^ Fully determined not to accede to this proposi- 
 tion, he sent a perspicuous but evasive answer, 
 which they chose to interpret as giving his assent,' 
 and proceeded to act accordingly. Sir J. Conyers 
 was appointed Governor of the Tower, and Sir 
 John Byron, who had been appointed by the King, 
 one of the bravest and most generous officers ij 
 Christendom, was summoned by the Commons, 
 and brought to his knees before the bar of the 
 House, as a delinquent. 
 
 These transactions could not be mistaken : and T^.. n 
 the C^ueen, terrified with daily apprehensions for «' 
 the safety of her family, was already on her way 
 to Holland ; and the King discovered that spirit 
 and resolution which only required an occasion, 
 
 VOL, 11, » 
 
 lies, 
 
 A. D, 1642. 
 N.S. 
 
 «««• 
 
258 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION in which the safety of others was not compromi- 
 IV. sed, to call forth. The Queen embarked on the 
 third of February, with the Princess Mary who 
 who was then about twelve years of age. It was 
 a sorrowful parting ; and if the veil of futurity 
 could have been removed, would have been still 
 more so. The young Princess never saw her 
 father again, and the Queen herself, had but one 
 transient view of him afterwards. The Kmg 
 returned to Greenwich, from whence he forwarded 
 his answer to the ordinance of the Commons re- 
 questing the command of the militia. His answer 
 was most conciliatory. He expressed '' his readi- 
 ness to grant such commissions as they should re- 
 commend to him; hut that he could not consent 
 to divest himself of that trust which God and the 
 Laws had put into his hand, for the defence of his 
 
 peopled 
 
 Transported almost to fury, the Commons des- 
 
 The Com- 1 i tt« v i, ;i 
 
 mens nobly re- patchcd a sclcct Committee to the Kmg who had 
 removed to Theobald's, to assure him that his un- 
 expected denial had created still greater apprehen- 
 sions in their minds respecting the public safety ; 
 and that if he persisted in his denial " they should 
 act in defiance of him, and dispose of the militia in 
 the manner which had been determined in their or- 
 dinance, §*c." 
 
 At the conclusion of the address, the King, 
 roused to indignation at the presumption of the 
 request — a request which demanded the abdica- 
 
 ted. 
 
 The King's 
 address, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 259 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 lion of the Royal authority — and which he could SECTION 
 not grant in justice to his Country, or, without IV. 
 dereliction of the most solemn obligations, answer- 
 ed : " He was so amazed he knew not what to 
 answer: they spoke of jealousies and fears, but 
 let them lay their hands to their hearts, and ask 
 themselves, whether he might not be as well dis- 
 turbed by fears and jealousies, and if so, their 
 message had nothing lessened them. As to the 
 militia he had thought* so much of it before he 
 sent his answer, and knew it was so agreeable to 
 what they could justly ask and he honourably 
 grant, that he should not alter it in any point 
 As to his residence near them, of which they 
 spoke, he wished it might be so safe and honour- 
 able, that he had no cause to absent himself from 
 Whitehall. They might ask themselves whether 
 he had not ? As to his son, he would take that 
 care of him, which should justify him to God, as a 
 father; and to his dominions, as a King. To 
 conclude, upon his honour he had no thought but 
 of peace and justice to his people ; which he 
 would, by all fair means, seek to preserve and 
 maintain, relying on the goodness of God for the 
 preservation of himself and his rights.'' 
 
 The warm and energetic manner in which this 
 reply w^as made, in some measure damped the ex- '^*''°* 
 pectations of the Commons ; but they determined 
 to use every means to shake the King's resolution. 
 They had immediate recourse to their usual me- 
 
 which baffles 
 
260 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION thod of remenstrance ; and during the short period 
 
 IV. of its debate, committed more numerous acts of 
 
 Chap. II. arbitrary power, than had been done by the King 
 
 ^"^"^""^ and Council during the twelve years of their sole 
 
 administration. Sir Ralph Hopton was commit- 
 
 Recourse to tcd to the Towcr, for objecting to some expres- 
 
 othermeasures. g-^^ -^^ 't^ incousistcnt with the rcverence which 
 was due to the King. Mr. Trelawny, an eminent 
 merchant, was expelled the House and cast into 
 prison, for saying to a hicnd—that the House 
 could not appoint a guard without the Kings con- 
 sent, under pain of Treason. Nor did they spare 
 the commonalty : for, one Sanderson, a tailor, 
 being convicted at the Bar of the House, for 
 wishing King Pym and Sir John Hotham loth 
 hanged, was fined, condemned to stand in the pil- 
 lory one day in Cheapside, and from thence to 
 be whipped to the Fleet ; on another day, to stand 
 in the pillory at Westminster, and from thence 
 whipped to Bridewell, where he was to be kept to 
 hard labour during his life :— affording another 
 example, that popular licentiousness is the worst 
 tyranny— that it places no boundary to its will- 
 possesses no directory for its actions— but com- 
 bines in its character all the cruelty, despotism 
 and fanaticism of our common nature ; and, in 
 the development of its character, personifies the 
 
 POWER OF EVIL. 
 
 The Remonstrance was presented to the King 
 by the Earls of Holland and Pembroke. Several 
 
 A Remon- 
 stxanoe 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 261 
 
 times during the reading of it, the Monarch roused SECTION 
 to indignation, by its scandalous statements, ex- ^^' 
 claimed, " It is false. " He said, " He could not k^x^^tsu 
 have believed that the Parliament would have sent presented to 
 him such a declaration, had it not been brought ^ *"*' 
 to him by men of such undoubted honour : " and 
 concluded with a pathetic expostulation, w^hich 
 shewed how deeply he was wounded — " What 
 would you have ? Have I violated your Laws *? 
 Have I denied to pass one Bill for the ease and 
 security of my people. God so deal with me and 
 mine ! as all my thoughts and intentions are up- 
 right for the maintenance of the true Protestant 
 Profession, and for the observation and preserva- 
 tion of the laws of the land ; and I hope God will 
 bless and assist these laws for my preservation.'' It 
 was on this occasion, that the Earl of Pembroke 
 having urged on him the subject, whether the 
 command of the Militia might not be given up for 
 a limited period, he sharply replied : " No : not 
 for an hour ! You ask that of me in this, which 
 never was asked of any King, and with which I 
 will not trust my children. " 
 
 The Commons, though damped by the firmness violent 
 and intrepidity of the King, still hoped to prevail j^^^^j'^" ^™ 
 by importunity, and agitation. The canonical 
 Clergy were silenced, and the most vehement 
 preachers were stationed in most populous places. 
 
 The crisis was now fast approaching. The 
 King had retired to York, where he was attended 
 
262 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IT. 
 
 SECTION by many of the Nobility, whilst a great number 
 IV. of persons of the first quality, were daily flocking 
 to him. His messages on the points at issue, be- 
 came still more decisive. The Parliament was 
 confounded ; and all well-wishers to their country 
 now saw that the time was come, to heal the 
 breaches of the State, and to consolidate the Gov- 
 ernment of the kingdom in its constitutional course. 
 Even the Earl of Essex was staggered ; and wish- 
 ed, that the Parliament would proceed more modC' 
 rately, and that the King who had given so much, 
 might receive some satisfaction. But strange! at 
 this very moment when the Earl was hesitating, 
 as to his future conduct, the King suddenly de- 
 prived him of his office as Lord High Chamber- 
 lain : and this is the more remarkable, as it would 
 have been impossible for the Parliament to have 
 raised an army, if this powerful nobleman had 
 not consented to become its General. This step 
 decided his course ! 
 
 The leading members of Parliament whose de- 
 sign was evidently to subvert the Constitution in 
 Church and State, thus reinforced, determined if 
 possible, to secure the command of the Navy. In 
 order to accompHsh this important object, they 
 sent for Sir John Pennington, who had been ap- 
 pointed by the King, to take the command under 
 the Earl of Northumberland, and during his at- 
 tendance, dispatched the Earl of Warwick to usurp 
 his place. Their next step was, to put their or- 
 
 The Com- 
 mons secure 
 the Fleet 
 
 f 
 
 01' ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 263 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 dinance respecting the Militia, into execution; SECTION 
 which they did on the 10th of May, when their IV. 
 own officer. General Skippon, appeared in Fins- 
 bury Fields, at the head of ten thousand men. — 
 Orders were also sent to all the adjacent Counties, andtheMiUtia. 
 to execute the same ordinance, and to provide 
 arms and ammunition. And hearing that the King, 
 alarmed by their proceedings, had actually ap- 
 pointed himself a guard — with unparalleled hypo- 
 crisy, they passed the following vote; that, ''It 
 appears, that the King seduced by wicked counsel, 
 intends to make war against the Parliament " — 
 when they knew, that he had neither ship, har- 
 bour, arms nor money; and, to complete their 
 treason, they sent forth a third Remonstrance, in 
 which they declared : " That they had an absolute 
 right of declaring Law, as being the supreme court 
 of the kingdom ; and, whatsoever they declared 
 to be so, ought not to be questioned by the King 
 or any subject, &c. " 
 
 The mask was now taken off. The respectable 
 part of the community were dispirited ; and des- 
 paired of an accommodation. They saw the Mon- 
 archical power overthrown, and their just rights, 
 and liberties, prostrate at the feet of a faction. — 
 Many thought it unsafe, any longer to be present 
 at the consultations of the House, and retired from 
 Parliament ; so that in debates of the highset im- 
 portance, not one fifth of the Members were pre- 
 
 »iii_*i. - ' >i..". t" 
 
264 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 265 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Commons 
 preparations. 
 
 SECTION sent; and, very often, in the house of Peers, not 
 IV. more than twelve or thirteen were present. 
 
 But the remaining Junto still retained the as- 
 cendant; and after publishing their nineteen 
 PROPOSITIONS, which contained an entire subver- 
 sion of our constitutional Monarchy, they proceed- 
 ed to secure to themselves the means of supporting 
 an army. Proposals were published for supplying 
 horses, men, and ammunition; and all honest 
 citizens were exhorted to bring in money, plate,- 
 &c. for the maintenance of the public peace, and 
 the security of the laws and liberties. The pulpits 
 were again profaned ; and the disorderly preachers 
 who flocked to London from all parts of the coun- 
 try, exhorted the people to promote " this glorious 
 cause and work of God,, " and stigmatised those 
 who refused, diS ^' accursed of God,'' The result 
 was extraordinary : and we are told, that in Lon- 
 don, Middlesex, and Essex, the money, plate, 
 rings &c. which were supplied, amounted to more 
 than eleven millions Sterling. 
 Condition of In the mean time, the King who was attended 
 the King. ^^ York with a splendid train of Nobility and 
 Gentry, had made no preparations, except send- 
 ing to Holland for a supply of arms. The whole 
 Court were extremely averse to a war. Indeed, 
 on both sides, there were many noble minded and 
 patriotic men, who used their utmost influence to 
 prevent so direful a calamity. But every effort 
 was frustrated, and in such a manner as distinctly 
 
 marked the interposition of the Most High ; and SECTION 
 shewed that the nation was now doomed to suffer ^V. 
 the punishment of its perverseness and folly. Ev- v^r^^^-I^ 
 erything was overruled. The King, who disco- 
 vered great military talents, had laid a scheme for 
 the recovery of the fleet ; which, if accomplished, 
 might have prevented the war ; but it was defeat- 
 ed by the delay of a few hours, in Sir John Pen- 
 nington, who had received a Commission from the 
 King, to supersede the Earl of Northumberland 
 as High Admiral. This delay which was caused 
 by a trifling mistake, enabled the Parliament to 
 issue an ordinance, empowering the Earl of War- 
 wick to take the command of the fleet, which he 
 executed with great dexterity and resolution. 
 
 The voice of warning, almost of prophecy, was The voice of 
 proclaimed to the House of Commons, and the '■'"'°" '"^^J'"''^ 
 whole Nation, by two of its most distinguished 
 members, whose breasts seemed to have been em- 
 bued with the truest sentiments of honor and love 
 of their Country. Their names must be recorded 
 - — Mr. Bulstrode Whitlock, and Sir Benjamin 
 Rudyard, and I wish I could find room for their 
 declarations, one example must suffice: — ''We 
 must," said the former, "surrender up our laws, 
 liberties, properties, and lives, into the hands of 
 insolent mercenaries, whose rage and violence 
 will command us and all we have ; and reason, 
 and justice, and honour will leave our land. The 
 ignoble will rule the noble : baseness shall be pre- 
 
266 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION ferred before virtue, and profaneness before piety.. 
 IV. Of a potent people, we shall make ourselves weak, 
 and, become the instmments of our own ruin. — 
 We shall bum our own houses, waste our own 
 fields, pillage our own goods, open our own veins 
 and eat our own bowels. You will hear other 
 sounds than those of drums and trumpets — the 
 clattering of armour, — the roaring of guns — the 
 groans of wounded and dying men — the shrieks 
 of women, the lamentations of widows and the 
 cries of orphans. I wish the Duke of Bohun's 
 observation may prove a caution, not a prophecy : 
 ' England is a great creature which cannot be des- 
 troyed hut hy its own hands. 
 
 But in vain. The popular and innovating lead- 
 ers believed the King could not make any effectual 
 resistance. Sir Benjamin Rudyard, on his death 
 bed, declared, that Mr. Pym and Mr. Hampden, 
 both told him, that they thought the King so ill be- 
 loved by his people, that he never could be able to raise 
 an army to oppose thern — a fatal mistake, which 
 encouraged them to confirm all their past actions, 
 by a final resolution on the twelfth of July, to 
 raise an army ; and by this resolve, to hasten the 
 destruction of themselves, their King, and their 
 
 Country. 
 The King in Whilst the Parliament was thus determined and 
 perplexity. pj-gpared for immediate action, the King was un- 
 certain what course to pursue. Without a garri- 
 son, with only one ship, which had arrived from 
 
 The Com- 
 mons encoura 
 ged by false 
 surmises. 
 
 II 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 267 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 The scene of 
 
 Holland, without soldiers, without money, he SECTION 
 made use of his abilities ; and endeavoured by IV. 
 policy or stratagem, to gain possession of Hull, 
 which contained a valuable Magazine of Arms ; 
 but after wasting much time in the attempt, he 
 was entirely baffled and obliged to relinquish it. 
 What course he could next have adopted, it is im- 
 possible to say ; but it was decided for him by the 
 governor of Portsmouth, Colonel Goring, who de- 
 clared in his favour. 
 
 Every thing on both sides was now in motion. 
 The Parliamentary army under Sir William Wal- ^'^'" "p*^"'- 
 ler immediately besieged Portsmouth. The King 
 despatched the Marquis of Hertford into the West, 
 with many others of the Nobility and Gentry of 
 those parts, to raise an army and relieve Ports- 
 mouth, whilst he proceeded to raise the Boyal 
 Standard at Nottingham, a ceremony which was 
 to take place on the twenty-second of August — 
 that day, so important to the Boyal cause, was 
 discouraging and inauspicious. No concourse of 
 people appeared in obedience to the royal Procla- 
 mation. No military array attended the King on 
 his arrival. The train-bands of the town were his 
 only guard. — The sky was dark and the wind tem- 
 pestuous. The ceremony took place, about six 
 o'clock in the evening, when the King in person, 
 with a slender train proceeded, on horseback, to 
 the Castle Hill. The Standard was borne by Sir 
 Bichard Verney, the Knight Marshal, who fixed 
 
 1 f 
 
OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 269 
 
 268 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The King^s re- 
 solution. 
 
 SECTION it in its appointed place, attended with the beating 
 IV. of drums and the flourish of trumpets. All this 
 was sufficiently discouraging : but what followed 
 was still more so ; for, in the night, the Standard 
 was blown down by the violence of the tempest, 
 which raged for several days with unabating fury, 
 and effectually baffled every attempt to replace it ; 
 as if heaven intended to presage by such a demon- 
 stration, the storm of vengeance, of blood and fury 
 which was about to desolate the kingdom, as well 
 as to foretel the disastrous result in the overthrow 
 of the Royal Authority. 
 
 Such was the hopeless condition of the King's 
 affairs at this period, that after sending a concili- 
 atory message to both Houses, which was received 
 with insolence, he was unanimously advised by his 
 Counsellors, to hasten to London and throw him- 
 self upon the good-will of Parliament. The King 
 was left alone in his resolution, not to adopt a 
 course, which would have been fatal to the British 
 Constitution. But the King, in order to remove 
 from himself all imputation of blame, or, as he 
 expresses it, " so amply to 'perform his duty, that 
 God would absolve him from the guilt of any of that 
 blood which must be spilt, " he despatched the admi- 
 rable Lord Falkland to Parliament, with an earn- 
 est entreaty, to consider the miserable condition 
 of their country, and to proceed to an amicable 
 adjustment of their differences. 
 
 But the Parliament were too confident in the SECTION 
 strength of their resources to listen to any over- IV. 
 tures that fell short of an absolute surrender ; and. ./^^^^iJ^ 
 after publishing a formal declaration of war, they 
 proceeded to exercise their usurpation of the sove- 
 reign authority, in the most arbitrary and tyran- The com- 
 nical manner. The Nobihty and Gentry were "''"' '^'^""^ 
 committed to prison with every circumstance of 
 cruelty and inhumanity ; many of the Clergy and 
 Laity, who would not rebel against their Bishop, 
 nor abandon their King, were imprisoned on board 
 the ships in the Thames, and confined like galley 
 slaves under the decks ; whilst disorderly and ig- 
 norant preachers filled the pulpits, inflaming the 
 minds of the people, and preaching sedition and 
 rebellion. The Lord Montague of Boughton a 
 venerable Nobleman of unblemished reputation, 
 and eighty years of age, for expressing himself 
 disatisfied at their proceedings, w^as seized and 
 committed to prison ; where he remained to the 
 day of his death : whilst the common people, imi- 
 tating the example of their leaders, plundered the 
 houses of the loyal and well-affected ; and treated 
 the inmates with every indignity. 
 
 But these violent proceedings were of great ad- serves the Roy- 
 vantage to the Royal cause. Every person of res- ^^ ''^**^*'* 
 pectability, not contaminated with sectarian, re- 
 publican or selfish principles, saw, that there was 
 no safety for their lives and fortunes, but in the 
 support of the Regal Power: and accordingly, 
 
270 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 271 
 
 menu 
 
 SECTION every man hastened to his post. The King's levies 
 
 IV. advanced in an extraordinary manner, and at the 
 
 ^^^^^i^^lij end of fifteen days, he found himself at the head 
 
 of a brave and determined army. 
 Northampton In the mean time, the Parliament having all 
 the rendezvous ^l^g arms and ammunition of the kingdom at 
 
 of the Parlia- . n nr 
 
 their disjiosal, had equipped an army of ntteen 
 thousand effective men ; and on the ninth day of 
 September, amidst the acclamations of the multi- 
 tude, they left London under the command of the 
 Earl of Essex. At Barnet, they met the venerable 
 Lord Montague, on his way to London as a pris- 
 oner ; and the Earl of Essex courteously stopped 
 his coach with a design to salute him : but the old 
 Lord immediately ordered his coachman to drive 
 on, saying : " This is not a time for compliments," 
 a rebuke, which it is said, gave a sensible check 
 to the towering confidence of the General ; who 
 proceeded towards Northampton, the rendezvous 
 of the Parliamentary forces. 
 Princes Ru- Whilst the King was at Nottingham, he was 
 pert and Mau- • -^^^ ^ ^-^ ^ephews the two sons of the Count 
 
 Palatine of the Rhine. Prince Rupert, was about 
 twenty three years of age, and was appointed Gen- 
 eral of the Horse. He had been trained to arms 
 from his childhood, and was of a high and enter- 
 prising spirit. He had every qualification of a 
 good soldier — he was brave, vigilant and tempe- 
 rate. But his manners were rough, and his tem- 
 per impetuous. The former, rendered him less 
 
 nee. 
 
 agreeable to his companions in arms ; and the lat- SECTION 
 ter, less successful in securing the advantages of IV. 
 many a well fought field. His brother. Prince ^^Jlt^^^ily 
 Maurice, was equally eminent for his undaunted 
 bravery and greatness of mind ; and more bfeloved 
 for the gentleness of his mind, and the courteous- 
 ness of his manners ; and never, perhaps, were two 
 Princes born to see a greater variety of fortune, or 
 to perform more heroic achievements. 
 
 The King having made the best arrangements The King'* 
 in his power, proceeded on his way to Shrews- ""'^s"^^* 
 bury : and, in order to impress upon all men the 
 justice of his cause, and the sincerity of. his inten- 
 tions, he made the following Protestation at the 
 head of his army, from the statements of which, 
 he never swerved during the whole of this arduous 
 contest : '' I do promise in the sight of God, to 
 maintain the just privileges and freedom of Parli- 
 ament, and to govern by the known Laws of the 
 land, to my utmost power ; and particularly, to 
 observe inviolably the Laws consented to by me, 
 this Parliament. When I willingly fail in these 
 particulars, I will expect no aid nor relief from 
 any man nor protection from Heaven. But in this 
 resolution, 1 hope for the cheerful assistance of all 
 good men, and am confident of God's blessing. " 
 
 The King was received on his march through Enters 
 Derby and Stafford, with every demonstration of^^'''''^'''^' 
 loyalty and affection ; and entered Shrewsbury on 
 the twentieth of September. Hearing that the 
 
272 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 1 
 
 II 
 
 The first en 
 gagemenU 
 
 .jprTiON Earl of Essex was inarching upon Worcester, he 
 IV sent Prince Kupert with part of the Horse towards 
 that place ; who. advancing as far as Powick 
 Bridge, fell in with a hody of the Pariiamentary 
 horse"; under the command of Colonel Sandys.— 
 The Prince though wearied with a long march, 
 hesitated not to engage, and made a desperate as- 
 sault upon the enemy as they debouched from a 
 narrow lane ; and after a sharp encounter, entirely 
 defeated them. This was the first engagement of 
 any moment, and proved of great advantage to the 
 
 ■wjr • 
 
 The fugitives everywhere proclaimed the valour 
 of Prince Rupert, and the courage of his troops ; 
 Ti. Perjur, and though the number of slain was inconsider- 
 able yet very few of that select body, ever re- 
 turned to the war. But the Parliament, to prevent 
 the injurious consequences of such a decisive affair, 
 had recourse to the most odious falsehoods-pub- 
 lished it as a victory on their side ; and even pro- 
 ceeded to the impiety of proclaiming a solemn 
 thanksgiving, for such an auspicious begmmng 
 
 of the war * 
 
 The King s forces daily increased, and where- 
 ever he appeared his presence inspired universal 
 admiration and esteem. His followers were am- 
 mated with an admirable devotion to the cause in 
 which they were engaged. The university of Ox- 
 ford with a most munificent promptness, laid all 
 
 ♦ Sir William Dugdale- 
 
 of the Com 
 mona. 
 
 The King's 
 popularity. 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 273 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 tlieir treasures of plate and money, at his feet ; an SECTION 
 example which was followed by the private indi- IV. 
 viduals of his party. But after all their efforts, .^ " 
 their army was insufficiently equipped ; even the 
 officers were badly accoutred ; and some of the 
 common soldiers were even armed with cudgels* 
 But it was a gallant band, and was destined, by 
 its courage and energy, to maintain the Constitu- 
 tional Monarchy, and liberties of England. The 
 King's troop of Guards was composed of gentlemen 
 of quality ; and it is said, that the estates of that 
 single Corps, were equal to the revenues of all 
 those who then passed for the Lords and Commons 
 of England in Parliament. 
 
 With this army, consisting of ten thousand men. Battle of 
 the King determined to march towards London ^"^^'^ "'"* 
 
 J, J, T.^« 'A. D. IC«. 
 
 and had advanced into Oxfordshire as far as Ban- 
 bury, which he summoned to surrender. Whilst 
 he was preparing to enforce his summons, he was 
 informed that the Earl of Essex had reached Kein- 
 ton, within ten miles of him, and immediately 
 gave orders to march in that direction. When his 
 army arrived at Edge Hill, which affords an ex* 
 tensive prospect of the adjoining country, he be- 
 held the enemy drawn out in the valley, making 
 preparations for battle. Being asked what he 
 intended to do, he answered with great spirit, " I 
 am resolved to fight: God, and all good men, as- 
 sist my righteous cause !" 
 
 VOL. IL 
 
 8 
 
274 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 1 n favor of 
 the King. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The Earl of Lindsey, as Commander in chief, 
 was with the main body on foot. Prince Eupert 
 commanded the right wing, and General Wilmot, 
 the left; whilst the King, attended by the Prince 
 of Wales, every where animated the troops with 
 his presence. The battle commenced about three 
 o'clock in the afternoon. The attack of the King's 
 Cavalry was irresistible ; and both wings of the 
 Parliamentary army were entirely routed: and, 
 had not the pursuit been imprudently extended, 
 the victory would have been decisive. But the 
 Earl of Essex, who, on that day omitted nothing 
 that could be expected from a wise and cautious 
 General, perceiving the mistake, led on the main 
 body, and made a vigorous attack upon the King's 
 Foot. The contest was maintained with great 
 courage and obstinacy on both sides. Sir Richard 
 Verney, Knight Marshal was slain, and the Eoyal 
 standard taken: but the King, sword in hand, 
 heading his troops, led on the assault, and the 
 Standard was recaptured. But the Royal cause 
 suffered a great loss, in the death of the Earl of 
 Lindsey, who was mortally wounded in the heat 
 of the battle. Both armies maintained their posi- 
 tions and remained in the field all night. In the 
 moniing, the Earl of Essex drew off his forces, 
 and retired to Warwick ; whilst the King returned 
 to Banbury, which immediately yielded to his sum- 
 mons ; and from thence he marched to Oxford, 
 which he entered without opposition. Amongst 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 275 
 
 the slain of the Parliamentary army were found SECTION 
 the bodies of several Romish Priests ; and Sir IV. 
 William Dugdale relates, that Oliver Cromwell v..^;it^:-Iij 
 who had the command of a troop of horse in this en- Falsehood of 
 gagement was so terrified at the onset of Prince '^'' ^'""^'""°^- 
 Rupert's horse, that he fled from the field. The 
 Parliament as on the former occasion, published a 
 false representation of the conflict ; and ordered a 
 day of thanksgiving for their glorious victory! 
 So nearly allied are cowardice and falsehood to 
 mean ambition and unrighteous designs ! 
 
 Their hypocrisy was soon manifest; for, whilst Their allies. 
 they were returning thanks for their victory, they 
 were in reality, greatly embarrassed by the King's 
 success; and determined to negotiate with the 
 Scots for their aid and assistance. The Privy 
 Council of that nation by the desire of the Gene- 
 ral Assembly had already sent a form of their 
 Kirk Government to the Parliament at Westmins- 
 ter, which they declared to be '\jure Dirirw;' 
 and ''perpetual," with a recommendation ''that 
 England would now bestir themselves, and extir- 
 pate the Prelatical Hierarchy." 
 
 But whilst the Commons were intent upon Their alarm. 
 this business their alarm was greatly increased, 
 when the King, quitting Oxford, advanced to 
 Reading, which submitted on his approach. Com- 
 missioners were immediately sent with a petition 
 from both Houses to enter into a treaty— a propo- 
 sition which the King graciously and promptly 
 
276 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 \ ( 
 
 SECTION received ; but whatever adjustment might have 
 IV. followed, it was frustrated by the impetuous valour 
 of Prince Rupert, who advanced with the horse 
 and dragoons, without the King s orders, as far as 
 Hounslow, where he was in danger of being sur- 
 rounded by the Parliamentary forces. The King 
 was, therefore, obliged to bring up the main body 
 of his army, to Brentford : an engagement ensued 
 in which the Eoyal arms prevailed and took five 
 hundred prisoners, fifteen cannon, and a great 
 store of arms and ammunition. But the Com- 
 mons turned their defeat into victory, by exclaim- 
 ing against the perfidy of the King for attacking 
 their forces during a cessation of arms ; and pre- 
 tended that no treaty could be negotiated whilst 
 his army was in the precincts of the City. The 
 King who was sincerely anxious for an honorable 
 peace drew off his forces and retired to Reading, 
 from whence he addressed the Parliament. But 
 to no purpose, their object was gained by the 
 withdrawal of the King's army, and they applied 
 themselves to the raising of money for future 
 operations. The King having disposed his gar- 
 risons with great military skill, retired to Oxford 
 into winter quarters. 
 
 His next care was to address the Council of 
 Scotland, in which he gives an ample account of 
 his affairs, reminding them of their obligations, 
 and warning them against listening to the misre- 
 presentations of Parliament. At the same time. 
 
 The King's 
 conduct. 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 277 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 he addressed a letter to the Marquis of Hamilton, SECTION 
 in which he stands forth as the sublime personifi- IV. 
 cation of the cause which he sustained ; and which 
 shews how justly entitled he is to the veneration 
 of all British subjects to the latest posterity. 
 After some general expressions of kindness which 
 he entertained for this dark and treacherous man, 
 he proceeds : - 1 have set up my rest upon the 
 JUSTICE of my cause, being resolved that no ex- 
 tremity or misfortune shall make me yield ; for I 
 will be either a glorious King or a patient 
 Martyr. One thing more, (which but for the 
 messenger were too much to trust to paper) the 
 failing to one friend, the Earl of Strafi'ord, hath 
 indeed gone very near to me ; wherefore I am 
 resolved that no consideration whatsoever shall 
 ever make me do the like ; upon this ground I am 
 certain, that God hath either so totally forgiven 
 me, that he will still bless this good cause in my 
 hands; or all my punishment shall be in this 
 world, which, without performing what I have 
 resolved, I cannot flatter myself will end here." 
 
 The year was now drawing towards its close • 
 and m the month of December, the Earl of New- •-'^'^e enters 
 castle, who had been making great exertions in''''^"^"'* 
 the Royal cause, passed the River Tees, and form- 
 ed a junction with the Earl of Cumberland. This 
 nobleman was of a brave and romantic spirit, but 
 too much devoted to soft and elegant pleasures. 
 He affected great style and magnificence in his 
 
 Earl of New- 
 
\1 
 
 ^m^tmm^nis^fi^-^^-b^ 
 
 278 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Sir Rali)!i 
 Hopton. 
 
 SECTION camp ; and, though punctual in the discharge of 
 IV, the ordinary duties of a soldier, he would not 
 allow the self-denying duties of a General to in- 
 terfere with his refined gratifications. Even in the 
 camp, the soldier was sacrificed to the gentleman, 
 and the solemn exercise of arms was made sub- 
 servient to the indulgence of pleasure. After 
 several skirmishes with the enemy he advanced 
 with an army of ten thousand men. 
 
 In the mean time Sir Ralph Hopton, a most 
 valiant and laborious General had secured the 
 whole of Cornwall to the King s interest, and de- 
 feated the Parliamentary forces with great slaugh- 
 ter, at Bradock Down, near Leskeard, whilst 
 Prince Rupert took Cirencester by storm. 
 
 At this juncture the Queen landed at Burling- 
 ton Bay, and was met by the Marquis of Montrose, 
 who informed her upon the most certain intelli- 
 gence, that the Scots were secretly preparing an 
 army, for the invasion of England. But this sea- 
 sonable information was lost to the King by the 
 interference of the arch-traitor the Marquis of 
 Hamilton, who rode after the Queen to York; 
 and made such representations as induced her 
 to disbelieve the statements of Montrose, and he 
 such protestations of his fidelity and attachment 
 to the Royal cause, that he was shortly after rais- 
 ed to the honor of a Dukedom by his grateful and 
 too confiding master. 
 
 Landing of 
 the Quetn. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 279 
 
 The Earl of Argyle and his adherents in Scot- SECTION 
 land, were left to pursue their designs without IV. 
 opposition and the unconscious Queen pursued ^^lil^;-!^^ 
 her journey to join her betrayed husband, who, Commission- 
 at that time was engaged in a correspondence ^'"^ ^'''°' ^''"' 
 with the Parliament, which afterwards ended in a ^" * 
 cessation of arms and a treaty at Oxford. But 
 whilst a treaty was negociating, the fruits of Ha- 
 milton's treachery appeared : Commissioners from 
 Scotland arrived at Oxford, from the Privy Coun- 
 cil and the General Assembly. These were Lord 
 Loudon and Mr. Henderson. The petition ex- 
 pressed, as usual, their loyalty and respect, but 
 strongly and pathetically urged the King to a 
 unity in Religion and conformity in Church Gov- 
 ernment ; and insisted that there never could be 
 any solid ground for peace and security until the 
 "Mountain of Prelacf' should be removed. Lord 
 Loudon used every argument to induce the King 
 to yield to the wishes of his brethren ; but wheu 
 he found the King could not be moved to violate 
 his conscience, from motives of convenience and 
 advantage, he desired his Majesty to send out pre- 
 cepts to summon a Parliament, in Scotland, which 
 the King refused, on the ground, that he saw no 
 reason to break through a particular Act of Parli- 
 ament which had fixed the meeting of that As- 
 sembly in June, 1644. 
 
 The treaty of Oxford now proceeded. But to ^'''''^y "^ 
 no purpose, as the Parliamentary Commissioners Taielr' 
 
 . 
 
280 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Death of 
 l.ord Brooke. 
 
 SECTION insisted upon the same fundamental changes m 
 IV. Church and State which they had done from the 
 beginning. Nothing could exceed the attention 
 of the King to the subjects under debate ; and, to 
 use the words of one of the Parliamentary Com- 
 missioners, " in this treaty the King discovered his 
 great parts and abilities, strength of reasoning 
 and quickness of apprehension, with much pati- 
 ence in hearing all objections ; and would himself 
 sum up the arguments and give a most clear judg- 
 ment upon them."* 
 
 I'he treaty broke up on the fifteenth day of 
 April ; and on that very day several other military 
 transactions took place in different parts of the 
 country, one of which must be mentioned because 
 it put an end, in rather a remarkable manner to 
 the career of Lord Brooke one of the most deter- 
 mined of the innovating leaders. It is the more 
 necessary to notice the circumstances attending 
 his death, because it will discover that in some of 
 the leaders there was a strong tincture of fanati- 
 cism, which will account for the mixed character 
 of the attack which was soon made on the Con- 
 stitution in Church and State. I do not mean 
 to infer that all Lord Brooke's religion consist- 
 ed in fanaticism. But whatever were his views 
 of Christianity they were carried beyond the 
 boundaries of a wholesome moderation, altogether 
 inconsistent with the holy, humble, and rational 
 
 ♦ WTiitelock. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 281 
 
 I 
 
 
 statements of Revelation, and, on that account SECTION 
 productive of danger to the individual, and to the IV. 
 society of which he was a member. , .^^^ 
 
 This nobleman was on his march to attack 
 the " Close " in Lichfield ; a place which included 
 the Cathedral, and a fortification of great strength. 
 Before leaving Coventry, he ordered his Chaplain 
 to preach from the words of Esther, " If I perish, 
 I perish ; " and, when within a short distance of 
 Lichfield he commanded a halt ; and in a long 
 extempore prayer entreated : *' That God would by 
 some special token manifest his approbation of their 
 design, that if the cause was not right and just, he 
 tnight presently be cut off,'' He advanced immedi- 
 ately to the attack, and having placed his cannon 
 opposite the south east gate of the '' Close," he 
 stationed himself at the window of an adjoining 
 cottage to give directions to the gunners. On a 
 sudden shout raised by the soldiery, he ran to the 
 door, just at that moment, when a ball which had 
 been shot by a deaf and dumb boy, glancing on a 
 piece of timber entered his eye, and piercing his 
 brain, he sunk dead on the spot ! A circumstance 
 the more remarkable, as he was completely armed 
 in mail, and received the fatal bullet in the only 
 vulnerable part. The place which soon after sur- 
 rendered, was re-taken by Prince Rupert, who on 
 his march had a sharp encounter with the people 
 of Birmingham, whom he defeated ; but in the ^ , , ^ 
 
 ^ ' Death of the 
 
 action fell the brave and loyal Earl of Denbigh, EariofDenbigh 
 
 !i 
 
282 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and left his Earldom to his son Lord Feilding 
 IV. who served in the Parliamentary army, and was 
 ^;!:^p4ily ^^^'sti^c^^ *o ^^^ ^ prominent part in many of the 
 scenes which followed. It was also during the 
 siege of Lichfield, that the King addressed a letter 
 Clemency of to the Princc, and which deserves to be written 
 the King. -j^ g^ij . ^^^ tQ \^Q get foi-th as a splendid exam- 
 ple of Royal clemency to all the Kings and Gov- 
 ernors of the earth. He endeavours to restrain 
 the natural impetuosity of the Prince, and tells 
 him " to have a care of shedding innocent blood, 
 to shew mercy, and endeavour, rather to take his 
 subjects affections, than their towns ; that all his 
 hostile actions might appear to be necessitated and 
 not at all desired." He advised him ''to imitate 
 himself, in carrying his affections and intentions 
 to his subjects, as to friends that might be recon- 
 ciled ; since it shewed a Prince more near to hea- 
 ven, to preserve than to destroy," declaring, " he 
 desired nothing but the happiness and peaceable 
 government of his kingdom, and not the effusion 
 of the blood of his subjects. Mercy being the 
 highest attribute of a King." 
 Death of We must notice in this place, the skirmish at 
 
 Hampden. Chalgravc-field near Thane, in Oxfordshire, be- 
 cause it was there, the famous Hampden one of 
 the original and principal conspirators against the 
 Constitution, paid the forfeit of his life. 
 
 It was on a Saturday evening in the month of 
 June, that Prince Rupert with a select body of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 283 
 
 I 
 
 CllAP. II. 
 
 horse, left Oxford, with a design of surprising the SECTION 
 enemy's quarters in the neighbourhood of Thane, IV. 
 where the Earl of Essex was encamped with all 
 his army. Having rapidly passed beyond all the 
 enemy's quarters as far as Wickham, he wheeled 
 round and entirely cut off a regiment of foot and 
 horse quartered in that place, and advancing fur- 
 ther, within two miles of the General's camp 
 where his men lodged in the same security, he 
 met with the same success. The sun w^as now 
 rising ; and the Prince, having performed what 
 he had projected, and being laden with prisoners 
 and booty, gave orders to return with all conveni- 
 ent speed. But the alarm was now spread, and 
 the Earl of Essex immediately dispatched some of 
 his troops to amuse the Prince with skirmishes, 
 till he could bring up his remaining forces. Mean- 
 while, Prince Rupert had nearly passed Chal- 
 grave-field, and was upon the point of entering a 
 narrow lane, when he descried a body of the ene- 
 my's horse in full pursuit. The Prince drew up 
 and awaited the charge, which w^as made with 
 great intrepidity ; but the Prince prevailed and pur- 
 sued the enemy to the main body of the General. 
 In this fight Hampden fell — not covered with 
 honorable w^ounds, but by the bursting of his own 
 pistol, which shattered his arm in such a dreadful 
 manner, that, after lingering a few days in great 
 torture, he expired. It is worthy of observation, 
 that on the morning of his death, he discovered 
 
Chap. II. 
 
 284 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION greater impatience than usual, to repel the attack of 
 IV. the enemy. Such, indeed, was his anxiety, o 
 chastise the insolence of the Prince, that he would 
 not wait for the slower movement of his own men, 
 who were foot soldiers, but mounting his horse, 
 placed himself as a volunteer amongst the Cavalry ; 
 and it is still more remarkable, that he fell on 
 that very plot of ground, where he had put m exe- 
 cution the unconstitutional ordinance of Parlia- 
 ment respecting the militia. He was an extraor- 
 dinary person ; of great industry, and untirmg vi- 
 gilance, eminent abilities and undaunted courage; 
 and. would have been the boast of his country, 
 had he not been an innovator on its institutions ; 
 or had he been satisfied when such a reformation 
 had been obtained, as secured the free working of 
 the constitution. But he had no relentings ; and 
 was determined to accomplish the revolution, 
 which in conjunction with other bold spirits, he 
 had projected, and perished in the attempt, with 
 the merited reprobation of all. who esteem the 
 British Constitution the glory and excellency of 
 
 their country. . 
 
 The King's affairs still prospered ; and it would 
 require a history to do justice to the gallant ex- 
 ploits performed by Sir Ralph Hopton, and the 
 Earl of car. Earl of CamarvoD, who, after triumphing m many 
 »ar»o». a field obtained a most decisive victory over the 
 Parliamentary forces, under Sir W. Waller at 
 Roundaway Down about thirty miles from Oxford. 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 285 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 At this juncture, it pleased God to afford one SECTION 
 short hour of consolation and repose to the pious IV. 
 Monarch, before he should be delivered to the lust 
 and cruelty of the basest and most ignoble of 
 mankind. The Queen, who as we have seen, had Crisis of the 
 landed at Burlington, had now proceeded as far ^'"^'' ^'''"^' 
 as Burton-on-Trent, at the head of four thousand '"^* 
 men, commanded by Colonel Cavendish ; and, on 
 the very day of the victory at Roundaway, was 
 met by the King, w^ho conducted her to Oxford. 
 
 Bristol soon after surrendered to the Royal 
 arms under Prince Maurice, which gave the full 
 tide of prosperity to the King's affairs, and placed 
 him almost in a situation of dictating terms of 
 peace. But he was the same unruffled, indulgent 
 Prince, and published a declaration couched in the 
 most honourable and conciliating terms. It was 
 read and admired by all men and applauded ''as 
 a most gracious and undeniable instance of his 
 Majesty's clemency and justice ;" and peace had 
 now inevitably taken place, had it not been for 
 those designing and flagitious agitators, many of 
 whom had sprung up with the times, and, who 
 saw that such an event would frustrate all their 
 hopes of confusion and plunder. Every effort 
 was, therefore, made to prevent the vote of the 
 two Houses for peace, being carried into effect. 
 The seditious Preachers next day, filled all the 
 pulpits with alarms of ruin and destruction to the 
 city, if peace were now offered to the King— they 
 
286 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 287 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 Suddenly 
 changes. 
 
 SECTION even invented the falsehood that twenty thousand 
 IV. Irish Rebels had just landed ; and printed papers 
 were placarded, stathig that the malignant party 
 had outvoted the Godly ; and, if not prevented, 
 a peace would take place injurious to their liber- 
 ties, religion, and laws. 13ut why should I en- 
 large ? Their arts prevailed. Many of the more 
 honourable Members of Parhament retired, and 
 the propositions of peace were rejected. This was 
 evidently the crisis of the Civil War ; and the 
 only time when a reconciliation was practicable ; 
 because, it was the only time that the Parhament 
 was sincere in its proposals for peace. From this 
 time, a new era begins— the nation is given up to 
 follow vicious counsels, until, after a long period 
 of suffering, arising from the inroads of fanatical 
 violence and military despotism, it should desire 
 the re-establishment of its monarchial govern- 
 ment on its ancient foundations. 
 
 The aspect of affairs now rapidly changed. A 
 council of war was held at Bristol, the result of 
 which was, that Prince Maurice and the Earl of 
 Carnarvon marched into the West, and the King 
 towards Gloucester, which he besieged ; a circum- 
 stance which afforded Parliament sufficient time 
 to recover from its fears — compose their differ- 
 ences and recruit their army : and it is remarkable 
 as discovering an overruling hand inflicting a just 
 chastisement on a rebelUous nation, that the siege 
 was undertaken contrary to the judgment of the 
 
 
 Chap. IT. 
 
 Military 
 movements is 
 
 King and all his Officers, being brought on by SECTION 
 the insolent answer sent by the Governor to his IV. 
 IMajesty's summons: nor would the siege have 
 proved such a fatal error, had it not been pro- 
 tracted by the secret ambition of the Earl of New- 
 castle, who, from his hhherto unchecked prosperity, 
 began to think himself the destined deliverer of 
 his country, so that, when the King sent him a 
 command to leave the siege of Hull, and form a 
 junction with his own forces, he pretended that 
 his principal Officers were unwilling to march till 
 they had effected the reduction of that i)lace. 
 
 Whilst the King was thus wasting his strength 
 before Gloucester, the most act1"ve exertions were ^ 
 
 Scptfmhcr, 
 
 made by Parliament; and in the month of August, a. d. ig43. 
 the Earl of Essex marched to the relief of that 
 place. The King retired on his approach, and 
 drew off his forces to Evesham, intending to cut 
 off the General's retreat : but the Earl of Essex 
 imder cover of a dark night, passed the King's 
 army, and was twenty-four hour's march in ad- 
 vance, before his movements were discovered. — 
 Prince Rupert was immediately dispatched, with 
 five thousand horse, to overtake and divert the 
 enemy, till the main army could be brought up. 
 He marched day and night over the hills ; and ac- 
 complished his orders with incredible celerity : for, 
 before the van of the Parliamentary Army had 
 cleared Auburn chase, intending to reach New- 
 bury that night, the Prince's cavalry unexpectedly 
 
 Vi 
 
.^miim t i fimmmmm t 
 
 288 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Battle of 
 Newbury. 
 
 SECTION appeared, and attacked their rear with such impe- 
 IV. tuosity, that although they fought like brave men. 
 they were thrown into disorder, and a great num- 
 ber of their bravest men were slain. By this sud- 
 den encounter, the enemy was delayed till the 
 King arrived, with his army and cannon. Such 
 also, had been his expedition, that when the Earl 
 of Essex had advanced from Hungerford with the 
 hope of gaining Newbury, he found the Kmg's 
 infantry had been in possession of it some hours. 
 The next morning the Earl of Essex, drew up 
 his forces in excellent order. The battle raged 
 from six o'clock in the morning, till the shades 
 and darkness of nJfeht intervened, and was mam- 
 tained with equal bravery on both sides. The 
 King and Queen were both spectators of this well 
 fought field, which though not decisive, was still 
 in the King's favour: for, he remained in posses- 
 sion of the field, pursued the enemy next day, 
 with great execution, and relieved the garrison of 
 Reading. On the other hand, the whole enter- 
 prise, from his leaving London to the relief of 
 Gloucester, and his return with the remnant of 
 his army, was conducted by the Earl of Essex with 
 admirable conduct and courage. On the Kings 
 side fell the Earl of Sunderland, a young noble- 
 man of the greatest promise ; and his Majesty ex- 
 perienced a still greater loss in the death of the 
 Earl of Carnarvon, one of the best educated and 
 most accomplished noblemen of his day. But his 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 289 
 
 Chap. ir. 
 
 great endowments were sullied and corrupted l)y SFCT.ON 
 the too eager pursuit of pleasure. His energies, IV 
 however, were roused at the approach of war _ " 
 He disengaged himself from the ignominious bon- 
 dage of licentious pleasures, and stood forth, in all 
 the manliness and freedom of virtue. He devoted 
 himself to the duties of his profession. He was 
 active, brave, laborious, and severe. He was en- 
 dowed also with great presence of mind, which 
 enabled him to make the best of every advantage 
 m the hour of danger. 
 
 But the greatest loss of all, on the King's side, T,.e Death 
 was that of the incomparable Lord Falkland °' ^"^ ''*"'■ 
 He was a patriot indeed ! In the commencement'" a.' d.,««. 
 of the struggle between the King and Parliament, 
 no man laboured more strenuously to secure the 
 liberty of the subject and the privilege of Pariia- 
 ment. But such was his integrity, that when the 
 leaders ceased to be honest, he never failed to ex- 
 press his abhorrence of their perfidy. After the 
 war broke out, he never left the side of his royal 
 master, and, whenever any overture of an accom- 
 modation was made, after a short silence, as if lost 
 in thought, he would heave a deep sigh, and in 
 melancholy accents, he would ingeminate the word 
 lEACE, Peace! and would often say. tfuit the 
 agony of the war. and the calamities of his Com- 
 try, robbed him of his sleep, and would shortly break 
 his heart. Yet no person was more bold in 
 danger, or of keener courage in the day of battle. 
 
 VOL. U. T 
 
Chap. II. 
 
 290 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION On the morning of his death, his friends endea- 
 V. voured to dissuade him from engaging in the fight, 
 as he ^vas not a military Officer ; but, he declared : 
 He u-as weary of the times, and foresaw the greatest 
 misery to his Country ; and firmly believed he 
 should escape from it, before night. He was in his 
 thirty-fourth year; and, to use the words of a 
 contemporary writer: "had so well dispatched 
 the business of life, that the oldest rarely attain to 
 that knowledge, and the youngest enter not into 
 the world with more innocency. " 
 . ■ f The Parliament, with all the supplies of the 
 
 Invasion of ah^ j. u-ix^" ^ . 'KAp.A 
 
 the scotts and ^ijj^om at its command, must now have yieiaea 
 to the superior courage, and constitutional loyalty 
 of the country, had they not called to their assis- 
 tance, the Scots whom they had already propitiated 
 by calling an assembly of Divines at Westmmster, 
 for the settlement of Ecclesiastical affairs. But 
 there were great difficulties in the way. The 
 Scots had been well paid for their past services : 
 they had been gratified in every request they had 
 xnade, and they had nothing left to wish, except a 
 vehement desire for the universal estabhshment of 
 
 Presbyterianism. 
 
 The Parliament was aware of their " ruling pas- 
 sion " Sir H Vane the most subtle and contemp- 
 tible of the leaders, undertook the embassage with 
 other Commissioners ; and the Scots, although 
 bound by the most solemn engagements to the 
 maintenance of Peace, called a convention of the 
 
 Their famous 
 Covenant. 
 
 \ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 291 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Estates, and entered into a treaty with Parliament, SECTION 
 which they entitled: "a solemn league and IV. 
 COVENANT for the reformation and defence of reli- 
 gion, the honor and happiness of the King, and 
 the safety of the three Kingdoms." 
 
 The league and covenant, on its arrival in Lon- Approved by 
 don, was dispatched to their " assembly of Divines" ""' '***""''J'' 
 at Westminster, who had long been purged by per- "^t^ "' 
 secutions and desertions, of all its loyal, constitu- 
 tional and episcopal members : and the whole as- 
 sembly was entirely at the devotion of Parliament. 
 After a short debate, they concluded upon the 
 " lawfulness and piety " of the Covenant, and the 
 twenty-fifth of September, was appointed for its 
 formal ratification. On that day. the two hou.ses 
 and the members of the assembly met in St. Marga- 
 ret's Church. The covenant was eulogized " as the 
 most extraordinary instrument that was ever exe- 
 cuted : " intended, " to advance the kingdom of 
 Chnst here on earth, and make Jerusalem, once 
 more, the praise of the whole earth. " Future 
 events have shewn how little of these extravagant 
 expectations were to l,e accomplished. In fact 
 it was a solemn farce ; and the principal actors did 
 not believe a word of these statements. We are 
 acquainted with the private sentiments of many 
 of them, and Sir H. Vane, the chief promoter of 
 the Covenant, is known to have entertained an 
 entire abhorence of the Presbyterians and their 
 Covenant ! Nor will the stubborn facts of history 
 
292 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION permit us to think more favorably of it. Through 
 IV. the power and influence of their Scotch friends, the 
 Presbyterian Divines were now in the ascendant; 
 and, we must judge of men from their actions. Men 
 may entertain correct notions of christian doctrine 
 and be sincere in maintaining them ; but if they 
 act under the impressions of a mistaken or dis- 
 ordered judgment, their character and conduct 
 will, in like proportion, be depraved. Making, 
 therefore, the most charitable allowances for the 
 Presbyterian ministers, and giving them credit for 
 sincerity, we must conclude that they acted under 
 the impression of a perverted judgment. But 
 whether this was the moving cause of their 
 actions, or, whether they were actuated by more 
 selfish and wicked motives, all their prophetic 
 hallucinations were hrouglit to nought, by Him who 
 abhorred their rebellion ; and who intended to 
 rebuke " their madness" by results so monstrous, 
 and so entirely at variance with their anticipa- 
 tions, that the extravagance of their folly might 
 be fully manifest, and stand forth as an example 
 
 to all generations. 
 
 Havoc was now made of the unoffending clergy, 
 .flhTcTrgy. the Covenant was ordered to be read in all the 
 churches and became the test of orthodoxy. 
 The rights of conscience were thrown to the winds ; 
 and thousands of the clergy were ejected from 
 their homes without provision, and thrown upon 
 the world, for adhering to the Church and King. 
 
 \ 
 
 H 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 293 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Never, surely, was there a more barbarous and SECTION 
 cruel persecution ; and it would require a History IV. 
 to do justice to their privations and sufferings. " 
 Nor is it possible, at the same time, to overlook 
 the character of their punishment. It was 
 evidently the chastisement of a divine hand 
 inflicting upon them a just retribution for the 
 sins of their prosperity— for their pride and intole- 
 rance—their formalism and lukewarmness. 
 
 But the obstinate and fanatical spirit which Trial „f the 
 inspired their persecutors, was not to be satiated A^i'i-isi-op. 
 with confiscations and imprisonments, but de- 
 manded a more horrible sacrifice— the life of 
 the innocent and venerable Archbishop whose 
 exemplary patience and meekness during four 
 years of close imprisonment, might have disarmed 
 the hostility of the most savage and untutored 
 heathens. Perhaps never was there a more 
 wanton thirsting for blood. His power and in- 
 fluence were gone. Even the very order of 
 Episcopacy was abolished, and he was a prisoner 
 in their own custody. But no matter. The un- 
 relenting spirit of Presbyterianism must be 
 appeased ; and he was brought forth from his 
 dungeon to ratify the sanctity of the Covenant, 
 with the spectacle of his Trial and Execution. 
 Ihe former was a mockery-the latter was a 
 glorious exhibition of every quality which can 
 adorn the Christian and the Martyr. 
 
'«*;» -lif i%^i»^ti<^ a- 
 
 294 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 His Martyr 
 dom. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PIIILOSOPIIY 
 
 The House of Lords in vain endeavoured to 
 find out the crime of High Treason of which he 
 was accused. They referred his case to the 
 Judges, who unanimously pronounced him "not 
 guilty. " But in the eyes of his accusers he was 
 guilty of one unpardonable crime— of having heen 
 
 an Archbishop. 
 
 When he reached the scaffold, he appeared as 
 if he came to celebrate a triumph. He spoke for 
 some time with great clearness and composure, 
 prefacing his discourse with the words of the 
 Apostle : " Let us run with patience the race set 
 before us. looking unto Jesus, the author and 
 finisher of our faith." Then calmly approaching 
 the block, he said : " God's will be done. " At 
 this moment, the venerable sufferer, was rudely 
 accosted by Sir John Clotworthy, who put some 
 impertinent question to him, which he answered 
 with all christian meekness, and turning to the 
 executioner, he gave him money, saying: " honest 
 friend, God forgive thee. I do: and do thou thy 
 office upon me with mercy. " Then laying his 
 head upon the block, and praying silently to him- 
 self, he critd aloud , " Lord receive my soul ; " 
 and at one blow his head was severed from his 
 
 body. 
 
 Thus perished Dr. William Laud, Archbishop 
 
 of Canterbury, by the hands of lawless violence 
 
 and religious intolerance, as the instruments of 
 
 Him who hath said: -'Vengeance is mine I will 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 295 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 repai/, " By a mistaken zeal for uniformity he SECTION 
 had exercised harsh and unsparing judgments ; IV. 
 and had attempted to establish his power by 
 maintaining arbitrary and tyrannical principles ; 
 than which, nothing can be more repugnant to 
 the maxims of Christianity, or, more odious to the 
 just and indulgent Father of the Universe. But 
 whilst it pleased God in this public manner to 
 punish him for the rash exercise of a public trust 
 which had been committed to him, he did not 
 forsake his servant in the hour of trial; but 
 encouraged and supported him by his presence. 
 His zeal became more tempered with charity. 
 His piety more adorned with humility ; and, his 
 ardour more chastised with patience. So that, 
 whatever may have been the faults of his adminis- 
 tration, he came forth from the trial like gold 
 which had been purified in the fire ; and we are 
 compelled to exclaim on reviewing his character; 
 •' Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright 
 for the end of that man is peace ! " 
 
 Ihe trial of the Archbishop was ushered in by The death of 
 the death of another of the principal leaders of""'*''^"' 
 the Commons. In the beginning of the contest 
 he w^as, what every man should be, a strenuous 
 asserter of the public liberty ; but he degenerated 
 1\'ith the times, and became the most determined 
 and implacable opponent of all accommodation 
 between the King and Parliament. He had a 
 principal share in all the measures of his party ; 
 
\ 
 
 296 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 297 
 
 SECTION and was particularly solicitious, at this period, 
 IV. for the arrival of the Scots. But he was not per- 
 ^^^Jl^J^ mitted to welcome this dishonor upon his country. 
 He was suddenly taken off to answer for his ac- 
 tions to Him who made him. Unfortunately, the 
 circumstances of his death have not been clearly 
 ascertained. Clarendon and others assert, that 
 he was struck with the disease called "Morbus 
 Pcdiculosus "— that he became a most loath- 
 some spectacle, and died in great torment. Rush- 
 worth denies it. But be it as it may, his memory, 
 as his actions, is execrable. 
 Rise of the Thc Presbytcrian, or, extreme Puritan party, 
 iflacp«ndtnts. through calling in the alliance of the Scots, was, 
 as we have observed in the ascendant; but another 
 faction was at work— virulent, republican, despe- 
 rate. These were the "Independents" whose 
 origin we have noticed in the reign of Elizabeth 
 under the name of "Brownists." There were 
 extremely few of these separatists, at that time, in 
 London. Some of their Preachers sat in the 
 Assembly of Divines, under the name of '' the 
 dissenting brethren, " but uniting to themselves 
 every wild enthusiast in politics and rehgion to 
 which the times gave birth, the Hydra of the 
 revolutionary mania embodied itself in this sect, 
 and was destined, under its extraordinary leader 
 to tread under its feet the towering fabric of 
 Presbvterian intolerance. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Oliver Cromwell, of whom the reader has had SECTION 
 a glance on one or two occasions, must now be IV. 
 brought more fully under renew, as the person 
 in whom the evil genius of the movement was to 
 enshrine itself, and render itself visible to all 
 posterity. He was the younger son of a gentle- 
 man of Huntingdon; and, after finishing his 
 education, which, through his disgraceful idleness, 
 left him almost as ignorant as it found him, he 
 returned home, became notoriously profligate in 
 his habits, and the ringleader of all that was base 
 and disorderly in the neighbourhood of his father's 
 residence. 
 
 In this state of mind, prepared for every extra- Cromwdi 
 vagance, he came in contact with some ultra ^^'!'™^' ^ ^''" 
 Puritans ; and became a convert, not to the pure 
 and simple dictates of Christianity, but to all the 
 peculiarities which those rigid enthusiasts had 
 engrafted upon it. He became a religious votary 
 — associated with the fanatical party — pretended 
 to dreams, impulses, transports, and all the 
 other concomitants of a fervid and distempered 
 imagination. He was of a resolute and brutal 
 temper, rough in conversation, restless and deceit- 
 ful; but his distinguishing characteristic was a 
 radical hypocrisy which served him on every 
 emergency, and enabled him to triumph over 
 all opposition. 
 
 In the commencement of the war, he was ap- and a soidier. 
 pointed Captain of a troop of horse : soon after, 
 
298 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 299 
 
 SECTION he was made Colonel, and raised a body of 1000 
 IV. horse, with which he scoured the county, harrassed 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Sir Thomas 
 Fairfax and 
 Colonel Monk. 
 
 the Kings friends and obstructed his levies. 
 Emboldened by his success, he advanced into 
 Lincolnshire, and approaching Gainsborough, he 
 countered a party of the King's forces under the 
 brave and accomplished Colonel Cavendish, who 
 fell in the action — the first illustrious victim to 
 the fanatical zeal of Cromwell. 
 
 The Scots, who had received £100,000 as a 
 foretaste of the liberality of Parliament, were now 
 in motion, and General Lesley now Earl of Leven, 
 who had solemnly sworn never to bear arms 
 against the King, consented to take the command 
 of their army. As a preparatory step, they pub- 
 lished a long declaration insisting upon the 
 "justness," "lawfulness," and - piety " of their 
 invasion, although at variance with every principle 
 of honor, and a direct violation of the late act of 
 pacification. 
 
 Whilst the Scots, who had passed the Tweed 
 on the fifteenth of January, were advancing, the 
 fight of Nantwich, in Cheshire, took place, a 
 relation of which must not be omitted, because it 
 brings upon the stage two individuals, each 
 destined to act a prominent part in subsequent 
 events. The first was Sir Thomas Fairfax, who 
 undertook to relieve Nantwich, beseiged by Lord 
 Byron for the King— a service which he performed 
 with uncommon skill and bravery. Lord Byron 
 
 I 
 
 was obliged to retire to Chester, whilst all his SECTION 
 cannon and stores, with fifteen hundred prisoners IV. 
 
 fell to the hands of the victors. Amongst the 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 at Oxford, 
 
 prisoners, was Colonel George Monk, who was 
 sent to London, and confined for many years in 
 the Tower. The first, soon after, became supreme 
 General under the Parliament; and the other, at 
 a later period, became the honored instrument of 
 the Restoration ! 
 
 Whilst the country was thus bleeding at every Parliament, 
 vem, the King and his adherents had recourse to 
 another expedient for remedying these dreadful 
 evils. A Proclamation, was issued by the King, 
 for summoning to Oxford those members who 
 had deserted the Parliament at Westminster. 
 The summons was obeyed by all who had not the 
 command of Regiments ; and, when assembled, far 
 out-numbered the miserable Junto who remained 
 at St. Stephens. A letter was drawn up by them 
 of the most conciliating and i)atriotic character, 
 and despatched to the Earl of Essex, who, in 
 return enclosed a copy of the " League and Cove- 
 nant" with a declaration, made in conjunction 
 with the Scots, of the most fanatical and profane 
 description— aff*ording another fatal example, that 
 when men have once prevailed upon themselves 
 to break through the plain and settled maxims of 
 Christianity, and violated the plainest obligations 
 of duty ; whilst appealing to religion for support, 
 they are deluded by the suggestions of a diseased 
 
300 
 
 THEOCRATIC PUlLOSOPllY 
 
 A. D. 1644. 
 
 SECTION imagination ; and become exposed to all the evils 
 IV. of a presumptuous enthusiasm. As for the Earl 
 '^""■' "• of Essex himself, after the rejection of the Oxford 
 Proposition, nothing but disappointment attended 
 him to the day of his death. 
 
 The War proceeded with redoubled fury. Sir 
 s,.go of York. Thomas Fairfax, ^vitli all the vigor and activity of 
 a successful General, had no sooner raised the 
 siege of Nantwich than he hastened to form a 
 junction ^vith his father. Lord Fairfax, and the 
 Scots under the Earl of Leven, who had under- 
 taken the siege of York just after it had been 
 reinforced by the Earl, now Marquis of Newcastle 
 with a body of fifteen thousand men. The United 
 Scots and Parliamentarians amounted to twenty- 
 four thousand men. The siege had now lasted 
 nine weeks, and the besieged were reduced to 
 the last extremity. At such a juncture. Prince 
 Rupert was the only person who could be relied 
 upon ; and the Marquis, who had formerly ex- 
 pressed an aversion to serve under him, wrote a 
 letter to the King in which he said "he hoped 
 his Majesty did believe that he would never make 
 the least scruple to obey the grandchild of King 
 James. " But this was more a flourish of the 
 pen, than a true expression of his mind. He 
 still possessed that " haughty spirit " which can 
 brook no rival, and which generally proves its 
 own destruction. The open-hearted Prince no 
 sooner received his Majesty's commands than. 
 
 ! 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 301 
 
 leaving a bnlliant series of martial exploits, the SECTION 
 
 last of which was the capture of Liverpool, he IV. 
 
 hastened with his usual intrepidity to York, from v^^J^i^^i^J 
 
 which the confederates retired at his approach. Battle of 
 
 But it did not suit the genius of a Prince who ^"■'''" ^^'"''• 
 
 never asked when in pursuit of his enemies " how 
 
 many" there were, but "where" they were, to 
 
 rest satisfied with an empty appearance of triumph ; 
 
 and he resolved to pursue the enemy and give 
 
 them battle. The Marquis of Newcastle was 
 
 strongly opposed to this counsel : but the Prince 
 
 being in command, prevailed. The two armies 
 
 nearly equal in strength, were drawn up in 
 
 battalia on Marston Moor, about three o'clock 
 
 in the afternoon, on the second day of July. 
 
 Never was a field of battle more bravely contested. 
 
 The two Fairfaxes, and the Earl of Leven, with 
 
 his Scotch mercenaries, were beaten out of the 
 
 field by Prince Rupert, who commanded the left 
 
 wing, and by Goring who led on the main battle ; 
 
 but to the ruin of the day they pursued their 
 
 enemies too far. For the right wing which was 
 
 led by the Marquis of Newcastle, being routed 
 
 by the Earl of Manchester, who led the left of 
 
 the enemy and not pursuing his advantage too 
 
 far, he was enabled to prevent the Prince and 
 
 Goring who had now returned, from rallying their 
 
 forces, which, about ten o'clock at night, put an 
 
 end to the conflict. Most writers assert that the 
 
 honor of the day was due to the resolution and 
 
 II 
 
302 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 303 
 
 
 SECTION management of Cromwell, Lieutenant-General to 
 
 IV. the Earl of Manchester. But Mollis positively 
 
 ,^^;i^^^:-lij denies it; and gives that honor to Major General 
 
 Crawford. 
 
 Extraordi. But whilst the Confederate army had the best 
 
 nary conduct ^^ ^^^ ^|^y^ ^^q King s Gcncrals were yet in a 
 
 of the Marquis. ^^^^^.^.^^ ^^ ^^^,^ hairasscd the enemy and driven 
 
 them out of the country ; and there can be no 
 doubt but the firm union of these two great men 
 would have turned the scale of victory on the 
 King s side. But to the astonishment of all the 
 world, the Marquis of Newcastle overcome with 
 vexation of spirit broke up his camp ; and, re- 
 tiring with a few friends to Scarborough, took 
 ship and ingloriously deserted his country. At 
 the same instant, the Prince drew off his forces 
 and retired to Chester. 
 
 After such a fatal disaster the termination of 
 the war seemed inevitable. But the vigour and 
 resources of the constitutional party, were yet far 
 from being subdued, and they continued to men- 
 tain the struggle with incredible perseverance. 
 Military uient The Parliament now determined to strike a de- 
 cisive blow, and despatched the Earl of Essex and 
 Sir W. Waller with two armies, each equal to 
 that which attended the King at Oxford. The 
 Parliamentary forces marched with great rapidity, 
 and advanced as far as Woodstock and Newbridge, 
 and effectually enclosed the King, so that his con- 
 dition was desperate, and to all human appear- 
 
 of the King. 
 
 Chap. IT. 
 
 ance, his Children and Counsellors and Army SECTION 
 were now in their possession. The King was IV. 
 even advised to capitulate, but he rejected the pro- 
 proposal with indignation, and said, that possibly 
 he might be found in the hands of Essex, but not 
 as a voluntary prisoner. Armed with this resolu- 
 tion, having ordered all things for the safety of 
 the City, like a wise Counsellor and experienced 
 commander, on the third of June, about nine in 
 the evening, he marched out of the "North Port,'* 
 with his horse and part of the foot, passed be- 
 tween the two armies without observation, and 
 before day-break had reached Harborough, some 
 miles beyond all their quarters. He pursued his 
 march over the Cotswold, and, about midnight, 
 found himself at Barton-upon- Water in Glouces- 
 tershire. The two Parliamentary armies were 
 by this time in the pursuit But the King reach- 
 ed Worcester in safety. 
 
 Essex finding it was impossible to overtake the Splendid 
 King, was obliged to change his counsels; and "'^'^''■^^'" 
 Waller was ordered to attend his motions whilst he 
 himself went to the relief of Lyme in Dorsetshire, 
 besieged by Prince Maurice. The King had now 
 accomplished his design, and divided the armies ; 
 and his great object was now to place himself in 
 a condition to fight with Waller, who pursued him 
 with his usual vigour and resolution. In order to 
 accomplish this, he drew off his forces to Bewdley, 
 keeping the Severn between himself and Waller's 
 
Chap. II. 
 
 I 
 
 il 
 
 304 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION army, and made a feint as if he '^f-'^'^'l^'^l 
 IV. to Shrewsbury. Waller was deceived by tbis 
 movement, and marched with all his forces m that 
 direction. The King, immediately fell back upon 
 Worcester and Evesham, where he arrived before 
 Waller had any intelligence of his movements. 
 From thence he advanced with his little army to 
 Broadway, and early next morning mounted the 
 hills at Cambden. where they found time to 
 breathe, and to look, with satisfaction, over the 
 difficult country through which they had passed. 
 At Burford the King was met by all his mfantry 
 and cannon with transports of joy ; and on Thurs- 
 day, the twentieth of June, after having performed 
 one of the most brilliant exploits recorded m 
 military annals, he entered Oxford in triumph. 
 
 The King, in his turn, now went m pursuit of 
 Sir W Waller ; the two armies came in sight of 
 each other near Banbury, where Waller had pos- 
 sessed himself of an advantageous piece of ground. 
 On perceiving this, the King by some dexterous 
 movements, caused him to leave his position; 
 and drew him into an action at Cropedy Bridge, 
 vvhere he was entirely disabled from further 
 action, and with his shattered forces, he was 
 compelled to retire to London for recruits. 
 
 In the mean time, the Earl of Essex havmg 
 raised the siege of Lyme, was on his way to 
 Exeter where the Queen was confined to her 
 room, having given birth on the sixteenth of June 
 
 Conduct of 
 
 Essex. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 305 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 to the Princess Henrietta, afterwards married to SECTION 
 the Duke of Orleans. On hearing of the ap- IV. 
 proach of Essex, her Majesty sent a messenger to 
 him, to desire a safe conduct to Bath or Bristol, 
 for the recovery of her health, which he sullenly 
 refused; but offered her a convoy to London. 
 This she could not accept, and removing from 
 Exeter, on the fourteenth of July, she took ship- 
 ping at Falmouth, and arrived safely at Brest. 
 
 But the unchivalrous conduct of Essex was to The army of 
 receive its just chastisement. The Kinff alarmed '''^ ^^'^ "^ ^'' 
 
 . , , #. 1 . T^ -, ,M ^^^ destroyed, 
 
 at the danger of his Royal Consort, and having no 
 enemy to contend with, resolved to pursue him, 
 which he did with such rapidity and perseverance 
 that he reached Exeter a few days after the Queen 
 had left it, whom he never saw again. He 
 lost no time, but followed the Earl into Cornwall, 
 where, enclosing him on every side, he was re- 
 duced to the utmost extremity, and the General 
 himself, with his principal officers, having made 
 their escape by sea, his army was obliged to 
 surrender at discretion. 
 
 The King on his return, was every where second battk 
 successful, and entertained the design of approach- "^^"'^'^"''J^- 
 ing London ; but, having despatched the Earl of 
 Northampton with three regiments of horse to the 
 relief of Banbury, he was surprised by the Parlia- 
 mentary forces under the Earl of Manchester and 
 Sir W. Waller, and obliged to give them battle 
 under great disadvantages. The battle was 
 
 VOL. II. u 
 
 
'^ 
 
 rcw. 
 
 306 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 .FCTTON fought ^vith great bravery on both sides; and 
 '"'ivl continued from break of day till night, when the 
 cn«P. II. King who had suffered much less than the enemy, 
 ^^"^ contLed his march upon Oxford, where, havmg 
 strengthened his army, he returned to the field of 
 the late conflict and offered battle, which was no 
 accepted; and retiring with drums beating and 
 colours flying, he ended the campaign by re- 
 turning to Oxford. 
 „oath of s-,r The clamour for peace was now so urgent, that 
 A.c.xa„a.r ca- ^^^ parliament were obliged, for the sake ot ap- 
 pearances. to consent to negotiate with the Km g, 
 hut not with the least intention of concluding a 
 peace. Butbeforethe Commissioners could mee. 
 the retributory judgment of the Most High fel 
 upon several of the leaders and promoters of these 
 calamities. The first, was Sir Alexander Carew 
 ^•ho, from the beginning, had concurred with the 
 Parliament in their most violent proceedmgs; 
 and was deeply involved in the political murder 
 of the Earl of Stratford. Such was his fury 
 against that Nobleman, that he declared; »/ he 
 ^cas sure to suffer ve:ct upon the same scaffold, and 
 urith the same axe. he muld pass the hdl a^a.nst 
 him He was now brought to trial for hokhng a 
 correspondence with the King, with the intention 
 of delivering up the citadel of Portsmouth He 
 .vas condemned to die, and on the twenty-third of 
 December was brought to the scaffold on lower 
 hill, where with great remorse, he confesed his 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 307 
 
 Death of the 
 
 " Pride and stout-heartedness," and suffering un- SECTION 
 der the hand of the executioner, he remarkably IV. 
 fulfilled the terms of his imprecation, by dying the 
 very next man on the same scaffold, and by the 
 same axe, as the Earl of Strafford. 
 
 Next to him, suffered the two Hothams, Sir 
 John and his Son, who might have prevented the *'"'' "^t^*"'^- 
 whole war, had they opened the gates of Hull, at 
 the summons of the King. Their refusal was 
 the first act of treason, and a dreadful respon- 
 sibility rested upon their heads. They were now 
 condemned on slight grounds ; one, for harbour- 
 ing the Lord Digby in Hull, and the other, for a 
 letter which he wrote to the Marquis of Newcas- 
 tle, and being brought to the scaffold, they per- 
 ished miserably in great abjectness of spirit, un- 
 der circumstances of great hardship and cruelty. 
 
 Nor did the Scotch escape the punishment ^^^ ^ari of 
 which was due to their treachery and rebellion. ^'"''*'''' 
 The flame of civil war broke out, and raged with 
 great fury throughout that Kingdom. The Mar- 
 quis of Montrose, roused by the injustice of his 
 countrymen, with a handful of men and even with- 
 out arms, undertook the King s cause ; and in a 
 few months with almost miraculous success, won 
 three remarkable battles, one at Perth, another at 
 Aberdeen, and a third at Iverlogh. In short, he 
 undertook such formidable enterprizes, prevailed 
 in such desperate attempts, that his performances 
 
 i 11' 
 
 ! 
 
 I 
 
308 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Uxbridge. 
 A. D. 1645. 
 
 I ' 
 
 il 
 
 SECTION partake of the fabulous ; and would require a dis- 
 
 IV. tinct history to do them justice, 
 ^^i^^ In the mean time. Commissioners of the King 
 The treaty of and Parliament met at Uxbridge, on the thirtieth 
 day of January, and after debating point by point 
 for eighteen days, separated without coming 
 to an agreement on any one proposition. Indeed, 
 throughout the whole treaty, it is evident that 
 there was not the least prospect of an adjustment, 
 unless the King would have sacrificed his reason, 
 his honour, and his country. The Parliament in- 
 sisted upon the same fundamental changes, and 
 did not allow their Commissioners any authority 
 to depart from the letter of their instructions. 
 An absurd story has gained a place in our history, 
 as a solemn matter of fact, that the King the 
 night previous to the breaking up of the treaty, had 
 expressed a willingness to accede to the proposi- 
 tions of Parliament, but that his resolution was 
 changed by a letter, which he received, during the 
 night, from the Marquis of Montrose, detailing his 
 victories in Scotland, and assuring his Majesty, 
 that he would soon march to his assistance. No- 
 thing can be more improbable. The Parliamentary 
 Commissioners had not power to treat ; and had 
 the King accepted their propositions as they were 
 offered to him, they would, as effectually have de- 
 prived him of his crown and dignity, as they af- 
 terwards did, when they took away his life ; and 
 to use the language of a writer, in no degree par- 
 
 f 
 
 !, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 309 
 
 tial to the royal cause; "It was more for his SECTION 
 honor to resolve, that the monarchy should IV. 
 
 NOT BE MURDERED BEFORE THE KING."* Chap. IL 
 
 The fury of the political tempest was now at its 
 height — Strife and confusion, anarchy and licen- 
 tiousness, confiscations and imprisonments and 
 slaughters, with all their long train of aggravating 
 evils, everywhere, prevailed. But the demon of the 
 storm was at hand, who should, for a season, com- 
 pose the discordant elements, and bring them un- 
 der his control ; till awakening reason, resuming 
 her just prerogative, should, by the force of her 
 power, drive the usurper from his throne. 
 
 The "Independents" who at the commence- Party of the 
 ment of the struggle, were few in number; had ^"'^^p''"'^*'"^ 
 now greatly augmented both their numbers and in- 
 fluence, and began, openly, to oppose the measures 
 of the Presbyterian party. These last, were the 
 allies of the Scots, who were for retaining the 
 Monarchy, in conjunction with their idol, " the 
 Covenant. " They had powerful leaders. Mollis, 
 Stapleton, Glyn, Waller, Long, with all the 
 Peers except the Lord Say. But nothing could 
 withstand the resolute and pervading genius of 
 Cromwell, who led the Independents. His com- 
 peers also were deep and subtle, and well-fitted 
 to act their impious and desperate parts in the 
 tragedy to be enacted— Fiennes, Vane, Hazlerigg, 
 and Martin. 
 
