r*r»ftr»i;i ???;*? 
 
 ISTORY OF 
 
 THOMAS 
 
 
Greenwich West 
 
A 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 BY 
 
 ALLEN C. THOMAS, A.M. 
 
 PROFESSOR OF HISTORY IN HAVERFORD COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA 
 
 AUTHOR OF "AN ELEMENTARY HISTORY OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES," "A HISTORY OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES," ETC. 
 
 D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS 
 BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO 
 

 1^" 
 
 Copyright, 1913 and 1922, 
 By D. C. Heath & Co. 
 
 212 
 
 OCl 16 22 
 
 ©C1A686306 
 <v\0 I 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The aim of this book is to give the main facts of English his- 
 tory, from the earhest times to the present, in a simple and 
 clear manner. The poHtical, social, and economic development 
 of the people is dwelt upon, and while the causes and results of 
 wars receive adequate attention, the details of the wars them- 
 selves are placed in the background. In the choice of inci- 
 dents, grouping of events, and the proportion in treatment, the 
 suggestions of the various Committees on the Teaching of His- 
 tory have been borne in mind. 
 
 The book has been written for American schools, and though 
 space has been lacking to dwell with fullness on the connection 
 between the histories of England and America, all will recognize 
 how the early settlers brought with them to America the princi- 
 ples of liberty and independence which had been gained by 
 their fathers. The student will also recognize how the holding 
 of these principles made the American struggle of the eighteenth 
 century inevitable. 
 
 In order to show more clearly the connection of events in 
 England with those on the Continent, several chapters on conti- 
 nental history have been inserted in the Appendix. These can 
 be studied or omitted as the teacher may think advisable, or 
 they may be used for reference. It has not been thought need- 
 ful to carry the continental history later than the close of the 
 Thirty Years' War. 
 
 Special chapters on the social and economic life of the English 
 people are given from time to time in the belief that, on the 
 whole, such a method is the most satisfactory way of bringing 
 
iv PREFACE 
 
 these important features of a country's history clearly before the 
 student's mind. 
 
 So many excellent books of bibliography have been published 
 during the past few years that it has not seemed necessary to 
 name more than a few volumes easily accessible. At the end of 
 each chapter references are made to a few somewhat more ad- 
 vanced histories of England, or of special periods, suggesting 
 collateral readings, also to three or four Source-Books for illus- 
 trative material. 
 
 A large number of maps and genealogical tables have been 
 supplied, which, it is believed, will be found useful. For the 
 sake of shortening the text, some explanatory and supplementary 
 matter has been given in the form of notes. Many dates are 
 given in the text in parentheses, not for the purpose of memo- 
 rizing, but for reference and to make the succession of events 
 clearer. Numerous cross references are also given. 
 
 ALLEN C. THOMAS. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter 
 I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 IX. 
 
 X. 
 
 XI. 
 
 XII. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 XIV. 
 
 XV. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 XVII. 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 XIX. 
 
 XX. 
 
 XXI. 
 
 XXII. 
 
 Page 
 
 Prehistoric and Early Britain 1 
 
 Teutonic Conquest 12 
 
 Danish Invasions and West Saxon Supremacy . . 24 
 Alfred's Successors. Danish Conquest. Norman 
 
 Conquest 33 
 
 England at the Time of the Norman Conquest . 43 
 Norman and Angevin Kings; William I — Henry II. 
 
 1066-1189 53 
 
 Norman and Angevin Kings; Richard I — John . 81 
 
 Norman Britain. 1066-1216 93 
 
 Rise of the English Nation and Growth of Par- 
 liament 104 
 
 Rise of the English Nation and Growth of Par- 
 liament {Continued) 114 
 
 Beginning of the Period of the Hundred Years' 
 
 War and Close of the Middle Ages . . . 133 
 Period of the Hundred Years' War {Continued) ; 
 
 Social and Economic Changes in England . . 144 
 
 Hundred Years' War {Cojtduded) ; Wars of the Roses 163 
 
 The Beginning of Modern England; The Tudors . 187 
 
 The Tudors {Continued) 202 
 
 Edward VI and Mary 227 
 
 England in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries 243 
 
 The Reign of Elizabeth 252 
 
 Struggle against Personal Rule 288 
 
 The Puritan Revolution and the Commonwealth . 321 
 
 The Restoration and the Revolution of 1688 . . 353 
 
 England at the Close of the Seventeenth Century 380 
 
 Y 
 
VI 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 XXIII. Growth of Parliament and Party Government . 389 
 
 XXIV. Growth of Parliament and Party Government 
 
 [Cofitimied) 426 
 
 XXV. Economic and Social Development in Eighteenth 
 
 Century 450 
 
 XXVI. Efforts for Reform ; French Revolution ; Napo- 
 leonic Wars 457 
 
 XXVII. Era of Reform 475 
 
 XXVIII. Era of Reform and Growth of Colonial Empire 488 
 
 XXIX. Latest Years 533 
 
 XXX. The Great European War 548 
 
 XXXI. War Problems; Progress in England; Home Rule. 567 
 
 APPENDIX I. Brief History of Continental Europe . 573 
 
 APPENDIX II. Lists of Books for Supplementary Work . 652 
 
 APPENDIX HI. Important Dates in English History . . 654 
 
 INDEX 663 
 
LIST OF MAPS 
 
 Page 
 
 County Map of Great Britain and Ireland . . . Cover page 2 
 
 British Empire, 1912 ....... Cover page 3 
 
 Physical Map of British Isles Facing 4 
 
 Roman Britain, showing Chief Roman Roads 9 
 
 Teutonic Britain 15 
 
 Alfred's England 27 
 
 Cnut's Empire 36 
 
 Dominions of William the Conqueror 55 
 
 Dominions of the House of Anjou 67 
 
 Scotland in the Thirteenth Century ....... 127 
 
 English Possessions in France after the Treaty of Bretigny, 1360 . 145 
 
 The City of London in the Fourteenth Century .... 153 
 
 English Monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII 211 
 
 Ireland in the Sixteenth Century ....... 219 
 
 Western Europe in the Time of Elizabeth .... Facing 276 
 
 England and Wales. The Civil Wars of the Seventeenth Century . 323 
 
 India in the Time of Clive ......... 435 
 
 England, France, and Spain in North America before and after the 
 
 Treaty of 1763 Facing 438 
 
 Europe at the Height of Napoleon's Power 471 
 
 The Western Front 562 
 
 GENEALOGICAL TABLES 
 
 Anglo-Saxon Kings 32 
 
 Norman Dukes 38 
 
 Norman and Angevin Kings to Edward I 52 
 
 Norman and Angevin Kings from Edward I 113 
 
 Table of Scottish Kings to Robert I ...... . 121 
 
 Scottish Kings from Robert I . . 135 
 
 French Kings, showing Claim of Edward III 138 
 
 Descendants of Edward III, showing Claims of Lancaster and York 160 
 
 The Tudors 186 
 
 The Stuarts 287 
 
 The Spanish Succession 403 
 
 The House of Hanover or Brunswick 416 
 
 Descendants of Victoria 532 
 
 vji 
 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 PREHISTORIC AND EARLY BRITAIN 
 
 1. The British Isles. — The British Islands offer unusual oppor- 
 tunity for the development of an independent people, for, though 
 they are near enough to the mainland to make intercourse easy, 
 they are sufficiendy far away to make an attack by a large army 
 difficult. The climate is moist, but free from the extremes of heat 
 and cold ; and, though the islands are in the latitude of Labrador, 
 the average temperature, owing to the prevailing southwest winds 
 and warm ocean currents from the southwest, is about the tem- 
 perature of Virginia. There are many islands in the group, but 
 only two, Great Britain and Ireland, are of large area.^ 
 
 The central and southern portions of England are comparatively 
 level and fertile, while the northern portions and the greater part 
 of Scotland and Wales are hilly or mountainous. The chmate of 
 Ireland is more moist than that of Great Britain, and the land is 
 better adapted to grazing than to agriculture. The great extent of 
 the coast line of Great Britain and the many good harbors offer 
 unusual facilities for commerce. Great Britain is rich in mineral 
 wealth : its mines of tin, copper, iron, and lead have been 
 worked from very early times, and its beds of coal are among 
 the richest in the vvorld.^ 
 
 i The area of Great Britain is 88,729 square miles, and of Ireland, 32,360 square 
 miles. England and Wales together are almost exactly equal to the area of the 
 state of Michigan; Scotland is nearly equal to South Carolina; and Ireland is 
 about the size of Maine. 
 
 2 The northern part of Scotland and the whole of Ireland are deficient in min- 
 erals as compared with England. 
 
 I 
 
2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 2. Early Inhabitants. — Scarcely anything is known of the very 
 early inhabitants. At some later period these primitive men were 
 succeeded by men of another race, who must have crossed from 
 the mainland on rafts or in rude boats. These people, as relics 
 show, were superior to those who had preceded them. They had 
 stone axes and better weapons ; they made a rude kind of pottery ; 
 they knew how to spin and weave ; they possessed sheep, pigs, 
 goats, and dogs ; and they built rude huts, surrounding them with 
 fields of cultivated grain. Moreover, unlike their predecessors, 
 they did not leave their dead unburied, but interred them in long 
 mounds called barrows. These men, it is believed, were of the 
 Iberian race, to which may belong the Basques, a people who live 
 in the Pyrenees. These Iberians were short, and probably of 
 dark complexion. 
 
 3. The Celts. — Later, possibly seven or eight hundred years be- 
 fore the Christian era, the Celts came to Britain. They were tall, 
 with fair hair and fair complexion, and were famous for bravery 
 and vigor. They had learned the use of metals, and the Iberians 
 had little chance against them. Instead of destroying the Iberians, 
 however, the Celts probably pushed them back toward Wales and 
 the north ; to some extent, they appear to have intermarried with 
 them. These first Celtic invaders have been called Goidels. 
 
 After a long time, there was another invasion of Celts ; these have 
 been called Brythons or Britons. As their predecessors seem to 
 have pushed back the Iberians, so the Britons seem to have pushed 
 back the Goidels. A map of the British Isles, at the close of the 
 Celtic invasions, would show the Britons in possession of the cen- 
 tral and southeastern parts of the island, and the Goidels of the 
 Highlands of Scotland, southern and western Wales, Cornwall, the 
 Isle of Man, and Ireland. The Gaels of the Scottish Highlands 
 and the Irish are descended from the Goidels; and the Welsh 
 from the Britons.^ 
 
 iThe Gaelic language of Scotland, the Manx of the Isle of Man, and the Erse 
 of Ireland are derived from the language spoken by the Goidels, but the Welsh of 
 Wales from the language spoken by the Britons. 
 
PREHISTORIC AND EARLY BRITAIN 
 
 The Celts were at first a people whose chief wealth lay in flocks 
 and herds, and whose agriculture was of the simplest kind. In 
 later times they cultivated farms and built rude villages. Later 
 still, mining, commerce, and other occupations sprung up, hastened 
 by the influence and example of more civilized immigrants from 
 the continent. 
 
 Their government was of a primitive type. There were numer- 
 ous tribes, the members of which were connected by blood, or 
 supposed to be connected, with the chief of the tribe. Each 
 
 Stonehenge 
 After a photograph taken in 1909 
 
 family was ruled by its head, and he, in turn, was subject to the 
 chief. There were laws and penalties in regard to certain offenses, 
 but it would seem there were few arrangements for carrying them 
 out. Every tribe had its land which was held in common and on 
 which each man had the right to pasture his cattle, and he could 
 get wood from a common forest. In addition to this, each family 
 had a portion of arable land. Boundaries were often ill-defined, 
 and as no man had a right to settle within the limits of another 
 tribe, it is easy to see that there could be little union among the 
 tribes and that occasions for quarrels would be frequent. 
 
 The Britons worshiped many gods and possibly made use of 
 human sacrifices. The priests and learned men of the Celts were 
 called Druids ; they were also the judges, though it was their duty 
 to advise and counsel rather than to punish in the modern sense. 
 As none of the laws, history, or poetry of these Celts was committed 
 
A HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 to writing, our knowledge of them and their customs is necessarily 
 limited and we cannot speak with certainty. 
 
 The circles of huge stones found in various parts of Great 
 Britain, of which Stonehenge in the south of England is the most 
 noted, were long supposed to be Druidic temples of some sort. 
 It is now thought that they were raised by some of the inhabitants 
 earlier than the Druids, possibly in honor of ancestors.^ 
 
 It was, perhaps, in the third or fourth century before Christ, 
 that Gauls and Belgians in considerable numbers settled in the 
 southern and eastern parts of England, and it is likely that to these 
 later settlers belong the tribes mentioned by the Romans, such as 
 the Cantii, Trinobantes, Iceni, and others. 
 
 Naturally, the intercourse which these tribes had with the 
 continent would be closer and more frequent than that of the 
 earlier comers, and it is probably due to this fact that we find that 
 they advanced more rapidly in civilization. They used gold coins, 
 employed chariots in war, constructed roads, and built better 
 houses, and cultivated more fields than did their neighbors. But 
 the Britons were still far from being a highly civilized people. 
 The greater part of the island was covered with forests, most of 
 the tribes were barbarous, and even the best of them were far be- 
 hind the Romans in the arts and comforts of civilized life. 
 
 4. The Romans; Julius Caesar. B.C. 55. — The Romans first 
 came into contact with Britain in the time of Julius Caesar. While 
 he was occupied in making the conquest of Gaul, he learned that 
 some of the tribes were receiving aid from Britain, and he deter- 
 mined to invade the island, partly from love of conquest, partly 
 to put an end to the aid given the Gauls, and possibly in the 
 hope of gaining spoils. He started on his expedition in the year 
 55 B.C. The effort to conquer Britain was unsuccessful, owing to 
 storms and to the size of the vessels, which made it impossible to 
 run them upon the beach and land the soldiers easily. The 
 soldiers, however, did their best. They leaped from their ships, 
 1 These circles are usually connected with burial places. 
 
PREHISTORIC AND EARLY BRITAIN 5 
 
 waded ashore, and drove back the natives. But the storms kept 
 the ships bearing the cavalry from coming to Caesar's aid, and also 
 seriously injured those vessels from which the first detachment of 
 troops had landed. So when the Britons, after some skirmishes, 
 gave promises of tribute, Csesar deemed it wise to return to Gaul. 
 