 * Complete History of England. 
 
310 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Cromwell had already prepared the way for 
 IV. the ultimate triumph of his party. With the 
 J^Jit^;.^ penetration of a master-mind he observed, that 
 Preparations the King s success had hitherto been determined 
 «f crumwciu ^^ ^^^ inviucible courage of his cavalry. Search- 
 ing into the grounds of this superiority, he dis- 
 covered it to consist in a sense of honors by which, 
 as Gentlemen, they were inspired. He deter- 
 mined to create a counteracting power in his own 
 soldiers : and instead of a sense of honor, with 
 which it was impossible to inspire them, he 
 studied to infuse into them the Spirit of Fatiati- 
 cism. He chose from the swarming sectaries the 
 greatest zealots, both as officers and men — em- 
 ployed preachers to instil the motives which he 
 wished them to adopt — whilst he himself at their 
 head, like another Mahomet pretended to divine 
 impulses, and, imposing upon their zeal and cre- 
 dulity, he persuaded them to believe that they en- 
 gaged for God when he led them against the King ; 
 and that as it was God's cause, those who fell in hat- 
 tie, died in his favour. Where this persuasion met 
 with a natural courage it added ferocity to bold- 
 ness ; and, where natural courage was wanting, 
 zeal supplied its place, and inspired an obstinacy 
 which chose rather to die than yield. 
 His deep laid Having thus prepared materials for his designs, 
 p^*»- his next object was to obtain an opportunity of 
 
 putting them into execution. Accordingly a pro- 
 ject was set on foot, for obtaining the command 
 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 311 
 
 of the army. But the difficulties in the way SECTION 
 seemed almost insurmountable. Three of the most IV. 
 able and popular men of the day, Essex, Man- ^'"'^' "' 
 Chester, and Waller, were to be removed. But 
 all difficulties melted away before the deep laid 
 schemes of the Independent leaders. They had 
 recourse to their Divines and Preachers; and, 
 having o])tained the appointment of a solemn fast 
 day, in which they would seek God — a phrase 
 introduced with the Covenant — the pulpits were 
 filled with alarming apprehensions of the divine 
 displeasure against the pride and selfishness of 
 the popular leaders, intimating " that God would 
 take his own work into his hands, and if the 
 instruments he had already employed, were not 
 worthy to bring so glorious a design to a conclu- 
 sion, that he would inspire others more fit, who 
 might perfect what was begun, and bring the 
 troubles of the nation to a Godly period. " 
 
 The next day their Leaders in the Commons 
 took up the theme, and Sir H. Vane, first, with 
 an impiety, which one hopes has no parallel in 
 the History of man, told the House — "that if 
 God had ever appeared to man it was in the 
 exercises of yesterday, and that it proceeded from 
 the immediate spirit of God was plain, because 
 all the Godly Preachers dwelt upon the same 
 topic. " 
 
 Oliver Cromwell followed in the same hypo- The Prcsby. 
 critical strain, not with greater subtilty: but'""'^" 
 
 "^ retire. 
 
 tcrian leaders 
 
312 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION with greater versatility of genius, and concluded 
 i^- by moving "that an ordinance be prepared to 
 v^^-v^^ make it unlawful for any member of either House 
 to hold any office in the army, or, any place in 
 the State. " This was called the " Self-denying 
 Ordinance, " and after a strenuous debate was 
 carried in the affirmative ; and like the sudden 
 thunder-bolt, at one blow, it laid in ruins all the 
 hopes and projects of those who had embarked in 
 the cause of the Parliament. The Earls of Essex 
 and Manchester, Sir W. Waller, and other Com- 
 manders, w^hose design was to humble and cir- 
 cumscribe the Monarchy ; and, who, to gain the 
 assistance of the Scots had consented to change 
 the Ecclesiastical Regime, were obliged to lay 
 down their commands and retire from the contest. 
 Armysecurcd CromwclI, of coursc, like other officers of the 
 to Cromwell, ^rmy, was included in the provisions of the Ordi- 
 nance — but it was never intended that he should 
 comply w^th them. Immediately after the pas- 
 sing of the ordinance, he was despatched into the 
 West to the relief of Taunton, and during his ab- 
 sence, as if totally unacquainted with the project. 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax, the new General, wrote a 
 letter to the House to request, " that they would 
 give leave to Lieutenant General Cromw^ell to 
 stay with him a few days for his better informa- 
 tion, without which he should not be able to 
 accomplish w^hat they expected from him. " This 
 was too reasonable a request to be denied ; and. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 313 
 
 Chap. 11. 
 
 being so easily obtained, it was soon followed by SECTION 
 
 another request from the General— " that they IV. 
 
 would allow Cromwell to remain with him during 
 
 that campaign. " It is inconceivable how such 
 
 men as Essex and Waller could allow themselves 
 
 to be imposed upon by such shallow artifices— 
 
 but their power was gone, and, by a just retribu- 
 
 tion they were doomed to see the fruits of their 
 
 own rash and infatuated conduct. In the name 
 
 of Fairfax, Cromwell new-moddelled the army; 
 
 and, for the future, conducted all the military 
 
 transactions of the period. 
 
 A new scene now opens before us. Fairfax Conquest of 
 and Cromwell left Windsor Castle towards the '"'"'''" 
 end of April, to watch the motion of the King's 
 army, and advanced to Oxford. To divert them 
 from making any attempt on that place, the King 
 invested the town of Leicester, which, after a 
 gallant resistance, was obliged to yield to the 
 desperate assaults of the Royal forces. Such a 
 display of successful courage, gained the Royal 
 army great reputation. The Parliament was 
 astonished at the sudden news. The Royalists 
 persuaded themselves that their triumph was not 
 far distant ; and the King himself, in a letter to 
 the Queen, stated that " his affairs were never in 
 a more hopeful condition. " But alas ! he was on 
 the brink of ruin ! He had done enough for his 
 own honor and for the constitutional liberties of 
 his country ; and w^as about to be delivered up to 
 
—I 
 
 314 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Battle 
 Nabcby, 
 
 SECTION his enemies as a victim to lawless violence and 
 i^'« fanatical fury. 
 
 After the storming of Leicester, the King drew 
 of off his forces to Banbury, with the intention of 
 guarding Oxford, and obtaining reinforcements 
 from his Western army. But in this state of in- 
 activity, he was surprised by the intelligence that 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax was advancing towards him. 
 He made the best preparations, with his dimin- 
 ished forces, to receive him; and drew up his 
 army on an advantageous rising ground, about a 
 mile south of Harborough. But receiving false 
 intelligence, that the enemy had retired, he was 
 induced to leave his position ; and had scarcely 
 proceeded on his march, when he beheld the 
 enemy drawn up on a rising ground near Naseby. 
 The impatience of Prince Rupert could never 
 endure the sight of an enemy, and, before the 
 necessary arrangements could be made, led on 
 the attack— overthrew Ireton's troops, and took 
 him prisoner, with six pieces of cannon. Lord 
 Astley at the head of his troop, had the same 
 success, and threw the enemy into great disorder. 
 But the left wing, under Sir Marmaduke Lang- 
 dale, advancing up the hill, were encountered by 
 superior numbers, and put to flight by Cromwell, 
 who despatching a portion of his horse to prevent 
 them from rallying, turned round upon the 
 King's foot, which, by this manoeuvre were placed 
 in a perilous situation. At this moment, the King 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 315 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 advanced at the head of his guards, which in all SECTION 
 probability would have retrieved the loss of the IV. 
 left wing, when, on a sudden, the Earl of Carnar- 
 von cried out to him "will you go upon your 
 death in an instant? " at the same moment laying 
 hold of his horse's rein, which turned him round ; 
 and, before the King could interfere, the word 
 "turn to the right" went through the troops, 
 which caused them to turn their backs upon the 
 enemy, which, a moment before, they were about 
 to charge. By this time. Prince Bupert had re- 
 turned from his successful pursuit: but the 
 moment was gone: the battle could not be re- 
 stored, although the King with great hazard and 
 magnanimity, made every effort to rally his forces, 
 crying out: "one charge more and we recover 
 the day." But it was all in vain. He was 
 obliged to retire, and left Fairfax and Cromwell 
 entire masters of the field. 
 
 The loss which the King sustained on this fatal The victory 
 day was irreparable: for, besides one hundred ^^""p^*-'^- 
 and fifty officers and gentlemen of quality who fell 
 in the action, most of his infantry were taken 
 prisoners, with his baggage and artillery : nor was 
 this havoc sufficient to satiate the Moloch of 
 Fanaticism. Women were offered to its revenge ; 
 and more than a hundred were slain in the pur- 
 suit ; many of whom, were ladies of quahty. The 
 King's cabinet was taken, containing his private 
 correspondence, and they dishonourably published 
 
I! 
 
 316 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 to Prince Ru 
 pert. 
 
 SECTION such portions of it, as they thought might create a 
 IV. prejudice against him. 
 
 The Royalists were still confident in their 
 King's letter causc ; and entertained strong hopes that a peace 
 might still be secured. Even Prince Rupert 
 entertained the vain idea ; and wrote a letter with 
 that view to the Duke of Richmond, to be pre- 
 sented to the King— a circumstance, indeed, which 
 it would have been unnecessary to record, was 
 it not to introduce the King's answer, which, in 
 a few words displays the high qualifications of 
 the Monarch, both as a soldier, a statesman, and a 
 christian : " If I had any quarrel but the defence 
 of my religion, crown, and friends, you had full 
 reason for your advice. For I confess, that 
 speaking, either as a mere soldier or statesman, I 
 must say, there is no probability but of ruin ; but 
 as a christian, I must tell you, that God will not 
 suffer rebels to prosper, or his cause to be over- 
 thrown: and whatever personal punishment it 
 shall please Him to inflict on me, must not make 
 me repine, much less to give over this quarrel; 
 for I know my obligations to be both in con- 
 science and honor, neither to abandon God's cattle, 
 injure my successors, nor forsake my friends. As 
 for the Irish, I asure you, they shall not cheat 
 me, but it is possible they may cozen themselves : 
 for be assured, what I have refused to the Eng- 
 lish, I will not grant to the Irish rebels. " 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 317 
 
 Whilst the King was on his march to relieve SECTION 
 Hereford, besieged by the Scots, he received in- ^V. 
 telligence that Bristol, which was his chief .J^l^^^-Ii;^ 
 strength and reliance, had been invested by Sir Surrender of 
 Thomas Fairfax. He was on the point of turning ^""'''^ 
 his arms in that direction, when a letter from 
 Prince Rupert, saying that he would undertake 
 to defend it full four months, encouraged him to 
 proceed to Hereford which he entered in triumph. 
 
 But his heart was set on the relief of Bristol, 
 and with that view he transmitted to the Prince 
 a scheme of military movements, which he in- 
 tended to put in execution. But before he had 
 time to put his army in motion, he received the 
 astonishing news of its surrender. 
 
 The King felt that this was a decisive blow, ^ . 
 
 ^ Prince Ru- 
 
 and performed the duty of a General with admira- pert retires 
 ble promptitude and decision. He wrote to the 
 
 ^ test. 
 
 Prince, and without indulging in one irritating 
 expression, recalled his commission and gave him 
 orders to leave the kingdom. But the Prince 
 followed the King to Newark, where he had an 
 interview with his offended Sovereign, who sub- 
 mitted his case to his Council : and after a debate 
 of two days, the Prince received a written decla- 
 ration, which cleared him from all imputations of 
 disloyalty or treason ; but not of indiscretion ; 
 and, soon after, with his brother Maurice, he 
 left the kingdom. 
 
 from the con- 
 
318 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 retires 
 
 SECTION In the mean-time, the Lord Digby who had 
 
 cnll'ir "^^^^ ^^^* *^^ King, but when any desperate 
 K^J^^^^^ enterprise was to be achieved, had left Newark 
 Lord Digby ^j^h a body of Horse to join the Marquis of 
 Montrose ; and, at Sherborne, fell in with a party 
 of the enemy, which he attacked with great 
 bravery, and routed ; but his own men who had not 
 come up, mistaking the fugitives for their fellows, 
 fled with consternation. He advanced, however, 
 as far as Dumfrieshire, when he was reduced to 
 such extremity by desertion and fatigue, that he 
 was obliged to give up his design. The Lord 
 Digby, Sir Marmaduke Langdale, and the other 
 officers, took shipping, and sailed to the Isle of 
 Man. 
 
 The King, who, surrounded on all sides, was 
 obliged to leave Newark ; which he did, at mid- 
 night, with a body of five hundred horse, and, 
 arrived safely at Oxford. At the same time. Lord 
 Goring left his army in the AVest ; and, on a sud- , 
 den, returned to France. He was desperately 
 courageous ; his morals infamous, and his manners 
 profligate : and had he intended to ruin the King's 
 cause in the West, he could not have done it 
 more effectually. Sir William Dugdale was in- 
 formed, that he took upon him the habit of a 
 Dominican Friar in Spain ! 
 Lord Hopton And ucxt, the Lord Ilopton, Commander-in- 
 
 covers the rc-/-^i . ^ i i t^ • > * 
 
 treat of the ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^ l^c Prmcc of Walcs in Cornwall, 
 Prince of Wales was obliged to surrcudcr to Sir Tliomas Fairfax, 
 
 Lord Goring 
 retires. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 319 
 
 A. D. 164G. 
 
 on the most honorable conditions, after having SECTION 
 secured the flight of the Prince of Wales, who, iV. 
 accompanied by the Lord Capcl and Colepeper, ^"*'*' "* 
 Sir Edw. Hyde and others, safely reached the Isle 
 of Scilly. Lord Hopton retired from the conflict 
 with the most unblemished honor, and the highest 
 reputation for valour and conduct. 
 
 And last of all, the brave Lord Astley, who was Lord AsUey 
 on his march from Worcester to Oxford, with two '"''^"'''^ 
 thousand men, was surrounded, and after a des- 
 perate resistance totally defeated. 
 
 In Parliament, every proposition made by the DifficuUicsof 
 King was rejected, and through the intrigues of ^^'^^'"^* 
 the Independents, the greatest confusion pre- 
 vailed in their counsels. The Scots finding 
 their great idol disregarded, published a decla- 
 ration against their propositions for peace, 
 which effectually widened the breach between the 
 contending factions in the House ; whilst the ad- 
 herents of Popery, who from the beginning, had 
 fomented the quarrel, assailed the King, with 
 their intrigues, through the Cardinal Mazarine, 
 minister of France, who used every efibrt to in- 
 duce the King to yield to the Presbyterians and 
 abolish Ejoiscopacy ! A letter was even produced 
 by the Scots, which they alleged to be written by 
 the Queen, containing such expressions concern- 
 ing religion, as utterly confounded the King, and 
 led him to conclude, that the whole was a conspi- 
 racy between the Papists and the Presbyterians 
 
320 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION against the Church. But although they could 
 IV. not prevail in this grand point, he was induced 
 through the personal entreaties and promises of 
 Montrevii, the envoy of Mazarine, to enter into a 
 treaty with the Scots, and to entrust himself in 
 
 their hands. 
 
 Although the King had entered their camp 
 
 The King re- 
 
 tires to 
 
 ^^'"^ with the most solemn assurance of safety, under 
 srottish Camp. ^^^ ^^^^ ^^ Moutrcvil, and in the name of the 
 
 King of France, yet the Scots affected to be sur- 
 prised at his arrival ; and wrote the most dissem- 
 bling letters to the Committee of both kingdoms 
 at Westminster, in which they inform them of 
 the " strange Providence " which had happened, 
 assuring them that there had been " no treaty 
 between the King and them, or, any in their 
 
 names. " 
 
 This unexpected event threw the two Houses 
 at Westminster into great perplexity ; and, their 
 first resolution was to command their General to 
 raise the siege before Oxford, and to proceed to 
 Newcastle, to which place the Scots had directed 
 their march. But they were soon pacified by the 
 assurances of the Scotch Commissioners: ^^hat 
 all their orders would meet with an absolute 
 obedience in their army. " Upon which, a vote 
 of the House was immediately dispatched to the 
 Scotch army that " his Majesty's person should 
 be sent to Warwick castle. " 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 321 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 But the Scots were not yet prepared to sur- SECTION 
 render all the advantages which they expected to IV. 
 derive from the "strange Providence" which 
 had happened to them ; and insisted strongly on 
 the necessity of maintaining the King's legal and 
 constitutional rights. The King sent a gracious 
 message to Parliament to say, " that he was wil- 
 ling to comply with everything which might be 
 for the good of his subjects." But the public good 
 was a subject which little concerned the conflict- 
 ing parties in Parliament, who determined, at all 
 hazards, to secure their own individual interest. 
 
 By their specious representations the Scots TheMarqui, 
 prevailed upon the King to command the Marquis "/"^ontrosere. 
 of Montrose to disband his army and retire from ^'Td. 164«. 
 the kingdom— a command, which he obeyed with 
 the greatest reluctance and profoundest grief; 
 whilst a general order to the same effect was 
 transmitted to all the governors of castles and 
 fortresses, throughout the kingdom. 
 
 At this juncture, the Presbyterians were in the 
 ascendant ; and, had they now closed their nego- 
 tiations with the King, they would have gained 
 the day, and accomplished the grand object 
 which the Scots had in view, on engaging in the 
 quarrel. How remarkable that the Scots, through 
 their covetousness, in prolonging the treaty con- 
 cerning the King's person, should have been the 
 means of frustrating their own designs ! 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 u 
 
322 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION In the meantime, higli debates were carried on 
 JV. in Parliament, and the Independents contrived to 
 ^;:i^:4^ introduce into the propositions which they were 
 Propositions preparing to submit to the King, such conditions 
 of Parliament. ^^ ^Quld rcudcr it impossiblc for him to comply 
 with them. After several months altercation, the 
 propositions were completed; the substance of 
 which was — the abolition of Episcopacy—the 
 establishment of Presbyterianism— the relinquish- 
 ment of the command of the militia, and the aban- 
 donment of all the nobility and clergy, who had 
 adhered to the Royal cause, 
 sinsxiiar oc- Thc Dukc of Hamilton who had now regained 
 currence. j^^g liberty, couvcycd to the King the first intelli- 
 gence of these propositions, which he strongly^ 
 urged him to accept. It was on the seventeenth 
 of July that this Arch-deceiver and betrayer arrived 
 at Newcastle ; and, at the instant he approached 
 the King s presence and was kneeling to kiss his 
 hand, the sky, which had been perfectly tranquil 
 and without a cloud, was suddenly overcast, and 
 a dreadful storm of thunder and lightning threw 
 the whole heavens into disorder— a circumstance 
 which, might probably, have passed without 
 notice, had not the same phenomenon happened 
 soon after, when the Earl of Argyle was also 
 approaching his Majesty for the purpose of testi- 
 fying his allegiance— again the air thundered — 
 the lightning flashed, and all nature seemed to 
 testify her abhorrence of their treachery. 
 
 OP ENGLISH histohy. 
 
 323 
 
 iA: 
 
 
 Chap. U. 
 
 Every engine was now set at work to induce SECTION 
 the captive monarch to comply with the Parlia- IV. 
 mentary propositions. Mr. Henderson, the famous 
 Scotch Presbyter, was deputed to hold a solemn The King', 
 disputation with the King on the subject ofHtretr"* 
 Church Government, and repaired to him at 
 Newcastle, provided with books and every assist- 
 ance, to establish the Divine Right of Presby- 
 terianism. My limits, I find, will not allow me 
 to do justice to this remarkable conference.— 
 Suffice it to say, that if the King's arms had been 
 as strong as his arguments in favor of Episcopacy, 
 he had been invincible. And it is remarkable 
 to behold a Prince, without the assistance of men 
 or books, successfully maintaining his ground 
 against so great a Theologian, in a controversy 
 which had exercised his thoughts and attention 
 through his whole life. The circumstances attend- 
 ing the conference had a powerful influence on 
 the mind of Henderson. He returned to Edin- 
 burgh, overwhelmed with grief and shame at the 
 part he had taken in opposition to the King ; and 
 shortly after, on his death bed, published a solemn 
 declaration to the Pariiament and Synod of Eng- 
 land, in which he owns " that they had been 
 " abused with most false aspersions against his 
 " Majesty : and declares that they ought to restore 
 '^^ him to his just rights, Royal throne and dig- 
 " nity, lest an indelible character of ingratitude 
 " be upon them, that may turn to their ruin. " 
 

 324 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Nor is this all. He left behind him the following 
 character of the illustrious Monarch. " I do 
 declare before God and the world, whether in 
 Henderson's relation to Kirk or State, I found his Majesty the 
 
 tion.^ ^ ^'^^ most intelligent man I ever spoke with ; as far 
 beyond my expression, as expectation, I profess 
 that I was oftentimes astonished with the solidity 
 and quickness of his reasons and replies, wondered 
 how he, spending his time in sports and recrea- 
 tions, could have attained to so great knowledge ; 
 and must confess that I was convinced in con- 
 science, and knew not how to give him any 
 reasonable satisfaction ; yet the sweetness of his 
 disposition was such, that whatsoever I said was 
 well taken : I must say that I never met with any 
 disputant of that mild and calm temper, which 
 convinced me that such wisdom and moderation 
 could not be without an extraordinary measure of 
 the divine grace. I dare say if his advice had 
 been followed all the blood that is shed, and all 
 the rapine that is committed, should have been 
 prevented. " 
 Interference ^q sooucr had Hcndcrson retired from the 
 
 of the French i -r» n* i x^ i 
 
 Court field of controversy, than Bellievre, the h rench 
 
 Ambassador, arrived with great promises of assist- 
 ance from the Court of France ; but, what is very 
 extraordinary, declared "that nothing could be 
 done for him, unless he would give up the church, 
 extirpate Episcopacy, and give up all the lands 
 belonging to the Cathedral Churches. '* The 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 325 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 King was inflexible, and magnanimously rejected SECTION 
 those offers of assistance which were to be pur- IV. 
 chased on such dishonorable terms. A more ' 
 formidable antagonist appears in the person of the 
 Queen, who, on the failure of Bellievre. dispatched 
 Sir William Davenant to induce the King to com- 
 ply with the views of the French Court, and the 
 desires of his Parliament. But he treated her 
 Ambassador with great sharpness, and he re- 
 turned to France much dejected with his reception. 
 
 We should wonder at this interference of the De«i „, of 
 French Court, and their vehement desire for the "■' f'"""' " 
 overthrow of the church of England, did we not 
 know, on the most irrefragable testimony, that 
 this was the grand design of the Romanists during 
 this calamitous period. Sir William Boswell in 
 a letter to Archbishop Laud, from beyond sea, 
 distinctly assures him " that the Romish clergy 
 had gulled the misguided portion of the English 
 nation ; and that too, under a Puritanical dress; " 
 and tells him "that the main-drift of their inten- 
 tion was to pull down the English Episcopacy. " 
 A statement which is abundantly confirmed by 
 Archbishop Bramhall in a letter to Archbishop 
 Usher, in which the venerable prelate assures 
 him on his own knowledge, " that in the year 
 1646, by orders from Rome, more than a hundred 
 of the Romish clergy were sent into England 
 most of whom went into the Pariiamentary towns 
 under the name of Puritans. Many of the Eng- 
 
326 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IF. 
 
 SECTION lish Romanists were at first surprised ; but they 
 I^'. soon came to a true understanding, and it was 
 agreed that there was no better design to confound 
 the Church of England than by pretending liberty 
 of conscience.'' I shall afterwards adduce further 
 evidence connected with this subject; but this is 
 sufficient in this place to shew, that there was a 
 deep-laid and organised plot for the destruction 
 of the Anglican church, inasmuch as it was con- 
 sidered the great bulwark of Protestantism. 
 
 It was now evident that the King could not be 
 
 Parliament 
 
 barsfains with movcd, aud thc Scots prepared to make their bar- 
 gain. It was agreed that ^400,000 should be 
 advanced to them, with a tacit condition that the 
 King should be delivered to the Parliament. But 
 the plot was not yet ripe. The Marquis of 
 Argyle and the Chancellor Loudon offered their 
 services and repaired to London, to treat with 
 Parliament. They represented, that by the oath 
 of allegiance they were bound to defend the per- 
 son of the King from all harm — that an additional 
 obligation was laid upon them by the '' solemn 
 league and covenant ''-^ihat the law of nations 
 would not permit them to deliver up the meanest 
 person that fled to them, much less would it per- 
 mit them to deliver up the King ; and that " an 
 indelible character of disgrace and infamy must 
 be for ever imprinted on them, if they yielded to 
 it, " But the Parliament knew the temper of the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 327 
 
 men and resolved not to advance their money till SECTION 
 they had obtained possession of the Royal person. ^^• 
 
 To assist in these deliberations, the Scotch v^^-iL 
 Parliament was assembled, and the Duke of Hamilton's 
 Hamilton again appears, in all the fullness of '"^"'^''""'• 
 prosperity and glory ; and, was sedulously courted 
 by all parties. But he was the same man, and 
 acted the part of a Traitor to the last. He was 
 solicited by the Royalists, not to delay bringing 
 the main subject respecting the security of the 
 King's person before ParUament. In particular, 
 the Lord Innepesser having sounded the Com- 
 missioners, earnestly besought the Duke not to 
 admit of a moment's delay, assuring him, "it 
 would now go for the King by thirty voices ; but 
 if protracted, such was the industry of the Argy- 
 lians and Kirk Commissioners, that they would 
 draw away so many as to lose their cause. " The 
 Duke thanked him, but desired him " to leave the 
 matter to him, who knew best to take the op- 
 portunity." A week after, the same Lord, per- 
 ceiving a great change in the Commissioners, sent 
 again to the Duke to inform him "that by reason 
 of men's inconstancy, they could now only carry 
 it by fifteen votes. " His Grace returned the same 
 answer; and, it was not till the fifteenth of Decem- 
 ber, after letters had been received from the Lon- 
 don Commissioners, that he brought the subject 
 before Parliament. The matter was formally 
 debated and some delay occurred ; but, on the 
 
h 
 
 328 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION sixteenth of January it was voted in these words, 
 IV. " That according to the agreement of the Lon- 
 
 ^^^it^;-^ don Commissioners, the army should retire, and 
 the King be left to the English, without any 
 condition for him, or, our interest in him." 
 
 The Duke of Hamilton and his brother voted 
 against this proposition; but this speciousness 
 did not save their reputation. All their known 
 dependents and friends voted for the resolution, 
 and a portion of the reward of iniquity, to the 
 amount of £30,000, fell to their share. 
 The Earl of Whilst this prodigious wickedness was trans- 
 
 tented-diT" ^^^^^E» the Earl of Essex, overcome with chagrin 
 and disappointment, retired from public life ; and, 
 in the silence of retirement, deeply lamented the 
 part he had taken in promoting the miseries of 
 his country. He brooded in secret over the 
 calamities which he himself had been a principal 
 agent in promoting ; and, would fain have given 
 his power and influence, to rescue his King and 
 country from the evils in which he had assisted 
 to involve them. But it was now too late. The 
 Divine Being would not commit such a glorious 
 enterprize to one, whose pride and vanity, more 
 than any maliciousness of spirit, had induced him, 
 against all reason and honor, to take up arms 
 against his Sovereign. Whatever might have 
 been his designs at this period, he was not per- 
 mitted to put them into execution ; but, worn out 
 with anxiety and remorse, he sunk under the 
 
 i< 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 329 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 pressure; and gradually declined, till the four- * SECTION 
 teenth of September, when he expired in the fifty- IV. 
 sixth year of his age. 
 
 The Scots had now received their reward, and scotch Par. 
 the King was delivered up to the English Com-^'^'"^"'^'''^"^ 
 
 • . T . the King 
 
 missioners appointed to receive him— a transac- 
 tion so dishonorable, that it became the subject of 
 discourse and censure throughout Christendom; 
 and has left an indelible stain of infamy upon all 
 concerned in it. Nor was it left unpunished. 
 The Scots retired with a reward, but it was 
 charged with a deadly curse. From that time, 
 all the prosperity which they had enjoyed, during 
 the two last reigns, was blasted — a new scourge 
 of blood and slaughter was preparing for them — 
 the ruin of their Kirk and state was impending, 
 and the whole of that generation lived to behold 
 their country the most despicably conquered pro- 
 vince on the face of the earth ! 
 
 It was on the thirtieth of January, that the saturday,the 
 Scots having delivered up their captive Monarch ^othof January 
 departed into their own country ; whilst the Eng- ' n. s. * 
 lish Commissioners, the chief of whom were the 
 Earls of Pembroke and Denbigh, conducted their 
 illustrious prisoner to Holmby Castle, in Nor- 
 thamptonshire. On his way he was attended 
 with vast concourses of people, who implored his 
 blessing, and attended him with acclamations and 
 prayers for his safety and happiness. His be- 
 haviour during his confinement in this place. 
 
330 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION affords a finished portrait of the King, Philosopher 
 
 IV. and Christian, illustrating in his daily practice 
 
 ^^Jiy;i^ the calmness of an enlightened devotion, and the 
 
 dignity of patient submission. 
 
 The army The wholc powcr of the state was now wielded 
 
 and the Pies- ^y ^^le Preshvterians, who, relying on their own 
 
 byterians. . " 
 
 strength, rejected proposals which had been sent 
 by the King, though, containing the most ample 
 concessions. They even began to riot in the 
 public plunder, and distributed largesses amongst 
 their friends to the amount of .£90,000. The 
 sweets of power and self-gratification were irre- 
 sistible ; and they resolved to secure the means of 
 both, by disbanding the army, a resolution which 
 was more easily made than put into execution. 
 But their reign was short ; the Independents had 
 already made great advances ; and Cromwell had 
 made such preparations as entirely defeated their 
 intentions. He himself and the principal officers 
 of the army, with hypocritical zeal, broke in upon 
 the sacred functions of the Ministry ; and under- 
 took the office, of preaching and praying amongst 
 the troops. The soldiers were soon inflamed by 
 the same unlawful fire, and preached not only to 
 their comrades in arms, but in the pulpits of the 
 churches, to the deluded people. All the mounds 
 of propriety and reason, and of Ecclesiastical 
 decorum, which had hitherto restrained the tide 
 of religious licentiousness, were broken down. 
 Women, seized with the fanatical spirit essayed 
 
 'f, 
 
 1 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 331 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 A military 
 
 to become declairaers and prophets. Confusion SECTION 
 like that of Babel, everywhere prevailed. No IV. 
 one must be called to account for his religious 
 opinions, however profane, heretical, and blasphe- 
 mous. In their profane jargon, to forbid these 
 wild exercises, was—" to restrain the spirit." 
 
 The Presbyterians, however, attempted and ^ ...„., 
 made vigorous eff'orts to put down the multitude P'*''"^™^"' 
 of sects, which daily increased, and like a swarm "'"'"'''^ 
 of locusts, invaded the land. But in vain they 
 attempted to allay the spirit which they them- 
 selves had raised. The very attempt turned to 
 their own confusion and ruin. The leaders of 
 the Independents termed it persecution and 
 tyranny; and, on this pretext, Cromwell pro- 
 ceeded to establish a military Parliament, in order 
 to secure the liberties of the people. The upper 
 House consisted of a certain number of officers, 
 and the lower House of three or four soldiers from 
 every regiment. The authority by which they 
 sat was founded on the power of the sword ; and 
 was, almost, if not altogether, as legitimate as 
 that of the Parliament at Westminster, which was 
 founded in usurpation. The military Parliament 
 sent repeated messages and declarations to the 
 civil legislature, complaining of their persecution 
 of the godly— B, persecution they asserted, worse 
 than that of the Bishops— demanding liberty of 
 conscience, refusing to disband till the just rights 
 and liberties of the subject were recognized; and 
 
332 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION declaring, that the design of disbanding the army, 
 IV. "was a plot contrived by some men who had 
 ^^^;ii^ulij lat^^y *^s^^^^ ^^ Sovereignty, who being elevated 
 above servants, endeavoured to become masters, 
 and were degenerated into tyrants." What a 
 righteous retribution, that the Presbyterians should 
 be assailed with their own weapons, and dragged 
 from their bad pre-eminence by the very instru- 
 ments they had created, and by whose means they 
 had gained their bloody and dear-bought triumph 1 
 Presbyterians It must bc owucd, howcvcr, that the Presby- 
 8trui?gieinvain. ^^^^^s did uot tamely submit to the dictation of 
 the army; but struggled hard to maintain the 
 power, which they had acquired with so much 
 difficulty and danger. The House talked high ; 
 and came to bold resolutions, which the murmurs 
 of the army obliged them to rescind. They con- 
 descended even to bribe by the advance of a 
 month's pay. But all in vain. The army became 
 more tumultuous, and, like an unrestrained tide, 
 made daily encroachments on their authority. 
 
 All this time, Cromwell was playing his part 
 with the most consummate art. He attended the 
 House, exclaimed vehemently against these irre- 
 gularities ; lamented, with tears, the insolence of 
 the Army, and represented his own life as in dan- 
 ger from their mutinous conduct. But it was 
 impossible, entirely, to conceal his sinister inten- 
 tions ; and the leaders of the House, determined to 
 secure him, as the author of all their distractions. 
 
 Cromwell 
 outwits tl em. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 333 
 
 S 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Seizes the 
 
 Their design was kept a profound secret; but SECTION 
 such was his command of information, that he IV. 
 became fully acquainted with it, and next morn- 
 ing, at an early hour quietly left the City, attended 
 only by one domestic, and joined the Army. 
 
 Nor was he long inactive. He had trained the 
 army to his purposes, and by the force of a supe- ^'°*^'' p*"^'"* 
 rior genius, which rendered him perfectly master 
 of all the arts of dissimulation and intrigue, had 
 gained an ascendant over the mind of the general 
 himself. Accordingly, without the concurrence of 
 the Commander-in-Chief, a plot of the most deci- 
 sive and desperate character was adopted and put 
 into execution. Comet Joyce, a man of a rude and 
 insolent character, was dispatched to Holmby Cas- 
 tle, with a select body of horse, to seize the King s 
 person, and convey him to the army. At mid- 
 night, on the eleventh of June, he suddenly drew 
 up his horse before the Castle and demanded en- 
 trance. The officers of the guard would have re- 
 sisted his summons, as he could show no autho- 
 rity : but the common Soldiers would not stand 
 to their arms, and opened the gates to their com- 
 rades. Joyce, having stationed a guard at the 
 doors of the Commissioners, hastened to the King's 
 chamber, and, with a pistol cocked in his hand, 
 boldly knocked at the door. The King's attend- 
 ants amazed at his audacious conduct, desired 
 him to lay aside his arms and to retire till mom- 
 mg. But all their solicitations were in vain : the 
 
334 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OK ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 335 
 
 The King 
 and Cornet 
 Joyce. 
 
 SECTION blustering Cornet, with still greater clamour, de- 
 ^^* manded to see the King, who being awoke by the 
 altercation, sent him a mild message, to say, that 
 " he should not rise to see him till morning," upon 
 which, very much against his inclination, he retired. 
 The King rose early in the morning, and, after 
 his usual devotions, sent for Joyce, who entered 
 the apartment with great bluntness, and told his 
 Majesty that he had orders to convey him to the army. 
 The King demanded by whose appointment ? But 
 this was a question which the well-instructed 
 Comet had no intention of answering; and re- 
 maining silent, the King asked him for a sight of 
 his instructions. This strain of examination might 
 have daunted a man less qualified than Joyce 
 for the part he had to act ; but to this last in- 
 terrogatory, he adroitly answered " You shall see 
 them presently," and drawing up his troops in the 
 inner court of the Castle, he said to the King 
 " Sir, these are my instructions." The King tak- 
 ing a view of them, and perceiving them to be fine 
 men, and well mounted and armed, smilingly, 
 told the Cornet : — " Your instructions are in fair 
 characters, legible without spelling ; " but added 
 "that he should not stir, unless the Commissioners 
 went along with him," to which Joyce assented, 
 " saying it was a matter quite indifferent to him." 
 The King attended by the Commissioners under 
 the guidance of the self-complacent Comet, pro- 
 ceeded as far as Hitchingbrook, where they were 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 erians 
 
 met by Colonel Waller with two regiments, who SECTION 
 had orders from the General to conduct the King TV. 
 back to Holmby Castle. But his Majesty peremp- 
 torily refused to return ; and proceeded under his 
 new escort, to the head quarters of the army. 
 
 The news of this surprising action, spread with Presbyt... 
 the rapidity of lightning, and filled the minds of ^^''^ founded, 
 all men with astonishment. But the Presbyterian 
 leaders in Pariiament were principally concerned. 
 It gave a sudden tum to their consultations, and 
 changed the whole aspect of affairs ; whilst their 
 anxiety was still further increased by the advance 
 of the army towards the metropolis. 
 
 In this emergency it was resolved that the 
 House should assemble for business, next day, 
 which was Sunday; and, that their Chaplain, 
 Mr. Marshall should pray — "That God would 
 be pleased to give them one heart and one mind, 
 in carrying on the great work of the Lord "—a 
 sentiment which many have not scrupled to con- 
 demn as a species of hypocrisy. But whilst this 
 may be true of the political leaders, it is too 
 severe a charge, and, without foundation, when 
 applied to the Presbyterian Divines of that period. 
 Their conduct must be accounted for on other 
 principles. Many of them were eminent men ; 
 but with all their learning, theological knowledge 
 and acquaintance with scripture, they were under 
 a violent impression in favour of a peculiar system, 
 which they judged to be exclusively consistent 
 
 M 
 
I 
 
 336 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 ; 
 
 f 
 
 SECTION with truth ; and there exists the strongest proof 
 IV. that they were under the delusion of their own 
 spirit. The means which they employed to exe- 
 cute their designs— the deceit and cruelty which 
 they patronized— the reasonable concessions for 
 peace, which they rejected, and the total absence 
 of candour which they manifested, sufficiently 
 shew that they were not actuated by the spirit of 
 Christianity. This may be considered a harsh 
 judgment ; but it would be weakness to hesitate 
 in delivering it, when a divine canon is at hand 
 to support and confirm it : " If any man saith; 
 I know Him, and keepeth not his commandments 
 he is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 
 Christianity does not consist in a mere formal 
 profession of discipleship, nor in a speculative 
 acquaintance with its sublime mysteries, nOi , in a 
 laborious inculcation of its doctrines, but, in doing 
 the will of Christ ; and, in following his example 
 in meekness and lowliness of mind, in moderation 
 and charity. 
 Their coun- The rcsult of their Sunday deliberations and 
 seisofnoavaii. t^g praycrs of Mr. Marshall, was a letter to the 
 General, not to allow any part of the army to 
 advance within twenty-five miles of London, with 
 a douceur of J10,000. The General with his 
 usual submission, complied with their request, but 
 demanded a month's pay for the soldiers ; which 
 they immediately granted. But these concessions 
 increased the malady they were intended to 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 337 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 remedy. The Parliament were assailed with their SECTION 
 own weapons. Petitions suborned by the Inde- IV. 
 pendents, poured in from all quarters, and tumul- 
 tuous mobs were assembled to overawe their 
 deliberations. But the Presbyterians were still 
 strong, and passed several resolutions, the object 
 of which was, to induce the King to declare him- 
 self a prisoner, in order that they might insist 
 upon his enlargement. But these paper resolu- 
 tions of the House made little impression on 
 shields and bucklers ; and the army presented to 
 the House a most wholesome, but most obnoxious 
 address, shewing the absolute necessity of a 
 sovereign Prince, to controul the movements of 
 an overgrown and irresponsible Assembly. 
 
 The commons considered it a mighty presump- Presbyterians 
 tion to be thus checked in their career, and «ever*:iy check- 
 determined, at one bold stroke, to try the temper ""^ 
 of the army. They accordingly voted, '^That 
 the army retire forty miles from London. " But 
 instead of meeting with obedience to their order, 
 another chastisement awaited them, in which a 
 retributory judgment was manifest. Their own 
 conduct in the case of the Earl of Strafford, and 
 Archbishop Laud, was pleaded as precedents ; and 
 in a council of General Officers, impeachments 
 were drawn up against eleven of the Presbyterian 
 leaders. This was extremely shocking to the 
 Commons, and highly resented by them ; but to 
 no purpose. The military council insisted on 
 
 VOL. II. V 
 
I 
 
 roent. 
 
 338 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION their own example as sufficient precedent; and, 
 IV. eventually, the impeached members, to avoid the 
 *^"*''- "■ fate which threatened them, retired beyond sea. 
 Sir Philip Stapleton, who was deeply involved in 
 the guilt of all these transactions, was one of them, 
 and being seized with the plague on his passage, 
 he died in a ditch, near Calais. This was a severe 
 blow to the Presbyterians, from which they never 
 
 recovered. 
 B,.each be- The breach between the Parliament and the 
 twecn the army gvcry day, grew wider. One day, resolutions 
 
 "" '■""" were passed in compliance with the demands of 
 the army, and on the next, they were rescinded. 
 Seditions and tumults filled the city with alarm. 
 Indescribable confusion prevailed, and it was 
 evident that an inevitable crisis was approaching. 
 One morning, whilst the House was waiting for 
 their Speaker to commence business, they were in- 
 informed to their astonishment, that he had retired 
 from the city, accompanied with Sir H. Vane, and 
 other members of the Commons, and the Earls ot 
 Manchester and Northumberland, and eight other 
 of the Lords. The rendezvous of the army was 
 at Hounslow Heath, where the absconding sena- 
 tors appeared, and were received with great for- 
 mahty and respect, by the general officers. They 
 represented to the General, in terms of affected 
 grief and indignation, that they had not freedom 
 at Westminster; but were in danger of their lives 
 by the tumults of the People, and appealea to 
 
 OP ENGtISH HISTORY, 
 
 339 
 
 ;he army for protection. This was sufficient. SECTION 
 1 he army, immediately, advanced to London to IV. 
 reinstate the members in their places, and protect ^-J}- 
 the freedom of Parliament ! Resistance was vain. "^"^ 
 The army marched through the city, in triumph, 
 with laurels in their caps, and the Speaker, with 
 all due formality, was restored to his place. 
 
 Whatever of power or authority remained to 
 the Presbyterians was now extinguished; and .,." ""p::;' 
 that great party which had been so long in the ''"^"^ 
 ascendant-which, after the redress of all real 
 grievances, had embroiled both England and Scot- 
 and m a bloody and destructive war— which had 
 been victorious in the senate and in the field — 
 which had entirely overthrown both the civil and 
 ecclesiastical establishments of their country and 
 ^vhich had enriched itself, beyond example, ' with 
 the immense spoils of Church and State-was 
 now after all their triumphs, and, at the moment 
 of their greatest confidence, scattered like dust 
 before the wind. They were not even permitted 
 to see their Presbytery established, nor one lay 
 elder constituted in any one parish of the king- 
 dom; but were turned out of all they possessed, 
 and exposed to public scorn and contempt. And 
 what IS most remarkable, and discovers the over- 
 ruling hand of Heaven in their overthrow-their 
 exorbitant power, which they had purchased with 
 so many millions of treasure, and such oceans of 
 blood, was demolished without a blow. 
 
340 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 negotiates 
 
 SECTION A new scene opens. The magnanimous King, 
 IV. during this period of angry contention, had 
 ^^^^^^ followed the movements of the army, and was, at 
 The King length, settled at Whitehall, his ancient palace, 
 which he had not seen since the commencement of 
 the war. The Lieutenant-General of the army 
 had a new part to act ; and the Monarch, for the 
 present, was treated with great indulgence and 
 respect, and he was permitted to see his friends, 
 and especially his children, who frequently visited 
 him under the care of their tutor, the Earl of 
 Northumberland. During these interviews, his 
 most implacable enemies were struck with admi- 
 ration, at the dignified tenderness of the father, 
 and the dutiful submission of the children. On 
 these occasions, he gave to each of them the most 
 solemn advice, suited to their age and condition, 
 the whole of which is eminently worthy of trans- 
 cription, but my limits will not permit that 
 gratification. 
 
 At this juncture, also. Sir John Berkley and 
 Mr. Ashburnham, came over from France, to 
 assist the King with their counsels ; and it was, 
 through these gentlemen, that he carried on a 
 negotiation with Cromwell and Ireton, who en- 
 tirely governed the army. Nothing could exceed 
 their protestations of affection towards the King's 
 person, and of their determination to support his 
 cause. Ireton, in the presence of Major Hunting- 
 don, swore in the most solemn manner, that he 
 
 with Cromwell 
 and Ireton. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 341 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Their treach- 
 
 would^ adventure his life and fortune for the SECTION 
 King." Cromwell made a similar declaration, and IV. 
 added, " that no man had ever been so abused ; 
 and that he thought him the uprightest and most 
 conscientious man in his three kingdoms," and 
 concluded by saying, « that God would be pleased 
 to look upon him according to the sincerity of his 
 heart, towards his Majesty ! " 
 
 Notwithstanding tliese professions, the pro- 
 posals which were made to the King, during this Z 
 secret negotiation, although they were more 
 moderate than those submitted to him on former 
 occasions by the Parliament, yet they were re- 
 jected by the King with some sharpness, as 
 destructive of the Monarchy and constitutional 
 liberties of England. Cromwell still continued 
 his attentions upon the King, and, whatever was 
 his design in carrying on the negotiation, it is 
 certain he had already made up his mind as to the 
 course he should take. Difficulties almost in- 
 suparable were in his way : but his inventive and 
 subtle genius did not despair of overcoming them. 
 Many of the general officers were sincere in their 
 affection and attachment to the King's person ; 
 and Barron in his defence, tells us, that when 
 Cromwell, one day, in the presence of one of them, 
 holding the King's hand between his own, bathed 
 U plentifully with tears, whilst he made the most 
 solemn promises of attachment, when he came out, 
 he asked the officer, n-hether he had not acted his 
 
 k W. 
 
342 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION pdrt well ? " Were you not then in earnest '? " 
 IV. replied the officer. " Not in the least " he re- 
 ^^:4iL^ plied— an example of effrontery and hypocrisy, 
 almost unparalleled in history. 
 Protestations At length the Parliament finished their pro- 
 of cromwdi posals for peace, which were presented to the 
 King, and were in substance the same as had been 
 rejected by him at Newcastle. Before, however, 
 he would return a decisive answer, he sent for 
 Major Huntingdon, a brave officer of Cromwell's 
 own regiment, but sincerely devoted to the King's 
 interests, and desired to be resolved by him in 
 one thing — "whether Cromwell was the same 
 in his heart to him, as he had by his tongue so 
 frequently expressed himself. " The Major was 
 staggered; and feariug to mislead the King, 
 asked a short delay, and posting off, arrived at 
 Putney by night; and having roused the Lieu- 
 tenant General from his bed, received from him 
 the most solemn assurances of his sincerity, and 
 his determination to restore the king to his just 
 rights and dignity. Ireton joined in the same 
 asseverations, and added " they would purge the 
 House of Commons again and again, till they had 
 brought it to such a temper as should do the 
 King's business. " 
 The King re- On this assurancc the King founded his answer 
 jects the propo tQ tjie Parliament ; and sent it to Cromwell and 
 ""^IJ^ ^*'^''' Ireton to be perused, with a permission to make 
 A. D. 1647. such alterations as they thought necessary. Thus 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 343 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Their villanj 
 
 amended, it was sent to the Houses at Westmin- SECTION 
 ster, where it was read. The substance of it was : IV. 
 *' that he could not agree to all their propositions ; 
 but earnestly requested a personal treaty as the 
 only means of securing a solid and lasting peace." 
 " Behold ! " says Major Huntingdon, '' the horrid 
 perfidiousness of those two great impostors. " No 
 sooner was the answer of the King read to the 
 House, than Cromwell and Ireton were the first 
 to express their dissatisfaction; and were even^^^mphs. 
 violent in their invectives against it. Overcome 
 by their persuasions, the House voted the most 
 candid and reasonable answer in the world — a 
 *'flat denial:' The King immediately despatched 
 the Major to demand an explanation. Cromwell 
 replied " that he had done it, to sound the viru- 
 lent humours of the Presbyterians, whom he 
 knew to be no friends to his Majesty. " But his 
 real motive was to prevent a " personal treaty, " 
 which might have given a death blow to his 
 designs. I f proof be needed, it will be found in the 
 fact, that he never afterwards visited the King ! 
 
 Indeed, he had now gained his point by break- 
 ing off the King's negotiation with Parliament ; 
 and a new scene in \\\q political tragedy, instantly 
 opens. The officers of the army rarely visited 
 Hampton Court. The guards became rude and 
 even insolent. A mutinous spirit was created in 
 the army, and a new sort of agitators arose, called 
 Levellers. Their discourse was directed against 
 
 i^u 
 
344 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 345 
 
 CllAP. II. 
 
 Other actors 
 appear. 
 
 SECTION the King's person : they declared that God had 
 ^V* hardened his heart to reject their proposals, and 
 blasphemously asserted that the Lord had " led 
 captivity captive ; " and " put all things under 
 their feet. " 
 
 In the beginning of November, things were so 
 prepared that in a council of officers, Cromwell 
 and Colonel Harrison ventured to broach their 
 further designs; and the latter, made a long 
 harangue concerning some things "that lay upon 
 his spirit, relating to the King, Lords, and Com- 
 mons : " declaring " that the King was a man of 
 blood, and, therefore, their engagements with 
 him, were taken off, and that he ought to be 
 PROSECUTED. " And on the same day, the agita- 
 tors of nine regiments, and the General's life- 
 guards, drew up an address, in the same strain, 
 to the soldiers of the army. 
 
 Whilst this plot was ripening in the army, the 
 Presbyterians made a grand effort to possess 
 themselves of the King's person. The Scotch 
 Commissioners, Loudon, Lanerick, and Lauder- 
 dale, endeavoured to enter into a treaty with him 
 for this purpose : and, one day, when the King 
 was hunting at Nonsuch, the two latter noblemen 
 repaired to that place wdth fifty horse, in order to 
 cover his escape. But the King refused to accept 
 their services, on the ground that, " he had en- 
 gaged his honor not to leave the army, without 
 giving them notice. " 
 
 But Cromwell who had now done with the SECTION 
 King, was anxious to remove him to a greater IV. 
 distance from the scene of action, in order, with .^^^i^i^^-Ji]^ 
 greater facility, to prepare the way for his ulterior The Kinjj's 
 designs. To effect his purpose, he conveyed to ^'^^'^ 
 the King a positive assurance that his life was in 
 danger, and, that he could no longer protect him. 
 On receiving this information, the unhappy King 
 resolved to fly from the scene of danger. He now 
 consulted the Scotch Commissioners, and proposed 
 to retire to Scotland ; but they would give him no 
 encouragement, unless he would comply with 
 their design respecting religion. Distracted with 
 the difficulties of his situation, and terrified by 
 new apprehensions he became, at length, more 
 solicitous to make his escape, than to determine 
 upon the place of his retreat. Accordingly, on 
 Thursday night, the eighteenth of November, 
 between the hours of eight and nine in the even- 
 ing, he left his lodgings, in disguise, having 
 passed through a private door into the park, 
 crossed the river to Thames Ditton, w^here Sir 
 John Berkley and Mr. Ashburnham waited for 
 him with horses. They rode South West, towards 
 the new forest, and reached Sutton by break of 
 day. The King asked Mr. Ashburnham, who 
 seemed to have the sole direction of their journey, 
 icliere the ship lay^ The King appeared greatly 
 disappointed at his answer, and proposed that they 
 should, for the present, take shelter at Tichfield, 
 
 ill 
 
 LiC. 
 
346 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 if 
 
 Fatal decision. 
 
 SECTION the seat of the Earl of Southampton. Here they 
 IV. were hospitably entertained by the EarVs mother, 
 a lady of great honor and fidelity. They had in 
 this retreat, leisure to consider their situation, and 
 take measures for their future safety. But if the 
 King was not betrayed by his attendants, the 
 whole of this flight is the most surprising action 
 that can be conceived. Every step was taken 
 with such fatal precision, that if Cromwell him- 
 self had been in the person of Mr. Ashburnham, 
 he could not have conducted the enterprise to a 
 result more agreeable to his wishes, or, more in 
 harmony with his purposes ! 
 
 Whilst the King and his attendants were con- 
 sulting as to the course they should pursue, the 
 Isle of Wight was mentioned, by Mr. Ashburn- 
 ham, as a place of the greatest security. Colonel 
 Hammond, a near relative of Doctor Hammond, 
 w^as Governor, and a man who enjoyed the fullest 
 confidence of the Lieutenant General Cromwell. 
 Notwithstanding, it w^as agreed that Berkley and 
 Ashburnham should repair to this man — obtain 
 from him his word of honor, that he w^ould not 
 deliver up the person of the King to the Parlia- 
 ment : and if he could not withstand their solicita- 
 tions, to afford him liberty to escape. Charged 
 with this commission, they crossed to the Isle of 
 Wight and delivered the King's message to the 
 Governor, to which he returned an evasive answer. 
 But being pressed for something more decisive, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 347 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 he, at last, declared "that he did believe his SECTION 
 Majesty did rely upon him as a person of honor IV. 
 and honesty, therefore he did engage to perform 
 whatsoever should be expected from a person of 
 honor and honesty. " With this very equivocal 
 answer, Mr. Ashburnham w^as satisfied, and con- 
 ' sented, contrary to his directions to convey him 
 to the King. On their arrival, Mr. Ashburnham 
 went to the King's apartment, and when he ac- 
 quainted him with all that had passed, the King 
 perceiving the fatal mistake, exclaimed ''What! 
 have you brought Hammond with you ? O, Jack, 
 you have undone me." Upon which, his faithless 
 messenger, falling into a bitter passion of tears, 
 offered to go down and kill Hammond. But, of 
 course, the King would not consent to such a 
 j)roposition but said *' it was now too late to think 
 of any thing but going through the way, into 
 which he had forced him, and, leave the issue 
 with God. " Accordingly, he received Colonel 
 Hammond with great cheerfulness, and accompa- 
 nied him to the Isle of Wight, where he was 
 lodged in Carisbrook Castle. 
 
 The unexpected flight of the King made a various con. 
 great impression on the minds of all men. Xhe J'^'"'"''^^ ^^*'^'* 
 Presbyterians thought he was concealed in the 
 city, waiting for a favorable opportunity to dis- 
 cover himself. The Cavaliers hoped that he had 
 escaped beyond sea — a circumstance w^hich filled 
 the army with apprehensions. But Cromwell 
 
348 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION silenced all their hopes and fears, when, within 
 IV. two days, and with unusual gaiety of manner, he 
 informed the House of his retreat, and assured 
 them : " that Colonel Hammond was so honest a 
 man, and so devoted to their service, that they 
 need not fear his being corrupted by any man 
 
 livmg. 
 
 By this time, Cromwell had reduced Parlia- 
 
 Cromwell 
 
 quells ihe Agi- mcut to a tcmpcr entirely suited to his designs. 
 
 tators. j^^j^ Yie had now another difficulty of no little 
 
 magnitude to encounter. The military House of 
 Commons, or, Agitators, had so well transcribed 
 the copy which had been set them by their 
 superiors, that they began to act independently of 
 the Council of General Officers ; and presented 
 addresses to Parliament, demanding the abolition 
 of all titles, and reducing all men to the same rank 
 and condition, with other extravagant notions, 
 subversive not only of all Government, but of 
 society itself. The Levellers had already proceeded 
 to great lengths ; and had persuaded great bodies 
 of the soldiery to enter into engagements, to 
 render themselves absolute, and shake off the 
 authority of their commanders. But this licen- 
 tiousness was not to be borne ; and the genius of 
 Cromwell which had triumphed over the pride 
 and glory of chivalry— beat down the obstinacy 
 of Presbyterianism and defeated the plans of the 
 wisest Pohticians, was not to be intimidated by 
 the insolence of these low-bred and fanatical 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 349 
 
 Levellers. Having ascertained by means of spies, SECTION 
 the time and place of their rendezvous, he came I^'- 
 upon them, suddenly, with an ordinary guard, ^"^''* "* 
 and, having put certain questions to the leading 
 Agitators, which drew from them insolent answers, 
 he levelled them on the ground with his own 
 hand, and then ordering his men to charge, he 
 secured as many as he thought proper ; and having 
 ordered some to be immediately executed, he sent 
 the others to London to await a more formal trial. 
 
 Having surmounted this difficulty, he advanced riots the 
 in his extraordinary career, to the perpetration of ^^"^''' '^*'^^^- 
 his enormous designs. A meeting of the general 
 officers of the army was appointed, at Windsor, 
 to take into consideration what should now be 
 done with the King. This grand conference, as 
 was usual on such occasions, began by prayers 
 performed by Cromwell, Ireton, or, some other 
 " inspired " officer, and the result of their consul- 
 tation was: " THAT THE KING SHOULD BE PRO- 
 SECUTED FOR HIS LIFE, AS A CRIMINAL PERSON;" 
 
 a resolution, which was to be kept a profound 
 secret, and to the accomplishment of which, the 
 Parliament w^as to be brought, gradually, and by 
 slow degrees. 
 
 Every thing now tended to this end. Four bills 
 entirely subversive of the constitution, were pre- 
 pared by Parliament, and submitted to the King 
 for his assent. His answer was couched in the 
 mildest terms, and contained concessions as ample 
 
^ 
 
 350 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION as were consistent with his honor, and his fidchty 
 IV. to the nation. His overtures were rejected with 
 ^^ contempt ; and he was assailed with reproaches 
 and execrations. The whole Independent and 
 Eepublican party, were inflamed to madness, by 
 the vehemence of their leaders. Cromwell now 
 openly declared in Parliament '' that the King 
 o,^ytJ^. was a man of great parts and great understanding, 
 hut withal, so great a dissembler and so false a 
 man, that he was not to be trusted. " He alleged 
 many particulars against him and concluded, that 
 they should now " proceed to the settlement of 
 the kingdom, without having further recourse to 
 him. " Ireton was still more pointed and affirmed, 
 that by his rejection of the bills " the people no 
 longer owed him any subjection." And a mem- 
 ber of the name of Wroth proposed to have him 
 kept in some inland garrison, till he could be 
 brought to judgment, observing " It was equal 
 to him what kind of Government they settled, so 
 that they admitted neither Kings nor devils." 
 A resolution Such was the violcut language with which the 
 of « non-ad- life and person of the King was now openly 
 ^'''^'•" assailed; and, in accordance with these senti- 
 ments the House immediately proceeded to resolve 
 " That they would make no more addresses to the 
 King, hut proceed at once, to provide for the peace 
 and safety of the kingdom:' This ordinance of the 
 House was attended with a long and virulent 
 declaration, inveighing, in the most libellous man- 
 
 or ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 351 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The whole 
 
 ner, against all the acts of the King s administra- SECTION 
 tion ; so that HoUis himself, observes, respecting IV. 
 many of the charges contained in it, that they 
 were " absurd and incredible. " 
 
 But the libellers were to receive a severe and 
 sudden check, which was intended by its re-action 
 to bring a severe chastisement upon some of the 
 principal actors in these scenes ; and, particularly, 
 the Duke of Hamilton. 
 
 This odious declaration, and these open assaults 
 against the Sovereign power, filled the minds of nation filled 
 all honest men with disgust and indignation, and *''^* disgust, 
 produced an instantaneous and universal feeling 
 in favor of their injured Monarch. In the House 
 of Commons, all those whose minds were not 
 wholly prostituted to the designs of Cromwell, 
 deserted the House. Murmuring and discontent 
 filled the public mind, and the people discovered 
 their resentment in every possible way. Pam- 
 phlets were published couched in the most bitter 
 and insulting language : " the new Testament of 
 our Lords and Saviours, the House of Commons 
 sitting at Westminster." Mortified and stung 
 with these cutting and bitter reproaches, the House 
 made searching inquiries after their authors, but 
 in vain. The national ferment was increased by 
 the imposition of new taxes, and the overbearing 
 insolence of men in office. Men of all ranks who 
 had any regard for their honor or reputation, 
 now retired from all official connexion with the 
 
352 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION state. The Government forthwith degenerated. 
 
 IV. Men of the lowest condition, and persons of mean 
 
 K^^^\}^ and contracted minds succeeded to their places. 
 
 And roused Mcn whosc cducation and property entitled them 
 
 to indignation. . j.t_ • i i i in 
 
 to nothing beyond the rank of a common con- 
 stable, became Justices of the peace. Commis- 
 sioners, and Sequestrators — obedience to such 
 rulers became a vile and degrading servitude, 
 which could not be endured. The nation roused 
 itself from its lethargy, and seemed determined to 
 avenge their Sovereign and their outraged liber- 
 ties, by force of arms. A fearful and wide-spread 
 insurrection took place in London ; the counties 
 of Kent and Essex, were foremost in manifesting 
 their determination. Wales was immediately in 
 arms. The flame spread with amazing rapidity ; 
 and the brave Sir Marmaduke Langdale, in the 
 north, was soon at the head of a powerful body of 
 men. And now, the tide had been turned, and, 
 the rebellious Parliament and Cromwell, and all 
 his fanatical satellites had been swept away by 
 the resistless fury of the storm, had not the Al- 
 mighty Ruler determined, that rebellion should 
 work out its course, and bring down condign pun- 
 ishment on the heads of its first projectors. 
 Second civil The scamcn stung with remorse, and detesting 
 "^I'r. .... *he tyranny of their new masters declared for the 
 
 A. D. 1d48. 
 
 King, and twenty ships hastened to receive on 
 board the Prince of Wales, as Admiral, whilst 
 the Scots, willing to make another effort in favor 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTOKY. 
 
 353 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The Scots re- 
 ceive deserved 
 
 of their great idol, raised a powerful army, at the SECTION 
 
 head of which, the unfortunate Duke of Hamilton, IV. 
 
 perceiving the gulf of misery, into which he had 
 
 betrayed his innocent master prepared to invade 
 
 England. The Earl of Holland also, touched 
 
 with a sense of his former injuries, with the Duke 
 
 of Buckingham and the Earl of Peterborough, ,,,,,. ,,^rv, 
 
 appeared near Kingston, with a body of five hun- chasUsemcnt 
 
 dred horse and some infantry, for his Majesty's 
 
 service. The preparations for an arduous struggle 
 
 were truly formidable. But the instruments of 
 
 the Divine vengeance were at hand, and before 
 
 the Royalists could form themselves into one 
 
 grand army, Fairfax and Cromwell were in the 
 
 field. The former undertook the reduction of 
 
 Kent ; and Cromwell having led his forces into 
 
 Wales subdued, and, like an hungry lion, turned 
 
 round in quest of his foes. Nor was he long in 
 
 finding them. One body of the Scots who had 
 
 entered England in greater numbers, and with 
 
 more hostile feelings, than on any former occasion, 
 
 had advanced as far as Warrington; and, after 
 
 some sharp encounters. Major General Bagley 
 
 delivered up himself and four thousand men to 
 
 the mercy of the Conqueror ; whilst the Duke 
 
 of Hamilton, at the head of the main body was 
 
 defeated almost without a blow, and surrendered 
 
 himself prisoner to Colonel Lambert. Cromwell 
 
 pursued his victorious career, and entered the 
 
 Scottish cai)ital in triumph. He was received by 
 
 VOL. II. 2 
 
 mm 
 
fl 
 
 354 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF KNGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION the inveterate Earl of Argyle, as a brother coll- 
 ie' federate ; and having joined their forces, all oppo- 
 sition was quelled. A Parliament was called, and 
 the late invasion of England, was determined to 
 he an unjust and treasonable expedition. Solemn 
 fasts were enjoined by the Assembly, to implore 
 God's pardon for their "heinous wickedness;" 
 the Chancellor Loudon, one of its projectors, 
 setting the example, by making a public recanta- 
 tion, with many tears. Cromwell was magnifi- 
 cently entertained by the chief nobility of the 
 kingdom, and addressed and complimented by the 
 Kirk, as " their deliverer J' Having finished all 
 things in Scotland, and effectually tied the hands 
 of that nation, so as scarcely to leave them power 
 to hold them up, in astonishment at the horrid 
 tragedy he was contemplating, he returned to 
 London; whilst Fairfax, having concluded the 
 war by the siege and capture of Colchester, where 
 a bloody sacrifice w\is offered to the revolutionary 
 moloch, fixed his head quarters at Saint Albans. 
 
 All this time, the patient Monarch was leading 
 a calm and contemplative life in the Isle of Wight. 
 Mr. Herbert, who attended upon him, has given 
 a particular account of his studies and course of 
 life. The sacred scriptures, was the book in 
 which he most delighted ; but he read consider- 
 bly in other authors. Amongst them, Andrew's 
 Sermons, Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, Doctor 
 Hammond's works, Villalpandus on Ezekiel, Her- 
 
 355 
 
 The King's 
 conduct. 
 
 I 
 
 Treaty of 
 
 bert's Divine Poems engaged his attention, and SECTION 
 he would frequently read the Italian heroic 
 poems of Tasso and Ariosto, and Spencer's Fairy 
 Queen. Nor did he confine himself to reading. 
 He finished his celebrated work before-mentioned 
 — translated Sanderson's work " De Jura mentis," 
 composed several short English poems, and pen- 
 ned Latin distichs in his books, which he fre- 
 quently inscribed with his favourite motto: '' Dum 
 spiro, spero." But, however pleasing it would be 
 to dwell upon these subjects, I must not enlarge. 
 The confinement of the King had been ren- 
 dered less irksome on the breaking out of the KewporV 
 civil war, through the selfishness of the Presby- ^* ^' '^^• 
 terian party, who, on the removal of the army, 
 in defiance of their resolution of '• non-addresses," 
 entered into a negotiation with him, and sent Com- 
 missioners for that purpose to Newport. During 
 this arduous negotiation, he was indefatigable and 
 persevering ; discovered great penetration of mind, 
 and solidity of judgment; and, single-handed 
 against fifteen persons, expressed himself with 
 great volubility and readiness on all subjects ; and 
 shewed himself equally conversant with Divinity, 
 Law, and Political economy. The Commissioners 
 were surprised, no less with the depth and solidity 
 of his parts, than with the extent of his acquire- 
 ments, insomuch that one day, when the King 
 was rising up from the debate, the Earl of Salis- 
 bury, suddenly said to Mr. Warwick: "The 
 
w 
 
 356 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 357 
 
 SECTION King is wonderfully improved." To which the 
 IV. other smartly replied: "no, mv Lord, he wasalways 
 
 K^^Jr^^^j^-^^ such ; but you have discovered it too late." Nor was 
 his patience, which was equally well exercised, less 
 than his ability . Let one example suffice. On the 
 subject of Ecclesiastical Government, the Commis- 
 sioners brought in their Divines to argue with him. 
 On one occasion, whilst two of them, Jenkins and 
 Sparston, with a rudeness only paralleled by their 
 ignorance, they told him " that if he would not 
 abolish Episcopacy he w^ould be damned." 
 
 It w^ould be tedious and unnecessary, to enter 
 into a detail of the circumstances attending this 
 treaty. All his concessions were of no avail. 
 Everything was sacrificed to the selfish or vindic- 
 tive passions of men ; and, the catastrophe of the 
 reign hastened to its consummation. 
 Designs of Cromwcll and Ireton were now supreme, and 
 
 the army. through their instructions, a remonstrance was 
 framed by the army, and presented to Parliament, 
 demanding that the King should be brought to 
 immediate justice — a motion that was supported in 
 a violent speech by Sir H. Vane. But there were 
 yet some who could not, at once, be forced into 
 such extreme and fatal measures. But there was 
 no time for delay. Whilst the debate was in pro- 
 gress, the House was once mora surprised at the 
 news of the King s removal from the Isle of Wight, 
 under a strong military escort to Hurst Castle.* 
 
 * What was then called a Block-house, in the Sea, not far 
 from the Isle of Wight. 
 
 The House was highly indignant at this intelli- SECTION 
 gence, and resolved, that the King should be sent IV. 
 back to Carisbrook Castle, which they conveyed ^H^p^L^ 
 by letter to the General. But without noticing Resented by 
 their '^resolution" he returned an answer, in ^^'•^•a'"*^"^. 
 w^hich he demanded the arrears of pay, threatening 
 in case of non-compliance to march the army 
 towards London. This increased the flame, and 
 some of the more impetuous moved, '*that the 
 army might ])e declared traitors, if they a])proached 
 any nearer to London ; and that an impeachment 
 of high treason might be drawn up against the 
 principal officers." But alas ! these were but the 
 dying struggles of an imperious faction, which in 
 the hour of their despair, even carried a resolution 
 by a majority of thirty-six voles, to the effect: 
 " that the Kimfs concessions afforded sufficient 
 (jrounds for the House to proceed in their treaty 
 for the 2)eace and settlement of the kingdom^ But 
 it was their last effort. For, the very next morn- 
 ing, several regiments of foot appeared at West- 
 minster, and placing guards at all the approaches 
 to the Houses of Parliament, they seized upon 
 forty-one of the most obnoxious members — treated 
 them with great indignity, and committed them 
 to close imprisonment, lliese were the leading 
 men in promoting all the opposition against the 
 King; and, amongst others, was Sir John Clot- 
 worthy, the unworthy reviler of the Earl of Straf- 
 ford in his last moments, on the scaffold. Besides 
 
358 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION these, a hundred and fifty were exckided from the 
 IV' House either by fear or constraint ; and the whole 
 v^^^^^:^ of the old Puritan Presbyterian faction was entirely 
 broken and dispersed. 
 Design for '^^^ Housc was uow purged to its lowest dregs, 
 the King's and thoroughly prepared to sanction the horrid 
 ^^''^P^- designs of the Ilogicides. The King was now 
 
 removed from Hurst Castle to Windsor ; but, on 
 his way, a plan w^as arranged for his escape, 
 which, however, did not succeed. His Majesty 
 contrived to induce Colonel Harrison, who had 
 the charge of his guard, to dine at Bagshot Lodge, 
 the seat of Lord Newburgh, lately married to the 
 Lady Aubigny, both persons of inviolable loyalty. 
 They had undertaken to secure his flight, and for 
 that purpose had procured, as it is said, the fleetest 
 horse in England : but the fate of the Monarch 
 was not to be averted, nor the admonitory lesson 
 lost to mankind, of the fearful effects of arbitrary 
 power, when broken in upon by the unrestrained 
 violence of popular licentiousness. The noble 
 animal on which the King was to have made his 
 escape, was lamed on that very day by the stroke 
 of another horse, and to the indescribable grief 
 and concern of his friends, the project entirely 
 failed. 
 
 The Com- '^'^^^ S^^^t impostcis at Westminster, now pro- 
 mons proclaim claimcd a fast, the usual preliminary to acts of 
 * ^^^ extraordinary wickedness ; and four of the mem- 
 
 bers of the House of Lords were found sufliciently 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 359 
 
 degraded to unite with the Commons in the acting SECTION 
 of this solemn farce. The impiety was transacted iV. 
 in St. Margaret's church, where, that deluded ^"*''" "' 
 man, Hugh Peters, acted the part of buffoon in 
 this profane and ignoble scene. His text was 
 taken from the Psalms, '* To bind their Kings 
 
 Thfir wick« 
 
 in chains and their rulers with links of iron: edness and 
 Such honor have all his saints." He compared 'hypocrisy. 
 the state of the kingdom, to the deliverance of the 
 children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. He 
 next expatiated on the best method of delivering 
 England ; and, stooping down, hid his face in the 
 cushion of the pulpit; from whence, suddenly, 
 lifting it up, he told his audience " that he had 
 a revelation hoiv to effect it, ivhich was bj/ cutirpor 
 ting Monarchy ! " He compared the King to 
 Barabbas, whom the foolish citizens would have 
 released; and the *' red coats" to our Saviour, 
 whom they would have crucified ; and after de- 
 claring, that he had ''upon an exact scrutiny, 
 ascertained that there were five thousand saints 
 in the army, as holy as any that convened with 
 God in heaven." He concluded by conjuring 
 them, in the name of the people of England, to 
 execute *' justice on the Bara])bas at Windsor, 
 and not permit Benhadad to escape in safety." 
 Such was the profanation to which the pulpit was 
 subjected at that unhappy period. This monstrous 
 evil was so apparent, that a member in his speech 
 said " that there was no way of ending the divi- 
 
360 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 The King's 
 
 SECTION sions, in EngluncL but by forbidding all preaching 
 IV. for one whole year : " and it was remarkably said 
 by Sir Robert Spotiswood, son of the Archbishop, 
 at his execution in Scotland, "none of the judg- 
 ments of God are greater: no, not plague, or 
 famine, or sword— than when he suffers a lying 
 spirit to fill the mouths of the prophets." 
 
 The direful delusion produced its legitimate 
 iTneci upot'^" ^^''^'' I^^niediately after the fast, it was moved 
 in the House - that they should proceed capitally 
 against the King;" and Cromwell, in whom the 
 " lying spirit " most of all resided, said, " that if 
 any man had moved this by design, he should 
 have deemed him the greatest traitor in the world ; 
 but since Providence and necessity had cast them 
 upon it, he should pray God to bless their coun- 
 cils, though he was not prepared, in the sudden, 
 to give them counsel." But, soon afterwards, 
 with a profaneness equal to Hugh Peters himself, 
 he declared : - that as he was praying for a bless- 
 ing from God on his undertaking, to restore his 
 Majesty to his pristine dignity, his tongue cleaved 
 to the roof of his mouth that he could not speak 
 one word more, which he took as a return of 
 prayer, and that God had rejected him from 
 being King." And to complete the moral defor- 
 mity of this extraordinary man, he openly avowed : 
 " that it was lawful to circumvent a wicked man 
 with deceit and fraud." 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 361 
 
 s 
 
 The w^ay was now fully prepared for the enact- SECTION 
 ment of the last scene, in which, strange forms VI- 
 are about to appear, insulting with maddening ^"*'*"- 
 rage, around the regicidal tribunal. It began with 
 
 1 , , . « , ,^ The Peers 
 
 a charge prepared by a committee of the House of ,.xciu.ied from 
 Commons, which they called : " An impeachment ^''^■•'' """''*'• 
 of high treason, against Charles Stuart, King of 
 England." And which, was immediately sent up 
 to the Lords for their concurrence. But the Lords 
 — the ignoble Lords — who had prostituted every 
 principle of their order, and of the constitution, 
 now saw, as all such recreants from the course of 
 integrity and honor, must sooner or later discover, 
 that they had overacted their part, and sold them- 
 selves into the hands of those " who shed inno- 
 cent blood." They rejected the impeachment 
 with some warmth and adjourned for three days, 
 fondly imagining that, by this means, they should 
 stem the sanguinary torrent. But their opposi- 
 tion was wholly impotent, and they were now 
 justly made the laughing-stock, as they had long 
 been the dupes, of the Commons : on their return 
 they found the doors of their House shut against 
 them, and secured with padlocks, and were thus 
 dismissed from their attendance on Parliament, 
 without even the formality of a vote ! 
 
 The regicides, fully determined on their fatal 
 course, were yet at a loss upon what theatre the 
 bloody scene should be perpetrated. But the 
 genius of evil is prolific of invention. Nothing 
 
362 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Cap. [I. 
 
 SECTION could be found either in common or statute law, (by 
 iV. way of precedent,) to warrant legal proceedings 
 against the Sovereign Power. A new form was 
 therefore to be created, which they termed, in 
 derision of all things divine and human, '' The 
 High Court of Justice." One hundred and thirty- 
 five members of the House were nominated as 
 Judges, twenty of whom might act; but such a 
 number could not be found. A fiction, therefore, 
 A new Court ^^'^^ invented, and it was resolved, that other 
 ofjustK-eerect- " GODLY PERSONS," who wcrc out of Parliament, 
 should be associated with them, in order, as they 
 asserted, that their impartiality should not be 
 called in question ! Such a high-minded resolu- 
 tion, and such an extreme desire for justice, was 
 quickly responded to, and the number was filled 
 up from the officers of the army and the citizens 
 of London. And after all, fifty of their nominees 
 refused to act ; and of the whole kingdom, sixty- 
 eight only could be found, and those of the 
 Independent faction, to sit in judgment on the 
 life of their Sovereign. Mr. John Bradshaw, a 
 lawyer, of Lincoln's Inn— a man not without 
 abilities, but of an insolent carriage, and influ- 
 enced by the force of a low and selfish ambition- 
 was nominated President. No man could have 
 been chosen better adapted to the duties of the 
 . office, which he discharged with unshaken 
 effrontery and unrelenting severity. He was 
 installed into his high dignity with great state— 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 363 
 
 a guard was appointed him, and the Dean's house SECTION 
 at Westminster, given him as an habitation, with '^ • 
 the title of " Lord President of the High Court Ji^^^-li;^ 
 of Justice." These proceedings alarmed the 
 whole nation. None were louder in their vitu- 
 perations than the Presbyterian Divines. But 
 too late: their admonitions were despised: their 
 own subserviency was now remembered: the 
 very same arguments which they used to enkindle 
 the war, were made use of to justify the intended 
 murder of the King. The Scots protested by 
 their Commissioners — the States of Holland hy 
 their Ambassadors — the Prince of Wales made 
 use of every expedient to deliver his father ; and 
 some of the most eminent of the nobility proposed 
 themselves as hostages, or, if that were not suffi- 
 cient, offered to suffer in his stead. These noble- 
 
 . - - Four n(-ble- 
 
 mmded men, whose names ought to be recorded men offeithem. 
 with honor, were the Duke of Richmond, the '?^''*'' ^''' ^^'^^ 
 Marquis of Hertford, the Earl of Southampton, ^'°^' 
 and the Earl of Lindsey. 
 
 But all these offers were made in vain to men, 
 who, under the infernal delusion of their own 
 passions, laid claim to a divine inspiration, and 
 pretended to " Ducts and calls of Providence." 
 
 During these preparations, the Kin": was re- 
 
 1 /• ITT. 1 Removed to 
 
 moved from A^ mdsor to St. James's, and com- st jam^'s. 
 mitted to the charge of Colonel Tomlinson, under 
 whose surveillance he was treated with greater 
 rudeness than before : deprived of every attend- 
 
if 
 
 364 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 A. D. IfiOJ. 
 
 N. S. 
 
 SECTION ance and shew of Royalty, and abridged in his 
 JV- diet and exercise. But he discovered no imeasi- 
 ness under this uncourteous treatment, calmly 
 observing " Is there any thing more contemptible 
 than a despised Prince'?" Such, indeed, was the 
 mingled dignity and meekness of his demeanour, 
 that his guards were shaken in their fidelity to 
 their officers by the force of his piety and inno- 
 cence ; nor were the same men permitted to serve 
 twice on that duty. 
 
 On the twentieth of January, the King was re- 
 moved to Whitehall, and, last of all, to Sir Robert 
 Cotton's house, near Westminster Hall, as most 
 convenient for his approaching trial. During all 
 the persecutions and privations which he suffered 
 at this period, he observed his usual prudence 
 and patience. No outward perturbation could be 
 discerned. His christian fortitude triumphed over 
 every indignity. Scarcely a sigh escaped his 
 breast — not one reproachful or revengeful word 
 escaped his lips, only saying, - May God forgive 
 them their impiety." 
 
 At length, the day of his public ignominy 
 thJ^'H^urTf^^^'^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^t the command of the Lord Presi- 
 Judgment. dent, the Royal Prisoner was brought up, under a 
 strong guard, and delivered to the Serjeant-at- 
 arms, who conducted him to the Bar, where a 
 crimson velvet chair was prepared for him. The 
 King, looking round with stern majesty, conveyed 
 a solemn rebuke to the members of this mock 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 365 
 
 tribunal, and without uncovering his head, sat SECTION 
 down. ^^ 
 
 Sdence being proclaimed, Bradshaw, with an ^"'^- *'' 
 arrogant and supercilious air, addressed him in ""l^i^CTt. 
 the following strain : '^ The Commons of England ™'"' ''^"^• 
 assembled in Parliament, being deeply sensible 
 of the evils and calamities which had been brought 
 upon the nation, and of the innocent blood which 
 had been shed, and which was fixed upon him as 
 the principal author, had resolved to make in- 
 quisition for this blood; and according to the 
 debt they did owe to God, to justice, and to 
 themselves, and according to the fundamental 
 trust reposed in them by the people, had resolved 
 to bring him to trial and judgment; and, for that 
 purpose, had constituted that court of justice, to 
 which he was then brought. He should now 
 hear his charge upon which the Court would 
 proceed, according to justice^ At the command 
 of the President, Mr. Cook, the solicitor, pro- 
 ceeded to read the impeachment, charging the 
 King with all the calamity and bloodshed in which 
 the nation had been involved: an involuntary 
 smile played upon the King s cheek, discovering 
 how deeply sensible he was of the monstrous 
 falsehood and absurdity of the charges alleged 
 against him. Bradshaw, with an assumed air of 
 authority reprehended the King for want of 
 respect to the Court before which he was arraigned, 
 and, after many impertinent observations, con- 
 
366 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 367 
 
 SECTION eluded by asking him, " what ansv/cr he had to 
 IV. make to that impeachment?" The King, with- 
 
 K^^^J-^ out discovering the least alteration in his countc- 
 The Kin- nancc, replied : " That he was their King, and 
 
 authrrity.' "^^ ^^^y^ ^^^ subjccts, who owcd him duty and obedi- 
 ence. That no Parliament had authority to con- 
 vene him before them ; but that they were not 
 the Parliament, nor had any authority from 
 Parliament. That he would not so much betray 
 himself and his Royal dignity, as to answer any 
 thing they objected against him, as it might be 
 interpreted into an acknowledgment of their autho- 
 lity, though he firmly believed, that every person 
 within the walls of that court, did, in their own 
 consciences, fully absolve him from all the 
 material thiiifjs objected against him." Brad- 
 shaw here interrupted him, and begged him *' not 
 to deceive himself; that the Parliament knew 
 their own authority, and would not suffer it to be 
 called in question; and, even threatened him 
 with the punishment, which the law pronounced 
 against those who stand mute and refuse to plead." 
 The King was now removed by the guard, and 
 as he passed along, the multitude w^ere differently 
 affected at his appearance. Many with bleeding 
 hearts and weeping eyes, lamented the unhappy 
 fate of their beloved Prince. Others received 
 him with cruel upbraiding and reproaches, calling 
 him tyrant and murderer: whilst one of the 
 soldiers even spat in his face, which the King 
 
 wiped off with his handkerchief, and mildly said, SECTION 
 " my Saviour endured far more than this, for me." IV. 
 Soon after this, another soldier calling out : " God ^"*''" "" 
 bless you, sir," the King courteously thanked him, 
 upon which his officer struck him on the head, 
 which his Majesty observing said; -the punish- 
 ment, methinks, exceeds the offence." 
 
 The next day was Sunday, and vast crowds of 
 people repaired to Westminster, to see the King: suprt^^tf 
 but they were dissappointed : his Majesty spent ^^^ ^^*- 
 the greatest part of that day in the most solemn 
 devotions. On Monday he was again brought 
 up, under a strong guard, to Westminster Hall ; 
 where the solicitor moved the Court : - that the 
 prisoner give a positive answer to his charge, or, 
 that the Court would take the matter of it pro 
 confesso, and proceed accordingly." The King, 
 however, still insisted upon his former plea, that 
 the Court had no authority to proceed against 
 him, declaring, " that power, without law, could 
 never make law." He told them, ^' that he stood 
 there to plead the cause of England as well as his 
 own, and desired that he might be heard," at the 
 same time producing a paper on which his argu- 
 ments were written. Bradshaw boldly interposed, 
 and demanded his entire submission to the autho- 
 rity of the Court. The King insisted upon the 
 superior authority of the laws of the land, affirm- 
 ing that he knew as much law as any gentleman 
 in England ; and that he pleaded for the liberties 
 
 i/:ti^_ 
 
368 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTrON of the people more sincerely than they did." He 
 
 cll'ii. ^^^ ^^^'"^ interrupted by the President, upon 
 ,.,,^-v<^ which the King remarked : " remember you re- 
 fuse to hear your King," demanding " what kind 
 of a Court that was, where reason could not be 
 heard % " to which the Court inadvertently, but 
 with great truth replied: "He should find it 
 there." The King still refusing, his contempt 
 was recorded, and the Court adjourned. 
 Faisewitness- The proceedings on the following day were of a 
 es produced, similar dcscriptiou ; and on the Wednesday, the 
 Commissioners sat in the painted chamber in a 
 sort of mock examination of witnesses, against 
 the King. Thirty-three persons, of the meanest 
 condition and most profligate lives, raked out of 
 ffteen counties were examined ; and their deposi- 
 tions, which were taken on oath, were either 
 irrelevant, or false and inconsistent. 
 
 His death . ^^^'^^^ *^^'^ ^^'"^^ ^^^^^ acted openly in the 
 nxed. view of the people, the merciless cabal held their 
 
 private meetings, in which, it was debated as to 
 the time, place, and manner, of the King's death. 
 Various barbarous and infamous modes of death 
 were suggested; but, at length, the majority 
 agreed that he should be beheaded on a scaff^old, 
 to be erected before the banquetting House, at 
 Whitehall : " that from the same place where' he 
 was used to mount the throne, and appear in the 
 sacred pomp of Majesty, he might pass on to the 
 block ; and cast off the ornaments of royalty 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 369 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 where he was commonly invested with them." SECTION 
 And, as it was apprehended that he might refuse IV. 
 to yield to their unjust sentence and submit him- 
 self to the stroke of the executioner, they ordered 
 iron rings and staples to be fixed into the scafi'old, 
 for the purpose of drawing down his head and 
 hands to the block ! 
 
 After two days consultation, the grand theatre La^t day of 
 was again opened for the last time. The Presi- trial 
 dent, without noticing the King, was proceeding 
 to address the Court, when his Majesty again 
 desired that he might be heard before judgment 
 was passed ; observing, that, ''an hasty judgment 
 could not easily be recalled." After some delay 
 the King's request was acceded to, and he pro- 
 ceeded to say :— " That if he had had respect to his 
 life, more than the peace of the Kingdom and the 
 liberty of his subjects, he should certainly have 
 made a particular defence, because he might by 
 that means have, at least, delayed a hard sentence 
 which he believed would pass upon him. But still 
 having something to say which did concern both, 
 he desired to be heard in the painted Chamber, 
 before the Lords and Commons. He observed that 
 this delay could not be prejudicial to them ; and 
 if they refused, he protested, that all these fair 
 shews of peace and liberty were mere disguises, 
 and that they would not hear their King." 
 
 This address produced a considerable sensation ^. . 
 
 j.T_ n rm -r^ . ^"^ King's 
 
 m the Court : The President objected, that it was request. 
 
 VOL. II. A a 
 
370 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION another method of declining the jurisdiction of the 
 IV. Court ; but the King strongly urging his point, 
 many were of opinion that it was his intention 
 solemnly to resign his kingdom to his Son. 
 Colonel Downes moved with the speech of a sup- 
 pliant King, said to Cawly and Walton whom he sat 
 near: — ''What! have we hearts of stone? Are we 
 men T They replied, " he would ruin both him- 
 self and them," but he persisted, and said, "if he 
 should die, he could not but speak." Cromwell 
 then asked the King the purport of his communi- 
 cation. The King persisted in his request ; and 
 told the President, that he had something to offer 
 against the sentence, and desired the Court to ad- 
 journ. After some debate, the adjournment was 
 agreed to, and the Court retired into the inner 
 " Court of Wards. " Colonel Downes zealously 
 
 Cromwell in. urgcd many things in the King s favour, and con- 
 tended that his earnest desire to be heard before 
 Parliament, was but reasonable. Cromwell had 
 now a critical part to act : he fell into a fury ; and 
 said ; " It was not fit that the Court should be 
 hindered from their duty by one peevish man ; and 
 if the bottom was known, he would fain save his 
 old Master " and concluded, by desiring the Court 
 to proceed, without further delay, in the perfor- 
 mance of their duty. Others taking courage by 
 the example of their leader, followed in the same 
 strain, and treated the Colonel with great severity. 
 
 terferes. 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 371 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The final 
 
 N. S. 
 
 The Court having reassembled, Bradshaw in- SECTION 
 formed the King that his request was only tendered IV. 
 to delay justice ; and it was their unanimous reso- " 
 lution to proceed to judgment. The King con- 
 fessed it was a delay : but a delay of importance 
 which concerned the peace of the kingdom as "^^^ 
 much as the safety of his own person, and required*"" ""• 
 them, as they would answer it at the dreadful day ^^ •'"'•'"y' 
 of judgment, to consider it once again. But *" ""' '"'' 
 the Court was inexorable; and Bradshaw told 
 him, that they had fully considered his proposal 
 and that if he had nothing further to answer, they 
 were prepared to proceed to judgment," to which 
 the King subjoined « that he had nothing more 
 to say ; but requested that what he had said might 
 be recorded." Bradshaw now commenced his ad- 
 dress, in which he endeavoured, at considerable 
 length, to justify their proceedings-misapplying 
 both law and history-wresting the declarations 
 of the one, and the facts of the other, to serve his 
 purpose ; and concluded by advising him to a se- 
 rious repentance. The King bore all his insulting 
 calumnies with his usual patience; but when he 
 attempted to speak and to defend himself against 
 he imputations laid to his charge.-with a peremp- 
 toij air, Bradshaw told him : " his time was past ^ 
 and, immediately proceeded to pass the dreadful 
 sentence.-" This Court doth adjudge that the 
 said Charles Stuart, as a tyrant, traitor, mur- 
 derer, and pubUc enemy, shall be put to death by 
 
372 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION the severing his head from his body." Whilst 
 I^« the President was pronouncing these words, the 
 Chap. h. -^.^^ ^^^ observed, with a placid smile, lifting up 
 his eyes to heaven, as if appealing to the Divine 
 Majesty, in whose presence he had long seemed to 
 live : and when Bradshaw had concluded, the King 
 offered once more to speak ; but he was interrupt- 
 ed and hurried away from the inhuman tribunal ; 
 and on his way to Sir Robert Cotton's house, he 
 was exposed to the scoffs and insults of the sol- 
 diery who blew the smoke of tobacco into his face, 
 the smell of which was exceedingly disagreeable 
 to him. But he bore all these affronts with the 
 most heroic patience. 
 Concern of The feeling which pervaded the public mind 
 
 the President's Jufing thcsc trausactious was intense. The agi- 
 tated state of mind under which the wife of Brad- 
 shaw laboured, during these proceedings, must be 
 recorded. The King's sentence was passed on 
 Saturday the twenty-seventh of January. It was 
 on the morning of that day, that the President's wife 
 rushing into his chamber, wdth lamentations and 
 tears, threwherself on her knees before him, and en- 
 treated him, that he would have nothing to do with 
 his majesty, nor sentence his earthly King, for 
 fear of the dreadful sentence of the King of heaven. 
 " You have no child she continued— why should 
 you do such a monstrous act to favour others?" 
 But with insufferable pride he rejected her entrea- 
 ties, observing : '" I confess he has done me no 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 373 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 Tlie King's 
 
 conduct. 
 
 harm, nor wDl I do him any, except what the law SECTION 
 commands." .y 
 
 At the rising of the court, the King was remov- 
 ed in a sedan chair, under a guard of Halberdiers, 
 to White-Hall ; and from thence to St. James'. 
 The streets through which he passed were lined 
 with a strong guard of foot soldiers, who were si- 
 lent as his Majesty passed. The shops and win- 
 dows were crowded with people, many of whom 
 were bathed in tears, and expressed aloud their 
 lamentations and prayers. On his arrival at St. 
 James', the King requested two things : " that he 
 might have liberty to see his Children, and that 
 Dr. Juxon the Bishop of London, might be per- 
 mitted to assist him in his devotions." No fear, no 
 anxiety, no perturbation appeared in the conduct of 
 the Kmg, and he gave all his directions with equal 
 meekness and equanimity. AH his thoughts were 
 employed in preparing for that death which he now 
 saw to be inevitable ; and he resolved, to seclude 
 himself from all outward interruptions. For this 
 purpose, he charged Mr. Herbert to admit no one 
 to his presence, whom it was not absolutely neces- 
 sary for him to see. « I know," said he. "my 
 nephew, the Prince Elector, and some other Lords 
 that love me, will endeavour to gain permission to 
 see me, which I take very kindly ; but my time is 
 short and precious, and I desire to improve it the 
 best I can m preparation. I hope they will not 
 take It amiss that none have access to me but my 
 
374 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Children. The best office they can now do, is to 
 ^V« pray for me." It happened as he expected : for 
 
 ,^^-\^^^ his Electoral Highness, accompanied by the four 
 Lords of excellent memory, the Duke of Richmond 
 the Marquis of Hertford, and the Earls of South- 
 ampton and Lindsey, having obtained leave, in the 
 silence of sorrow, approached the door of his ap- 
 partment. Mr. Herbert acquainted them with the 
 King s charge, in which they, sorrowfully, acquies- 
 ced, and presenting their humble duty to his Ma- 
 jesty, retired, with marks of deep concern and the 
 most poignant grief. 
 Public feci. The next day was Sunday, and the King was 
 
 "s- engaged in the most profound devotions. The pul- 
 
 pits of the Presbyterian Divines resounded with 
 denunciations against " the impiety of the Parri- 
 ddes" and deprecated the heavy judgments which 
 such a sinful nation, polluted with the blood of 
 their Prince, was to expect. Universal grief, fear 
 and indignation prevailed. All countenances gath- 
 ered sadness and astonishment, and a sudden panic 
 seized the minds of all men, as if some prodigious 
 national evil was about to happen. 
 Final propo- But the unfortimatc Monarch w^as still to be 
 persecuted by his tormentors : on this very day, 
 the hours of which had been consecrated by their 
 prisoner to the purposes of religion, he was inter- 
 rupted by their appearance. They presented him 
 with a paper, tendering him his life and some 
 shadow of rovaltv if he would subscribe it. 
 
 sals. 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 375 
 
 Chap. IF. 
 
 Amongst many other propositions destructive of SECTION 
 the established rehgion, and the laws and liberties IV. 
 of the kingdom, one was : That he should keep on 
 foot the armi/, under their present General and Offi^ 
 cers, to the amount of forty thousand, as long as it 
 should he the pleasure of those whom they should 
 nominate to the command of the Militia, That the 
 whole management should he left with the Council of 
 War— that a tax on land, should he settled for its 
 support, to he levied and collected hy the army itself; 
 and that a Court Martial of extraordinary power 
 should he estahlished. But as soon as the insulted 
 Monarch had read a few of these tyrannical and ar- 
 bitrary proposals, he threw the papers aside with 
 indignation, saying: "I will rather become a 
 sacrifice for my people, than betray their laws and 
 liberties, their lives and estates, with the Church, 
 commonwealth and honor of the Crown to the 
 bondage of an armed faction.'' 
 
 It was yet Sunday, and the Bishop of London 
 was not permitted to attend his Majesty. Several '"^^ ^'^^'^^^<^^^' 
 of the London ministers, however, were admitted. 
 Amongst these were Mr. Calamy, Mr. Vines, Mr. 
 Caryle, and Mr. Goodwin, who offered their 
 spiritual assistance. But the King, after thank- 
 ing them in a very handsome manner, acquainted 
 them, that he had made choice of Dr. Juxon, for 
 that purpose, and dismissed them with great civil- 
 ity. In the evening the Bishop arrived, and was 
 received by the King with great cheerfulness; 
 
 The dissent- 
 
376 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION but the other, depressed with grief, could not re- 
 
 JV". frain from expressing his concern and condoling 
 
 s,^^^^^^^^ with his Majesty on the melancholy circumstances 
 
 of his situation. But the Kinej, interrupting him. 
 
 The King»s . , t «• i • -r lb' 
 
 resignaUon. ^aicl : " Lcavc off this my Lord ; we have not time 
 for it. Let us think of our great work, and pre- 
 pare to meet that great God, to whom, ere long, 
 I am to give account of myself; and I hope I 
 shall do it with peace. We will not talk of these 
 rogues into whose hands I have fallen. They 
 thirst after my blood, and they will have it : but 
 God's will be done. I thank God, I heartily for- 
 give them, and I will talk of them no more." 
 After this, they spent two or three hours in deep 
 conference, reading select passages of scripture, 
 with supplications and prayers. They were in- 
 terrupted by the arrival of Mr. Seymour, a gentle- 
 man of the bed-chamber to the Prince. Being 
 admitted, he presented the King with a letter 
 from his Royal Highness, dated from the Hague. 
 Mr. Seymour was overwhelmed with distress, and 
 having kissed the King's hand, he clasped around 
 his knees uttering such mournful expressions of 
 grief, that Colonel Hacker who had the command 
 of the King's guard, was greatly afifected. But 
 as soon as the King had read his son's letter, and 
 imparted what he wished to Mr. Seymour, the 
 latter retired ; and the King and the Bishop re- 
 turned to their devotions. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 377 
 
 children. 
 
 Next morning, the Princess Elizabeth and the SECTION 
 Duke of Gloucester her brother, came to take IV. 
 their last sad farewell of the King their father, vJ^ZC^ 
 and to receive his blessing. The Princess, thirteen Hi, confer- 
 years of age, a lady of excellent understanding, ^"'^ ^'^^ ^'^ 
 was most sensibly touched at her Royal Father s 
 condition : and her little brother, who was only 
 eight years of age, seeing her weep, was overcome 
 with sobs and tears. The King tenderly raised 
 them both from their knees, kissed them, and gave 
 them his blessing. Placing them upon his knees 
 he caressed and admonished them. He told the 
 Princess not to grieve or torment herself for him, 
 for his would be a glorious death, being for the 
 Laws and Liberties of the land, and for maintain- 
 ing the true Protestant religion ; and, that 
 he doubted not but that God would settle his 
 son upon the throne, and that they would all be 
 happier than they could have expected to have 
 been, if he had lived. He then required her to 
 read Bishop Andrew's Sermons, Hooker's Ecclesi- 
 astical Polity, and Laud's Book against Fisher, 
 which would guard her against Popery. He told 
 her that he had forgiven all his enemies, and 
 desired them also to forgive them; but never to 
 trust them, for they had been most false to him, 
 and to them who gave them power, and he feared 
 also, to their own souls. He particularly required 
 her to tell her mother, that his thoughts had 
 never strayed from her, and that his love should 
 
378 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 SECTION be the same to the last. Then tenderly looking 
 IV. at her, he said; "Sweetheart, you will forget 
 this!" "No," said the Princess "I shall never 
 forget it as long as I live," and shedding a flood 
 of tears promised to write down the particulars. 
 Then addressing the Duke of Gloucester, he said 
 " Child, mark what I say. They will cut off thy 
 father s head, and, perhaps, make thee a King. 
 But mark what I say. You must not be a King 
 whilst your brothers, Charles and James are alive. 
 Therefore I charge thee, do not be made a King 
 by them." At which the child said, with a sigh : 
 " I will be torn in pieces first." The King ap- 
 peared much pleased with such a decisive answer 
 from so young a child; and, having presented 
 them with all his jewels, he blessed them and 
 sent them away. 
 
 In the meantime, there arrived, from the con- 
 waies sends to ti^eut, Coloucl Johu Cromwcll, nearly related to 
 Cromwell. the Licutenant-Geueral, with credentials from the 
 States of Holland. He was the bearer of a " carte 
 blanche," to which was attached the King's signet, 
 as well as the Prince's : and, both, confirmed by 
 the States, for Oliver Cromwell to write his own 
 conditions, if he would save the life of the King. 
 
 The Colonel, immediately proceeded to the 
 house of his kinsman ; but he was with the great- 
 est difiiculty admitted. After mutual salutations, 
 the Colonel freely reasoned with him on the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 379 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 hemousness of the deed which they were about to SECTION 
 
 transact, expressed his astonishment that he should IV. 
 
 be concerned in it. since he had heard him, so fre- ~ 
 
 quently, protest in favour of the King. To which 
 
 Cromwell with his usual wiliness answered • " It 
 
 was not he, but the army. He owned he hadji":' 
 
 spoken m favour of the King ; but that times were 
 
 altered, and Providence seemed to dispose things 
 
 otherwise ; that he had fasted and prayed for the 
 
 King, but no return that way, was yet made to 
 
 him." Upon which the Colonel producing his 
 
 papers : - Cousin," said he, « this is no time to 
 
 tnfle with words. See here, it is now in your 
 
 power not only to make yourself, but your family. 
 
 relations, and posterity, happy and honorable for 
 
 ever; otherwise, this deed will bring such an 
 
 ignominy upon the whole generation and name 
 
 of Cromwell, that no time will be able to efface." 
 
 Cromwell paused, and seeming to reflect with 
 
 himself said: "Cousin, I desire you will give me 
 
 till night for reflection, retire to your inn, but not 
 
 to bed, till you hear from me." The Colonel 
 
 then took his leave, and, about one o'clock that 
 
 night, a person arrived at his Inn with the follow- 
 
 ing message. « He might go to rest, nor wait for 
 
 further answer to carry to the Prince, for the 
 
 Ofiicershad been seeking god, and he, also, had 
 
 done the same, and it was resolved by them all 
 
 that, the King should die." 
 
380 
 
 SECTION 
 
 IV. 
 Chap. II. 
 
 The King's 
 devotion. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 During the time of the King s interview with 
 his children, the leaders and managers of this 
 execrable deed, were consulting how they should 
 conclude their bloody tragedy on the following 
 day ; and the warrant for his execution was sub- 
 scribed, that night, by fifty-nine of the Commis- 
 sioners, and directed to Colonel Hacker, Colonel 
 Huncks, and Lieutenant Phray. The whole day 
 the King eat and drank very sparingly, a great 
 part of it being spent in prayer and devotion ; and 
 it was some hours after night, before the Bishop 
 took leave of him. Before his departure, the King 
 spoke to him respecting the Prince of Wales, and 
 requested him to be early in his attendance next 
 morning; after which he continued more than 
 two hours in reading and prayer. On retiring 
 to rest, he desired Mr. Herbert to sleep on a 
 pallet near him ; where that gentleman could take 
 no rest; but, the King slept soundly for four 
 hours, as if he had nothing to discompose his 
 thoughts. 
 
 About two hours before day, he awoke; and 
 called to Mr. Herbert to rise, '' For," said he, " I 
 will get up, having a great work to do this day : 
 this, Herbert, is my second marriage day : I would 
 be as trim to day as may be ; for, before night I 
 hope to be espoused to my blessed Jesus." And 
 then, appointing what clothes he should wear, he 
 said with his usual prudence and foresight. " Let 
 me have a garment more than ordinary ; for the 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 381 
 
 Chap. H. 
 
 season ,s so sharp, as probably to make me shake, SECTION 
 which some observers will imagine to proceed IV. 
 from fear. I would have no such imputation, I 
 fear not death. Death, is. in no wise, terrible to 
 me. I bless my God I am prepared." The 
 Bishop now arrived according to promise, when 
 the Kmg, taking a Bible, in which he had written 
 many annotations and quotations with his own 
 hand, delivered it to Mr. Herbert with a strict 
 charge to deliver it to the Prince, his son ; and 
 to state, that « as from his heart he had forgiven 
 his enemies, and would leave the world in perfect 
 charity with all men, so he advised his son to ex- 
 ceed in mercy, not in rigour: that as to Episco- 
 pacy It was still his opinion, that it is of Apostolic 
 Institution, and. in this kingdom exercised from 
 the most primitive times. And that it was his 
 last and earnest request that he would frequently 
 read the bible ; which, in all the time of his 
 affliction, had been his instructor and delight" 
 Having then delivered to the same Gentleman 
 some presents for his children, the Eari of Lindsey 
 and the Duke of Richmond, he retired with the 
 Bishop to his devotions, who immediately pro- 
 ceeded to the service of the day, and read the 
 twenty-seventh chapter of Saint Matthew, the 
 history of our Saviour's passion. The King sup- 
 posing it had been selected on purpose, thanked 
 the Bishop for his seasonable choice. But the 
 Bishop modestly replied " that it was the Lesson 
 
382 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Leaves 
 prison. 
 
 his 
 
 SECTION appointed in the Calendar for the day," which the 
 ^^- King regarded as a providential interposition to 
 fortify his mind against the terrors of his approach- 
 ing conflict ; and a suitable preparation for the 
 Holy Sacrament, in the participation of which he 
 enjoyed the greatest satisfaction. 
 
 It was now ten o'clock in the morning ; and 
 Colonel Hacker, in the performance of his duty, 
 approached, and, with a trembling hand, knocked, 
 gently, at the door of the King's closet, for the 
 purpose of conducting him to White-hall, where 
 he said "his Majesty would have some time 
 allowed to rest." The King came out with the 
 Bishop and Mr. Herbert ; and, passing through 
 the garden, under a strong guard, walked between 
 the Bishop and Colonel Tomlinson, both bare- 
 headed. His Majesty walking fast, hastened them 
 saying : — " He now went before them, to strive 
 for a heavenly crown, which he ought not to do 
 with less solicitude, than he had been accustomed 
 to do, when encouraging his soldiers to, contend for 
 an earthly diadem." At the end of the Park, the 
 King ascended, through the long gallery, into the 
 Cabinet chamber, where they permitted him for 
 some time, to confer in private with the Bishop. 
 Whilst thus engaged at his last private devotions, 
 Nye, and some bold Ministers, knocked at the 
 door. The Bishop opening it, they told him they 
 came to offer their service to pray with him. 
 When the King declined their offer, they became 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 383 
 
 Chap. IL 
 
 more importunate, and seeming to demand a more SECTION 
 explicit answer, his Majesty said: " Then thank IV. 
 them from me. for the tender of themselves: but " 
 tell them, plainly, that they who have so often 
 and, causelessly, prayed against me. shall never 
 pray with me in this agony. They may. if they 
 please, pray for me, and I will thank them for it " 
 It was a cold, dark day ; and a dinner of two 
 
 wJf /''*''' ''^'^ ^^^"^ P''^P^'-^d for him, at J""""' " 
 
 White-hall. But he refused to eat. designing the ~ 
 
 "Lords Supper" to be his last refreshment on 
 
 earth But the Bishop urged him to consider 
 
 how long he had fasted: and how severe was the 
 
 weather; and, that if a fit of fainting should seize 
 
 him, his murderers would put an injurious inter- 
 
 pretation upon it ; by these means he prevailed 
 
 upon him to take half a manchet of bread and a 
 
 glass of wine. Colonel Hacker now announced 
 
 that the fatal moment had arrived. He was ready 
 
 at the call; and proceeded with him and the 
 
 Bishop, with a composed and tranquil air. through 
 
 the Banqueting House, and by a passage made 
 
 through a window, to the scaffold. It was covered 
 
 with black: two executioners in masks, stood 
 
 prepared to strike the final blow. Vast crowds 
 
 of spectators appeared in the distance, whilst the 
 
 nearer space was crowded with armed men. But 
 
 his Christian courage never forsook him, for a 
 
 moment. He looked round upon the array with 
 
 settled composure: one thing alone concerned 
 
384 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 scaffold. 
 
 him, that the people were so far removed from 
 the scaffold by the numerous guards of horse and 
 foot, that he could not address them in the man- 
 ner which he intended. He, therefore, addressed 
 himself to Colonel Tomlinson and those who stood 
 with him on the scaffold, which he did to the 
 Speech on the following cffcct .* " I should havc had no difficulty 
 in holding my peace, did I not think that my 
 silence might be misconstrued into an admission 
 of guilt. I think it, therefore, my duty, first to 
 God, and next to my country, to clear myself as 
 an innocent man, and a good King. All the 
 world knows that I never began the war with the 
 two Houses of Parliament. The dates of their 
 commissions and my own, are a sufficient proof: 
 and I call God to witness, before whom I must 
 shortly appear, that I never did intend to encroach 
 upon their privileges. I confess, at the same time, 
 that God's judgments upon me are just, which 
 are, many times, exacted by an unjust sentence, 
 nor must I complain of this retribution ; for, I 
 also allowed an unjust sentence to pass upon the 
 Earl of Strafford, for which I am now receiving 
 a just retribution. This good man, pointing to 
 the Bishop — will bear me witness that I have 
 forgiven all the world — even the chief promoters 
 of my death — nay, I hope my charity extends 
 further : I wish they may repent ; and I pray, like 
 Saint Stephen, that this sin may never be laid to 
 their charge ; and, as a good King, it shall be my 
 
 OF KNGUSH HISTORY. 
 
 385 
 
 Chap. If. 
 
 cndeayour, to the last gasp, to seek the peace of sroTrn. 
 the k.„gaom. The men who take the lead in i J 
 pubhc affairs have gained their present power 1 y 
 conquest, but conquest without a jnst can fs 
 
 1 Go 1 h''^*'^^^^■"' "^^'^^ ^'-^^^^^^ 
 g^vcGod his due. the King and his successors 
 
 2^t^ rV'', ''''''' *'^'' '^"^- They must 
 
 c ci„; t '' "^"'^*'"^ '"« ^'h"-h ac. 
 
 cording to scripture. And as the most likely 
 
 means for settling this great question, I should 
 propose a national synod. They must give the 
 King his due, m which the Laws of the land 
 would sufficiently instruct them. As for the peo- 
 ple whose liberty and freedom I desire as much 
 as any man, I tell them, this freedom consists in 
 receiving from Government, those laws by which 
 heir lives and property shall be most their own. 
 " IS for maintaining this principle that I now 
 
 'c7l f '• ^^ ^ ^"'^ i''^^'^ to arbitrary laws- 
 it 1 had agreed to have the laws according to the 
 power of the sword, I need not to have appeared 
 on this scaffold, and I may, with truth declare, 
 mat 1 die the martyr of the People." 
 
 At the conclusion of his speech of which this is 
 but an .^perfect outline, the Bishop reminded him, p^JIL-f 
 niat, although it was well known what his affec- *"'' '"'""'• 
 tion was to the Protestant religion, it might be 
 expected that he should say something for the 
 world s satisfaction in that particular. The King 
 heartily thanked him for his seasonable admoni- 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 Bb 
 
I 
 
 38G 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. II. 
 
 SECTION tion, and declared, that he died a christian, accord- 
 IV. ing to the profession of the Church of England : 
 then turning to the Officers he said: "1 have a 
 good cause and a gracious God." To Colonel 
 Hacker he said: "Take care that they do not 
 torture me " and gave him money, as well as to the 
 executioner to whom he said : " I shall say a short 
 prayer, and when I thrust out my hands * * * 
 After this he called for his cap, which he put on. 
 The Bishop, then, in allusion to a private discourse 
 which they had previously had, on the several 
 stages of human life, said : " There is but one stage 
 more, which though turbulent and troublesome 
 will carry you a very great way — from earth to 
 heaven, where you w^ill find the desired prize, a 
 crown of glory." To which the king replied. 
 " Yes : I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible 
 crown, where there can be no disturbance : " to 
 which the Bishop rejoined, " a happy exchange! " 
 Then taking off his cloak and " George " he deli- 
 vered the latter to the Bishop, with one empha- 
 tic word, " REMEMBER." Then meekly laying his 
 neck upon the block, after a short delay, stretch- 
 ing forth his hands, his head was at one blow 
 severed from his body. 
 
 Thus perished in the forty ninth year of his age, 
 whilst he was still in his full strength. King 
 Charles the First of sacred memory, affording a 
 monitory lesson, to all posterity, of the evils of 
 arbitrary power — the danger of political expedi- 
 
 Tuesday, 
 30th Jan. 
 A. D. 1649. 
 
 N. S. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 387 
 
 aggression , and, the more than brutal violence of IV. 
 popular heentiousness. We stand back with hor- ''"''■ "• 
 ror at the scene, which immediately followed the '^''^ 
 death of the unhappy Monarch. His inhuman per- 
 secutors despoiled the lifeless trunk, dipped their 
 staves and even washed their hands in his blood. 
 They cleft the block in pieces, and sold it to the im- 
 patient people, and the sand distained with gore 
 They even offered his hair for sale, and delivered 
 fte body to the camp Surgeons for dissection. 
 
 Z l" f • ^"""''''^ *» ^" P"'>"<= f-i'h, they 
 seized the Bishop of London, rifled him of all his 
 papers searched his clothes ,nd coffers, if any thing 
 could be found which had been ddivered to him by 
 the King: and because, they suspected that the 
 King s last word, - remember," had some extra- 
 ordinary meaning in it, the Judges abjured him with 
 many threats, to enter into a full explanation of it. 
 The good Bishop thus urged, at length disclosed the 
 fatal secret. The King, my Master, bade me re- 
 member to cau-y this supreme command of his 
 dying father, to the Prince his son and heir that 
 
 IF EVER HE WAS RESTORED TO HIS CROWN, HE 
 SHOULD FORGIVE THE AUTHORS OF HIS DEATH " 
 
 Nor was such a Prince, who had been taueht r 
 thus to exercise the perfection of Christianity un-oa^rr 
 lamented by his subjects. Perhaps none of the 
 Kings of England ever left the world with more 
 open marks of sorrow and affliction. The vener- 
 able Archbishop Usher, who beheld the tragic 
 
388 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION scene from a window, swooned at sight of the fa- 
 IV. tal blow. When the tidings of his death spread 
 
 Chap. II. ^|^j.Qyg|^ |.|^q country, such was the effect, that 
 many of both sexes were seized with sudden faint- 
 ings and lasting melancholy ; and, it is said that 
 some, seized with sudden convulsions, expired. 
 Even his enemies relented. The pulpits of the 
 ministers who had persecuted and defamed him, 
 resounded with lamentations ; and their congrega- 
 tions were overwhelmed with grief and tears. 
 Men of all sorts and conditions, and almost of all 
 sects, extolled his virtues, and compared him for 
 his patience, piety and prudence, to Job, David and 
 Solomon. The very homage covered them with 
 infamy. But I must not enlarge. The tide of 
 affairs rolls on ; and we are called to contemplate 
 other scenes. From this page let all future gene- 
 rations of our countrymen, learn to exercise a just 
 moderation: never, for selfish, or party purposes, to 
 encroach upon the grand principles of the Consti- 
 tution — never to act upon presumptuous and un- 
 warrantable impulses, but to adhere to the sim- 
 ple and rational precepts of Christianity, — like 
 Charles Stuart King of England, who, by his in- 
 flexible integrity and stern adherence to the Civil 
 and Religious principles of his country, has left be- 
 hind him an imperishable record, and, earned for 
 himself the just application of that brief and sim- 
 ple eulogium of holy writ — 
 
 "The Memory of the just is blessed." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CHARLES II—PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSTITUTION IN 
 ABEYANCE-THE GOVERNMENT ASSUMES THE FORM 
 OF AN OLIGARCHY-DEGENERATES INTO A MILITARY 
 DESPOTISM, AND BECOMES INSUPPORTABLE. THE 
 ANCIENT MONARCHY RESTORED-NEW PRINCIPLES 
 OF GOVERNMENT ARE EVOLVED, AND THE THRONE 
 IS FULLY ESTABLISHED. 
 
 A. D. 1649. 
 
 Immediately on the death of the late Monarch, SECTION 
 according to a fundamental law of the English IV. 
 Constitution, his eldest son, Charles the Second ^""■- "'• 
 succeeded to all the titles and dignities of his ^1^1^ 
 murdered parent. But he was then an exile on a 
 toreign shore. During the civil war he conducted 
 himself with great gallantry, as Captain of the 
 royal Guards ; and. on the surrender of the 
 garrison of Oxford, he returned to the Court of 
 J; ranee, at which place he received the fearful 
 tidmgs of his fathers death, and of the daring 
 
390 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 appears 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION usurpation and distractions which still prevailed 
 IV. in his native land. 
 
 ^^^1^^-^ It was his misfortune to behold the Monarchy 
 The Usurper which had withstood the repeated shocks of 
 preceding ages, and survived the most violent 
 struggles and convulsions of the State, torn from 
 its deep foundations, and hurled in fury on the 
 wild waste of political agitation ; whilst the 
 discordant elements of rebellion, anarchy, and 
 fanaticism, were struggling for that ascendancy 
 which their individual force, or the peculiar cir- 
 cumstances of their position, might enable them to 
 assume. Nor was the struggle long. The master- 
 spirit, whose genius had hitherto directed the 
 storm of misrule, was at hand. His unwearied 
 energies, his invincible daring, his irresistible 
 impetuosity, marked him out as the instrument 
 of divine vengeance, raised up, at that parti- 
 cular juncture, to chastise the rage and impiety 
 of all parties. In his hands w^as placed the 
 ''coercive power," which he exercised to debase 
 the proud, restrain the wicked, defeat the am- 
 bitious, and deceive the visionary: and, after 
 wielding for a season, all the energies of the king- 
 dom — battering down the high imaginations of 
 irresponsible prerogative — the violence of Repub- 
 lican fury, and the wild folly of fanaticism ; and, 
 after, in the execution of the divine purposes, pre- 
 paring the way for just and reasonable principles of 
 Government, he was destined, himself, to sink 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 391 
 
 Chap. in. 
 
 Acts of the 
 
 under the laws of an awful necessity, to be given SECTION 
 up to the stings of remorse and the upbraidings of IV- 
 conscience ; and, at last, struck with death, com- 
 pelled to deliver up the seat of power to its legiti- 
 mate owner. These are the things before us. 
 
 The Parliament, which, as we have alreadv 
 seen, had been purged to its lowest dregs, pro- Parliament, 
 ceeded, under the direction of the Army, to exer- 
 cise the power which had been placed in their 
 hands. A proclamation was issued, declaring it 
 high treason for any person to declare " Charles 
 Stuart, or any other person, King, or Chief Ma- 
 gistrate of England." With equal facihty they 
 passed a resolution, that the House of Peers in 
 Parliament was useless and dangerous ; nor did 
 they rest satisfied till they had, by a formal vote, 
 abolished, for ever, the Monarchy of England. 
 These steps they considered as necessary prelimi- 
 naries to the establishment of their own sove- 
 reignity, which they prepared to exercise by the 
 formation of a new " Great Seal." On one side, 
 were the Cross and Harp,— the arms of England 
 and Ireland, and on the reverse, the figure of 
 Parliament, with the inscription, 'Mn the first 
 
 YEAR OF FREEDOM, BY GOD's BLESSING, RE- 
 STORED!" This seal was committed to the custody 
 of three lawyers, Whitlock, Keeble, and Lisle : 
 the Judges were appointed, and the coining of 
 money regulated, with the inflated inscription 
 " God with us." To strengthen their usurpation, 
 
i| 
 
 ii' 
 
 392 
 
 THEOCRxVTIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 of Justice re 
 opened. 
 
 SECTION an executive power was established, which they 
 
 cnir III ^^^^^'^ " '^^^^ Council of State," consisting of forty 
 .^,^-v^ persons, composed of the principal actors of the 
 times : an oath of secrecy and fidelity was imposed 
 on the Members of the Council ; and, to consoli- 
 date their power to the utmost, a solemn oath was 
 ordained, called an ''Engagement," in which 
 every one taking office under the oligarchy w^as to 
 swear to '^be true and faithful to the Government 
 established, without King, or House of Peers." 
 
 High Court These arrangements being made, the " High 
 '■ Court of Justice" was again opened for the enact- 
 ment of other political murders. The first victim 
 of their merciless policy was the Duke of Hamil- 
 ton, who made great efforts to save his life ; and 
 even offered a ransom of £100.000. But all his 
 endeavours, as well as those of his friends, were 
 ineffectual ; and he was condemned to lose his 
 head. Similar efforts were made in the case of 
 the Earl of Holland, the leader of the Presby- 
 terian Faction ; but in vain ; and he was con- 
 demned to die by the casting vote of the Speaker ! 
 and still greater efforts were made to save the 
 accomplished and gallant Lord Capel ; but to no 
 avail. 
 
 A scaffold was erected in front of Westminster 
 Hall ; and in the month of March these noble 
 prisoners w^ere brought forth, to act their last part 
 in the national tragedy. The Duke of Hamilton, 
 who, by his dark and intricate counsels, if not by 
 
 Dukeof Ham- 
 ilton sullcrs. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 393 
 
 Wicked treachery, had betrayed his master to his SECTION 
 ruin, was the first to suffer under the usurpation IV. 
 which had destroyed him. He endured the evils ^"'''- "^• 
 to which his melancholy lot subjected him with "^"^"^^"^ 
 great patience and devotion ; and, certainly, at 
 his last hour, expressed as magnanimous a senti- 
 ment as was ever uttered. Just at the moment 
 when he was ready for the scaffold, some officers 
 from Cromwell were introduced to him, who 
 assured him, tlial if he would discover what had 
 been often asked of him, his life should yet he 
 sjmred; but he rejected their proposal, and, with 
 great firmness replied: - If I had as many lives 
 as hairs on my head, I would sooner lay them all 
 down, than redeem them at so base a price." 
 The next was the Earl of Holland, who by his The Kan of 
 double-minded poHcy and extraordinary acts of"""^"^- 
 treachery, had, perhaps, as great a share as any 
 man of his time, in the guilt of involving his 
 country in ruin. After his sentence, he was in 
 great distress and agony of mind, for some days, 
 and was attended on the scaffold by two Presby- 
 terian divines, by whose advice and prayers, it is 
 said, he found relief. 
 
 The last, was the Lord Capel, a man, cast in 
 the noblest mould, and in the enjoyment of every capei!' 
 thing which could render life desirable— he had 
 a wife of great beauty and unblemished reputa- 
 tion—a numerous and hopeful family, and large 
 estates, He had been steady and uniform in his 
 
 The Lord 
 
394 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 895 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION fidelity to his Sovereign. But in one thing he 
 ^V. had offended : he had pursued with many others, 
 the innocent Earl of Strafford to the block— a 
 circumstance which he chiefly lamented in his 
 last moments, and viewed his own fate as a just 
 retribution for his offence. On the morning of 
 his execution, when in earnest conversation with 
 his chaplain on the subject, he said " I would not 
 for all the world have died without a public con- 
 fession of this sin ; and making the best satisfac- 
 tion I can to the memory of the Lord Strafford 
 before God and man, for having my hands dipped 
 in his blood." After this, with a serene counte- 
 nance, he passed through Westminster Hall to 
 the fatal scaffold ; and, after a noble speech, with 
 unparalleled Christian Courage, submitted to the 
 stroke of the executioner. Thus fell, by ignoble 
 hands, one of the noblest sons of England. " He 
 was a man," says the noble Historian, "that 
 whosoever shall, after him deserve best of the 
 English nation, can never think himself under- 
 valued when he shall hear that his courage, vir- 
 tue, and fidelity, is laid in the balance with, and 
 compared with, that of the Lord Capel." 
 
 Nor, were the Regicides satisfied with the blood 
 of these unfortunate noblemen. Their cruelty 
 raged ; and, great numbers perished in all parts 
 of the kingdom. But instead of striking terror as 
 they intended, into the hearts of the royalists, 
 their lawless severity only served to increase their 
 
 Effect of their 
 cruelty. 
 
 disgust and indignation ; and " the High Court SECTION 
 of Justice" was, generally, designated " Crom- IV. 
 welVs new Slaughter House:' ^"^•'- ^"• 
 
 But whilst they pursued with unmitigated Miiton among 
 hatred, all those who adhered to the ancient Con- ^^^ independ- 
 stitution, their own dissentions daily increased.^"''' 
 The Presbyterians who were still a powerful 
 party, perceiving their Church Government des- 
 pised, and themselves slighted, turned their whole 
 strength against the Oligarchy. At this juncture, 
 Milton, the celebrated poet, appeared on the stage 
 as the champion of the Independents. He drew ' 
 his powerful pen against the Presbyterians, and 
 brought all their sin to remembrance, charging 
 them as the chief instruments of promoting the 
 Civil War ; and bringing the King to the scaffold. 
 The Presbyterians he argued placed the King in 
 the hands of the Independents and they murdered 
 him. There was some truth in these assertions, 
 and they quietly suffered every contempt and in- 
 dignity from the ruling party. 
 
 But the fanatical levellers, who had still more Cromweii 
 degenerated, were their greatest obstruction. They '!T '^.^^ ^''" 
 
 , -J - ^ -^ dlers in the 
 
 had become the open and avowed enemies of all army. 
 Government, except that of the Saints, under the 
 reign of Christ, whom they hourly expected. 
 Whilst it suited the designs of Cromwell, he had 
 never failed to encourage these delusions. But 
 necessity, even had his interest not been concur- 
 rent with it, obliged him to put a stop to their 
 
396 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 wfU. 
 
 V 
 
 SECTION proceedings. Accordingly, he attempted to divide 
 ^J^' them ; and orders were issued for ten regiments 
 .^J^^^}^ to embark for Ireland ; but they refused to com- 
 ply, broke out into open rebellion, and leaving 
 their quarters marched to Burford, in Oxfordshire, 
 where they amounted to five thousand men. But 
 their career was short. Through the vigilance of 
 Cromwell and Fairfax, they were pursued and 
 entirely routed and dispersed. 
 Ireland in- I^ut auothcr Foc was at hand : and the storm of 
 ^acicdbycrom- ^aj. ^^^s about to burst upou the devoted king- 
 dom of Ireland, whose sins and rebellion cried to 
 Heaven for vengeance. The Marquis of Ormond 
 had placed himself at the head of the loyalists, 
 and having secured Dundalk, Trim, and Drog- 
 heda, directed his march to Dublin. But his 
 camp being thrown into confusion by an unex- 
 pected sally from the town, by night, his followers 
 were dispersed ; and whilst he was endeavouring 
 to recover them from their panic and to re-assem- 
 ble them,— Cromwell, being appointed Lord Lieu- 
 tenant of Ireland, and favoured by wind and tide, 
 landed at Dublin. He lost not a moment, but 
 impelled with the fury of revenge, carried fire 
 and slaughter into every corner of the devoted 
 land. Drogheda, first, fell under his resistless 
 attack ; and the whole town was sacrificed, as he 
 said, to the ghosts of the murdered English ; and, 
 so strictly were his orders executed, that it is said 
 not more than thirty persons escaped. Such was 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 397 
 
 the terror inspired by this terrific slaughter, that SECTION 
 many places surrendered without a summons: IV. 
 but more were marked out for destruction. Wex- ^"'^' "^• 
 ford suffered the fate of Drogheda. Ross was ^^""^^ 
 taken by assault. The sieges of Duncannon and 
 Waterford occupied a longer period ; but, after 
 immense loss on both sides, they were reduced. 
 It was the month of December, and although 
 Cromwell's army was reduced by cold, and dis- 
 ease, and fatigue, to four thousand men, and the 
 Marquis of Ormond was at the head of an army 
 of eight thousand men, nothing could stop his 
 progress, until he had made himself master of the 
 province of Ulster. 
 
 In the meantime. Prince Rupert at the first Death of 
 sound of war, appeared with a fleet, off the coast ^""^^^^^a""^« 
 of Ireland: but being encountered by the cele- 
 brated Blake with a more powerful fleet, he sailed 
 to Lisbon, where he was blockaded. But the 
 active spirit of the Prince could not long be re- 
 strained : he ventured out and sailed to the coasts 
 of Malaga, where he destroyed several English 
 vessels: but a heavy blow impended over him. 
 He was closely pursued by his persevering foe, 
 and, being driven among the Western Islands, he 
 was separated in a hurricane from his belJved 
 brother Maurice, whose vessel perished in the 
 storm. His loss was not only a grief to the 
 Prince ; but, to all the good and the brave, in 
 Christendom. He was snatched away in the 
 
398 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION thirtieth year of his age, leaving says the historian 
 ^V' " his great fame to posterity, and the love of his 
 
 V/IIAa* 111* 
 
 v^x^v^^^ person to his contemporaries." 
 Conquest of The industry, perseverance, and prudence, of 
 
 Ireland. ^^le Marquis of Ormond, under the pressing diffi- 
 culties of his situation, were incredible. But he 
 could not allay the wild animosities of his Irish 
 confederates, and they deserted in crowds to 
 Cromwell, who was thus prepared at the return 
 of spring, for a short and bloody campaign. 
 Calan was first put to the sword: Gowram fell 
 next, where Hammond, the governor, and some 
 of his chief officers were shot in cold blood. Kil- 
 kenny and Clonmell, soon after, shared the same 
 fate, whilst his Generals in the North were equally 
 successful. McMahon, at the head of three thou- 
 sand Irish, the first promoters and the most cruel 
 actors in the Protestant massacre, received a fear- 
 ful retribution. They had purged themselves 
 from all the English soldiers, under a supersti- 
 tious notion that they could not prosper whilst 
 one remained in their ranks ; and, being encoun- 
 tered by Cort and Venables, were entirely cut in 
 pieces : such a scourge was Cromwell, and his 
 associates, to that unhappy and perfidious people ! 
 England in WMlst Ireland was thus exposed to the mise- 
 
 grcat distrcsj. • c XT' i j • i ^ i 
 
 ries 01 war, JLngland was groaning under the 
 yoke of the oppressor ; the adherents of the Eoyal 
 cause were persecuted with unrelenting severity. 
 The lands of the King, the Clergy, and the Cava- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 399 
 
 liers were seized for the public use. The rights SECTION 
 ot all men were invaded and the liberties of all IV. 
 oppressed. Imprisonment, composition, and se- ^"''' '"* 
 questrations, became the ordinary acts of Govern- 
 ment, as if spoliation and robbery were its legiti- 
 mate province. 
 
 Innumerable evils arose from the lawlessness 
 of the people. Bodies of disorderiy men and 
 disbanded soldiers traversed the country, broke 
 into houses, and committed numberless ravages 
 In religion, the most unheard of disorders pre- 
 vailed. The most pernicious heresies, the wildest 
 enthusiasm, and the most awful blasphemy, every 
 where prevailed.* Amongst these was George 
 Fox, the most extravagant enthusiast that ever 
 lived, and whose name would not deserve a record 
 in History, had he not founded the sect of the 
 Quakers, since called the " Society of Friends."t 
 
 r^A^ ^^T^^""* at Coventry, named Salmon, declared that 
 
 T/LTfr rT'^'l °" ^^" ^'^""^ ^^^t they were doin^ 
 the work of God. Another, of the name of Wyke, took upon 
 him the power of breathing the spirit of GoLn o me^^^^^^ 
 kissmg them three times. Socialism is no novelty. ^ 
 
 t In his writings which are extant, are found sentiments 
 at once absurd and blasphemous. He says of himself « I am 
 the door that ever was, the same Christ yesterday, to day and 
 
 than dust, who was before languages were." But the present 
 opmion of the Society of Friends must not be confounded with 
 he extravagant pretensions of their founder. Since his time, 
 they have had many clever apologists, especially Barclay and 
 £ra7/> r' ^^^T^i^he tenets of their systemf and 
 brought It ipuch nearer the Christian standard. But there are 
 still many peculiarities, especially the rejection of the two sac- 
 raments, which discover their fanatical origin. 
 
400 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 tlie King. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION But other triumphs awaited the Conqueror of 
 IV. Ireland. Scotland wias about to suffer the chas- 
 ^|ii^^ tisement, which was due to its dissimulation and 
 Scotland pro- trcachcry. The Scots had long before sent Com- 
 poses terms to missioncrs to treat with the King, who had 
 retired with a slender court to Breda ; but the 
 conditions which they offered were so harsh, and 
 severe, and dishonorable, that he instantly reject- 
 ed them. But they were now more successful, 
 although the terms of agreement were not much 
 less severe. They demanded as the price of their 
 allegiaiice and service, that all persons, under the 
 excommunication of the Kirk, should be banished 
 from Court. This was for the purpose of ex- 
 cluding the Marquis of Montrose, the King's most 
 faithful servant. He was required to swear to 
 the solemn League and Covenant, to establish 
 the Directory, Confession of faith and Catechism — 
 to observe them in his own family, and never to 
 attempt any alteration — to consent that all civil 
 affairs should be managed by Parliament and all 
 Ecclesiastical matters by the Assembly. 
 
 There was every reason from the confused state 
 of Scotland, from the vigour and power of Eng- 
 land, to induce the King to reject conditions, 
 which were abhorrent to his honor and conscience. 
 But the Duke of Buckingham and other noble- 
 men w^ho attended him, supported by the Prince 
 of Orange urged him to the attempt ; and, on the 
 fallacious ground that when the people of Scot- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 401 
 
 . in Scotland. 
 
 and saw heir Sovereign, their loyalty and affec SECTION 
 tion would immediately relax from the severity of IV 
 their proposals. But previously to any resolu- C"-- '"• 
 tion of this kind, the King had granted to the 'tT'^' 
 Marquis ofMoptrose, whose element was action, Mo'lfi:;: 
 a commission to raise forces in the kingdom of'" °"~"' 
 Scotland. He delayed not a moment, but, for 
 fear a treaty with the Scots might annul his 
 authonty, with a few hundred soldiers supplied 
 by the Duke of Holstein, he landed in Scotland 
 And though he did not meet with the reception 
 he expected, he was still undaunted and led his 
 army southward, where he was soon met by Gen- 
 eral Stranghan, and entirely defeated. A price 
 was set upon his head. But such was the love 
 and veneration of the people for him, that there 
 was little expectation of his being given up. But 
 every scheme which the deadliest hate of his 
 enemies could invent, was set at work. The Pres- 
 byterian Ministers, from their pulpits, exhorted 
 the people to search him out, and discover his 
 retreat as a thing necessary for their salvation. 
 He threw himself, however, upon the honour of 
 Lord Aston, who delivered him to his pursuers • 
 and he was brought to Edinburgh, where a de- 
 grading triumph was prepared by his enemies 
 He was seated on a high cart, and ignominiously 
 bound with cords ; and, preceded by the common 
 hangman, he was conducted to the public gaol. 
 Hithm, two days, he was brought before the 
 
 \Tr\r TT 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 CO 
 
 I 
 
402 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 His defeat 
 and death. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION Parliament, where he was treated with great 
 IV. harshness and severity, which ended in a most 
 ^"^*'- ^"- cruel and barbarous sentence. But nothing could 
 shake his magnanimity or daunt his courage, and 
 he made a calm and dignified reply to his accu- 
 sers. On his return to prison the Presbyterian 
 Ministers followed him, insulted over his fall, and 
 aggravated the terror of his sentence, which they 
 alleged was to be followed by "eternal damnation;" 
 but signified their earnest wish to intercede for 
 him, with the Kirk, if he would give them solid 
 proofs of repentance. He rejected their officious- 
 ness, telling them they were a deluded and de- 
 luding people : and as if gifted with prophecy, 
 forewarned them that they would shortly bring 
 their miserable country, into the most insupport- 
 able servitude. Atrocious as his sentence was, 
 he welcomed it.—" He would rather," he said, 
 "have his head set upon the gate of his prison, than 
 have his picture hung in the King s chamber- 
 that he was so far from being troubled, that his 
 four limbs should be hanged in four cities of the 
 kingdom, that he heartily wished he had flesh 
 enough to be sent to every city in Christendom, 
 as a monument of his loyalty to his King and 
 country." On the day of execution, he suffered 
 every indignity with patience, and at last, after 
 devout ejaculations to God, he calmly submitted 
 to the last acts of the executioner. 
 
 403 
 
 Chap. Ilf. 
 
 The King 
 
 lands in Scot- 
 
 The King was at Breda, when the news of this SECTION 
 homble transaction reached him, which he greatly (V. 
 resented, and demanded an account of it from 
 themselves. They had recourse to their usual 
 artifices, and avowed that it was all intended to 
 serve his Majesty. 
 
 The Royal party, indeed, did not believe a word , 
 
 of this excusation ; and they determined, if it were Lt J:^r^ 
 
 only lor the purpose of keeping alive the interest •"-"«• 
 
 of the royal cause, to proceed to Scotland; but ^•°- "^• 
 
 which an overruling Providence remarkably turned 
 
 to the condign punishment of that kingdom. It 
 
 was the twenty-ninth of June, when the King 
 
 cast anchor at the mouth of the river Spey ; and 
 
 contrary to all expectation, he was obliged to' sign 
 
 the Covenant, before he was permitted to land. 
 
 The Marquis of Argyle was the principal per- 
 son engaged in these transactions, and the chief 
 actor in the scenes which are about to be trans- 
 acted. He used all his address to render himself 
 agreeable to the young Monarch, and provided 
 him with everything suitable to his high dignity • 
 but reserved the whole management of affairs to 
 himself In the meantime, the Presbyterian 
 Ministers pursued him with untiring zeal. They 
 insisted on his constant attendance on their long 
 prayers. On Sundays, their rigorous exactions 
 were intolerable, whilst their sermons and their 
 very prayers were libels and bitter invectives 
 against the actions of his father, the idolatry of 
 
404 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 405 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 i 
 
 SECTTON l^is mother, and the malignancy of himself. But 
 IV. the folly and impropriety of their conduct was 
 
 soon made manifest. 
 Cromwell Ou thc fifteenth of July, the King was pro- 
 Commander- claimed. A Rumcrous army was levied under the 
 '° '^''^* command of the Earl of Leiven. But Cromwell 
 was on his way ; not as Lieutenant General, but 
 as Commander-in-chief of the English forces — a 
 post to which he succeeded on the resignation of 
 the Lord Fairfax, who refused to take up arms 
 against the Scots, as he considered it a breach of 
 the Solemn League and Covenant. His resigna- 
 tion Avas a final blow to the Presbyterian interest. 
 On such a circumstance was the elevation of 
 Cromwell made to turn I 
 
 With rapid marches, at the head of eleven 
 thousand men, Cromwell advanced to the borders 
 of Scotland; and on the twenty-third of July, 
 crossed the Tweed. He found the Scottish army 
 occupying a very advantageous position near 
 Edingburgh ; and resolutely encamped his forces 
 around Musselburgh. In this perilous situation, 
 he was reduced to such straits from want of pro- 
 visions, that if the Scotch had collected their 
 strength and acted upon national instead of vision- 
 ary principles, the English army must have been 
 destroyed. But they were entangled in the web 
 of their own inventions, and destroyed by the 
 same spirit of error and delusion which liad actu- 
 ated them from the beginning. For some time, 
 
 I 
 
 they would not permit the King to join the army, SECTION 
 because he was the -root and fountain of all IV. 
 malignancy," and no blessing could attend their ^"*^- "'* 
 arms, under such a general ; and when at length 
 it was permitted, and the soldiers discovered a 
 more ardent zeal in the goodness of the cause, 
 from the presence of their sovereign, and it was 
 discovered that the soldiers had marked an R, 
 under the crown, upon their arms, the committee 
 of State and Kirk were thrown into the greatest 
 alarm, and exclaimed, -that the quarrel was 
 changed, and the cause of God neglected." Nor 
 would they rest satisfied till the King had returned 
 from his command, which he had no sooner done, 
 than all malignants were ordered to retire— a cir- 
 cumstance which despoiled the army of three thou- 
 sand of its best men. Nor was this all ; for when 
 the same loyal party, with a zeal and courage al- 
 most incredible, offered to be placed in the front of 
 the army, and to lead the van against Cromwell, 
 they were refused— the Ministers declaring against 
 It, and comparing the sin of malignancy to the sin 
 against the Holy Ghost. They ventured so far as 
 to assert that their forces, thus purged, were in- 
 vincible ; and, that " with an army of saints they 
 could not be beaten." To such a degree were 
 they infatuated and prepared for punishment ! 
 
 Nor was this all : they were determined that 
 the King should speak the same language as 
 themselves, as if the will and conscience could be 
 
 «i 
 
J 
 
 40G 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 407 
 
 SECTION coerced into an acquiescence with sentiments 
 IV. repugnant to the dictates of the understanding. 
 They prepared a declaration of the most unreason- 
 able and arbitrary description, in which the King 
 was made to inveigh against the blood-guiltiness 
 of his father and the idolatry of his mother — to 
 acknowledge his own sins and the sins of his 
 father's house — to account all those his enemies 
 who opposed the Covenant — to express his abhor- 
 rence against all popery, superstition, and prelacy 
 — to resolve not to tolerate them in any part of 
 his dominions, to declare that he had now found 
 mercy to be on the Lord's side, and that, for the 
 future, he would do nothing without the advice of 
 the Kirk and State. It is almost impossible to 
 say which preponderated, the weakness, absurdity, 
 and tyranny of the Covenanters, in insisting upon 
 such a declaration, or the want of principle in the 
 Monarch in subscribing it. Its extravagance was, 
 certainly, calculated, to lead the King to regard 
 it as an insane production, and that his subscrip- 
 tion was as unmeaning as its contents. 
 
 In the meantime, Cromwell found it impossible, 
 in the heart of the enemy's country, any longer to 
 maintain his position ; and, on Saturday, the 
 thirty-first of August, he drew his forces out of 
 their quarters, his ships weighing anchor at the 
 same time, with the design of reaching Dunbar, 
 and there embarking his troops. The Scotch 
 followed with a very superior army. The next 
 
 Battle of 
 Puobar. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 day, they had the fairest opportunity of cutting SECTION 
 off the retreat of the English ; but the Committee JV. 
 and Ministers, who accompanied the Scotch camp, 
 would not allow their soldiers to engage on the 
 Lord's day. Cromwell, therefore, reached Dun- 
 bar, but he was so hemmed in on all sides, that 
 his destruction appeared inevitable. And the 
 Committee persuading themselves that Cromwell 
 must surrender at discretion, and, being as they 
 said, '' certain of a dry victory on the succeeding 
 day," would not permit an attack to be made. 
 The night that intervened was dark, rainy and 
 tempestuous. Cromwell employed the time in 
 refreshing his men and protecting his match-locks 
 from the damp and rain. The Scots, on the con- 
 trary, w^ere secure and careless— a circumstance 
 not unobserved by Cromwell— and of which he 
 determined to take advantage. In the morning, 
 which was the third of September, he led out a 
 strong party of horse, and falling on the enemy's 
 horse guards, obliged them to retire. Whatever 
 might have been his design before, he now deter- 
 mined to strike for victory. He immediately 
 brought up his main bodies of horse and foot ; 
 and with very little resistance took the Scots 
 cannon, and entered their camp. A dreadful 
 struggle ensued. But it was brief. The Scots 
 fled in every direction. Confusion and terror 
 everywhere prevailed. The Angel of destruction 
 must have preceded the English army: for the 
 
408 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION slaughter was incredible. Three thousand lay 
 *^' dead on the field, and nine thousand were taken 
 prisoners — a number which exceeded that of the 
 whole English army, who only lost three hun- 
 dred men ! A victory in which the hand of God 
 was as manifest as in the triumphs of Poictiers 
 and Cressy. 
 
 The King was greatly benifited by this defeat, 
 and was treated with greater respect and indul- 
 gence. A Parliament was even called, which by 
 bringing many of the malignant party into the 
 councils of the nation, greatly increased the 
 King's authority and influence ; and enabled the 
 Legislature to abolish many obnoxious acts, and 
 to introduce others which tended to strengthen 
 the King's interest among all ranks of people. 
 
 Meanwhile, Cromwell held Edinburgh as a 
 conqueror; subdued all the southern fortresses 
 of Scotland, and, with incredible industry and 
 genius, pursued the seige of Edinburgh Castle, 
 the glory of Scotland, and which had never yet 
 surrendered to an enemy. But the day of ven- 
 geance was come, and it was doomed to fall. 
 After incessant efforts of skill and bravery, he 
 took it by open assault, on the twenty-fourth of 
 December. 
 
 Notwithstanding these warlike transactions, 
 preparations were made for the King's coronation, 
 which was performed with great solemnity, on the 
 first of January, in the Abbey of Scone. He was 
 
 The corona 
 tion. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 409 
 
 also appointed to the command of the army ; and SECTION 
 everything promised a propitious result. But it IV. 
 was otherwise. The King was deeply affected ,^^^^1^^:^ 
 by the death of his sister, the Princess Elizabeth, 
 who had succeeded her father as prisoner, in 
 Carisbrook Castle, where she mourned over the 
 unhaj)py fate of her parent, and pined away till 
 she followed him to the grave — *' AVhere the 
 wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at 
 rest." But a still heavier blow awaited him, in 
 the death of the Prince of Orange, his only ally, 
 adviser, and friend. The Prince died of the small 
 pox, a few days before the birth of his son, who 
 was destined to act such a conspicuous part in the 
 History of England. 
 
 Nor must we, in this place, omit the death of i>^ath of 
 that celebrated Prelate, who, again and again, ^^:' 
 would have saved his country had his advice been 
 followed— Williams Archbishop of York. The 
 resources of his genius continued with him to the 
 last : for, perceiving the approach of death, and 
 having no Presbyter near him, to administer to - 
 him the sacred rites of the church, he ordained an 
 honest and pious servant who had attended him, 
 for that purpose. 
 
 The preparations in Scotland were now in a 
 great state of forwardness ; and the King erected 
 the royal standard at Aberdeen ; and, from thence 
 marched to Stirling, at the head of a well-pro- 
 vided and superior army. Cromwell, with his 
 
410 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION usual rapidity, followed upon the King's march, 
 IV. and having reconnoitered his camp, which he 
 found too well fortified to attack, he pursued his 
 career northward, securing every garrison as he 
 advanced, as far as Saint Johnston, which he 
 reduced in one day. 
 
 This advance of the English General induced 
 the King to change his Counsels ; and, instead 
 of waiting for an opportunity of engaging the 
 enemy, he determined to attempt an inroad into 
 England; in which he was encouraged by the 
 assurances of attachment, and promises of support, 
 which he received from all parts. Expresses 
 w^cre immediately sent, to give his friends the 
 necessary information ; and, especially, to the Isle 
 of Man, where the Earl of Derby had secured 
 himself since the termination of the late war. 
 
 On the thirty-first of July, he broke up his 
 Engt camp at Stirling, and directed his march towards 
 Carlisle, with an army of sixteen thousand men ; 
 a force which, with the aid he might justly ex- 
 pect in England, must have secured a speedy 
 triumph, had it not been the just purpose of God, 
 to punish the perfidy of the Scottish nation. No- 
 thing, indeed, can be more clearly indicated than 
 the retribution of a divine Power, inasmuch as 
 the ruin of the expedition must again be attributed 
 to the blindness and fanatical zeal of the Com- 
 mittee of Ministers, who attended, and, even 
 directed, the motions of the army. 
 
 King 
 
 The 
 enters 
 land. 
 A. D. 1651. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 411 
 
 Chap, III. 
 
 On their arrival at Carlisle, the King despatch- SECTION 
 ed General Massey, with some detachments of IV. 
 Cavalry, to give notice of his arrival ; and to 
 summon the royalists to his standard. This was 
 a necessary and prudent measure ; and the fact, 
 that General IMassey was a Presbyterian, was 
 sufficient to give confidence to that party. But 
 the Committue of Ministers, perceiving as they 
 imagined, less regard for the Covenant, in the 
 King and his ofiicers, on this side the Tweed, 
 sent an express after the General, in which they 
 required him to publish the declaration before 
 spoken of, " which testified the zeal of the King 
 and the whole army, for the Covenant, and their 
 resolution to prosecute the true intent of it." In 
 vain did the King countermand their orders, the 
 royal party everywhere took alarm ; and instead 
 of joining the royal army fled from their houses 
 in dismay. 
 
 The King, however, pursued his march, and on 
 the twenty-second of August entered Worcester; 
 where he was joined by many of the chief Nobility 
 and Gentry. But, whilst everything bore the 
 most flourishing appearance, and, persons of the 
 first consequence were daily flocking to his stand- 
 ard, he received the tidings of the defeat of the 
 Earl of Derby, who had set out on the first sum- 
 mons, at the head of a valiant band of fifteen 
 hundred men. He was met, near Wigan, l^y a 
 superior force, under Colonel Lilbume : his new 
 
412 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION raised forces were put to flight, many persons of 
 IV. quality perished, and he himself, narrowly escaped 
 
 Chap. IH. 
 
 Battle 
 Worcester. 
 
 and joined the King at Worcester, 
 of Meanwhile, on the news of the King's arrival, 
 the Oligarchy, at Westminster, were thrown into 
 consternation, and, at the first moment of alarm, 
 thought of nothing but their own personal safety. 
 Eut their fears and preparations were unnecessary. 
 In three days, Cromwell appeared before Worces- 
 ter with an army of thirty thousand men, whilst 
 that of the King's was only about twelve thou- 
 sand. Many skirmishes took place between the 
 King s forces and different parties of the enemy, 
 with various success. But the fatal day, at last, 
 arrived. On the morning of the third of Septem- 
 ber, the King had led out his infantry to attack 
 Cromwell, who lay at Perrywood, and himself 
 with great gallantry headed the charge. The battle 
 was contested, for three or four hours, with great 
 obstinacy. On the first onset, the invincible life 
 guards of Cromwell were thrown into great dis- 
 order. The King performed prodigies of valour, 
 and during the conflict had two horses shot under 
 him. But he was ill-supported by General Lesley 
 with the horse ; and, fresh troops pouring in at 
 every advance, his forces reduced to a mere wreck, 
 were put to flight, whilst he himself, with great 
 difficulty, was persuaded to leave the field. 
 
 His retreat, however, was at length secured by 
 the Earl of Cleveland and some others, who 
 
 -->- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 413 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 rallying the dispersed soldiers gave a check to the SECTION 
 enemy as they were entering the city gate. The IV. 
 King was, at that time, among the combatants on 
 foot; but after many ineff*ectual efforts to rally 
 his troops, being provided with a horse, he escaped 
 by the opposite gate. Four thousand men were 
 slain in the battle : and seven thousand of the 
 Scots were taken prisoners. Many persons of 
 rank perished ; and amongst the rest the Duke of 
 Hamilton, who, by his faithful and gallant con- 
 duct, had endeavoured to wipe off some portion of 
 the disgrace which had rested upon the reputa- 
 tion of his brother. 
 
 This dreadful overthrow in which all was lost, 
 was considered decisive; and it seemed, to all 
 human appearance, as if the the Royal party had 
 received its final blow from which it could never 
 recover. But the Almighty Ruler had other pur- 
 poses in view ; and England was still, to be an 
 EXEMPLAR STATE, and give law to an extensive 
 empire. A few years was to unfold the divine 
 economy. All that had been intended by this 
 expedition was accomplished. The Scots had 
 brought upon themselves a just chastisement. 
 The King was again to retire. The principles of 
 the monarchy were for a season to be suspended. 
 An opportunity was given to the present demo- 
 cratic and sectarian innovation to unfold its real 
 character and tendency: the inveterate prejudices 
 of fanaticism were to be beaten down — the whole 
 
414 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION anarchical movement was to be restrained and 
 ^V. modified, and to work out, at a more distant period, 
 the purposes of the divine benevolence. 
 
 The King's flight and his final escape from his 
 enemies, is amongst the marvellous records of 
 History. It was ten o'clock in the evening, when 
 he left Worcester, by Saint Martin's gate, attended 
 by a few Noblemen, and, about fifty Horse, with 
 the intention of retreating to Scotland. But they 
 had not reached Kidderminster before it became 
 dark ; and their guide declared himself to be at a 
 stand. The King asked if there was no place at 
 hand where he could have a few hours rest. The 
 question brought to the recollection of the Earl of 
 Derby, a person of the name of Penderell, who 
 had befriended him in his late flight from the 
 battle of Wigan. There was not much time for 
 deliberation, and the party directed their flight 
 towards the borders of Shropshire ; and arrived 
 at " Whiteladies," about three o'clock in the 
 morning, when the Earl of Derby sent for Wil- 
 liam Penderell, to whom he recommended the care 
 of the King's person. No sooner was the King, 
 placed in security, than the Lords who accompa- 
 nied him, took their departure. But they had 
 not proceeded far, before they were overtaken by 
 a party of Cromwell's army. They made a brave 
 resistance: but were finally overpowered. The 
 Duke of Buckingham, the Lords Levingston 
 and Talbot, fortunately escaped ; but the Earl of 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 415 
 
 Chap. HT. 
 
 The King's 
 
 Derby and the Lord Lauderdale, were taken SECTION 
 prisoners. The former was conveyed to Chester, IV. 
 where he was tried by a junto of officers, treated 
 with great inhumanity, and beheaded at his own 
 county town of Bolton, in Lancashire ; and the 
 latter, was detained for many years a prisoner in 
 Windsor Castle. Whilst General Lesley himself, 
 with the remnant of the Scotch army, had scarcely 
 advanced beyond Newport, when he was sur- 
 rounded by his pursuers ; and all his men dis- 
 persed or taken prisoners. 
 
 The King, soon after the departure of his 
 Nobles, left Whiteladies in disguise for Boscobel escape. 
 House — a mansion, at a short distance, situated 
 in the midst of a beautiful and retired grove — but 
 at that time only inhabited by AVilliam Penderell 
 and his wife. His removal from Whiteladies was 
 seasonable ; for immediately after, it was entered 
 and searched by a troop of soldiers, under Colonel 
 Ashenhurst. In this retreat the King spent his 
 time chiefly in the wood adjoining, as being more 
 secure than the house. He was attended by his 
 friend. Colonel Carlis, whilst William Penderell 
 and his four loyal brothers, stationed themselves 
 in different parts of the wood, and acted as senti- 
 nels. It was in this wood, that the King and his 
 companion found concealment in a large and thick- 
 ly foliaged oak, from whence they could discern 
 various parties engaged in searching for the King, 
 and could even hear their discourse. This noble 
 
416 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION tree, for affording security at such a perilous 
 IV. season to the Monarch, was afterwards called the 
 
 ROYAL OAK. 
 