 The next year, 54 B.C., C?esar made another attempt to gain a 
 foothold in the island. This time, though he won several victories 
 and advanced farther into the country, his success was due rather 
 to the fact that the Britons were divided among themselves than to 
 his own skill. Cassivelaunus, the British chief, agreed to pay trib- 
 ute to Rome, and Caesar returned to Gaul. But there is no 
 evidence that Cassivelaunus ever paid any tribute. 
 
 5. Roman Conquest. A.D. 43-85. — Ninety years after Caesar 
 had left Britain, the Roman Emperor Claudius sent an army of 
 40,000 men to undertake the conquest of the island. This time 
 tribe after tribe submitted to the Romans, and in a few years a 
 large part of what is now England became a province of the 
 Roman Empire. During this war of conquest, Caractacus, the 
 chief leader of the Britons, betrayed by his companions, was taken 
 captive and carried in chains to Rome. It is told that as he was 
 taken through the streets of the great city, he said to the Roman 
 Emperor, " How is it that you who dwell in such grand palaces 
 envy us poor Britons our thatched cots ? " The Emperor, pleased 
 at his words and his self-respect, granted him his liberty. 
 
 For thirty years Roman Britain was in a state of almost constant 
 warfare. Attacks from unsubdued tribes from without the bound- 
 aries and rebellions within them were frequent. 
 
 In the year 78 a. d. Agricola, an able general and statesman, was 
 appointed governor of Britain. His first efforts were directed to 
 securing peace. He appointed honest and just men to subordi- 
 nate offices, he strove to correct the many abuses which had been 
 common during the rule of his predecessors, and in every pos- 
 sible way he showed the Britons that he desired them to be pro- 
 tected against unjust extortion. His strong rule put down all 
 
5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 attempts at rebellion, and by attacking the unsubdued tribes on 
 the borders he did much both to secure peace and to enlarge the 
 empire. He attacked the Caledonians or Picts of the north, but 
 they retreated to the Highlands of Scotland where he could not 
 follow. He therefore built a line of forts ^ from the Clyde to the 
 Forth as a means of protection against invasions by these savage 
 Picts. He extended the Roman boundaries to the Irish Sea and 
 even planned an invasion of Ireland, but was recalled by the 
 Emperor, who may have feared that his general was becoming too 
 popular and too powerful, or perhaps he thought it unwise to 
 extend the Roman conquests. The Emperor Hadrian visited 
 Britain about 120 a.d., and built a wall from the river Tyne to the 
 Solway firth. Sections of this wall still remain in a very fair state 
 of preservation. 
 
 6. Roman Occupation. 85-410 A.D. General Characteristics. 
 — Under the six years of Agricola's rule, Britain had become 
 a well-ordered province, and under his successors, the general 
 policy of Rome in regard to her provinces was strictly carried out. 
 A province was administered for the advantage of Rome, for the 
 amount of revenue which could be secured, and for the profitable 
 offices which could be given to Roman office seekers. The direct 
 welfare of the people themselves was seldom taken into considera- 
 tion except as it might benefit the rulers. In order that the desired 
 ends might be gained, it was needful that there should be peace 
 and prosperity. Therefore a strong government was to be main- 
 tained, communication between different parts of the country made 
 easy, and all possible encouragement given to agriculture and the 
 
 arts. 
 
 Furthermore, it was the pohcy of Rome to break up any feeling 
 of local patriotism. When a man in a province was drafted or 
 forced into the Roman army, he was usually sent away to some 
 distant frontier, there to form part of the imperial army. He was 
 not called upon to defend his own home or province. Two results 
 1 This is questioned by some authorities. 
 
THE ROMANS IN BRITAIN 7 
 
 followed this policy: (i) he lost the feeling of patriotism and 
 looked upon himself as the servant of the Emperor; and (2) the 
 people felt no responsibility themselves, but looked upon the 
 Emperor as bound to defend them from their enemies. 
 
 7. The Romans in Britain. — Little record has been preserved 
 of the details of the Roman occupation of Britain, which lasted for 
 more than three hundred years. At different points throughout 
 the country, camps were built and garrisoned by soldiers. These 
 
 
 
 
 
 Remains of Hadrian's Wall 
 
 places were skillfully chosen for ease of defense and for centers of 
 influence. Not a few of them became cities and towns which 
 have lasted until the present time. Such are Chester,^ Lincoln, 
 York, Colchester, Bath, Gloucester, Winchester, and others. Lon- 
 don was doubtless, even in Roman times, somewhat of a commer- 
 cial center. To connect the forts and camps so that troops and 
 supplies could be readily and quickly furnished, military roads 
 were constructed binding the camps and forts into one system. 
 Some of these old roads are still in use, such as that now known 
 as Watling Street, which, beginning at Dover, ran through London 
 to Chester ; and the Fosse Way,^ which ran from Exeter to Lin- 
 coln, and there connected with a road to York. Built primarily 
 
 1 Chester is derived from the Latin word castra, a camp, as is also the termination 
 Chester in Colchester, Gloucester, Winchester, etc. 
 
 2 So called from \\\q fosse or ditch along each side of it. 
 
8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 for military uses, these roads were also highways for travel and for 
 the transportation of grain and various other articles of commerce. 
 It is not too much to say that the roads were better and the trans- 
 portation of goods and passengers easier and safer in the time of 
 the Roman occupation than in the early part of the eighteenth 
 century. 
 
 The Romans were great town builders, and during their control 
 of the island it is estimated that about sixty cities and towns were 
 built, about half of which were fortified. In these towns, so far 
 as practicable, the arts and luxuries of Roman Hfe were introduced, 
 and the numerous remains of baths, theaters, villas, etc., which 
 have been discovered, indicate both the extent to which this was 
 done and the wealth of the Roman proprietors. 
 
 Agriculture was encouraged by the introduction of better tools 
 and by improved methods of cultivation, as well as by new varie- 
 ties of fruits, plants, and seeds. Marshes and fens were drained, 
 lands reclaimed from the sea, and dikes built to preserve them 
 from further damage ; the iron, tin, and lead mines were skillfully 
 and extensively worked ; salt works were established ; and trade 
 and commerce encouraged and developed. 
 
 Besides these material improvements, the Roman law, which 
 has served in many points as a model for modern law, was intro- 
 duced, but it was mainly for the Romans and for the few Roman- 
 ized Britons. Latin became the language of the towns, although 
 in the country it made little headway. 
 
 Much of the good that was in the Roman administration was 
 overbalanced by evil. The taxes were burdensome and payment 
 was often cruelly enforced. There were heavy taxes on all kinds 
 of trade, and tribute both of money and grain was exacted for the 
 support of the imperial armies and the use of the empire. Again, 
 it was impossible to bring about in the island of Britain that close- 
 ness of intercourse with the Romans which gave a semi-independ- 
 ence to city hfe in Gaul and Spain. From these causes, the 
 Britons had little training for self-government. 
 
ROMAN BRITAIN 
 
 ROMAN BRITAIN 
 
 SHOWING CHIEF ROMAN ROADS 
 
 Scale of Miles 
 
 C E A N U S 
 
 GERMAN'ICUS 
 
lO HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 When the Romans conquered a country, they rarely interfered 
 with its reHgion unless it came into conflict with their political 
 rule. In Britain the Druids, having incited their followers against 
 the Romans, were ruthlessly put down; but beyond this, there 
 was no interference with rehgious observances. Little is known 
 concerning the first introduction of Christianity. It is hkely that 
 the new religion gradually found a place in the island through the 
 merchants and soldiers who came from the continent. By the 
 third century, it had gained considerable foothold, for we hear of 
 three bishops from Britain at the Council of Aries (314), but 
 the influence of Christianity does not seem to have extended 
 much beyond the towns. Among the missionaries of the early 
 days three were noted men : Pelagius, Ninian, and Patricius, better 
 known as St. Patrick, the apostle of Ireland. Christianity was not 
 introduced without suffering and martyrdom. St. Alban, who 
 is reckoned the first British martyr, was slain (304?) at Verulam, 
 about twenty miles north of London, near where the Cathedral 
 of St. Albans now stands. 
 
 8. Withdrawal of Rome from Britain. 410. — By the middle 
 of the fourth century, the power of the Roman Empire was de- 
 clining. Its armies were no longer composed of Romans, but of 
 foreigners ; taxation was heavy and there was little national feel- 
 ing. The barbarians on the borders of the empire had increased 
 in power and knowledge ; had learned the value of united effort ; 
 and for the sake of attacking the common enemy, joined in loose 
 confederacies. (App. i, §§ 1-5.) 
 
 Early in the fifth century, the barbarians had penetrated far 
 within the boundaries of the empire and were threatening even the 
 capital city. The distant provinces could no longer be protected 
 from invasion, but were left to themselves. This was the case 
 with Britain. The last Roman legions were withdrawn in 410 a.d.^ 
 to aid in defending Rome against the Goths, and from that time 
 Britain ceased to be a part of the Roman Empire. The inhabit- 
 1 Some authorities say 407. 
 
EARLY BRITAIN 
 
 II 
 
 ants still clung to the hope that the Roman troops would return, 
 and nearly fifty years later sent a final appeal for help to the 
 Roman authorities. " The barbarians," they said, " drive us to 
 the sea ; the sea drives us back to the barbarians ; between them 
 we are exposed to two sorts of death; we are either slain or 
 drowned." But this appeal was of no avail, for it was impossible 
 for the Romans to send any aid. How much permanent effect 
 the Roman occupation had on the development of Britain it is 
 impossible to estimate with accuracy, but it is more than likely 
 that it was considerable. 
 
 References. — Green, Making of England, Introduction ; Green, Short 
 History, chap, i, § I ; Gardiner, Student'' s History, chap, i ; Terry, History, 
 Part I, chap, i ; Tout, Advajtced History, chaps, i-ii ; Rhys, Celtic Britain ; 
 Scarth, Roman Britain ; Traill, Social England, vol. I, Introduction, chaps, 
 i-ii, § i; Ch^yney, Readings, chdi^s. \-m', Colby, Selections, §§ 1-5; Ken- 
 dall, Source-Book, §§ 1-2 ; Lee, Source-Book, chap. iii. 
 
 A House of the Early Britons 
 
CHAPTER II 
 TEUTONIC CONQUEST 
 
 9. Teutonic Conquest Begun. 449. — As soon as Roman au- 
 thority was definitely withdrawn, at the very time when union 
 was most needed, strife arose among the local rulers, and petty 
 jealousies and ambitions divided the people. Even during the 
 Roman occupation the peace of Britain had been continually dis- 
 turbed by the Picts and Scots on the northern border, and by in- 
 vasions from pirates along the eastern coast. All these marauders 
 made frequent and alarming attacks, and many of the pirates with 
 their famihes estabhshed settlements, of which the earliest were 
 probably on the coast of what is now Essex. 
 
 At length, despairing of bringing about peace and order, Vorti- 
 gern, one of the British leaders, is said to have invited Hengist 
 and Horsa, two chiefs from what is now Denmark, to come to 
 his aid, promising in return both land and money. Tradition says 
 that they landed with a band of warriors in 449 at Ebbsfleet, 
 on the Isle of Thanet, near the mouth of the Thames. Vortigern 
 gave them this island for a home. 
 
 10. Angles; Saxons; Jutes. 449-550. — The Teutonic people 
 who had now come to Britain were of three tribes — Jutes, Angles, 
 and Saxons — from the neighborhood of the rivers Elbe and 
 Weser in northern Germany. They were bold and warhke, fine 
 seamen, and dangerous foes. They were heathen, worshiping 
 the gods of the Teutonic race. Their first expeditions were 
 solely for the sake of pillage. 
 
 The Jutes soon learned their own strength and the weakness of 
 the Britons. Declaring themselves dissatisfied with their treat- 
 
TEUTONIC CONQUEST 13 
 
 ment and reenforced, no doubt, by newcomers from the conti- 
 nent, they crossed the narrow strait which separated Thanet from 
 the mainland and ravaged the surrounding country, destroying 
 the villas, houses, and churches. Of the inhabitants who escaped, 
 some took refuge in the forests or in London, and some fled to 
 Gaul and never returned. The captured were put to death or 
 made slaves. The contest was a stubborn one, however, and it 
 was about sixty years before the Jutes subdued southern Britain. 
 
 In 477 bands of Saxons came, and landing on the south shore, 
 west of Kent, were known as the South Saxons. A few years 
 later, the fortress of Anderida (Pevensey) was taken by two Saxon 
 leaders, who, says the old Chronicle, " slew all that were therein, 
 nor was there afterwards one Briton left." After this victory the 
 kingdom of the South Saxons (Sussex) was set up. 
 
 Meantime, other bands of Saxons were invading the shores 
 north of the Thames and making settlements known as those of 
 the East Saxons (Essex). To the north of these came the third 
 set of invaders, who were called Angles. These were to give their 
 name to the island itself, for England is but Angl eland. Little is 
 known concerning their attacks and settlements, but there is no 
 doubt that these were, in all essential points, like those of their 
 neighbors, the Jutes and Saxons. By the close of the fifth century, 
 the whole coast of Great Britain from the Wash round to the Isle 
 of Wight was in the possession of the invaders. 
 
 In 495 bands of Saxons and Jutes entered Southampton water 
 and advanced to the interior. In a few years they took Winches- 
 ter and founded the kingdom of the West Saxons (Wessex), over 
 which Cedric became king. From him are descended nearly all 
 the kings that have ruled Great Britain, including King George V. 
 The advance of the Saxons was checked by the victory of the 
 Britons at Mount Badon^ in the year 520 (?), and for thirty years 
 no further advance seems to have been made. 
 
 1 The position of Mount Badon has not been identified. It was probably a few 
 miles south of Salisbury. The date of the battle is not certainly known. 
 
14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Tradition says it was King Arthur, who by his words and ex- 
 ample inspired the Britons to resist the Saxons, and who led his 
 followers to victory. Whether this be so or not, the legends of 
 King Arthur doubdess express the hopes and fears of the Britons, 
 and give, in the form of romance, the story of their weakness and 
 their strength, and of their efforts to conquer the invaders of their 
 land. 
 