 The Scots Whilst the King was sustaining the hardships 
 sold for slaves. Qf ]^is couditiou, at Boscobcl, with incomparable 
 patience, Cromwell, directed his march southward, 
 driving before him three thousand unfortunate 
 Scots as prisoners, the greater part of whom were, 
 afterwards, sold as slaves into the British planta- 
 tions in America, He entered London in triumph, 
 and was received both by the city and Parliament 
 with marks of distinguished honour, and a pension 
 of £6fi00, was awarded to him. But his ambi- 
 tion was not to be satisfied with a pension, nor to 
 be controlled by a Parliament which he had cre- 
 ated and supported. From the moment of his 
 victory, which he considered his " crowning 
 mercy," his character rapidly developed. He 
 first ascertained the sentiments of his companions 
 in arms, with respect to the future Government of 
 the nation. And then, by the most artful policy, 
 he induced the Commons to come to a popular 
 vote, that the present Parliament should not con- 
 tinue beyond the third of November, 1654. From 
 that moment the Commons sunk into neglect, and 
 Cromwell was made supreme; and, every suc- 
 ceeding day unfolded his design of securing to 
 himself an undivided power. 
 Scotland suii Nor had he yet done with Scotland, which was 
 doomed to be reduced to the most degraded con- 
 
 suflfers. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 417 
 
 dition, and united to England, as a conquered SECTION 
 Province. Major General Monk, who had been ^^• 
 left as Commander-in-Chief in that country, acted v.^^^C>^ 
 up to the letter of his instructions. The magni- 
 ficent castle and town of Stiriing, in which were 
 found all the ancient treasures of the monarchy 
 and the records of the kingdom, was seized in 
 defiance of the lofty boast which King James had 
 inscribed upon its walls: ''H^c nobis invicta 
 TULERUNT CENTUM SEX PROAvi." Dundee was 
 taken by storm. St. Andrews, Dumbarton, and ofsZlT"" 
 others, soon after followed ; and the whole king- 
 dom was subdued, even to the Isles of Orkney 
 and Shetland. New Judicatories and Courts of 
 Justice were opened. Meetings were called in 
 every county, and the inhabitants were made to 
 subscribe a renunciation of the King, and declare 
 their submission to the English Commonwealth. 
 The use of arms was denied them, and even of 
 horses, except for the most necessary purposes. 
 Their Kirk was despised and insulted ; and their 
 " Covenant" neglected and trampled under foot ; 
 and, last of all, which never happens, except in the 
 last stage of the most abject slavery, the sacred re- 
 cords of the nation were removed from their ancient 
 repositories, and sent off to the city of their con- 
 querors. Whilst, to make the hand of Heaven 
 manifest in their humiliation, when, in after times 
 these records were sent back, the ship in which 
 they were conveyed was lost by shipwreck ! 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 D d 
 
418 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Death of Ire- 
 ton. 
 
 SECTION At the same time, the conquest of Ireland was 
 ^^' completed by General Ireton. But his own days 
 
 Chap. III. ^ -^ — i • ir • u 
 
 were numbered ; and the avenger himself, m the 
 midst of his career of blood and slaughter, was 
 cut off from the earth. He had just executed his 
 vengeance on the town of Limerick, when he was 
 seized with the plague, and died in the most fear- 
 ful manner, crying out in his delirium, '' I will 
 have more blood ! blood! blood!" Thus perished 
 this wicked and audacious regicide, originally in- 
 tended for the law — a man of a fierce and san- 
 guinary disposition, and such a determined repub- 
 lican, that his removal was a necessary step to the 
 advancement of Cromwell. 
 War with Other nations, who had been accessary to the 
 Holland. English rebellion, were now, in their turn, to feel 
 the ungovernable fury of the Regicides. The Oli- 
 garchy at Westminster, oljserving, with jealousy, 
 the prosperity of the rival republic of Holland, 
 sent an ambassador to the States, to establish a 
 treaty of commerce ; but their demands were too 
 preposterous to be entertained for a moment. The 
 Parliament immediately passed an act to inhibit 
 all foreign ships from bringing merchandise into 
 England, except the produce of their own country. 
 This was total destruction to the interest of the 
 States ; and they made preparations for a war 
 which they saw to be inevitable. 
 
 This war was very unpopular with Cromwell, 
 who saw the danger to be apprehended to his own 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 419 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 The King 
 escapes. 
 
 power, should the Parliament once establish for SECTION 
 themselves a victorious and dependent power in IV. 
 the navy. But the time to act was not yet arrived, 
 and, for the present, he concealed his uneasiness. 
 
 Meanwhile the King, who had left his retreat 
 at Boscobel, had travelled, during the space of 
 forty-one days, in various disguises, with great 
 pain and fatigue, more than three hundred miles. 
 He had traversed the country from Worcester to 
 Bristol, and from thence to Shoreham, in Sussex ; 
 where, after a variety of the most extraordinary 
 escapes, he embarked on the thirteenth of October, 
 and arrived safely at Feschamp, in Normandy. 
 
 The navies of the contending powers were 
 already in motion ; and the King, who was then 
 in Paris, gallantly offered to attend the Dutch 
 Admiral on board his fleet ; but the trading and 
 cautious policy of the Dutch, who were anxious 
 for nothing so much as peace, prevented them 
 from accepting his offer. The first encounter 
 was off the coast of Scotland, in which Admiral 
 Blake triumphed over the enemy's line of battle 
 ships, and carried off the fishing flotilla, which 
 they were stationed to guard ; whilst Sir George 
 Aiscough, returning from the conquest ofBar- 
 badoes, was sent with thirty ships to the west- 
 ward, where, on the twentieth of August, near 
 Plymouth, he fell in with and attacked the whole 
 Dutch fleet, under De Ruyter, when they were 
 again discomfited ; but the majority of their ships 
 
420 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 Kaval en 
 gage men t. 
 
 SECTION escaped, on account of the injuries -which the sails 
 IV. and tackling of the English ships had received in 
 the action : the Dutch Admiral Van Tromp having 
 retired, he was succeeded by De Wit, in com- 
 mission with De Ruyter. Nor was it long before 
 Blake came up with them, off the coast of Kent, 
 when a dreadful battle ensued, in which the Eng- 
 lish had the advantage, and pursued the remnant 
 of their shattered fleet within a few miles of their 
 own coast. But their damages were soon repair- 
 ed ; for being reinforced from Denmark, they put 
 to sea once more, with eighty ships of war, under 
 their celebrated Admiral Van Tromp. But Blake, 
 with an heroic courage which did not ask how 
 many, but where his enemies were, bore down 
 upon them off the Goodwin Sands, with forty 
 ships of the line. The battle raged from two 
 o'clock in the afternoon till six at night. The 
 two Admirals exerted all their courage and dex- 
 terity. The English fought with their usual in- 
 trepidity, and took and destroyed six of their ships, 
 yet the superior numbers of the Dutch prevailed ; 
 and the whole English fleet must have been in 
 great danger, had not the night been favourable 
 to their retreat. Whilst the two naval Com- 
 manders were preparing for future action, Crom- 
 well was pursuing his great design ; and, in order 
 to facilitate his future aggrandisement, he caused 
 the Duke of Gloucester, who had been confined 
 in Carisbrook Castle, to be set at liberty. He 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 421 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 was conveyed to Dunkirk, with two attendants ; SECTION 
 from whence he proceeded to Paris, where he IV. 
 was received by his mother and brothers with the , 
 liveliest demonstrations of joy. The Parliament 
 were no less assiduous in strengthening their 
 supposed interest. The fleet was repaired and 
 increased at vast expense, and with great zeal 
 and industry. Great encouragements were held 
 out to the sailors ; and Dean and Monk were put 
 in commission with Admiral Blake. Nor were 
 the Dutch behind. Early in February, an express 
 was sent to their Admiral, at Rhee, to blockade 
 the Thames, in order that their merchant ships 
 might put to sea. But to their amazement, the 
 English Admirals were already at sea, with eighty 
 ships of war ; and on the eighteenth of February 
 intercepted the Dutch fleet, consisting of seventy- 
 six ships, with a convoy of three hundred mer- 
 chantmen. 
 
 The battle became general about ten o'clock in 
 the forenoon. The combatants thought of nothing ^^s^™^'^'- 
 but death or victory ; and it was fought with des- 
 perate valour on both sides, till the darkness of 
 night compelled them to desist. Never was a 
 watery field more obstinately contended. Havoc, 
 and ruin, and carnage, attended the mighty 
 struggle ; and the rocky heights on both sides of 
 the channel were shaken with the thunders of their 
 cannon. The slain was equal on both sides ; but 
 Van Tromp having lost eleven men of war, thirty 
 
 Naval en- 
 
422 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 423 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 Cromwell, 
 and 
 the Fifth Mo- 
 narchy. 
 
 SECTION merehantmen, and fifteen thousand prisoners, was 
 IV. forced to retire ; but for two days, driving his 
 merchantmen before him, he sustained the inces- 
 sant attacks of the English, till he reached the 
 sands of Calais, where, favoured by the tide, he 
 drifted to his own shores. 
 
 The States of Holland were deeply afflicted 
 with the news of this terrible defeat; and sent 
 letters to the English Parliament, with a design 
 of putting an end to these unprofitable and bloody 
 contests. But the Parliament, who were becoming 
 formidable by their success, refused to listen to 
 their representations, although seconded by all 
 the interest of Cromwell, who now saw that the 
 time was come to destroy the power which he 
 himself had established. He again sounded his 
 friends and adherents as to their views of the 
 Government ; but found, in all, the same deter- 
 mined opposition, and the establishment of a Re- 
 public seemed to be inevitable. But Cromwell 
 was not intimidated. His great difficulty was 
 with the army, and some of its leading officers. 
 Their unbridled licentiousness had passed through 
 every stage of ''levelling" and "modelling" into 
 the wildest fanaticism. They now denominated 
 themselves '' Fifth Monarchy Men," and Colonel 
 Harrison, who has already been before the reader, 
 was at the head of this sect, which approved of 
 no government, except where Christ was to rule 
 and exercise dominion by his saints. Cromwell, 
 
 Chap. IIL 
 
 with his usual dissimulation, pretended to enter SECTION 
 fully into their views, and declared that it was IV. 
 his design to prepare the way for the reign of the 
 Messiah ! The Parliament was fully aware of 
 these proceedings, and used every precaution to 
 avoid the impending blow : but in vain. On the 
 tenth of April, Cromwell entered the House with 
 a file of musqueteers, to put an end to their deli- 
 berations. He dismissed the Members with in- 
 sults and reproaches ; and, locking the doors, 
 returned to his apartments at Whitehall. Thus 
 perished, for a time, the miserable remnant of the 
 LONG PARLIAMENT, after it had conducted the 
 nation through every stage of political iniquity, 
 civil contention, and slaughter; and delivered the 
 people, whose liberties they had usurped, and 
 w^iose resources they had embezzled, into the 
 hands of a tyrant; and they were now driven from 
 their usurpation with dishonour, and without re- 
 gret. They had run a loug and varied course ; 
 nor yet in vain. They had abolished all the 
 remnants of ancient and feudal times, and made 
 room, at a future period, for the growth and per- 
 fection of the British Constitution, and the advance 
 of the British Empire. 
 
 Never did the Usurper discover his sagacity 
 more than at this juncture. Ardently as he longed ^''^'''^' 
 lor the sovereign authority, he would not run the 
 risk of losing the glittering prize by too hasty a 
 seizure of it. In conformity with the fanatical 
 
 Cromwell's 
 
 1653. 
 
424 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The fanatical 
 Parliament. 
 
 SECTION opinions of the army, he determined to assemble 
 ^V. a Parliament exactly of the character indicated by 
 
 Chap. III. /-i i i tt • 
 
 Colonel Harrison. 
 
 On their assembling at Westminster, amongst 
 many other things in unison with their ideas of 
 Government, he told them that he had not made 
 choice of one person, in whom he had not this 
 good hope, '' that there was faith in Jesus Christ, 
 and love unto all his saints and people." After 
 exhorting them to " use with tenderness all con- 
 scientious people," he devolved upon them, by a 
 written instrument, the supreme authority of the 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 Such was the beginning of this unhappy Par- 
 liament; and every day only served to exhibit 
 their mad folly, and to expose them to the con- 
 tempt and execration of their fellow citizens. 
 Labouring, as they did, under a false impression, 
 and deluded into the vain belief, that they were 
 the predestined agents for the establishment of 
 the kingdom of the Son of God upon earth, they 
 discovered all that vain consequence, and rash 
 presumption, which j-uch a delusion was likely to 
 create in such ignoble minds. In them was ex- 
 hibited the "ne plus ultra" of fanaticism, affording 
 a salutary lesson, to all future posterity, of the 
 evils to be apprehended from breaking down the 
 long-established and reasonable boundaries of 
 Eeligion, and yielding to the impulses of a dis- 
 ordered imagination. One example must suffice 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 425 
 
 CllAP.III. 
 
 to shew the extent of their absurd pretensions. SECTION 
 — The Dutch war had been carried on with great IV. 
 vigour, and two great and decisive victories had 
 been achieved by GeneralJVIonk, against all their 
 celebrated Admirals * In the last engagement, 
 which was fought with desperate valour, off 
 the coast of Flanders, the brave Van Tromp w^as 
 slain — an irreparable loss to the Dutch, who now 
 earnestly sued for peace. But the English Par- 
 liament w^as inexorable, except on conditions ex- 
 actly in accordance with their own vain preten- 
 sions. In their answer, they stated, " that the 
 Dutch were carnal and worldly-minded politi- 
 cians — enemies to the kingdom of Christ; and 
 such as would, upon all occasions, retard the pro- 
 gress of the saints and people of God in overturn- 
 ing the powers of the w^orld. That Antichrist, 
 the man of sin, could never be destroyed, in 
 Italy, w^hilst the Dutch retained any considerable 
 strength in the Netherlands. They did not insist 
 upon the flag, or the dominion of the sea; but 
 held it necessary, in order to the coming of Christ 
 and his personal reign, that the seas should be 
 scoured, and kept as peaceably as the land, and 
 that both ought jointly to submit to the power of 
 King Jesus — that the Dutch ought to kiss the 
 Son, lest he be angry — and should take care how 
 
 * With these naval victories, Cromwell had nothing to do ; 
 and it ought to be remembered that they were achieved by 
 those very ships built by the late King, out of the revenue 
 furnished by the ship-money ! 
 
426 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION they contemned his "holy ones, lest they be 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 chastised with a rod of iron." 
 
 The Dutch, who came to negociate with Eng- 
 land, and not with the " Fifth Monarchy," were 
 astounded at these lofty pretensions. In vain did 
 they urge their zeal and sincere affection for the 
 true reformed Eehgion — all their arguments were 
 ineffectual ; and, in order to save their country from 
 extirpation, they determined to strengthen them- 
 selves by foreign alliances. But their deliverance 
 was nearer than they expected. Cromwell saw 
 that the moment for him to act was arrived : he 
 entered into a treaty with the Dutch Plenipoten- 
 tiaries, in which they agreed to assist him against 
 all his foreign and domestic foes, whilst he en- 
 gaged to strip the saints of the powder with which 
 he had invested them. 
 The fanatical Accordingly, ou the twelfth of December, he 
 Parliament ggnt Coloucl White, with a file of musqueteers, who 
 
 dismissed. . ^ 
 
 very unceremoniously dismissed these infatuated 
 men, after they had sat as a Parliament for five 
 months and eight days. Their dismissal w^as 
 followed by a resolution of the Council of State, 
 that the government of the kingdom should be 
 vested in a single person, and that Oliver Crom- 
 w^ELL should be raised to that dignity, under the 
 style and title of Lord Protector of the Com- 
 monwealth of England. The nation, torn in 
 pieces with its dissensions, and broken down wdth 
 so many usurpations, w^as obliged to submit iu 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 427 
 
 CnAi'. UL 
 
 silence. Cromwell lost not a moment, but pro- SECTION 
 
 ceeded to his inauguration ; which was performed, IV. 
 
 with great pomp and magnificence, in Westminster 
 
 Hall. A Council was appointed. The power of 
 
 the sword was vested in the Protector, jointly 
 
 with the Parliament, when sitting; or, if not, 
 
 with the Council. He was obliged to summon a 
 
 Parliament once every three years, and to allow 
 
 them to sit five months without adjournment; 
 
 and a standing army was to be allowed of thirty 
 
 thousand men. The Protector was to enjoy his 
 
 office for life ; and, on his death, his place was to 
 
 be supplied by the Council. But all this was a 
 
 dead letter, except the standing army, which was 
 
 sufficient to answer the Usurper's purpose. 
 
 No sooner was Oliver Cromwell seated in the Base flattery 
 chair of sovereignty, than ambassadors arrived ""[ ^^'^ ^^*^"^*» 
 from many of the potentates of Europe. Amongst ^I d. 1654. 
 the ambassadors who crouched at the feet of the 
 Usurper, the representative of the French King 
 urged the claims of his master in the most flatter- 
 ing terms, and expressed the personal respect of 
 the French monarch for " His Highness," in a 
 eulogy which might have suited the most heroic 
 and virtuous of Kings. 
 
 But the people of England who felt the yoke 
 of the oppressor could not be deceived. Arbi- 
 trary measures which are but the play-things of 
 Princes ; and, with them, spring from the wanton- 
 ness of power, in the hands of a Usurper like 
 
428 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 429 
 
 SECTION Cromwell, were the necessary instruments of 
 IV. government. All parties alike felt the weight of 
 
 <^^^r^ his restoring hands. Preshyterians, Levellers, 
 and Royalists, all felt that they had a master. 
 Ordinances were promulgated, declaring what 
 was high treason against the State and Protec- 
 tor ; and the " High Court of Justice," which 
 had been so successfully employed under the 
 Long Parliament, was again opened. Nor were 
 these unmeaning forms. Mr. Gerard, a person 
 of noble family, and a Mr. Vowell, a person of 
 great excellence and learning, were both executed 
 for a conversation which was reported to have 
 taken place between them in a tavern. But 
 which, at the place of execution they both denied, 
 and, died with a Christian patience and heroism, 
 equal to any of the w^orthies which had preceded 
 Death of Sir them. Very different was the end of Sir H. Vane, 
 
 H. Vane. scuior, w^ho died at this time despised and re- 
 jected of all men, nor by any, more than his own 
 son by whom he had been seduced and betrayed. 
 New Pariia- The time was now approaching when, accord- 
 ing to " the instrument of Government," the 
 Protector must convene Parliament; and every 
 effort was made to secure the return of such mem- 
 bers as should be most obsequious to his wishes. 
 But it was a difficult task. On the fourth of Sep- 
 tember this new Parliament was opened, on which 
 occasion, Cromwell proceeded to Westminster, in 
 great state and splendour. Lenthall was chosen 
 
 ment 
 
 Chap. IH. 
 
 Rebuked by 
 
 speaker; and, no sooner had the Protector left SECTION 
 the house than they began to dispute the autho- IV. 
 rity by which they were assembled. The few 
 members of the " Long Parliament " who had 
 been re-elected, still animated with the principle 
 of contradiction, contended that that was the only 
 assembly, duly elected, and which had been un- 
 lawfully dismissed. 
 
 For several days, the debates ran high, in 
 favour of Republicanism and a Commonwealth, ^'"o^'^^ii- 
 in which Bradshaw, Lord Grey of Groby, and 
 Hazlerigg signalized themselves. But they had 
 forgotten that they were no longer members of 
 the Long Parliament ; and their master thought it 
 high time to interfere, and put an end to their 
 disputes. Having stationed a guard at the door 
 of the House, he ordered the members to attend 
 him in the Painted Chamber, when he sharply 
 rebuked them for their " heats and divisions," 
 and laid before them, a recognition of the Govern- 
 ment by a single person and a Parliament, which 
 he obliged them to subscribe. The members who 
 would not sign this instrument he not only ex- 
 cluded from their seats ; but, sent the more re- 
 fractory to prison, amongst whom was Colonel 
 Harrison, his late Prime Minister and associate. 
 The majority of the members acceded to his 
 terms. But nothing was done by this Parliament ; 
 and at the end of the period indicated by the in- 
 strument of government they were despatched by 
 
 ill 
 
430 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 431 
 
 SECTION the Protector, with every epithet of disgust and 
 IV. contumely. 
 
 His pride and haughtiness, on this occasion, 
 filled the minds of all men with resentment. 
 Republicans and Royalists were equally indig- 
 nant ; and nothing was heard of, but plots and 
 conspiracies against the life of the Usurper. But 
 he had still a great work to perform, which no 
 man living was so well-fitted to accomplish as 
 himself — to bring back the tone of the public 
 mind, to destroy the spirit of Republicanism and 
 to prepare the people, by a strict discipline, how- 
 ever unjustly administered, for the return of their 
 legitimate monarchy. 
 
 Whilst preparations were thus making for this 
 auspicious event, the King, driven by political 
 interest from one kingdom to another, at length 
 found a generous asylum at Cologne* where he took 
 up his residence. He sustained his adverse for- 
 tune with becoming fortitude, and regulated the 
 expenses of his household with great prudence 
 and economy, on six hundred pistoles a month. 
 Sir Stephen Fox was his comptroller, and had the 
 management of his affairs ; and, Lord Clarendon 
 bestows great commendation on that gentleman : 
 but he was so far from taking the whole credit to 
 himself, that he shewed a paper of accompts 
 
 ♦ An ancient and celebrated town in Germany. It is 
 seated on the river Rhine, and is a free imperial city, having a 
 seat and a voice at the Diet of the Empire and circle of the 
 lower Rhine. 
 
 written in the King s own hand, to Mr. Echard, SECTION 
 and told him that he was the best economist he IV. 
 ever knew. Whilst at Cologne, he spent a great ^"*^- '"* 
 part of his time in reading and study ; nor must 
 it be omitted that at this period, he discovered a 
 steady and unwavering attachment to the Protes- 
 tant religion. The Duke of Gloucester was, then, 
 at Paris ; and every effort was made to induce conduct. '"''' ' 
 the young Prince to give up his religious prin- 
 ciples ; but he still remembered the dying injunc- 
 tions of his father, and resisted all the promises 
 of his mother, and all the arguments and exhorta- 
 tions of the Abbot Montague, who had been ap- 
 pointed his tutor. They had recourse even to 
 rigour and severity. The King heard of this with 
 great concern, and sent the Marquis of Ormond, 
 with an express command, to bring the young 
 Prince to him, a commission which he executed 
 at great hazard to his own person and through 
 almost insurmountable difficulties. But how un- 
 stable is man ! a short time after this, the King 
 himself fell into the snare, and, secretly, became 
 what his brother the Duke of York, afterwards 
 avowed himself to be— a Romanist; whilst the 
 Duke of Gloucester alone died in the Protestant 
 faith! But the King's repose and comparative 
 enjoyment at Cologne was unseasonably inter- 
 rupted by the impatient zeal of his subjects in 
 England, who were ashamed of their abject con- 
 dition ; and stimulated to resistance, by the over- 
 
432 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 433 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION tearing insolence of the Usurper. Daily commu- 
 TV. nications were sent to Cologne, in which they 
 exaggerated their own strength ; and under-rated 
 that of their enemies. The King, for some time, 
 repressed their ardour, and laid his commands 
 upon them not to attempt any rash enterprize, 
 which could only terminate in the destruction of 
 more of his loyal subjects. But, at length, worn 
 out with their importunities he gave his permis- 
 sion for an insurrection, which was appointed to 
 Tbeinsurrec. take placc ou a Certain day, Wilmot, now Earl of 
 tion of Rochester, generously offered his services and was 
 
 ^''''^'^ sent over, together with Sir John Wagstaff, to 
 bring the project to maturity. The King himself 
 repaired to Flushing, that he might be nearer to 
 the scene of action. But the hour of his deliver- 
 ance was not yet arrived, nor, were the minds of 
 the people of England sufficiently restored for his 
 return. The insurrection entirely failed. The 
 royalists, who engaged in it, were treated with 
 great severity. But the leaders of the revolt for- 
 tunately escaped ; Penrudduck and Grove, were 
 the only persons of condition who were executed. 
 But Cromwell did not fail to improve his suc- 
 cess : and laid heavy contributions on the Presby- 
 terians and Levellers, whom he suspected to be 
 indisposed to his government ; but the Cavaliers 
 felt his severest displeasure ; and were made to 
 pay into the pubhc treasury one tenth of their 
 whole estate. But still he found the minds of 
 
 men refractory ; and, to bring the whole nation SECTION 
 into entire subjection, he resolved upon an extra- IV. 
 ordinary expedient. He divided the counties into .^^Jii^^ 
 provinces, and constituted twelve persons, in 
 whom he had the greatest confidence, to the office r- »,- . 
 
 p Ti r t Establish- 
 
 ot rretects, whom he denominated " Major Gene- ment of arbi- 
 rals." Their authority in their several provinces 'ZTi^ 
 was absolute. It was in their power to send for, 
 and examine all suspected persons — to levy all 
 public monies, to sequester the estates of all who 
 refused to pay their decimations. Nay, their 
 inquiries extended to all private assemblies, and to 
 persons who lived at too high a rate for their 
 apparent means ! With the Major Generals were 
 associated "Assessors," w^hose province it was, 
 to inquire into, and inform against all persons 
 who might be obnoxious to their tribunal. Be- 
 sides this, they possessed a military jurisdiction, 
 and, had a kind of provincial militia, who were 
 enlisted and called out under their authority. It 
 is almost impossible to conceive a more arbitrary 
 or coercive system, nor is it possible to describe 
 the intolerable evils to which the people were sub- 
 jected by the rigorous exactions and unparalleled 
 cruelty of these authorities. But whilst Crom- 
 well was making use of these tyrannical methods, 
 solely for the purpose of securing himself in the 
 Seat of Power — it is manifest to the most super- 
 ficial observer, that means less stringent would 
 not have been sufficient to restore the disordered 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 EC 
 
434 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION elements of society; and/ prepare them, by a 
 IV. severe discipline, for again taking their place under 
 ^^^i^:-^ a well-regulated government. Yet it was a despe- 
 rate remedy ; and, of necessity, the minds of all 
 men were filled with hatred, disgust, and indig- 
 nation, against their oppressor. And it must not 
 be omitted, as affording a useful lesson to all 
 innovators, that the haughty and implacable Lord 
 Say, defeated in all his grand projects, and stung 
 with remorse, retired to the Isle of Lundy, off the 
 north of Devonshire, where with a band of retain- 
 ers, he maintained himself a voluntary prisoner 
 till the death of the Usurper. 
 
 Nor was it the unquiet and licentious spirits of 
 
 Cromwell as- *■ pi* 
 
 8ists the Pro. this country only, that felt the power oi his re- 
 testants in Sa- j — ^and. The Duke of Savoy, at the 
 instigation of the Pope, and the Prmces ot Italy, 
 had undertaken a crusade against the Piedmontese 
 Protestants, in the valley of Lucerne. The Duke 
 having defeated them, with great slaughter, drove 
 them from their dwellings into the mountains, 
 where they were exposed to every extremity of 
 cold and hunger. The Protestant Princes very 
 generally, interfered: but Cromwell proclaimed 
 a solemn fast ; caused large contributions to be 
 made, and, through his influence with the Cardi- 
 nal of France, obliged the Duke of Savoy to 
 restore all he had taken, and to re-establish the 
 Piedmontese in all their privileges. The Pope 
 himself was terrified at his threatening—" That 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 435 
 
 his ships in the Mediterranean should visit Civita SECTION 
 Vechia and the sound of his cannon should be IV. 
 heard at Rome." Chap. in. 
 
 The fleet being now at liberty, the Protector "CC^f 
 ntted out two powerful armaments: one, under •''""^''^^»- 
 Admiral Blake, against the Algerine pirates; ^•''•"^■ 
 and the other under Penn and Venables, against 
 the Island of Hispaniola. The former Admiral 
 conducted his mission with great courage and suc- 
 cess : but the two latter, having encountered great 
 hardships, were repulsed, but they made them- 
 selves masters of Jamaica ; a conquest so lightly 
 esteemed at that time, that the two Admirals were 
 committed to the tower, on account of their failure 
 in the principal object of their expedition. 
 
 During this year, two individuals died whose „ . 
 
 —--..^^ • 'j T T 1 -Deaths of the 
 
 memories it would be ungrateful not to record. Duke of Rich- 
 The first, was that great and excellent man James ZlJo^ 
 Duke of Richmond; who had never once deviated ^^'^ '^ 
 from the path of honour and loyalty ; and, after 
 having seen his three brothers fall in the royal 
 cause, himself died of a broken heart. The next 
 was Dr. James Usher, the glory of his country, 
 both for learning and piety. His christian charity 
 and meekness, disarmed all his enemies. He 
 displayed his great attainments, in many noble 
 treatises, and, was invited by Cardinal Richelieu 
 and other eminent foreigners, to repair into their 
 countries. Even Cromwell was overawed by his 
 excellence, shewed him some particular marks of 
 
436 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION his respect, and, after his death, was at the charge 
 
 IV. of a public funeral. 
 Chap. III. rj^^^ wautou aggrcssiou of Cromwell on the 
 
 War ^ith Spanish colonies, provoked that nation to declare 
 ^^^^ war against England. But Cromwell, who was 
 
 now absolute, entered into alliance with France, 
 stipulating to send three thousand men to be 
 placed under the celebrated Turenne, on condi- 
 tion that Dunkirk and Mardyke, when taken, 
 should be placed in his hands^ 
 
 Admirals, Elake and Montague, were sent to 
 blockade the port of Cadiz, and to intercept the 
 Plate fleet. Most of the Spanish ships were lost 
 or burnt in the conflict, and the Admiral returned 
 to Portsmouth, with the Marquis of Badajoz as 
 prisoner, and bullion, to the amount of two mil- 
 lions. Cromwell to increase the eclat of this 
 exploit caused it to be conveyed to London m 
 
 waggons. 
 
 The Protector was now in the zenith ot tiis 
 glory and prosperity. He caused justice to flow 
 in an uninterrupted stream through the kingdom, 
 excepting where his own person was concerned. 
 Property became secure. Trade began to flourish, 
 and the arts of peace to be cultivated. 
 
 As to religion, whilst he favoured the Inde- 
 
 cromweu's ^^^g^ts, he allowcd a private toleration to all, 
 
 '"'''"' taking the greatest pleasure in humbling the 
 
 Presbyterians, who, at this period learnt a lesson 
 
 which they have not yet forgotten. Nor did he 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 437 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 spare any pains to render himself popular. He SECTION 
 entertained the active and gay with raillery and IV. 
 jesting, hunting and hawking. The "godly" 
 with prayers and expositions of scripture. His 
 officers with frolic and gambol. He turned all 
 men to his purposes, and had the most perfect 
 intelligence of all things transacted, both in his 
 own and all foreign courts ; and, it is said, that 
 in this system of espionage he expended ,£300,000 
 a year. 
 
 How long the Protector might have continued HisambiUon. 
 in the quiet possession of his authority, had he not, 
 himself, interrupted it, it is impossible to say. 
 But his ambition was not yet satisfied with the 
 possession of royal authority. He aspired to the 
 title of King. 
 
 For this purpose he determined to assemble a 
 new Parliament ; and as a preparatory step, he asselwer'''' 
 summoned before him as many as he knew most 
 disaffected to his design. Amongst these, were 
 the notorious Bradshaw, and, the no less notorious 
 Sir H. Vane, the latter of whom he sent a prisoner, 
 as if to demonstrate the hand of a retributory 
 Providence, to Carisbrook Castle ! Every effort 
 was made, through the instrumentality of the 
 "Major Generals" to influence the electors; 
 and, to obtain full security for their conduct, no 
 person was admitted into the House, who did not 
 receive a " ticket of admission " from the council 
 of State. This Parliament fully answered the 
 

 438 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 439 
 
 SECTION expectations of the Protector— granted him harge 
 IV. supplies and abolished the power of the Major 
 
 ^^J^^^;^^ Generals, whose authority was no longer neces- 
 sary to his purposes ; and, to crown the whole, 
 after a long debate, made him a formal offer of 
 
 ofr.r!r the the crown, in which, before the whole nation they 
 
 crown. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 <y I 
 
 !t 
 
 made this remarkable declaration, recommending 
 " The title and office of a King as settled here 
 with Christianity, in itself approved and retained 
 by our ancestors, and every way fitted to the laws 
 and temper of the people of England." 
 
 Notwithstanding, he was disappointed in the 
 attainment of his grand object ; and every step he 
 took, was overruled by the high Providence of 
 Heaven, to prepare the way for the establishment 
 of the ancient monarchy. Indeed, all the trans- 
 actions connected with this vain-glorious attempt, 
 are striking and instructive. A committee was 
 appointed, consisting of the principal regicides 
 and republicans, to argue in favour of the measure, 
 before Cromwell, which they did for two days in 
 the most elaborate manner ! But the proposition 
 was violently opposed by Lambert and the prin- 
 cipal officers of the army— a circumstance which 
 would not have deterred the Usurper from his 
 enterprize, had it not been for the obstinate man- 
 ner in which it was resisted by those whom he 
 loved. His son-in-law Fleetwood, and his brother 
 Desborough, plainly assured him that if he as- 
 sumed the title of King he would be assassinated. 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 A. D. 1657. 
 
 On the eighth of May, the Protector sent a SECTION 
 message to the House to meet him in the Ban- IV. 
 quetting Hall. On this occasion, his looks were 
 discomposed, his whole frame appeared to be agita- cromwdi's 
 ted ; whilst with great difficulty, he composed him- ^""''^ '"''""'^ 
 self to speak, and, in faltering terms he declined 
 the honour which was the great object of his 
 ambition. His guardian genius seemed to forsake 
 him and yield him up to the insulted spirit of the 
 King. The whole scene argued the expiration of 
 his power ; and his refusal seemed an immediate 
 act of Heaven, predictive of the restoration of the 
 ligitimate and banished monarch. 
 
 The Protectorship was re-estal)lished by a new 
 instrument of government, in which, his powers 
 were greatly enlarged and his inauguration solem- 
 nized in Westminster Abbey with great pomp and 
 magnificence, at which, the Earl of Warwick, 
 Whitelock, and Widdrington the speaker, prin- 
 cipally officiated. The two former invested him 
 with a gorgeous purple robe of velvet lined with 
 ermine, whilst the speaker said: "It was an 
 emblem of magistry and imported righteousness 
 and justice." After which, seated in a chair of 
 state, the bible, sceptre and sword, were each 
 presented to him with an appropriate speech; 
 nothing was wanting but the crown and an Arch- 
 bishop, and, to conclude the ceremonial, an oath 
 was administered to him to govern the kingdom 
 according to law. 
 
 n\ 
 
440 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION Whilst these things were transacting on land 
 IV. the indefatigable Blake was pursuing his con- 
 quests by sea. He had rode out all the winter 
 "^ storms before Cadiz, and receiving certain intelli- 
 Aa:i::;:mau:'gence of the Plate fleet, he weighed anchor with 
 twenty-five sail of the line, and on the twentieth 
 of April appeared in the ofiing, off the harbour of 
 Sante Cruz.* The Galleons had already arrived 
 to the number of sixteen men of war. The Bay 
 was secured by a strong castle and seven forts, 
 all united by a line of ramparts. The difficulty 
 and danger of cutting out the fleet were extreme : 
 but nothing could daunt the courage of Blake and 
 his associates. The conflict was tremendous and 
 lasted several hours, and ended in the total de- 
 struction of the Spanish fleet. But it was the last 
 action of the English Admiral. He returned to 
 England in triumph, but worn out with his un- 
 paralleled labours, he died as his fleet entered 
 Plymouth sound. He was a man of a patriotic 
 His charac- and independent spirit. He was not actuated by 
 the fluctuating politics of the period, nor followed 
 the interest of the predominating party on shore, 
 but sought to sustain the honour of his country, 
 and the British empire of the sea. It was his 
 constant argument and theme, amongst his sea- 
 men, " That they should not listen to any news 
 from' land, nor mind the changes in government ; 
 
 ♦ Island of Tcneriffc. 
 
 ter. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 441 
 
 but remember, that the fleet was English and their SECTION 
 enemies foreigners." jy^ 
 
 The tide of affairs began now rapidly to ad- ^"^^- '"• 
 vance. The King immediately after the declara- ^IT?^ 
 tion ot war with Spain, removed from Cologne, Lord chancei- 
 and took up his residence at Bruges,* in a style '"'* 
 more suited to his royal dignity. It was at this 
 period, on the death of Sir Edward Herbert, that 
 Lord Edward^Hyde was appointed Lord High 
 Chancellor, and took charge of the great seal, 
 ''which the King had, up to that time, kept in' 
 his own possession." 
 
 Cromwell, in the mean time, pursued his design 
 
 C T • 1 . ,o Cromwell 
 
 Ot aggrandizing himself and his family ; but, in prepares the 
 reality, of preparing the way for the King's return, ^i 
 to which every transaction tended. His Parlia- 
 ment met again on the twentieth of January, the 
 authority and dignity of which he had confirmed 
 and adorned by the formation of a House of Peers, 
 which he had summoned by writ according to 
 the ancient custom of the Kings of England. 
 Mr. St. John who had, throughout, followed the 
 fortunes of Cromwell, and was termed his " dark 
 lantern " was elected a member of this august 
 House ; but Lenthall was overlooked, an omission 
 which it is said nearly broke his heart. Crom- 
 well, however, in pity, favoured him with a writ 
 of summons. 
 
 ♦ A city of the Austrian Netherlands. 
 
 way for the 
 Ling's return! 
 
442 . THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION On the opening of Parliament, the Protector 
 
 JV. proceeded in state to the House of Peers ; and, 
 
 CH»p. III. hj^^,ij,g summoned the Commons to the bar, he 
 
 '"'"''^^ formally addressed them in the usual monarchical 
 
 style. But in the midst of his ungovernable pride, 
 
 Cromwell's _ ■' , . ^n ... •„ tV,Q Pommrms. the 
 
 pride. 
 
 4 
 II- 
 
 he had omitted to fill up in the Commons, the 
 places of those whom he had elevated to the 
 Peerage, or to take any precautions against the 
 admission of those members whom he had for- 
 merly excluded. In consequence of this over- 
 sight, the Commons became quite ungovernable : 
 they inveighed against the authority of the House 
 of Peers, and even complained of the Protector 
 for taking upon him such an unwarrantable power 
 as that of appointing them. Cromwell was filled 
 with alarm and indignation, because he was not 
 without his suspicions that the countenance of the 
 army had some share in the insolent demeanour 
 of the Commons. His vigilance however, never 
 slumbered. He inspected the watch himself for 
 several nights ; and found it necessary, in order 
 to save his House of Peers, to dissolve the Com- 
 mons. He communicated his design to Fleet- 
 wood who strongly dissuaded him ; but laying his 
 hand upon his breast, in his usual vehement 
 manner. " he swore by the living God he would 
 
 do it," 
 His alarms. But it was the expiring effort of his authority. 
 He had re-established the sovereign power m a 
 single person— he had beaten down the hopes of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 443 
 
 all vain pretenders, both in religion and politics SECTION 
 —he had even with incredible industry restored IV. 
 the semblance of a House of Peers, and having ^""- '"• 
 prepared the way for the return of a regular 
 government, he was shorn of his strength and 
 deserted by the genius which had sustained and 
 impelled him. He became sullen and dejected, 
 and filled with those direful apprehensions, which 
 at length overtake the guilty. He became dif- 
 ficult of access, suspicious of all who approached 
 him— wore armour under his clothes— was armed 
 with pistols and daggers— travelled with great 
 rapidity— never returned by the same way that 
 he went, and never slept, in any room which had 
 not secret doors, which were always guarded by 
 armed servants. His fears became known to the 
 public, and emboldened the disaffected to enter 
 upon new plots for his destruction. He was 
 particularly affected by a powerful pamphlet en- 
 titled " Killing no Murder."* All humanity was 
 now banished from his character, and lashed by 
 the furies of a disturbed conscience, he determined 
 still further to wash his hands in the blood of the 
 innocent; and, once more, called into existence 
 the " High Court of Justice." Before this tribu- 
 nal, he brought Sir Henry Shngsby and Dr. 
 Hewet, men of the highest character and reputa- 
 tion, who were condemned and executed with 
 
 •Written, as was afterwards well known, by a Captain 
 
 II 
 
444 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 445 
 
 SECTION many others, under every circumstance of severity 
 
 IV. and cruelty. 
 Chap, iil ^yi classcs of men were now united against 
 him; and, perhaps, the most remarkable docu- 
 ment of these times, is an address of the sectaries 
 to the King, which shewed how rapidly the tide 
 of affairs was now setting in towards its ancient 
 
 limits.* 
 The King Thc King himself had left Bruges for Brussels, 
 reduced to Z on finding that the Spanish alliance afforded him 
 'P"'- little assistance, especially since the taking of 
 
 Dunkirk by the French, which, by stipulation 
 had been delivered into the hands of Cromwell. 
 All human aid appeared now to fail him, and 
 France and Spain, after a war of thirty years, had 
 now entered into a treaty of peace. But, at this 
 juncture, when his cause seemed utterly hopeless, 
 the Arbiter of human affairs, by a series of extra- 
 ordinary changes, was preparing the way for his 
 return to the throne of his fathers. Would that 
 his conduct had been worthy of the prosperity 
 which awaited him ! 
 
 The first notice of this important event was the 
 decline of Cromwell's health, whose days were 
 numbered. To the restless and tormenting dis- 
 quietude of his mind, were added the most har- 
 assing domestic affliction. The Earl of Warwick 
 who had married his daughter, died : the Earl of 
 Felconbridge who had married his other daughter, 
 
 ♦ Preserved in Clarendon's History. 
 
 Cromwell's 
 decline. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 His sickness. 
 
 was opposed to his opinions and interest. But it SECTION 
 was the death of his favourite daughter, Mrs. IV. 
 Claypole, that entirely overwhelmed him. She 
 was a zealous royalist, and, on her death-bed, 
 represented to him in terms which filled him with 
 grief and remorse, the heinousness of the crimes 
 of which he had been guilty. From that time he 
 was never seen to smile ; and, about the middle 
 of August, he was seized with a slow fever, which 
 degenerated into a tertian ague. For some days, 
 the disorder appeared in no degree formidable ; 
 and, every alternate day, he walked out in the 
 garden at Hampton Court. But one day, after 
 dmner, whilst his five physicians were present, 
 one of them feeling his pulse, remarked " that it 
 intermitted,'' It was the announcement of the 
 awful summons of death, he started and turned 
 pale, and being seized with a cold sweat, he 
 ordered himself to be conveyed to bed. The blow 
 was so sudden and unexpected that his chaplains 
 and domestics could not believe, that their potent 
 master, who was the idol of their fanatical attach- 
 ment and imaginary hopes could die the common 
 death of all men. The next morning, when one 
 of his physician's waited upon the Protector, with 
 sadness depicted in his countenance, the Pro- 
 tector said : " Ye physicians think I shall die ; 
 but I tell you I shall not die this bout, I am sure 
 on't." Such was also the promises of all around 
 him : for, the same physician, as he retired, meet- 
 
446 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 of his 
 lain. 
 
 SECTION ing an acquaintance expressed some fear respect- 
 IV. ing the Protector. " You are certainly a stranger," 
 ^j^!^^;^ replied the other, " to this house. Don't you 
 know what was done last night '? the chaplains 
 and all that are dear to God, dispersed in several 
 parts of the palace, have prayed to God for his 
 health, and all have brought this answer that 
 HE SHALL RECOVER." Nay, to that extreme of 
 ^'''Thlp" folly was their enthusiasm carried, that having 
 ^^' appointed a solemn fast through the household, 
 they did not so much pray for his health, as 
 thank God for the undoubted pledges of his re- 
 covery. But the Almighty fiat proceeded to its 
 accomplishment. The dying man, labouring un- 
 der the same visionary impressions as his deluded 
 chaplains and friends, was conveyed to White- 
 hall : on which occasion. Doctor Goodwin in his 
 prayers, gave utterance to such sentiments as 
 ought to prove a warning to blind and erring mor- 
 tals of the matchless folly and presumption of 
 setting up their prejudices as the measure of the 
 divine procedure. '' They asked not," he said, 
 " for his life, for they were assured He had too 
 great things for this man to do to remove him 
 yet ; but they prayed for his speedi/ recovery, 
 because his life and presence were so necessary 
 to divers things, then of great moment to be 
 
 dispatched." 
 
 Sustained by the false security supplied by 
 these flattering suggestions, the expiring Usurper 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 447 
 
 Chap. UU 
 
 expressed no remorse at the remembrance of the SECTION 
 cnmes through which he had waded to his " bad IV 
 pre-eminence ; " but shehered himself still more 
 in the abstract dogmas of that theology, which 
 was m a great measure, the foundation of all this 
 delusion and impiety. Instead of a practical in- 
 quiry into his conduct as a christian, the only 
 inquiry which at this awful moment, occurred to 
 the Protector to make, was. « whether a man 
 could fall from grace?" which, being answered „• . 
 by Doctor Goodwin in the negative, he replied ."T" " 
 " Ihen I am safe, for I am sure I was once in a 
 state of grace. " On such fallacious grounds, after 
 a career of the most consummate hypocrisy false- 
 hood, cruelty, murder, ambition and pride did 
 this Arch-Usurper without remorse, without com- 
 punction, without repentance, satisfy himself of 
 the truth of his christian principles, and assure 
 himself of a blessed immortality. But in defiance 
 of the predictions of his chaplains— his final hour 
 was now fast approaching; and he was about to 
 pass away to that tribunal, where the crudities of 
 an unauthorised system could have no influence 
 upon his condition, where he would be adjudged 
 by the purity of his motives and the holiness of 
 his life, as the necessary results of the justifying 
 faith of Christ^a tribunal where by his " words 
 he would be justified," or by his " words condemn- 
 ed. Matt, xii.37. He died on Friday the third 
 of September, at three o'clock in the afternoon— a 
 
M 
 
 448 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 A. D. 1658. 
 
 SECTION (lay which he always considered as most propitious 
 IV. to him, and on which, two of his great victories, 
 Dun])ar and Worcester had been achieved. 
 
 The news of his death was instantly conveyed 
 to the conclave of his parasites who, were thrown 
 into the greatest consternation. " Be not troubled'* 
 and his death, cricd Mr. Pctcr Sterry, ''this is good news; 
 because if he was of great use to the people of 
 God when he was among us, now he will be much 
 more so, being ascended to Heaven at the right 
 hand of Jesus Christ, there, to intercede for us, 
 and to be mindful of us on all occasions." 
 
 Thus died Oliver Cromwell, as he had lived, 
 amidst folly, presumption, and blasphemy. 
 
 The most extensive preparations were made 
 for his funeral, which was solemnized, on a scale 
 of magnificence, such as was never surpassed in 
 the funeral rites of any sovereign that ever lived 
 — ^but solemnized over an empty coffin ! For, as 
 if to manifest the displeasure of Heaven, and to 
 rob his flatterers of the object of their idolatry — 
 the body, although artificially embowelled, em- 
 balmed with aromatic spices, wrapt in six-fold 
 cerecloth, and placed in a wooden coffin lined 
 with lead, after an unusual manner burst all in 
 pieces, and became so unsufferably noisome, that 
 they were under the necessity of, instantly, con- 
 signing it to the earth — so that, whilst his deluded 
 followers were expending vast sums of money 
 upon the empty pageantry of a magnificent funeral, 
 
 His ostenta 
 tious funeral 
 
 i 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 449 
 
 Crap. III. 
 
 he was cloon^ed to an ignoble grave, and buried, SECTION 
 to use the emphatic language of Scripture "with IV 
 the burial of an ass." 
 
 At this moment of time, nothing appeared more R.HaM 
 improbable than the restoration of the exiled '^^°'""'" ""'■ 
 Monarch. Every employment, every place of"^'^' 
 trust and power were in the hands of his invete- 
 rate opposers. The army was entirely at their 
 command; and they were all sworn to resist the 
 pretensions of « Charles Stuart :" and. to shew 
 how entirely this was the case, and how universal 
 the subjection of the people, the eldest son of the 
 Protector was proclaimed his successor, without 
 the slightest opposition. Nay, addresses of con- 
 gratulation poured in from every city and county 
 of the kingdom, and nothing appeared more firm 
 tnan the Sovereignty of Richard Cromwell 
 He not only received the homage and congratula- 
 tions of the army and the people at home : but 
 foreign Potentates, by their envoys, admitted his 
 title and recognized his authority; and every cir 
 cumstance connected with his succession seemed 
 to promise him a long and uninterrupted rule 
 But firmly established as his power seemed to be 
 It was doomed to be shattered without a blow] 
 and all its fragments so entirely scattered and 
 dispersed, that not a shred of it should be found, 
 to say. that it ever existed. 
 
 The son had not the sagacity, nor the hypocrisy, 
 nor the arts of management, possessed by his 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 Ff 
 
450 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 451 
 
 The Inile- 
 
 SECTION father ; and was so far unfitted to secure himself 
 IV. in the giddy eminence to which he was raised. 
 He was neither a military man, nor a statesman. 
 He inherited neither the political, or religious 
 views of his father, and, instead of adhering, in 
 every particular, to the existing system, and sym- 
 bolizing with the Independent party and its hete- 
 rogeneous and fanatic train, he discovered his pre- 
 dilection for the Presbyterians. This was enough. 
 The Independents were filled with jealousy and 
 pendents '"it' reveugc. Thc flame of discord was kindled and 
 satisfied. spread in wild confusion throughout the land. 
 These two great factions once more prepared to 
 contend for the Sovereign power, whilst the cava- 
 liers, astonished at the sudden strife, remained 
 silent spectators of the scene. The contest was 
 to end in the discomfiture of both ; and, in such 
 a remarkable manner, that their destruction must 
 be attributed to a Divine hand. It was not to be 
 by might or power — not a drop of blood was to be 
 shed, scarcely, a sword to be drawn. But it was 
 to be silent and complete, by the force of circum- 
 stances which no human power could direct or 
 control. They attracted each other like two angry 
 and portentous clouds, charged with thunders 
 and death ; but in the concussion — without igni- 
 tion, without noise — they were scattered and dis- 
 
 Pariiament P^^scd iuto empty air, 
 assembled. In ordcr to settle the high differences which 
 
 "^Ns^^* prevailed, the Protector assembled a Parliament. 
 
 Their first subject of inquiry was the question of SECTION 
 government. The most furious debates ensued. IV. 
 The Independents and republican party, with Sir ^"^'••"i- 
 H. Vane at their head, vehemently opposed the ^"^'"^^'"'^ 
 Presbyterian party, who espoused the part of the 
 Protector. The Royalists so far from taking any 
 share in the debates, withdrew from the House. 
 The army was still more divided. But the pre- 
 vailing party was for a military republic, at the The an»y 
 head of which, were Fleetwood and Desborough, '"^''^'' 
 the brother-in-law and uncle of the Protector! 
 This party, consisting of a council of ofiicers, with 
 Sir H. Vane, Hazlerigg, and, wonderful to be 
 spoken! the learned Doctor Owen, met atWalling- 
 ford-House. They instantly perceived that the 
 voice of Parliament was against them, and would 
 be an insurmountable obstacle in their way. 
 They determined therefore, if possible, to induce 
 the Protector to dissolve it. This was the critical 
 moment of the young Protectors career. His 
 friends saw the time was come to strike a decisive 
 blow ; and they advised him to oppose, by force, 
 the dictation of the Wallingford-House party.' 
 But it was not in his disposition. He dissolved 
 the Parliament ; and from that moment, his power 
 and authority were no more. 
 
 • T^ T^T^ '^''■''"°° °^ ^'^'^'■' "^'^ °"'' '""'^ »* -"-^- 
 
 m the hands of the army; but to save appear- t^e'* Long Par- 
 ances, they determined to assemble that portion '"""'" 
 of the " Long Parliament " which had been re- 
 
 
452 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 CiiAP. IIT. 
 
 SECTION tluced by " the engagement," to the lowest dregs 
 IV. of fanaticism, republicanism, and independency. 
 They met to the number of forty-two mem- 
 bers, and miserable as the remnant was, yet they 
 saw that their authority was a shadow, unless 
 they could subject the military to the civil power. 
 To facilitate this object, they had recourse to an 
 ingenious stratagem, and appointed Lenthall, their 
 Speaker, Commander-in-chief of all the forces ; 
 and ordered, that all Commissions in the army 
 should proceed from him, under their seal. But 
 the military council at Wallingford-House, had no 
 intention of parting with their authority ; and de- 
 termined, at the first opportunity, to rescue them- 
 selves from such ignominious domination. Nor 
 was it long before the occasion was supplied. 
 The King On the death of Cromwell, the King had re- 
 and the Royal- j^^y^^ fj-^j^^ Brusscls, and repaired to Calais, in 
 order to encourage and direct the movements of 
 his adherents, in England ; and after the down- 
 fall of Richard Cromwell, the Royalists were 
 roused to action, and a day was appointed, under 
 a commission, for a general rising in all the coun- 
 ties of England. But formidable as the insurrec- 
 tion really was, every movement was attended 
 with defeat and disappointment. It was only in 
 Cheshire, under Sir G. Booth, that the arms of 
 the Royalists met with any success. But this was 
 sufficient to alarm the Parliament ; and, as Len- 
 thall, the Commander-in-chief, had never drawn 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 453 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 a sword, it was necessary to make choice of a SECTION 
 General for the occasion. Through the intrigues IV. 
 of Sir H. Yane, and Sir A. Hazlerigg, Lambert 
 was selected. His work was short, the Royalists 
 were utterly defeated, and their leader committed 
 to the Towner. 
 
 It was at this juncture that the King, reduced The King in 
 to despair, at the hopeless condition of his affairs, ^''^^''' 
 resolved to throw himself into the hands of the 
 French and Spaniards. For this purpose he de- 
 termined to repair to the scene of the " Pyrenean 
 treaty" which was then transacting at Fontarabia, 
 a small town on tlie borders of Spain, where the 
 two Prime Ministers of France and Spain had 
 repaired, with a numerous and splendid train. In 
 this adventurous journey, incognito, and without 
 a passport, the King was attended by the Mar- 
 quis of Ormond, the Earl of Prescot, and Daniel 
 O'Neale. His Majesty was received by the 
 Spanish Minister, Don Lew is de Haro, with every 
 demonstration of sincerity and attachment. But 
 the wily cardinal w^ould not admit him to an in- 
 terview^ but amused him with obscure promises 
 of assistance, taking care to insinuate to Don 
 Lewis '' that it w\is time for all catholics to unite 
 to destroy the heretical party, rather than to 
 strengthen it by restoring the King of England, 
 except he would become Catholic."* The hint 
 was not lost. The King who had once been made 
 
 ♦ Echard chap. III. p. 751, 
 
-■•^k. 
 
 454 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Lambert. 
 
 SECTION to violate his conscience by the Scots, in favour 
 IV. of their " League and Covenant," now thought it 
 
 y^l^^%^ no impiety to violate all the solemn obligations he 
 
 was under to the memory of his father, and the 
 
 Ai.jures his rcligion of his country. Before the high altar of 
 
 religion. ||jg church of Foutarabia, the unfortunate Monarch 
 abjured the Holy Catholic faith, which had been 
 rescued at immense sacrifice, from the thraldom 
 of popish intolerance and superstition ; and for 
 the sake of a corruptilde crown, bartered away 
 the incorruptible treasures of divine truth. 
 Ambition of But wliilst thc King was thus renouncing his 
 religion, and bringing down upon himself the 
 divine displeasure, which manifested itself in frus- 
 trating all his expectations from this alliance, 
 and in the speedy expulsion of his family from the 
 throne of England — every event that occurred was 
 preparing the way for his immediate restora- 
 tion. General Lambert, as we have noticed, had 
 triumphed over the adherents of the King, and 
 had given, as it was thought, a death blow to the 
 royal party : but this very triumph laid the foun- 
 dation for their ultim.ate success. The conqueror, 
 flushed with victory, and, at the head of his old com- 
 rades, rushed to secure for himself the sovereign 
 power. But he could not proceed in his designs 
 without awakening the jealousy of the Parliament, 
 which, after passing many resolutions, and cutting 
 off the sources of their pay, proceeded to cashier 
 several of the officers, and amongst the rest Lam- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 455 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 bert himself. This step brought the matter to a SECTION 
 crisis. The General, after the example of his IV. 
 master, resolved to dissolve the Parliament, and 
 the Parliament determined to defend their autho- 
 rity to the last. For this purpose, they ordered 
 several regiments to assemble and march, imme- 
 diately, to their assistance. But Lambert in true 
 Cromwellian style, was beforehand, and with his 
 army, blocked up all the avenues to the House ; 
 and, when Lenthall, the Speaker, arrived with his 
 guards, he politely told him that he might return, 
 as there was no further business to be transacted. 
 Resistance was in vain; and before night, the 
 whole army was obsequious to his commands. 
 
 The army was again in the ascendant, and a , ^^ .. , ^^ 
 council of officers assembled to adopt some mea- "'*«'^^^' "f safe, 
 sures for the administration of afl^irs. They '^" '^^p""''^'' 
 found no difficulty in distributing the offices of the 
 army; but the Parliament had cut off their re- 
 sources, and to meet this difficulty, they were 
 under the necessity of appointing a council con- 
 sisting of twenty-three persons, which they de- 
 nominated the "COMMITTEE OF SAFETY." 
 
 Scarcely had the new Governors begun to ex- General Mo«k 
 ercise their self-invested functions, and were pre- ^^p'"*''* 
 paring to commence another reign of oppression 
 and fanaticism, when their leaders, Fleetwood and 
 Lambert, were surprised with letters from Gene- 
 ral ]\lpnk, who commanded the army in Scotland, 
 upbraiding them with the violation of their pub- 
 
 Thc "Com- 
 
 lu*^ 
 
456 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 SECTION lie trust, and stating his resolution to see the 
 IV. Parliament reinstated in their full authority and 
 freedom. Startled at this unexpected interference, 
 they despatched General Lambert Tvith a very 
 superior force, to watch the motions of General 
 Monk, whilst they entered into a negotiation with 
 him. In this they were infatuated. Had Lam- 
 bert been directed to advance immediately against 
 their rival, his handful of men could not have 
 withstood the numerous and well-disciplined army 
 under Lambert ; and their power must have been 
 established. But an overruling power conducted 
 their counsels. Lambert took up his quarters at 
 Newcastle, all anxiety for action, and Monk pro- 
 longed the time by sending Commissioners to 
 Westminster to treat with the "Committee of 
 Safety." 
 Character of Doubts havc bccn entertained of the sincerity 
 
 General Monk, of this Celebrated man, who was destined to be 
 the restorer of the British monarchy — and justly. 
 For. neither his virtue nor loyalty were proof 
 against temptation. His vigour of mind — his 
 courage, and military talent were indisputable, 
 and to these great qualities he added a reserve and 
 firmness of purpose which fitted him for the ac- 
 complishment of great enterprizes. At the com- 
 mencement of the Parliamentary war, he favoured 
 the royal cause, but he was taken prisoner in the 
 skirmish of Nantwich, and was, for some time, 
 in confinement. It does not appear how he ob- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 457 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 tained the confidence of Cromwell ; but he cer- SECTION 
 tainly made himself useful to the Usurper, and IV. 
 was his chief instrument in the subjection of 
 Scotland, where, by his judicious management, 
 he made himself agreeable to the people. It is 
 certain that Cromwell, whilst he trusted him with 
 his confidence, always suspected him of favouring 
 the royal cause. But, whatever designs he may 
 have entertained during the tyranny of Cromwell, 
 on the abdication of his son Richard, he resolved to 
 act a decided part. But what is truly remarkable, 
 on the defeat of Sir G. Booth, he was on the 
 point of relinquishing his purpose, and actually 
 sent a letter to the Speaker, in which he resigned 
 his commission, with one proviso, that he should 
 not read it to the House till the expiration of ten 
 days, before which time the Parliament was dis- 
 solved ! — a circumstance which he could not have 
 foreseen, and upon which, all that followed was 
 suspended. 
 
 There is every reason to believe that at this ne declares 
 point of time. General Monk was sincere in his ^"'" '^'*^ *'^''>'*- 
 intention of serving the King; and, whilst he ""'"'' 
 instructed his commissioners to prolong the treaty, 
 he made use of every means which could secure 
 success to his enterprize. He entered into a com- 
 munication with the navy, and with influential 
 individuals in all parts of the kingdom— new- 
 modelled his army, obtained supplies from a con- 
 vention of the states of Scotland ; and declared 
 
458 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 459 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION his intention of restoring the Parliament. His 
 IV. army was very inferior to Lambert's ; but, relying 
 upon the treaty, he began his march from Scot- 
 land. He had not advanced far, before he was 
 mortified with the intelHgence, that his Commis- 
 sioners had suddenly concluded the treaty. He 
 led his army back to Edinburgh ; and, was again 
 on the point of relinquishing his enterprize in 
 despair. At this critical juncture, he was induced 
 to try the temper of his troops, and finding them 
 ready to live and die with him, he was encouraged 
 to reject the articles upon which his Commission- 
 ers had agreed. A crisis now approached ; and 
 a contest between him and Lambert seemed in- 
 evitable. But there was no contest. For at the 
 Lord Fairfax g^^g momcut, Lord Fairfax,* the fleet, and the 
 
 joins wit im. ^^^^ ^^^ fortress of Portsmouth, declared for the 
 Parliament ; and, upon the strength of these de- 
 monstrations, Lenthall and his compeers resumed 
 their places at Westminster. Many of the soldiers 
 of Lambert deserted to their old General, and the 
 remainder were distributed in different parts of the 
 kingdom, by orders from the restored Parliament, 
 whilst Lambert himself was taken prisoner and 
 committed to the Tower. The w^ay was now 
 open ; and General Monk entered England on the 
 first of January ; and, without interruption, pur- 
 sued his march towards London. 
 
 * The great Parliamentary General, who had long seen his 
 error, and lived in great retirement at Nun- Appleton, near York. 
 
 But a serious difficulty was yet to be obviated. SECTION 
 When he arrived at Saint Albans, he found there IV. 
 were twelve regiments of the old army stationed ^""- '"• 
 at Westminster and the parts adjoining, which ^^C^k 
 constituted a force very superior to his own • and ™""'' '-°""'""- 
 sufficient, at one blow, to dash all his projects to ^'n.s!*^ 
 the ground. In this perplexity, he addressed a 
 letter to the Parliament, stating his apprehensions 
 respecting the fidelity of the troops who had once 
 deserted them, lest they should not live peaceably 
 with his men who had always stood by them and 
 secured their return to power. It was a critical 
 moment. The Parliament deliberated— hesitated 
 —were infatuated, and dismissed ten of their 
 regiments to more distant quarters. The Gene- 
 ral entered London, in triumph, on the third of 
 February : and his first care, was to assure the 
 Parliament of his fidelity, and his resolution to 
 uphold the freedom of their debates. For some 
 time, he dissembled, and submitted to their dicta- 
 tion; but, at length, he issued a declaration, in 
 which he insisted upon their filling up all the vacant 
 places in the House, within seven days ; and, after 
 that, he ordered them to fix a day, for their dis- 
 solution and calling a free Parliament. This de- 
 claration was dispersed through the city and 
 country, and produced such universal joy, that 
 nothing was heard but cries of " a free Parlia- 
 ment ! " the ringing of bells— firing of guns, and 
 one continual blaze of lights and bon-fircs. This 
 
 It 
 
460 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 461 
 
 SECTION exhibition of the public mind sealed the fate of 
 IV. the "Long Parliament," which having issued writs 
 Chap. ih. ^^^ ^ f^,^^ Parliament, was dissolved after having 
 been the scourge of the nation for nineteen years ! 
 The difficui- During the time which intervened, before the 
 tics of the Go new Parliament could be assembled, the General 
 ""^^ experienced every difficulty, and was assaulted by 
 
 every temptation which could shake the constancy 
 and try the virtue of human nature. He con- 
 versed and consulted with all ranks of men, in 
 order to ascertain their opinions, but covered his 
 own designs with an impenetrable veil of silence 
 —a line of conduct which had great influence on 
 the restoration, because it prevented any prema- 
 ture attempt on the part of the King's friends ; 
 which might have thrown all things into confu- 
 sion. It is however, stated on the authority of 
 Mr. Locke, that the virtue of the General was 
 overcome, by the representations of the French 
 Cardinal IVIazarine, who, with treachery and dupli- 
 city, almost incredible, after he had ensnared the 
 young Monarch by his promises, made unlimited 
 offers of assistance to General Monk, if he would 
 seize for himself the sovereignty of England. But 
 the wily Frenchman was not to succeed. The 
 wife of the General overheard the conversation 
 between the General and the Envoy of Mazarine ; 
 and gave immediate information to Sir Anthony 
 Astley Cooper, one of the members of the Council 
 
 of state, who took such measures as effectually SECTION 
 frustrated their designs. jy. 
 
 Whatever selfishness or ambition might pre- ^"'''' "'* 
 viously have lurked in the heart of the General— 
 from this time he was straight-forward and sincere 
 in his intention of restoring the King, which he 
 discovered to be inevitable. He now granted an 
 interview to Sir John Grenville, who, like himself, HisintemVw 
 had kept his mission inviolably secret, and abso^ crem^e.'''" 
 lutely refused to give up his instructions to the 
 General's secretary and confident, Mr. Morrice, 
 a gentleman to whose prudence and loyalty, his 
 country is much indebted. In this interview, Sir 
 John commenced the conference by expressing 
 his deep acknowledgments '"^to the General for 
 affording him an opportunity of discharging a 
 trust of such great importance both to himself and 
 the whole kingdom"— at the same instant, pro- 
 ducing a letter from the King, and also the com- 
 mission which he had from his Majesty to treat 
 with him. The General taking the paper stepped 
 back, and, with a frowning look, demanded " how 
 he dared to speak to him on such a matter, with- 
 out considering the danger he had hazarded?" 
 Sir John answered, that he had well considered 
 the danger, but that whatever it might be, it was 
 not sufficient to deter him from the performance 
 of his duty. Upon which, the General embraced 
 him and commended him for his prudence, fidelity, 
 and constancy. " I hope the King will forgive 
 
462 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 463 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION what is past, according to the terms of his gracious 
 IV. letter ; and you shall assure the King that I am 
 not only ready to obey his commands, but to 
 sacrifice my all to his service." The sincerity of 
 the General was now manifest; for, retirmg, 
 he left Sir John in conference with Mr. Morrice 
 to make all necessary arrangements for the King s 
 return ; and when the notes of their conference 
 were submitted to him, they met with his entire 
 approval, and Sir John Grenville departed in the 
 
 beginning of April. 
 
 But whilst the King s answer, containing the 
 caj^rfromtte necessary declarations and papers were preparing 
 Tower. ''^ the wholc plan of the restoration was on the point 
 of being frustrated. Through the insinuations of 
 the discarded members of the Long Parliament, 
 all those persons who were implicated in the late 
 King's death were thrown into despair, the soldiers 
 of the old army were filled with the most un- 
 reasonable jealousies, and roused into mutiny and 
 rebellion. At this moment too, Lambert escaped 
 from the Tower, and hastened, immediately, to 
 place himself at the head of his old comrades to 
 prepare for mortal combat. But before he could 
 assemble all his forces, he was pursued, and taken 
 without a blow ; as if Providence had determined 
 that all opposition should melt away without 
 effort, and that the glorious Bestoration should 
 take place without the shedding of blood. 
 
 li 
 
 On the long, anxiously expected day, the " Free SECTION 
 Parliament" assembled, and they immediately be- IV. 
 gan to review the state of the nation, and bitterly ^"'''- "'• 
 to reprobate the conduct of the " Long Parlia- ""IZT^. 
 ment," and the tyranny of Cromwell ; but no man, ^^"^"^ 'he King's 
 during the first days of their debate, however loy- ^'"''' 
 ally inclined,dared to mention the name of the King. 
 But, on the first of May, the General perceiving 
 the favourable disposition of the House, resolved, 
 at once to open to them the momentous subject of 
 his negociation with the King ; and rising up in 
 his place, he said: "that one Sir John Grenville, 
 who was a servant of the King s, had brought him 
 a letter from his Majesty, which he held in his 
 hand ; but which he would not presume to read 
 without their direction;" and informed them, 
 that the same gentlemen was in attendance with 
 a letter to the House. This announcement was 
 received with general acclamation ; and. Sir John 
 being called to the bar, said, " that he was com- 
 manded by the King, his master, with whom he 
 had lately been at Breda, to present that letter to 
 the House ; " and delivering it into the hands, of 
 the Sergeant, he withdrew. 
 
 The King s letter, and his " declaration," r , ,^ 
 wnicn was drawn up with consummate prudence, "^^'o"- 
 gave unbounded satisfaction to the House. A 
 torrent of joy spread through the whole kingdom. 
 The House penetrated with gratitude, immediately 
 voted a subsidy of £50,000 to the King, ^10,000 
 
464 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 465 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTfON to the Duke of York, and £5,000 to the Duke 
 IV. of Gloucester ; and hastened to draw up an answer 
 to his IMajesty's declaration, with a solemn invi- 
 tation to return to his native dominions. 
 
 During these transactions in England, the King 
 remained at Breda, but in the beginning of May 
 he left that place for Rotterdam. He was re- 
 ceived at the Hague, with lively demonstrations 
 of joy, and entertained with great magnificence 
 and hospitality; nor was it many days before 
 Admiral Montague appeared off Scheveling, with 
 the English fleet, when the Duke of York went 
 on board, as Lord High Admiral, and was re- 
 ceived with all duty and submission. The re- 
 mainder of the fleet soon followed, bringing the 
 Parliamentary Commissioners who were sent to 
 invite the King to take possession of the throne 
 of his ancestors. Lord Fairfax was particularly 
 distinguished and received his Majesty's gracious 
 pardon. The city of London were foremost with 
 handsome presents, to testify their returning loy- 
 alty and affection. The Presbyterian ministers 
 repenting, long ago, of their egregious folly waited 
 upon the King, with assurances of their loyalty 
 and attachment ; whilst hosts of Royalists hailing 
 the fulfilment of their long cherished hope^ and 
 prayers, repaired to the sister shore to congratu- 
 late their Sovereign on this happy change in his 
 affairs. 
 
 On the twenty-fourth of May, the King having SECTION 
 taken leave of the states, departed from the Hague IV. 
 and embarked on board the Nasebi/* Every cir- v^Ili^:-IiS 
 cumstance was favourable to the splendour of the Departure of 
 scene. The sky was clear, the sea calm ; and, ll''/^ ^''™ 
 
 - , ^^ . ' ' Holland. 
 
 his Majesty mounting the stem, and looking round 
 was received with the acclamation of multitudes 
 of people, who covered the downs, the sand-hills, 
 and shores. Shortly after, he took an affection- 
 ate leave of his nephew, the Prince of Orange, 
 and of his aunt, the Queen of Bohemia ; but it 
 was with great difficulty that he could be sepa- 
 rated from his beloved sister, the Princess Royal. 
 That matchless lady, who had borne all her sor- 
 rows with an invincible patience and a lofty mag- 
 nanimity, and which enabled her to be the support 
 and consolation of her royal brothers, during their 
 long exile — could now, scarcely, with constancy, 
 support this sudden change in their fortune. But, 
 the anchors being weighed, amidst the thunders 
 of the surrounding cannon, they left this friendly 
 shore ; and, in two days, moored safely under the 
 white cliffs of their native land. 
 
 During this time, the Parliament and city 
 were busily employed in making the most honour- 
 able preparations for his return. Suitable to the 
 King's " declaration " a general act of pardon was 
 prepared, from which, those alone were excepted 
 
 * Which, on that occasion, received the name of the " Royal 
 
 Charles. 
 VOL. II. 
 
 ^'g 
 
466 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION who were, immediately, concerned in the death of 
 IV. the late King. Such, indeed, was the general joy 
 
 y,Ji^\^^^^ that all might have escaped. Such, the extrava- 
 gant transports of the Royalists, that they broke 
 out into a kind of phrensy, which could not be 
 restrained for many days ; and such was the eager- 
 ness and impatience of all men, that vast mul- 
 titudes flocked from London, and crowded all the 
 heights along the Kentish coast, to catch the first 
 glimpse of those propitious sails, which were 
 wafting home the desire of the nation. 
 
 It was on the twenty-fifth of May, that the fleet 
 arrived at Dover. The King was conducted on 
 
 arrivJ. "^ ^ shorc by Sir John Talbot, who was the first man 
 A. D. 1660. he knighted in England. General Monk stood 
 ready to receive him ; and conducted him under 
 a canopy of state, to his carriage which waited 
 at some distance. A great concourse of the no- 
 bility awaited his arrival at Canterbury, and 
 where General Monk and Mr. Maurice were sworn 
 of his Privy Council : the latter gentleman, was 
 also knighted and appointed Secretary of State. 
 The Sunday was spent at Canterbury. The next 
 day, he proceeded to Rochester, and, on Monday 
 being the twenty-ninth of May, and, his birth-day, 
 he entered London in the most splendid procession 
 that was ever seen in that city. The ways were 
 strewed with flowers — the streets were lined with 
 tapestry — the conduits flowed with wine; and, 
 such were the multitudes of spectators, that it 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 467 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 seemed as if the population of the three kingdoms SECTfON 
 had been congregated into one place. The night IV^. 
 was turned into day, and the heaven itself was 
 irradiated with the splendour of the overjoyed 
 city. It was one continued jubilee, for many days, 
 and, perhaps a nation never experienced such a 
 joyful and exhilarating triumph— a triumph which 
 was brought about by the interposition of heaven 
 without suffering, oppression, or, bloodshed. 
 
 Nor was the IVIonarch unworthy of these de- character of 
 monstrations of public joy. He was thirty years ^^* ^'°»- 
 of age, rather above the middle stature, and of a 
 grave and majestic aspect. His manners were 
 easy and graceful ; and, wherever he appeared, he 
 won the respect and affection of all who beheld 
 him. He was possessed of a vivacious wit, a 
 delicate apprehension, and an excellent under- 
 standing. His natural endowments were im- 
 proved and adorned by study. He had acquired 
 great skill in the modern languages and mathe- 
 matics ; and his mind was stored with those moral 
 virtues, which, if they had continued, would have 
 proved a perpetual source of happiness to himself 
 and his country. He was conspicuous, at this 
 time, for his moderation, clemency, justice, and 
 temperance. Oaths and drunkenness were strange 
 vices to him. In fine, he had acquired so much 
 experience, from the variety of his own and his 
 father's troubles, that he brought with him all 
 the presages of a happy and well-conducted reign. 
 
468 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION But it was otherwise. All his splendid virtues 
 IV. were eclipsed by his relegation from principle. He 
 
 .^^Jli^i-Ii^ had, in an unhappy hour, sold himself to expe- 
 diency. He had apostatized from the holy reli- 
 gion of his father, and, thus laid the foundation 
 for the deterioration of his character which rapidly 
 followed, and of innumerable evils to his country, 
 and, at last, to the expulsion of his family from 
 the throne ! 
 Formation of The machinery of the government was quietly 
 
 a Ministry, ^ud judiciously arranged. Sir Edward Hyde, 
 created Earl of Clarendon, was continued Lord 
 High Chancellor. The Lord Southampton, Lord 
 High Treasurer. The Marquis of Ormond made 
 an English Earl, and, afterwards a Duke, Lord 
 Steward of the Household. The Lord Say was 
 made Privy Seal, and the Earl of Manchester, 
 Chamberlain of the Household. General Monk 
 was created Duke of Albemarle, and Admiral 
 Montague, Earl of Sandwich. Sir Edward Nicolas 
 and Sir W. Maurice, were appointed Secretaries 
 of State. 
 
 The three friends Clarendon, Southampton, and 
 Albemarle, were the chief instruments in restoring 
 to order the distracted affairs of the kingdom, and 
 of giving stability to the institutions of their coun- 
 try. The Earl of Clarendon was at the helm ; 
 and was, manifestly, the instrument of God at this 
 important period, and gifted with extraordinary 
 powers. He was a man of great abilities, exten- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 469 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 The act of 
 
 sive acquirements, and mature experience. He SECTION 
 was a profound legal scholar— an elegant writer, IV. 
 and a finished statesman. And, to render him as 
 complete as possible for his high station, his mind 
 was embued with lofty sentiments and adorned 
 with the highest moral quaUfications ; and, it is 
 difficult to say, in which of these excellences he 
 excelled — in integrity, fidelity, or patriotism. 
 
 The " Convention Parliament " instructed by 
 the late calamities of the nation, had applied them- *'^"''^°°* 
 selves with great industry and prudence towards 
 the settlement of the kingdom, and, a bill was 
 immediately passed constituting them a legal Par- 
 liament. A general act of pardon, indemnity, 
 and oblivion, through the urgency of the King, 
 quickly followed; nor, was he wanting in all 
 those demonstrations of virtue and prudence which 
 rendered him deservedly glorious in the esteem of 
 all sober and moderate men. In this bill the 
 judges who sat at the trial of the late King, and 
 indeed, all who were immediately instrumental in 
 procuring his death were excluded, and from a 
 clemency which we are constrained to admire. 
 Sir H. Vane, Colonel Lambert, and Sir A. Hazzle- 
 rigg, were excepted as to'their lives. But the 
 last mentioned had, already, run his race. He was 
 seized with fever, and died in prison at the time 
 the bill was pending ; nor did the other two es- 
 cape the retribution which their crimes deserved. 
 Ten of the most violent Regicides perished on the 
 
470 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ment. 
 
 SECTION scaffold, affording a melancholy picture of human 
 IV. nature, hurried away and infatuated by fanaticism. 
 
 ^^1^^^^^^^ Various acts suited to the exigency of the times 
 followed in quick succession. All judicial pro- 
 ceedings, in law, and equity, which had taken 
 place since the first of May, sixteen hundred and 
 forty-two, were confirmed. The revenues of the 
 crown settled. Shipping and navigation regu- 
 lated : and the army disbanded. 
 
 Presbyterians Thcsc preliminary steps being taken, the state 
 
 offered prefer, ^f ([^q church demanded the attention of the King 
 and his IMinisters, and required in its re-construc- 
 tion, the exercise of all their wisdom and prudence. 
 Nor were they wanting. The King determined 
 to act upon the most liberal principles. Immedi- 
 ately on his return, in order, if possible, to reconcile 
 all parties, he had appointed certain Presbyterian 
 ministers to be his chaplains, and several of their 
 number were now offered the highest preferment. 
 To INIr. Baxter, the Bishopric of Hereford, to Mr. 
 Calamy, the Bishopric of Lichfield and Coventry, 
 and to Dr. Manton, the Deanery of Rochester ; 
 but, unfortunately at present, none of them would 
 accept of the King except Dr. Reynolds, who was 
 appointed Bishop of Norwich : — whilst a declara- 
 tion on the subject of union in religion was now 
 published, which, for its moderation and prudence 
 will bear comparison with any document of any 
 age, or, country. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 471 
 
 In the meantime, the Bishops that survived, SECTION 
 were restored to their dioceses. Seven others IV. 
 were consecrated, and the excellent Doctor Juxon, .^^^^^^^^ 
 whose character has long been before the reader, 
 was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 But in the midst of these happy prospects, the Afataiinflu- 
 popish influence began to operate on the affairs of^"^?'"®^**^ 
 the kingdom, and the "little black cloud" ap- 
 peared, which, at no distant time, was to deluge 
 the nation with storm and tempest. The Queen 
 mother arrived laden with political stratagems, 
 under the tutelage of the Cardinal Mazarine, who, 
 contrary to all the stipulations of the " Pyrenean 
 treaty" w^as again plotting against the crown of 
 Spain : but the upright Clarendon was in her way, 
 and she did not scruple to make use of all her influ- 
 ence to induce her son, to discharge his faithful 
 minister. For the present, she did not prevail. But 
 her visit laid the foundation for future evil. The 
 public joy was also darkened by the death of the 
 Princess of Orange, the King's sister, who follow- 
 ed her illustrious brother the Duke of Gloucester, 
 at the distance of a few months, to an early grave. 
 She was a Princess of admirable understanding 
 and virtue, and, must ever hold a distinguished 
 place in the annals of our country, as the mother 
 of William III who, at the time of her death, was 
 only ten years of age. 
 
 The acts of peace and regular government be- 
 gan to revive ; the post office had been established 
 
-%J. 
 
 472 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY, 
 
 473 
 
 SECTION by the " Convention Parliament," and the " Eoyal 
 IV. Society " was now instituted under the most en- 
 
 CiiAP. IIL 
 
 K^^^'^s/'^^ couragmg auspices. 
 
 Fanatical in- But during this statc of tranquillity, the dregs 
 surrcction. ^f ^|^g i^^q fanatical fury, like the unwholesome 
 
 humours of a deseased body, were coming to a 
 head; and, at length, burst out into a virulent 
 and blasphemous excitement, which ended in open 
 insurrection. The deluded people broke forth 
 from a conventicle in Coleman-street, where they 
 had assembled, and declared that they took up 
 arms for King Jesus, against the powers of the 
 earth ; vainly relying, on the declaration of holy 
 writ, that " no weapon formed against them should 
 prosper." It is impossible, in few words, to de- 
 scribe the wild fury of these enthusiasts. They 
 fought with desperate ferocity, but, in spite of 
 their vain-glorious boast, they perished miserably, 
 by the swords of the life guards, or the axe of the 
 executioner; nor, were these mad proceedings 
 without an injurious effect on the public mind ; 
 as they tended to revive the remembrance of the 
 late sectarian crisis. 
 
 The coronation which was solemnized with the 
 greatest magnificence, was followed by the ap- 
 pointment of a synod of divines for the settlement 
 of the church. Unfortunately, the prejudices of 
 both parties ran high. The Bishops had too much 
 reason to remember the ill-advised and rebellious 
 conduct of the Presbyters in the late transactions; 
 
 nor, did they at the present crisis, manifest any SECTION 
 symptoms of repentance, moderation, or humility. IV. 
 Mr. Baxter, a Presbyter of considerable name, .^^^J^^^^liJ^ 
 added nothing to his reputation in this synod. gynod of 
 He displayed a great ignorance of antiquity — dis- Divines, 
 covered an untutored and illogical head, and mani- ' ' 
 fested great conceit of his own abilities. The 
 book of common prayer underwent a rigid exami- 
 nation. Many exceptions were made by the 
 Presbyterian Divines; and when the alterations 
 and amendments thus suggested by them, were 
 committed to Mr. Baxter for the purpose of draw- 
 ing them up for presentation to the Bishops, he 
 rejected them altogether, and drew up an entire 
 new formulary, which he designated the "Re- 
 formed Liturgy." This rash and presumptuous 
 act, gave just offence to the eminent episcopal 
 divines who composed the synod. The work it- 
 self, which its ill-judging author intended to super- 
 sede the " Book of Common Prayer " possesses 
 little merit, and sinks into utter insignificance 
 when compared with that simple and dignified, 
 — that brief and comprehensive, — that devout 
 and sublime formulary composed by Saints and 
 Martyrs after the best models of antiquity, and 
 which is designed, we cannot doubt, in the provi- 
 dence of God, to hold a distinguished place in the 
 prayers and praises of the Reformed Catholic 
 Church, through succeeding ages. 
 
f 
 
 474 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION I see little reason to enter further into the de- 
 IV. tail of this discussion. The topics, were much 
 ^^^^^:-^ the same as had occupied the attention of the same 
 classes of disputants in the reign of James I ; and 
 the conference ended by the synod coming to the 
 following resolution : " That the welfare of the 
 unity and peace of the church, were ends upon 
 which they were all agreed ; but as to the means 
 they could not come to any accommodation." 
 
 The Scotch Meanwhile, the new Parliament had assembled. 
 "Covenant" "Yht greatest harmony and unanimity prevailed; 
 and the Commons, as if by a preparation for the 
 intended league with Portugal, and the marriage 
 of the King with the Infanta, determined upon 
 the extinction of the " Solemn League and Cove- 
 nant," which was burnt with fire by the hands 
 of the common hangman — a fate which it 
 RICHLY DESERVED. Nor was the public welfare 
 neglected : they proceeded with great vigour to 
 the despatch of business; and provided, by a vari- 
 ety of enactments, for the future stability and 
 security of the kingdom. 
 
 Convocation ^or wcrc the members of the convocation, which 
 A. D. 1G62. g^|. concurrent with the Parliament, inattentive to 
 their peculiar duties. They proceeded to draw up 
 a solemn thanksgiving for the King s restoration, 
 and a form of prayer to be used on the anniversary 
 of his father's death ; and added to the ritual of 
 the church, the ''form of baptism for those of 
 riper years." Indeed, it seemed, at this impor- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 475 
 
 tant juncture, as if the whole nation had resolved SECTION 
 itself into one grand council for rectifying the dis- IV. 
 orders which prevailed both in church and state. ^"***- "'* 
 Nor was it otherwise in the kingdom of Scot- ""^^^ 
 land. A full Parliament had assembled, and they of Argyie meets 
 proceeded, with unwearied zeal, to build up the ^^ ''"'^'" 
 walls of the constitution " which had been thrown 
 
 down." The Covenant was formally rescinded 
 
 the militia placed at the disposal of the King; 
 and, a perpetual brand of infamy indelibly fixed 
 on all who were concerned in the sale and trans- 
 fer of the person of the late King ; and it was 
 inscribed in the records of the kingdom, as an 
 atrocious act, " contrary to all the rules of justice, 
 honour, gratitude, and humanity." And, although 
 the act of indemnity extended its protection to the 
 utmost north, yet there was one individual whom 
 the Divine retribution would not suffer to escape. 
 The Marquis of Argyie was brought before the 
 Parliament, tried and convicted of high treason ; 
 and, what is very remarkable, after his condem- 
 nation, he had the mortification to see the funeral 
 rites of Montrose preformed with great solemnity ; 
 and within eight days his own head occupied the 
 place, which he had so unrighteously awarded to 
 that of the heroic Marquis. 
 
 Pnnce Rupert once more appears on the stage Prince Ru- 
 of English History. He attended as chief mourner p"''* 
 at the funeral of his royal mother, the Queen of 
 Bohemia,— an illustrious female, the eldest daugh- 
 
476 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 477 
 
 SECTION ter and only surviving child, of James I. She 
 IV. had married, as we have shewn, the Elector Pala- 
 
 r^^^A^^^ ^^^^5 ^^^ ^^^ endured with unshaken courage and 
 resolution, the misfortunes of her family. — And 
 she was permitted to behold the restoration and 
 establishment of her father's throne in the person 
 of his grandson. But a still greater honour was 
 intended for her in the purposes of Providence. 
 She was herself to be the parent and stock of the 
 future Sovereigns of England. Of her seven sons 
 and five daughters the youngest surviving, the 
 Princess Sophia, was, after many years, declared 
 and created heir to the throne of Great Britain : 
 and from that auspicious beginning, the sceptre 
 has descended to our present gracious Sovereign. 
 
 But before the settlement of the Monarchy in 
 
 the house of Brunswick, a long series of important 
 
 Character of cvcuts was to trauspirc. The present Parliament 
 
 thePariiament j^^^ weighty busiucss bcforc them; and, perhaps, 
 such a Parliament never had been assembled in 
 England ; and, in native talent, in wisdom derived 
 from experience, in attachment to the institutions 
 of their country, they have never been surpassed. 
 They laboured incessantly to restore the civil in- 
 stitutions of their country — and with unexampled 
 success ; but their chief anxiety was, to establish 
 the order and unity of the church which had been 
 so fearfully invaded. The members of the Con- 
 vocation lent their aid. The Book of Common 
 Prayer was revised by them and presented to his 
 
 Majesty. The King who still loved the institu- SECTION 
 lions of his country, received it with the greatest TV. 
 satisfaction, and sent it to the Commons with a J^i^>Iii;^ 
 command, that they should prepare an " Act of The Act of 
 uniformity " on the basis of that formulary. They ""^'^"""'^y- 
 were indefatigable in their attention to this mo- 
 mentous subject ; and, after long and mature con- 
 sideration, they prepared a measure which, when 
 it had passed both houses, was presented to the 
 King by the Speaker of the Commons, in the 
 following words : - Your Majesty having already 
 restored the governors and government of the 
 Church, the patrimony and privileges of our church- 
 men : we hold it now, our duty, for the reforma- 
 tion of all abuses in the public worship of God, 
 humbly to present to your Majesty a bill for the 
 uniformity of public prayers, and administration 
 of Sacraments. We hope the God of order and 
 unity will conform the hearts of all the people in 
 this nation, to serve him in this order and uni- 
 formity." 
 
 Perhaps the world had never witnessed such a 
 bold and momentous piece of legislation. Its 
 immediate effects were truly formidable ; and its 
 mfluence through successive generations on the 
 social state of Great Britain, has been vast and 
 inconceivable. The necessity of the case fully 
 justified the extent and pungency of its enact- 
 ments ; and all succeeding generations have ap- 
 plauded its wisdom, justice, and propriety. It 
 
478 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 479 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Eflfectsofthe 
 Act 
 
 I I 
 
 SECTION was a master-piece of political wisdom ; and de- 
 IV. signed in the providence of God, to consolidate 
 the mind and resources of the kingdom, and to 
 prepare it for its future career of greatness. Be- 
 fore it came into operation, the greatest irregular- 
 ity and disorder prevailed, in the church. Some 
 of the ministers made use of the " Common 
 Prayer," others, of the " Directory," and some, 
 rejected both. The same confusion prevailed in 
 discipline, in habit and in doctrine. In short, the 
 church was a perfect Babel. The '' Act of uni- 
 formity" reduced the discordant elements to peace 
 —rectified the crying disorders which prevailed— 
 ejected the intruders from the temple, and restored 
 the unity and beauty of the house of God. But 
 these advantages were not secured without great 
 privations and sufferings to many. More than 
 two thousand ministers, many of whom were 
 divines of eminence, but the majority persons of 
 no reputation, who had been soldiers in the army, 
 or mechanics, and who had intruded themselves 
 into the benefices of the church, were ejected from 
 their usurped possession by the provisions of this 
 
 Act. 
 
 Persons inimical to the principle of acknow- 
 ledging the English Catholic Church, as the na- 
 tional religion, by the state, have descanted largely 
 on the hardship and cruelty of this Act. But in 
 vain. It is the undoubted prerogative of the 
 Church, to define and settle the terms of its com- 
 
 Chap. hi. 
 
 munion ; and, if the State unites itself to the SECTION 
 church, in order to its being included in a national IV. 
 covenant, the civil rulers may impose these terms 
 on the nation. This doctrine was fully admitted 
 by the Presbyterians ; and, the leaders of that 
 party, at first determined upon compliance with 
 the act, but, unfortunately, afterwards changed Jr^n^:! 
 their intention, relying partly on their numbers ''"°^°- 
 but more on the promises of the popish party, who 
 offered them pensions, if they would stand out, 
 and resist the law. But, unhappily, the grand 
 question of toleration was not yet understood. 
 Men had not yet learnt that it is one thing to im- 
 pose terms of communion, and to end all disputes, 
 by saying : " we have no such custom, neither the 
 churches of God ; " and, another, to compel men 
 to submit to those terms. The one is Apostolic 
 and Christian— the other, is not only inconsistent 
 with the principles of Christianity ; but abhorrent 
 to common sense. But the state was advancing, 
 through many troubles, to the settlement of that 
 question. 
 
 There was yet another criminal, who although 
 expressly included in the act of indemnity, the JJl "tJ^ 
 justice of heaven suffered not to live. This was *'^^- 
 Sir H. Vane. He had been one of the chief and 
 most unprincipled of the popular leaders in the 
 late rebellion ; and, though not one of the King's 
 Judges, yet no individual in the kingdom was 
 more deeply implicated in the guilt of that trans- 
 
480 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION action. Such was his restless disposition that he 
 IV. could not live in tranquillity, and, having been 
 Chap. III. f^^^^ tampering with the malecontents of the 
 army, the Parliament petitioned the King that he 
 might be apprehended and brought to trial, with 
 Colonel Lambert, who was also suspected. On 
 their trials', Lambert behaved with so much hu- 
 mility and submission, that after sentence, he was 
 reprieved, and lived thirty years a prisoner in the 
 Isle of Guernsey. But never did any man, both 
 at his trial and execution, labour under a stronger 
 delusion, or, manifest greater folly, than Sir H. 
 Vane. He died in the same place on Tower Hill, 
 as the Earl of Straiford, in whose death he was 
 chiefly instrumental ; and as he was the first man 
 that caused the shedding of the first blood, so his 
 blood was the last shed on account of the " Great 
 Rebellion ! " 
 Death of Nor must WO omit to mention the deaths of two 
 Lord Say, and other popular actors in the tragical events of these 
 ^rth^r^''^ times. These were the Lord Say and the Speaker 
 Lenthall. The former lived to repent of his mad 
 folly, and employed all his resources in promo- 
 ting the restoration. He was favoured by the 
 King, and, died at the age of four-score, at his 
 seat at Broughton, where he had assisted with 
 Hampden and others to lay the foundation of the 
 civil war. The latter, William Lenthall, the great 
 time-server, contrived at the restoration to save 
 both himself and his property, and died in peace, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 481 
 
 Chap. IIL 
 
 a sincere penitent, deeply regretting the line of SECTION 
 conduct he had pursued, and was buried with IV. 
 great obscurity at Barford, in Oxfordshire. 
 
 The King rapidly deteriorated in his character. ^^^^ ^. 
 He had formally embraced Romanism for ends of religion. 
 expediency, against his declared judgment, and his 
 most solemn obligations : but, instead of acting 
 up to his new engagements, he was obliged, from 
 political necessity, contrary to his noble disposi- 
 tion, to wear the garb of hypocrisy, and outwardly 
 profess his attachment to the Protestant religion. 
 And although, he might now have preferred, open- 
 ly, to avow his real convictions, he was irrecover- 
 ably fettered by the chains of Popery. In this 
 unhappy condition, his conscience stung with re- 
 morse, and his mind tortured, between the fear 
 and the shame of a recantation — he threw off, as 
 might reasonably be expected, all regard whatever 
 to religion ; and sought to drown every high and 
 honourable conviction in the vortex of pleasure 
 and dissipation. 
 
 Hitherto, everything had been transacted by The dispen- 
 the advice and counsel of the immortal Clarendon ''"^ p^""^'' 
 and his two friends; but now a new era com- 
 menced under other, and blighting influence. The 
 King's counsels became unsteady and variable. 
 A separate council sat at Somerset House, where 
 the Queen mother had taken up her residence, 
 and her machinations soon began to operate, with 
 deadly effect, upon the affairs of the kingdom. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 Hh 
 
482 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. IH. 
 
 SECTION The King was induced to publish a declaration in 
 IV. "which he was made to assume the power of ex- 
 plaining and dispensing with the enactments of 
 Parliament ; and it was exercised with respect to 
 the Act of uniformity. It was a deep laid scheme 
 for the introduction of Popery, under favour of the 
 " Dispensing Power." But the Parliament was 
 not to be duped, and they absolutely refused to 
 assent to any such indefinite and irresponsible 
 claim on the part of the crown, and addressed the 
 King, in the most decisive terms against the power 
 of indulgence ; and, whoever reads and examines 
 with attention, the reasons for their refusal trans- 
 mitted to his Majesty, must admire their firmness 
 and ability, their honesty and patriotism. The 
 Earl of Clarendon also concurred with Parliament 
 in opposition to this dangerous claim of the pre- 
 rogative. But the plot for the downfall of this 
 great minister was now matured ; and the Earl 
 of Bristol was appointed the agent for carrying 
 into execution this difficult and dangerous enter- 
 prise. This nobleman, who had sworn fealty to 
 the Church of Rome at the same altar with the 
 King, had been more faithful to his engagements, 
 and had become the zealous adherent of the 
 Romish party. Such indeed, was his devotion to 
 the wishes of that inexorable power, that forget- 
 ing the intimate friendship and mutual obliga- 
 tions, of many years standing, he exhibited articles 
 of information against the Earl of Clarendon in 
 
 483 
 
 Chap. IIL 
 
 Death of the 
 
 the House of Lords. They were dismissed by the SECTION 
 Peers on account of their informality. But they IV. 
 answered their purpose. They were intended to 
 shake the power of Clarendon, and to prepare the 
 way for his ultimate ruin. 
 
 At this time also, the nation, and humanity it- 
 self, lost its brightest ornament in the death of ^'••^^ bishop. 
 Archbishop Juxon, who had not only been per- 
 mitted, as a reward for his virtue, honour, and 
 piety, to witness the return of peace and happi- 
 ness to his country, and behold the church re- 
 stored to its integrity ; but to be still more blessed 
 in being called away before the renewal of those 
 troubles, which, at length, overwhelmed the throne 
 of his beloved master, with disgrace and infamy. 
 He was buried with great honour, at St. JohnX 
 Oxford, beside the body of his friend. Archbishop 
 Laud ; and, was succeeded in his high office, by 
 Doctor Gilbert Sheldon, Bishop of London. 
 
 The ParHament on its re-assembling, after re- 
 pealing the triennial Bill of sixteen hundred and ^^'•• 
 forty-one, brought in another, entitled "an Act ^'^'^ 
 for the assembling and holding of Parliament once 
 m three years at least ; " and on presenting this 
 important measure to the King, they complained 
 of the injuries inflicted on trade and commerce, 
 % the injurious and arbitrary conduct of the 
 Dutch-— a complaint which laid the foundation for 
 the Dutch war. 
 
 The Dutch 
 
 ^ 
 
484 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION De Wit, was at that time, at the head of the 
 IV. Louvestein faction, which favoured the French 
 
 Chap. III. •j^tgj.gsts, and hc was in secret correspondence 
 with the enterprising Monarch of that kingdom. 
 The Dutch people were little inclined to war, but 
 still less to make reparation for the losses which 
 they had occasioned to the English merchants. 
 The King was roused to action, and, on the re- 
 fusal of the States of Holland to make reparation, 
 A splendid j^g i^rj^^Q the most vigorous preparations for war 
 
 victory. — visited his dock yards, and superintended the 
 work, whilst the Duke of York, attended by Prince 
 Eupert, went on board, as Admirals of the fleet. 
 Such active and resolute conduct created consider- 
 able alarm in the states, and, when on the meet- 
 ing of Parliament, the commons voted the sum 
 of cf 2,477,500, Europe itself was filled with asto- 
 nishment at the vast sum which their liberality 
 and patriotism supplied. Nor was it long before 
 the two powers were engaged in mortal combat. 
 On the second of June, the English fleet bore 
 down upon the Dutch squadrons under Admiral 
 Opdam, off the Harwich shores. The encounter 
 was fearful. The English performed prodigies 
 of valour, more than sufficient to sustain their 
 ancient character for naval tactics. Ten thousand 
 of the Dutch perished, and two thousand were 
 taken prisoners. The Duke of York, who dis- 
 covered such eminent ability in action, acted with 
 the most admirable bravery and coolness, was 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 485 
 
 overwhelmed with the grateful acknowledgments SECTION 
 of his countrymen. Medals were struck in honour IV. 
 of his victory. The Duke was, at this time, in the ^"'^' "'* 
 height of his reputation ; and deserved well of his 
 country. But he had hitherto studiously conceal- 
 ed his religion. That religion, however, was 
 destined to prove his ruin, and to destroy such a 
 noble fabric of personal and national happiness 
 as had scarcely ever offered itself to the expecta- 
 tions of an individual, or, a nation ; other triumphs 
 followed— vast spoils were taken, and the English 
 navies rode triumphant on every sea. 
 
 But the most remarkable event connected with Future his- 
 the continuance of this war, was, that it wrought ^"'^ ^'p*'"'- 
 the destruction of the Louvestein faction— rescued 
 Holland from the tyranny of the " Lords of the 
 States," and called the Prince of Orange to the 
 supreme direction of its affairs — a necessary 
 step to that great event, in our own country, which 
 is denominated " the revolution." 
 
 But, although, the Dutch were punished for their The great 
 pride and injustice by the power of England, God 
 was preparing a dreadful chastisement for the 
 nation, which, forgetting its deliverances and obli- 
 gations, had thrown off all moral restraint, and 
 given itself up to the most profligate courses. 
 Disgusted with the pretensions and hypocrisy of 
 the late times, instead of cultivating the virtues of 
 sobriety and sincerity, men rushed into the con- 
 trary extreme, abandoned religion itself, and be- 
 
 Plaoie. 
 A. D. 1665. 
 
486 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 III 
 
 SECTION came infidels both in doctrine and practice. 
 
 cull'm ^^^^^ ^^^ ^ degeneracy in morals and religion 
 v.^^-v-0 inore universal, and never was there a visitation 
 prepared, more fearful, than the " Plague," which 
 threatened all with extinction. Death rode in 
 melancholy and terrific procession, through every 
 street and alley of the Metropolis. Cofiins could 
 not be found for the dead. They were cast forth 
 " like dung on the face of the earth," or, thrown 
 in countless numbers into large pits, excavated for 
 the purpose. All, who possessed the means, fled 
 from the scene of misery and death. The good 
 were humbled— the wicked exasperated. The re- 
 ligious prayed— and died: the ungodly, blas- 
 phemed—and, in the midst of revelling and lewd- 
 ness, perished. 
 Conduct of Many of the clergy fled, but others noblv ven- 
 
 theArchbishop *,, i n • ^i . „ , "^ 
 
 tured all m the service of humanity and charity. 
 Archbishop Sheldon continued at his post ; and, 
 by his benevolence, activity and influence, was a 
 great instrument in alleviating the horrors of that 
 -calamitous day. The Duke of Albemarle was 
 Earl of Aibe. appointed Govcmor of the city; and gave orders 
 for every emergency, with such heroic coolness 
 and judgment, that he appeared as if he had been 
 born to triumph over danger in every form, and 
 to be superior to death itself. 
 
 The King, himself, although a chief offender, 
 manifested a paternal regard for his people, and 
 gave £1000 a week for the relief of the destitute. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 487 
 
 marie. 
 
 The King. 
 
 Nor must we forget to mention the equally mag- SECTION 
 nanimous conduct of William Earl of Craven, IV. 
 who, in the most patriotic manner, devoted him- ^"*''- '"• 
 self and his fortune, to alleviate the sufferings of The Eari of 
 his fellow countrymen. He pursued his danger- ^'*''"'"- 
 ous career with unshaken zeal— visiting the abodes 
 of the dying— in the midst of infection, impurity, 
 and death hazarding his life, and by his chris- 
 tian fortitude, attained a glory superior to that 
 which he acquired, by his martial exploits in 
 Germany, and many other parts of the world. 
 
 In the meantime, the enemies of England re- or the dis- 
 joiced in her calamity. The Dutch insisted that ''°'""- 
 the direful visitation was sent by God on their 
 behalf: the sectaries and republicans considered 
 it a providential opening for " the good old cause: " 
 and, whilst one would be willing to exculpate the 
 more respectable leaders of the Presbyterians— it 
 is an undoubted fact, that the nonconformists 
 generally symbolized with the Dutch, and even 
 enlisted in their service, whilst the seditious min. 
 isters entered into a correspondence w^ith them. 
 For these rebellious acts, the Parliament on its 
 re-assembling, determined to punish them ; and, 
 'without any countenance from the Court, or, the 
 Church, drew up a most stringent measure, enti- 
 tled the " Five mile Act," which prohibited all 
 non-conformist preachers from residing within the 
 distance of five miles from any corporate town. This 
 was a dreadful blow to that party ; and brought 
 
488 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION distress and ruin upon hundreds of the ministers 
 
 ChII'iii. ^°^ ^^^]'' families. Would that we could say, 
 
 V,^-v-v^ that their sufferings were undeserved ! But their 
 
 seditious practices were too notorious to be denied; 
 
 and, for the peace of the country, it was necessary 
 
 that their power of mischief should be destroyed. 
 
 Death of the At this juucturc, died the Earl of Lindsay, 
 
 Earl of Lind- ^^^5^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^.^^ ^^^^ hoUOUrablc mCUtioU 
 
 in this history— a man of unparalleled patriotism 
 and honour— a true nobleman— whose dignity 
 consisted, not in the splendour of his rank, nor in 
 the extent of his fortune, but in the true elevation 
 of mind, and in deeds of virtue. Nor did he fall 
 alone. Doctor John Carle, Bishop of Salisbury, 
 followed him, who had been tutor to the King, 
 and attended him in his exile. He was distin- 
 guished for his great learning, nor less for his 
 humility; and although he lived in times of great 
 excitement, and experienced great changes of for- 
 tune, he exemplified under all circumstances, the 
 same pious, peaceable, and primitive temper. 
 Doctor Cor. At the samo time, a very different person, whose 
 nehus Burgess, jj^me has loug bccu bcforc the reader, ended his 
 career. This was Doctor Cornelius Burgess, who 
 was, certainly, a principal incendiary in the rebel- 
 lion, furiously active, and scandalously subser- 
 vient to the " Long Parliament." During the 
 usurpation, like many others, whose object was 
 plunder, he enriched himself out of the Bishops' 
 land ; but at the restoration he was stripped of his 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 489 
 
 A. D. 1666. 
 
 sacrilegious plunder, died in lingering torment of SECTION 
 a cancer in his throat, and in want and poverty. TV. 
 
 To increase the difficulties and danger of this ^"^'*- '"* 
 period, France and Denmark entered into an ""f^^C^a 
 alliance with Holland. But the Parliament and ^^]'\ 
 people were unanimous in their resolution to de- 
 fend the honour of their country, and made pro- 
 digious advances of money for carrying on the 
 war. The fleet was early ready for sea, under 
 two of the most determined commanders that 
 certainly ever lived. Prince Rupert, and the Duke 
 of Albemarle. But, unfortunately, the English 
 fleet was divided by a stratagem. Prince Rupert 
 with his squadron was dispatched in quest of the 
 French fleet, and immediately on his departure 
 the Dutch, who had reported that they should not 
 be ready for sea for six weeks, appeared off the 
 Isle of Wight, with ninety ships of the line, whilst 
 the English fleet amounted to no more than fifty, 
 nine. But the Duke of Albemarle was there; 
 who, like his associate, could never endure the 
 sight of an enemy without engaging in battle. 
 The fight continued, with almost equal success, 
 for three days, when the Dutch being reinforced 
 with sixteen ships, the Duke of Albemarle with 
 matchless skill and bravery, protected the retreat 
 of his ships. But, on the fourth day. Prince 
 Rupert, having heard the roar of their cannon, 
 bore down upon the scene of action. The fight 
 was renewed with determined resolution, and un- 
 
490 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 491 
 
 SECTION til both fleets were so dreadfully shattered, that 
 
 IV^« they were obliged to give up the contest, and re- 
 Chap. in. 
 
 Another 
 splendid vic- 
 toiy. 
 
 tire to their own shores. 
 
 The Dutch were as proud of their escape, as if 
 they had obtained a decisive victory ; and fondly 
 imagined that the British naval power, was des- 
 tined to fall before them. The vain-glorious anti- 
 cipation filled them with the greatest alacrity. 
 They were soon at sea with a formidable fleet, 
 and entered the British channel in expectation of 
 joining the French squadron, — when, to their 
 astonishment, the English fleet appeared, consist- 
 ing of ninety sail of the line, under the Earl of 
 Albemarle. Another dreadful engagement took 
 place, and, after a hideous confusion of thunder, 
 smoke, and carnage, the English fleet obtained a 
 decisive victory. The Dutch fled with the greatest 
 precipitancy ; and, when the English Men of War 
 could no longer follow them, on account of the 
 flats and banks, to the great mortification of the 
 Dutch, a small yacht, or pleasure boat, belonging 
 to Prince Rupert, was despatched against the 
 Admiral's ship, which for an hour, continued 
 playing her broad-sides, of two guns, amidst the 
 shouts and laughter of the English fleet. 
 
 But whilst it pleased the God of battles, to grant 
 success to the English navy, and to frustrate. every 
 hostile act, whether foreign or domestic, against 
 her government and laws. He, himself, was pre- 
 paring another chastisement both for the King 
 
 Chap.IIL 
 
 It was at midnight, on the first of September 
 that the inhabitants of the Metropolis were roused The great 
 Irom their beds by the alarm of fire. The East ^"'■ 
 wind was raging with great fury, and, in a short 
 time, the scene of ruin became terrific. Prodi- 
 gious flakes of fire were carried on the fury of the 
 blast, threatening destruction to every part of the 
 city. Such was the rapidity with which it spread 
 that It defied opposition. Paleness sat on every 
 face. The furious element, unchecked, prevailed 
 to such an extent, that it mounted up into the air 
 in solid pyramids of fire, triumphing in its destruc- 
 tive career, and mocking all the feeble eff-orts of 
 the people to extinguish it. Human aid failed; 
 everything was. indeed, attempted, that the skill 
 of man could contrive, or, his labour execute. 
 But It pursued its devastating progress, and the 
 dawning day only served to shew the ruin which 
 It had accomplished. The King, roused from his 
 pleasures, rode twice that day round the circuit of 
 the fire, with a purse of gold in his hand, the con- 
 tents of which he distributed to the workmen, 
 encouraging them to exertion. But in vain. Re- 
 turning darkness only served to discover the in- 
 creasing strength of the conflagration. The whole 
 "ty was illumined. Fear and anxiety prevailed 
 over the fatigues of the day. and denied to the 
 unhappy citizens, the forgelfulness of sleep. Nor 
 
492 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 II 
 
 SECTION (lid returning clay bring them any appearance of 
 '^- relief. The fire advanced with unmitigated fury, 
 ^^^^^^^^ as if heaven and earth were aUke threatened with 
 destruction, the King was at his post, as on the 
 preceding day: houses, and even streets, were 
 pulled down to deprive the devouring element of 
 the material upon which it fed, but disdaining 
 buch precautions, it advanced with greater fierce- 
 ness, and rolled on in its majestic course of ruin, 
 for three days, and having destroyed eighty-nine 
 churches — a vast multitude of public edifices, and 
 thirteen thousand dwelling houses, and spreading 
 desolation over a space of four hundred and thirty- 
 six acres — when to all human appearance, it had 
 overcome every means of resistance, " by the 
 WILL OF HEAVEN it Stopped, and was extin- 
 guished." * 
 
 The King. All mcu wcrc awakened to reflection by this 
 direful calamity, and acknowledged the immedi- 
 ate hand of Heaven in its infliction. The King, 
 at the meeting of Parliament, said in his opening 
 speech : " You see the dismal ruins the fire has 
 made ; and nothing but a miracle of God's mercy, 
 could have preserved what is left, from the same 
 destruction." 
 
 The Parliament acted with their usual vigour, 
 prudence and liberality, nor, was it long before 
 the devoted city began to rise out of its ashes, in 
 greater beauty and splendour ; nor, must we omit, 
 
 ♦ Inscription on the monument. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 493 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 the eloquent ,vords of the Speaker of the House SECTION 
 of Commons, when submitting to the King, the IV. 
 measures which they had prepared, for the order- " 
 mg and rebuilding of the city : " We must," he 
 said, « for ever, witli humility, acknowledge the 
 justice of God in punishing this whole nation, by 
 the late dreadful conflagration of London. We 
 know they were not the greatest sinners upon 
 whom the tower of Siioam fell, and all our sins 
 doubtless, did contribute to the filling up that 
 measure, which being full, drew down the wrath 
 of God upon this city. We hope God will direct 
 your royal heart, and your fortunate hand, in a few 
 days, to lay a foundation-stone in the re-building 
 that royal city— the beauty and praise of which, 
 shall fill the whole earth." 
 
 But, whilst the people were recovering from a „ 
 their late panic, and the Parliament was rejoicing 'an-ity- 
 in the prospect of the future prosperity and glory ^- ''■ '**"• 
 of their country— the whole nation was, again, 
 thrown into consternation, under the most aggra^ 
 vating circumstances, and particularly insulting to 
 the national honour. 
 
 For some time, on the mediation of Sweden, a 
 treaty of peace had been entered into by the con- 
 tending powers ; and, was, at length, concluded at 
 Breda, to the satisfaction of both nations. But, 
 whilst the treaty was pending, the Dutch, acting 
 upon a stratagetic policy, in order to obtain more 
 favourable terms, perceiving the English entirely 
 
 Another ca- 
 
494 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 ill 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION off their guard, and unprepared for action, fitted 
 IV. out a strong fleet and approached the English 
 
 ^^^li^>^ coast. Finding no opposition, they sailed up the 
 Medway, made themselves master of the fort of 
 Sheerness ; and having the advantage of an east- 
 erly wind and a strong tide, they resolutely pressed 
 on, broke through a chain of ships which had been 
 sunk, and moored at the muscle bank, and com- 
 mitting dreadful ravages among the shipping ad- 
 vanced to Upnore Castle, where their career was 
 stopped by the almost single-handed vigour, cou- 
 rage, and prudence, of the Duke of Albemarle, 
 ■who seemed to be raised up to meet every emer- 
 gency, and to become the tutelary genius of his 
 country ! 
 Fall of cia- The w^holc nation felt themselves disgraced by 
 
 rendon. ^j^-g insulting aggrcssiou of their enemies. Great 
 
 neglect was attributed by Parliament, to the Com- 
 missioners of his Majesty's dock yards: — but the 
 Lord Chancellor Clarendon, was the victim to be 
 sacrificed on this occasion to the popular resent- 
 ment. It was on the thirty-first of August, that 
 the King demanded the great seal from his old 
 and faithful Minister, and, by this mark of his 
 displeasure, delivered him up to the malice of his 
 enemies. He was shortly after, impeached by the 
 Commons, and, in the end, an act of banishment 
 against him passed both houses of Parliament. 
 He fell, and, with him the dignity, honour, and 
 stability, of the national affairs. Nor was it a 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 495 
 
 tnflmg addition to the loss of this great states- SECTfON 
 man, that shortly after, his Majesty's Counsels IV. 
 were deprived, by death, of the great abilities of ''"^" "^• 
 his friend the Earl of Southampton. Clarendon 
 retired to France, and left behind him a noble 
 apology, which remains a lasting monument of 
 his integrity and patriotism ; and though banished 
 by his ungrateful master, and mistaken country- 
 men, he stands honoured in the annals of his 
 country, not only for his own important and splen- 
 did services, in the re-establishment of the Church 
 and Monarchy, but as the grandfather of two 
 Queens of glorious memory ! 
 The treaty of Breda led to the formation of the ,. ^ . 
 
 i; rp • 1 -|- "^'^ Sir W. Tem- 
 
 Inple League, between England, France, and p'«- 
 Holland, as a counterpoise to the encroachingpower *' "' '^ 
 of France ; and, at length, through the incredible 
 labours, high integrity, and consummate prudence 
 of Sir William Temple, who has gained by these 
 transactions, immortal honour as a diplomatist, 
 to the peace of Aix-la-chapelle. 
 
 But as an honest statesman who deserved well „ «■ 
 
 «f L,' . - »»v>ii Profligacy of 
 
 01 tus country, he stood almost alone. Clarendon "■' «<""•<• 
 was gone, and succeeded in his high office by the 
 Lord Keeper Bridgeman, and, in the King's fa- 
 TOur by the Duke of Buckingham, a man so 
 abandoned and so fertile in the invention of crim- 
 inal pleasures, that, together with his friend and 
 associate, the Earl of Rochester, he was sufficient 
 corrupt any court in the world. That in which 
 
 .yyin^^ 
 
406 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 497 
 
 m 
 
 SECTION they lived, quickly degenerated into the abodes of 
 
 IV. venality, profligacy, and infidelity. 
 ^^Jr^^^^^i^ In the midst of such Counsellors, no stability 
 Design of a in govemment could be expected, and every latent 
 
 tra^twi.'^ "^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ commonwealth began straightforth to 
 A. D. 1669. discover itself. The Popish faction exerted its 
 utmost influence, and to counteract their efforts, a 
 scheme was set on foot, under the direction of the 
 Lord Keeper Bridgeman, and Sir John Baber, to 
 bring the Presbyterians within the pale of the 
 Church, and to grant a general toleration. Dr. 
 Manton, Mr. Calamy, and Mr. Baxter^ were con- 
 sulted; but the design was frustrated by the 
 " tergiversation and cavils of the Presbyterians." 
 This ineffectual attempt at reconciliation widened 
 the breach; and the Presbyterians in order to 
 secure their further degradation and punishment, 
 moved to a conjunction with the Independents — 
 a circumstance which filled the minds of all men 
 with jealousy and alarm. The House of Com- 
 mons zealously interfered, and the King, although 
 he secretly favoured them, was obliged to publish 
 a proclamation " for putting in execution the laws 
 against non-conformists, and for suppressing con- 
 venticles," and the Duke of Albemarle having 
 reported to the House, that the peace of the city 
 was endangered by the meetings of seditious, and 
 disaffected persons, it was resolved "That the 
 thanks of this House be given to the Lord Gene- 
 
 crap. in. 
 
 ral for his care in preserving the peace of the SECTION 
 kingdom." ^y 
 
 But it was the last act of that remarkable man, 
 and he was about to close his long and arduous 
 career. He died, after a short illness, on the 
 second of January, in the sixty-second year of his 
 age, and has left behind him an imperishable 
 name in the annals of his country. If any doubt 
 remained on the minds of men, respecting his 
 honourable intentions at the restoration— it was 
 obliterated by the actions of his subsequent life. 
 Never had a Prince a more humble and obedient 
 subject ; nor a State a more useful and patriotic 
 citizen. 
 
 The affairs of the country now rapidly pro- 
 gressed. The King was ingulphed in pleasure; th"'";":! 
 and, after discovering the finest talents for govern- °^^'^'- 
 ment, which, if properly directed, might have se- 
 cured the honour and prosperity of his country- 
 he became enslaved to his passions ; and fell un- 
 der the secret influence of the enemies of his 
 country. His Ministers, were men of eminent 
 parts; and, to them was committed the whole 
 management of affairs. The government of the 
 country thus fell into the hands of an oligarchy, 
 their grand design, was to humble the power of 
 the Parliament, and to enlarge and strengthen the 
 prerogatives of the crown. This oligarchy has 
 been denominated the " cabal," not only from 
 the pernicious and intriguing character of their 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 I 1 
 
498 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION counsels, but from a singular combination of the 
 IV. initials of their names: Lord Clifford— Ashley 
 Cooper — the Duke of Buckingham — Lord Arling- 
 ton — and the Earl of Lauderdale — all men of 
 consummate ability, and of great political enter- 
 prise. Ashley Cooper, afterwards Earl of Shaftes- 
 bury, was the most profound, intriguing, and 
 politically profligate— of great genius, fertile in 
 invention, and undaunted in the prosecution of his 
 enterprizes, however dishonourable, or atrocious. 
 The Duchess The first projcct of the "Cabal" was to form 
 of Orleans. ^ g^j.'^^. alUancc with France, and to bring the 
 power of that kingdom, to bear, with full effect, 
 against the liberties of their own. In order to 
 accomplish this part of their design, these des- 
 perate politicians prepared measures for breaking 
 the " Triple League," which had been so happily 
 formed between England, Holland, and Sweden. 
 A secret correspondence was entered into with the 
 court of France. The envoy of the French Mo- 
 narch on this occasion, was none other than the 
 King s sister, who had been married to the Duke 
 of Orleans. 
 
 The Duchess was met by the King and all the 
 principal nobility at Dover ; and entertained, du- 
 ring a fortnight, with all the splendour and ex- 
 death!"" *^^^ travagance of royal dissipation; and left behind 
 her the seeds of corruption, which afterwards 
 grew up and produced their legitimate fruits. 
 But the enactment of a dreadful tragedy awaited 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 499 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 her return: In the midst of health and beauty, SECTION 
 and joyousness. through the jealousy of her hus- IV. 
 band, respecting her conduct in England, she was " 
 hurried to an untimely grave, by poison. 
 
 The whole of this negotiation, which was no- Designs of 
 thmg less than a proposal from the French Monarch **' '^'''*'- 
 " of insuring the King of England an absolute 
 authority over his Parliament, and re-establishing 
 the Catholic religion in the three kingdoms of 
 England. Scotland, and Ireland." was kept a pro- 
 found secret, and confined to the members of the 
 Cabal. Even the Lord Keeper, Bridgeman. was 
 unacquainted with it. At the opening of Parlia- 
 ment, the King said little : but the Lord Keeper 
 made a long speech on the necessity of enlarging 
 the naval power, as a protection against the in- 
 creasing and encroaching power of France. The 
 Parhament with great sincerity, responded to the 
 statements of the unconscious Lord Keeper; and 
 full of zeal and patriotism, voted large supplies, 
 which the Cabal had destined to other purposes.' 
 and, with which, they were intending to conspire 
 against the liberties and independence of their 
 country. Monstrous evils were soon to follow. 
 But what is remarkable, at the very moment 
 these mfamous transactions were taking place, 
 and treachery and profligacy were uniting their 
 counsels to overthrow the institutions of the coun- 
 try-an overruling Providence, who intended to 
 
 i I 
 
 :.4nHi4Hl 
 
500 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Illil 
 
 SECTION avert the impending evil, indulged the nation with 
 I^» a sight of their future deliverer. 
 
 The PRINCE OF ORANGE arrived in England on 
 
 Arrival of a visit to his roy al uncle ; and was received with 
 Gran e"*^* ^ great affcctiou by all the members of the royal 
 
 A. D. 1670. family. He was then eighteen years of age, of a 
 commanding as2)ect, and dignified bearing; and 
 all men were filled with admiration at the vigour 
 of his understanding, and the extent of his prac- 
 tical wisdom. The Lord Arlington, who had no 
 prejudice in favour of the Prince, in a letter to Sir 
 William Godolphin, Ambassador to Spain, writes 
 in the following strain : " The Prince of Orange 
 hath been now these three weeks amongst us, 
 much to the satisfaction of the King and all who 
 have seen him, being a young man of the most 
 extraordinary understanding and parts, besides 
 his quality and birth, which makes him shine the 
 better." 
 
 Such was the man, who was designed by God, 
 at no distant period, to be the instrument of con- 
 solidating the work of centuries ; and settling the 
 British monarchy on the deep foundations and 
 transcendant principles of Protestantism. During 
 his stay in England, he visited the universities 
 and other principal places in the kingdom ; and 
 was everywhere received with marked respect and 
 veneration, as if his future destiny had been fore- 
 seen and anticipated. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 501 
 
 The tide of evil had already set in ; for, scarcely SECTION 
 had the young Prince departed from our shores, I . 
 than a desperate attempt was made upon the life vjil^^^:iii\ 
 of one of the most upright and patriotic noblemen Attempt on 
 of the day. This was the Duke of Ormond— the *^'^ "^^ ""^ ^^^ 
 
 1 4- i" u 1- Duke of Of. 
 
 last ot the three friends, whose united counsels mond. 
 had restored the constitutional integrity of the 
 monarchy. The Earl of Southampton was no 
 more : the Earl of Clarendon was in honourable 
 exile ; and now, the third had well nigh fallen a 
 victim to the hands of a bloody assassin. The 
 chief actor in this attempt, was a daring villain of 
 the name ofBlhud. His crimes in Ireland had 
 been most flagitious, and rendered him a fitting 
 instrument in the hands of those who were at- 
 tempting the ruin of their country. The virtue of 
 the Duke of Ormond, was an insurmountable ob- 
 stacle in their way. His death would remove it, 
 and it was determined upon. As he was return- 
 ing one night, to his house in Charing Cross, his 
 carriage was furiously attacked by Blhud and his 
 associates, mounted on excellent horses. The 
 Duke's attendants were overpowered ; and he him- 
 self being seized, was bound and fastened on horse- 
 back, behind one of the assassins, who galloped 
 off with the barbarous intention of hanging the 
 I^uke on the gallows at Tyburn. But, happily, 
 the noise occasioned by the assault, and the escape 
 of one of the domestics, alarmed the servants of 
 the house, who, immediately, went in pursuit; at 
 
502 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 503 
 
 SECTION the same moment the Duke struggling with the 
 IV- man, behind whom he was mounted, by a strong 
 
 Chap. III. /y. , i , , . '^ ° 
 
 ,^^-v-s^ effort brought him to the ground. The Duke's 
 servants were now approaching, and the assassins 
 finding their scheme frustrated, fired two shots at 
 their intended victim as he lay on the ground, 
 but, happily, without effect ; and mounting their 
 horses, fled. The atrocious affair filled the na- 
 tion with perplexity and alarm, and, was, for a 
 long time, involved in the deepest mystery and 
 obscurity. 
 
 But it could not long be hidden. The course 
 of events sufficiently indicated the source and 
 origin of those disorders which, now, began to 
 rage in the very bosom of the State. 
 
 The Parliament itself was in great perplexity. 
 
 xZt^—.^'' ^""^^^ ^^^ *^^ ^^^^^^ «f the Jesuits to England 
 — such the wrath and insolence of the Popish 
 faction—that the House of Commons felt them- 
 selves called upon to give the subject the fullest 
 consideration. The King sought to divert their 
 attention by urging the necessity of the supplies ; 
 but the danger was too great to admit of delay ; 
 and they drew up a well-digested and talented 
 declaration and address, " to his Majesty, on the 
 growth and danger of Popery, and the remedies 
 which ought to be applied." The King was obli- 
 ged to yield to the determined spirit of the Com- 
 mons; and issued a proclamation, ordering all 
 Jesuits to depart the kingdom. The Commons 
 
 were deceived by this ready compliance on the SECTION 
 part of the King, and voted incredible supplies. IV. 
 This answered their purpose, and was the end the ^^^J^^^^ 
 Cabal had in view by their dissimulation. No 
 sooner were the supplies granted, than the House 
 was adjourned, and prorogued for one year and 
 nine months ! 
 
 Deeds of blackest night were now transacted, '^^'^ ^"^'^ °^ 
 without shame or remorse, in which the Papists 
 were chief actors, and played a deep political 
 game. The King was persuaded to seek a di- 
 vorce; and, to render it plausible, schemes of 
 treachery were enacted against the Queen. The 
 divorce was conducted and concluded upon at 
 Rome : but it was not the intention of that court 
 that it should ever take place. It was done merely 
 to draw an illustrious convert more fully and 
 openly into the snare. This was the Duke of 
 York. He had embraced the Eomish religion at 
 an early age, and was a much more sincere prose- 
 lyte than his royal brother. In the event of a 
 divorce, the Duke perceived that his succession to 
 the crown, might be endangered ; and he was fain 
 to accede to the conditions proposed to him. To 
 be brief — the divorce was put a stop to, on the 
 Duke's consenting to abjure, in a more full and 
 explicit manner — the Protestant religion — 
 which he did, on this occasion, before father Si- 
 inons, an English Jesuit. 
 
 Ill 
 
504 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Insult to the 
 Dutch fleet. 
 
 It was a refined and deep-laid scheme; and 
 seemed to promise well to its promoters ; but like 
 all evil projects, it laid the foundation for their 
 utter discomfiture and overthrow. The Duke's 
 religion, which had hitherto been a secret, and 
 known to few, could no longer be disguised. The 
 nation took the alarm, and the people, filled with 
 astonishment and perplexity, turned their eyes on 
 the Duke of Monmouth— a popular, aspiring, 
 nobleman, possessing some good qualities, and an 
 illegitimate son of the King. But their blind 
 hopes were not to be realized. England was to 
 be saved under more honourable auspices ! 
 
 Sir W. Temple, who had done so much for his 
 country, and, for Europe, by the formation of the 
 "Triple Alliance," by which the arbitration of 
 European affairs was placed in the power of Eng- 
 land— refusing to become a tool in the hands of 
 the "Cabal," nobly relinquished his embassy. 
 One of the King's yacht's was sent for Lady Tern- 
 pie and her family ; and, it was, on this occasion, 
 that the captain had orders, if he saw the Dutch 
 fleet, to fire a shot and require the Dutch Admiral 
 to strike to him. The Captain of the yacht acted 
 up to his orders ; but the Dutch Admiral excused 
 himself, on the ground, that it never could be ex- 
 pected that the whole Dutch fleet should strike to 
 a pleasure boat. 
 
 Whilst the Cabal were thus seeking to create 
 a breach with Holland, two of the Parliamentary 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 505 
 
 Generals who had distinguished themselves in SECTION 
 the civil wars, terminated their career by death. IV. 
 The first was the Earl of Manchester, who all his ,-^C^Jik 
 life, deplored, with unaffected sorrow, the evils of ^*^^^^* °' 
 which he had been the author. At the reforma- uJT 
 tion, he was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the 
 Household ; and such was his admirable conduct, 
 that he was chosen Lord High Chancellor of the 
 University of Cambridge— affording, in one person 
 a striking instance of the pernicious consequences 
 of deserting, for the sake of an imaginary good, 
 the principles of the constitution ; and offering a 
 bright example of the beauty of repentance— and 
 amendment of life. The other, was the Lord 
 Fairfax, whose martial renown had reached the 
 utmost limits of the civilized world. His integ- 
 rity, was as great as his ability. He was out- 
 witted, indeed, by the subtle Cromwell ; but he 
 never ceased to lament, with bitter tears, the 
 murder of the King ; and thought himself inde- 
 scribably happy in having a principal share in the 
 
 RESTORATION. 
 
 The King and his ministers became daily more Attempt on 
 abject and degraded. Blhud, whose name i,^ ''^^•'^^^^^^^- 
 been so lately mentioned in connexion with the 
 attempt upon the life of the Duke of Ormond, was 
 apprehended in an open and daring attempt, to 
 plunder the jewel office in the Tower. On his 
 examination, at which the King was present, he 
 boldly confessed that he was one of the conspi- 
 
506 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION rators against the life of the Duke of Ormond ; 
 IV. and, instructed, no doubt, in the part he was to 
 
 CHAP. III. i. 1 1 1 
 
 act, declared that he had been previously engaged 
 to take away the life of the King, and, that he 
 had stood prepared, with a carbine in his hand, 
 whilst his Majesty was bathing near Battersea, 
 but that he had relented from an awe of majesty 
 which came over his mind ; and intimated, that 
 he had associates who would revenge his death. 
 To the astonishment of all men, the wretch was 
 pardoned ; nor, was that all, — he had a pension 
 of £600 a year settled upon him, and was ad- 
 mitted to all the secrets of the Cabal. Such was 
 the unprincipled character of the government at 
 that period. 
 
 Such, also, was the extravagant expenditure of 
 the court, that although Parhament had granted 
 supplies to the amount of three millions, and the 
 King of France had remitted more than .£700,000, 
 they were still unable to fit out a suitable arma- 
 ment. In this emergency, recourse was had to 
 an ingenious stratagem, invented by Lord Ashley, 
 of shutting up the payments of the exchequer, so 
 that all sums of money lodged there by the bank- 
 ers, might be retained without interest, for the 
 King's use. The bankers, immediately stopped 
 their payments, and a general clamour and con- 
 sternation prevailed. The king in person met the 
 bankers in the Treasury, and by his promises 
 prevailed upon them to resume their payments. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 507 
 
 Project 
 the Cabal. 
 
 of 
 
 Still, many private individuals and families were SECTION 
 ruined, by this disgraceful transaction. IV. 
 
 Another important step as a preliminary to the ,,^^^0^ 
 war was suggested by Lord Ashley, now created 
 Earl of Shaftesbury. This was a general toleror a general toic 
 lion of religion, which was intended to propitiate »-»^io"- 
 the Dissenters, who were warm advocates for the 
 Dutch alliance, as well as to oblige the French 
 by extending to the Roman Catholics, the free 
 exercise of their religion. The measure was in- 
 troduced to the nation, in a royal proclamation, in 
 which, the King assumed the prerogative, as 
 supreme in ecclesiastical affairs of dispensing with 
 acts of Parliament. It was, however, a most 
 politic measure, and, whatever might have been 
 the motives which dictated it, it was a noble boon 
 to the non-conformists, and Roman Catholics; 
 and, although the manner of carrying it into exe- 
 cution, was an unwarrantable stretch of the pre- 
 rogative, yet it continued in operation for nine 
 years, nor did the Parliament interfere, till urged 
 to it by new provocations. 
 
 Nothing now remained, but a formal declara- war against 
 tion of war, against Holland, which was pro."°"^°^*" 
 claimed in London on the seventeenth of March, 
 without the sanction of Parliament, and against 
 the inclination of all men. But the " Cabal" was 
 supreme, and whilst they were exulting at the 
 apparent success of their schemes— the Almighty 
 h^d which guides the affairs of men, was direct- 
 
508 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 509 
 
 Desperate en 
 gagement. 
 A. D. 1671. 
 
 
 SECTION ing their movements to a result exactly contrary 
 IV. to their intentions ; and, through a great variety 
 
 Chap III 
 
 of the most conflicting circumstances and hazard- 
 ous events, to a termination^ at once momentous 
 and grand. 
 
 The Duke of York, as Lord High Admiral, 
 embarked on board the English fleet, consisting 
 of one hundred sail. The Earl of Sandwich, 
 Vice Admiral, formed a junction with the French 
 fleet, under D'Estres, Vice Admiral of France. 
 The Dutch fleet was under De Ruyter. On 
 Whitsun-Tuesday, the two fleets came to an 
 engagement. The English and Dutch fought 
 with their usual desperate courage. The Duke of 
 York displaying his natural courage, was soon in 
 dreadful combat with De Ruyter, and defended 
 his ship till his maintop was carried away, when 
 leaving his disabled ship, with great intrepedity he 
 hoisted his flag on board the ''London." The 
 Earl of Sandwich was in still hotter battle ; for, 
 after having disabled the enemy's wing to which 
 he was opposed, his vessel was singled out, and 
 quickly surrounded with four fire-ships. Every 
 thing which skill and courage could devise, was 
 attempted to rescue his ship from these volcanic 
 engines. By incredible efforts, three of the fire- 
 ships were sunk; but, being grappled by the 
 fourth, he saw that his destruction was inevitable. 
 With labouring breast the Admiral took a last 
 view of the scene; and, when he saw six hundred 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 of his men lying dead upon the deck, and his SECTION 
 ship a burning wreck, refusing all means of escape, IV". 
 he retired to his cabin ; and, tying a handkerchief 
 round his eyes, awaited in silence, the approach- 
 ing catastrophe. His body was afterwards found 
 and buried with great honour, at the King's ex- 
 pense, in Westminster Abbey. The fight con- 
 tinued till nine at night, when the Dutch stood 
 off, and were next day pursued by the English to 
 their own coasts. 
 
 Whilst these things were transacting at sea, 
 the French monarch had taken the field with one 
 hundred and twenty thousand men, and marked 
 his course by a series of victories, until he reached 
 Utrecht, and seated himself in the heart of the 
 united provinces. The rapid and astonishing ad- 
 vance of the French army, filled the people of ^on uest of 
 Holland with indignation and fury. They im- Holland by the 
 puted all their misfortunes, and the slavery which ^'^^"''^' 
 awaited them, to their Governors, the States Ge- 
 neral ; and, with one voice, demanded the resto- 
 ration of the Prince of Orange to all the rights of 
 his family. The demand was irresistible: and, 
 the Prince came forth at the call of the people, 
 displaying at the early age of twenty, that pro- 
 found wisdom, that cool and determined courage, 
 and that patient prudence, which, in other men is 
 the fruit of long experience, and which, at once, 
 marked him out, as a signal instrument of divine 
 Providence, in carrying out his benevolent pur- 
 
510 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTOUY. 
 
 511 
 
 f 
 I 
 
 ii ij 
 
 ji 
 
 SECTION poses towards mankind. The very news of his 
 elevation filled the hearts of their conquerors with 
 
 v/ H A P* 111* 
 
 awe, if not with alarm. They immediately offered 
 him the title of King, and the sovereignty of his 
 native land, if he would hold it under the protec- 
 tion of France. It was a temptation which few 
 men under his circumstances would have had the 
 courage to resist. His country half conquered — a 
 powerful army seated in its very centre — the war 
 conducted by the most skilful Generals of the age, 
 and supported by the united power of France and 
 England. But nothing could shake his resolution 
 and patriotism. To all their solicitations he had 
 but one reply, which was always ready : " that 
 he would never betray a trust which had been 
 committed to him, nor ever sell the liberties of a 
 country which his ancestors had defended." 
 Nor was this all : the Louvestein faction, who 
 Wit, and his ^q^ g^^ ^]jg^^ their reign was over, shewed even 
 
 brother. 
 
 at that desperate moment, what every faction must 
 eventually shew, that it was not their country they 
 valued, but their own interest and ascendancy. 
 Cornelius De Wit, brother of the famous Pen- 
 sionary, was apprehended for conspiring and at- 
 tempting the life of the Prince; but, evidence 
 being wanting to his condemnation, he was sen- 
 tenced to banishment. On the morning he was 
 to leave the prison, his brother the Pensionary, 
 drove up in his coach and four to carry away his 
 banished relative in a sort of triumph. But alas ! 
 
 Death of De 
 
 if! 
 
 his triumph was short, and he was about to find SECTION 
 a fearful termination to his proud career. The ^^' 
 two brothers no sooner made their appearance at v^x^v^vl/ 
 the door of the prison, and were proceeding to 
 their carriage, than the infuriated populace, en- 
 raged at their past conduct, and, instigated afresh 
 by this open defiance of the laws, rushed on the 
 unhappy men, and tore them in pieces ! 
 
 In England, the Cabal were busily employed in Promotiom 
 carrying on their great designs, the principal of °^^^*^*^*^ 
 which, was their own promotion. Lord Clifford 
 was made Lord High Treasurer, an office which 
 had been in commission since the death of the 
 Earl of Southampton. Ashley, Earl of Shaftes- 
 bury was made Lord High Chancellor. Lord 
 Arlington was raised to an Earldom, and the Earl 
 of Lauderdale was created a Duke. Thus forti- 
 fied and enriched, they resolved to await the meet- 
 ing of Parliament, which was summoned for the 
 fourth of February. But confident as they were 
 in their own resources, they had already reached 
 the height of their power and presumption. The 
 hand of a retributive Providence was already 
 lifted up, and all their lofty projects were about 
 to be dashed, at one blow, to the ground. So 
 may the counsels of all be confounded who " Ca- 
 bal " against the liberties of their country ! 
 
 At the opening of Parliament, the King sup- xhe Com- 
 ported the necessity of the war with Holland, with jno^s interfere, 
 tis usual good sense, and conciliating manner. 
 
 m 
 
 iW»w * *«*»i) *^-' 
 
512 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 513 
 
 SECTION He was supported by the Lord Chancellor, m a 
 
 ^^- speech of surprising depth and eloquence. But 
 
 ,,^;;iC^ Parliament was inflexible. Resolutely loyal, they 
 
 and frustrate ^^^g determined to support the King ; but they 
 
 their designs. ^^^^ ^^.^^ ^^^^ rcsolvcd to uphold the laws and 
 
 liberties of the kingdom. They complained of 
 the declaration of indulgence, in which the King 
 had assumed a dispensing power ; and maintained 
 in an address to his Majesty, " that penal statutes 
 in matters Ecclesiastical, cannot be suspended but 
 by act of Parliament." This opposition was a 
 serious difliculty. It was a fundamental point 
 with the " Cabal," and the King had set his heart 
 upon it ; and, for the first time, he returned the 
 Commons an evasive answer. But they were de- 
 termined to obtain a full and unequivocal renun- 
 ciation of the " Dispensing Power." Their pru- 
 dence, loyalty, and perseverance, on this trying 
 occasion, can never be duly estimated. The King 
 with all his faults, was too patriotic to contend for 
 the prerogative against known laws, and the 
 wishes of Parliament. He relinquished his pre- 
 tensions. 
 
 But his submission was attended with utter dis- 
 comfiture and ruin to the Cabal. The steady, 
 reasonable, inflexible, opposition of the Commons, 
 discovered to them the impossibility of executing 
 their designs. The Earl of Shaftesbury, in par- 
 ticular, was so convinced of his critical situation, 
 that he determined, at all hazards, to save himself 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 from the resentment of Parliament. Such, in- SECTION 
 deed, was the danger he apprehended, and so pre- IV. 
 cipitate was his retreat from his former counsels, 
 that the very next day, he ai)peared in tlic House 
 of Lords, at the head of the party who were most 
 zealous against the Koman Catholic religion — the 
 Dutch war and the alliance with France. All 
 men were astonished at his conduct. The King 
 and the Duke of York, happened to be present at 
 the debate, in which Lord Clifford, the Treasurer, 
 was to propose the establishment of a permanent 
 revenue for the crown. The Duke of York, en- 
 raged at the unexpected opposition of Shaftesbury, 
 who had even assisted to prepare the Lord Trea- 
 surer's speech, whispered to the King: "What a 
 rogue have you of a Lord Chancellor." To which 
 the King with great coolness replied : " What a 
 fool have you of a Treasurer. 
 
 But mighty events depended upon this sudden ThecahaiUe- 
 change. For by this defection, not only was the ''^'"*^ 
 power of the " Cabal " broken, but the intrigues 
 and designs of the Court became fully known, 
 and the nation placed upon its guard. 
 
 Lord Clifford retired from office, and died 
 shortly after, of vexation and chagrin. Whilst 
 Shaftesbury deprived of the seals, gave place to 
 Sir Heneage Finch. The Duke of Buckingham, 
 as might be expected from his unprincipled habits, 
 took the alarm ; and, being threatened with an 
 impeachment, desired to defend himself before the 
 
 vol. II. 
 
 Kk 
 
514 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 515 
 
 CllAP. III. 
 
 Corporation 
 
 II 
 
 |. 
 
 I 
 
 ! 
 
 
 SECTION House of Commons, which he did, by implica- 
 IV. ting the Earl of Arlington, who was obliged to 
 retire, whilst the last remaining member of this 
 famous junto, the Duke of Lauderdale, was shortly 
 after to bear his just share of the public indig- 
 nation. 
 
 The Commons proceeded, not only with un- 
 
 and Test Act Jauuted courage, but with consummate wisdom 
 and prudence. They prepared a measure com- 
 monly called the " Corporation and Test Act," 
 demanding of all persons holding office in the 
 state, the oath of allegiance and supremacy ; whilst 
 to secure the power of the state, in favour of the 
 religious establishment, of the country, it was 
 made necessary to receive the sacrament accord- 
 ing to the rites of the Church of England. This 
 Act, afterwards, and, very properly, pressed upon 
 Dissenters ; but, at that time, the non-conformists 
 made no scruple of holding communion with the 
 Church of England. The Commons even passed 
 a bill for the toleration of Protestant Dissenters ; 
 but which had not time to pass the Lords before 
 the recess. This Act proved disastrous to the 
 Popish party. The Duke of York laid down his 
 command as Lord High Admiral. His retirement 
 was certainly a great loss at this conjuncture, but 
 there was one man who could supply his place. 
 This was Prince Rupert. By his courage, patience, 
 and admirable seamanship, in three desperate en- 
 gagements he sustained inviolate the honour of 
 
 
 the British flag, against all the skill and valour of SECTION 
 the famous Dutch Admirals De Ruyter, Tromp, IV. 
 and Bankert with the aid of superior numbers ' ^"'^' '"' 
 
 Whilst the Dutch Admirals were conducting Cond.t of 
 themselves with great bravery at sea, the genius of ^>^« P^^ce of 
 the Prince of Orange triumphed on land. Having """"'"• 
 laid his plans with the Emperor, like another 
 Scipio, he resolved to save his country by aban- 
 doning it. Accordingly, having left his chief post 
 guarded by a part of his army, with the main 
 body he marched into Germany, joined a portion 
 of the imperial army and beseiged " Bonne, " 
 which had been given up into the hands of the 
 French, in the beginning of the war. The bold- 
 ness of the attempt astonished all men, and the 
 success which attended it, established his cha- 
 racter for prudence and courage. By the capture 
 of " Bonne," a passage was opened for the Ger- 
 man forces to cross the Rhine into Flanders, 
 which gave such a sudden blow to the designs of 
 the French, that they immediately abandoned all 
 their conquests in Holland, with greater celerity 
 than they had made them. The gratitude of his 
 countrymen was unbounded; and so rapidly were 
 the purposes of Providence unfolded, that by a 
 solemn decree of the States, he was confirmed 
 hereditary stadtholder of Holland ; and, as if this 
 had been the sole intention of the war, a nego- 
 tiation for peace immediately followed, and the 
 Commissioners assembled at Cologne. 
 
516 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION In the midst of these transactions, died, that 
 IV. desperate man Oliver St. John, who had home a 
 ^^^^i^)i^ principal part in the calamities of the late reign, 
 Death of oii. and arrived at last, at the enviable title of " Oliver 
 verSLJohn. c^oj^well's dark lantern." Little is known of 
 him after the restoration, except that he retired 
 from public life, and lived in great obscurity, at 
 his estate at Long Thorpe, in Northamptonshire. 
 The King, as he advanced in years, abandoned 
 himself still more to the soft influence of luxurious 
 pleasure ; and, although endued with those great 
 qualities of mind and person, which might have 
 rendered him an honour and a benefactor to his 
 country, through his effeminacy, he lost eveiy op. 
 portunity of glory to himself and benefit to his 
 people, and became the easy prey of evil and in- 
 terested counsellors. 
 Duke of York The Dukc of York had now taken his part with 
 takes his reso- g^g^t dccisiou ; and through his secretary Cole- 
 man, entered into a secret negotiation with the 
 King of France. The object of this correspond- 
 ence was to secure the power of France, for the 
 purpose of re-establishing arbitrary power, and the 
 Roman Catholic religion, in England ; and, to pre- 
 vent if possible, the interference of the English 
 Parliament, in opposition to the ambitious designs 
 of the French Monarch. This negotiation was 
 to prove the ruin of both. But, for the present, 
 through vast and unspeakable evils to their coun- 
 try, they were to prevail. Popery was once more 
 
 lution. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 517 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 France as> 
 
 to manifest her intriguing and political character, SECTION 
 and to afford another striking example to mankind IV. 
 of the vast power she wields, and the obstinacy 
 with which she pursues her views of aggrandize- 
 ment and supremacy. 
 
 The consequences were immediately apparent. 
 The intrigues of the Romish party, became every ^'^^ ^•™- 
 day more active and vigorous. The King became 
 a pensioner of France ; and vast sums of money 
 were supplied by that country to support his ex- 
 travagance, and to render him independent of 
 Parliament. 
 
 The Earl of Danby, Lord High Treasurer, and Death of the 
 Finch the Lord Chancellor, were both men of ^^"^''^^^*'*°- 
 great abilities ; but there was no man like the Mntor."^ ^''^'' 
 Earl of Clarendon, endued with sufficient courage ^- ^- ^^*- 
 and integrity to guide the helm of affairs at this 
 critical juncture. That nobleman who had been 
 such a benefactor to his country, had just finished 
 his course at Rouen, in Normandy, in the sixty- 
 fifth year of his age ; and, nearly at the same time, 
 John Milton, who, by his " Paradise Lost," has 
 acquired an immortal name, although his reputa- 
 tion has suffered from the virulent part he acted 
 in the civil war. He was Latin Secretary to the 
 Long Parliament ; and afterwards filled the same 
 office for Cromwell. By his powerful pen he 
 pleaded the cause of the Independents and Regi- 
 cides, and assisted in the King s murder and the 
 overthrow of the church. But it is, at last, grati- 
 
 k 
 
 It 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
518 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 \\ 
 
 SECTION fying to reflect, that, at length, taught by long 
 rv. and melancholy experience, he returned to the 
 
 ^^^^^^^^^ bosom of the Church of England, and ended his 
 days in the admiration and use of that Liturgy 
 which he had assisted to proscribe. 
 
 Whilst the Prince of Orange was conducting 
 the war with great skill and bravery, against the 
 two celebrated Generals, the Prince of Conde and 
 Marshal De Turenne, Sir William Temple was 
 despatched as Ambassador extraordinary to medi- 
 Designs of ^^^c betwccn the contending parties. In England 
 
 the Komanists. the Popish party had made great progress in their 
 designs. The letters of Coleman, the Duke's 
 secretary, which afterwards came to light, are ex- 
 traordinary documents, and fully expose to view, 
 the schemes and intentions of the Romanists. 
 One extract will be sufficient to shew their lofty 
 expectations at this time. It is taken from a let- 
 ter to the French King's confessor. Father Le 
 Chese, " We have here a mighty work upon our 
 hands, no less than the conversion of three king- 
 doms ; and, by that, perhaps, the subduing of a 
 PESTILENT HERESY, which has domineered over 
 a great part of this nortliern world, a long time. 
 There were never such hopes of success since the 
 death of queen mary, as now in our days, when 
 God has given us a Prince, who is become, (may 
 I say a miracle) zealous of being the author and 
 instrument of so glorious a work. But the 
 opposition we are like to meet with is also likely 
 
 op ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 519 
 
 to be great, so that it imports us to get all the aid SECTfON 
 and assistance we can. For the harvest is great, IV. 
 and the labourers are few." ^"^^- "'• 
 
 Such were the hopes and prospects of the 
 Romanists ; but all their designs were to be baf- 
 fled, in a manner, which may be justly considered 
 as miraculous. Every step in our history dis- 
 covers the counteracting power which was to frus- 
 trate and " confound " their devices, not framed 
 on any preconcerted plan of human agency, but 
 derived from incidents and arrangements, which 
 sprung up without notice, or were educed, con- 
 trary to the expectations of all men, out of the in- 
 discribable confusions and calamities of the times. 
 
 Amongst the many preferments of that period, ooctorCom . 
 must be mentioned that of Doctor Compton, son ton Kishop of 
 of the Earl of Northampton, who holds a distin- ^'°^""" 
 guished place in the history of the civil war. This 
 worthy prelate succeeded Doctor Hinchman, in 
 the Bishopric of London. To him was confided, 
 in a great measure, the education of the two Prin- 
 cesses, Majy and Anne, and to his care and fidelity 
 must be attributed their enlightened judgment, 
 and their i^violable attachment to Protestant 
 principles, which, in after days, had such an ex- 
 tensive influence on the public prosperity and 
 happiness. 
 
 During the recess of Parliament, which had 
 been prorogued for a whole year, a general disatis- 
 laction prevailed, and was expressed by pamphlets 
 
I 
 
 520 
 
 THEOCRA.TIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Death of the 
 
 SECTION and libels, against the conduct of government and 
 IV. the increase of Popery. Proclamations were is- 
 sued; but nothing could silence the fears and 
 jealousy of the nation. 
 
 In the meantime. Sir William Temple had been 
 indefatigable in the business of his mission. The 
 Plenipotentiaries from the states of Europe had 
 assembled at Nimeguen for the establishment of 
 a general peace. The war however, was still 
 continued, and the campaign ended in favour of 
 the French arms, under the Marshal Schomberg. 
 
 Before the meeting of the English Parliament, 
 E ri f Bristol ^hich could uo lougcr be procrastinated, George 
 Digby, Earl of Bristol, ended his busy and ad- 
 venturous career ; having, with all his heroic and 
 chivalrous exertions, performed nothing for his 
 country worthy of record by the Historian. 
 
 On the meeting of Parliament, great heats and 
 dissensions arose between the two Houses on mat- 
 ters of formality, which were speedily silenced by 
 the King's adjourning them to a future period. 
 But the congress of Nimeguen still continued their 
 important sitting, whilst the Prince of Orange, in 
 the conduct of the war, continued to display that 
 foresight, courage, and firmness, which distin- 
 guished him above all the Generals of the age. 
 And the destiny of England in connexion with 
 this great Prince, began rapidly to unfold itself. 
 He had hitherto resisted the solicitations of his 
 family and his country, and pleading the dangers 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 521 
 
 Prince of 
 visits 
 
 and distractions of war, refused to turn his thoughts SECTION 
 towards a matrimonial alliance. But at length, IV. 
 after serious deliberation with Sir W. Temple, ^"^''' "'* 
 and anxious enquiries as to her education and 
 religious principles, he fixed his mind upon the 
 Princess Mary of England. And at the end of e.^^. 
 the campaign, embarked for England, for the pur- a. d. len. 
 pose of conversing with her, and promoting his 
 suit with the King, and her father, the Duke of 
 York. On this occasion, the Prince discovered 
 that magnanimity and greatness of soul for which 
 he was so remarkable. The King and his minis- 
 ters perceiving his heart was deeply engaged, en- 
 deavoured to detach him from the cause of his 
 allies, and to enter into a negotiation for a sepa- 
 rate peace with France. The Prince resolutely 
 refused such dishonourable conditions; and de- 
 clared, that " he would not sell his honour for a 
 wife." Sir WilliamJTemple conveyed to the King, 
 the Prince's disatisfaction, and his intention of 
 leaving England in two days, unless they agreed 
 to an unfettered alliance. It was on this occasion, 
 that the King said : " I never yet was deceived 
 in judging of a mans honesty by his looks,"— of 
 which he gave some examples—" and if 1 am not 
 deceived in the Prince's face, he is the honestest 
 man in the world. I will trust him and he shall 
 have his wife, and you shall go immediately and 
 tell my brother so, and that 'tis a thing I am re- 
 solved on." The Duke of York yielded a reluct- 
 
fi 
 
 522 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 523 
 
 ClIAP. III. 
 
 ill 
 
 I I 
 
 SECTION ant consent, and when Sir William Temple ac- 
 TV. quainted the Prince with the result of his negotia- 
 tion, he was transported, and embracing him said, 
 '' You have made me a very happy man, and, very 
 unexpectedly." 
 Married to Whcu the ucws of his succcss rcachcd Holland, 
 the Princess it was rcccivcd witli uuivcrsal joy ; and a public 
 ^*'^* edict was passed expressive of their satisfaction. 
 