 11. Teutonic Conquest Continued. 552-600. — The success of 
 the Britons was only temporary. A new advance was begun by 
 the Saxons in 552, and during the next twenty-five years almost 
 continual victory was theirs. By 577 the country as far as the 
 river Severn had fallen into the hands of the invaders, and they 
 had succeeded in possessing themselves of the south central parts 
 of the island, thus dividing the Britons of the west from those 
 of the north and east. How far the natives were destroyed or 
 pushed back is not clear, but it is likely that in these later con- 
 flicts large numbers were spared and in course of time became 
 intermingled with the conquerors. 
 
 12. Early Teutonic Kingdoms. — Meanwhile the conquest of 
 the island went steadily on, though slowly, for the Britons made a 
 brave resistance. The Angles spread north and west from their 
 settlements north of the Thames, and other bands came from the 
 continent. By the close of the sixth century, the English, as the 
 invaders' should now be called, held more than half of what we 
 know as England, comprising the eastern and southern parts, 
 which were the richest and most fertile. Gradually the weaker 
 chiefs submitted to the stronger, the smaller kingdoms to the 
 larger, so that about the year 600 the land was divided among a 
 few principal chiefs who were called kings. Of these kingdoms, 
 those founded by the Angles were the most extensive. Out of 
 earlier Anglian tribes was formed Northumbria, with York as its 
 capital ; south of this, along the coast, was East Anglia, formed of 
 the Northfolk (Norfolk) and the Southfolk (Suffolk) ; while west 
 of these, extending to the Welsh border, was Mercia, the king- 
 
TEUTONIC BRITAIN 
 
 15 
 
 TEUTONIC 
 BRITAIN 
 
 Scale of English Miles 
 
1 6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 dom of the marks or boundaries. The central district south of 
 Mercia and east of the Welsh borders was held by the kingdom of 
 Wessex (West Saxons), whose capital was Winchester; this, to- 
 gether with Sussex (South Saxons) and Essex (East Saxons), which 
 correspond nearly with the modern counties of the same names, 
 made up the Saxon kingdoms. The Jutes held Kent, the Isle of 
 Wight, and a small amount of territory near by on the English 
 coast. (App. I, § lo.) 
 
 13. Teutonic or English Civilization. 600. — We know too 
 little of the life and customs of the inhabitants of Britain to say 
 with certainty how far the English destroyed the civihzation then 
 existing. As the original home of the Teuton invaders was far 
 beyond the bounds of the Roman Empire, they had never come 
 into close contact with the imperial civilization, as had their Ger- 
 man brethren along the Rhine, who, to a large extent, had 
 adopted the laws, customs, and manners of the Romans. It was 
 far different with the English. They retained their own laws, 
 customs, and religion ; so paganism became ascendant wherever 
 they ruled. They treated the conquered with severity, laying 
 waste, without hesitation, cities, churches, dwellings, and farms, 
 and slaying the inhabitants or selling them into slavery. They 
 kept their language, which became the tongue of the land and has 
 remained so ever since. The fact that so few Celtic words 
 remain in the Enghsh language indicates how completely the new 
 language took the place of the old. And the almost entire 
 absence of Roman terms of law and of Roman customs shows how 
 thoroughly the laws and customs of the English drove out those 
 of the Roman occupation.^ 
 
 The Enghsh had a well-defined civilization of their own on 
 which rests much of what the Enghsh peoples now value most in 
 political matters. Under Roman law the individual was of little 
 
 1 The names of Roman towns still surviving indicate that some of the cities were 
 not destroyed, and it may be that Roman influence was more lasting than is at 
 first apparent. 
 
 1 
 
THE ANGLES AND SAXONS 1 7 
 
 account; the state was everything. Under Enghsh or Anglo- 
 Saxon law, the individual was of great importance and the free- 
 man had great power. The Anglo-Saxons were an intelHgent, 
 though not a cultivated, people. They had little real literature 
 and but a slight conception of art, or of the beautiful, or of the 
 refinements and luxuries of civilized life ; but they were strong 
 and hardy ; they possessed a capacity for self-government and 
 organization, and they were self-reliant. They came to stay and 
 brought their wives and families with them. They were agricul- 
 tural in their tastes, and as soon as practicable, settled down to 
 cultivate the land and to make homes for themselves. This latter 
 trait has ever been a characteristic of the race, as has been shown 
 so clearly in the history of the Anglo-Saxon or English colonists 
 in America, Australia, and South Africa. No subsequent invaders 
 were able to drive out the English. By them were laid the 
 solid foundations of modern England, and to them are due the 
 best and most characteristic traits in the English race wherever it 
 may be. 
 
 14. Introduction of Christianity. 584-597. — As England 
 became quieter it is likely that intercourse with the Continent was 
 resumed and the English were brought into contact with the 
 Roman civilization of Gaul. That this intercourse was both 
 friendly and influential is shown by the fact that about 584 Ethel- 
 bert. King of Kent, married Bertha, the daughter of a Frankish 
 king, Charibert. She was a Christian and was allowed to bring a 
 Christian bishop with her to her new home. At her request 
 the king gave her a ruined church where Christian worship could 
 be celebrated. This was the beginning of a new introduction of 
 Christianity into England. 
 
 Ethelbert was a strong king, and besides ruling his own Kent, 
 exerted a powerful if not controlling influence over most of the 
 other kings south of the river Humber. This fact, together with 
 that of his having a Christian wife, attracted the attention of Pope 
 Gregory I. Long before Gregory became Pope, the story is. 
 
i8 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 he had wished to go as a missionary to Britain, and one day he 
 had seen in the market place at Rome some boys who were for sale 
 as slaves. " From what country do these slaves come? " he asked 
 the merchant. The answer was, "They are Angles." "Not 
 Angles, but angels," he said. " With faces so angel-like. From 
 
 what country come 
 they?" "They 
 come," said the 
 merchant, "from 
 Deira." '' De ini, 
 ay ! plucked from 
 God's ire ^ and 
 called to Christ's 
 mercy ! And what 
 is the name of their 
 king?" They 
 told him "^lla." 
 " Alleluia shall be 
 sung in Ella's 
 land," he said, and 
 passed on. 
 
 When he became 
 Pope, Gregory re- 
 membered Britain 
 and resolved to bring back that land to Christianity. So he sent 
 a monk, Augustine, who with a band of missionaries landed in 
 Kent in 597. True, this was not the land of yElla, but it was 
 better suited as a place to begin the work, for it was easy of 
 access, and, moreover, its queen was already a Christian. 
 
 Augustine and his fellow monks were Benedictines, whose 
 maxim was that work and religion should always go together. 
 "To labor is to pray" was a saying of Benedict, the founder of 
 
 1 It is not easy to give the play upon words. Deira, the name of one of the 
 Enghsh kingdoms, resembles the Latin words de ira, meaning " from wrath." 
 
 Gregory and the Little English Slaves 
 
INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY 1 9 
 
 the order. The missionaries landed on the Isle of Thanet where 
 Hengist and Horsa had landed one hundred and fifty years before ; 
 the mission of this peaceful band was not to bring fire and 
 sword, but peace and good will. 
 
 Augustine and his comrades were received with great pleasure 
 by the queen and with kindness by the king. He listened, 
 through an interpreter, to the preaching of the missionaries and 
 promised them shelter and protection, but he was unwilling, as 
 yet, to embrace their faith. Augustine before long returned to 
 Gaul to be made a bishop. He came back as archbishop, and 
 having made Canterbury his headquarters, that church became 
 the mother of the English church. To-day the Archbishop of 
 Canterbury is the Primate of the Church of England. There 
 does not seem to have been any great opposition to Christianity, 
 but there was great indifference, and Augustine was able to set up 
 only two more bishoprics, those of London and Rochester. 
 Ethelbert's conversion was brought about within a year, but 
 though thousands of Kentish men followed their king, he dared 
 not urge his creed upon Essex and East Anglia. In fact, his 
 efforts to do so in Kent resulted in the weakening of Kentish 
 dominion. Under Ethelbert's successor, the political influence 
 of Kent was lost, and with it Christianity received such a blow that 
 it seemed for a time as if its life in England might be over. 
 
 The coming of Augustine and his band brought the southern 
 part of Britain much more closely under the influence of Roman 
 civilization. The monks used the Latin language in their church 
 services and in correspondence ; they were interested in literature 
 and art, and they brought about a considerable degree of refine- 
 ment in taste and manners. It was also probably due to the in- 
 fluence of the monks that soon after their arrival the English 
 laws began to be put into writing. 
 
 15. Celtic Christianity. — Augustine and his band were not 
 the first or only Christian missionaries in Britain. Some time dur- 
 ing the fifth century, St. Patrick had converted the Irish, and in 
 
20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the next century the Irish church sent out earnest and faithful 
 missionaries to labor for the conversion of the inhabitants of the 
 northern parts of Britain. Columba founded a monastery on the 
 island of lona, and from this place other missionaries, notably 
 Aidan, Cuthbert, and Chad, went forth. Aidan established himself 
 on Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland, 
 whence he visited the men of the mainland, urging them to em- 
 brace the faith and winning them by his piety and self-denial. 
 Cuthbert's mission was to the Northumbrians ; Chad's to the 
 men of Mercia. The work of these Irish missionaries was most 
 helpful to those among whom they went. Above everything, the 
 people needed self-restraint, temperance, a quiet and peaceful 
 home life, and a disposition to avoid cruelty. 
 
 16. Council of Whitby. 664. — The good influence of the 
 church was marred by a serious division among the monks them- 
 selves, due to the fact that while the essentials of belief were the 
 same in both branches of the church, some of the Celtic 
 practices differed from those of the Roman. One of these had 
 to do with the shape in which the monks shaved the crown of 
 the head to form what is called the tonsure ; another related to 
 the time of celebrating Easter. It was important that the English 
 church should be in harmony with the Roman church, which was 
 the church of the most civihzed countries, and it was greatly to 
 the benefit of England that at a council held at Whitby in the 
 year 664, it was decided that thereafter the Roman customs 
 should be followed. 
 
 17. Influence of the Church. Theodore of Tarsus. 668. Early- 
 Schools. — The church in Britain grew and was a great aid in 
 bringing about the union of the people, for when the clergy met in 
 councils to consider the affairs of the church, they met, not as from 
 the petty kingdoms, but as representatives of one body. Thus a 
 truly national church grew up and by its example helped to suggest 
 the possibility of a national political union. 
 
 Four years after the council or synod of Whitby, the Pope sent 
 
BEDE, ALCUIN, AND SCHOOLS 
 
 21 
 
 Theodore of Tarsus to be Archbishop of Canterbury. He organ- 
 ized the English church and appointed additional bishops, whose 
 work was not only to convert the heathen, but also to look after 
 those who had been converted. At a somewhat later period, 
 parish priests were appointed, and church buildings were con- 
 structed all over the 
 land. The example of 
 these local priests was 
 even more influential in 
 
 softening the lives and 
 
 manners of the people 
 
 than that of the mission- {m^^. 
 
 ary monks had been. -^^^-^- ^ _ ^r-%#^ 
 
 Archbishop Theodore St. Martin's Church, Canterbury 
 
 was a scholar as well On the site of a chapel built in the Roman period 
 
 , , , and still standing where Augustine landed in 597. 
 
 as a cnurcnman, ana The walls now contain some of the Roman bricks of 
 
 it was due to him that the original church. 
 
 a school was founded at Canterbury in which, besides the strictly 
 religious teaching, instruction was given in arithmetic, astronomy, 
 Latin, Greek, and in most of the branches of Roman learning. 
 " That which distinguished this school, and others formed in imi- 
 tation of it, was that the scholars did not keep their learning to 
 themselves, but strove to make it helpful to the ignorant and poor." 
 It was also due to Theodore and his clergy that the art of build- 
 ing in stone was brought from the continent, and that stone 
 churches were erected instead of wooden ones. In short, the 
 Church of England to-day, both spiritual and temporal, rests upon 
 the foundations laid by Theodore. 
 
 18. Petty Kingdoms, 601-839. Bede. Alcuin. Schools. — 
 During the seventh, eighth, and a large part of the ninth 
 century, England was divided into a number of small kingdoms,^ 
 
 1 The principal kingdoms were seven in number and have been called the 
 Heptarchy; these were Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex, 
 and Wessex. But there was probably no period when it would be safe to say that 
 they were all existing at the same time. 
 
2 2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 which were almost continually at war with one another either for 
 increase of territory or for supremacy. 
 
 It was, however, inevitable that one or another of these king- 
 doms should get the control over the others. At one time 
 Northumbria was the strongest; at another, Mercia; and at 
 another, Wessex. Meantime, though the boundaries of the Eng- 
 lish were not much extended, the Britons, or Welsh, as they came 
 to be called, hardly held their own. In 603 a king of Northum- 
 bria succeeded in gaining Chester and the territory near by, which 
 was about equivalent to southeast Lancashire of to-day; and his 
 successor, Edwin, extended his bounds to the Firth of Forth and 
 built a fortress called after himself Edwinsburgh, the beginning 
 of the modern Edinburgh. He also brought under his rule Anglesea 
 and the Isle of Man. 
 
 About the middle of the eighth century, the supremacy passed 
 to Mercia, whose king, Offa (757-796), was an able and energetic 
 man. His object was to unite England under a strong monarchy. 
 Besides gaining the overlordship of the other kingdoms, he added 
 to his dominions in the west. To protect his possessions from 
 raids by the Britons he built a wall of earth extending from the 
 mouth of the Wye to the mouth of the Dee. This earthwork 
 still exists in part and is known as Offa's Dyke. 
 
 During Offa's reign the intercourse between England and the 
 continent was frequent. It was the time of the Emperor Charles 
 the Great or Charlemagne (App. 1, § 30), with whom, as a rule, 
 Offa's relations were friendly, though he took good care not to 
 recognize any of Charles's claims to supremacy over Britain. At 
 this period the church schools of Britain, especially those at Jarrow 
 and at York, were perhaps the best in Europe. Among the most 
 celebrated monks was Bede of Jarrow, who wrote a history of the 
 English church to which we are indebted for most of our knowl- 
 edge not only of the early British church, but of early Britain 
 itself. From the school of York Alcuin went to the court of 
 Charles to be the center of literary influence in his empire, and 
 
THE UNION UNDER EGBERT 
 
 23 
 
 to aid in setting up those schools of learning for which the great 
 Emperor is justly renowned. (App. i, § 27.) Offa died in 796 
 and the supremacy, not many years after, passed away from 
 Mercia. ^ 
 
 Under Egbert (802-839) Wessex gained the leadership. Like 
 Offa, he was only overlord of some of the kingdoms, but his 
 power was stronger than that of the Mercian king. The Welsh 
 kings south of the Dee also acknowledged his supremacy ; so in a 
 fuller sense than any before him, he is what he is said to have 
 called himself, "King of the English.^" (App. i, § 30.) 
 