 The dispatch which conveyed it did not reach 
 England till late on the fourth of November, the 
 Prince's birth-day, and, at midnight the marriage 
 took place, at St. James Chapel, about the time 
 of the discovery of the gunpowder plot, and by a 
 remarkable coincidence, was celebrated next day, 
 with great rejoicings in London. 
 
 After his marriage the Prince entered, with his 
 usual vigour, on the subject of the treaty of peace, 
 and Ambassadors were sent both to France and 
 Spain with the result of their deliberations. 
 
 This alliance was so gratifying to the Protes- 
 tant spirit of the nation, that the city of London 
 determined to make a grand demonstration ; and 
 to invite the Prince and Princess to a magnificent 
 banquet. But the court was jealous of such a 
 display, and to prevent it, their departure from 
 London was ordered with great precipitation. It 
 was on this occasion, that the future King of Eng- 
 land formed an acquaintance with Doctor Tillot- 
 son, Dean of Canterbury, which was afterwards at- 
 tended with important consequences. The Prince 
 
 Dean Tillot 
 son. 
 
 arrived at Canterbury without his baggage and SECTION 
 attendants ; and Monsieur Bentinck, who accom- IV. 
 panied them, applied to the mayor and corpora- ^""''- '"' 
 tion for their plate and a supply of money for their 
 accommodation, which was unmannerly refused. 
 The Dean no sooner heard of this, than he waited 
 upon the Prince with a supply of plate and money, 
 at the same time, inviting them to take up their 
 residence at the Deanery. The frankness and 
 generosity of the Dean was highly pleasing to the 
 Prince, who, from that time entertained a high 
 regard for him, which ripening into friendship, 
 influenced the elevation of one to the Arch- 
 bishopric, and the other to the Throne. 
 
 But many a long and tedious step was yet to be D^ath of the 
 taken. This year concluded with the death of ^'^^^^'shop. 
 the excellent Archbishop of Canterbury, in the 
 eightieth year of his Age. He was no less dis- 
 tinguished by his learning and piety, than by his 
 munificence and charity. His name is immortal- 
 ized in connexion with that great work, the theatre 
 of Oxford, and it appeared from his book of memo- 
 randums, that from the time he was appointed 
 Bishop of London, to his death, he expended in 
 pious and charitable uses the sum of £66,000. 
 He was succeeded in his high station by Doctor 
 William Sancroft, Dean of St. Paul's, who was 
 promoted to that high station by the force of cha- 
 racter, without any solicitation or expectation of 
 his own. 
 
524 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OK ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 525 
 
 :f.i 
 
 m I 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 ii 
 
 I 
 
 A continuation of the sixteenth Session of the 
 second Parliament, met on the fifteenth of January, 
 which began by a generous act of loyalty, in voting 
 " the sum of £70,000 for a solemn funeral for his 
 late Majesty King Charles I, and to erect a 
 monument for the said Prince of glorious memory/* 
 after which, they urged the King to a separate 
 alliance with Holland, and to an immediate de- 
 claration of war against France. Whilst these 
 subjects occupied the attention of Parliament, 
 during this and the succeeding session, the con- 
 gress of Nimeguen brought its labours to a satis- 
 factory conclusion. 
 The Popish After the peace of Christendom had been thus 
 established, the hearts of all men seemed to re- 
 vive. The jealousies and contentions of the na- 
 tions appeared to cease. The arts of peace were 
 studied. Riches and prosperity abounded. The 
 court abandoned itself to its usual gaiety and dis- 
 sipation, and the Popish faction contemplated an 
 uninterrupted and successful prosecution of their 
 designs, when, on a sudden, the political sky was 
 overcast with clouds and darkness, and the minds 
 of all men filled with dismay. This was the dis- 
 covery, as it was at that time designated by Par- 
 liament, of a " hellish Plot," or conspiracy of the 
 Papists, for the purpose of assassinating the King, 
 burning the cities of London and Westminster, 
 and concluding with a general massacre of the 
 Protestants. 
 
 Plot 
 A. D. 1678. 
 
 However deep-laid and desperate the designs of SECTION 
 the Papists, happily for the honour of human na- IV. 
 ture, the principal parts of this plot was a fabrica- ,^;il*\!iij 
 tion of two individuals of infamous memory. The its projectors. 
 first was Doctor Tongue, a man of great parts 
 and learning— full of projects— a person of great 
 penetration— acquainted with all the movements 
 of the Popish party, and a strenuous opponent of 
 their designs. The other was Titus^Oates, a man 
 of infamous character, who, after abjuring popery, 
 and joining himself to every sect and description 
 of people, fell into great poverty and distress. It 
 was under these circumstances that he sought 
 the charitable assistance of Doctor Tongue, who, 
 finding him a person of quick understanding, and 
 ready for any enterprize, retained him to assist him 
 in his inquiries into the schemes of the papists. 
 
 The Doctor by some means had obtained posses- 
 sion of the letters of Coleman, and, very naturally, 
 concluded from their contents, that some plot must 
 be in agitation amongst them. It was therefore 
 agreed, that Gates should reconcile himself to the 
 Church of Rome, enter himself of the society of 
 the Jesuits, visit their foreign seminaries and 
 places of resort, acquaint himself with their pro- 
 jects, and make himself familiar with the names 
 of their chief leaders. The industrious agent soon 
 returned, laden with the necessary information, 
 and such as he knew would be pleasing to his em- 
 ployer. Out of those materials, true, exaggerated 
 
526 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION and false, a regular plot was framed, consisting of 
 IV. forty-three articles and implicating many noble 
 individuals in the conspiracy with all the circum- 
 stances of time and place. Such was the art with 
 which these articles were drawn up, and, such the 
 desperate resolution with which Gates adhered to 
 the statements contained in them, that the Lord 
 Treasurer, Danby, was impressed with the truth 
 of his narative. The King was altogether incre- 
 dulous, from a full conviction that the papists 
 would not conspire against the life of one, whom 
 they knew to be their friend in all sincerity. Not 
 so, the public, when they became acquainted with 
 it through the depositions of Titus Gates, which 
 were sworn before Sir E. Godfrey. Many per- 
 sons implicated in these depositions were imme- 
 diately arrested — the principal of whom were Sir 
 George Wakeman, physician to the Queen, and 
 Mr. Edward Coleman, Secretary to the Duke of 
 York. The work of falsehood had now com- 
 menced in earnest, but what would have been the 
 result, it is impossible to say, had not an incident 
 occurred which threw the whole nation into an 
 ecstasy of resentment and fury. This was the 
 murder of Sir Edmondsbury Godfrey, which was 
 immediately imputed to the papists, as a proof 
 both of their guilt and cruelty. 
 
 In the midst of these transactions. Parliament 
 
 the met, and took up the subject with an enthusiasm, 
 
 worthy of a better substantiated cause. Every 
 
 Parliament 
 believes 
 Plot 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 527 
 
 Coleman is 
 
 thing sworn to by Titus Gates, was received as SECTION 
 solemn truth ; and, an address was voted to the IV. ' 
 King, m a strain of unbounded loyalty and affec- ^""- '"• 
 tion. Such was their implicit belief of the exis- 
 tence of a horrid Plot, and such the vehemence of 
 wrath, that the King was obliged to yield to their ^,,,„ 
 will, and affected to believe their representations. ««cu°Jd" 
 It would be tedious to enter into a detail of this 
 enormous tragedy. The original contrivers of it 
 acted their parts, so effectually, that the unhappy 
 Coleman, whose letters had given a foundation 
 for the invention of the Plot, was tried, condemn- 
 ed and executed as ^ principal Conspirator— a fate 
 indeed which he merited upon the testimony of 
 his own correspondence, as a conspirator against 
 the religion and liberties of his country, although, 
 no doubt, he abhorred the wicked designs im- 
 puted to him by Titus Gates, and his companions. 
 The Queen's physician escaped ; but three others 
 soon fell the victims of their perjury. 
 For a time the fury of the people and the Par- , 
 
 I* . «. ^ ^ *vx-i.u,i^ court in 
 
 iiament, was diverted by the excitement of a court ^^s^e. 
 intrigue, in which the Duke of Monmouth, the 
 Earls of Shaftesbury and Essex, and the Duchess 
 of Portsmouth were the principal actors. This 
 was the intended ruin of the Earl of Danby, 
 who had made himself obnoxious to the French 
 party, by his determined opposition to all foreign 
 counsels, and by his truly British and patriotic 
 conduct. They resolved to effect their purpose. 
 
528 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 529 
 
 Chap. HI. 
 
 The Earl of 
 
 i 
 
 11 
 
 SECTION ty the exposure of certain official letters which he 
 IV. had written to the English Ambassador in France, 
 containing stipulations respecting French money ; 
 and, although confirmed by the King's signature, 
 they were produced before the House, and filled 
 the members with great resentment. The Earl 
 was forthwith impeached at the bar of the Lords ; 
 but the whole proceeding was checked by the 
 sudden prorogation of Parliament. 
 
 During the prorogation, the vacillating and un- 
 shaftesbury principled Earl of Shaftesbury, who, all along, 
 patronizes the y^^^ taken such au active and prominent part in 
 
 A. D. 1679. political affairs, had now made up his mind and 
 taken his resolution, to resist the Court and the 
 Popish faction, and to throw all his force into the 
 opposite scale. 
 
 It was soon evident that the plot was now taken 
 up by a virulent party in the state, at the head of 
 which, was this restless and vindictive nobleman. 
 Durins: the recess of Parliament, he became the 
 powerful abettor of the plot, examined witnesses, 
 and by threats and promises, endeavoured to ex^ 
 tort from them, the confession of things of which 
 they were ignorant. Nothing could be more out- 
 rageous and arbitrary, than his conduct. But he 
 was not to succeed. His actions were not ap- 
 proved of by that just power who will not permit 
 even the best ends to be sought by wicked means. 
 His design was to secure the Protestant interest, 
 and the liberties of his country, by the exclusion 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 of the Duke of York from the throne. He acted SECTION 
 upon the law of expediency, but his conduct was IV. 
 flagrant and unjustifiable ; and produced results 
 just the reverse of what he intended. Other 
 leading Politicians united with him in all his 
 designs, and such was the outcry raised against 
 the measures of the court, that the King was 
 roused to a sense of the danger to which his crown 
 and dignity were exposed ; and conducted himself, 
 at this trying juncture, with a prudence and en- 
 ergy which were never surpassed by any Monarch 
 of any age or kingdom. The unexpected and 
 vigorous resistance of the Sovereign power was 
 successful. The turbulence of the popular leaders 
 was subdued, their machinations turned upon their 
 own heads, the dangers which threatened their 
 country were averted, and the constitution saved, 
 in a most signal manner, by the manifest Provi- 
 dence of God. 
 
 These are now the grand subjects before us. 
 In order, if possible, to put a final stop to the "^^,"^',1' 
 impeachment of the Earl of Danby, which would ' 
 have led to discoveries highly prejudicial to the 
 royal character, the King determined on the dis- 
 solution of Parliament ; and, the more efi'ectually, 
 to secure his servant, granted him a pardon under 
 the great seal, which on the hesitation of the Lord 
 Chancellor, he affixed with his own hand. 
 
 Thus ended the most famous Parliament that character of 
 ever sat in England: — having passed more im- 'J^'^ Parliament 
 
 VOL. II. L 1 
 
 The King 
 takes a decisive 
 
528 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 The Earl of 
 
 SECTION by the exposure of certain official letters which he 
 IV. had written to the English Ambassador in France, 
 containing stipulations respecting French money ; 
 and, although confirmed by the King's signature, 
 they were produced before the House, and filled 
 the meml)ers with great resentment. The Earl 
 was forthwith impeached at the bar of the Lords ; 
 but the whole proceeding was checked by the 
 sudden prorogation of Parliament. 
 
 During the prorogation, the vacillating and un- 
 shlftlsb'Jy " principled Earl of Shaftesbury, who, all along, 
 patronizes the ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^i Qu activc and promiucut part in 
 
 A. D. 1679. poHtical affairs, had now made up his mind and 
 taken his resolution, to resist the Court and the 
 Popish faction, and to throw all his force into the 
 opposite scale. 
 
 It was soon evident that the plot was now taken 
 up by a virulent party in the state, at the head of 
 which, was this restless and vindictive nobleman. 
 During the recess of Parliament, he became the 
 powerful abettor of the plot, examined witnesses, 
 and by threats and promises, endeavoured to ex^ 
 tort from them, the confession of things of which 
 they were ignorant. Nothing could be more out- 
 rageous and arbitrary, than his conduct. But he 
 was not to succeed. His actions were not ap- 
 proved of by that just power who will not permit 
 even the best ends to be sought by wicked means. 
 His design was to secure the Protestant interest, 
 and the liberties of his country, by the exclusion 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 529 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 of the Duke of York from the throne. He acted SECTION 
 upon the law of expediency, but his conduct was IV. 
 flagrant and unjustifiable ; and produced resuhs 
 just the reverse of what he intended. Other 
 leading Politicians united with him in all his 
 designs, and such was the outcry raised against 
 the measures of the court, that the King was 
 roused to a sense of the danger to which his crown 
 and dignity were exposed ; and conducted himself, 
 at this trying juncture, with a prudence and en- 
 ergy which were never surpassed by any Monarch 
 of any age or kingdom. The unexpected and 
 vigorous resistance of the Sovereign power was 
 successful. The turbulence of the popular leaders 
 was subdued, their machinations turned upon their 
 own heads, the dangers which threatened their 
 country were averted, and the constitution saved, 
 in a most signal manner, by the manifest Provi- 
 dence of God. 
 
 These are now the grand subjects before us. ^he King 
 In order, if possible, to put a final stop to the T^^'j,^'''"" 
 impeachment of the Earl of Danby, which would 
 have led to discoveries highly prejudicial to the 
 royal character, the King determined on the dis- 
 solution of Parliament ; and, the more effectually, 
 to secure his servant, granted him a pardon under 
 the great seal, which on the hesitation of the Lord 
 Chancellor, he affixed with his own hand. 
 
 Thus ended the most famous Parliament that character of 
 ever sat in England:— having passed more im- ^^^' Pa'^^ament 
 
 ^^^' II. L 1 
 
530 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Duke of York 
 banished. 
 
 SECTION portant acts, and continued, by eighteen proroga- 
 IV. tions and several adjournments, for seventeen 
 years, eight months, and seventeen days. 
 
 Scarcely had the elections ceased, which had been 
 carried on under the excitement of the " Popish 
 plot " and the horrors of a Popish succession, and 
 every thing prognosticated that the succeeding 
 Parliament would be more inveterate than the 
 last. But the King, by a bold stroke, determined 
 to disarm the overflowing zeal of the country 
 party, and banished his brother the Duke of York 
 from the kingdom. The King s wish was con- 
 veyed to him in a kind and affectionate letter, 
 desiring him for the peace and w^elfare of the 
 kingdom, to leave the country till a more happy 
 period should arrive. 
 Case of the But in vaiu. The Commons were gratified, but 
 
 EariofDanby. jjQt appcascd. They pursued a more violent 
 course than even their predecessors ; which they 
 discovered in nothing more, than in their deter- 
 mined persecution of the Earl of Danby. They 
 took up his impeachment from the last Parlia- 
 ment. He pleaded the King's pardon. They 
 declared it null and void. The House of Lords 
 appointed a day for the purpose of his pleading 
 the validity of his pardon; but the Commons 
 passed a resolution, that if any person should at- 
 tempt to appear as counsel, in his behalf, he should 
 be considered a "Traitor and betrayer of the 
 liberties of his country." This was cruel, vindic- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 531 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Crisis of the 
 Govcrnmeut. 
 
 tive, and arbitrary. Nor can their conduct be SECTION 
 attributed to any patriotic motive ; for whatever IV. 
 might have been the faults of that nobleman, 
 his further persecution could be of no advantage 
 to their country. 
 
 By the removal of the Earl of Danby, the King 
 was plunged into the greatest difficulty and per- 
 plexity. He was roused to exertion by the dan- 
 ger to which he saw the Government and country 
 were exposed; and, in this emergency he had 
 recourse to the wisdom and advice of Sir W. Tem- 
 ple, one of the many great patriots England has 
 produced. His advice Avas an oracle. He was 
 possessed of a capacious understanding, an ex- 
 tensive knowledge of men and things, and an in- 
 vincible integrity. He saw the influence which 
 had been acquired by the Duke of Monmouth, the • 
 Earls of Essex and Sunderland, and the Duchess 
 of Portsmouth, and that they were striking for 
 the crown. To extricate the King from his dif- 
 ficulties, and save the country from anarchy and 
 blood-shed, he recommended the formation of a 
 Council, which should be of a grand and compre- 
 hensive character, and include the most talented 
 and powerful of the nobility and Commons. It 
 was to consist of thirty persons, half of whom 
 were to be the present chief officers of the crown 
 and household, who being in his Majesty's known 
 trust as well as choice, would be sure to keep the 
 rest of the Council steady to the interest of the 
 
532 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 Wise counsel 
 
 SECTION Monarchy. One chief regard which he had in 
 IV. the constitution of this Council, was the personal 
 state and riches of its members, which is said to 
 have amounted to ,£300,000 a year, whilst the 
 revenue of the Commons did not exceed ^400,000. 
 This scheme which introduced a new power into 
 the constitution was approved of by the King, 
 of and, when it became known, filled the minds of 
 tmp e ^jj ^^^ ^,. ^j^ astonishment. The Lord Chancel- 
 lor Finch, when he heard of it, said : " It looked 
 like a thing from Heaven fallen into the King's 
 breast." The Earls of Essex and Sunderland, 
 and the Lord Halifax, one of the most talented 
 men of the day, were the chief of this Council in 
 concert with Sir W. J^emple ; and the Earl of 
 Shaftesbury, at the wish of the King, was ap- 
 pointed Lord President. 
 
 The establishment of the new Council was re- 
 ceived with universal demonstrations of joy. In 
 Holland, on receiving the news, the stocks of the 
 East India Company immediately rose ; and the 
 States despatched an extraordinary Ambassador 
 into England on the occasion. France, alone, 
 was disatisfied with it; and their Ambassador, 
 Barillon said : " It was making states, not 
 
 COUNCILS." 
 
 The great subject of debate, both in the nation 
 
 Patriotism of and Parliament, was the succession to the crown 
 
 the King. j^ ^j^^ person of the Duke of York, and the minds 
 
 of all men were filled with anxiety and apprehen- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 533 
 
 CriAP. HI. 
 
 sion. The King foregoing all his prejudices and SECTION 
 predilections, with a patriotism without a parallel IV. 
 in the history of Kings, agreed to the suggestions 
 of his Council ; and assisted them to solve the 
 difficulty of this grand political problem— to ren- 
 der it possible, for a Popish King to rule over a 
 Protestant nation. In short the King gave up 
 every thing but the "hereditary succession," Limitations of 
 which was agreed by all parties to be a funda- '^'^ ^^o^archy. 
 mental principle of the government, and the great 
 land-mark of the Monarchy. He proposed to the 
 House of Commons, through the Lord Chancellor, 
 to prepare a Bill for the purpose of placing all 
 Ecclesiastical, naval and military appointment, in 
 the hands of Commissioners ; and to enact that 
 no Lords or others of the Privy Council, no 
 Judges of the common law or in chancery, should 
 at any time, during the reign of a Popish succes- 
 sor, be put in, or displaced, but by the authority 
 of Parliament ; and, to give the strongest proof of 
 his sincerity, he concluded by saying; '^ If any 
 thing else can occur to the wisdom of Parliament 
 which may further secure religion and liberty 
 against a Popish successor, without defeating the 
 right of succession itself, his Majesty will most 
 readily assent to it." 
 
 It was impossible, under the circumstances of 
 the case, to have devised any thing more satisfac- 
 tory, than these limitations of the Sovereign power; 
 and the rejection of these reasonable propo- 
 
534 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION sals, through the opposition of the Earl of Shaftes- 
 
 CnAP.iii. ^^^^y^ ^^^* ^^ considered as one of those extraor- 
 v^^^v^v^ dinary events which lead to the most important 
 results, by means utterly beyond the design or 
 controul of human agency : and it would be un- 
 pardonable blindness, if we did not perceive the 
 hand of Heaven, which can take advantage both 
 of the mistakes and crimes of mortals, controulling 
 the events of the time, and w^orking out a signal 
 deliverance for us, without endangering the Mo- 
 narchy, or, undermining the liberties of the 
 nation. 
 
 The Commons The Commous rejected the limitations, and 
 reject them. ^f^gj. addressing the King on the dangers to be 
 apprehended from the growth and insolence of 
 Popery, they brought in a Bill for the exclusion 
 of the Duke of York from the throne, and were 
 proceeding with another for his banishment, 
 when they were suddenly prorogued. Such an 
 interruption to their debates, filled both Houses 
 with resentment, and such was the ungovernable 
 rage of the Earl of Shaftesbury, that he cried out 
 in the House, that he would have the heads of 
 those who advised it. Nor were his menaces 
 confined to words, nor his machinations limited to 
 England. He fostered and encouraged the old 
 fanatical spirit in Scotland, which had been re- 
 strained by the strong hand of power. Through 
 his instrumentality, the visionary impulse again 
 spread with incredible ra^iidity, and kindled cvcr> 
 
 535 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 where the fire of rebellion. They began at their SECTION 
 conventicles, openly to display their colours, which IV. 
 they called the banner of jesus Christ. Their 
 preachers animated them to the glorious struggle. 
 They told their excited audience : " That it was 
 the time of their deliverance, when God would 
 take vengeance on their enemies, only they must 
 repent and be strong, and of great courage, and 
 fight the battles of the Lord, manfully." 
 
 Nor did these vain delusions expend themselves 
 in empty declamations. Their threatenings were 
 loud and vehement, and they prepared lists of 
 those marked out for destruction, at the head of 
 which, was the name of the "perjured apostate" 
 Bishop Sharpe, as they termed the Archbishop of 
 St. Andrews. — Nor was it long before the bloody 
 tragedy was enacted. 
 
 On the second of May, the Archbishop who had 
 been assisting at the Privy Council at Edinburgh, Arclbishlp' 
 passed over into Fifeshire, and lodged that night, ^^'^'"'^ 
 at a village between Burns' Head and St. An- ^'^' 
 drews. His movements were watched ; and, about 
 midnight, two men well mounted and armed, were 
 observed entering the village, and having ascer- 
 tamed, that the Archbishop was there, presently 
 rode away. The next morning, the venerable 
 Prelate, not suspecting any danger, entered his 
 carriage with his only Daughter, attended by 
 three servants. For sometime they pursued their 
 journey without interruption, and they had now 
 
 1679. 
 
536 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 SECTION arrived within two miles of Saint Andrews, when 
 IV. they perceived behind them a number of horse- 
 men in pursuit. They perceived their danger, 
 and the coachman drove with full speed; and 
 would have escaped, but for one of the ruffians 
 named Balfour, who, riding an extremely fleet horse 
 came up with the carriage, and shot one of the 
 horses dead, wounded the postilion, and with sa- 
 vage fury hamstringed the rest. Their victim was 
 now in their power. The rest of the murderers 
 soon came up, and one of them more vehement 
 than the rest, shot his pistol into the coach, but 
 without effect. The blood-thirsty gang now 
 crowded around, covering him with execrations, 
 and calling him " Dog," "Apostate," ''Betrayer of 
 the godly," " Persecutor of Christ's Church,"— 
 bidding him come out, and receive the due reward 
 of his wickedness against the Kirk of Scotland. 
 The door being opened, his daughter rushing out, 
 fell on her knees, and implored the life of her fa- 
 ther ; but they were deaf to her entreaties, tram- 
 pled upon her, and wounded her. By this time 
 the Bishop had also alighted, and with a firm and 
 composed air, said ; " He was not conscious that he 
 had offended them ; but if he had, he was ready 
 to make reparation. He implored them to consi- 
 der before they brought the guilt of innocent blood 
 upon their heads, and besought them to spare his 
 life, giving them his word, that no inquiry should 
 be made after this violence." During this expoj 
 
 )S- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 537 
 
 tulation, there was a moment for recollection ; SECTION 
 and the assassins, struck with the reverence of his IV. 
 appearance, and the composure of his carriage, in ^"'''' "'* 
 some measure relented ; and one of them cried 
 out, " spare his grey hairs," but others replied ; 
 '' He must die : the traitorous Judas, enemy to 
 God's people, must now receive the reward of his 
 apostasy." 
 
 The Archbishop perceiving the ruffians were bent 
 upon his destruction, requested a few moments for 
 prayer, saying, '^ he would prai/ fort henC but they 
 reviled him, and scornfully said. "They cared 
 not for his prayers; they were sure God would 
 not hear so base a dog as he was." Thus insult- 
 ed, he turned to one of his assassins who appeared 
 somewhat superior in his carriage, and said: 
 '' Sir, you are a gentlemen, I ask my last favour of 
 you.— Since you are resolved to take my life, I 
 intreat you to have pity upon my poor child, and 
 take her under your protection ; and, as a pledge, 
 give me your hand," at the same moment extend- 
 mg his own, which the inhuman wretch almost 
 cut off with his broad-sword, and with another 
 blow gave him a deep wound over his eye, which 
 brought him upon his knees. " Gentlemen," he 
 said, *' it is enough, you have done your work." 
 Then lifting up his bleeding hands as well as he 
 was able, he prayed -Lord Jesus have mercy 
 npon me, and receive my spirit." During which 
 time, they ceased not to strike the venerable sup- 
 
538 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION pliant, who fell on the earth with his head resting 
 i^- upon his arm, and expired with these words: 
 
 Chap. III. ,, n* j n . 
 
 v^^-v-s^ ^od forgive you: I forgive you all." Thus 
 perished Sharpe, Archbishop of Saint Andrews, 
 — a victim to fanatical fury, and to the violence, 
 not of christian zeal, but demoniacal influence. 
 
 After the murder of such an illustrious person, 
 and in such a public and daring manner, the per- 
 petrators saw that nothing was left them but open 
 rebellion, a course, which was to bring upon them 
 the punishment which their crimes deserved. 
 They were soon in arms, and at their first encoun- 
 ter, repulsed a body of horse under Lord Dundee, 
 which so much encouraged the whole body of the 
 " Covenanters," that in a short time they amounted 
 to seventeen thousand men. 
 His Death is The Duke of Monjnouth was despatched from 
 avenged. Loudou, with such forccs as could be spared, and 
 joining with the Scotch forces, came up with the 
 rebels at Bothwell Bridge, and entirely defeated 
 them. A thousand of these deluded men perished 
 in the field, twelve hundred were taken prisoners 
 and the murderers of Archbishop Sharpe were 
 executed. 
 
 Whilst the sword was inflicting these ravages 
 in Scotland, in England the tribunal of justice 
 was made the instrument of promoting the pur- 
 poses of falsehood and perjury. The five Jesuits 
 who had been implicated in the " Popish plot," 
 were now brought to trial ; and on the evidence 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 539 
 
 Parliament 
 
 of Gates and his accomplices, condemned and SECTION 
 executed. 
 
 These executions troubled the spirit of the 
 King; but he had other troubles which pressed 
 more heavily upon him. The time appointed for 
 the meeting of Parliament, approached ; and such 
 was the favour in which the Duke of Monmouth 
 was held at that time, and such the influence of '^'^''^''^*^- 
 the Earl of Shaftesbury with the leaders of the 
 Commons, that it was thought adviseable by the 
 intimate advisers of the Crown to dissolve the 
 Parliament. 
 
 Scarcely had this been done, when the Al- The King fails 
 mighty ruler interfered, and a sudden change took "''"^' 
 place in the posture of public affairs. The King 
 fell suddenly ill of the ague. The three Lords, 
 Sunderland, Essex and Halifax were then at 
 Windsor, and the two last perceiviag the peril to 
 be apprehended to their own persons, from the 
 Duke of Monmouth, then in the meridian of his 
 power, sent a secret express to Holland for the 
 Duke of York. 
 
 The King recovered, but the Duke of York on ^^^^ «f 
 his arrival, being fully assured of the ambitious 'aZf 
 designs of the Duke of Monmouth, made such re- 
 presentations to his Majesty, that he was immedi- 
 ately dismissed from his ofiice of Captain General, 
 and banished into Holland, whilst the Duke of 
 Yord had leave to retire into Scotland. This ex- 
 traordiuary change in public affairs, which took • 
 
540 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION place contrary to the political wishes of its pro- 
 
 Chap. ni. ^^^^^^^ ^as the first step which secured the suc- 
 
 v>^^v-s^ cession of James II. Nor was this all : as if to 
 
 render the circumstance more remarkable, the 
 
 Earls of Essex and Halifax, who, instigated by 
 
 ch^nget ^'''' ^^^''* ^^^^^' ^^^^ promoted the return of the Duke 
 of York, lost their places. For, not daring to 
 meet the Parliament, they prvailed upon the King 
 peremptorily to prorogue it, contrary to the ad- 
 vice of his council. Great changes immediately 
 followed These two Lords were obliged to retire 
 from office. The Earl of Shaftesbury in a rage 
 resigned his place. The Lords Russel and Caven- 
 dish. Sir Henry Capel and Mr. Pool followed 
 his example. Mr. Laurence Hyde and Mr. Syd- 
 ney Godolphin were united with the Earl of Sun- 
 derland, and formed the Ministry. 
 
 Scarcely had these changes in the Council been 
 effected, than a discovery was made of a counter- 
 plot by the Papists, to implicate the nonconfor- 
 Popish coun- ^ists in a design upon the life of the King. 
 The Earl of Casjlemain, the Lords in the Tower, 
 and the Lady Powys, were the contrivers of this 
 Plot, which was discovered before it was ripe for 
 execution. The plan of it was found concealed in 
 a meal-tub, from which circumstance it has derived 
 its name. This dark and guilty intrigue gave 
 new life and vigour to the grand plot, which, it 
 was intended by its framers to subvert. 
 
 ter Plot. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 541 
 
 Unexpected 
 Return of the 
 
 jLl""''*f' '' ^''"""^ ^''"'"^^""^' ^"^ SECTION 
 whilst the people were deeply agitated with the IV. 
 
 late attempt of the Papists, suddenly the Duke of """"■ '"• 
 Monmouth returned to England ; and, although 
 It was midnight when he entered the City, the 
 tidings soon spread, the bells rung, bonfires were 
 lighted, and the people testified their joy in the 
 most exulting manner. Every thing seemed to 
 prognosticate violent measures, and the country ^Z^l^ 
 appeared on the eve of a convulsion. Tumultuous "'°'"^- 
 petitions were resorted to, and presented to the 
 King m multitudes, requesting him to call a Par- 
 hament for the redress of grievances, and the 
 safety of the country. The King issued Procla- 
 mation after Proclamation for putting them down. 
 But m vain. They still flowed in from every 
 quarter, and seemed to menace the liberty of the 
 executive, and the stability of the Throne The 
 confusion still increased, and the violence of the 
 people seemed as if it would bear down all before 
 It. But necessity found a remedy more effectual 
 than the sword, and more lasting than Acts of 
 Parliament. Men of wisdom and reflection saw 
 Whither the vessel of the state was driving, and 
 came forward to her rescue. The old Cavalier 
 party again returned to the struggle. Their ser- 
 vices had been overlooked during this whole 
 mgn ; but, when they saw the Monarchy in dan- 
 ger, by a violent exclusion of the rightful heir, 
 and the designed election of a successor by the 
 
I 
 
 542 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION House of Commons, they generously forgot their 
 c.II'iii. *'^™ wrongs and came forward to the relief of the 
 v-^-v-N^ Constitution. But the greatest support of the 
 throne, at this period, was the Church of England. 
 The Ecclesiastical leaders and their adherents 
 saw the reign of Fanaticism once more about to 
 commence, which could not fail to lay both the 
 national Altar and the constitutional Throne in 
 the dust ; and they rallied round the standard of 
 freedom and the constitution. 
 
 The conser. '^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^ monarchical portion of the com- 
 vaiivc Spirit muuity now awakened to the true interest of their 
 ""^'"'- country. They determined if possible, to prevent 
 
 the recurrence of those bloody and anarchical 
 . scenes, which had so lately been enacted. They 
 forwarded counter petitions, more weighty and 
 powerful than those of the Exclusionists. The 
 day was now won. The spirit of the English na- 
 tion was evidently with the Prince, and, it was 
 irresistible. From this moment a new and 
 powerful principle was established in our consti- 
 tutional policy, which has never ceased to exercise 
 a powerful and controulling influence in the natio- 
 nal counsels. — I mean, public opinion ; and, it 
 is to this period, and these circumstances, that we 
 are to trace the origin of Whig and Tory. 
 
 The "Tories" firm to the Monarchy, although 
 they were willing to accept, and, even, proposed 
 serious limitations on a Popish successor, yet. 
 they would not hear of an entire exclusion. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 543 
 
 Such a remedy they said was worse than the disease, SECTION 
 nd would admit such an irregularity into the consti: ' V 
 tution as might never be remedied. Nor did they ^""•"'• 
 think It just to visit with such heavy punishment ^"^^^ 
 a Pnnce who had never offended. The "Whigs" cha.actc, „r 
 on the other hand, less affected to the Monarchical ^'""^ ""'' 
 principle, were for securing their religion and li- 
 berties by any means. They pursued the law of 
 expediency which is always a dangerous and de- 
 lusive guide. Nothing would satisfy them but 
 he exclusion of the Duke of York. Providen- 
 tially, both parties were overruled. The limita- 
 tions were rejected, and the exclusionists were 
 disappointed. Had these prevailed, the Duke of 
 Monmouth, an illegitimate Son of the Kind's 
 wou d have been placed upon the Throne.-which 
 would have been a disgrace to the British nation 
 and the source of interminable jealousies, conten- 
 tions, and blood-shed. Had the limitations been 
 carried, the essential dignity and authority of the 
 Lrown would have been destroyed. 
 
 But Heaven determined otherwise for the hap- The <, • 
 Piness and welfare of this country, and, for the °'-"- 
 I'splay of a more signal vengeance on the head of 
 that f^,lse and arbitrary power, which has usurped 
 a dictatorial power over the rights and liberties 
 of mankind; and scorning to regulate its acts by 
 he ordinary rules of morality and religion, as- 
 sumes a high and divine prerogative, which can, 
 * "s pleasure, dispense with the ordinary laws. 
 
 themselves. 
 
544 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and reasonable arrangements of society. This 
 c„ir,„. ""earthly power was destined to receive the most 
 ^.^v^, signal overthrow that it had ever experienced 
 The policy of the Tories was proved by the events 
 that followed, to be correct, because founded on 
 prmciple and justice. Perhaps, their views at 
 this period, respecting " passive obedience and non- 
 resistance " were carried to an unwarrantable ex- 
 treme. But the history of that time has placed 
 that rule, and its exception, in its proper light. 
 It has discovered that the rule is safe, but that it 
 has an exception— overpowering necessity— 
 when not a doubt remains, that the Sovereign 
 power has a design to overthrow the Laws, and, 
 with them, the constitutional rights and liberties' 
 of the subject. The "Revolution " which is now 
 the grand object before us, and, to which every 
 event was tending, has settled that point. The 
 rights of Kings and subjects are held by the 
 same tenure. Under divine sanction, the rights 
 of both are guarded by Law. But if the Law 
 be violated with a design, of subverting the legal 
 rights of either party-Reason, religion, and, the 
 constitution provide for a steady and dignified re- 
 Conduct „,^'"''°''^' fouiidedon LAW and directed by justice. 
 the °D„kTof '^^^ ^^^^ °f Monmouth having ventured upon 
 Monmouth, such a bold Step as to return from Holland with- 
 • • '««'• out permission, had not yet appeared at Court, 
 but visited the principal nobility attached to his 
 party, and was every where received with dis- 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 545 
 
 tinguished marks of favour. This conduct was SECTION 
 sufficiently bold; but it was far out-done by hi T"" 
 fnend and associate the Earl of Shaftesbury, who ^""- "'• 
 with many other gentlemen of rank and influence' "^^^^ 
 appeared at the bar of the King's Bench, and 
 with all legal formality, presented the Duke of 
 lork as a popish recusant. This bold and sur- 
 pnsing act produced a great effect upon the public 
 mind; and. though the presentment was over- 
 ru ed by the Judge, the Duke thought proper once 
 more to retire into Scotland, from whence he had 
 lately returned. 
 
 oJtT'} T""™* °'*'^ ^^'^'^ ^^« °Fned The CO.. 
 on the twenty.first of October, by the Kins in a ""'""^-'«- 
 
 speech of great wisdom and moderation, in which "'^'"• 
 
 from a good and patriotic Prince. But such was 
 
 he excitement of the period, and such the horrors 
 
 of Popery and its designs, that the House directed 
 
 1 '"''^'"'^ '' ^^^ ^"'^J^'^t- Hosts 
 
 of informers appeared to second their wishes 
 
 Many were supplied from Ireland; and Doctor 
 Plunket, the Titular Primate of Ireland wa 
 
 Th?Knr^ \r' '"^^ ''' ^'^"^ Tr;as: 
 m nee Lr ,. '"'' '" '''''' *° *^'' -»>- 
 proceeded "^ ^"^ '""'^ '^"^'^^ *^™' ^-^ *ey 
 The debt °"'' '°°"' *° *'' ^'" '' ^^^l"-on 
 
 and et! """ T™' ''' "'* ^^^* -rm* 
 and eloquence on both sides; but the Bill al- 
 
 Xt opposed by the King in the most uniqut 
 
 Mm 
 
546 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION vocal yet conciliating manner, passed the Com- 
 IV. mons and was carried to the Lords by Lord 
 
 K^^^^}^\i/ William Eussel, where after a long and masterly 
 
 debate it was thrown out by a large majority. 
 They become The Commons were perfectly enraged at the 
 
 arbitrary, miscarriage of their great measure. They perse- 
 cuted with all their authority, those who had 
 forwarded counter petitions to the King. The 
 liberty of the subject was every day violated by 
 their arbitrary and capricious commitments. Their 
 fury raged. And such was the terror inspired by 
 their proceedings, that the Judges did not dare to 
 allow the benefit of the " Habeas Corpus " to 
 the delinquents. Nor would this satisfy. The 
 aged Lord Staiford, one of the five Popish Lords 
 confined in the Tower, on the accusation of Gates 
 and other informers, was now brought forth, tried, 
 condemned and executed. This was the last 
 blood that was shed on account of the " Popish 
 Plot." Nor was the day of retribution far distant. 
 The perpetrators of these perjuries were not to 
 escape. 
 
 But the Commons were still unappeased : and 
 the King after trying every conciliatory measure, 
 perceiving there was no end to their violence, pro- 
 rogued and dissolved them. A new Parliament 
 assembled at Oxford, where the King appeared 
 with his royal consort, in great magnificence and 
 state. His opening speech was marked with 
 great moderation, and he advanced one step fur- 
 
 and are 
 solved. 
 
 dis- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 547 
 
 TN inch was, to offer, m case of a Popish successor IV. 
 
 —A PROTESTANT REGENCY. Ch»p. in. 
 
 But the Commons were deaf to every proposi- ' ' ' 
 tion except their own. They began their debates 
 where the last Parliament ended ; and although 
 they condescended to appoint a Committee, to take 
 into consideration the King's suggestion, they 
 proceeded as violently as ever with the Bill of 
 Exclusion, and with complaints and impeach- 
 ments agamst all who opposed their measures 
 
 Never did a Monarch discover more moral The Ki„,.. 
 courage than King Charles at this eventful crisis ^''"'""" ™"- 
 Whilst the House of Commons were in the midst 'to. lasi. 
 of their debates, the King suddenly appeared in 
 the House of Lords and dissolved the Parliament. 
 1 he abrupt dissolution of the Parliament was 
 followed by a royal declaration in that vigorous 
 style, which characterized the State productions of 
 this period. It enumerated all the unreasonable 
 acts of the two last Parliaments, and shewed the 
 necessity of dissolving them, in order to save the 
 fundamental principles of the constitution. It 
 was read in all the Churches, and was received 
 with the greatest satisfaction by the nation. The 
 counter statements were published by the Exclu- 
 sntomsts and the adherents of Parliament. But 
 they did not prevail The people of England 
 d clared for the King. Addresses poured in'from 
 all quarters, from cities, counties, and corpora- 
 
548 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION tions, offering " their lives and fortunes in defence 
 IV. of his Majesty's government in Church and State." 
 
 \,^^\^^^ The nation seemed almost unanimous in their 
 opinion; and the Exclusion party found them- 
 selves unable to resist it. A new povs^er was 
 created, and the press, from this moment, began to 
 exercise a systematic influence upon the public 
 mind. Regular papers were established. The 
 *' Domestic Intelligence " advocated the views of 
 the Whigs, or. Exclusion Party. Mr. UEstrange 
 in his " Observator " upheld the principles of the 
 Tories, or Cavalier Party. But Mr. Dry den's 
 satyrical poem entitled "Absalom and Ahitophel" 
 in which he exposed the designs of the Earl of 
 Shaftesbury, exercised the greatest influence and 
 produced a strong impression on the minds of 
 both parties. 
 Character of j^q^ ^^s the King Wanting in gratitude to his 
 
 ormond. fricuds. Lawrcuce Hyde, first Commissioner of 
 the Treasury was appointed a Viscount; and 
 Heneage Finch, Lord High Chancellor, was made 
 Earl of Nottingham. Nor was the Duke of Or- 
 mond overlooked, who, from the time of the fa- 
 mous " Cabal " had been in disgrace. He was, 
 undoubtedly, one of the most upright and patriotic 
 men, whose name adorns the page of English 
 history. Indeed, such was the integrity and dig- 
 nity of his character, that, during the time his 
 enemies had the ascendancy, whenever he ap- 
 peared at Court, the King, whose manners were 
 
 549 
 
 
 fashioned for every emergency, found himself at a SECTION 
 loss how to demean himself,— afraid to shew him IV. 
 any civility, and ashamed altogether to neglect ^"'^' "'• 
 him. This hesitation of manner was perceived 
 by the Duke of Buckingham, who, one day ob- 
 served to the King: " Sir, I wish to know whether 
 It be the Duke of Ormond that is out of favour 
 with your Majesty, or, your Majesty, with the 
 Duke of Ormond? for, of the two you seem most 
 out of countenance." This anecdote is a splendid 
 eulogium on the Duke of Ormond's character, 
 who was now appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ire-' 
 land. In this arduous appointment he conducted 
 himself with the strictest impartiality ; and, with 
 such vigour, that Ireland was never in a more 
 tranquil and happy state. It was during this part 
 of his career that he was attacked with great 
 virulence by the Eari of Shaftesbury in the House 
 of Lords, and was nobly defended by his son the 
 generous Eari of Ossoiy, who having justified 
 many points of his father's administration, pro- 
 ceeded in the following keen and eloquent strain • 
 *' Having spoken of what the Lord Lieutenant 
 has done, I presume, with the same truth, to tell 
 your Lordships what he has not done ; he never 
 advised the breaking of the " Triple League • " he 
 never advised the shutting up of the Exchequer- 
 he never advised the declaration for a toleration • 
 he never advised the falling out with the Dutch 
 and the joining with the French; he was not the 
 
550 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION author of that most excellent proposition " De- 
 IV. lenda est Carthago," that Holland, a Protestant 
 country, should, contrary to the true interests of 
 England, be totally destroyed. I beg your Lord- 
 ships will be so just as to judge of my father, and 
 all men, according to their actions and conduct." 
 
 We are told that these few sentences had a 
 surprising effect upon the House, and totally con- 
 founded the Earl of Shaftesbury who, with all his 
 wit and eloquence was unable to reply. Nay, 
 the Prince of Orange, wrote a letter to the Earl 
 of Ossory, whom he highly esteemed as a brave 
 and excellent soldier, to congratulate him on this 
 new species of victory which he had obtained. 
 
 The King's character, at this time received a 
 strong and marked impression from the circum- 
 stances of his situation. He became more deter- 
 mined in his opposition to the popular leaders, 
 more vigorous and more severe. And now many 
 of them had well-nigh become the victims of their 
 own imprudence and ambition . Great efforts were 
 made to bring them to trial, especially the Earl 
 of Shaftesbury, who had been committed to prison 
 on a charge of High Treason. But his time was 
 not yet come, and he escaped, through the pecu- 
 liar circumstances of the times. Every thing was 
 decided by party interest, and the Exclusionists 
 had such a commanding influence in the city, that 
 the Juries refused to convict, and the Sheriffs to 
 act, and, however guilty the criminals, of their 
 
 Great disor- 
 ders prevail. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 551 
 
 Chap. HF. 
 
 party, they were allowed to escape. The govern- SECTION 
 ment, supported by the mind of the country, tried IV. 
 every expedient to break the power of this combi- 
 nation against law and justice. But, for a long 
 time, their efforts were vain. 
 
 At length, however the disease became too des- strug^e .r 
 perate to be permitted to exist: and as these evils ''''"'•^'• 
 flowed from the Sheriffs, the Tory party deter- *' °' "^'' 
 mined, if possible, to restore the ancient mode of 
 electing them. The ancient custon had been for the 
 Lord Mayor, who was now in the Tory interest to 
 elect one Sheriff by drinking his health at an annual 
 dinner, and to leave the other to the election of 
 the several Companies ; whereas, at present, both 
 were elected by the suffrages of the Companies. 
 It was difficult to rectify the innovation, and the 
 struggle was conducted with a vehemence such 
 as might be expected from men, who were con- 
 tending for Empire. The King and his Council 
 were not indifferent spectators, but exerted all the 
 influence they could command, and the Tories 
 triumphed, two Sheriffs were elected, one by the 
 nomination of the Lord Mayor, and the other, by 
 tbeir own suffrages. 
 
 Nor was this all. The Tories triumphed also T.e t„w« 
 « the election of Lord Mayor at the ensuing p---- 
 Michaelmas, when Sir W. Pritchard was raised 
 to the civic chair. The Whig or exclusion party 
 jere entirely broken and dispirited by these vi- 
 gorous measures; and, their great leader, the 
 
552 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Earl of Shaftesbury, disappointed and overruled 
 ^^'« in all his projects, determined upon more desperate 
 
 Chap. III. , , , ., , . ^ . ^. ,. 
 
 v^^-v-v^ measures and hastened his own rum. Fmdmg that 
 he could no longer be shielded from the forms of 
 law by the connivance of the Sheriffs and Jurors, 
 having concerted with the other factious leaders, 
 the most guilty and treasonable measures, he re- 
 tired to Holland. 
 Punishment ^^ ^^^ mean time Scotland was suffering a sig- 
 
 of the Cove- ual rctributiou. Such were the severities exercised 
 under the administration of the Earl of Aberdeen 
 and the Earl of Queensbury, that great numbers 
 prepared to leave their native country. Two 
 thousand people were outlawed under the pretence 
 of having intercourse with traitorous persons. 
 Courts were established, and agents sent forth to 
 trepan the innocent and peaceable inhabitants. 
 A signal vengeance overtook the false and perjured 
 Covenanters — the abettors of rebellion, and the 
 subverters of the Christian Religion. They were 
 hunted out by the Soldiers and agents of arbi- 
 trary power, and ensnared with such questions as 
 the following: "Will you renounce the Cove- 
 nant^" "Was the killing of Archbishop Sharpe, 
 murder *?" and when the deluded victims of a 
 deluded spirit, refused to answer, they were 
 secured, and, in many cases, suffered capital pun- 
 ishment. Even women, steeped with the spirit 
 of fanatical obstinacy, which was mistaken for 
 Christian firmness, were consigned to the gibbet. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 553 
 
 Whilst, to increase the evil, and to draw down still SECTION 
 heavier punishment, many of them, made frantic IV. 
 hy persecution, published a declaration in which ''''''' "^ 
 they renounced their allegiance to Charles Stuart. "-^""^ 
 Soldiers were dispersed every where, in quest of 
 the unhappy people, and all commissioned Officers 
 even to the lowest grade, were empowered to com^ 
 pel their renunciation of the -Declaration " or 
 upon refusal, to shoot the delinquents ! Enormous 
 cruelties were enacted by these legalized murderers, 
 and, although manifestly the inflictions of a just 
 Providence, for the profaneness of acts and senti- 
 ments which they falsely attributed to the influ- 
 ence of Christianity, yet the abettors of these 
 enormities, in which the Duke of York had a great 
 share, were, at no distant period, subjected to a 
 retributory chastisement. 
 
 In England every thing tended to a crisis ,, ,. • 
 The reins of Government were held with a muTh ' ' 
 stricter hand than at any former period of the reign. 
 The clubs and conventicles of the disaff-ected 
 were suppressed, so that they were driven to more 
 secret counsels and contrivances. The Govern- 
 ment was judiciously strengthened by great pre- 
 terments and conferring of titles of honour. The 
 profound Eari of Sundejland, by the King's com- 
 mand, was again re-appointed principal Secretary 
 ot State. Halifax was made a Marquis, and 
 Colonel John Churchill afterwards so great and 
 celebrated in English History, was created Lord 
 Churchill. 
 
 of the 
 Government. 
 
554 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION But whilst some were thus raised to distinction, 
 IV, and preparing to enter upon the busy stage of 
 
 y^^-^;-^ human affairs, others disappeared, and were gath- 
 ered to their immortal destiny. Amongst these, 
 was Prince Rupert, Son of the Queen of Bohe- 
 Death of"^^^' ^^^ grandson of James I. whose name will 
 
 Prince Rupert, survivo to the latest posterity in the records of 
 England. This intrepid Prince, having spent the 
 early part of his life in the most arduous and 
 dangerous enterprises, which he conducted with a 
 courage and magnanimity almost beyond example, 
 dedicated the last portion of his valuable life to 
 the studies of philosophy and science, and died in 
 the midst of honour and reputation in the sixty 
 third year of his age. 
 
 Nor must we omit the mention of another name 
 of high title, of great activity and considerable 
 parts, whose name is also essentially connected 
 with English history, but not to his honour— 
 the Duke of Lauderdale. He will be remem- 
 bered for the share he took in the great Rebellion 
 - — as a traitor against his Sovereign — as a vehe- 
 
 o^ '^e ^"^^ ™^^* supporter of the " Covenant," and in the 
 present reign, as a persecutor of the Presbyterians 
 — a promoter of arbitrary Government, an under- 
 miner of Episcopacy, and the dislike of all men. 
 
 The Nation also suffered a great loss in the 
 death of the Lord Chancellor Fipch, Earl of Not- 
 tingham, whose abilities and character well fitted 
 him for his high station, whose eulogium is given 
 
 of Lauderdale, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 555 
 
 Chap. IIL 
 
 m few words by Burnet: "His great parts and SECTION 
 greater virtues were so conspicuous, that it would IV 
 be a high presumption to say any thing in his " 
 commendation." 
 
 Sir Philip Warwick now also ended a useful and "f 
 virtuous career. He was first selected by Bishop '''''• ^''~'"' 
 Juxon to assist him in his duties when he was * 
 Lord High Treasurer. He afterwards accom- 
 panied the King in his exile. He was esteemed 
 a man of great public spirit, of high honour and 
 integrity, and superior to all the temptations of 
 riches and preferment, and to his memoirs of 
 Charles I. this History is much indebted. 
 
 And the last to be mentioned in intimate con- a„d.he Ear. 
 nexion with the history, is the death of Anthony "^ ^'""■'-'"'t. 
 Ashley Cooper. Earl of Shaftesbury, one of the 
 most extraordinary men of his day, formed by 
 Cod with a capacity for mighty actions, which 
 indeed, he accomplished, not so much by desiim' 
 as accident. But he was too unstable to excel' 
 He was too subtle and wicked to arrive at honour- 
 able distinction. He was the author, or, occasion 
 of most of the unjustifiable acts of this reign 
 He was selfish, temporizing and vindictive. When 
 in power, the greatest tyrant; when out. the 
 greatest incendiary. Arbitrary in the one case 
 and seditious in the other; affording in his conduct 
 a striking illustration of his own observation : 
 Ihat wisdom lay in the heart, and not in the 
 aead. and that it was not the want of knowledge. 
 
556 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION but the perverseness of the will, that filled mens 
 IV. minds with folly, and their lives with disorder." 
 ^^^^i^ji^ Notwithstanding this wise saying, which is wor- 
 thy of a place in history, he lived without honour 
 and died in voluntaiy exile, under a cloud of in- 
 famy. He fled his native soil to avoid the arm of 
 justice ; but he had scarcely reached the shores of 
 Holland, when he was arrested by the hand of 
 death, in the sixty-second year of his age; but 
 the particulars attending it are unknown. 
 A formidable But although hc was gouc, yct the seeds of 
 A ^d"^!^ treason which he had scattered with such industry 
 before his departure, now sprung up and produced 
 a fatal harvest to many. The deep and desperate 
 measures of this unprincipled man, were over- 
 ruled, in order that the stability and glory of the 
 British Monarchy might ultimately rest on deep 
 and lasting foundations, yet many noble and 
 distinguished persons fell a sacrifice to his treason- 
 able projects. During the short period which 
 elapsed between his arrival in Holland and his 
 death, he was incessantly employed in encouraging 
 his fellow conspirators to immediate action, and 
 they were fatally attentive to his counsels. During 
 his absence, and immediately after his death 
 the Duke of Monmouth forgetting his high 
 duty and the debt of gratitude he owed the 
 King took charge of the hazardous and guilty 
 enterprise. His associates were the Lord Grey 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 557 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 pirators. 
 
 ofWark,.vho for some years, had been warmly SECTION 
 engaged m the designs of the party, and, espe- IV. 
 cially. smce he found that his private crimes were 
 not likely to pass unnoticed. Next, the Earl of 
 Essex, whose high spirit and secret ambition had 
 betrayed him into many dark designs, contrary to *'*'"« "f"-' 
 the advice and injunctions of his dying father *'°"'" 
 Next, the Lord Howard of Escrick, who had 
 always been a busy promoter of republican pro- 
 jects and innovations, in Church and State : and 
 one regrets to add the name of the Lord Russel a 
 person eminent for his integrity and piety, but 
 led astray from the path of duty by associating 
 with men of unfixed principles, who. deluded him 
 into the dangerous doctrine. « that resistance was 
 lawful upon the lesser as well as the greater in- 
 vasions of the constitution." Another, was Colonel 
 Algemon^Sydney. who had been deeply involved 
 in the guilt of the late confusions, and had so far 
 signalized himself in the " good old cause " that 
 he was actually nominated one of the King's 
 Judges, though he refused to act. And, lastly 
 John Hampden, who inherited the restless and 
 innovatmg temper of the family, affording striking 
 evidence of the truth of the maxim: " That the 
 violent defence of the best things, is. generally, 
 productive of pernicious consequences." 
 
 These were the principal promoters of the con- 
 spiracy. It would be tedious to mention the 
 names of the inferior actors who were, generally. 
 
558 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION bravoes and men of low and flagrant characters. 
 The design of the conspirators was two-fold. The 
 grand subject of their deliberations was a general 
 insurrection, the thirty-first of March, was the day 
 determined upon for a general rising. But the 
 most atrocious part of the plot was the assassina- 
 tion of the King, a project lately resolved upon by 
 the inferior agents, without the concurrence of 
 their leaders. 
 
 Every thing was now arranged. The King 
 Their Project, was at Ncwmarkct. The house of one of the 
 conspirators, between Newmarket and London, 
 which the King must pass on his return, was fixed 
 upon as the rendezvous of the assassins. This 
 place was called the Rye House, within two miles 
 of Hodsden in Hertfordshire, a place of some 
 natural strength, and well suited to their purpose. 
 They were already assembled, a barricade was to 
 be placed across the road as soon as the King's 
 approach was known. Forty of the boldest were 
 selected to attack the King's guard, whilst the 
 best marksmen were to direct their attention to 
 the King and the Duke of York, and keep up a 
 deadly fire upon the carriage. 
 
 All things were thus in a state of preparation, 
 frustrated, ^^^ ^hc couspirators were anxiously awaiting 
 the fatal hour, — when the whole design was 
 frustrated by a remarkable interposition of Pro- 
 vidence. It is one of those peculiar cases of 
 divine interference, which carries its own evi- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 559 
 
 Chap. in. 
 
 dence along with it: and puts it out of the power SECTION 
 of any reasonable being to dispute it. ,v 
 
 The King was at Newmarket unconsciously 
 enjoying the diversions of the race course, and 
 leading the way in mirth and dissipation, when a 
 sudden and alarming fire broke out, which in the . 
 space of a few hours destroyed one half of ihe^O:! 
 town. The King was obliged to leave his palace ""''• 
 and retire to a house so situated, as to be entirely 
 out of the reach, not only of the flames but even 
 of the dust and ashes. Finding himself so com- 
 fortably located, he determined to remain, and 
 conclude the diversions of the week. But he had 
 no sooner declared his resolution, than the wind 
 as If conducted by an invisible power, suddenly 
 ^hirled round and blew the smoke and cinders 
 directly on bis new lodgings, and, in a moment, 
 rendered them as untenantable as the other No 
 other place could be found for his accommodation 
 and he immediately prepared for his departure tJ 
 London, and with his royal brother passing the 
 ambush of the conspirators without observation 
 arnved at Whitehall in safety. 
 
 Many of the inferior agents suffered for this 
 daring plot; but nobler victims were sacrificed. 
 1 he unfortunate Earl of Essex, soon after he had 
 received a visit from the King and the Duke of 
 ^otk, stung with remorse and despair, put an end 
 his existence, in the very place, where he had 
 taken his last leave of his admirable father the 
 
560 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTFON Lord Capel, and, where he had received from 
 him a solemn injunction to adhere to the royal 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 561 
 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. III. 
 
 cause. 
 
 Russel. 
 
 But a still nobler victim, because a much better 
 man, was now brought to trial and execution— 
 the amiable Lord Russel, who persisted to the 
 last in justifying the share he had taken in the 
 conspiracy. He insisted on the lawfulness of re- 
 TriaiofLord sistance to constitutcd authority, on the invasion 
 of the subjects rights ; but of which he certainly 
 had not formed any precise or definite views. 
 On such vague grounds, his defence was unjustifi- 
 able; because it leaves every man, at his own 
 discretion, not only to pass an opinion on such 
 invasions, but to act as an avenger. A position 
 with the establishment of which, society could not 
 subsist. Dr. Burnet and Dean Tillotson attended 
 him in prison, and used all their powers to con- 
 vince him of his mistake. At that time, the most 
 extravagant and unwarrantable views of " passive 
 obedience and non-resistance," obtained amongst 
 all ranks of men. A circumstance which saved 
 the country from anarchy, and which shews it to 
 be a much safer doctrine than any undefined views 
 of resistance. Dean Tillotson was deeply in- 
 terested in the fate of the noble prisoner, and 
 wrote an earnest letter to him on the subject, 
 which lays down the doctrine of " non-resistance" 
 in general terms, and declares the contrary prin- 
 ciple to be inconsistent with the principles of 
 
 Christianity-contrary to the expressed doctrine of SECTION 
 
 the Church of England, which declares "that itis W 
 
 not lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take '"'"■■ "'• 
 
 up arms, &c."_and inconsistent with the general "-^^"^ 
 
 doctnne of the Protestant Churches. But this 
 
 was attempting to convince, more by authority 
 
 than argument; and it failed to convey to the 
 
 mind of ^is conscientious nobleman, a solution 
 
 of the difficulty under which he laboured. The 
 
 Dean's letter so far influenced him, as to lead him 
 
 to declare, « that he was now satisfied that nothing 
 
 bu a case of a very extraordinary nature could 
 
 justify subjects in taking up arms against their 
 
 ^nnce : that he was fully of opinion that no such 
 
 cause had been given by the King; but still he 
 
 thought such circumstances there might be. in 
 
 which It would be lawful for them to resist." 
 
 Being asked by the Dean what those cases were 
 
 he answered. " He had not considered the mat! 
 
 ter so far and fully; and, he had other things 
 
 more proper to be thought on at that time " 
 
 On the scaffold he behaved himself with great i . » 
 res^ation and piety. ..He had forgiven^ he '"^ 
 thl hl'd" ?'T''' '^^^^'^'^' --^ *!> -kedGod 
 
 all the Protestants might love one another and 
 not make for Popery by their animosities ' 
 
 After his death. Dean Tillotson was sent for by 
 the Kmg. and in his presence, strictly examined 
 by the privy council respecting Lord Russel's be- 
 "^' "• Nn 
 
562 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION haviour. The King, particularly commended the 
 ^V. Dean's own letter, and " wondered what could be 
 said to it." The Dean gave them Lord Russel's 
 opinion, and intimated that such was also his own, 
 adding : " That it was not impossible to find out 
 a case of exception, though he would not then 
 pretend to specify it. The Duke of York, who 
 was willing to believe there was no exception, with 
 some warmth, urged him to name the case. But 
 he was interrupted by the King, who said : 
 " Brother, the Dean speaks like an honest man." 
 Nor was it long before the Duke afforded in his 
 own conduct, ample data for arriving at a correct 
 opinion on this important subject. 
 
 Another victim of noble descent, but of a very 
 different character, next fell under the axe of the 
 executioner. This was Algernon Sydney, a man 
 of the Cromwellian school, labouring under the 
 delusion of a fanatical spirit. He pronounced 
 sentence on his judges, and appealed to God and 
 the world, against the injustice of his sentence. 
 He desired to be admitted to the presence of the 
 King, in order to convince him that the design of 
 the insurrection, was " to deliver him from oppres- 
 sion," and undertaken for his " interest and hon- 
 our." His prayer on the scaffold, was an extra- 
 ordinary performance, exhibiting sentiments of 
 Exalted piety, mingled with the " strange fire" of 
 enthusiasm and the delusions of a disordered mind, 
 concluding his thanks to God, in these words : 
 
 Algernon 
 Sydney. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 553 
 
 " '^^'' *°^ ^^^' Pe^itted me to be singled out section 
 as a witness of thv truth n„^ e .^ . SECTION 
 
 r»„er. • I.- / T ^ ^""^ '"'■ ^'lat OLD IV. 
 
 CAUSE m which I was engaged from my youth, . '^- '"• 
 and for which thou hast wonderfully declared ^^^ 
 
 prized the strength and mind of the nation, tri- ^'^ 
 umphed over all opposition, and arrived at the 
 height of his prosperity and glory. And. as if to 
 reward the nation for its justice, consistency and 
 submission, the hearts of the people were filled 
 with joy and satisfaction at the celebration of the 
 nuphals of the Princess Anne, second daughter 
 of the Duke of York, with George, brother to 
 the King of Denmark, a Protestant Prince of 
 great promise. The people testified their joy on 
 this occasion with every species of rejoicing, as 
 f they had foreseen their future happiness under 
 the auspices of the "good Queen Anne'" 
 
 In the meantime, the unhappy Duke of Mon- 
 mourti who had hitherto contrived to conceal him- 
 self from the pursuit of justice, now wrote a sub- 
 inissive letter to the King, in which he lamented 
 the share he had taken in the conspiracy, but dis- 
 avowed, as the rest of the nobles had done, having 
 any knowledge of that part of it which related to 
 tne Kmg s assassination. 
 
 but^admitte'f t"* ""T'^ ""'' °°^y P^'^°-^ J^-. --' - 
 but admitted him to his favour, on the condition IJ' °"'^ »^ 
 
 that he should subscribe a paper drawn up in "^ 
 
564 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION terms, agreeable to the confession contained in 
 IV. his letter. He might now have been happy : but 
 
 ^^^i^;4^ bis wavering soul torn with pride and ambition, 
 could not withstand the importunities of his friends 
 and companions, and unmindful of the calls of 
 duty and honour, he desired the King to restore 
 to him the paper which he had subscribed. The 
 King saw the danger of his fatal request, and expos- 
 tulated with his infatuated son : on the " evil con- 
 sequences which would follow his obstinacy." 
 But in vain. The King gave him till next day 
 to consider, when still persisting in his request, 
 he put the paper into his hands, and from that 
 moment, banished him from his court and pre- 
 sence. He retired to Holland, and never saw his 
 offended Sovereign again. 
 Duke of The Duke of York was now established in his 
 
 York supreme, authority and influence, which he exercised to the 
 utmost against those persons, who had hitherto as- 
 sailed his character with impunity ; and, amongst 
 the first, he brought an action of "scandalum 
 magnatum" against the notorious Titus Gates, 
 for calling him "Traitor," and applying to him 
 other scandalous and opprobrious epithets; but 
 his trial did not come on till the following reign, 
 when he received the just reward of all his per- 
 juries. 
 
 It would have been well, if the triumph which 
 the high and " Conservative " party had enabled 
 the goverment to achieve, had been used with 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 565 
 
 moderation but the Duke's influence was para- SECTION 
 junf and, measures of a strange, and arbitrary T 
 character were resorted to. ^ chap. m 
 
 An action of " Quo warranto " was directed 'IT^ 
 against the Corporation of the city of London to-"" 
 inquire upon what authority and title their privi- ^' "*• "**• 
 leges were exercised. The matter was pleaded 
 at the bar of the King's Bench, and argued on 
 both sides with great ability. But many acts of 
 the Corporation were alleged as illegal and in- 
 consistent with the terms of their charter; and it 
 was, therefore, pronounced « that it be seized into 
 the King's hands." The charter, however, was 
 returned, but with such alterations as placed the 
 election of the city magistrates, virtually, in the 
 power of the Crown. A general panic seized the 
 corporate bodies throughout the kingdom, and 
 they voluntarily delivered up their charters to the 
 will of the Sovereign, who graciously returned 
 them; and to the great satisfaction of the people 
 many of them, with greater privileges than before.' 
 
 even at TT ""'' ""'^ ^''^^°^ *° ^ '^'''' ^^' «--«' 
 even at such an eventful crisis, we cannot refrain b'""-? Money. 
 
 trom noticing the death of Bishop Morley, who 
 now finished a useful and benevolent career He 
 was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and after- 
 wards appointed chaplain to Charles I. He ac- 
 companied the present King in his exile; and, 
 after the restoration, he was promoted to the 
 Bishoprick of Worcester, and afterwards to that 
 
566 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION of Winchester ; the King telling him that " he 
 IV. knew he would never be the richer for it," — a pro- 
 
 ^^i^>^ phecy which he fulfilled to the letter. He spent 
 great sums of money in repairing and rebuilding 
 his episcopal residences, and still greater sums in 
 his benefactions and donations. He was muni- 
 ficent in his charities — calvinistic in his theology, 
 and primitive in his life, and died full of years 
 and honour, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. 
 The King A calm uow succccdcd, such as had not been 
 
 crowne wi expcricnced since the commencement of the 
 
 prosperity, ^ 
 
 reign. The dissenters, even, ceasing from their op- 
 position, became peaceable subjects, and, in most 
 instances conformed to the established church; 
 BO that if this state of things had continued a little 
 longer, the whole kingdom would have become 
 united in " one faith." The King through the 
 peculiar favour of Heaven, was promoted to great 
 honour, and advanced to the height of regal feli- 
 city. His revenues were increasing. His debts 
 diminishing. His enemies decaying, and his 
 friends flourishing, and he had now the finest 
 opportunity of promoting the welfare and happi- 
 ness of his subjects. But the hour of his triumph 
 was brief. His earthly career was about to ter- 
 minate, and his summons to appear before the 
 Judge of all, was even now impending ; and it is 
 pleasing to reflect that the summons found him 
 contemplating the foundation of Chelsea Hospital. 
 Nor was this all. He published a " declaration" 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 567 
 
 tude, the mvaluable mercy of God to him and his IV. 
 subjects; and, that in so dangerous a juncture of ^''*''"'- 
 public affairs, he had met with so many unfeigned '■^''^' 
 testimonies of love to his person, and zeal to his 
 Government from all degrees of men in the na- 
 tion." He was so convinced, indeed, that his 
 throne had been established, by the spontaneous 
 and patriotic exertions of the nation, that he let 
 fall expressions which intimated a change of 
 pohcy, as if he should not be dealing justly with a 
 people so generous and loyal, if he delivered them 
 up into the hands of his brother, of whose vin- 
 dictive temper he had lately had such manifest 
 proofs. 
 
 But whatever might have been his intentions, HisiUne» 
 t»s purposes were arrested by the hand of death. 
 He was seized on Monday the second of February 
 with apoplexy. But, being immediately bled by 
 a physician who happened to be present, he re- 
 wed. But it was only for a short season, and 
 only a few days were now allotted to the King of 
 England to prepare for his solemn account before 
 the judgment-seat of Him, in whose presence, 
 ijmgs and people are alike. The report of this 
 alarming illness filled the nation with grief and 
 consternation. Prayers were offered up in all 
 the churches: and if the fervency and sincerity 
 of prayer could always prevail, the King had been 
 reprieved. But Heaven saw otherwise. The 
 
-I^^-^, _ 
 
 568 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION fitting moment for the nation's great deliverance 
 IV. was arrived ; but for his father's sake, it was per- 
 
 y^^Ji^;-^ mitted the King to go down to the grave in peace 
 
 and honour. 
 Bishop Kenn In the meantime. Bishop Kenn, one of the most 
 
 waits upon humble and pious of men, having been lately pro- 
 moted to the Bishoprick of Bath, was permitted to 
 wait upon the King — a duty which he performed 
 with such devotion, that for three days ankl nights 
 he never left the couch of the royal sufferer- 
 watching, at proper intervals, to suggest topics of 
 pious thought suited to the solemn occasion — to 
 offer seasonable hints as the ground of repentance, 
 and to direct the King s mind to the great sacri- 
 fice of the gospel, as the sole ground of acceptance 
 with God. 
 His faithful Whilst engaged in these pious labours, the 
 
 conduct. Duchess of Portsmouth, the King s favourite mis- 
 tress, entered the apartment, when the worthy 
 prelate, lamenting such an interruption, with a 
 prompt fidelity, which nothing but upright prin- 
 ciple can furnish — desired the King that she 
 might be requested to retire. He prevailed ; and 
 embracing the opportunity which the circumstance 
 afforded him, represented to his Majesty " the 
 great injury and injustice" which had been done 
 by her, and others of the same character, to the 
 Queen. His representations in this respect also 
 prevailed. The Queen was summoned to the 
 apartment of her dying consort, who now, with 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 569 
 
 great humihty desired her pardon, which she SECTION 
 tenderly and generously granted. After this, the iJ. 
 Bishop devoted himself to his important charge ^-- "^• 
 and never left his bed-side for three days and' "^""^ 
 nights together. He forcibly urged upon the 
 royal mmd, the necessity of a full and sincere 
 repentance ; and, observing, as he thought, the 
 most favourable symptoms, he proposed to the 
 King, the celebration of the holy sacrament. But 
 m this, the desire of the Bishop was not to be 
 granted Whilst he was contemplating, with hc . sud. 
 rising hopes, the state of the King's mind and ^'"^^ ^^^'"^*«- 
 perceiving the awakening of a still deeper repent- ''* 
 ance, about to be sealed in the participation of the 
 Lord's supper-his attendance upon the Sovereign 
 was suddenly interrupted, and he was removed 
 irom his presence. 
 
 It was eight o'clock in the evening of Thursdav 
 the fifth of February, when all hopes of the King's dil'l p^L 
 recovery were given up, that the Duke of York 
 attended by Father Huddleston, a benedictine,' 
 the Marquis of Bath, and Lord Feversham, 
 Captam of the Guard, entered the King's apart- 
 ment. The King perfectly understood the inten- 
 tion of their visit, and readily accepted the ser- 
 vices of the cowled Priest, who immediately went 
 through, what may justly be entitled, the legerde- 
 main of religion, or, the incantations of Popery 
 m which the sublime and simple truths of Chris-' 
 tianity have been corrupted by th^ accumulated 
 
570 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION superstitions of ages. Fearful apostasy ! which 
 IV' refuses to be corrected by establishing the impas- 
 sable barrier of infallibility. But this is not the 
 place for observation. Keason, religion and com- 
 mon sense, having been ejected with the unpre- 
 tending Bishop — the King received the sacrament 
 of penance, or absolution fron sins, and " Extreme 
 unction," or, in other words, a passport to purga- 
 tory; and, to complete the fatal mystery, the 
 Eucharist, or, the idolatry of the wafer was enacted. 
 Thus without any attempt at that moral prepa- 
 ration, which had been so successfully commenced 
 by Bishop Kenn, the unhappy Monarch, was dis- 
 missed into eternity by the cold formalities and 
 false pretensions of Popery, which, if they pro- 
 duced any effect at all upon their deluded votary, 
 on their own shewing, sunk him amidst the dark 
 shades of a profound night, to expiate, or, to purge 
 the remaining feculencies of his nature, in the 
 depths of a purgatorial abyss. If it were lawful 
 or availing to pray for the dead, who would not 
 pray for the soul of Charles II, who was thus 
 surreptitiously plunged into the fires of purgatory? 
 Thus died Charles II, in the bonds of the 
 Popish Faith, to which he had " sold himself" 
 during his exile, on terms, the fulfilment of which 
 were never realized; and, it is remarkable, that 
 with this reservation in favour of the church of 
 Rome, to whose spiritual authority he had sub- 
 mitted, he should have conducted himself with 
 
 His character. 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 571 
 
 such impartiality and fidelity towards the reformed SECTION 
 faith of the Church of England. It is evident 
 that his submission to the Romish faith, was not 
 the result of conviction, but imagined expediency 
 Nor had he time to acquire any great prejudices 
 m Its favour. His prepossessions, therefore, were 
 strongly English ; and, from the moment of his 
 Restoration, he seemed determined not to allow 
 his submission to the Church of Rome, to inter- 
 fere with the institutions of his country. He 
 ruled the church with a steady and impartial 
 hand, and, at one period, to prevent the importu- 
 mties of some, placed his church patronage in 
 the hands of Commissioners, who filled their trust 
 with satisfaction to the nation. 
 
 His understanding was of the highest order 
 and although abandoned to licentious pleasures' 
 he was capable of achieving the greatest enter-' 
 pnzes, as he discovered, in many instances, during 
 this period of history. His genius inclined him 
 to naval affairs, in which he most delighted, and 
 had the forms of government permitted him to 
 command his own fleet, he would undoubtedly 
 nave signalized himself. 
 
 Upon the whole, he was a most indulgent 
 Monarch, holding the reins of Government with 
 mercy and clemency : under his sway, the nation 
 flounshed, and, learning without being directly 
 patronized, enlarged its boundaries to an unpre- 
 cedented extent. The just mention of the names 
 
572 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. 111. 
 
 SECTION of the learned men of this period, would, of itself, 
 IV. require a volume. The resources of the country 
 were increased. " The Protestant principle " be- 
 came firmly established. The Church of Eng- 
 land was grounded and settled on the surest foun- 
 dations, which enabled it, successfully, to with- 
 stand the shock which was even then preparing. 
 The country, under the peculiar interposition of 
 Providence, had been saved from a premature ex- 
 plosion, until the principles which were destined 
 to carry it on in its future distinguished career, 
 were fully established and confirmed in the minds 
 of the people. The moment for the important 
 struggle was now approaching, and the Almighty 
 Governor, selecting England for his honoured in- 
 strument, was about once more, to display his 
 power in checking the insolency of that usurping 
 power which had so long debased the minds of 
 the Kings and Princes of the Earth, '' and made 
 them drunk with the wine of her fornications." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 JAMES II_THE GREAT PRINCIPLES OF THE BRITISH 
 
 CONSTITUTION EVOLVED. PROTESTANT ASCENDANCY. 
 
 THE MONARCHICAL POWER, AND THE PRINCIPLE 
 
 OF TOLERATION, ARE SOLEMNLY RECOGNISED AND 
 
 ESTABLISHED. 
 
 Such was the generosity of the English nation. SECTION 
 
 hat whilst they lamented, with deep affliction. W 
 
 their late beloved Sovereign, they not only dis- ^''*-- '^■ 
 
 Zthf T r^°''.''°° '' *^ ^'^'=^^^«^°° °f his "iirir 
 
 ^rotner, but received him for their King with ™"'«^^- 
 as al M "^^T'''''''"' «« fr«« and unshackled 
 
 Sh :c'epi°:"^' *^* '^^ ---^^^ ^^« ^^S- 
 
574 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 His solemn 
 Promises. 
 
 But there was one splendid feature in his 
 character which inspired their confidence. He 
 was an inviolable observer of his word. The 
 truth and honour of the Duke of York were pro- 
 verbial. Nor were they unmindful of the courage 
 he had manifested, and the heroic deeds which he 
 had performed in defence of his country. And, 
 although, as King, he afterwards departed from 
 the high principles which had adorned the Prince, 
 and became the deceiver of his people and the 
 betrayer of their liberties, yet their integrity and 
 uprightness, under the divine favour, secured them 
 a bloodless and glorious triumph ! 
 
 Indeed, every thing in the King's conduct 
 seemed to justify their confidence. He did not 
 allow them time to hesitate in forming an opinion 
 in his favour. But on the very first opportunity in 
 the presence of his Privy Council, he made a 
 solemn Declaration, in which he abjured all no- 
 tions of "Arbitrary Power" and expressed his 
 intention of preserving the Government both in 
 CHURCH and state as by law established. 
 " I know" he said, " the principles of the Church 
 of England are for Monarchy, and, the members 
 of that Church have shewn themselves good and 
 loyal subjects, therefore, I shall always take care 
 to defend and support it. I know too, that the 
 Laws of England are sufficient to make the King 
 as great a Monarch as I can wish, and as I shall 
 never depart from the just rights and prerogatives 
 
 OP ENGLISH history. 
 
 575 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 property I have often, heretofore, ventured my IV. 
 life m defence of the nation, and I shall still go as " 
 
 \T T,.f '° '"'' P'^^^'^i^g it in all its just 
 rights and liberties." ' 
 
 iJ^'l^'fT}'"' ^^' I'™*''^ ^°d circulated „,,, ^ 
 hroughoutthe kingdon:, and produced the live- Ma":'"""* 
 liest demonstration of loyal affection and devotion 
 from all ranks of people; and, although their 
 bright anticipations of the future were, in some 
 measure, overcast by the King's attending mass 
 in the most public manner, in St. James' Chapel, 
 with all the insignia of royalty, on the following 
 Sunday.-still they depended upon his royal word 
 Addresses flowed in from all parts of his domin- 
 ions, from Counties, Corporations, Universities 
 and Inns of Law. These addresses were filled 
 with the most loyal and patriotic sentiments, and 
 discovered a people, not more just and generous, 
 than sensible of their high privileges, and ready 
 when necessary, to defend them. 
 
 The Scottish Pariiament met on the twenty- 
 eighth of March, and followed in the same strain 
 --ofrenng their dutiful submission, and expressing 
 their high sense and admiration of their happy 
 constitution, and expressing their unshaken con- 
 Mence m his truth and wisdom. 
 Whilst the elections for the English Parliament i-i. ■ 
 
 WPrA T»^^r»«^j- •, ° "^^ J- aiiiduienc The perjurer 
 
 were proceeding with great calmness and unanim- ^-^^^^ 
 ^ty-the prosecution of Titus _Oates was com- 
 
576 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 His cruel 
 sentence. 
 
 SECTION pleted. He was indicted at the bar of the King's 
 IV. Bench for perjury, and though he defended him- 
 self with much acuteness and great presence of 
 mind, he was found guilty on several indictments ; 
 and, whatever may have been the demerits of 
 this wretched informer, his sentence was of the 
 most barbarous description, and was executed 
 with monstrous severity. He was not only fined 
 one thousand marks on each indictment ; but he 
 was to stand twice in the pillory, to be whipped 
 one day from Aldgate to Newgate, and the other 
 from Newgate to Tyburn ; and, during his whole 
 life, as a memorial of his villainy to stand four 
 times a year in the pillory. Dangerfield was 
 tried and treated in a similar manner, and Fitz- 
 harris shared the same fate. But there was 
 another culprit of a different character arraigned 
 before the same inhuman Jeffries — not for per- 
 jury, but as the head of the Dissenting party, 
 which had fallen into disgrace with the new 
 Parliament. This was the famous Presbyterian 
 Divine, Kichard Baxter, a voluminous polemical 
 writer. Some of his former productions were 
 brought before the public and severely animad- 
 verted upon by the " Observator," a political writer 
 of that day, especially his "holy Commonwealth," 
 and his " Saints everlasting rest." In this last 
 work, he had in effect, placed Pyrnm^ Hampden and 
 the Lord Brook, who died in actual rebellion, 
 amongst the Saints in Heaven ; which was inter- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 577 
 
 preted either as a serious defect in his judgment, SECTION 
 or a strong mclination to their cause. His accu- IV. 
 sation, however, was founded on several passages ^"^''- '^• 
 taken from his late work, entitled "A Paraphrase "-^^""^"^ 
 on the New Testament," which it was alleged, 
 reflected upon the prelates of the church of Engi 
 land. The venerable Presbyter was treated with 
 great scurrility by the Chief Justice, who threat- 
 ened him with the pillory. He was found guilty 
 by the Jury, and sentenced to be fined five huii- 
 dred marks. Certainly, this trial of Richard 
 Baxter is a remarkable circumstance ; and, what- 
 ever might be the intention of Providence in per- 
 mitting such a visitation on one so eminent for 
 christian piety, yet we cannot but remember his 
 obstinacy and vanity, by which, in a great mea- 
 sure, he frustrated the hopes of union in the church 
 Catholic, at the commencement of the late reign. 
 Still his prosecution discovers too manifestly, the 
 violent and vindictive temper of the government, 
 and the absurdity of the attempt to fasten treason 
 on the works of Baxter. 
 
 The Parliament assembled on the nineteenth of Parliament. 
 May : and was certainly the most noble assembly ^' ^- ^<^- 
 in rank, wealth, and ability, that had ever met at 
 Westminster. It was, indeed, a just representa- 
 tjon of the mind and property of the kingdom, 
 ine King m the fullest manner repeated what he 
 had asserted in his declaration before the Privy 
 Council, and even quoted the very words ; and. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 O 
 
578 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Invasion of 
 England, 
 
 SECTION to leave no doubt upon the minds of men respect- 
 I^« ing his sincerity, he added, alluding to the words 
 of his declaration : " I spoke them not by chance^ 
 and, consequently, you may firmly rely upon a 
 PROMISE so solemnly made." 
 
 It will be remembered that in the year sixteen 
 hundred and eighty-one, the Earl of Argyle was 
 tried and condemned for high treason, but, al- 
 though his sentence was respited, and even a par- 
 don was promised, yet he fled from his native 
 country; nor was the place of his concealment 
 known, till, on the death of the late King, he was 
 found at Amsterdam, in correspondence with the 
 Duke of Monmouth and other English malecon- 
 tents. These fiery and ambitious spirits were 
 meditating deep designs against their country, 
 which were to end in their own discomfiture and 
 ruin. Their rashness and imprudence now hasten- 
 ed the catastrophe. 
 First, by the Having concerted their measures for invading 
 
 Earl of Argyle. -gj^g^^j^j^ the Earl of Argylc, impatient to satisfy 
 
 his revenge, without waiting for the Duke of 
 Monmouth, set sail from Holland with three small 
 vessels, and, after encountering some difficulties 
 by sea, landed on the West of Scotland, near 
 Dimstafnage, But he was soon defeated and 
 taken prisoner ; and sent to Glasgow. Within a 
 few days, like the vilest malefactor, he was con- 
 ducted into Edinburgh with his hands tied behind 
 him, and bare-headed, with the hangman carrying 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 579 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 His death. 
 
 an axe before him; and, without any ceremony SECTION 
 or even speech, he was beheaded in the market- rv. 
 cross. His head was fixed on the Toll-booth, 
 affording an eminent example of the righteous 
 judgment of God, when -he maketh inquisition 
 for blood." On his unhappy head was visited 
 the cruel and ignominious death of the Marquis 
 of Montrose, and, under circumstances of such 
 striking similarity, that it was remarked at the 
 time—" That the late Earl of Argyle was taken 
 in the same month of the year, in the same week 
 of the month, in the same day of the week, and 
 in the same hour of the day, (to say nothing that 
 he passed through the same gate) as that Marquis 
 of Montrose, whose murder, perhaps, was one of 
 the foulest blots in the history of that nation."* 
 
 Whilst these things were transacting in Scot- By the Duke 
 land, the Duke of Monmouth had landed hiso^Monluth.' 
 forces at Lyme, in Dorsetshire; and, however 
 formidable such an expedition might have been 
 under such a leader, whose courage and conduct 
 had been tried, whose sentiments were highly 
 popular with the nation, and whose person was 
 greatly beloved— the whole enterprise was frus- 
 trated, by the ioconceivable rashness of the Earl 
 of Argyle ; and, although it proved fatal to the 
 leaders themselves, it was a fortunate thing for 
 their country that the measures of the confede- 
 rates were not better concerted, and their strength 
 
 • Echard. 
 
580 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Conduct of 
 Parliament. 
 
 SECTION duly concentrated. As it was, the people flocked 
 IV. to the Duke of Monmouth in great numbers, but 
 he had neither arms, horses, nor ammunition with 
 which to supply them, and many were obliged to 
 return home. Such, however, was his success, 
 that in a few days he advanced to Taunton, where 
 he was welcomed with acclamations of joy, and 
 was proclaimed King of England. 
 
 But he had to contend single-handed against a 
 united kingdom. Never had a Parliament a more 
 difficult task to perform ; and never were modera- 
 tion and high principle more nobly displayed in 
 the conduct of any assembly. In this conjuncture 
 they acted with great resolution. They voted an 
 address to the King in which they assured him of 
 their unshaken loyalty — settled upon him, for life, 
 the ample revenue enjoyed by his brother at his 
 demise ; and whilst they voted large supplies for 
 his Majesty's service, they did not detract from 
 their generosity by any attempt to invade or limit 
 the royal prerogatives; but merely stated that 
 they relied entirely on his Majesty's royal word, 
 to support the religion of the Church of England, 
 which they added " was dearer to them than 
 
 THEIR LIVES." 
 
 The Duke, meanwhile, had advanced to Bridge- 
 water, at the head of five thousand men, whilst 
 the King's forces under the Earl of Feversham, 
 hastening to oppose him, were encamped within 
 a few miles of Sedgemore. On that very night, 
 
 Battle of 
 Setlgemore, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 581 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 the Duke having received intelligence that the SECTION 
 King's troops were very remiss, resolved to at- 'V. 
 tack them in their camp, which he did with great 
 gallantry and effect. But having lost his guide 
 in the darkness, a large body of his men, were 
 entangled for some time in a morass, which 
 afforded time to the King's forces to rally. The 
 battle was sharply contested for some time, but, 
 at last, ended in the total defeat of the Duke, who 
 fled from the field in disguise. But the hour of 
 his retribution was at hand. — And his ambition^ 
 ingratitude, and treason, were about to receive 
 their just chastisement. He wrote a submissive 
 letter to the King, and the Queen Dowager inter- 
 ceded for his life. But in vain. His fate was no 
 longer in the hands of the indulgent Charles. 
 About ten o'clock in the morning, on the fifteenth 
 of July, he was led forth to execution, attended by 
 a strong guard, who had orders to take his life if 
 any rescue were attempted. He was not without 
 strong religious impressions, but they were tinc- 
 tured with enthusiasm, which led him into error 
 both in doctrine and practice. He laid his head 
 on the block with calm fortitude. The execu- 
 tioner in vain reiterated his strokes, and, at length, 
 threw down the axe in horror. He endured these 
 tortures with meek submission and patient firm- 
 ness. And at length, in fulfilment of his sentence 
 his head was severed from his body, in the thirty- 
 sixth year of his age. 
 
582 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTrON 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Prodigious 
 cruelties. 
 
 The King*s 
 afikirs. 
 
 The King had now an opportunity of displaying 
 his mercy and benignity in the pardon of the 
 numerous offenders; but such noble sentiments 
 were incompatible with his inclinations and future 
 designs. Fear and terror were the order of the 
 day. Judge Jefferies was the instrument of his 
 vengeance. Accompanied with four other Judges 
 and a party of soldiers commanded by Colonel 
 Kirke, he proceeded on his commission; and 
 concluded his bloody circuit at Exeter, in which 
 he had condemned more than five hundred per- 
 sons, of which numbers two hundred and thirty 
 were executed ; and the wicked Judge was heard 
 to boast, that ''he had hanged more men than 
 all the Judges of England, since the time of Wil- 
 liam the Conqueror." Nor was his avarice less 
 abhorrent than his cruelty. His pardons were 
 as ready for those who could purchase them, as his 
 executions were certain for those who could not. 
 On one occasion he received £14,000. It is im- 
 possible to describe the horrors that followed in 
 •the train of this commission. Law, and justice, 
 and even decency, were outraged ; and the Judge 
 and his inhuman ally. Colonel Kirke, returned 
 in triumph to London ; and, lest it should be pos- 
 sible to ascribe these enormities to the Judge and 
 his accomplices, Jefferies was created a Peer of 
 the realm and Lord High Chancellor of England! 
 
 The King's affairs were now firmly established, 
 and seemed to promise a long and settled felicity ; 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 583 
 
 and, had he stood firm to his engagements with SECTION 
 Parliament, he would have reigned happy and IV. 
 beloved at home, and might even have effected ^"*^•^^'• 
 what he declared to be his intention : " To carry 
 the kingdom's reputation yet higher in the world, 
 than ever it had been in the time of his ancestors." 
 But deaf to all faithful counsel, and unmindful of 
 his most solemn promises, this infatuated Prince 
 was persuaded by his Romish flatterers and ad- 
 herents, to believe that he had " the fairest op- 
 portunity," with a Parliament of undoubted loyalty 
 and a church which upheld the doctrine of non- 
 resistance — to secure the ascendancy of the Ro- 
 man Catholic Church. 
 
 In defiance of all the lessons which he might 
 have received during the last reign from the wise 
 and conciliatory conduct of his brother— he had 
 now taken his resolution, and was about to afford 
 to the English nation, the most convincing and 
 infallible proofs of the false and pernicious prin- 
 ciples of that arbitrary power, which, under the 
 name of religion, arrogates to itself universal 
 secular domination. 
 
 On the meeting of Parliament, the King seemed His boidc 
 to bid defiance to all conciliation, and, even pru- ^"*^'- 
 dence. He intimated that the militia in which 
 they had so much confided, was insufficient for 
 the safety of the country. He plainly told them 
 that, he must have supplies to support a standing 
 army, which he had increased to fifteen thousand 
 
 con- 
 
584 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION men. Without circumlocution, he told them he 
 I^' had employed many Popish officers in the late 
 
 ClIAP IV 
 
 v^^-^^>xL/ rebellion, in whose persons he had dispensed with 
 the Test required by law ; and declared his reso- 
 lution, neither " to expose them to disgrace, nor 
 himself to the want of their services." 
 
 This bold declaration of the King's intention 
 to wield the power of dispensing with the law, 
 
 Moderation i n i • i • • 
 
 of Parliament could not bc allowcd to pass without notice in 
 in England, the asscmbly of the conservators of liberty. They 
 remonstrated with great respect and submission. 
 But their remonstrance received from the King a 
 brief and positive rejection. Such however, was 
 the moderation of the Parliament, and such their 
 fear of the consequences of a breach with the 
 sovereign power, that they determined to preserve 
 their temper, and conduct their opposition with 
 wisdom and prudence. They voted the necessary 
 supplies, amounting to J 100,000, and even went 
 so far, as to offer the Kipg to capacitate, by law, 
 as many Eoman Catholic officers as he should be 
 pleased to nominate. 
 
 But the ill-fated Monarch, urged on by the ve- 
 hement impulses of false religious impressions, 
 was determined to pursue his course. He rejected 
 the conciliatory offers of the Commons ; and when 
 he found the House of Lords, led on by the Mar- 
 quis of Halifax and the Bishop of London, dis- 
 posed to follow the same firm and dignified line 
 of conduct, he prorogued the Parliament. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY* 
 
 585 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 A. D. I(>86. 
 
 The King had now advanced to the height of SECTION 
 his power. Having dismissed his Parliament— IV. 
 increased his army— and possessed himself of an 
 ample revenue, he began to manifest more openly, 
 his design of aggrandising and establishing his 
 religion on the ruinS of the Protestant liberties of 
 his country. 
 
 His first attempt to raise the superstructure of in Scotland. 
 arbitrary power w^as in Scotland. To this he was 
 tempted by the strong expressions of submission, 
 which the Parliament of that kingdom had made, 
 immediately on his accession. By his Commis- 
 sioner the Earl of Murray, he signified to them 
 his anxious wish, that they should abolish all the 
 penal statutes, and repeal all laws and tests which 
 had been levelled against " his innocent Roman 
 Catholic subjects." The subject was calmly de- 
 bated by the Parliament, and it was, at length, 
 resolved that, the Roman Catholics should be 
 allowed the free and undisturbed exercise of their 
 religion, in private. This was far from satisfac- 
 tory to the royal mind, who soon after prorogued 
 the Assembly. 
 
 His measures in Ireland were carried on with 
 less disguise. The Duke of Ormond, the friend 
 of Charles I, of Clarendon, of Southampton and 
 Albemarle, was Lord Lieutenant— a nobleman 
 who had run the most distinguished career- 
 maintained an unblemished reputation — discover- 
 ed the most inviolable fidelity to the Protestant 
 
586 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION religion, and was the friend of the English as well 
 IV. as the Irish nation. Such was the justice and 
 impartiality of his administration that he gave 
 satisfaction to all parties. But a man of his cha- 
 racter was utterly unsuited to the designs of the 
 King, and, he was recalled. The Irish Privy 
 Council was immediately dissolved, and, soon 
 after, filled with a majority of Papists. The next 
 step was to disarm the Protestants ; which was 
 done in the most subtle nfanner, by the clamour of 
 pretended false plots ; and, to secure their victory, 
 they proceeded to remodel the army, which was 
 entirely Protestant, and consisted of five thousand 
 men. 
 
 Indeed, the counsel of the Popish Cabal at 
 Court, with the King and Queen at its head, be- 
 came drunk with furious zeal, insomuch that they 
 were restrained by the more prudent of the Popish 
 nobility; and, to satisfy in some measure, the 
 rising jealousies of the English nation, the Earl 
 of Clarendon, was appointed Lord Lieutenant of 
 Ireland. But, at the same time, under the cover 
 of his name, the Earl of Tyrconnel was appointed 
 military Lieutenant, a man, who for the blindness 
 of his prejudices and the fury of his temper had 
 no equal. He placed no boundary to his arbitrary 
 conduct, displacing officers and discharging the 
 common soldiers at his will and pleasure, treating 
 them with contempt and insult, and supplying 
 their places with the most virulent Papists, 
 
 Conduct of 
 the Rarl of 
 Tjrconnel. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 587 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 When Tyrconnel had accomplished his design, SECTION 
 he went over into England to consult with the IV. 
 faction, by whom he had been commissioned, and 
 to solicit for himself the government of Ireland. 
 The Queen, Father Petre, and the Earl of Sun- 
 derland seconded his request ; but the King still 
 hearkened to the more prudent advice of the Po- 
 pish Lords, and sent an assurance to the Earl of 
 Clarendon, that he had no design or inclination to 
 remove him ; but before the end of the year, the 
 restless party obtained their object, and Tyrcon- 
 nel was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 
 The Protestants filled with terror, and apprehen- 
 sive at the prospect of another massacre, deserted 
 their country in vast numbers — a circumstance 
 which tended to rouse the public mind in Eng- 
 land, and to prepare the way for the great catas- 
 trophe of the reign. 
 
 Whilst the minds of the people were thus agi- Massacre 
 tated, an event occurred which tended still more ^""'** 
 to kindle the flame of discontent, and to increase, 
 to the utmost, the animosity of the public against 
 the Romish communion. This was the revoca- 
 tion of the edict of Nantz by the French Monarch, 
 and the cruel and bloody massacre of the Protes- 
 tants of that kingdom. It is said that half a mil- 
 lion of the most skilful and industrious inhabitants 
 of France deserted their country. Fifty thousand 
 landed on our own shores and spread such reports 
 of the tyranny of their oppressors, as roused the 
 
I 
 
 588 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION indignation of the people, and brought back the 
 IV. remembrance of "the bloody and persecuting 
 
 Chap. IV. • -j n -n >» 
 
 y^^-^^,,.^^ spmt of Popery. 
 
 The nation now saw with alarm, the gulph 
 prepared for themselves ; and every measure pur- 
 sued by the Government, tended to increase and 
 confirm it. The King, goaded on by the counsels 
 of his Queen and Father Petre, his confessor, 
 whom he had made a Privy Counsellor, hastened 
 and precipitated every measure for the re-establish- 
 ment of Popery. 
 
 Ireland having been secured, it was now de- 
 termined to attempt England, but with more cau- 
 tion and under the specious appearances of law. 
 Popery was allowed once more to display its real 
 character, and to shew that no moral restraints 
 can afford any barrier against its stretches after 
 power. The King s honour was forgotten ; his 
 word falsified, and his reputation given up to 
 reproach, for the purpose of serving their reli- 
 gion. He had been taught that the sacred cause 
 of Holy Catholic Church, and the furtherance of 
 its interests, were paramount to every human obli- 
 gation. 
 The King The King's first attack on the liberties of the 
 
 corrupts the natiou was in Westminster Hall — the ancient 
 
 Judges. . 
 
 seat of Justice, — and he determined if possible, to 
 fill those venerable seats with Judges who should 
 assert his " dispensing power," or in other words, 
 should execute or break the Laws at his com- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 589 
 
 mand. Nor was it long. He commenced a new SECTION 
 system of policy, which, at that time, was called IV. 
 "closeting," and consisted of private conferences ,^^^^;^ 
 with the Judges and leading Members of Parlia- 
 ment. The first person on whom he tried his 
 power of persuasion, was Sir T. Jones, Lord Chief 
 Justice, who had, on more than one occasion, 
 shewed himself sufficiently obsequious to his 
 wishes, but to his immortal honour he now steadily 
 resisted the King's solicitations and plainly told 
 him : " He could not do it." To which the King 
 replied, "He would have twelve Judges of his 
 own opinion." To which Sir Thomas answered, 
 " Probably his Majesty might find twelve Judges 
 of his own opinion, but he would scarcely find 
 twelve Lawyers of that mind." The result of 
 this, and other " closetings " was, that the refrac- 
 tory Judges received their " quietus ;" and others 
 who would comply with the King's wishes, were 
 nominated in their room. In the same manner 
 the King remodelled his Privy council, and four 
 influential and zealous Papists were sworn into 
 that important office and honourable distinction. 
 
 Every thing was now prepared for a vigorous 
 attack upon the constitutional and religious prin- 
 ciples of the nation. The Judges corrupted, 
 —the Privy Council secured, and the army in- 
 creased. 
 
 The "dispensing power" of the King was Their unjust 
 openly avowed and set up, and, to give it some-^'"'''* 
 
 \ 
 
590 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Patriotic cou 
 duct of the 
 Clergy. 
 
 SECTION thing of a legal sanction, eleven, out of the twelve 
 IV. Judges, gave it as their solemn and deliberate 
 opinion that, it was an ancient and " inseparable " 
 right and prerogative of the Kings of England, to 
 dispense with the laws on great and "necessary 
 occasions," of which he himself was the sole 
 Judge. 
 
 These bold advances of the Sovereign power 
 filled the minds of all men with astonishment and 
 alarm, and laid the deep foundations of a de- 
 termined and successful resistance ; and in this 
 trying juncture, the English church is once more 
 destined to be the Saviour of the liberties of the 
 country. The Houses of Parliament were silenced. 
 The Bench of the Judges was seduced : but the 
 guardians of the national faith were on their guard 
 — and faithful to their trust. The pulpits every 
 where resounded with polemical discourses against 
 Popery, whilst the press daily sent forth composi- 
 tions distinguished for their depth of learning — 
 the power of their eloquence, and the extent of 
 their erudition. 
 
 To check and overawe the Clergy, who from 
 their peculiar position in society, were now the 
 great champions of the liberties and religion of 
 their country, through the advice of his Popish 
 counsellors, ever fruitful in invention, a court of 
 inquisition was established, entitled an " Eccle- 
 siastical Commission." This Commission was 
 a violent infraction of all law, and to render it 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 591 
 
 The Clergy 
 
 the more virulent, even Roman Catholics were SECTION 
 appointed Commissioners. The Lord Chancellor IV. 
 Jefferies was at the head of it, and the authority ^^''^' ^^• 
 of the Court extended to all Ecclesiastical causes 
 and persons, to deprive or suspend, at their will 
 and pleasure. 
 
 Nor was it long before the Commissioners ,,,,,ergy 
 shewed the extent of their jurisdiction in the sus-'^^^veacheck. 
 pension of Doctor Compton, the Bishop of Lon- 
 don. This active prelate, by a conduct worthy 
 of his noble birth, and his high station in the 
 church, had acquired the love and esteem of the 
 Protestant Church at home and abroad ; and, was, 
 on that account, more eminently, the mark of the 
 envy and hatred of the Romish party at Court ; 
 and an occasion now offered, at once to ennoble 
 the " Ecclesiastical Commission " and to humble 
 their formidable opponent. But they succeeded 
 not. Heaven had designed this man as the prin- 
 cipal agent in the salvation of the country from 
 that " popish and arbitrary power " which was 
 then in the ascendant, and was intent upon over- 
 whelming the civU and religious liberties of the 
 nation. 
 
 The first step of this political act, was a letter 
 sent by the King to the Bishop, expressly re- 
 quiring and commanding him, " forthwith to sus- 
 pend Doctor Sharp, from further preaching in any 
 parish church or chapel, until he had given him 
 
 1 
 
592 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION satisfaction, and his further pleasure be known 
 IV. herein." 
 
 \.^-^^^^^ Doctor Sharp was at that time Rector of St. 
 the Bisho^ of ^^^^^ ^^^ Dean of Norwich, and was, afterwards, 
 London. Archbishop of York, and was much admired for 
 his talents in the pulpit. He had made himself 
 particularly obnoxious to the Court party, by the 
 eloquence and learning with which he vindicated 
 the church of England against the errors of Po- 
 pery. This was his only offence, and the Bishop 
 perceived that the design was to forbid all preach- 
 ing against Popery, and the result of it would be 
 to suspend all the eminent preachers in England. 
 He endeavoured to divert the storm that threat- 
 ened the church and clergy, and wrote a submis- 
 sive letter to the King, assuring him of his loyalty 
 and his readiness to obey his Majesty in whatso- 
 ever commands he laid upon him, that he could 
 perform with a safe conscience. But in this he 
 continued, he was to proceed according to law, 
 and that no judge could condemn a man before 
 he had knowledge of the cause and had " cited 
 the party." The Bishop despatched this letter 
 by Doctor Sharp himself, assuring the King, that 
 he was ready to make any satisfaction to him 
 that he could desire. But the Doctor could not 
 gain access to the royal presence, and no answer 
 was returned to the Bishop's communication, until 
 he was summoned to appear before the " Eccle- 
 siastical Commission." The Bishop conducted 
 
 Ciup. IV. 
 
 A novel 
 Spectacle. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 593 
 
 himself during the whole procecU,,., , k- v, 
 
 leammg. But law ,„d „ason prcvofie,! „„,. Tl,e 
 Kings command wm, p,„„„„„ced ft„„ „,„ ^ " 
 
 In the meantime, the Kini? urged bv <!,„ 
 counsel of the Jp<!n,-f= „u ^ ^ ^"^ 
 
 exned.-t/^ ^^ surrounded him, to 
 
 expedite his purposes after the example of the 
 French King, by the " short arguments of miU 
 ay missionaries," and fully determined on the 
 
 w : ThT °' f f ^'°"' '' --'^'"^ !' 
 
 MOW Heath. A regular camp was formed 
 under tJie command of the Earl of Fever hTm 
 and a chapel was erected at head quarterlfor r* 
 daily celebration of mass and T ^ 
 
 eCat and splendour to Te "rampLSIheT" 
 >-self was in the habit of visitb^ t\ c l tm' 
 s ance which drew great multitudes o JZl 
 view and admire this military array Bu it 
 
 not witnessed without great iealo^?v' K ' 
 
 whoha,_,,^^„4-^-;-,b^^^^^ ,^ 
 
 rrth'";'^^^^^- ^^' '^- wa: onTz 
 
 :oT„ ^^'""°- "^^ "-"<^ ^«« Samuel 
 
 ^ "• Pp 
 
594 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Mr. Johoson^s 
 case. 
 
 SECTION Johnson ; and he drew up a short but powerful 
 IV. address, "to the English Protestants in King 
 James' army," which might well deserve a place in 
 this history, inasmuch as it contains sentiments, 
 which can never admit of change, whilst Popery 
 continues the same, usurping, intolerant power. 
 
 The tendency of this bold address was too fatal 
 to the Kings designs, to be left unpunished. 
 Mr. Johnson, the writer, was tried at the King's 
 Bench, and was sentenced to pay a fine of five 
 hundred marks — to be whipped from Newgate to 
 Tyburn, and to stand in the pillory at three dif- 
 ferent places, Westminster, Charing Cross, and 
 the Royal Exchange. And, preparatory to this 
 vindictive sentence, out of pretended respect to 
 the gown, he was degraded and despoiled of his 
 Ecclesiastical character before the Bishops of Dur- 
 ham, Rochester and Peterborough, who had been 
 appointed Commissioners of the See of London. 
 This cruel punishment produced a deep impres- 
 sion on the minds of the people, and the seeds 
 sown in his address to the soldiers took deeper 
 root, and no doubt promoted in a great measure, 
 that defection which afterwards discovered itself. 
 The King now undertook the "closeting" of 
 his courtiers and ministers, whom he warmly 
 solicited to be reconciled to the church of Rome. 
 He first undertook to manage the Earl of Sunder- 
 land, who was considered already too obsequious 
 to the royal wishes. The tenor of their discourse 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 595 
 
 pretender! J i ^'1'''"''^^'^^^' whether real or IV. 
 
 The King next tried his eloquence on the Earl a r 
 of Rochester, Lord High Treasurer, for whom he 
 entertained the highest esteem. The EarT a 
 
 ^ wearied ,h his solicitations. pLpoed t^^^ 
 
 asfented \1;" p' °" '°* '''''■ ^he King 
 assented. The Protestant champions were Doc! 
 
 1 Td'^*™'; ' ''''-'' ^^ ^''- J^ead a d 
 great radmg, and Doctor William Jane, a man 
 
 01 equallearmng and famous for his knowledge 
 of polemic divinity On th^ v ■ i. ■ "^'^^^^ 
 nno r-fc J J ^' "^ Popish side were 
 
 one Crifford, a Doctor nf ff,» c i 
 
 rity 1 2f ";^™"' "•' C«'l.»lic ..11,0. 
 
 mj mat the, „ere forced to q„i, the fi.H In ,1, ■ 
 
 high office .„o 7,Z """^ '""" '" 
 
 B.m.*stt?v"""""' '■'»'' •Vc.a.io.s of ,he 
 '"* •'"» '»"»<'■ 'h.. .he E.,1 ofCasUe. 
 
596 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION main was despatched as Ambassador extraordi- 
 IV. nary to the Court of Rome, to reconcile the three 
 
 ,^^^^y-^ kingdoms to the Apostolic see. But Pope Inno- 
 cent was too clever a politician to be deceived by 
 appearances. The King received nothing but 
 mortification from this embassy, and to make up 
 for this disappointment, he had recourse to a most 
 consummate piece of policy which took the na- 
 
 Extraonlinary . 
 
 acciaration. tiou by surprisc, and produced an indiscribal)le 
 sensation through all ranks of people. He pub- 
 lished a declaration, proclaiming liberty of con- 
 science throughout his dominions. The declara- 
 tion was drawn up in strains of the purest Pro- 
 testantism, and would have deserved to have been 
 ranked amongst the most enlightened monuments 
 of human wisdom, had not its projectors been 
 engaged at that very moment, in a conspiracy to 
 overthrow the laws of their country, and to destroy 
 every vestige of civil and religious liberty. 
 
 On the appearance of this declaration the whole 
 kingdom was filled with astonishment. The Dis- 
 Coniiuctof senters were ensnared with the golden bait, and 
 received the boon with every demonstration of joy 
 and satisfaction. They presented addresses of 
 thanks to the King, filled with such extravagant 
 and fulsome compliments, as to be offensive to the 
 very ears of Majesty itself. 
 
 But the churchmen stood firm to their princi- 
 ples, and drew back from the seductive influence 
 which they saw would be fatal to their religion 
 
 Dissenters 
 
 and Church- 
 
 men. 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 597 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 and laws. They refusecUherefore, to yoke them- .ection 
 selves to the chariot of arbitrary po4r, or. To ^V 
 unite m those laudatory addresses which daily 
 flowed into the Court from all parts of the ki„i 
 dom. " The loyal Church of England," to use 
 the words of a writer of that day, which had not 
 only preached but practiced obedience in all things 
 lawful, was now condemned as disloyal and dis- 
 obedient, because she could not exceed those 
 hmits ; and the Dissenters who were always reb- 
 els in speculation, and. in practice, whenever they 
 had an opportunity, were, in an instant become 
 the only "good subjects." This determined and 
 dignified conduct of the churchmen gave great 
 offence to the Court party, and they made it their 
 chief endeavour to widen the former breaches, and 
 to revive the animosities between the Church of 
 England and the Dissenters. But nothing could 
 divert the church from its proper course. Her 
 champions refused to betray their trust, and to be a 
 willing party in the destruction of their country 
 There were, however, some exceptions : Crew 
 the Bishop of Durham, Bariow of Lincoln, Cart, 
 wnght of Chester. Wood of Lichfield and Coven- 
 try. and Watson of St. David's, prevailed upon 
 some of their clergy to sign addresses of thanks 
 to the King. But these addresses were so jejune 
 and insipid, that they seemed more like the forced 
 thanks given by a corrected child to a severe 
 parent, than the free and hearty acknowledgments 
 
598 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 It 
 
 SECTION which flow from a grateful sense of real favour. 
 IV. Parker Bishop of Oxford, who, although he dis- 
 
 Chap. IV. 1 1 J T 1 ji • 
 
 \^^->sy^^^ played extraordinary zeal on this occasion, was 
 not so successful as these Court prelates. His 
 clergy could not be prevailed upon to sign an 
 address, which might prove of such dangerous 
 consequence to their religion, but to assure the 
 world that they were not actuated in their refusal, 
 by any sullen humour or disloyalty, they drew up 
 their reasons in writing, which they submitted to 
 their Bishop. 
 University of Whilst the rights and privileges of the nation 
 
 Cambridge in- ^^^^ invadcd ou cvcry side, whilst the Dissenters 
 
 vaued, '' 
 
 adored the hands that were fastening the chains 
 about their necks ; and whilst the corrupted Bish- 
 ops endeavoured to decoy their flocks into the same 
 compliance, the true sons of the church felt the 
 full weight of the storm which now began to dis- 
 charge its fury. It was first directed against the 
 Universities, those noble seats of learning and 
 piety, which in the most difficult times, had dis- 
 tinguished themselves for their loyalty and affection 
 to the crown. Cambridge was first attacked. A 
 mandate was sent by the King to the Vice Chan- 
 cellor, requiring him to admit Father Francis a 
 Benedictine Monk, to the degree of Master of 
 Arts, without administering to him the oaths re- 
 quired by law. The University proceeded with 
 great firmness and moderation, and refused com- 
 pliance on the ground of a conscientious adherence 
 
 599 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 to their solemn oaths, and their obligation to obey SECTION 
 the laws,-But in vain. They were summoned IV. 
 before the Ecclesiastical Commission, and al- 
 though they pleaded several explicit statutes and 
 Acts of Parliament, which prohibited the admis- 
 sion of an unqualified person, and urged their own 
 oaths to be faithful to their trust, the sentence of 
 the court was given against them— the Vice Chan- 
 cellor was deposed from his office, and. the Uni- 
 versity obliged to submit not only in this, but to 
 many succeeding mandates for fellowships, to the 
 great discouragement of learning and the disgust 
 of its friends. 
 
 The attack against the University of Oxford ,„d oxf„rd. 
 was still more formidable. A vacancy having ^o.iesr. 
 occurred in the presidentship of St. Mary Magda- 
 lene College, the King directed a mandate to the 
 fellows, to elect a person of the name of Farmer, a 
 man of bad reputation, on the promise of his be- 
 coming a Papist. This was the boldest stretch 
 of arbitrary power that ever was attempted. Mag- 
 dalene college was the most noble and munificent 
 foundation in the university, and, from repeated 
 grants of Kings ratified in Parliament, and con- 
 tained in their statutes, possessed an uninterrupted 
 and mcontestible right of electing their own Presi- 
 dent. They nobly resisted the regal invasion. 
 ant not with impunity. The Ecclesiastical Com- 
 mission was once more set in motion. The fel- 
 lows put in their own plea, and elected Doctor 
 
600 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION Hough for their President. This was highly dis- 
 IV. pleasing to the King ; and Commissioners were 
 sent to Oxford for the purpose of executing his 
 commands. Doctor Hough was deposed, and 
 Doctor Parker, Bishop of Oxford, instead of Far- 
 mer, installed into the dignity of President ; and 
 when the Fellows resisted this gross violation of 
 their privileges, by petition to the King, they were 
 deprived of their fellowships, and forcibly ejected 
 from their college. 
 
 "Whilst the church was thus harrassed," to 
 use the words of the writer quoted above, the 
 Dissenters lay lurking at their ease in the sun- 
 shine of a Court which had thawed all their rigid 
 humour, and melted them down into a perfect 
 compliance with their friends the Papists. They 
 who were formerly refractory and disobedient to 
 the laws, now carried their obedience beyond the 
 laws, and became the champions of the " dis- 
 pensing POWER.*" 
 
 But at this very moment, when the Kings 
 arbitrary measures seemed to promise him an easy 
 triumph— the ground was failing beneath his feet, 
 and he was about to be precipitated into the gulf 
 of unavaiHng remorse and despair. 
 
 Parliament rpv t* t 
 
 prorogued. -*- "^ Parliament, which according to the terms 
 
 of its prorogation ought to have assembled on the 
 twenty-eighth of April, was again prorogued to 
 the twenty-second of November ; and the King 
 
 • Echaid'b History, p. 1085. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 601 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 endeavoured by " closeting " the members, to win SECTION 
 them over by expostulations or promises; but IV. 
 whatever effect he produced upon individuals, he' 
 found It impossible to prevail on the majority 
 and on the second of July he dissolved it by pro^ 
 clamation. 
 
 The whole summer was employed by the Ro- D.v.„ter..i„ 
 manists m laying the sure foundation of their ""^ '^™J'«"- 
 future ascendancy. The Dissenters were fairly 
 won.-Popish Judges and Lord Lieutenants an- 
 po.nted.-Thc old lloyalists turned out of their 
 ofiices, and Dissenters placed in their room ; and 
 to secure the steadiness of the army, an old statute' 
 was revived, making it death for a soldier to de- 
 sert his colours ; and, to influence the elections 
 the Justices of the peace were dismissed, and 
 Dissenters raised to the bench. Their grand 
 design was to gain the Parliament, without which 
 all their labours would be in vain. Nothing could 
 exceed the devotion of the Dissenters to the will 
 of their royal master. They daily multiplied their 
 addresses and « many of them expressly promised 
 to choose such representatives as should be ready 
 to answer and obey the King's desire." 
 
 Kinl n '" !""''"""^ '^^ ^'''' '''''' '^^' *« ^■•"- "- 
 ivmg took a long progress, for the purpose, as it 
 
 was alleged, of taking a view of his ports and 
 liarbours, but in reality for the purpose of influ- 
 encing the elections ; nor. should it be omitted 
 tUat, lu this progress, he was attended by the celc- 
 
602 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 The Pop€8 
 nuncio. 
 
 SECTION brated William Penn, who with great industry 
 IV« promoted the Kind's designs. He was taken 
 
 Chap. IV. . ^. 
 
 into the King's counsels, and even wrote a most 
 Jesuitical letter to the Fellows of Magdalene 
 College, " to persuade them to a compliance with 
 his Majesty's letter." "Every mechanic," adds 
 Penn, "knows the temper of his present Majesty, 
 who never will receive a baffle in anything that 
 he nearly espouses ; and that he does this, your- 
 selves have had too late and manifest an instance 
 to doubt of his zeal in the affair." 
 
 The Romish plot still continued to advance, 
 and the established laws of the realm were every 
 day violated in the most public manner. Signor 
 Ferdinando D'Adda, domestic prelate and assis- 
 tant to the Pope, was declared apostolical nuncio, 
 and made his entry into London, as a foreign 
 ambassador with great pomp and solemnity. Vast 
 multitudes of people were attracted by a spectacle 
 which had not been enacted in England for one 
 hundred and fifty years. We are assured that 
 this ceremony occasioned the disgrace of that 
 celebrated patriot, the Duke of Somerset, who 
 being Lord in waiting, the King desired him to 
 attend the nuncio to his audience. The Duke 
 requested his Majesty, *'to excuse him from an 
 office which the laws made criminal." The King 
 reiterated his commands : but the Duke persist- 
 ing, the King with great wrath, dismissed him 
 from his presence and official dignity. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 603 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Death of 
 
 In the midst of these exciting transactions, we SECTION 
 are called to regard a scene of a less public but IV. 
 of a more solemn character— the death-bed of the 
 Duke of Buckingham, the last of the " cabal. " 
 He had for some time retired from court to his 
 only Castle, at Helmby in Yorkshire; but he 
 carried with him into his retreat, the same disso- „,,., „, 
 lute mind and profligate habits, and his hour of Bucki^ghl. 
 reckoning was at hand. He had lived in the dis- 
 regard of religion and morality, and his end was 
 without honour. He had left home for the pur- 
 pose of hunting in the neighbourhood of Kirby 
 Moorside, and being seized with sickness, he was 
 conveyed to a wretched Public House in that vil- 
 lage. His relative, the Lord Irwin, prevailed 
 upon him to send for a Clergyman, who approach- 
 ing the Duke asked him, of what religion he was? 
 The Duke answered " It is of little consequence : 
 I have been a shame and a disgrace to all reli- 
 gions ; if you can do me any good, do." Thus 
 died in the sixtieth year of his age, unregretted 
 and, without hope, the profligate son of a profli- 
 gate father, and with him were extinguished a 
 noble family and noble estate in the second gene- 
 ration, verifying the declaration of holy scripture. 
 "He shall neither have son nor nephew among 
 his people, nor any remaining in his dwelling.*" 
 Whilst the unfortunate Duke of Buckingham 
 was expiring, the hopes of the Popish party were 
 
 • Book of Job xviii I». 
 
 m 
 
 y^ 
 
604 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 't 
 
 SECTION suddenly invigorated with new life. A Procla- 
 cuiy.'iv. ^^^^^^ appeared in the Gazette announcing a day 
 
 <-^^v-v^ of thanksgiving, " because it had pleased Al- 
 mighty God to give his Majesty apparent hopes 
 and good assurance of having issue by his royal 
 consort the Queen." It was proclaimed by the 
 Jesuits as a miraculous interposition. They as- 
 serted that it was either the effect of a solemn 
 petition which the late Duchess of Modena had 
 put up in heaven to the Virgin Mary, or, of a 
 vow that the Queen had made to our Lady of 
 Loretto, with the present of a golden Image en- 
 riched with precious stones. These stories, not 
 without reason, increased the jealousy and sus- 
 picion of the Protestant party, who now remem- 
 bered their former cheats and impostures, and 
 could not help considering this as a '' pious fraud " 
 intended to assist them in their present designs. 
 
 Heroes of the The Romauists continued, however, to make 
 the best use of such a fortunate adventure ; and 
 taking advantage of the fears and consternation 
 of the Protestants, procured addresses of congrat- 
 ulations from several Counties. The Jesuits also 
 gathered visible strength, and were daily publish- 
 ing books and treatises on their religion. But 
 the champions of the Church of England were at 
 hand, and drew their pens with such vigour in 
 defence of the Protestant religion, that the Jesuits 
 were overmatched. These christian heroes were 
 Stillingfleet, Tillotson, Tennison, Wake, Sherlock 
 
 Church. 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 605 
 
 Cn»p. IV. 
 
 and other distinguished names, who not only SECTION 
 vanquished their opponents by the intrinsic good- IV. 
 ness of their cause, but by a deeper stock of learn- 
 ing and a stronger force of sound reasoning which 
 had a powerful influence upon the people. Their 
 learning and piety, their humility and pastoral 
 care, their courage and boldness attracted the love 
 and veneration of all men. The Clergyman's 
 gown was so nobly adorned by the vigorous dis- 
 charge of their high functions, that every body 
 was ready to pay respect to it; and. it was at this 
 period that the London Divines may be said to 
 have been the ornament of the reformed Churches 
 and the glory of the christian world. 
 
 But the triumph of the press was short. A 
 proclamation appeared in the month of February, 
 prohibiting " the printing and selling of all un- 
 licensed books," which placed the whole contro- 
 versy in the hands of the court. Many works 
 were suppressed ; but the whole proceeding added 
 still greater lustre to the Divines whose names 
 we have just enumerated. 
 
 The Romish party were now in the ascendant. 
 The King's religion became fashionable, and every ,. ^"'"'^ '""■ 
 day men of weak minds and strong ambition, ofTo.icm. 
 wicked morals and of sordid tempers, apostatized 
 from their religion, and abandoned the faith of the 
 gospel. But a sudden ruin was even now im- 
 pending over their heads; and when all hope 
 seemed about to expire in the breasts of the Pro- 
 
606 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 'i; 
 
 SECTION testants, the overruling providence of God in his 
 I^- benevolent purposes, was opening a wav for their 
 
 Chap. IV. i v j- o j 
 
 K^^-^r^,^ aehverance. 
 
 The first dawn of this auspicious day, appeared 
 
 at this juncture and was brought on by the King 
 
 The King himsclf, who had recourse under the pressure of 
 
 applies to Hoi. circumstanccs, to the weakest and most infatuated 
 policy. Although he had hitherto met with un- 
 varying success in all his designs against the con- 
 stitutional rights of his country, yet he felt there 
 were yet formidable difficulties in his way, which 
 he could not overcome without the concurrence of 
 Parliament. To facilitate his project for abroga- 
 ting the " test and penal laws/' he came to the re- 
 solution of trying the inclination of the Prince 
 and Princess of Orange. His Majesty, no doubt, 
 flattered himself, that their Highnesses who 
 were known to entertain the most liberal opinions 
 on the subject of toleration, would not contradict 
 his intentions, and he was aware that their deci- 
 sion would produce a great effect on the minds of 
 the people, who regarded them as their future 
 sovereigns. 
 
 But happily their Highnesses were strangers to 
 The Prince dissimulation, and as presumptive heirs to the 
 Crown of England, they determined not to yield 
 to any solicitations which might prove fatal to 
 those Laws which the English nation regarded 
 as the bulwark of the Protestant religion. The 
 Prince and Princess were averse to meddle with 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 607 
 
 of Orange 
 answers. 
 
 such a nice affair, and for some time the King SECTION 
 could obtain no answer to his communications. IV. 
 
 At length, under their direction, the pensionary *""''■ '^• 
 Fagel. wrote to Mr. Stuart the Kings agent, to 
 the following effect : "That no Christian ought 
 to be punished for his conscience, or, be ill used 
 because he differed from the public and established 
 religion : and that their Highnesses were ready 
 to concur with his Majesty in the settling and 
 confirming full "liberty of conscience." and that 
 if his Majesty wished for their concurrence in the 
 repeal of the Penal Laws, they were prepared to 
 give It. provided those Laws still remained in 
 their full vigour by which the Roman Catholics 
 are shut out of all public employments both civil 
 and military. That neither the test nor penal 
 laws could be said to carry in them any severity 
 against the Roman Catholics with regard to their 
 consciences, being only provisions to qualify men 
 for official trusts, and which proceeded on a prin- 
 ciple recognized by all christian states, who ad- 
 mitted none to a share in the Goverment, or pub- 
 he employments, who were not friendly to their 
 institutions necessary for the security of the Protes- 
 tant religion. And that, therefore, they could 
 not concur with his Majesty in those matters, for 
 they believed they should have much to answer if 
 the consideration of any present advantage should 
 induce them to consent to things which would not 
 
608 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION only be prejudicial but dangerous to the Protes- 
 ^^- tant religion." 
 
 v^,^-v^-xL/ This memorable letter was printed and pub- 
 lished in great numbers throughout the kingdom, 
 and revived the sinking spirit of the nation, and 
 enabled them to bear up under the daily mortifi- 
 cations to which they were exposed. But the 
 The Kind's King, finding himself bafliled in his application to 
 Character the Priucc and Princcss of Orange, redoubled his 
 efforts to accomplish his purpose. He dispatched 
 his emissaries into all the Counties, to secure, if 
 possible, the elections in his favour : and, to for- 
 tify himself against any sudden surprise, recalled 
 six English and Scotch Regiments that were in 
 the service of the united provinces. He became 
 every day more and more entangled in the artifices 
 and policy of the Court of Rome. His character 
 sunk. He lost the vigour and manliness of his 
 understanding. He became a bigot. The man, 
 the statesman, the soldier, the King was for- 
 gotten, and he sacrificed his honour, his word and 
 his country at the shrine of a " bewitching " su- 
 perstition, which by a perversion of all reason and 
 sense, assumes to itself the title of an exclusive 
 Christianity, to every tenet of which, both in doc- 
 trine and practice, it is fundamentally opposed. 
 
 Father Petre the King's confessor was now 
 prime minister, and supreme at the council board, 
 but he was no statesman and of a vain and impe- 
 rious temper, and although he had all the advan- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 609 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 A. D. 1688. 
 
 tages of favountism, the Earl of Sunderland con- SECTION 
 tinned, by the superiority of his genms, to pre- IV 
 serve an ascendancy in the King's counsels. 
 
 A second declaration was now issued for secu- 
 ring "Liberty of conscience." in which the most 
 reasonable and christian principles were set forth 
 with a view of influencing the elections, and proi 
 viding such a House of Commons as would not 
 only pass a Bill of Toleration, but abrogate all tests 
 and penal statutes which prevented Roman Catho- 
 lics from holding office in the state. The Dis- 
 senters as we have shewn, were already ensnared 
 and taken. But the Bishops and Clergy were 
 entirely adverse to it. both on account of its ille- 
 gality and, of the fatal consequences which must 
 attend it. 
 
 To humble their " mortal enemies," as they , , 
 temed the champions of the church, it was deter- "-ePopir 
 mined that this illegal declaration should be read •"""• 
 by the clergy in all the churches of the kingdom • 
 m order as the haughty Father Petre termed it.' 
 (let all Protestant Bishops and statesmen for ever 
 remember it)-that they might "eat their own 
 dung. An "order by his Majesty in Council " 
 was immediately issued and strange to say, that 
 order which was intended by them to mortify 
 the clergy, became the foundation of their own 
 overthrow. " Pride goeth before destruction and 
 a haughty spirit before a fall;" and. from this 
 moment, every thing hastened their downfall 
 
 VOT IT 
 
 Insolence of 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 «q 
 
610 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i 
 
 SECTION ^ The Bishops and Clergy of England were asto- 
 
 ch!I'iv. ^^^}^^^ ^\^^^^ imperious mandate, which rendered 
 v.>-v-0 it impossible for them to remain longer silent or 
 inactive. A grand consultation was held in the 
 Declaration Palace of the Archbishop, to consider how they 
 of the Bishops, ought to conduct themselves in such a critical 
 conjuncture. This important meeting was opened 
 with solemn prayer, and a declaration was agreed 
 upon, expounding the principles upon which they 
 intended to conduct their opposition to such an 
 arbitrary '^ Order. " In this declaration they an- 
 swer the objection which might be urged against 
 their conduct, as inconsistent with the great prin- 
 ciples of loyalty and submission maintained by 
 the Church of England : " That loyalty being 
 obedience according to law, they were the loyal 
 men who acted not contrary thereto. That the 
 best friends to the crown are those who support 
 the law, and that they still maintained the prin- 
 ciple of suffering without any unchristian opposi- 
 tion." And, to another objection, kst their con- 
 duct should be represented as imperious to the 
 Dissenters, they observe, " That Dissenters could 
 not but see, that this refusal was not to hinder any 
 favours towards them, but to withstand the " dis- 
 pensing power ; " which if it took place, they 
 could not but discern, that a new Magna Charta 
 for liberty of conscience would be of no validity 
 to them, for a new declaration might dispense 
 with it at pleasure. And that the wisest and best 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. QH 
 
 Of them would look upon their refusal as a testi- SECTION 
 mony of their sincerity to the Protestant religion, IV 
 and not of any disaffection to them." Cuap. iv. 
 
 Nor was the conduct of the Bishops less noble ^^^""^^ 
 and dignified than their sentiments were just and 
 christian. They saw that a great storm was 
 ready to fall on the whole body of the clergy • 
 and they resolved to shelter them by offering 
 themselves to the full indignation of the Monarch 
 and, at once, refused to send the " Declaration " 
 to the Clergy. History scarcely affords a nobler 
 example of christian courage and integrity 
 
 On the eighteenth of May, six of the Bishops TheKi„,e„ 
 waited upon the King, and being introduced by -^^d alT;; 
 the Eari of Sunderiand, delivered their petition "'''"' 
 into his Majesty's hand. The King startled and 
 appeared much incensed at the contents of it and 
 in a very angry tone said: " I have heard of this 
 before, but did not believe it. I did not expect 
 this from the Church of England. If I change 
 my mmd you shall hear from me, if not, I expect 
 my command shall be obeyed." The Bishops 
 
 with all reverence replied: "We resign ourselves 
 to the will of God." 
 
 Thi^ opposition of the Bishops created an ex- su..o„edbe- 
 traordmary sensation throughout the kingdom • '"' ''^ '^°""- 
 and the minds of men were filled with a variety oF" 
 conjectures as to what would follow. But the 
 Popish party had methods of their own, upon 
 which they resolved. The Archbishop of Canter- 
 
612 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION bury and the other Bishops were summoned be- 
 
 ChaTiv ^^^^ ^.^^ ^"^^ Counsel, where they appeared on 
 v^^-^;^ the thirteenth of June ; and, being asked " whether 
 they owned the petition ?" After a short consul- 
 tation the Archbishop acknowledged " that it was 
 Their Adrai- written with his own hand and signed by the rest, 
 rabie conduct, and added, that they had done nothing but what 
 they were ready to justify." The Lord Chancel- 
 lor, somewhat staggered at their constancy, asked 
 them, "whether they would give their recog- 
 nizances to appear before the Court of King's 
 Bench to answer this high misdemeanour ? " This 
 they all refused, " insisting on the privileges of 
 their Peerage, which they were resolved to main- 
 tain as well as the rights of the Church, being 
 bound by their callings, to oppose all innovations 
 both in government and religion." This brave 
 answer threw the whole council into astonish- 
 ment. But Jeffries gathering courage from de- 
 spair, threatened to send them to the Tower, if 
 they did not immediately recant and withdraw 
 their petition. They immediately answered: 
 " That they were ready to go wherever his Ma- 
 jesty would send them ; that they hoped the "King 
 of Kings" would be their protector and judge; 
 that they feared nothing from men ; and that 
 having acted according to law and their own con- 
 science, no punishment should ever be able to 
 shake their resolution." 
 
 Finding them thus immoveable, a warrant was 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 613 
 
 immediately drawn out by the council to commit SECTION 
 them close prisoners to the Tower ; and the Attor- IV. 
 ney and Solicitor General were ordered to pro- ^"*'*- '^• 
 secute them, "for making and pubHshing a sedi- "t"^^ 
 tious hbel against the King and his Government. 
 That warrant was the great turning point by 
 which God intended to rouse the spirit of the na- 
 tion, nor can words express the deep state of 
 feeling excited on this occasion through all ranks 
 of the community. 
 
 Every precaution was taken by the ruling pow- F...i„,„f the 
 ers to avoid any demonstration in favour of these """"'""'e- 
 venerable Prelates. They were ordered to be 
 conveyed to the Tower by water, and in the most 
 private manner. But this policy was defeated. 
 The people flocked in multitudes to the river side, 
 and with loud acclamations testified their admira- 
 tion of their constancy and firmness. The Bishops 
 with that composed serenity in their looks, which 
 IS inspired by a consciousness of integrity, received 
 these testimonies of their affection with meek sub- 
 mission. The intensity of the popular feeling 
 was increased by the arrival of some companies 
 of soldiers. A death-like silence ensued, only 
 broken by their sighs and tears-the deep felt 
 testimonies of their attachment to their spiritual 
 leaders, which they further testified by falling 
 down upon their knees to crave their benediction, 
 ^ay the very soldiers were moved by their pri- 
 mitive deportment, and. on their landing at the 
 
614 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 \i 
 
 m\ 
 
 nil 
 
 SECTION Tower (he officers and men fell on their knees to 
 Ch^p.'iv. ^^^ *''"' blessing. It was. perhaps, the most 
 •w^-v^ extraordinary demonstration of feeling that was 
 ever manifested by the people of England, and 
 from the momentof the incarceration of the Bishops, 
 the Tower became the citadel of their strongest 
 affections and liveliest hopes. That place, as a 
 contemporary author observes. " which had been 
 polluted by the residence of so many traitorous 
 criminals, was, in a manner, sanctified by the pre- 
 sence of the tutelar angels of the church of 
 England, and, of the liberties of the Nation."* 
 
 The affairs of the nation now rapidly advanced 
 to a new order of things, and the great catastrophe 
 ^ An important of the reign was nigh at hand. But the thick 
 and impenetrable veil of futurity yet concealed it 
 from the eyes of the nation. The Popish party, 
 especially, instead of apprehending any danger, 
 grew still more confident, and an event now oc- 
 curred which seemed to establish their hopes be- 
 yond the possibility of failure. This was the 
 birth of a Prince. The tidings were announced 
 on Trinity Sunday, the day after the Bishops were 
 committed to the Tower. The triumph seemed 
 now complete, and a day of thanksgiving was ap- 
 pointed on the following Sunday. But every thing 
 about this unfortunate birth was suspicions, and 
 notwithstanding all the assurances and proofs 
 
 • Echard 1102. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 615 
 
 which could be advanced, it was universally be- SECTION 
 lieved to be an imposter. jy. 
 
 And now came on the momentous trial of the ^"*■'•'^• 
 Bishops, as guardians of the Church, contending "'^"''"^ 
 for "the faith once delivered to the Saints;" and, 
 as Peers of parliament, maintaining the liberties' 
 of their country. Their counsel pleaded their 
 privilege. The trial was postponed for a fort- 
 night, and they were liberated on bail. The peo- 
 ple again shewed their satisfaction, by every de- 
 monstration of joy. The City was illuminated 
 and the whole population seemed to be animated 
 with one mind and one object of rejoicing ; and the 
 contrast was remarkably striking, when, two days 
 after, the conduits running with wine, and extra- 
 ordinary bonfires blazing for the birth of the 
 Prince of AVales. scarcely a hat was thrown up, 
 or. an acclamation heard. 
 
 On the ninteenth of June, the day appointed ^ria, r.^ 
 for the trial, a vast concourse of the nobility, ge„. ml:;! " "" 
 try, and people, were assembled at Westminster. 
 Ihe Illegality of the "dispensing power" was 
 argued with great force and eloquence by the 
 Bishops Counsel, and the accurate Mr. Somers 
 closed their defence : he stated from the opinion 
 of all the Judges given in the Exchequer Cham- 
 ber,* "That the king had no power to suspend 
 any law." and contended, that by the law of all 
 civilized nations, if the Prince does require some- 
 
 Case of Thomas Surrel. 
 
616 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 
 SECTION thing to be done, which the person who is to do 
 
 cull'iv ^^' *^^^^ *^ ^^ unlawful, it is not only lawful, but 
 v^^-v-O his duty, " Reseribere Principi," which was all 
 the Bishops had done, and that in the most hum- 
 ble manner. "The Judges having delivered 
 their opinions, the Jury withdrew, and, sat up all 
 night to consider of their verdict." 
 Theiracquittai. Ncvcr was Westminster hall so crowded as on 
 the following morning, to hear the result, of their 
 deliberations, and, never, did its walls resound 
 with louder acclamations than when the words 
 "NOT GUILTY" were pronounced. The lis- 
 tening throng caught the words from the forenmn 
 and received it with acclamations. Nor were 
 their shouts confined to the Cities of London and 
 Westminster. Like the noise of " many waters " 
 it spread through the adjoining country and to the 
 Camp at Hounslow. The whole Army joined in 
 the loud huzza, so that the King who was that day 
 entertained in the tent of the Earl of Feversham, 
 was startled at such an unusual demonstration, 
 and desired his companion to inquire the meaning 
 of it. The Earl returned and with affected coolness 
 said—'' It was nothing but the Soldiers shouting 
 upon the news of the Bishops being acquitted." 
 The King much discomposed, replied: "And 
 do you call that nothing?" '-But so much the 
 worse for them." 
 
 The infatuated Monarch, unwarned by these 
 manifestations of public feeling and goaded on by 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 617 
 
 his Popish Advisers, resolved upon the most des- SECTION 
 perate measures. For this purpose he determined IV. 
 to make trial of the fidelity of his army, and pro- ^^^^i^:-!^ 
 posed to them a paper writing by which they were a. d. less. 
 to engage, as far as in them lay, to contribute to- 
 wards the repeal of the " Test and Penal Laws." 
 
 rpv^ ^ • ^ -, . Trial of the 
 
 Ihe expenment was made, m his own presence. Army. 
 and the Major of Lord Lichfield's Regiment 
 opened his Majesty's desire to the Battalion, di- 
 recting all such as would not comply with it, to 
 % down their arms. To his astonishment, 'the 
 whole regiment, with two or three exceptions, 
 obeyed the latter part of the command. The king 
 was sijeechless ; but after a short pause, recover- 
 ing his self-possession he commanded them to take 
 up their arms again, adding with a discontented 
 look, "that he would not, for the future, do them 
 the honour to ask their advice." 
 
 The " Popish Cabal " thus warned, so far from The crisi. 
 desisting, or, even hearkening to prudent coun- "pp""^^'^^ 
 sels, pushed their advantages with "ungovern- 
 able zeal and fury," and the total subversion of 
 the constitution appeared inevitable. But in the 
 midst of the gloom and darkness which threatened 
 an impending storm, and filled the minds of the 
 people with dreadful apprehensions, a sudden 
 light appeared which promised a brighter day, and 
 was, indeed, the dawn of a *' mighty deliver- 
 ance." The benevolence of the Divine Being 
 was about to manifest itself, in a manner which 
 
618 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION could not be disputed, and was intending, by a 
 Ch^p.'.v. '^.''"^•irrence of surprising events, without convul- 
 v^v^. sion or bloodshed, to establish England as an 
 EXEMPLAR STATE amongst the nations of the 
 earth. Nor was it long. The nobility, and gen- 
 try instructed by the conduct and measures of the 
 Court, perceiving the imminency of the danger 
 which threatened the constitution in Church and 
 State, entered into a strict correspondence with the 
 
 The leadin, J^'T "^ ^'^''^'' '" ^^ management of which 
 actor, appear. ^^- -l^iirnet, who resided in the Hague, was a princi- 
 pal instrument. 1 he Lord Wharton though ad- 
 vanced in years, proceeded through Holland to 
 Germany. Colonel Sidney, Uncle to the Earl of 
 Sunderland visited the Spaw under pretence of 
 drinking the waters. The Lord Dumblain, son 
 to the Earl of Danby. a brave seaman who com- 
 manded an independent frigate, was of im- 
 portant service in carrying their despatches. 
 1 he Earl of Shrewsbury, leaving the command of 
 his Regiment and mortgaging his estate for 
 40,000 pounds, went over to the Prince and made 
 him an offer of his sword and his purse. And at 
 length. Herbert, the English Admiral threw up 
 his Commission and retired to the Hague. In 
 short the hearts of all men, were alienated from 
 their infatuated Sovereign, and all parties united 
 against him. Indeed, every man was at his post, 
 and ready to act to the best of his ability in the 
 hour of danger, and the moment had now arrived 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 619 
 
 when the Law of " passive obedience and non-re- SECTION 
 sistance " was to be expounded by the acts of a IV. 
 great nation, directed by moderation, justice and ^"'"'- "^• 
 prudence. 
 
 The preparations of the Prince of Orange were The King » 
 carried on with great ability and secrecy. But '"f""'""'' 
 they could not be concealed from the agents of 
 the French Monarch. He warned the English 
 King ; but the announcement seemed incredible. 
 The King's Envoy extraordinary at Paris, wrote 
 letter after letter on the same subject, but with 
 no better success. The French King sincerely 
 anxious to save him, sent him more pressing in- 
 formation and offered him a supply of thirty 
 thousand men for his protection. But on the ad- 
 vice of the Earl of Sunderland the offer was re- 
 jected. Still the French King would not desert 
 him ; and being fully convinced of his danger, 
 ventured in his own name to remonstrate with the' 
 states of Holland, on their warlike preparations. 
 But this act of extreme friendship was disowned 
 by the English Government and their Ambassa- 
 dor at Paris was recalled and committed to the 
 Tower. 
 
 But on the twenty-third of September, the eyes 
 of the deluded Monarch were opened by a com- 
 munication which he received from the Marquis 
 of Abby viUe at the Hague, informing him that the 
 Pensionary Fagel had frankly told him the design 
 of the Prince of Orange, and many of the English 
 
 His surprise 
 
620 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION Nobility had arrived in Holland, for the purpose 
 
 c„J iv °^ accompanying the Prince to England. On 
 
 ^^-v-^ reading this news, the King turned pale, the letter 
 
 dropped from his hand and he remained some time 
 
 speechless with astonishment. The effects of his 
 
 and contterna. fash Couuscls wcrc HOW apparent. He found 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 himself on the brink of a precipice, whilst his 
 Jesuitical flatterers stood thunder-struck at a dis- 
 tance, without daring to offer any consolation. 
 One voice alone was heard, suggesting " that the 
 Prince of Orange might yet be diverted from his 
 design, or defeated in the attempt." To which 
 the half stupified Monarch answered—" I know 
 my Son-in-law's character so well, that if he un- 
 dertakes any design, he will go through with it; 
 he will never be diverted, and very hardly de- 
 feated." 
 
 ";-C° . ^\ '' remarkable that in this extremity, the 
 smkmg Monarch turned his eyes to the Bishops 
 of the Church of England, as the faithful and en- 
 lightened supporters of the constitutional Mon- 
 archy ; and perhaps no age of the Church affords 
 such a striking example of christian submission, 
 courage, kindness, and charity. At his first sum- 
 mons the men whom he had so recently persecuted 
 were at his side, assuring him of their unshaken 
 loyalty, and of their readiness to afford him every 
 proof of their attachment and duty. 
 
 The King received them with extraordinary 
 marks of favour and kindness, and told them. 
 
 621 
 
 A. D. 1688. 
 
 Retraces his 
 
 " That he desired the assistance of their Counsels SECTION 
 in the present exigency " assuring them, " that he IV. 
 was ready to do whatever they should think ne- ^"'"••'^■ 
 cessary for the security of the protestant religion, 
 and of the peoples rights, without derogating from' 
 his prerogative." 
 
 Nor was the King himself idle ; he issued 
 a I' Declaration " for the purpose of softening the '"'''• 
 minds of the people and exasperating them against 
 the Prince of Orange. The suspension of the 
 Bishop of London was taken off. A churchman 
 was nominated as Lord Mayor, and the charter of 
 the City of London was restored. 
 
 On the third of October the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury attended with the Bishops of London 
 Winchester, St. Asaph, Ely, Chichester, Roches- 
 ter, Bath and Wells, and Peterborough, again 
 waited upon his Majesty. The Archbishop open- 
 ed the proceedings with a brief address, and then 
 proceeded to propound the heads of advice which 
 they had prepared for his Majesty's consideration. 
 
 I. To put the whole management of his Go- 
 vernment in the several counties, into the hands of 
 such as were legally qualified for it. 
 
 II. To annul his commission for Ecclesiastical 
 affairs. 
 
 in That no dispensation might be granted 
 or continued, by which any person not duly quali- 
 fied by law, had been or might be put into any 
 place, office, or preferment in Church or State or 
 
622 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION in the Universities. That he would restore the 
 
 ChII'iv ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ fellows of St. Mary Magdalen Col- 
 lege in Oxford. 
 
 IV. To set aside all licenses or faculties, by 
 which any person of the Romish Communion, 
 might pretend to be enabled to teach public 
 schools. 
 
 V. To desist from the exercise of his dispens- 
 ing power, and to permit that point to be freely 
 and calmly debated, and finally settled in Parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 VI. To inhibit the four foreign Bishops who 
 st} led themselves Vicars Apostolic, from farther 
 invading the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, which by 
 law was vested in the Bishops of the Church of 
 England. 
 
 VII. To fill the vacant Bishoprics and other 
 Ecclesiastical promotions within his gift in Eng- 
 land and Ireland, with men of learning and piety. 
 
 VIII. To suspend all farther prosecutions of 
 " Quo Warranto," intended otherwise to have made 
 one of the principal requests. 
 
 IX. That writs might be issued out, with con- 
 venient speed, for the calling of a free and regular 
 Parliament, in which the Church of England 
 might be secured according to the acts of Uni- 
 formity, provision might be made for a due liberty 
 of conscience, and for securing the liberties and 
 properties of all his subjects, and a mutual con- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 623 
 
 X. Above all, that his Majesty would be ^""•''^• 
 pleased to permit his Bishops to offer such motives 
 and arguments as they trusted might by Gods 
 grace be effectual, to persuade his Majesty to re- 
 turn to the communion of the Church of England 
 into which most Holy Catholic faith he was bap. 
 ^sed. m which he was educated, and to which it 
 was heir daily earnest prayer to God, that he 
 might be re-united. This last point we are assured 
 the Archbishop afterwards reinforced in a private 
 conference with the King, by a discourse full of 
 convincing arguments, and which "savoured of 
 
 ChJstlS; 'r'^"^^ '' ''' ^'"^^ ^-« 0^ 
 
 this bold and constitutional advice of the Bishops. p-H^f: 
 1 he King however, on this occasion not only con """■"*• 
 cealed his discontent, but immediately began to 
 redress , grievances complained of. H^e retracted 
 most of those arbitrary measures which we have 
 
 r M "?r'"'' "'"^^ '"-' '« g-ern by 
 law. Many of the nobility offered their services 
 
 to crush any invasion that could be made from 
 
 Tjizi'^'-'T. ^^^'"^^''^ofthechu:: 
 
 wa. unshaken, and the Archbishop of Canterbury 
 composed a particular form of prater to be adde J 
 
 ♦ Echard, 1114. 
 
624 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION to the usual liturgy "during the time of public 
 
 IV. apprehension from the danger of invasion." 
 Chap. IV. j^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ October, 
 
 N. S. the Prince of Orange published a solemn de- 
 claration, which though much longer, embraced 
 the same articles of complaint as those recom- 
 mended for redress by the Bishops ; and, on the 
 sixteenth, having concluded his preparations for 
 this great expedition, he entered the assembly of the 
 States General to take leave of ihera. The whole 
 assembly were moved to tears and invoked the 
 blessing of God upon his magnanimous enterprise. 
 On the nineteenth of October the Dutch Fleet 
 of Orange"ans sct Sail from thc Flats, near the Briel, with a south 
 for England, wcstcrly wiud. The armament consisted of fifty- 
 four sail of the line with several frigates and 
 transports, containing forty thousand horse and 
 ten thousand foot. The Prince was attended with 
 a splendid train of the English nobility, the 
 Count of Nassau and the famous Marshal Schom- 
 berg. The Prince embarked in a frigate with 
 English colours, embroidered with his arms, and 
 surrounded with this motto. "The Protestant 
 religion and the liberties of England." 
 
 Admiral Herbert led the van, the whole fleet 
 was under sail, and every thing seemed to promise 
 a prosperous voyage, when, on a sudden, the wind 
 becoming westerly, blew a dreadful storm and con- 
 tinued with such fury for two days, that the whole 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 625 
 
 fleet was scattered and driven back upon their SECTfON 
 own coast. •si^-v.uuiN 
 
 Exaggerated accounts of the disaster were trans- ^"^^- '^• 
 mitted to England. Nor could the Popish party ^f^^ 
 conceal their exultation. They boasted- -that '^''^^'^^'^ 
 God Almighty had now recompensed them for the p-^ "''''" 
 loss of the Spanish Armada, which a hundred 
 years ago had been designed to conquer the En^- 
 lish Heretics." Nor was this all. The event 
 shewed the real mind of the King, and discovered 
 to the Nation that the promises of their King 
 were not to be relied upon. " I was present " 
 says a French author, '^ when King James received 
 the news at dinner, he used but one hand, holding 
 the most welcome letter in the other." Amon J 
 other things he said to M. Barillon, the French 
 Ambassador, laughing. " At last, then, the wind 
 has declared itself a Papist," then resuming his 
 serious air and softening his voice, he said: ''you 
 know for these three days I have ordered the 
 lloJy Sacrament to go in procession." 
 
 The respite, however, was short, yet sufficiently 
 long to shew that the once high-minded and hon- 
 ourable Duke of York, whose word was inviolable 
 had become a weak, vacillating, promise-breaking 
 Bigot. He lost no time in recalling his conces- 
 sions and putting a stop to all redress'of grie L 
 
 declaration, expressive of their abhorrence of the 
 "t ,;™"- ^'^ ^^^^^^^^^P -^ -St of 
 
 VO^. II. ^ ^ 
 
miammL,^ -» -> 
 
 626 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 SECTION his brethren waited upon the King, and declared 
 IV. their innocence with respect to the invitation of 
 the Prince — but dechned, as Ministers of peace, 
 any such particular declaration as he requested, 
 alleging also that, as Peers of Parliament, such an 
 act might well be resented by the temporal Lords, 
 urging his Majesty immediately to call Parlia- 
 
 Conduct of the « i p j i • xi^ • 
 
 English and Hieut together for the purpose of taking their 
 united counsel. When the King reminded them 
 of the pressing exigency of the times, they offered 
 to meet as many temporal Lords for consultation, 
 as could be immediately summoned. Every step 
 was thus taken with prudence, wisdom, and strict 
 regard to constitutional principles. Not so the 
 Scotch Bishops. They rushed immediately into 
 the snare — published a declaration, abhorring the 
 invasion of the Prince and renouncing the prin- 
 ciples on which it was founded — a line of conduct 
 
 Scotch Bishops, ruinous to themselves and their country— for after 
 the Revolution, they could not, in honour, sit in 
 Parliament ; and thus deprived their Church and 
 Country of their services, the management of 
 which, of necessity, devolved upon the Presbyters. 
 The English Bishops acted more consistently with 
 the principles of " Passive obedience and Non-re- 
 sistance." The conduct of the Scotch Bishops, 
 under the peculiar circumstances of the case, was 
 interference which cannot be justified. It was an 
 open abandonment of the Constitution and of the 
 principles on which the British Church was 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 627 
 
 twt'^^'.T '? ""' ^'"^^^ '' '^' ^^^^ib^tion SECTION 
 that has followed, in their rejection from the Gov. ^V 
 ernment of the national Church. chap. iv. 
 
 But whilst the King was thus engaged in en- "^^^^^ 
 Oeavouring to obtain the countenance of the Bi ''''''''''^'' 
 shops, the Prince of Orange was making the most" 
 active preparations for a second embarkment. 
 Nor was the King idle. A strong detachment of 
 the army was despatched into the north, where it 
 was expected the Prince would attempt to land. 
 The army was reinforced from Ireland, and the fleet 
 which consisted of sixty-one ships under the Earl 
 of Dartmouth, was stationed at Gunfleet to watch 
 the motions of the invading fleet 
 
 On the first of November, in the afternoon, the The PH„ee 
 nnce again embarked and the whole fleet weighed °'^"°^^ -^•' 
 anchor. On the fhirrl ^^f xt i. . s^^^and 
 
 wn ine ttiird of November they discerned 
 
 the coasts of Essex and Kent, and as they were 
 -akmg for the English Channel, some of the 
 ^ransport ships passed within sight of the English 
 
 The Dutch fleet having passed the Straits of, , 
 
 Dover to the Wecjfwnrrl of i . ™^'^ ^^ ^^^<i^ at Tor. 
 
 makP PUT., f ^^'^"^^^^^ steered on, intending to ^^^• 
 mak either for Dartmouth or Torbay. But in the 
 mght a strong gale carried them beyond both th se 
 harbours, and at day break, they saw the incoT 
 veniency and danger of their sLtio. 5":; 
 this moment of alarm t^» • j 
 changed to the sou h T T^ P^videntially 
 
I 
 
 628 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 Dismay of 
 the King. 
 
 SECTION nient place, for landing a body of horse, that could 
 IV. perhaps be found in the island ; and what is re- 
 markable, this auspicious day which commenced 
 a second deliverance from Popery and arbitrary 
 power, was Monday, the fifth of November ! 
 