 The union under Egbert was, however, the work of force and 
 was maintained by force. In each of the old kingdoms there 
 were families who claimed a right to govern, and these claims were 
 allowed by their people. Should a king of Wessex arise who was 
 unable to hold the scepter of Egbert, it was certain that the 
 supremacy would pass away from Wessex as it had from Northum- 
 bria and Mercia. A new element was needed to weld the grow- 
 ing nation together and make England really English. This was 
 found in the Danish invasion. 
 
 References. — Green, Making of England^ chap, i; Green, Short History, 
 chap, i; Gardiner, StudenVs History, Q)i\2.-^\\\', Terry, History, Part I, chaps, 
 ii-iii; Tout, Advanced History, chaps, iii-iv; Traill, Social England, vol. I, 
 chap, ii, in part ; Grant Allen, Anglo-Saxon Britain; Cheyney, Readings, 
 chap, iv; Colby, Selections, §§ 6-7; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 3-5; Lee, 
 Source-Book, chap. iv. 
 
 1 In a charter of the year 828, he styles himself " Rex Anglorum," which, how- 
 ever, may not, and probably does not, mean, in the modern understanding of the 
 words, " King of the English." 
 
CHAPTER III 
 DANISH INVASIONS AND WEST SAXON SUPREMACY 
 
 19. Danish Invasions Begun. 787. — The Danes or North- 
 men were Teutons like the English, but they were of the Scandi- 
 navian branch. Their home was in what is now Norway, Sweden, 
 and Denmark. They resembled in every respect the Angles, 
 Saxons, and Jutes of the early days. Like them they lived in 
 tribes, they were bold and hardy seamen, they were on the look- 
 out for new homes, and they worshiped heathen gods as the 
 early settlers had done. Their language closely resembled the 
 Enghsh tongue. Their progress was a repetition of that of the 
 English, for like them they came first to pillage, next to settle, 
 and last to conquer and rule. (App. i, §§ 37-40.) 
 
 The first landing of these new foes appears to have been in 
 787, and their attacks were so frequent that Egbert had to take 
 active measures to repel them. After his death, the inroads still 
 continued, and in 85 1 a band of Northmen remained all winter 
 on the Isle of Thanet. Two years later, Canterbury and London 
 were sacked ; a few years later, York fell before the bold assail- 
 ants. By this time, many of the warlike characteristics of the 
 English had disappeared. They had given up a seafaring life and 
 had become landsmen; many had become peaceful and pros- 
 perous. All this made them an easy prey to the daring enemy. 
 The custom of the attacking party was to sail into one of the river 
 mouths, land their men, throw up an embankment of earth as a 
 defense, and with this as their headquarters raid the country 
 all around, slaying the people, burning the houses, barns, and 
 churches, and carrying off cattle, goods, and whatever booty they 
 could find. Then, before the king or chief officer could attack 
 
 24 
 
DANISH INVASIONS 
 
 25 
 
 A Danish Ship 
 
 The boat shown in the picture was found in 
 1880 in a burial mound in Gokstad in southern 
 Norway. It is 78 feet long. 
 
 them, they sailed off to their home in Norway or Sweden or 
 Denmark. 
 
 20. Danish Settlements Begun. 871-878 (?).— It was not 
 many years before the Danes came to make settlements, bringing 
 their families with them, 
 
 and as time went on, the 
 
 invaders came in larger 
 
 numbers and gained more 
 
 and more territory. By 
 
 871 Northumbria and 
 
 East Anglia had fallen 
 
 into their hands and they 
 
 controlled Mercia. The 
 
 kingdom of Wessex alone 
 
 offered a strong resistance 
 
 to the enemy. In order to escape ruin the English again and 
 
 again bought off their foes with money, a pohcy sure to bring 
 
 on another attack. 
 
 With the acquisition of land, the second stage in the history of 
 the Danish invaders began. The conquered land was divided 
 among the victors, who at once began to cultivate and settle 
 down upon their possessions just as the English had done 
 four hundred years before. There was, however, an important 
 difference. The English had settled in a land where a strange 
 language was spoken and the people were of a different race. 
 The Northmen, on the contrary, spoke a tongue closely allied to 
 that of the English and they were of the same race. The con- 
 sequence was that the invaders became so fused with the English 
 that in a comparatively short period it was impossible to distin- 
 guish between the Anglo-Saxon and the Dane. 
 
 21 . Normans in Europe. 7 8 7-9 12. — The N orthmen also took 
 possession of the Shetlands, Orkneys, the northern part of Scot- 
 land, the Isle of Man, Anglesea, and parts of Ireland, all of which 
 they held for two or three hundred years. 
 
26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Of their conquests on the Continent, the most important was 
 that of a part of Gaul or France, which to this day retains the 
 name of Normandy, Here the Northmen soon intermingled with 
 their French neighbors, and it was not many years before the in- 
 habitants of Normandy had changed their old language and 
 spoke a French dialect, and they themselves, by the close of the 
 tenth century, were no longer Northmen, but Norman-French. 
 These invasions by the Northmen were only part of a great exodus 
 from the Scandinavian peninsulas between the years 787 and 912. 
 
 22. Alfred the Great. 871-901. — Egbert, king of the West 
 Saxons, died in 839, and for the next thirty years his successors 
 were busy in repelHng the Danish attacks. In the midst of 
 the conflict, Alfred, a grandson of Egbert, became king. He 
 was the youngest brother of Ethelred, the late king. It was the 
 custom that the one of the royal family who was thought to be 
 best fitted to rule should succeed to the throne. As it often 
 happened that the sons of a king were young at his death, such a 
 practice was well adapted to the conditions of that rough age, for 
 the new ruler was likely to be an experienced man able to take 
 upon himself the care of the state. Though only about twenty- 
 two years old, Alfred was in every way fitted to be the leader 
 of the hard-pressed West-Saxons. No man in history has been 
 more clearly the right man in the right place. The qualities 
 ascribed to the mythical Arthur were Alfred's in fact, and not 
 in fable, 
 
 23. Treaty of Wedmore. 878. — For the first seven years 
 of Alfred's reign, the attacks of the Danes were continual and 
 almost his whole time was taken up in trying to repel them. In 
 878, under Guthrum, the Danes were so successful as to force 
 Alfred to retreat with a few men to a place in Somersetshire called 
 Athelney, which was surrounded by almost impenetrable swamps. 
 Here, safe from his foe, he was able to arrange the union of his 
 forces for an attack upon the enemy. In the spring, he called to- 
 gether his men, issued from his retreat, fell upon the Danes and 
 
ALFRED'S ENGLAND 
 
 27 
 
 ALFRED'S 
 ENGLAND 
 
 Scale of English Miles 
 
 6 10 20 30 
 
 EXPLANATION 
 
 00 
 
 Dam's ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 defeated them at Edington. So badly worsted were they that 
 Guthrum was glad to make peace and accept the religion of his 
 conquerors. Peace was arranged at a place in Somersetshire 
 called Wedmore. By this treaty it was agreed that England 
 should be divided between the English and the Danes. The 
 division line was to run along the Thames, the Lea, and the Ouse 
 rivers to Watling Street, and along this highway to the Welsh 
 border.^ Apparently, Alfred had lost half his kingdom, but it was 
 not really so, for he had no real control over the part yielded 
 to the Danes, and his claim was a source of weakness rather 
 than of strength. That part over which the Northmen ruled was 
 called Dane-lagh, or Danelaw, because it was subject to the Danes. 
 
 For fifteen years there was little fighting, but in S86 Alfred 
 gained London and the country immediately surrounding it. In 
 893 England was again exposed to serious danger from the North- 
 men, under Hasting, a noted chief, who, at the head of a band 
 of warriors, attacked Kent. This attack gave Alfred the chance 
 to call upon the people for aid, and for the first time to organize 
 a national army. By his skill and the united support which he 
 received, Alfred was able to repel the invaders. But he saw 
 that, in order to protect his dominions, it would be needful to 
 meet the Northmen on the sea, and so he designed vessels, larger 
 and swifter than those of the Northmen, and manned them with 
 Danes who had become Enghshmen in their allegiance and inter- 
 ests. This would seem to be the beginning of England's navy. 
 
 24. Alfred's Peaceful Reforms. — The warlike achievements 
 of Alfred are by no means his principal claim to greatness. 
 From the very moment of his accession, Alfred strove to benefit 
 his people. " He is the first instance in the history of Christen- 
 dom of a ruler who put aside every personal aim or ambition to 
 devote himself wholly to the welfare of those over whom he 
 
 lit is not possible to give the exact limits of this territory. Beyond the river 
 Tees, part of Northumberland remained under an independent English king. It 
 was called Bernicia. The date of the treaty is usually given 878; it may have been 
 a few years later. 
 
THE REIGN OF ALFRED 
 
 29 
 
 ruled." After the peace of Wedmore he devoted himself to se- 
 curing good government for his country. The years of constant 
 warfare had left England almost without law and order. Alfred 
 determined to restore them. Unhke many 
 reformers, he was able to see what was prac- 
 ticable under existing circumstances, and he 
 aimed to secure that. He took the laws as 
 they were, suggested improvements, and 
 made all as simple as possible. He says 
 himself in his preface to his book of laws : 
 " I, then, Alfred, King, gathered these [laws] 
 together and commanded many of those to 
 be written which our forefathers held, those 
 which to me seemed good ; and many 
 which seemed to me not good, I rejected 
 them by the counsel of my witan (§ ;^S) ; 
 for I durst not venture to set down in writ- 
 ing much of my own, for it was unknown to 
 me what of it would please those who should 
 come after us." Many of these laws seem 
 to us cruel and unjust, for they were based 
 on the principle of retaliation;^ but they 
 were suited to that age, and were the be- 
 ginning of the idea of a national code of 
 laws. He did all in his power to make the administration of 
 justice impartial, and severely reproved unjust judges. 
 
 25. Alfred's Service to Literature and Education. — It was per- 
 haps in education and hterature that Alfred's work was most last- 
 ing. The literary England of Alcuin and Bede had disappeared 
 
 Alfred the Great 
 Statue by Thornycroft 
 
 1 The penalties were almost always reckoned in money : 30 shillings was the 
 price of an ear; and 60 shillings if the hearing was impaired. A front tooth was 
 8 shillings, a canine tooth 4 shillings. A forefinger was worth 15 shillings. If a 
 man was murdered, his family could have revenge, not, as in the older days, by 
 the forfeit of the life of the murderer, but by the payment of a fine called were-geld 
 or blood money. 
 
30 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 under the ravages of the Danes. " When I began to reign," 
 Alfred says, *' I cannot remember one south of the Thames who 
 could explain his service book in English." Not to know Latin 
 was to be cut off from intercourse with the learned world, for 
 Latin was the language of all educated men. Alfred set about 
 
 ..^.^ >N>aDJ?NINGAPVl2«: 
 
 Up cym^fchmc^e^ • oti^art^fkan d<c^- urcota ^ 
 
 TIC- japtriiL rnon^oThinc role mycei tomiajuur-w Lt***<^ i . 
 
 ^cjiiim hccon} Xn^ Icej cmhc Y%f nife-JwcceoJ/ ^ 
 
 futyHit ouJ- eccr Ap*ncneT-CDuj'C)rmc«|'*cnet}'d- 
 
 yax Ster uiv eaSnc- Uaixdhoa^u nofejuxvio on 
 
 'hjtjr'ccriibmjoXAxn heiv ryyloc cmh |5et>j>cjt ytx 
 
 care \(cc a ^ oltnonal^ /jc^ '^^^^'^^^^'^ ^P^ ,^ p/ 
 
 fpo\c f^p}af- cafic ce^^afc-^vi pf crnbe Or 
 
 Reduced Facsimile from MS. or Saxon Chronicle 
 After a copy in the British Museum 
 
 dispelling this ignorance. He sent for learned men to come to 
 his court, where he employed them in writing . and teaching. 
 Some of these were Germans, some Welsh, some English like 
 Asser, who afterwards wrote a biography of his friend and patron. 
 Alfred established schools for those who wished to learn Latin ; but 
 he decided that those who could not speak Latin should also have 
 the opportunity to gain knowledge. So he himself translated 
 for popular use Latin works on history and geography. When- 
 ever he thought the accounts in these works were not full enough, 
 he expanded or explained them or made comments. But this 
 was not all. He wished that his countrymen should know about 
 their own land, so he translated the Church History of Britain 
 
THE REIGN OF ALFRED 3 1 
 
 written by Bede. (§ 18.) It is not unlikely that this led to the 
 compilation or writing of what is known as the Anglo-Saxon 
 Chronicle, or History of Britain from the landing of Hengist and 
 Horsa on the shores of Kent. No other European nation has in 
 its possession so early a record written in its own tongue. The 
 Chronicle, which was continued after Alfred's death down to the 
 middle of the twelfth century, was the work of monks in southern 
 England. It varies in historic value, but the narrative is full of 
 life and vigor. 
 
 Alfred was by no means unmindful of the religious interests of 
 his kingdom. He rebuilt monasteries and churches, and ap- 
 pointed one of his daughters the abbess of a convent. He sent 
 messengers and gifts to the Pope and supported religion in every 
 way. He also encouraged the industrial arts and we are told that 
 he instructed " his workers of gold and artificers of all kinds " how 
 to work to the best advantage. 
 
 Alfred had never been robust, and he died at the age of fifty-one 
 or fifty-two.^ He was a man whose Hfe seems almost without a 
 blot, to whom tradition ascribes no evil motive, and around whose 
 memory nothing but good has clung. " England's Darling," 
 '■* England's Shepherd," *' Alfred the Great," are the names by 
 which he is known. On the thousandth anniversary of his death 
 (1901) a monument was dedicated to his memory at Wantage, 
 his birthplace. It bears this inscription : — 
 
 "Alfred found learning dead, 
 
 And he restored it; 
 Education neglected, 
 
 And he revived it; 
 The laws powerless, 
 
 And he gave them force; 
 The church debased, 
 
 And he raised it; 
 The land ravaged by a fearful enemy, 
 
 From which he delivered it." 
 
 IThe exact date of his death is disputed. It may have been 899, 900, or 901 
 The latter is the generally accepted date. 
 
32 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Anglo-Saxon Kings 
 
 Egbert 1 
 802-839 
 
 Ethelwulf 
 83Q-858 
 
 'I 
 
 Ethelbald 
 
 8q8-86o 
 
 Ethelberht 
 860-866 
 
 Ethel red I 
 
 866-871 
 
 Alfred 
 871-901 (?) 
 
 Edward I Ethelflsed = Ethelred 
 
 901-924 (" Lady of Mercia ") of Mercia 
 
 Ethelstan 
 924-940 
 
 Edmund 
 940-946 
 
 Edred 
 
 94^55 
 
 Edwy 
 955-959 
 
 Edgar 
 959-975 
 
 Edward II 
 975-979 
 
 Ethelred II "the Unready" 
 979-1016 
 (i) = Emma of Normandy = (2) Cnut of Denmark 
 
 Edmund " Ironside" 
 1016 
 
 I 
 
 Edmund 
 
 I 
 Edward 
 
 the Confessor ' 
 
 1042-1066 
 
 1016-1035 
 
 Harold 
 1035-1039 
 
 Harthacnut 
 1039-1042 
 
 Edward " Athling" 
 
 Edgar " Athling " Margaret 
 
 — Malcolm III of Scotland 
 
 Matilda 
 = Henry I of England 
 
 References. — Green, Short History^ chap, i, §§ 5-6; Gardiner, Studenfs 
 History, chap, iv; Terry, History, Part I, chap, iv ; Tout, Advanced History, 
 chap, v; Grant Allen, Anglo Saxon Britain; Johnson, Normans in Europe, 
 chaps, i-iii; Collingwood, Scandinavian Britain; Cheyney, Readings, (^zy^%. 
 v-vi; Colby, Selections, §§ 8-9; Kendall, Sotirce-Book, §§ 6-7; Lee, 
 Source-Book, chaps, v-vi, §§ 26-39. 
 
 ■i The names of those who reigned are printed in small capitals. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 ALFRED'S SUCCESSORS. DANISH CONQUEST. 
 NORMAN CONQUEST 
 
 26. West Saxon Supremacy. 901-959.— Alfred died in 901 (?), 
 leaving to his son Edward a compact, well-ordered kingdom. 
 The Danes in Danelaw were by no means so well united as the 
 English ; and, moreover, many of the people even in that part of 
 the country were English, and in case of a West Saxon success 
 were ready to sympathize with the foes of the Danes. Edward, 
 though a warrior, would have continued the peaceful policy of his 
 father had he not been compelled to take the field against the 
 Danes on his northern border, and against pirates on his south- 
 ern coast. He set about the conquest of Danelaw, with the help 
 of his able and brave sister Ethelflaed, the " Lady of Mercia," 
 who, unfortunately, died before success crowned his efforts.^ By 
 924 nearly all England acknowledged him as king, while the 
 Scots and Britons of Strathclyde and Northumbria crowned him 
 as overlord. 
 
 27. Edgar the Peaceful. Dunstan. — The supremacy of the 
 West Saxons was continued under Edward's successors. Of these 
 the most celebrated is Edgar, who reigned, 959-975- Under him 
 England was so quiet that he received the name of " the Peace- 
 ful." It is likely that most of the success of Edgar's reign is due to 
 Dunstan (924-988), Archbishop of Canterbury. Like Alfred, 
 Dunstan was content to try to do only what was practicable, and 
 his policy was one of conciliation. The Danes were allowed to 
 
 1 Ethelflsed, or Ethelfleda, the daughter of Alfred, married Ethelred, ealdor- 
 man of Mercia. After the death of her husband, she became ruler and showed 
 that she possessed in a marked degree the skill and ability of her family. 
 
 33 
 
34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 keep their own laws, and their rulers were Danes ; while over the 
 Welsh, Welshmen were set in authority. Edgar was also an ardent 
 reformer. He did much for education, which had been sadly 
 neglected, and he encouraged changes for the better in the 
 church. Commerce was revived, and it was in his reign that the 
 foundation of London's commercial greatness was laid. 
 
 28. Edward. Ethelred the Unready. Swegen. New Danish 
 Invasions. Edmund Ironside. Cnut (1016-1035). — Edgar 
 died in 975, leaving young sons, and it was not unnatural 
 that the nobles should quarrel about the succession. Through 
 the influence of Dunstan, Edward, the elder son, was chosen 
 king and was crowned ; but after a reign of four years he was 
 murdered and his half-brother Ethelred, a boy of ten or twelve 
 years, was chosen to succeed him (979). Ethelred has come 
 down in history with the name of " Unready." The word really 
 means " the Rede-less," or " without counsel." It has been said 
 of him that *^ he was entirely without the quahties which befit a 
 king. . . . He was always picking quarrels when he ought to 
 have been making peace, and always making peace when he 
 ought to have been fighting." His long reign of thirty-seven 
 years is one of the most inglorious in English annals. 
 
 It will not do to ascribe all the evils of Ethelred 's reign to his 
 weakness. All Europe was in a state of transition during the 
 tenth century, and conditions to many men seemed almost hope- 
 less. " Old ties were loosening, old institutions were breaking 
 down ; everywhere anarchy was taking the place of law." Dun- 
 stan had seen that the best thing for England was the strong rule 
 of the king, and he had helped to build this up. Against this, 
 the great nobles had risen. The succession of the young sons of 
 Edgar was their chance, and they had not hesitated to avail 
 themselves of it. Deprived of a strong head, the country found 
 itself unable to present a united front against enemies. The 
 Danes now began to make new attacks. Ethelred bought them 
 off again and again, raising the money by a tax called Danegeld; 
 
ALFRED'S SUCCESSORS 
 
 35 
 
 that is, Dane-money. As might be expected, this policy brought 
 more Danes, who finally came in numbers too great to be bought off. 
 Svvegen, or Sweyn, the Danish king, was determined to conquer 
 and rule in England. The northern part of England, which was still 
 Danish in feeling, submitted to him, but the south was not gained 
 without a severe struggle. Swegen at last was successful, and " all 
 the people held him for full king " (1013). Ethelred fled to the 
 court of the Duke of Normandy, whose sister Emma he had 
 married. The next year (10 14) Swegen died, and his soldiers 
 chose his son, Cnut,^ to be king, but the English Witenagemote ^ 
 sent word to Ethelred inviting him to return ; but though he came 
 back and resumed the throne, his authority was no longer un- 
 questioned. He died in 1016. 
 
 Cnut had returned to Denmark, and, making himself king in 
 that country, had collected a fleet to subdue England. As soon 
 as his ships appeared, many of the English submitted to him. 
 Ethelred's son and natural successor, Edmund, had shown 
 himself so able a warrior that he received the name of Iron- 
 side. Cnut, however, disputed Edmund's claim, and " a year 
 of battles" (1016) followed without decisive results. The two 
 claimants then agreed to divide the land between them, Edmund 
 taking Wessex. Edmund died late in 1016,^ and Cnut became 
 king of England. 
 
 29. Cnut. 1016-1035. — Cnut has come down in history 
 with the title of Great, and he deserves it. Like some other 
 monarchs who have come to power in rough times, or by 
 questionable means, he does not seem to have been naturally 
 cruel. He spared no one whom he considered dangeroiis, but 
 when such were out of the way, he was moderate, just, and even 
 
 1 This name is spelled Cnut, Knut, and Canute, the last being the one by which 
 he is familiarly known. The accent should be on the last syllable. 
 
 2 The Witenagemote, or Council of Wise Men. (§ 38.) 
 
 3 At the time of his death Edmund was about twenty-three, and his rival about 
 twenty-two. It is charged by later historians that Edmund was murdered, but con- 
 temporary writers make no such assertion. 
 
36 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 gentle. He introduced the practice of liaving a bodyguard. 
 This, which protected him from the attack of any of the nobles as 
 well as from an open foe, was the nucleus of a standing army. 
 He divided England into great districts,^ over each of which he 
 placed an officer called an Earl (from the Danish Jarl). 
 
 Map of Cnut's Empire 
 
 Cnut appointed Englishmen to many of these positions, thereby 
 binding them to himself and avoiding the appearance of foreign 
 rule. His kingdom did not extend beyond the Tweed, but the 
 Scottish king acknowledged him as overlord. He conquered 
 Norway and gained Denmark at his brother's death. Thus his 
 dominions were more extensive than those of any king of England 
 before him. Upon his marriage with Emma, the widow of Ethel- 
 red, friendly relations were established with Normandy. 
 
 Though his continental possessions were larger than his English 
 holdings, he favored the latter. He is said to have restored the 
 laws of Edgar, and he was a considerate and wise monarch as 
 well as a strong one. He reverenced religion and went on a 
 pilgrimage to Rome. From that city he wrote to his subjects : 
 " I have vowed to God to live a right life in all things ; to rule 
 justly and piously my realms and subjects, and to administer just 
 
 1 The principal divisions were Mercia, Northumberland, and Wessex, which 
 included Kent. East Anglia was a fourth, but the boundaries of this varied. 
 There were at times other earldoms set up, as seemed to be needful. 
 
ALFRED'S SUCCESSORS 
 
 2>7 
 
 judgment to all. If, heretofore, I have done aught beyond what 
 is just, through headiness or negligence of youth, I am ready, with 
 God's help, to amend it utterly." There is no reason to doubt 
 that he meant exactly what he said. He died in 1035,^ to the 
 great grief of his people. 
 
 30. Harthacnut and Harold ; Edward the Confessor ; Godwin. 
 1035-1066. — Cnut's two sons, Harthacnut and Harold, were un- 
 worthy of their father; England was again troubled with civil war 
 and the kingdom fell apart. The succession was disputed ; 
 Harthacnut was recognized in the south, and Harold in the north. 
 But as Harthacnut, who was in Denmark, remained there, he was 
 deposed by the people, who gave their allegiance to Harold, 
 who thus secured the kingdom. At Harold's death, Harthacnut 
 became king. Both these men were rude, barbarous rulers, and 
 the whole country was glad to be rid of them. 
 
 Through the influence of Earl Godwin, the most powerful 
 English nobleman, Edward, the son of Ethelred and the Norman 
 Emma, was chosen king. Known as " the Confessor," because of 
 his piety, he probably would have made an excellent private citi- 
 zen, but he was an unwise king. He had passed almost all his 
 earlier years at the Norman court and was a thorough Norman in 
 all his tastes. He filled his court with Normans and bestowed on 
 them all the positions that he could. Though he married 
 Godwin's daughter, his Norman tastes and his favoritism brought 
 about strife between him and the stanch Enghsh earl. After 
 nine years, Godwin and his family were forced to fly to the 
 Continent, and Edward's wife was sent to a nunnery (105 1). 
 The next year Godwin came back, the tide of popular feeling 
 turned in his favor, and many of the Norman favorites of Edward 
 were banished. The same year Godwin died and his place was 
 taken by Harold, one of his sons. Edward was under the in- 
 fluence of Godwin's family for the rest of his reign. Edward 
 died in January, 1066, leaving no children. 
 
 1 The date of Cnut's birth is not known ; it was probably not earlier than 994. 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 31. Harold II. 1066. — As Edward left no direct heirs 
 the choice of a king fell lawfully upon the Witenagemote, or 
 national assembly. This body chose Harold Godwinson, who was 
 a skillful warrior and an able man. There was no one in England 
 better fitted for the position. "He set himself," says one of the 
 old chronicles, " to remove unjust laws, and to devise good ones 
 ... ; he showed himself dutiful, courteous and kindly to all 
 good men, but a terror to ill doers . . . and set himself ener- 
 getically to provide for the defense of the country by land and 
 sea." 1 
 
 Harold's brief reign was chiefly taken up with efforts to retain 
 his crown. His first difficulties were due to foes of his own house- 
 hold, for his brother, Tostig, who had been deprived of the earl- 
 dom of Northumbria, had alHed himself with a fierce sea-rover, 
 and was trying to recover his earldom by force. The armies 
 met at Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, and Tostig was defeated. 
 Three days after the battle, a new foe landed on the south coast 
 of England, and Harold with all the forces he could collect 
 marched south to meet him. This new foe was William, Duke 
 of Normandy. 
 
 Norman Dukes 
 
 ROLLO 
 
 William " Longsword " 
 
 927-942 
 
 I 
 Richard I 
 
 942-996 
 
 I 
 
 Richard II Emma 
 
 996-1026 = (i) Ethelred "the Unready' 
 
 I (2) Cnut, the Dane 
 
 Richard III Robert " the Devil " 
 
 1026-1028 1028-1035 
 
 William the Conqueror 
 1066-1087 (king of England) 
 
 1 Florence of Worcester : 1066. 
 
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 
 
 39 
 
 32. William the Norman. 1066. — William, a descendant 
 of Rollo, the Northman (§ 20), born in 1027, was the son 
 of Robert " the Devil " and a tanner's daughter, and succeeded 
 to the dukedom of Normandy when a boy. William was a 
 man of extraordinary ability. " There was never a moment 
 from his boyhood when 
 he was not among the 
 greatest of men. His 
 life was one long mas- 
 tering of difficulty after 
 difficulty. . . . The 
 very spirit of the ' sea- 
 wolves ' . . . seemed 
 embodied in his gigan- 
 tic form, his enormous 
 strength, his savage 
 countenance, his des- 
 perate bravery, the 
 fury of his wrath, the 
 ruthlessness of his re- 
 venge." Notwith- 
 standing this inherit- 
 ance from his Scan- 
 dinavian forefathers, he 
 was a friend to learn- 
 ing, a supporter of the church, and a statesman. 
 
 William claimed the crown of England as soon as he heard of 
 the death of Edward the Confessor. He based his claim chiefly 
 on two circumstances : first, that when he had visited England, 
 Edward had promised him the crown ; and second, so William 
 asserted, that when Harold some years before had been ship- 
 wrecked on the coast of France, he had sworn to William, in order 
 to regain his liberty, that he would support the latter's claim to 
 the crown on Edward's death. 
 