 In three hours, above seven thousand horses 
 were landed, and, shortly after, the wind changed 
 to the west, and blew that night such a storm that 
 the King's fleet, which had come in sight of the 
 Dutch armament, was driven back and so shattered 
 that the Earl of Dartmouth could no longer keep 
 at sea but retired to Portsmouth ! 
 
 The whole country was now in a state of com- 
 motion. The King deceived, was bewildered and 
 irresolute. His flatterers alarmed, distracted and 
 angry. The natural energy of the Monarch was 
 lost, and he appeared incapable of rousing himself 
 to the sudden action which the exigency required. 
 He ordered his troops to rendezvous on Salisbury 
 Plain — despatched another part of it to Portsmouth, 
 and ordered five thousand men to remain in Lon- 
 don to check the expected insurrections of the 
 
 citizens. 
 
 In the mean time the Prince of Orange, pro- 
 ceeded towards Exeter. Newton Abbot, was the 
 first place where his " Declaration " was read by a 
 Clergyman. At Exeter he was received by the 
 overjoyed multitudes with every demonstration of 
 joy. He entered the City with solemn pomp, and 
 proceeded to the Cathedral, where the " Te Deum" 
 
 Progress of 
 the Prince, 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 629 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 A. D. 16S3. 
 
 Doubtfta of 
 Success. 
 
 was sung for his happy arrival. After the reading SECTION 
 of the collects, Dr. Burnet, who accompanied the IV. 
 Prince in his expedition7 read the " declaration." 
 
 Notwithstanding these marks of hearty wel- 
 come, the Prince had sufficient reason to be dis- 
 couraged. He had reason to expect that all the 
 . gentry of the west would have joined him on his 
 first landing, whereas he had now been nine days 
 on shore, and scarce one person of eminence had 
 jomed his standard. Indeed, he began so far to 
 doubt the success of his expedition, that he suffered 
 It to be proposed to him in a council of war 
 whether he should re-embark his forces ! But the 
 very next day, the aspect of aflfairs changed, a con- 
 siaerable number of the neighbouring gentry ap- 
 peared in the Prince's camp, fully prepared and 
 resolved to second his eflforts for their country _ 
 The Pnnce received them with the greatest cour- 
 tesy, and an " Association " was immediately 
 formed for "the defence of the Protestant Reli- 
 gion, and maintaining the ancient government, 
 laws, and liberties of England." 
 
 From the moment this Association was formed, 
 the tide of success set in upon the Prince's enter- • ^'""^""'^ 
 pnze Many eminent persons declared for him. '""^ 
 I he Lord Cornbury, son to the Eari of Clarendon, 
 
 Eari of Abingdon, went over to the Prince's army 
 
 made instant preparations for leaving Whitehall 
 
630 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION to try his fortune in the field. But he was deserted 
 IV. by Him, who ruleth in the afifairs of men, and 
 
 ^^^!^^^J^ " giveth victory in battle." At this moment 
 Father Petre, his Confessor and Prime Minister, 
 terrified at the alarming prospect, fled from the 
 scene of action, and, like a base coward and be- 
 trayer, took refuge in France. Many other of the 
 same Jesuitical stamp followed his example. The 
 deserted King reached his army at Salisbury, on 
 the night of the nineteenth of November, fatigued 
 
 weakened aud ^^^ dispirited, and troubled with bleeding at the 
 
 deserted, nosc. This was a grievous inconvenience to him 
 at that juncture, and prevented him next day from 
 visiting the outposts of his army. His Officers 
 received him with great devotion, but declared to 
 the General the Earl of Feversham, that although 
 on any other occasion, they would spill the last 
 drop of blood in his service, yet, that they could 
 not in conscience fight against the Prince of Orange, 
 who had come with no other design than to pro- 
 cure the calling of a free Parliament for the secu- 
 rity of their religion and liberties. 
 Leaves his The unfortunatc King at once saw his desperate 
 condition, and still more, when he received a letter 
 from Lord Churchill, explaining his motives for 
 deserting a standard which, under any other cir- 
 cumstances, he would have defended with his life. 
 At the same moment he was alarmed with the 
 false tidings that Marshal Schomberg, whose name 
 bad been distinguished in the military annals of 
 
 Army. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 631 
 
 i(^ 
 
 every European nation, was approaching to give SECTION 
 him battle, and he fled from Salisbury with pre- IV. 
 cipitation. But at Andover. he was deserted by ,^^!t^;J!^ 
 his Royal Highness Prince George of Denmark, 
 the Duke of Ormond, and others, who left behind 
 them an explanation of their conduct, similar to 
 that of Lord Churchill. 
 
 But a still greater affliction awaited the King The Ki„g 
 on his arrival in London. On the preceding ''«P'y»"'«'«»- 
 night, his second daughter, the Princess Anne 
 consort to the Prince of Denmark, accompanied 
 by the Lord Churchill, and under the protection 
 of the Bishop of London, retired from Whitehall for 
 the rendezvous of the northern Nobility at Not- 
 tingham. The news of her flight sensibly affected 
 the distracted Monarch ; and. entering his Palace 
 in a flood of tears he cried out—" God help me ! 
 my own children have forsaken me ! " 
 
 All seemed now to be lost. But far from it 
 Such was the deep attachment of the people to auet!fte'°Br 
 their natural and hereditary Monarch, that if any "'°'"- 
 expedient could have been found for the future 
 security of their religion and laws, he might still 
 have reigned in peace. The Bishops and several 
 of the temporal Peers had again assembled, and. in 
 a loyal address, besought the Monarch to call a 
 free Pariiament for the purpose of settling the af- 
 tairs of the nation, promising him every assistance 
 in their power. 
 
 The King took that night to consider of their 
 
*a— PX— ii»i I. ■ 1 
 
 632 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 The King's 
 infatuation. 
 
 Si 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION advice, and the next day declared in Council, his 
 JV. resolution to adopt it. Writs were immediately 
 issued for a free Parliament. The Marquis of 
 Halifax, the Earl of Nottingham, and the Lord 
 Godol^hin, were despatched as Commissioners to 
 treat with the Prince, and nothing could be more 
 satisfactory than the result of their negotiations. 
 
 The proposals which were considered by all men 
 as reasonable and moderate, were immediately des- 
 patched to the King, who on reading them said : 
 "They are better than I expected." And now, 
 was the critical moment. His compliance, hu- 
 manly speaking, would have fixed the house of 
 Stuart on the Throne of England. But that 
 " House " was rejected by God, and its apostasy 
 from the " true faith of the Gospel " was made the 
 instrument of its overthrow. Instead of confid- 
 ing himself to his indulgent and faithful subjects he 
 abandoned himself to aliens in religion and inte- 
 rests. He held an extraordinary consultation that 
 night with his Popish friends, who had reduced 
 him to these extremities. These perfidious men 
 clearly saw that, in a free Parliament, nothing 
 could serve the King unless he w^ould consent to 
 relinquish his Popish counsels, which would be 
 followed by their total suppression and extinction. 
 Nor were they long in deciding upon the line of 
 policy which they should pursue. They resolved 
 to sacrifice their King and every thing else, rather 
 than see their designs blasted and their hopes for 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 633 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 A. D. 1688. 
 
 ever extinguished. They impressed upon the SECTION 
 King's mind, the dishonour which would attach to IV. 
 him by accepting such hard terms. They repre- 
 sented to him the power and zeal of the French 
 Monarch, who would never desert their cause, and 
 proposed to him an immediate flight into that 
 Country. They prevailed, and the King resolved 
 to abandon his subjects and throw himself into 
 the arms of the French King. 
 
 The first step was to secure the flight of the 
 Queen, who left the Palace in disguise, with the 
 young Prince, under the conduct of Count de 
 Lauzan. The night was dark, rainy and tempes- 
 tuous, but they succeeded in reaching Gravesend. 
 where they sailed for France, and safely landed at 
 Calais. 
 
 The King immediately prepared to follow his ^ttemp, 
 royal consort ; and, before his departure, wrote a "''-''"''''"'• 
 letter to the Earl of Feversham, to acquaint him '""*" 
 with his designs, who immediately disbanded the 
 army. The City mobs assembled in great multi- 
 tudes, and turned their fury against the Popish 
 Chapels and the known residences of Papists. 
 But there was no want of an Administration.' 
 The Bishops and Lords resident in the Metropolis 
 and neighbourhood, assembled and took measures 
 for the proper government of the nation, and for 
 addressing the Prince of Orange. Their example 
 was followed by the Lord Mayor. Court of Alder- 
 men and common Council, so that the peace and 
 
 Attempted 
 
634 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 I 
 
 Death of 
 Jefierles. 
 
 || 
 
 lij 
 
 ■ 
 
 Ik 
 
 SECTION order of a regular government were vigorously 
 'V- maintained. 
 
 Chap IV 
 
 It was at this juncture that the Lord Chancellor 
 JefFeries attempted to make his escape in the dis- 
 guise of a sailor, and took up his abode in Wap- 
 ping, waiting for an opportunity to sail for Ham- 
 burgh. But a fearful retribution awaited the in- 
 famous Judge. His dress and manners as a sea- 
 man were so well managed, that he entertained 
 no fears of detection. But strange to say, hap- 
 pening to look out of the window, he was recog- 
 nized by a clerk in Chancery who happened to 
 be passing at the moment. He was immediately 
 apprehended and seized by the mob, by whom 
 he would have been torn in pieces had he not been 
 rescued out of their hands. He was committed 
 to the Tower : and, after lingering a few months 
 in confinement, died in ignominy and disgrace. 
 
 Nor was the King much more fortunate in his 
 attempted escape. After crossing the Thames at 
 Whitehall, attended by Sir Edward Hales, he pro- 
 ceeded to a place near Feversham ; and whilst 
 the vessel was taking in ballast. Sir Edward sent 
 his footman to the Post Office, when a drummer 
 that had been cashiered by Sir Edward, knew the 
 livery, and followed him to the river side. Sir 
 Edward was well known, and as much hated in 
 that neighbourhood, and the vessel was boarded 
 in hopes of finding Popish Priests and plunder. 
 The King was dressed in plain clothes and a bob-wig 
 
 The King's 
 return. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 635 
 
 and him they took for Sir Edward's Chaplain, SECTION 
 and, at once, searched his person, finding his IV. 
 jewels and 400 Guineas in money. At this mo- J^t^J^ 
 ment a constable boarded the vessel, who recog- 
 nizing his Majesty, fell at his knees, begging his 
 pardon for the rudeness of the mob, commanding Lo.aity of 
 them to restore what they had taken. At the^^^P^P^*- 
 King s request, the Earl of Winchelsea, governor 
 of Dover Castle, waited upon him, and on his ad- 
 vice, the King once more returned to London, 
 which he entered in triumph, attended by a retinue 
 of Lords and Gentlemen, and amidst the acclama- 
 tions of the multitudes ; and the night concluded 
 with the ringing of bells, illuminations, bonfires 
 and other demonstrations of popular joy. 
 
 ^ This is one of the most remarkable events in 
 history, and discovers such a depth of loyalty and 
 affection as appears incredible. The King had 
 BOW another opportunity afforded him, of retracing 
 his steps and securing the Crown upon his head. 
 But he was infatuated. The Jesuits and Romish insolence of 
 1 nests immediately flocked to Whitehall- and '^' ^^p^''"' 
 one, more insolent than the rest, conveyed a mes- 
 sage to the Lord Chamberlain, to send some new 
 furniture to his apartments as he intended to stay 
 there ; and the King, in order to complete his over- 
 throw, as his first act, published an order in 
 Council for the protection of his Popish subjects. 
 ^^tU, however, the most dignified moderation 
 prevailed. It was indeed, proposed to the Prince 
 
636 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 .•H 
 
 The King 
 returns to 
 France. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION of Orange to send the King as a prisoner to 
 ^V. Hollani till the affairs of the nation could be 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 settled. But he rejected the suggestion with in- 
 dignation, and for the present, the King was re- 
 quested to retire to Ham, the seat of the Duchess 
 of Lauderdale. But the King chose rather to 
 retire to Rochester, which was granted, attended 
 by his own servants and yeomen of the guard. 
 
 The same day, the Prince entered London, and 
 was attended by the principal Nobility of the 
 Kingdom, and what would have been the result 
 of their consultations, it is impossible to say. 
 The Kings conduct directed the nation in its 
 course. He retired privately from Rochester 
 without communicating his designs to any person, 
 and, with two attendants, proceeded on horseback 
 to the river where a small frigate waited his ar- 
 rival ; and, having immediately put to sea, with a 
 favourable wind he landed at Ambleteuse in France. 
 
 The second desertion of the Kingdom, was con- 
 sidered as a deliberate and voluntary abdication of 
 the sovereign power. He rejected the Crown on 
 the condition of governing the nation by law, the 
 only tenure on which it was ever held, and resolved, 
 in opposition to all the principles of the constitu- 
 tion, to establish Popery and arbitrary power on 
 the ruins of the national religion. 
 
 Never did a Monarch make a more deliberate 
 choice, or more fully vacate his throne. The na- 
 tion could do no more, unless they willingly sub- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 637 
 
 A. D. 1688. 
 
 
 mitted their necks to the iron yoke of slavery and SECTION 
 superstition. Thus fell the House of the Stuarts IV. 
 in the person of one of the bravest, most patriotic, *'""'' ""■ 
 and most vigorous of their race. James II. pos- 
 sessed every virtue that could have adorned a 
 throne and rendered a Sovereign great and illus- 
 trious. He was steady and unwavering in his 
 Counsels, sincere and open in his transactions, 
 economical in his arrangements, and ambitious of 
 serving his country. But. with all these eminent 
 qualifications, he was rejected by God and banished 
 for ever from the throne of his ancestors. Like 
 Mary, his whole character was changed by the 
 blighting influence of the religion which he 
 adopted. He embraced the principles of the 
 Church of Rome, not from any conviction of their 
 superior excellency, for he was an ardent admirer 
 of the doctrines and practice of the Church of 
 England; but seduced by the specious and plau- 
 sible arguments of the "Apostolic succession," 
 he was led to entertain doubts of the authority of 
 the reformed Church ; and, at length to consider 
 It schismatic. To a mind of his stamp and char- 
 acter, the result of such an impression was inevi- 
 table. He submitted himself immediately to the 
 Church, with which he considered the Apostolic 
 authority to rest. Without further inquiry he 
 received all its high pretensions as solemn triith. 
 and became as devoted a subject of the Pope, as 
 any Monarch in the darkest ages of Christendom. 
 
 J 
 
638 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 S 
 
 SECTION His sole object was the advancement of his reli^- 
 IV. gion. For this he sacrificed every noble principle 
 of his nature, and abandoned the interests of his 
 country. He became harsh, severe, tyrannical and 
 PROMISE BREAKING, and it is evident that there is 
 no act of cruelty and oppression, that he would 
 not have resorted to, for the purj)ose of accom- 
 plishing his design, and establishing the supremacy 
 of the Eomish hierarchy. 
 
 By nature, he was a brave and magnanimous 
 Prince ; by his religion, he was a vindictive and 
 cruel oppressor. Hume, is astonished at this per- 
 version of the noblest faculties, and lays it to the 
 charge of bigotry in religion ; a convenient me- 
 thod of disposing of a subject which he did not 
 understand. Whatever credit one may be disposed 
 to grant to this writer, for his knowledge of ''men 
 and things," most certainly he was an inadequate 
 judge of man as a religious being. Of the great 
 science of religion, as an historical, doctrinal, po- 
 lemical study, he was profoundly ignorant. There 
 is no bigotry in true religion. The pure and holy 
 principles of Christianity, enlarge the under- 
 standing, exalt the mind, and ameliorate the dis- 
 position. The obstinate and prejudiced attach- 
 ment of James II., to the high pretensions of 
 Popery, was certainly bigotry. It was the blind 
 zeal of a devotee for a fatal and intolerant system, 
 which, under the profession of the Christian name, 
 has accumulated to itself the superstition of ages ; 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 639 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 A. D. 1688. 
 
 and. whilst It has annihilated the principles of SECTION 
 Chnstmnity. pretends to its sole administration IV 
 and fortifies itself in the strong-holds of the Aposto-' 
 heal authority. It was to support these arrogant 
 claims, and to establish this intolerable usurpation 
 that King James II. resolved to hazard his per^ 
 sonal honour, his ancestral inheritance, and his 
 country'sgood; and, in the attempt, he utterly failed 
 He was abandoned by God and man. and stood 
 a one amidst a group of cowled Priests, a misera- 
 ble and isolated being, agitated by fear, and shame 
 and gnef ; and, at length, driven by his remorse 
 for the past, and his apprehensions of the future, 
 refled his native land and abandoned his throne 
 
 In consequence, of the King's sudden depar- c„„nHu.i„n.i 
 rare, the supreme power devolved upon the'"""'' 
 Peers spiritual and temporal, who from the most 
 
 the Standing Council "of the nation. They found 
 themselves invested with an original right of ap- 
 P ying to the nearest relations of the Crown, and 
 of summoning the remaining part of the Legis- 
 ature to re-establish the fundamental principlef of 
 the British Constitution. 
 
 The "Council of Peers" having elected the 
 Marquis of Halifax as their Chairman, gave it a 
 
 convention should be called, of the Lords spiritual 
 
 of suchT^ '/"' °'*^ ^°"^'^°-' - 'he persons 
 of such as had served in former Pariiamenfs. 
 
640 
 
 SECTION 
 IV. 
 
 Chap. IV. 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 i 
 
 11 
 
 X 
 
 
 I 
 
 The Convention met on the twenty-second of 
 January, and never did a nation proceed with 
 greater dignity and moderation, to the settlement 
 of the most important and difficult subject that 
 could engage the attention of mortal men. The 
 Commons after a long and anxious discussion, 
 resolved, — ''That, King James II. having endea- 
 voured to subvert the constitution by breaking 
 the original contract between King and people ; 
 and by the advice of Jesuits and other wicked 
 persons, having violated the fundamental laws 
 and withdrawn himself out of the Kingdom, hath 
 abdicated the Government, and that the throne is 
 thereby become vacant." 
 
 The Lords concluded a long and arduous debate 
 on the terms of this resolution by offering to the 
 Commons the following amendments : instead of 
 " abdicated" they would have " deserted " and that 
 these words " that the throne is thereby become 
 vacant" be omitted. 
 Decision of Thcsc suggcstious gavc birth to a conference be- 
 the convention. ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ Houscs, and to thc most mcmorablc 
 
 debate that ever took place in England; which 
 ended in the concurrence of the Lords : so that 
 this vote became the basis and foundation upon 
 which the re-construction of the English Consti- 
 tution, was to stand sure to future ages. 
 
 Their next step was to fill the deserted throne ; 
 and it is remarkable, that amongst men who dis- 
 cerned such anxiety to preserve the principles ot 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 641 
 
 the Monarchy, that no mention should be made SECTION 
 of the Pnnce of Wales. But it must be remem- l" 
 bered that « popery " by this settlement of the ^""- '^• 
 throne, was for ever to be excluded, so that the re- ""^^ 
 jection of the Prince followed in the train of his 
 * ather, unless the nation could have been entrust- 
 ed with his education. To such an arrangement 
 however, had it been proposed, the nation would 
 not have assented, inasmuch as the Prince was 
 universally believed to be supposititious. The 
 testimony of evidence is in favour of his legiti- 
 macy, but, it is remarkable that, the nation would 
 not believe it; and the King was justly punished 
 for his own falsehood, by the incredulity of the 
 people, m a matter which affected his honour 
 and which ended in the utter rejection of his 
 posterity. 
 
 In the mean time, the unhappy King wrote the 
 most pathetic letters to the Convention, reflecting 
 upon the conduct of the Prince of Orange, which 
 had induced him to leave his country, and prom- 
 ts once more, to be faithful to his engagements. 
 iiut his promises were unavailing, and it was 
 
 had tl I T'' '" ^^^^' '"^^^ ' "^» -^eh 
 had taught and enabled him to break them 
 
 hrown into transports of joy, by the arrival of''^""-""^ 
 the King s daughter, the Princess of Orange She 
 
 nncess^of Denmark; and as they passed up the 
 
 s s 
 
 . illll 
 
642 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 |l 
 
 SECTION river to Whitehall, they were received with the 
 IV. lofty shouts of huzzaing multitudes. 
 
 ^Z^'^}-^,^ On the next day, seated with her royal hushand 
 wiuiam and under a canopy of state in the Banqueting Hall, 
 
 A^o'lm! ' ^* Whitehall, they received the offer of the Crown 
 from the two houses of Convention, and on the 
 conclusion of the august ceremony, they were 
 solemnly proclaimed King and Queen of England. 
 This extraordinary revolution unexampled in 
 the records of any age or nation, established the 
 PROTESTANT PRINCIPLE of the Constitu- 
 tion, in connexion with that important, and fully 
 recognized right, of universal toleration in religion. 
 The Church of England, at the Reformation, had 
 proceeded to act on the principles which the Church 
 had always pursued, expecting those baptized with- 
 in her Pale, to submit to her ordinances, when 
 such ordinances were not opposed to the word of 
 God. This was reasonable. But it was not rea- 
 sonable to enforce submission by the arm of the 
 civil power. The State can have no power with- 
 in the Church. It may protect the national 
 Establishment, and may impose civil disabilities 
 on its citizens, if it appear necessary for the public 
 security and welfare. But to enforce church cen- 
 sures, it can have no authority. This is yet to be 
 understood. The principle of Toleration seems 
 manifest and simple to us. But it was not so to 
 our forefathers. The Puritans and Presbyterians 
 were the most intolerant of all, and carried the 
 
 op ENGLISH HISTORY. 543 
 
 principle of non-toleration to an extreme never SECTiOAr 
 adopted by the Church, and which, on their harsh W 
 and arbitrary assumptions, never could have led to "=""■ '^• 
 toleration under any form. The Divines of the 
 Church of England, were the first writers on this 
 subject, and its greatest champions. 
 
 To establish this great truth, and to lay the 
 foundation for the stability, unity and prosperity 
 of the British Empire, all the calamities of the 
 civil war-the degradations of the Cromwellian 
 era and the arbitrary invasions of James II were 
 endured It was the experience which mankind 
 acquired during this long and trying period, which 
 led them to perceive the necessity of adopting it 
 n the social system, where it shines conspicuous 
 as another ray of the divine benevolence, "shed- 
 ding sweet influence," and rendering harmonious 
 all the other elements of the social system. 
 
 From this period the nation has proceeded 
 
 has gained an eminence never attained by any 
 other nation, and acquired a dominion so exten 
 
 verses its course, never sets on its nosses.Jnn^ 
 nor can it be doubted that in its politi^l X' 
 
 ions. Religion, and Laws, it stands forth by 
 the w n , ,,, ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^h b, 
 
 »1ATE. amongst the nations of the world. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 RAPID EXTENSION AND CONSOLIDATION OF THE 
 EMPIRE. 
 
 BRITISH 
 
 III 
 
 I 
 
 No sooner was William III. firmly seated on the SECTION 
 throne, by the total reduction of Ireland, and the IV. 
 dispersion or extermination of the Highland ^•'"■^'■ 
 Chieftains who had favoured the cause of James wlmCItr' 
 than he turned his eager attention to the general ^"''''^ 
 politics of Europe. His great object was to hum- 
 ble the power of France, and check the progress 
 of Its ambitious Monarch. His political fore- 
 sight and sagacity, soared far beyond the capacity 
 of his English statesmen ; and there was a mani- 
 test reluctance in the nation, to follow him in his 
 great enterprise, of securing the balance of power 
 amongst the nations of the European Continent 
 
646 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 II 
 
 SECTION Although discouraged and baffled, nothing could 
 IV. daunt him in the execution of his designs. The 
 ^^^^^^^^ naval victory obtained over the French fleet, by 
 William HI. Admiral Russel, off Cape-la-Hogue, May the 
 twenty-first, sixteen hundred and ninety-two, put 
 a final period to the hopes of James ; and the 
 peace of Eyswick gave a temporary repose to 
 the contending powers ; and, soon after, the re- 
 jected Monarch of England ended his life. He 
 had become a religious ascetic, and his vigorous and 
 athletic constitution, had, for some time, began to 
 yield to the infirmities of age, and at length sunk 
 under that melancholy which superstition gene- 
 rally impresses on the mind. 
 
 The peace of Eyswick could not restrain the 
 ardent mind of William, and he laboured still 
 more incessantly, to rouse the powers of Europe 
 to a just sense of their interests : and he used fre- 
 quently to visit his paternal seat at Loo, in Hol- 
 land, for the purpose of meeting his political 
 friends and allies, and forming schemes for future 
 operations. 
 
 He had just formed a powerful confederacy 
 against France, in which he had induced his Eng- 
 lish subjects cordially to unite, when he was over- 
 taken by death. This event was occasioned by a 
 fall from his horse, which fractured his collar-bone, 
 and ended in fever and diarrhoea. His last act 
 was a conference on foreign affairs, with the Earl 
 of Albemarle, who had just returned from Holland. 
 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 647 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Queen Anne. 
 A. D. 1702. 
 
 This great Prince died in the fifty-second year of SECTION 
 his age; and, his biographer observes : ''that no IV. 
 man could die, either better prepared, or, with 
 greater constancy and piety ; of whose just praises 
 no tongue shall be silent, and no time unmindful." 
 But, though King William was dead, the great 
 Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, was alive ; and 
 on the accession of Queen Anne, this celebrated 
 General was employed to conduct the war, which 
 had been framed by her illustrious predecessor. 
 This first campaign, at the head of the allied 
 forces, commenced in July, 1702, and, a series of 
 brilliant exploits followed his victorious career, 
 in which the names of Blenheim and Ramillies, 
 and Oudenarde, will ever be remembered in the 
 annals of England. 
 
 In the mean time the British Empire rapidly 
 advanced. The town of Gibraltar was taken by 
 the Prince of Hesse, and Sir George Rooke, their 
 defence of which, afterwards, against the com- 
 bined fleets of France and Spain, is considered 
 one of the most splendid achievments in arms. 
 
 Nor was the union between England and Scot- 
 land a less glorious achievment, by strengthening 
 and consolidating the internal power of the nation. 
 It was strongly and blindly opposed by the Scot- 
 tish nation; but it was the greatest boon that 
 Kingdom ever received from the bounty of an 
 overruling Providence, in which. He appeared to 
 put an end to their unparalleled sufferings ; and 
 
648 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION stay the hand of his vengeance which had reduced 
 IV. them to the lowest stage of degradation and 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Queen Anne. 
 A.D. 1711. 
 
 misery. 
 
 The last campaign of the Duke of Marlborough 
 was A. D. 1711, in which he had accomplished 
 every thing which the mind of William III, could 
 have contemplated. He had never beseiged a 
 city which he did not take, nor engaged in a 
 battle in which he was not victorious. During 
 the nine years of the war, he had gained from 
 France a prodigious track of country — the whole 
 of Spanish Guelderland, Limbourg, Brabant, 
 Flanders, and Hainault, and had he been permitted 
 to return the following year, he would have entered 
 Paris in triumph. But he was not permitted. 
 On his return to England, he was accused of tak- 
 ing a bribe of ^6,000 from a Jew, and stripped 
 of all his employments, in which he was succeeded 
 by the Duke of Ormond. 
 
 The treaty of Utrecht concluded this grand 
 military movement^ which entirely checked the am- 
 bitious designs of France, secured all the barriers 
 of Holland, ever contended for by King William, 
 whilst the British Empire received considerable 
 additions of important territory — Gibraltar, Mi- 
 norca, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and Hud- 
 son's bay. In the following year, in the month 
 of July, died the "good Queen Anne," after a 
 reign of unexampled prosperity; leaving her coun- 
 try, and, Europe, in a state of profound tranquillity. 
 
 I 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 649 
 
 According to the terms of the " Protestant sue- SECTION 
 cession," the Elector of Hanover, descended from IV. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 Ernest Augustus, first Elector of Brunswick and 
 the Princess Sophia, was proclaimed King of Eng- 
 land, Scotland, and Ireland. The Whigs, whose 
 power had been shaken during the latter part of 
 the late reign, once more gained the ascendancy, by 
 representing to the King, the dislike of the Tories 
 to his succession. They assumed the names of 
 '' Hanoverians ; " whilst the Tories, as if they fa- 
 voured the pretensions of James, were termed "Ja- 
 cobites." The King was a man of great qualities. 
 ''My maxim is, he used to say, never to abandon 
 my friends, to do justice to all the worid, and to 
 fear no man." But unfortunately, he was only the 
 King of a faction. The Tories were entirely ex- 
 cluded from all offices of dignity and trust; and 
 the Whigs, whilst they pretended to secure the 
 crown for the King, were using all their arts to 
 strengthen their own interests, extend their con- 
 nectionsj and give law to their Sovereign. Their 
 rule was oppressive and tyrannical. They bound 
 the lower orders of people by severe laws, kept 
 them at a distance by degrading distinctions, and 
 amused them by the unmeaning cry of Liberty ! 
 
 The highest discontents were raised through- 
 out the Kingdom. The people murmured, be- 
 came indignant and discontented, and began to 
 sigh for the line of their ancient Monarchs, and 
 had it not been for his avowed Popish prin- 
 
 George I. 
 A. D. 1714. 
 
 ii. 
 
650 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION ciples, nothing could have prevented the return of 
 IV. the Son of James II. to the throne of his ances- 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 George I. 
 A. D. 1717. 
 
 tors. But although the nation v^^as goaded to 
 madness, by the tyranny and oppression of the 
 Whigs, they would not consent to the return of 
 " Popery," which they had repudiated for ever. 
 
 As it was, attempts were made to establish his 
 claims, both in Scotland and the west of England. 
 But in vain. Every attempt was defeated, and 
 all who joined in any enterprise which had this 
 for its object brought upon themselves instant 
 destruction. 
 
 Amidst the cries and sufferings of the wretched 
 adherents of the " Pretender," who were treated 
 with the greatest rigour, the Whig Parliament 
 made the danger of the State, a pretext for ex- 
 tending the duration of Parliament, from three to 
 seven years; whilst bribery and political profli- 
 gacy were the order of the day. 
 
 Still the military glory of the country advanced. 
 In consequence of a treaty with Austria, France, 
 and Holland, which bore hard upon the kingdom 
 of Spain, a war with the latter power became un- 
 avoidable; and Sir George Byng, distinguished 
 himself in a naval engagement with the Spanish 
 fleet, off Cape Faro. The King wrote him a 
 letter with his own hand, expressive of the high 
 sense he entertained of his conduct. 
 
 Notwithstanding, another attempt was made 
 from the Spanish shores in favour of the Preten- 
 
 f 
 
 - ■ 111! Ill 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 651 
 
 I 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 George I, 
 A D. 1720. 
 
 der ; and the Duke of Ormond took the Com- SECTION 
 mand of the expedition. But it was encoun- IV. 
 tered by storms, and dispersed without a blow. 
 
 The corrupt expenditure of the public money at 
 this period, led to the imposition of new taxes, 
 and to the regular formation of the national debt, 
 which amounted to <£30,000,000. This was a 
 corrupt age, and many of the Ministers of Govern- 
 ment, and Members of Parliament, were engaged 
 in a most infamous transaction, called the "South 
 Sea scheme," which was intended to enrich them- 
 selves, under the pretence of funding under one 
 company the claims of all the national creditors. 
 It was thought such an advantageous speculation, 
 that all who held government security, gladly 
 exchanged it for South Sea stock. The delusion 
 prevailed, and the stock increased in value, to a 
 surprising degree. The directors amassed great 
 fortunes. But when the community found that 
 all the promised advantages were imaginary, they 
 awoke from their delusion, only to reap disap- 
 pointment and despair. 
 
 Parliament interfered : many of the delinquents 
 were punished and made to refund their ill-ac- 
 quired booty. Still, however, many hundred fam- 
 ilies were involved in ruin. But this check to 
 the public prosperity was not of long duration, 
 and whilst matters were returning to their usual 
 tranquillity, George I. died, on his way to Hano- 
 
 Ml 
 
i 
 
 652 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 George II. 
 A. D. 1727. 
 
 SECTION ver, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and the 
 IV. thirteenth of his reign. 
 
 On the accession of George II, the Whigs still 
 continued in power, but a strong opposition was 
 gathering strength against them; and the dis- 
 putes and altercations in Parliament, were most 
 vehement. Sir Robert Walpole made an unsuc- 
 cessful attempt to introduce a general Excise. 
 The "Country Party," acquired sufficient strength 
 to attempt the repeal of the Septennial Act, but 
 the Ministry, exerting all their influence, were vic- 
 torious. The same contentions were carried on 
 in the ensuing Parliament. The Ministry were 
 called to account for their gross mismanagement 
 in the Convention with Spain. But the Ministry 
 were triumphant in every division, and the Country 
 Party finding themselves outvoted in every debate, 
 resolved to withdraw, for ever, from a Parliament 
 where they considered every thing, corrupt and 
 venal. 
 
 But the fall of Sir Robert Walpole was at hand. 
 A quarrel arose with Spain, originating in inju- 
 ries which they had inflicted upon the English, 
 who had a right of cutting Logwood in the Bay 
 of Campeachy. One remonstrance followed ano- 
 ther to the Court of Madrid, in vain; and at length, 
 war was formally declared. 
 
 Expensive preparations were made, and formi- 
 dable expeditions sent out against the wide spread 
 dominions of Spain, under Admirals Anson, Vernon 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 653 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 and Norris, but failure and disgrace attended the SECTION 
 
 measures of Government, and although their Ad- IV. 
 
 mirals displayed great courage and intrepidity, a _ 
 
 fataHty seemed to attend the Ministry : and the ^''''^^^ "• 
 
 1 1 c 11 1 1 . A. D. 1737. 
 
 only reward for all these costly preparations, was 
 the taking of a Spanish Galleon, valued at three 
 hundred and thirteen thousand pounds. 
 
 The discontents of the nation rose high against 
 the falling Minister — a majority in Parliament 
 was formed against him. The House adjourned 
 for a few days — ^he was created Earl of Oxford, 
 and resigned all his employments, to the universal 
 satisfaction of the nation. 
 
 After the death of Louis XIV, France enjoyed 
 a season of repose and prosperity, under the wise 
 dominion of Cardinal Fleury, Regent of France. 
 But on the death of the Emperor, Charles VI. 
 A. D. 1740, France was, once more, seduced by 
 her ambition, to take up arms, and to involve the 
 Continent in the flames of war. The defenceless 
 Queen of Hungary, daughter of the deceased Em- 
 peror, whose dominions had been invaded by the 
 King of Prussia, was the great object of attack, 
 and the partition of her territory seemed inevi- 
 table. But the policy established by William III, 
 would not suffer England to be an indifferent 
 spectator. England, accordingly, launched into 
 the tumult of war ; and immediately the despe- 
 rate affiairs of the Queen of Hungary were re- 
 trieved. The French were driven out of Bohemia, 
 
 It 
 
654 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION and the British and Hanoverians gained a deci- 
 IV. sive victory at the battle of Dettingen. But the 
 
 Chap. V. " 
 
 George 11. 
 A. D. 1746. 
 
 French were not so easily to be repulsed. They 
 had prepared vast armaments both by sea and 
 land. Prince Charles, the General of the Queen 
 of Hungary, was opposed by Count Saxe, son 
 of the late King of Poland, at the head of one 
 hundred and twelve thousand men. England was 
 threatened with invasion by a formidable fleet, 
 under the young pretender, Charles Edward, 
 grandson of James 11. 
 
 He landed in Scotland A. D. 1746 and having 
 met with success in his first engagement at Pres- 
 ton Pans, he resolved upon an irruption into Eng- 
 land. He took Carlisle— established his head 
 quarters at Manchester, and pursued his march to 
 Derby. The Metropohs was astonished, and even 
 alarmed, on hearing of such an army within one 
 hundred miles of its walls. But the counsels of 
 the Pretender were divided ; and the Highland 
 Chieftains, averse to subordination, or terrified at 
 finding themselves in the heart of their enemy's 
 country, unanimously resolved to retire into Scot- 
 land. Their retreat was continued with little in- 
 termission to Inverness, where they resolved to 
 await the arrival of the English forces under the 
 Duke of Cumberland. An engagement ensued at 
 Culloden, where the rebels were defeated, with 
 great slaughter ; and, a final period was put to all 
 the designs of the descendants of a rejected race. . 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 655 
 
 Meantime, the King of France, through the SECTION 
 bad success of his Admirals at sea, and the dis- IV. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 comfiture of his armies by land, was desirous of 
 a general peace. The British readily acceded to 
 his wishes, and a treaty was concluded at Aix-la- 
 Chapelle. But it was of short duration. In the 
 year seventeen hundred and fifty-one, the Prince 
 of Wales, the great favourite of the people, died 
 of a pleurisy ; and, at that period, the English 
 and French possessions were in a state of the ut- 
 most confusion. Negotiations, mutual accusa- 
 tions and hostilities took place between the two 
 powers ; which were to end in calling forth the 
 energies of the English nation, and, of establish- 
 ing, on a broad and solid basis, the vast and un- 
 rivalled power of the British Empire. 
 
 Mr. William Pitt was called to the helm of state. 
 A new combination of the European Powers 
 took place. Great Britain and Prussia had to 
 sustain the combined assaults of France, Aus- 
 tria, Sweden and Russia. The whole world was 
 involved in the fury of war. The King of Prussia, 
 who was reinforced from England, performed ex- 
 ploits, perhaps, unmatched in the records of mo- 
 dern ages. 
 
 The British arms, in the east, now began to 
 experience that success which had laid the foun- 
 dation of our Indian Empire, whilst their victories 
 in the Western part of the world were still more 
 splendid. Cape Breton, defended by the almost 
 
 George II. 
 A. D. 175d. 
 
656 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 657 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 George III. 
 A. D. 1760. 
 
 SECTION impregnable fortress of Louisbourg, was taken by 
 IV. Admiral Amherst and Boscawen, whilst Fort-du- 
 Quebec surrendered to Brigadier Forbes. 
 
 In the following year A. D. 1759, the success 
 of the British army was complete ; and General 
 Wolfe reduced the whole of North America under 
 the British dominions, by the taking of Quebec. 
 About the same time the Island of Guadaloupe 
 was reduced by the British naval power. 
 
 In the midst of successes by sea and land ; in 
 America, Asia and Europe, King George III, 
 succeeded his grandfather, October the twenty- 
 fifth, A. D. 1760, to commence a career of con- 
 quest and glory unrivalled in the annals of the 
 world. It seemed as if GOD had inspired an 
 invincible spirit into the fleets and armies of Eng- 
 land. The efforts of Britain, in every part of the 
 world, were incredible. The King of Prussia 
 was assisted with fresh subsidies, and reinforced 
 with a body of thirty thousand men — the exten- 
 sive Peninsula of India, was occupied by a large 
 body of forces — another army of twenty thousand 
 men proceeded to confirm their conquests in 
 North America, whilst vast numbers were dis- 
 persed in garrisons in all parts of the world. But 
 all this was surpassed by the astonishing naval 
 force, which, carried conquest wherever it came. 
 The courage and conduct of the English Admirals 
 surpassed all former example. Nothing could 
 intimidate them. Superior force only excited 
 
 their desire for action. Difficulties, however for- SECTION 
 midable, only inspired them with fresh resolu- ^^• 
 tion; and the fury of the tempest was braved as v^^I^C-J^ 
 if It was the element in which they delighted to victory of 
 move. Admiral Hawke gained a complete vie- til^lT 
 tory over a French fleet, equal to him in number, 
 m Quiberon Bay, on the coast of Bretagne, during 
 a dark night, in the midst of a furious storm, 
 and in the neighbourhood of a rocky shore. The' 
 Island of Belleisle, on the very coast of France, 
 was taken by the desperate valour of the British,' 
 with the loss of one thousand eight hundred 
 men, under Commodore Keppel and General 
 Hodgson. " 
 
 All this time an appearance of negotiation had 
 been carried on between France and England for 
 a general peace. But the French acted with in- 
 smcerity, and were engaged in a secret negotiation 
 with Spain. Having brought their designs with 
 that Court to a conclusion, a memorial was pre- 
 sented by the French Ambassador, containing 
 propositions derogatory to the honour and dignity 
 of the nation. The paper was returned by Mr 
 Pitt, as wholly inadmissible; he declared it to be 
 an insult to him, and proposed immediately to 
 declare war against Spain. But this proposal 
 being rejected, he resigned his employment of 
 Secretary of State-was created Earl of Chatham 
 and a pension of J3,000 was settled upon him for 
 three lives. 
 
 I 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 T t 
 
658 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION But his successors in office were soon obliged 
 IV. to adopt his suggestion ; and the whole world was 
 \,^^^^^K^ again lighted up with the torch of war. Portugal, 
 Conquests of ^^g ^jjy ^f Great Britain, was invaded by the allied 
 ^A^D.*i762. armies of France and Spain. Three immense 
 armies entered that devoted country, and spread 
 consternation and ruin in their path ; but, con- 
 trary to all human expectation, they were checked; 
 and, eventually, driven back by a very inferior 
 army of British and Portuguese. 
 
 Like success attended the efforts of Great Britain 
 in America and Asia. The French were despoiled 
 of the Islands of Martinico, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, 
 and Grenada, by which the British acquired the 
 sole possession of all the Caribees— a magnificent 
 chain of islands, which forms an immense bow, 
 extending from the eastern limit of Hispaniola to 
 the continent of South America. From Spain was 
 taken the almost invaluable fortress called Ha- 
 vannah, in the Island of Cuba. The acquisition 
 of this place was of the highest military import- 
 ance ; and in plunder it equalled a national subsidy, 
 amounting to three millions sterling, whilst the 
 capture of the Spanish register ship, called Her- 
 mione, by the Active and Favourite, king s ships, 
 did not fall short of one million sterling. 
 
 But all these conquests were surpassed by that, 
 of the Phillipine Islands, under Colonel Draper. 
 The expedition was conducted with the greatest 
 celerity and judgment, and by its successful termi- 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 659 
 
 nation fourteen considerable Islands fell under SECTION 
 the power of the British, which, for their extent, IV. 
 fertihty, and convenience of commerce, furnished ^"''^' ^' 
 the materials of a great kingdom. Spain had ^ICT^ 
 brought on this war by its treachery and insin- ^'■^°"" ^^ 
 cerity, and it was, by a just retribution, to lay the ' a!"d. i763. 
 foundation for the overthrow of its vast and un- 
 connected Empire. The occupation of Havannah 
 secured all the avenues of the Spanish trade, and 
 interrupted the intercourse of their wealthy colo- 
 nies with Europe. The reduction of the Phillipines 
 excluded them from Asia. 
 
 These wide-extended conquests induced France 
 and Spain eagerly to sue for peace, which was at 
 length concluded at Paris, on the tenth of February, 
 seventeen hundred and sixty-three. The Havan- 
 nah was restored to Spain, on condition that 
 Florida, St. Augustine, and Pensacola should be 
 ceded to Britain, who, during the war, by sea or 
 land, had gained twelve battles, reduced nine for- 
 tified cities, taken near forty castles and forts, 
 destroyed or captured one hundred ships of war,' 
 and acquired, at least, <£10,000,000 of plunder. ' 
 But these splendid achievements were far from 
 producing contentment and happiness at home. 
 It was necessary to raise taxes to meet the expen- 
 diture which had been incurred, and the proposal 
 of a tax on cider, raised such murmuring and dis- 
 content throughout the country, and such factious 
 opposition in Parliament, that the Earl of Bute, 
 
 I 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 » 
 
 n 
 
660 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTrON the Prime Minister, was compelled to retire. But 
 IV. though no reasonable objection could be made to 
 ^^H^^:^ his successor, Mr. Grenville, and those who acted 
 East India with him, the popular ferment still continued. 
 Company's -^^^^ -g^^^ ^^^ supposcd to influcuce the counsels 
 A^D.'ma. of the Administration, and the disposition to libel 
 and invective grew beyond all bounds. Amongst 
 the libellers, Mr. Wilkes, a Member of Parliament, 
 made himself most conspicuous by the daring viru- 
 lence and indecency of his writings. His prose- 
 cution only increased the popular clamour, and the 
 contending parties were so exasperated, that the 
 nation seemed on the point of a civil war. But 
 the King was firm, and the popular party were 
 discouraged. These were only the beginnings of 
 trouble ; and a long and tedious night impended 
 over the ungrateful nation. 
 
 This period was preceded by the re-modelling 
 of the East India Company's Charter, a work of 
 prodigious labour and difficulty, and which met 
 with great opposition from the Company. But on 
 the third of May, A. D. 1773, the Prime Minister 
 carried through the House, the fundamental prin- 
 ciples of his plan for the future government of that 
 extensive part of the British Empire. By these 
 regulations, whilst the conduct of affairs was left 
 in the hands of the Company, the territorial su- 
 premacy was vested in the Crown ; and an effectual 
 controul over their acts, secured to the British 
 Legislature. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 661 
 
 This great work was no sooner achieved, than SECTION 
 the American colonial war broke out with porten- IV. 
 tous fury, drawing the whole world into the vor- .J^^^^:^ 
 tex of war. The English Administration, at this American 
 time, carried every thing, with a high hand, under ''^'"•^ 
 the dignified rule of George III. They acted with ^' ^' ^^^ 
 great spirit and firmness in the commencement of 
 this struggle, the object of which was to uphold 
 the supreme authority of the Imperial Parliament, 
 and its right to impose taxes on the dependencies 
 and colonies of the Empire. And there can be 
 no doubt but their energy and firmness would 
 have been successful, had it not been thwarted by 
 the vehemence of the opposition, at home, and the 
 espousing of the American cause by France and 
 Holland. Party spirit was revived with greater 
 animosity than ever, which laid the foundation of 
 an enmity between the Whig and Tory never to 
 be extinguished, except in their mutual destruc- 
 tion — an event which now seems on the eve of 
 accomplishment, A. D. 1841. 
 
 The high principles of the Administration pre- 
 vailed. The war commenced by the destruction 
 of Boston. Vast operations and expenditure fol- 
 lowed. The French entered the field of action : 
 but the British fleet was every where successful, 
 and the British arms triumphant ; whilst Spain, 
 thinking it a favourable moment to revenge her 
 past defeats, entered the confederacy against Eng- 
 land. This was a trying moment. The com- 
 
 i 
 
662 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Reform. 
 
 SECTION bined fleet consisted of sixty sail of the line, and 
 
 IV. threatened an invasion of the British shore. The 
 
 ^^A^:,^ appearance of this formidable armament roused 
 
 Mr. Burke's the energy of the whole nation ; and the universal 
 
 wish was, to put an end to the American war, and 
 
 exert the whole national strength against their 
 
 old and inveterate enemies. 
 
 Large sums were subscribed in the counties for 
 the purpose of raising volunteers, and associations 
 were formed in the towns for the same patriotic 
 object. Enthusiasm everywhere prevailed. But 
 in the House of Commons the virulence of oppo- 
 sition continued; and, to add to the embarrassments 
 of the Government, the discontent and miserable 
 state of Ireland, and the enormous expenditure of 
 the war, began to create alarm in the nation. 
 Parliament was accused of corruption ; and it was 
 alleged that, nothing short of a change in its con- 
 stitution, could remedy the existing evil. 
 
 It was in the beginning of February A. D. 1780, 
 that Mr. Burke introduced a plan for securing the 
 independence of Parliament, and introducing eco- 
 nomy into the various departments of the State. 
 But the proposals of this w4se and moderate states- 
 man were rejected : the Administration, however, 
 were shortly to meet with a formidable check. A 
 day having been appointed for taking into con- 
 sideration the petition, which had been presented 
 from one half of the kingdom, it was carried, after 
 a long and violent debate, " that the influence of 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 663 
 
 the Crown had increased, was increasing, and SECTION 
 ought to be diminished." And this was followed IV. 
 by another, that it was the duty of the House to ^"*''' ^• 
 provide an immediate and effectual remedy. It Lord cor- 
 was even carried, that there should, every session, '^°"'' ^'"'^' 
 
 A. D. 1780. 
 
 seven days after the meeting of Parliament, be 
 laid before the House " an account of all sums 
 issued out of the Civil List, or any other branch 
 of the Revenue, since the last recess, in favour of 
 any of its members:" a regulation of the first im- 
 portance in preventing the corruption of Parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 In carrying these resolutions the Whig party- 
 discovered the strength they were acquiring in 
 Parliament ; but their attention was diverted by 
 domestic alarms. In the midst of the public 
 distraction, and the dangers of war, the Roman 
 Catholics thought it a suitable opportunity to pre- 
 fer their grievances to the notice of the Legislature. 
 Nor were their claims rejected ; the penal statutes, 
 which prevented them from the open exercise of 
 their religion, were abrogated. But when the 
 same thing was attempted for Scotland, the popu- 
 lace rose in opposition to it. Great disturbances 
 and tumults prevailed, and the infection reached 
 to the lower orders of England. London was 
 disgraced with riots, burnings, and threatenings ; 
 and, for two days, the metropolis was in possession 
 of a lawless multitude. At length, however, by 
 the energy of the Monarch, these dangerous in- 
 
 H 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 I 
 
 ■I 
 
 t 
 
 f 
 
664 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION surrections were quelled ; but his order for the 
 
 IV. troops to act without the intervention of the civil 
 
 ^^^y^i^ magistrates, was thought a departure from the 
 
 The armed strict letter of the Constitution, although justified 
 
 neutrality. i •, 
 
 A. D. 1781. by necessity. 
 
 In the mean time, the war was prosecuted with 
 unabated vigour ; and Admirals Parker and Rod- 
 ney carried triumph and victory into every quarter 
 of the globe. But at this moment, when the 
 British nation was making the most successful 
 efforts, a formidable confederacy, under the title 
 of the " armed neutrality," was formed, evidently 
 with a design to crush the power of Great Britain. 
 Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland, were the 
 principal powers engaged in this deep political 
 movement. The pretence was to protect their 
 commercial interests, in the midst of the ravages 
 of war, but, in reality, to overthrow the power of 
 Great Britain, — ^but all in vain. It was discovered 
 that Holland, in spite of existing treaties, had 
 actually concluded a secret commercial treaty with 
 America, and war was immediately declared 
 against the States. 
 
 The vast efforts of Great Britain, at this period, 
 were inconceivable. An Almighty Power seemed 
 to animate her counsels — to fight her battles — 
 and to convince her enemies of the impossibility 
 of crushing that power which it was His intention 
 to establish. The invincible spirit which per- 
 vaded the fleets and armies of the Empire, seemed 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 665 
 
 also to inspire the King and his Ministers : they SECTION 
 assumed a high and commanding tone, unbe- IV. 
 coming the condition of mortal man, and it seemed ^"^''- ^• 
 to have been adopted as a kind of maxim by the Admiral 
 Administration, at this period, to reject and disre- ^^'"'^y'* ^^^ 
 gard all complaints from the people and distant '"ad. i783. 
 subjects of the realm. 
 
 But a speedy retribution was at hand, and their 
 power was to be shaken to its very foundation. 
 The capture of the army, under Lord Cornwallis, 
 and other disasters in America and the West In- 
 dies, once more inspired the hopes of opposition ; 
 and, after long and strenuous debates, a motion 
 of censure was rejected by so small a majority, 
 that the Prime Minister, Lord North, thought 
 proper to retire. But, as if victory was to attend 
 even their defeat, their retirement was attended 
 by one of the most splendid naval victories ever 
 achieved. The French Admiral, the Count de 
 Grasse, was taken prisoner, and delivered up his 
 sword to the English Admiral, the Earl of Rodney. 
 On the thirtieth of March the Marquis of Rock- 
 ingham was appointed Prime Minister, and Mr. 
 Foj, one of the principal Secretaries of State, to 
 the great disgust of the King, who highly resented 
 the necessity of making this change in his coun- 
 sels. Peace was now the order of the day, and 
 immediate negotiations for that purpose were com- 
 menced at Paris. During the pacification, the 
 Marquis of Rockingham died, and was succeeded 
 
 
 'i 
 
eee 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 ji 
 
 SECTION by the Earl of Shelburne. Mr. Fox, and many 
 IV. of his friends, retired from office ; but the nego- 
 tiation proceeded, and, before the end of the year, 
 American a provisional treaty was signed between Britain 
 Vd"i783^ and America; and, in January, seventeen hundred 
 and eighty-three, with France and Spain. 
 
 The national affairs, under the conduct of the 
 Shelburne Administration, could not fail to have 
 been well conducted ; and, with the return of 
 peace, the tranquillity and prosperity of the coun- 
 try might have been secured. But by a formidable 
 and dangerous combination, in one branch of the 
 Legislature, the whole Government was thrown 
 into confusion ; and even the stability of the 
 Monarchy endangered. This was an unprincipled 
 and flagitious coalition between two powerful 
 parties of the Commons, who, finding themselves, 
 hopelessly, excluded from power, determined to 
 gratify their ambition and avarice by uniting their 
 forces, and compelhng the Monarch to place in 
 their hands the administration of public affairs. 
 
 Lord North, the late Minister, who had been the 
 uncompromising supporter of the Royal Preroga- 
 tive and the strenuous advocate of the American 
 war, was the leader of one faction, and the Right 
 Honourable C. J. Fox, the great champion of the 
 people's privileges, and the great opposer of the 
 war, was the leader of the other. Their united 
 efforts became irresistible, and the King was un- 
 der the necessity of placing them at the head of his 
 
 . 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 667 
 
 affairs. The Duke of Portland was made Prime SECTION 
 Minister, and Lord North and Mr. Fox were IV. 
 appointed Secretaries of State. The celebrated .^^t^^J^ 
 Mr. Pitt and Mr. Jenkinson afterwards Earl of Mr. Fox's 
 Livejrpool, now first appeared in opposition ; and ^""^'^ ^'"• 
 by their instrumentality, it pleased God, to grant 
 deliverance to the nation. The Ministers carried 
 every thing by large majorities; and, at length, 
 Mr. Fox brought in his famous India Bill, which 
 was intended to place the whole territorial govern- 
 ment of India in the hands of seven Commissioners, 
 nominated by themselves — a measure which would 
 have rendered them independent both of the Crown 
 and the people ! But this proposed stratagem, for 
 gaining political ascendancy, was discovered and 
 frustrated by the resolution and firmness of the 
 King. The Bill passed the House of Commons, 
 but, through the personal interference of the King, 
 it was rejected by the Lords ; and the next day 
 the King demanded from them the seals of office, 
 without a private interview, which, he said, would 
 be ''disagreeable." 
 
 A new Administration was now formed under 
 the -IMI\IORTAL PITT." He fought the bat- 
 tie of the Constitution, and of the Royal Prerogative 
 in the free election of its Ministers, against the 
 " coalition," which carried their opposition with 
 an immense majority. They raged—they threat- 
 ened—they addressed the Throne— they remon- 
 strated. But the King was firm. The people 
 
 ■s 1 
 
668 
 
 THEOCKATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 li 
 
 SECTION saw the nature of this unparalleled contest, and 
 rv. supported the Monarch and his Ministers. Ad- 
 
 Chap V 
 
 ^^^^s,^^:.,^ dresses flowed in from all parts of the kingdom, 
 The immor. filled with sentimcuts of admiration and lovaltv. 
 A. D. 1783. ^^^ heroic Minister held on his way, and the 
 majority of the Opposition at last dwindled to one. 
 The Parliament was then dissolved, and the 
 triumph was complete. But it was not for Eng- 
 land only, that this triumph was achieved, but for 
 the interests of Europe and the world. By this 
 remarkable change, England was placed in a situ- 
 ation successfully to contend with the difficulties 
 which lay in her course. Her whole strength 
 was concentrated, and an enthusiastic admiration 
 of their King and Constitution was created in the 
 breasts of all ranks of the people. 
 
 The new Parliament, in which one hundred and 
 sixty of the coalition members had been displaced, 
 was chiefly employed in settling the national aff*airs. 
 Mr. Pitt enjoyed the unbounded confidence of the 
 people ; and several Bills which he introduced, for 
 the regulation of the East India Company's aff'airs, 
 passed the Houses without opposition. In the 
 following Session, he even introduced a plan of 
 Parliamentary Reform, but it was rejected by 
 a vast majority, a measure which was thus left to 
 throw the nation, at a later period, into convulsion 
 and alarm. The whole state of European politics 
 were, at this period, in a state of great activity 
 and excitement. Commercial treaties were every 
 
 \ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 669 
 
 ren Hastings. 
 A. D. 1786. 
 
 where negotiating, and new combinations of the SECTION 
 continental powers were formed. In England, IV. 
 the fortifications of Portsmouth and Plymouth were ,^^^^0-x^ 
 completed; new laws respecting the militia were TnaiofWar 
 enacted; and the celebrated measure of the Sinking 
 Fund, for the payment of the national debt, intro- 
 duced. 
 
 It was at this time of profound tranquillity, 
 when England, having recovered from the effects 
 of the late war, was proceeding in a course of 
 steady prosperity, and the administration of aff'airs, 
 conducted in accordance with the spirit of the 
 Constitution, produced its usual natural results, 
 that the celebrated Mr. Burke acquired for him- 
 self immortal reputation, as an orator and a 
 statesman. By his mighty eff'orts in behalf of the 
 population of India, which led to the famous 
 impeachment of Warren Hastings, Esq., governor- 
 general of Bengal, his name will deserve to live 
 in the annals of his country. Still nothing seemed 
 to threaten the tranquillity of the Empire. The life 
 of the King, indeed, was threatened by a maniac, 
 named Margaret Nicholson, who aimed a deadly 
 blow, and struck him with a knife, but without 
 inflicting any injury on the royal person; whilst his 
 constancy, his patriotism, and his domestic virtues 
 drew forth the love and admiration of his subjects. 
 But amidst these bright scenes of national pros- 
 perity a dark cloud was impending, and a secret 
 volcano was preparing, which, in its hideous ex- 
 
 
670 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 SECTION plosion, convulsed the whole European continent, 
 ^V. and threatened to overwhelm and bury, in one 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 yolution. 
 A. D. 1789. 
 
 it 
 
 common ruin, all the establishments of the old 
 French Re- world. The sccuc of tliis horrible convulsion 
 was France. Since the time of Louis XIV. this 
 country had been sinking into a state of weakness 
 and decrepitude, and the whole society of the 
 kingdom was reduced to the lowest state of moral 
 depravity ; and it was now to be made the instru- 
 ment of its own fearful punishment. The profli- 
 gacy and corruption of the Court had given rise 
 to a vast expenditure, which, at length, brought it 
 into great financial difHculties. The King, who 
 had hitherto governed as an absolute Monarch, 
 was obliged to assemble the Parliaments. In con- 
 sequence of their debates, the spirit of freedom was 
 again revived, and these awakenings of the public 
 mind were hailed, by all the statesmen of the day, 
 as a favourable omen for France. Mr. Pitt, in 
 his place in Parliament, in this year, expressed 
 his favourable opinion with respect to the French 
 movement. But these enlivening appearances 
 were soon overclouded. The democratic power of 
 the nation, influenced and directed by the Infidel 
 party, burst through all the restraints of society — 
 ravaged the city of Paris — assaulted the royal 
 Palace, and took the Monarch and his family 
 prisoners. To avenge this outrage, Austria and 
 Prussia were instantly in arms, and threatened 
 France with invasion. England was agitated 
 
 II 
 
 V 
 
 -i 
 
 ]\ 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 671 
 
 with the revolutionary mania. Mr. Fox and Mr. SECTION 
 Sheridan gave it their powerful support in the IV. 
 British Pariiament, and the disaff*ected and viru- ^^^i^^^^^ 
 lent part of the nation, espoused the Republican The Reign of 
 cause. France, armed with a maniacal furv '^'"'''' 
 
 J i A L) 1793 
 
 sprung to arms. Her nobles were massacreed— 
 her King beheaded— her citizens murdered. Her 
 streets literally ran with human blood. Amidst 
 the infuriate orgies of their rebellion. Religion was 
 aboHshed— the Sabbath was blotted out from the 
 calendar— the Most High God was rejected, and 
 a prostitute, dressed as a heathen goddess, was 
 set up as the ensign of their divinity. All Europe 
 was now in a flame. England, in her own defence, 
 was obliged to enter the field of carnage, and a 
 declaration of war was made. During the demo- 
 niacal and revolutionary fury, Robespierre bore 
 the chief sway, and exercised every species of 
 the most remorseless cruelty and barbarity, in 
 consequence of which this period has been called 
 " The Reign of Terror." 
 
 Nor could any thing resist the impetuosity of 
 the French armies. They overran the Austrian 
 Netheriands and Holland, and made desperate 
 inroads upon Germany, Spain, and Italy. It was 
 only at sea that Lord Howe, the British Admiral, 
 put some check to their daring fury. The whole 
 French nation was seized with a military ardour ; 
 and their ambition would permit no bounds to be 
 fixed to their future empire, but the limits of Wiq 
 
 A 
 
672 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 '. 
 
 SECTION world. This martial spirit gave birth to great 
 IV. military leaders, and one arose of sublime military 
 
 Chap.V. 
 
 Rise of 
 Buonaparte. 
 A. D. 179C. 
 
 genius, who was destined, in the providence of 
 God, to curb the lawless licentiousness of his own 
 country, and to punish the kings and nations of 
 the earth for their ambition, treachery, and im- 
 piety. This was Napoleon Buonaparte. 
 
 The French, disdaining all thoughts of peace, 
 had compelled Spain and Holland into the san- 
 guinary struggle. Spain suffered a dreadful loss 
 in a naval engagement with Admirals Jervis and 
 Nelson ; and Holland, besides being defeated by 
 Admiral Duncan, was deprived of the Cape of 
 Good Hope, of their possessions in Ceylon, and 
 of the islands of Amboyna and Banda. • Nor was 
 British valour less conspicuous by land. Buona- 
 parte, now First Consul, who had invaded Egypt 
 with a powerful army, was successfully encoun- 
 tered by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, whilst, by the 
 defeat of the French fleet, in the Bay of Aboukir, 
 Nelson established, beyond all competition, the 
 maritime fame of England. 
 
 Whilst Buonaparte, on his return from Egypt, 
 was preparing, as First Consul, to organize vast 
 armies, for the purpose of universal conquest, 
 another military leader, endued, if not with equal 
 enthusiasm, yet with greater powers of judgment, 
 arose in England ; and, whilst the former possessed 
 all the fire and daring of the soldier, the latter 
 was wanting in no qualification necessary for a 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 673 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 consummate general. But it was long before SECTION 
 these two chieftains were to meet ; and, in the IV. 
 mean time, England had to contend against 
 difficulties, almost insurmountable — a mutiny in Pop'sh re- 
 her fleet; a rebellion in Ireland, which raged in i";"^"" '" '''' 
 the summer of seventeen hundred and ninety-eight, a. d. 1798. 
 in which the Papists were assisted by the French. 
 The Irish rebels were overcome by the Marquis of 
 Cornwallis, and the revolt itself was productive 
 of the consolidation of the Empire, by leading to 
 the legislative incorporation of Ireland with Great 
 Britain. Strenuous efforts were made by the 
 Romanists to obtain the repeal of all the civil dis- 
 abilities under which they laboured, arising from 
 their adhesion to the Popedom. But the King was 
 firm; and Mr. Pitt, who favoured their claims, 
 was obliged to retire from office. 
 
 Still the war raged ; and the Emperor Paul, of 
 Russia, having proclaimed a renewal of the " armed 
 neutrality," in which he was joined by the Swedes 
 and Danes, Lord Nelson was sent to bombard 
 Copenhagen, which produced their submission, 
 in the terms of which, Alexander, who succeeded 
 to the throne of Russia, acquiesced. 
 
 Mr. Addington, who succeeded Mr. Pitt, made 
 peace with Buonaparte, which was of short dura- 
 tion, and Mr. Pitt was again restored to the helm of 
 power. He saw^ that a prodigious effort was ne- 
 cessary, and that the power of France was, at all 
 events, to be checked. He organised the internal 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 u u 
 
v^ 
 
 •I 
 
 674 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 SECTION Strength of the kingdom— quelled the factious and 
 
 IV. rebellious spirit of Ireland— fortified the king- 
 
 ^"*'- ^- dom— and made proposals for a systematic concert 
 
 ""^^^C^ amongst the European Powers, to withstand the 
 
 Trafalgar. aggrcssion of Napolcon, who had been anointed 
 
 Emperor of France, by the Pope. 
 
 But his tide of prosperity was yet in its advance. 
 He crossed the Rhine with an immense army, and, 
 at Austerlitz, obtained a signal victory over the 
 combined forces of Russia and Austria— a dis- 
 aster which was scarcely remedied by one of the 
 most splendid naval victories recorded in our an- 
 nals. This action was fought between the com- 
 bined fleets of France and Spain and the British 
 fleet, October twenty-first, near Cape Trafalgar. 
 And, although the English were gratified with 
 the tidings of such a decisive triumph, they had 
 to lament the fall of their invincible Admiral. 
 He was buried at St. PauVs, with public honours, 
 and the grief which it excited, extended itself to 
 every breast. It was, as if each had lost his 
 dearest friend ; and his name will be remembered 
 by every generation, to whom he has bequeathed 
 the maxim—" England expects every man to do 
 his duty." Nor did he fall alone. The cup of 
 national grief was full, when Pitt, the incompar- 
 able statesman, sunk under the arduous struggle, 
 at the age of forty-six. The unsuccessful termi- 
 nation of the continental campaign, in the disas- 
 trous battle of Austerlitz, hastened his end ; and, 
 
 675 
 
 ■whilst his patriotic spirit was disentangling itself SECTION 
 from the body, this brief and expressive prayer IV. 
 escaped from his lips : « O ! save my countrv ^It".!' 
 Heaven. , , 
 
 Invasion of 
 
 Lord Grenville now came into power, and^^^'"* 
 brought with him the Honourable Charles James ^' ^' ^^ 
 Fox, as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, but who, 
 after a short career, was succeeded by Mr. Grey. 
 The strenuous policy of Pitt was retarded by their 
 ineffectual negotiations for peace ; and Buonaparte 
 made gigantic strides towards universal dominion, 
 whilst his brother, Joseph Buonaparte, was placed 
 on the throne of Naples. 
 
 The Grenville Administration lost their places 
 for again suggesting to the King the granting of 
 the *' Catholic Claims;" and were succeeded in 
 office by the Duke of Portland, Mr. Percival, Lord 
 Castlereagh, and Mr. Canning. 
 
 The Emperor of the French still triumphed. At 
 
 Eylau and Friedland he defeated the confederates. 
 
 But England stood firm to the interests of Europe, 
 
 when all the continental powers, humbled and 
 
 overawed by the conquests and military genius 
 
 of Buonaparte, seemed willing to submit to his 
 
 authority. The conqueror of so many States now 
 
 turned his ambition to Spain, which soon sub- 
 
 mitted to his arms, and received his brother Joseph 
 
 as King, whilst Murat, one of his marshals, sue- 
 
 ceeded to the crown of Naples. 
 
 r 
 
676 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 SECTION Portugal was now threatened with immediate 
 
 c/J'v ^"I^J^S^^^^^ > a^^ the British Cabinet, firm to the 
 
 ,>l^p<^ principles and policy of Pitt, continued their oppo- 
 
 :oru^nr '^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ambitious power of France. They 
 
 A. D. 1809. despatched an army into Spain, under Sir John 
 
 Moore, who gloriously fell at Corunna. But the 
 
 "Great Captain of the Age" was at hand; and 
 
 Sir Arthur Wellesley entered Portugal, and drove 
 
 the French army, under their most experienced 
 
 generals, from that kingdom ; and, pursuing them 
 
 from victory to victory, by prodigious efi*orts of 
 
 skill and courage, laid the foundation for their 
 
 future overthrow. But the great and good King 
 
 of England ceased any longer to rejoice at the 
 
 tidings of victory : worn out with the toils of state, 
 
 his anxious spirit was too powerfully acted upon 
 
 by the death of his beloved daughter, Amelia, and 
 
 the sensations of grief ended in the subversion of 
 
 reason. 
 
 . He was succeeded by the Prince of Wales, as 
 Regent, who, contrary to the expectations of his 
 friends, pursued the same line of policy adopted by 
 his father. It was at this time, A.D. 1812, that the 
 Prime Minister, Mr. Percival, was shot by Belling- 
 ham, a discontented trader, and was succeeded 
 by the Earl of Liverpool. Sir Arthur Wellesley, 
 now Lord Wellington, commenced his fifth victori- 
 ous campaign in Spain, whilst Buonaparte, leaving 
 the conduct of the war to his generals, with an im- 
 mense army invaded Russia; but the inhabitants 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 677 
 
 having set fire to Moscow, he was obliged to retreat SFCTION 
 
 amidst the horror<! nf n p • ■ SECTION 
 
 r. 1 J T. Russian winter, and he IV. 
 
 reached France with the almost total loss of his ^•'•""- ^• 
 
 rnZence that h """' "'^^ "" '^'^ ^"^^^y and ^^2:^^ 
 mnuence, that he was soon at the head of another »"-"■-?"'<•- 
 
 army, sufficient to contend with all the power of *°'"'- 
 Austria, Prussia, and Russia. But his career was 
 advancing to its close. Wellington, after recon- 
 quering Spain. A. D. 1813, prepared to enter 
 France itself, at the head of his victorious troops. 
 At the same time the confederate powers, under 
 the Austrian general, the Prince of Swartzenhourg. 
 had driven Buonaparte from Leipzic, and pursued 
 their advantage to the Rhine, in spite of the rigour 
 of the season. Nor was Wellington behind. 
 Having passed the Adour. which was deemed im- 
 practicable, he advanced in the direction of Paris 
 to attack Marshal Soult, who had taken up a most 
 advantageous position at Orthes. The assault was 
 irresistible, and the enemy fled with precipitation 
 Buonaparte, distracted between the two armies," 
 retired behind them, with a view of drawing them 
 from the capital, but the allies were not to be di- 
 verted : they rapidly advanced, and. after a slight 
 opposition, entered the metropolis of France, in 
 triumph. Such was the fall and disgrace of the 
 most corrupt city of the modern world; and its 
 occupation by foreign troops filled Europe with joy 
 1 he rage and despair of Buonaparte were exer- 
 cised in vain. He was obliged to abdicate the 
 
678 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 679 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION throne; and Louis Xavier, the brother of their 
 IV. murdered King, was restored to the throne of his 
 
 ancestors. Bounaparte retired in exile to Elba. 
 Return of At the Same time, the war which had been car- 
 ^7'Tm5. ^^^ ^^ between Canada and the United States, 
 was brought to a termination. But the short 
 calm which followed the raging storm in Europe 
 was delusive. The Prince of Elba, having well 
 concerted his schemes, landed, with twelve hun- 
 dred of his boldest followers, in the south of 
 France. His veteran soldiers every where hailed 
 his presence. He entered Paris in triumph, and 
 once more took possession of the Palace, from 
 which Louis had just fled with precipitation. 
 
 By a kind of miraculous agency, Buonaparte 
 instantly assembled an army of one hundred 
 thousand men, and advanced to meet the Prussian 
 and British forces, which were already in the 
 field. On his arrival at the Sambre, he attacked 
 some Prussian posts, and, elate with his success, 
 he advanced to meet Blucher, who, after a des- 
 perate conflict at Ligny, was obliged to fall back 
 The Duke of Wellington, in the mean time, had 
 posted the British army near Brussels, with the 
 village of Waterloo behind, in a position which 
 enabled him to secure a communication with the 
 Prussian army. His close embattled ranks con- 
 sisted of sixty-five thousand men. The battle was 
 begun by a furious assault on the right wing of the 
 British line, by Jerome Buonaparte : the attack 
 
 soon became general, and the British, with steady SECTION 
 courage, for six hours, repelled all the efforts of IV. 
 the French, till at length the Prussians, under ,^^I^^3^ 
 Blucher, reached the scene of action. The Duke Bauie of 
 of Wellington saw the decisive moment was ar- ^'^'''^T . 
 
 _ A. D. 181a. 
 
 nved, and, at the word of command, the whole 
 British line rushed forward to certain victory. 
 Irremediable confusion instantly spread through 
 the ranks of the enemy. Never was there a more 
 disorderly, or disgraceful retreat. The British 
 soldiers were too much fatigued to continue the pur- 
 suit, a duty which devolved on the Prussians, who 
 sacrificed vast numbers of the unhappy fugitives. 
 Hope was not yet extinct in the bosom of Napo- 
 leon ; and he endeavoured to rally his dispersed 
 troops, but an Austrian force had now entered 
 his frontiers, and all opposition was fruitless. He 
 surrendered himself to a British man-of-war; 
 and was soon after conveyed to the Island of St. 
 Helena, where his ambitious spirit was destined 
 to be lashed by the stings of remorse, and tor- 
 mented by the upbraidings of a guilty conscience ; 
 affording to mankind a striking and monitory 
 lesson of the vanity of all sublunary glory, and the 
 retributory justice of an overruling Providence. 
 
 His perpetual banishment from all connexion 
 with the busy world, was followed by the congress 
 of Vienna, and arrangements were made for the 
 security of the balance of power in Europe ; in 
 which the policy of WilUam III, of glorious me- 
 
6-80 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY 
 
 OP ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 681 
 
 Chaf. V. 
 
 SECTION mory, and his successor in political wisdom, the 
 ^^- immortal Pitt, were fully accomplished. France 
 was subjected to a great loss of territory, and dis- 
 Death of the graced by heavy pecuniary demands. Hanover 
 
 Princess Char- i tt n i 
 
 lotte. and Holland were raised to the dignity of king- 
 
 A. D. 1817. doms ; and to the latter was added the Netherlands, 
 which would enable the Prince of Orange to 
 withstand, with more probable chance of success, 
 any future encroachments of the power of France. 
 This mighty event brought to a termination, that 
 long and arduous struggle which had engaged the 
 attention of successive statesmen from the time of 
 William III, and gave birth to a new and splendid 
 era of commercial, political, and religious enter- 
 prise, which is conducting the world to a more 
 enlarged and enlightened period of its existence. 
 On the return of peace, the minds of men were 
 agitated and absorbed in the great concerns of 
 domestic policy, which caused great debates in 
 Parliament, and violent commotions amongst the 
 peoi3le. Whilst thus engaged in unavailing 
 complaints and mutual reproaches, the heaviest 
 calamity that a nation ever experienced fell upon 
 the whole people. The desire of their eyes was 
 taken from them at a stroke. The Princess 
 Charlotte, their future Queen, who, inheriting all 
 the noble qualities of her House, had, by her con- 
 duct, drawn to herself the affections of all, was 
 suddenly removed in giving birth to a son. The 
 double bereavement filled the nation with the 
 
 deepest sorrow. Every house was clad with SECTION 
 mourning— every breast was the seat of sorrow. IV. 
 On the day of her burial, funeral sermons were ,^^i^^ 
 preached in every church of the kingdom, to Death of 
 crowded audiences, attired in the emblems of^'"''^""'- 
 real, not fictitious sorrow. Never was there such ^' ""' ''''' 
 a day of national lamentation. But the tide of 
 the world's affairs stopped not. The congress of 
 Aix-la-Chappelle had already assembled, to make 
 Its final arrangements respecting the affairs of 
 Europe ; and on the fourth of November, eighteen 
 hundred and eighteen, it was notified to the French 
 Minister, that the allied powers thought it no 
 longer necessary to occupy their territory, and had 
 resolved on withdrawing their troops beyond the 
 frontiers of that kingdom. 
 
 And, as if to mark this epoch of history with 
 greater distinctness, it was closed by the death of 
 George III, the GREAT and the GOOD, who 
 had been raised up as the grand instrument of its 
 accomplishment. His high conservative and con- 
 stitutional principle towered over all opposition. 
 His integrity, uprightness, and patriotism were a 
 wall of adamant around his throne. His piety 
 and christian charity endeared him to his sub- 
 jects ; and his native courage and resolution made 
 him the dread of their enemies : and he will live 
 in the records of posterity as the " Father of his 
 People, and the Friend of the Poor." 
 
682 
 
 THEOCRATIC PHILOSOPHY OF ENGLISH HISTORY. 
 
 Chap. V. 
 
 SECTION Nor was his death alone. It was preceded, a 
 IV. few days only, by that of one of the most illustri- 
 ous Princes in Christendom — the ornament of his 
 Death of the couutry, and the friend of humanity. This was 
 A D^ 1820. ^^^ ^^^ *^^ Duke of Kent, the father of our gracious 
 Queen. **Utgmtp tiiu(jue trgnrt ;'' and may she 
 tread in the steps and follow in the bright exam- 
 ple of her noble father^ adhere to the principles 
 of the constitution, and win a record as lasting and 
 glorious as that of her grandsire, of sacred 
 memory! * 
 
 ♦ Prophecy of Isaiah xxvi., v. IT.—Jeremiah xxxii., v. 17, 18, 19. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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