 Tomb of Edward the Confessor 
 Westminster Abbey 
 
^o 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Strictly speaking, William claimed rather the right of present- 
 ing himself to the Witenagemote for election, as commended by 
 Edward the Confessor. Harold's election he regarded as invalid. 
 Besides this, he claimed to be acting for the church, for the Nor- 
 man Archbishop of Canterbury had been displaced and another 
 consecrated by an antipope,^ had been put in his place. To 
 attack England, therefore, was to uphold the laws of the church. 
 However plausible these reasons might seem to men on the Conti- 
 nent, they had no weight in England, and doubtless to William 
 himself they were merely put forth as pretexts for a war of con- 
 quest on which he was resolved. According to English law and 
 custom, the crown was not Edward's to promise, nor could Harold 
 control the choice of the Witenagemote. 
 
 33. Norman Invasion ; Battle of Hastings ; William becomes 
 King. 1066. — The Norman subjects of William felt Httle eager- 
 ness to support him in an invasion of England, but he was not a 
 man to be hindered by small obstacles. During the whole summer 
 of 1066 he was building ships and collecting forces for his great 
 enterprise, not only from Normandy but from other countries also.^ 
 He sailed from Normandy with a large fleet, and landed (September 
 28, 1066) at Pevensey, on the south coast, not far from Hastings. 
 
 Harold hurried from the north to meet his antagonist. Had 
 he been supported by a united England, it is possible that 
 William might have been repulsed, but some of the powerful 
 earls held aloof. The armies met at Senlac hill near Hastings, 
 October 14, 1066. The battle was stubbornly contested, and it 
 was not until sundown when Harold, pierced by an arrow in his 
 right eye, fell dead, that the English were defeated. But the 
 country was not yet conquered. The Witenagemote at London, 
 
 1 An antipope was one who claimed to be the Pope, but whose claim was dis- 
 puted. 
 
 2 The fact that many of his followers were not Normans may partly explain the 
 reason why William gave his followers so much land. They were actuated by 
 mercenary motives and demanded their reward. William was compelled to seize 
 and confiscate much property. 
 
THE NORMAN CONQUEST 
 
 41 
 
 on receiving the news of Harold's death, elected Edgar Atheling, 
 grandson of Edmund Ironside, as king. William marched on 
 London, and cutting it off from communication with the rest of 
 the country, had it at his mercy. On this, Edgar and those who 
 had chosen him, yielded to William ; another meeting of the 
 Witenagemote was held, and William was chosen king. He was 
 crowned on Christmas Day, 1066, in the abbey recently built by 
 Edward the Confessor at Westminster.^ 
 
 M^^S^^s^^^ 
 
 Part of the Battle of Hastings 
 Normans on the left and English on the right. After the Bayeux Tapestry. 2 
 
 34. The Normans and their Influence. — It is generally claimed 
 that the success of William was the best thing for England.^ But 
 this view is open to question. It is true that the Normans 
 
 1 This was not the abbey now at Westminster, which was built later. Since 
 William's time, with but few exceptions, all English sovereigns have been crowned 
 at Westminster. 
 
 2 One of the most interesting authorities for the Norman Conquest is the 
 Bayeux Tapestry, preserved for many years in the cathedral of Bayeux, Nor- 
 mandy, and now to be seen in the Bayeux Museum. It is a strip of coarse linen 
 cloth 230 feet gh inches long by 19s inches wide. It is embroidered in worsted 
 thread of eight different colors, and the scenes illustrate the history of the Norman 
 Conquest. The style of the weapons and clothing is that of the twelfth century, 
 which would make the date of the tapestry between 1150 and 1200. A full-sized 
 colored reproduction is in the South Kensington Museum, London, and another 
 is in Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia. There is a colored facsimile 
 in book form with history and notes by Hilaire Belloc, London, 1914. 
 
 3 it must not be overlooked that most of our authorities for the history of the 
 conquest are Norman. 
 
42 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 brought organization, a strong central government, and a closer 
 intercourse with the Continent. But these benefits might have 
 come in some other way. Harold was "wise, merciful, and 
 stronghanded," and there is good reason for thinking that he would 
 have ruled after the pattern of Alfred or of the later years of 
 Cnut. It will not do to assume that he would not have been able 
 to bring order out of the chaos. Very much that was gained by 
 the mixture of Norman character might have come through the 
 slower but more peaceful means of trade and normal intercourse 
 with the Continent. So far as civilization is concerned, the Eng- 
 lish were ahead of the Normans. They had a superior literature 
 of their own ; they were skilled in the illumination of manuscripts, 
 in weaving, goldsmith's work, and other arts. They were familiar 
 with the natural sciences, the medicine, and the grammar of their 
 day. In architecture also they were abreast of the times. Only 
 in political development and organization do they seem to have 
 been lacking. Even for political development it can hardly be 
 doubted that the prolonged rule of men whose chief interests 
 lay in France was in many ways hurtful. They involved England 
 in long, expensive, and destructive wars in which the English had 
 httle if anything to gain, and they must have checked to a con- 
 siderable degree that development under national influences which 
 would have been England's lot. They did not even give England 
 permanent order, for no Anglo-Saxon period equals in anarchy the 
 reign of Stephen ; nor did they guard personal liberty, for the 
 tyranny of William Rufus, or John, or even of Henry I, is un- 
 matched in Anglo-Saxon annals. The undoubted benefits of Nor- 
 man rule were gained at a great cost. William was a conqueror, 
 pure and simple, and what he did he did from selfish motives. 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, i , § 6-chap. ii, § 4; Gardiner, 
 Student's //istory, ch3.ps. v-vi; Terry, History, Part I, chap, v- Part II, chap. 
 i ; Tout, Advaticed History, chaps, vi-viii ; Grant Allen, Anglo-Saxon Britain ; 
 Johnson, A^ormans in Europe, chaps, viii-xii; Cheyney, Readings, chaps, v- 
 vi; Qo\\:i^, Selections, %%\o-\y, Y^^xiA^, Sour ce- Book, ^%%-\y, luet, Source- 
 Book, chap, vi, § 40-chap. vii, § 45. 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 ENGLAND AT THE TIME OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST 
 
 35. Old English Domestic Life. — By the middle of the eleventh 
 century English life and customs had become well established. 
 England was primarily an agricultural country, whose people, for 
 mutual protection, lived in villages. The cottages of which these 
 villages were composed had but one story and generally but one 
 room. The walls were made of poles or branches of trees woven 
 somewhat like a basket, and then covered with mud or plaster. 
 The roof was thatched with straw. The floor was of earth, and 
 in the single room was a rough table, two or three benches, and a 
 htter of straw for a bed. Sometimes a place would be partitioned 
 off for a sleeping apartment, but usually the inmates would throw 
 themselves upon the straw for the night in the common room with- 
 out undressing, for night garments are the product of a later age. 
 
 Poultry, pigs, and other domestic animals came in and out of 
 the house pretty much as they pleased, especially in wet or cold 
 weather. There were no chimneys, and when it was practicable, 
 cooking was done out of doors ; at other times the smoke found 
 its way through a hole in the roof or where it could. Wood was 
 the fuel used. The waste and offal were thrown out without regard 
 to neatness or health, for drainage and sanitary arrangements of all 
 kinds were unknown. 
 
 Near the cottage was a small field where vegetables were raised 
 for the family. Pork, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruit, and cheese 
 were the usual diet, to which must be added ale and beer. The 
 English were great meat eaters; bread, though not uncommon, 
 was often costly owing to frequent bad crops, while from the 
 
 43 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 difficulty of transportation, grain could not be brought from other 
 neighborhoods where there might be an abundant supply. 
 
 The dwellings of the better class were generally of timber. 
 They were usually surrounded by an embankment or wall of earth, 
 which itself was protected on the outside by a moat or ditch. 
 The building was often of but one story. A large hall with a high 
 roof was the most conspicuous feature. Here great feasts were 
 held, and it was the common meeting place of the family. A long 
 table occupied a prominent place ; at the raised upper end the lord 
 and lady and favored guests sat. Round the walls were benches 
 used at meals and sometimes for couches at night, though perhaps 
 the ground was oftener the resting place. On the walls hung 
 curtains embroidered by the women, and on pegs hung imple- 
 ments of the chase, arms and armor. A fire in the middle of 
 the hall afforded heat and also light, though candles were some- 
 times used. Meals were breakfast, often about five; dinner, 
 usually at noon, though sometimes as early as nine, or as late as 
 three o'clock; and supper.^ There was often a tablecloth, and a 
 scanty supply of knives ^ and spoons, but the fingers were generally 
 used. There was a saying, " Set never on fish, flesh, or fowl more 
 than two fingers and a thumb." Even in wealthy homes pieces of 
 bread not infrequently took the place of plates. Food was plentiful, 
 consisting, besides vegetables, of mutton, pork, poultry, fish, eels, 
 cheese, and honey. Tea and coffee were unknown, and honey 
 took the place of the expensive sugar of that day. 
 
 There was much hard drinking and coarse revelry, especially 
 
 1 An old French rime, although of a somewhat later period, probably repre- 
 sents this period also : — 
 
 Lever a cinque, diner k neuf, 
 Souper S, cinque, coucher a neuf, 
 Fait vivre d'ans nonante et neuf. 
 Or in English : — 
 
 To rise at five, to dine at nine, 
 To sup at five, to bed at nine, 
 Makes a man live to ninety and nine. 
 
 2 Forks did not come into general use until about i6io. 
 
ENGLAND IN THE TENTH CENTURY 
 
 45 
 
 after the ladies had retired. Feasts were enlivened by the songs 
 and music of wandering minstrels, harpers, and musicians of 
 various kinds, and by jugglers and jesters. 
 
 Lower roofed rooms for the family, and particularly for the 
 women, were ranged along the side walls, with entrances some- 
 times from the courtyard. Here, too, was the *' ladies' bower," 
 used both as a living and a sleeping room. The couches were 
 often in recesses hidden by curtains, and were well furnished with 
 
 The Great Hall in an English Noble's House in the Tenth Century 
 
 pillows, bolsters, and coverings. There were stools and a table, 
 but rarely chairs. Besides all this there were storerooms, kitchens, 
 and other apartments. Glazed windows were almost unknown, 
 and board shutters kept out rain and wind. The walls were of 
 such poor construction that the hangings were not so much for 
 ornament as to keep out draughts. 
 
 Linen and woolen materials were used for clothing, which in 
 general was simple. The men wore next the body a close-fitting 
 tunic reaching to the knees ; over this was a short cloak fastened 
 with a brooch on the breast or right shoulder. The legs were 
 
46 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 covered with tight breeches ; leather stockings, above which was 
 wound something Hke a bandage, and long, black, pointed shoes 
 completed the attire. The women wore a long gown, and over it 
 a tunic with flowing sleeves, and above this a kind of mantle 
 reaching nearly to the feet. A hood often of great length covered 
 the head. The women wore their hair short and curled, while 
 the men wore theirs long, parted in the middle, and hanging be- 
 hind the ears. Both men and women were fond of jewelry. 
 
 Among the upper classes hunting, hawking, archery, and trials 
 of athletic skill were common, the first two being the favorites. 
 Chess, checkers, the feats of jugglers, songs and music were their 
 indoor amusements. 
 
 36. Architecture ; Towns. — In early days even the churches 
 were built of wood, but by the close of the tenth century these 
 were often, if not usually, constructed of stone, and by 1066 
 England had a well-developed and characteristic architecture. 
 The abbey church at Westminster built by Edward the Confessor 
 was equal at the time to anything on the continent.^ 
 
 For many years towns were few, but by the beginning of the 
 eleventh century they had increased in number. The buildings in 
 these, except the church, were of wood and suffered much from 
 fires. A town was surrounded by an earthen wall, a stockade, 
 and ^ ditch. Sanitary measures were unknown, and diseases when 
 they appeared made great ravages among the inhabitants. There 
 was usually a market and some trade. But many of the inhabi- 
 tants were farmers who came to the town at night and at other 
 times for protection. Some of the towns grew up in the neighbor- 
 hood of the great monasteries, as at Lichfield ; others, such as 
 London, Chester, York, and Lincoln, were successors of the old 
 Roman cities. In these towns there naturally grew up different 
 industries, such as weaving, carving, working in wood and metal 
 and leather, making jewelry, and other arts; when the' town was 
 on or near the sea, fishing and commerce sprung up. 
 
 1 It was destroyed by Henry III in 1275, ^o make room for the present abbey. 
 
ENGLAND AT THE TIME OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST 47 
 
 37. Land; Classes. — About half the surface of England was 
 occupied by forests, heaths, and marsh or fen land. The forests 
 afforded hunting for the kings and nobles, and in them too were 
 large herds of swine which fed on acorns, etc. Agriculture was 
 mostly confined to the lower lands. The population at the time 
 of the Norman Conquest has been estimated at about 1,500,000. 
 London had about 10,000; York and Winchester each about 
 5000. The system of landholding even by the middle of the 
 tenth century had not become uniform in England. The northern 
 
 Military, Civil, and Ecclesiastical Costumes in the Eleventh Centuby 
 
 part was still a country of freeholders, men who owned their 
 land and in local affairs practically ruled themselves. In the 
 southern counties or shires the feudal system, or a modification 
 of it, prevailed. Land was held on condition of a service of some 
 kind to the king, the nobles, or the church. This service was 
 called trinoda necessitas, or threefold duty, which was to serve 
 in the army or navy, repair roads and bridges, and keep up the 
 defenses of the country. 
 
 The land was divided into folkland, or *' land held by common 
 right without written evidence of ownership," and " bookland," or 
 land over which the owner had full power or disposition by will, 
 and his right to which rested on some ' book ' or written document, 
 not on folk right and immemorial custom." The natural tendency 
 was to change folkland into bookland, and for the freemen to give 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 up their land to some powerful landholder by the owners "com- 
 mending" themselves to his protection and then receiving the 
 land back again on condition of rendering feudal service. 
 
 Besides folkland and bookland there was loanland. This was 
 land lent, not given, and the man to whom it was lent paid 
 rent for it, or rendered some specified service. The time of the 
 loan was fixed by agreement, and often was for the period of the 
 borrower's life and that of two others. This method was the fore- 
 runner of the more modern lease. 
 
 The early English people were divided into the eorls or nobles 
 and ceorls or freemen, and besides these there were slaves. Later 
 these classes became subdivided, and the distinction lay in rank 
 rather than blood. There was the athling, or member of the royal 
 family ; eorl ^ or eoldorman, or ruler of one or more shires ; thegn, 
 originally the personal follower of the king, then also of an eorl or 
 any powerful man. 
 
 Thegns might or might not possess lands of their own, and they 
 often received gifts of land from their lord. It is easy to see that 
 these thegns would naturally have great opportunities for advance- 
 ment. Below these grades of society were the smallej owners of 
 property, the freemen who had no property, and last of all the 
 theows, or slaves. The tendency had been for the nobles to 
 become more and more powerful, and for the lower and poorer 
 classes to become less and less independent, owing to the neces- 
 sity which they felt of having protection. In fact, if a man did 
 not own land he was compelled to have a noble to answer for him 
 in the courts. Men in extreme poverty would sell themselves for 
 the sake of obtaining food and clothing, or to satisfy urgent cred- 
 itors. Women held a high place, superior to that among the 
 Normans. In England women, others than those of high rank, 
 could be landowners, could make wills, and when becoming 
 widows had a right to a share of their husband's property ; and 
 they had much influence in society. 
 
 1 Afterward known as earl. 
 
ENGLAND AT THE TIME OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST 49 
 
 38. Government; Kings; Witenagemote. — The central power 
 was vested in a king, whose power had been steadily growing. 
 The king was usually chosen from the royal family, and if of suit- 
 able age, the eldest son of the late king was elected. The choice 
 was made by the great eoldormen and ecclesiastics of the country 
 acting together in a council known as the Witenagemote. 
 
 The word Witenagemote means literally the council of the Wise 
 Men. It was composed of the corls, archbishops, bishops, chief 
 abbots, and sometimes subject princes, and later the athlings, and 
 
 Anglo-Saxon Plow Team 
 After a manuscript of the eleventh century 
 
 thegns of the kings. It answered in many respects to the modern 
 Parliament, though it was not a representative body. It ratified 
 the king's grant of lands, approved laws, civil as well as ecclesiasti- 
 cal ; levied taxes ; granted land ; and was the court of final appeal. 
 It elected and could depose a monarch. Its power varied with 
 the character of the king. Under a weak monarch its power was 
 often great ; under a strong one but little. The great weakness 
 both of the Witenagemote and the kings lay in the inability to 
 enforce laws. 
 
 39. Shires ; Hundreds ; Townships. — The country was divided 
 into shires or counties. In the south these were generally the 
 ancient petty kingdoms, as Kent, Sussex, Surrey, while in the north 
 the names sometimes followed the name of the people, as Norfolk 
 (north folk) and Suffolk (south folk) ; others took their name 
 from the chief town, as Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire ; while others 
 had other origins. At first an eorl was placed over each shire; 
 
50 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 but later an eorl often governed several. In the later Saxon times 
 there was in addition another officer appointed by the king, called 
 shirereeve.^ His duty was to represent the king. He collected 
 taxes and in general was the executive officer. 
 
 The shires were subdivided into hundreds^ called in the north- 
 ern counties wape7itakes, and each hundred was divided into 
 townships. 
 
 40. Justice. — Each shire and hundred had its mote or court ; 
 that of the shire was held generally twice a year, and that of the 
 hundred monthly. The laws were usually simple and based on 
 custom. Almost every offense could be atoned for by a money 
 payment, part of which went to the injured man or his family, 
 and part to the king. A person charged before the mote with 
 crime could defend himself in two ways : either by coinpurgatio7t^ 
 that is by bringing before the court a satisfactory number of 
 persons called compurgators, who would take an oath that the 
 oath taken by the accused was true. If the accused could not 
 produce these, he was allowed to appeal to the ordeal. This was 
 to tread on red hot plowshares, or handle red hot iron, or thrust 
 his hand into boiling water, and if he could show, after a fixed 
 number of days, that he had received no injury, then he was con- 
 sidered to be guiltless.^ 
 
 41. The Church ; Monasteries. — In the first half of the eleventh 
 century there was an absence of zeal in the church and in the mon- 
 asteries. The connection with Rome was formal rather than real. 
 One great reason for the lack of religious life was the fact that the 
 archbishops, bishops, and abbots took far more interest in political 
 affairs than in religious matters. They sat in the Witenagemote, 
 
 1 Hence our word sheriff. 
 
 2 Other forms of ordeal were used, among them that of water. The culprit was 
 thrown into a pond or river; if he sank, he was considered innocent ; if he floated, 
 he was guilty. He was at once pulled out and either set free or received the punish- 
 ment set for his crime. The idea in the ordeal was that God would indicate the 
 innocent. The probability is that it was thought that an innocent or honest man 
 could get compurgators, and therefore the ordeal was not an unfair method — that 
 it was, indeed, giving a man another chance. 
 
ENGLAND AT THE TIME OF THE NORMAN CONQUEST 51 
 
 as has been seen, and shared in the duties of the shire and hun- 
 dred motes or courts. 
 
 Monks played an important part in the development of Anglo- 
 Saxon civilization. They owned a large share of the land, and 
 possessed numerous buildings and churches. It is hard to over- 
 estimate the value of their influence in the seventh, eighth, and 
 ninth centuries. During the Danish supremacy monasticism suf- 
 fered a temporary downfall. Revived largely through the efforts 
 of Dunstan (§ 27), monasticism again became a great power, but 
 by the eleventh century the discipline of the monasteries had be- 
 come relaxed, and the monk had ceased to be a pattern of in- 
 dustry and active life. At one time the monastery was the abode 
 of literature, art, the sciences, and of almost all knowledge ; the 
 monks were the farmers and mechanics as well as the architects 
 and artists of their age. But* this was changed, and kings and 
 nobles came to treat monasteries, especially in the south of Eng- 
 land, rather as places in which their younger sons and daughters 
 could live comfortable liv^es. 
 
 42. Language and Literature. — By the time of the Norman 
 Conquest the language had become simpler. It had lost many of 
 its old forms and endings, and dropped much of its syntax in 
 consequence. In literature there was a decided decline from 
 Alfred's days. The chroniclers, however, had continued their 
 work. 
 
 References. — Traill, Social England, vol. i, chap, ii; Cheyney, Indus- 
 trial and Social History, chap, i, §§ 4-5 ; Gardiner, Studenfs History, chap, 
 v; Tout, Advanced History^ chap, ix; Cheyney, Readings, chap, v, § 3 ; 
 Colby, Selections, § 13 ; Kendall, Source-Book, § 14 ; Lee, Source-Book, chap. 
 V, chap.vi, §§ 41-43- 
 
52 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Norman and Angevin Kings to Edward I 
 
 William I "Conqueror" 
 
 1066-1087 
 
 = Matilda of Flanders 
 
 Robert William II " Rufus" 
 
 Henry I 
 
 1 
 Adela 
 
 D. of Normandy 
 
 1087-1110 
 
 1100-1135 = 
 
 Stephen, Count 
 
 1 
 
 
 = Matilda of 
 
 of Blois 
 
 William Clito 
 
 
 Scotland 
 
 1 
 
 Stephen 
 1135-1154 
 
 1 
 William 
 
 1 
 Matilda 
 
 
 
 Lost in "White Ship" 
 
 = (1) Emperor Henry V 
 
 
 1120 
 
 (2) Geoffrey, Count of Anjou 
 
 
 
 Henry II 
 
 
 
 
 I 154-1 189 
 
 
 
 Henry Richard I Geoffrey 
 
 1 11 
 John Three Matilda 
 
 d. 1173 " Lion Heart" = Constance 
 
 1199-1216 dau. = Henry the 
 
 1189-1199 of Brittany 
 
 = (1) Isabella of 
 
 Lionl 
 
 
 
 Gloucester 
 
 
 
 Arthur 
 
 (2) Isabella of 
 
 
 
 murdered ? 
 
 
 Angoul^me 
 
 
 (2) 
 
 (2) (2) 
 
 
 (2) 
 
 (2) 
 
 Henry III 
 
 1 1 1 
 Richard Eleanor Isabella 
 
 Joanna 
 
 1216-1272 
 
 Earl of = Simon 
 
 de = Frederic II 
 
 = Alexander II 
 
 = Eleanor of Provence 
 1 
 
 Cornwall Montfort Emperor 
 
 of Scotland 
 
 Edward I 
 
 
 Edn 
 
 lund 
 
 1272-1307 
 
 
 
 Earl of Lancaster 
 
 1 Ancestor of the Dukes of Brunswick and Electors of Hanover. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 NORMAN AND ANGEVIN KINGS; WILLIAM I — HENRY II 
 
 1066-1189 
 
 43. Norman Conquest. 1066-107 1. — It was fully five years be- 
 fore William could in truth call himself master of England. The 
 struggle of these five years gave him the name of William the 
 Conqueror. In 1067 William ventured to visit Normandy; but 
 the two regents whom he left in England were so severe and un- 
 just that there were rebellions in various parts of the island. Late 
 in 1067 William returned to England and set himself vigorously 
 to put down the rebels. This task would have been much 
 more difficult, perhaps impossible, had the English been united in 
 their efforts at resistance ; as it was, William was able to attack 
 and subdue his enemies one by one. In 1069 the northern 
 English rose, called the king of Denmark to their aid, and were 
 joined by some dissatisfied English nobles. Before this rebellion 
 was suppressed much of the north country had been laid waste, 
 and crops and catUe, farm buildings and tools, were destroyed to 
 so great an extent that half a century later the still uncultivated 
 fields bore witness to William's pitiless fury. Not even the old 
 heathen Danish savages were as ruthless as William. 
 
 The only important uprising which took place after this was the 
 revolt of the Saxon hero, Hereward the Wake. He retreated to 
 the high ground, known as the Isle of Ely, rising in the midst of 
 the almost impenetrable swamps of the fen land in eastern England. 
 For a long time he defied attack, but at last he was forced to 
 yield, and then all England acknowledged William as lord (1072).* 
 
 1 There are two legends concerning Hereward: one followed by Kingsley in his 
 " Hereward the Wake," in which the hero is killed by a band of Normans; the 
 other, in which he makes submission and thereafter lives a peaceable, quiet life- 
 The latter seems more likely to be the true version of the story. 
 
 53 
 
54 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 William meant to be ruler of England in fact as well as in name. 
 In accomplishing this end his difficulties were not simply with the 
 English; he had to reward his Norman and other followers, yet 
 he was determined to do nothing which would injure his control 
 
 of the kingdom. The 
 way in which he met 
 these difficulties would 
 of itself mark him as 
 one of the ablest men 
 of his time. 
 
 William treated all 
 who had resisted him 
 as rebels; he confis- 
 cated their lands and 
 gave these estates to 
 his followers, but he so 
 distr.buted the land 
 among his supporters 
 that it would be to the 
 interest of each to 
 notify him of any at- 
 tempt at revolt by the 
 English; for a revolt 
 would mean the loss 
 of land by the owner. Besides this, William kept a standing army 
 ready to be called upon to put down any uprising by the English. 
 To make his position still stronger, he built in every town of 
 importance a castle in which were stationed Norman soldiers. A 
 number of these castles are still standing in whole or in part. The 
 most famous of all is the " White Tower " which forms part of the 
 Tower of London. 
 
 44. William and the Nobles. — One of the great difficulties 
 with which English kings had to contend was the English baron- 
 age, for the powerful nobles rarely hesitated to rebel if they 
 
 The 
 
 Part of the Tower of London 
 
 '■ Great White Tower" built by William the 
 Conqueror 
 
DOMINIONS OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 
 
 55 
 
 4 Longitude West 2 from Greenwich Longitude East 2 
 
 
 
 '\^^<j 
 
56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 thought their private interests would be benefited. The same 
 thing was true of the Normans, as WiUiam had already found to 
 his cost in Normandy. To remedy this state of affairs, he did 
 away with all the great earldoms, and so distributed throughout 
 the country the grants of land made to the barons and great 
 nobles that if one of them should rebel, he could be put down 
 before he could bring his scattered retainers together. William, 
 moreover, made it clear to the Enghsh that if they were faithful 
 to him, he would treat them justly. 
 
 45. William and the Church. — William found the Enghsh 
 church a national one ; that is, the bishops were appointed by 
 the king in conjunction with the Witenagemote ; and the clergy sat 
 in the Witenagemote with the nobles. He took into his own hands 
 the appointment of the bishops and abbots ; he removed all the 
 bishops who were Englishmen and appointed Normans in their 
 place ; he made the clergy independent of the civil courts, and 
 punishments were inflicted by order of the ecclesiastical courts. 
 
 William's scheme added greatly to his power, for each of the 
 three parties in the kingdom — the English people, the Norman 
 people, and the church — was dependent upon him, and each 
 distrusted the other. It was very unlikely that any two would 
 unite against him. He made Lanfranc, an Italian, Archbishop 
 of Canterbury. This was an excellent selection, for he was one 
 of the most able, learned, and religious men of his day. 
 
 46. William and Feudalism. — In England feudalism prevailed 
 but neither so extensively, nor in a form so fully developed, as 
 on the continent. (App. i, §§ 34-36.) According to feudalism, 
 in its perfected theory, all the land of a country belonged to the 
 king, and the followers of the king were' called his vassals and 
 held their estates as the king's tenants. Their land was called a 
 fief, and the oath they took was the oath of fealty to the king or 
 overlord. In return for the gift of land the vassal was bound to 
 render his king or lord certain personal or other service,^ such as 
 
 1 The amount and character of the service varied greatly. 
 
REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR 57 
 
 to furnish and equip men to fight for him, in return for which his 
 king or lord was bound to protect him and his property. He who 
 held land direct from the king or ruler could grant it to vassals of 
 his own, and so on ; thus feudalism became in time an exceedingly 
 complicated institution. Each vassal's first duty was to his im- 
 mediate overlord ; thus if his lord should rebel against the king, the 
 vassal was bound to follow his lord rather than the king. The 
 essence of feudalism was this dependence upon the overlord. 
 William endeavored to change this in England, so that the 
 vassal's first duty should be to the king and not to his overlord. 
 Then if a noble rebelled and his men followed him, they were 
 guilty of treason. In this way the people would be more closely 
 bound to the king. It is likely that this change was gradually 
 brought about, though from the Anglo-Saxoji Chronicle} it would 
 seem that it was exacted- for all the country at a great meeting 
 held at Salisbury (1086), and hence called "The Oath of Salis- 
 bury." As a result of this policy England was saved in after 
 years from many evils which the unmodified feudahsm brought 
 upon continental Europe. 
 
 47. Domesday Book. 1085-1086. — The methods of raising 
 funds to meet the expenses of government were unsatisfactory, and 
 much property escaped taxation. In order to remedy this defect, 
 and to increase the revenue, William caused an extensive survey to 
 be made of the taxable property of the kingdom (1085). The 
 reports were set down in a book which was called the Domesday 
 Book, because there was no more appeal from it than there would 
 be from the Last Judgment. This book has been preserved, and 
 is one of the most interesting historical records in existence. How 
 full it was can be inferred from the following extract from the 
 Chronicle : " So very narrow did he cause the survey to be made, 
 
 1 The passage in the Chronicle reads : " He came to Salisbury at Lammas and 
 his witan, and all the landholders of substance in England, whose vassals soever 
 they were, repaired to him there, and they all submitted to him, and became his 
 men, and swore oaths of allegiance, that they would be faithful to him against all 
 others." a.d. 1086. 
 
^8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 that there was not a single hide nor a rood of land, nor — it is 
 shameful to relate that which he thought no shame to do — was 
 there an ox, or a cow, or a pig, passed by, that was not set down 
 in the accounts." That he was able to make such a survey is 
 strong testimony to William's power, for there are few things which 
 men resent more than an investigation into their private affairs. 
 
 rcoT adcm-^KiSj/ V:./evair* ntetttf* (owtah AXyxo 
 of eo^ <nni1^ ittitiid, w-Iit hkafi ft^Lin! owtei^U^ 
 
 Beginning of the Domesday Book for Oxford 
 
 William was passionately fond of hunting, and it was said of him 
 " that he loved the tall stags as though he was their father." Per- 
 haps the most unpopular thing which he did was to make a large 
 royal hunting preserve in Hampshire called the New Forest. It 
 is altogether probable that much of the land was " crown land," 
 so that comparatively few people were deprived of their property ; 
 moreover, the soil is poor and it was sparsely inhabited ; but the 
 taking of any private property for selfish ends has always been 
 distasteful to the Anglo-Saxon mind. The severe forest laws which 
 he made for the preservation of game for his hunting were really 
 a far more reasonable cause of discontent than the seizure of the 
 land. 
 
 48. Death of William. 1087. — In 1087 William became in- 
 volved in a quarrel with the king of France. As he rode through 
 the town of Mantes, in Normandy, which had been burned by his 
 own orders, his horse stepped on some burning embers, started, 
 and threw William against the pommel of his saddle. As he had 
 grown to be very stout he was seriously injured. In a few days 
 he died, and was buried in Caen in Normandy. 
 
REIGN OF WILLIAM RUFUS 
 
 59 
 
 William left Normandy, his hereditary possession, to his eldest 
 son Robert ; to his second son, William, he left England ; and to 
 his third son, Henry, he left 5000 pounds sterling and some private 
 estates, teUing him to bide his time.^ 
 
 49. William II, Rufus. 1087. — William, the son, hastened to 
 England, secured the powerful influence of Lanfranc, Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, and was chosen king by the Witenagemote. Many 
 of the barons would have preferred the easy-going Robert to the 
 vigorous William, and in the very first year of his reign a con- 
 spiracy was formed against him. William called on the English 
 people to aid him, promising them certain privileges if they did so. 
 They responded to the call in such numbers that the rebellion was 
 quelled. 
 
 50. William Rufus and the Church ; Anselm. 1093. — William 
 Rufus, as he was called from his red face, was an exceedingly able 
 man, but he had all the evil qualities of his father without his 
 father's power of self-control. He was, moreover, an intensely 
 selfish man, and no oath was too sacred for him to break if it 
 suited his pleasure. He quarreled with the church, and after the 
 death of Lanfranc, for whom he had some respect, he allowed the 
 great see of Canterbury to continue vacant for nearly four years, 
 in order that he might appropriate its revenues to his own uses. 
 In 1093 William was seized with a serious illness and in his fright 
 he agreed to appoint an Archbishop of Canterbury. He named 
 Anselm, the prior of Bee in Normandy, a man so pure and holy 
 in his living that he was already called a saint. Anselm was 
 dragged to the king's bedside and the symbols of his office were 
 forced into his unwilling hands. The most learned man of his 
 day, " he was as righteous as he was learned, and as gentle as he 
 was righteous," but like many other quiet and mild men he knew 
 no fear where questions of duty were concerned, nor did he hesi- 
 
 1 This arrangement was in accord with the custom of the times, which was, that 
 hereditary possessions should go to the eldest son, and the acquired ones to the 
 younger sons ; at the same time it was unusual for a younger son to be given the 
 most valuable possession. 
 
6o HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 tate to warn the king against his sins. After four years of contest 
 with the king, Ansehii retired to Rome, but his example had borne 
 fruit by encouraging in others a spirit of independence which 
 showed itself later. 
 
 51. Death of William Rufus. Henry I. iioo. — The end of 
 William Rufus was tragic. He was hunting in the New Forest 
 when he was shot by an arrow which pierced him to the heart. 
 Whether this was an accident or not has never been found out. 
 William left no direct heirs ; his elder brother Robert was on a 
 crusade (App. i, § 59) to the Holy Land; and so the way was 
 open for the youngest brother, Henry, to make good his claim. 
 Henry lost no time in seizing the royal treasure and in getting 
 himself elected by an assembly of the nobles and prelates. In 
 order to gain the good will of the English people, he married 
 Eadgyth, afterward known as Matilda, the daughter of Malcolm, 
 king of Scotland, and of Margaret, granddaughter of Edmund 
 Ironside. This, together with the fact that he had been born 
 in England, made him far more acceptable to the English than 
 Robert. Still further to strengthen his position, he recalled 
 Anselm from Rome, and granted a charter to the barons. This 
 charter is one of the most important in early English history, for 
 it was made the basis of many subsequent charters ; it was the 
 first which considered the grievances of the nobles and the clergy, 
 and was the first which was granted at the time of the coronation 
 of a sovereign of England. 
 
 In this charter Henry promised reforms and a return to the 
 laws of Edward the Confessor, as amended by his father, William 
 the Conqueror. He gave up the forests formed by William Rufus, 
 but retained those of his father. Henry did not adhere at all 
 times to the terms of this charter, but he did not recklessly 
 violate it. 
 
 52. Henry and Robert. iio6. — The difficulties which Henry 
 had to face were similar to those which had beset his father and 
 brother : there was constant conflict with his rebellious barons, with 
 
REIGN OF HENRY I 6 1 
 
 the French king, and with the church. When Henry's brother 
 Robert returned from the crusade and found that for the second 
 time he had failed to gain the Enghsh crown, he joined with some 
 of the Enghsh nobles in trying to dethrone his brother. But the 
 attempt was unsuccessful. The war was then carried into Nor- 
 mandy, and in 1106 at Tenchbrai, with an army largely composed 
 of English troops, Henry defeated his brother and his allies. 
 Robert was taken prisoner, conveyed to Great Britain, and kept 
 in close confinement in Cardiff Castle, South Wales, until his 
 death, a period of twenty-eight years. As a result of the victory, 
 all Normandy fell into Henry's hands. 
 
 53. Henry and the Church ; Anselm. — Except where he thought 
 his duty to the church interfered, Anselm loyally supported Henry ; 
 but it was almost impossible that some conflicts should not arise, 
 for in those days a great prelate was not only an officer of the 
 church, but usually a great landholder as well. (App. i, § 46.) 
 Under the feudal laws, if called upon, he was bound under certain 
 well-defined circumstances to supply knights for the king's army. 
 He was also required to do the same homage for his lands that 
 was exacted of a baron. When Henry asked Anselm to repeat 
 the homage he had rendered to Wilham Rufus, Anselm declined 
 to do so ; and not only that, but he refused to consecrate the 
 bishops whom Henry had appointed. His position was that of 
 Gregory VH, one recently supported by a church council, which 
 held that the church should be entirely independent of the state, 
 and should appoint its own dignitaries. Neither Henry nor Anselm 
 would yield, and Anselm left England for about three years. Then 
 an honorable compromise reasonably satisfactory to both parties 
 was reached (1106). (App. i, § 54.) 
 
 54. Henry and France ; "The White Ship." 11 20. — Henry's 
 difficulties with the French king were connected with Normandy. 
 Robert, Duke of Normandy, was in safe confinement, but his son, 
 William Chto, claimed the duchy, and was supported by the king 
 of France, who naturally preferred to have for his vassal and neigh- 
 
62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 bor a young man rather than the powerful king of England. For 
 nearly twenty years there was almost constant warfare with France. 
 At length Robert's son was killed in battle (1128), and then there 
 was peace for Henry. 
 
 When Henry was returning from one of his visits to Normandy 
 (11 20), his only son, a youth of seventeen, with a crowd of nobles 
 followed him in another vessel. The White Ship. They set sail 
 from the town of Barfleur in the evening after a time of revelling. 
 Probably there was not a sober seaman on board, and it is not 
 surprising that the vessel struck on the rocks at the entrance of 
 the harbor. Prince William was thrust into a boat and might 
 have been saved had he not insisted on returning for his half sister. 
 As his boat neared the rapidly sinking ship, it was swamped by 
 crowds of men and passengers jumping into it, and Prince William 
 and the rest were drowned. A butcher of Rouen who clung to 
 the mast of the vessel was the sole survivor of all that gay com- 
 pany. At first, no one dared to carry the dreadful tidings to the 
 king; then a little boy, falling down before him, told him the 
 terrible news. Henry fell senseless, and, it is said, never smiled 
 again. 
 
 55. Matilda and the Succession. — Henry determined to make 
 his daughter his heir ; and though no woman had as yet sat on 
 the English throne, he succeeded in getting the barons to swear 
 allegiance to Matilda as his successor. She had been the wife of 
 Henry V, the Emperor of Germany, but had recently returned to 
 England, a widow. Henry married her to Geoffrey, the son of 
 the Count of Anjou, whose lands were south of Normandy. These 
 added to the duchy of Normandy would greatly increase the con- 
 tinental possessions of the English king. Unfortunately, the match 
 was highly unpopular with Henry's subjects, both English and Nor- 
 man : with the former, because they disliked any foreign compli- 
 cations ; and with the latter, because the Counts of Anjou had 
 always been foes of the Normans. However, in 1133 the barons 
 again swore fealty to Matilda and also to her infant son. 
 
REIGN OF STEPHEN 63 
 
 56. Death of Henry. 11 35. — In 1135 Henry died, after an 
 active and successful reign of thirty-five years. He was a great 
 king. Though naturally selfish, like the rest of his family, circum- 
 stances made many of his interests and those of the people 
 coincide. England was suffering from the selfishness and turbu- 
 lence of the large barons ; they were also Henry's enemies, and so 
 he did all in his power to keep them in check. He introduced a 
 well-ordered administration of finance and justice, and the internal 
 reforms which he brought about were favorable to a rapid increase 
 in trade and commerce. He was a peace-loving king, with keen 
 aptitude for organization and order. A scholar himself and famil- 
 iar with French, English, and Latin, he was a patron of learning 
 and encouraged the presence of famous scholars at his court. 
 During his reign the monasteries became centers of education, 
 and the monks busied themselves with chronicles. These were 
 written in Latin, and are of the greatest value to modern students 
 of history. 
 
 57. Stephen of Blois. 1135. — Though the barons had sworn 
 that they would recognize Henry's daughter, Matilda, as queen, 
 they broke all their promises and chose for their king, Stephen, 
 Count of Blois, son of Adela, a daughter of William the Con- 
 queror. Stephen did not seem like a foreigner, for he had been 
 brought up at the English court and was well known to the Eng- 
 hsh and was popular. He was a genial, pleasant man, handsome 
 and generous. He had been a favorite with his uncle Henry, who 
 had given him such large possessions as to make him one of the 
 most powerful barons in England. His cause was especially sup- 
 ported by the Londoners, who desired peace above all things, and 
 who thought that a woman would not be likely to govern well and 
 to continue Henry's policy. Matilda, moreover, had spent only 
 two years in England since she was eight years old. Her husband, 
 Geoffrey, was an hereditary foe of the Normans. " We will not 
 have a foreigner to reign over us," they said. 
 
 To make his tenure more secure, Stephen issued two charters 
 
64 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 promising to maintain peace and justice, the freedom of the 
 church, and other hberties. He also agreed to give up the 
 forests which Henry had made. Stephen seems to have had 
 neither the desire nor the abiUty to keep his promises. He was 
 not a timid man, but he lacked both judgment and prudence. 
 He had no control over the barons and he made enemies of the 
 clergy. 
 
 58. The Barons and Stephen. — The barons soon erected castles 
 all over the kingdom and defied the king. It was said of them : 
 *' They fought among themselves with deadly hatred ; they spoiled 
 the fairest lands with fire and rapine ; in what had been the most 
 fertile of counties they had destroyed almost all the provision of 
 bread. . . . They hanged up men by the feet and smoked them 
 with foul smoke ; some were hanged by their thumbs, others by 
 their heads, and burning things were hung to their feet. They 
 knotted strings about men's heads and twisted them till they went 
 to the brain. They put men into prisons where adders and snakes 
 and toads were crawling; and so they tormented them." These 
 were only part of the cruelties which were perpetrated by the 
 barons upon their enemies and upon those whose possessions they 
 wished to seize. Stephen himself, on one occasion, it is related, 
 having taken prisoner a son of the lady who held the castle he 
 was besieging, put a rope around the neck of his prisoner, and 
 threatened to hang him in sight of his mother unless the castle 
 was surrended. The unhappy mother could not bear the sight, 
 and opened the gates to the king. 
 
 59. Stephen and Matilda; Civil War. 1140. — Stephen came 
 to the throne in 1135 ; by 1140 the kingdom was in a state of 
 anarchy. Matilda thought it was a good opportunity to press her 
 claim. She found supporters, but they were more interested in 
 fighting Stephen than they were in her or in her success. Stephen, 
 instead of appealing to the people for support, hired soldiers from 
 the Continent to help him, an action which turned many from 
 him. In a battle fought at Lincoln (1141) Stephen was taken 
 
REIGN OF STEPHEN 
 
 65 
 
 prisoner and all England submitted to Matilda, who was called by 
 the barons the "Lady of England."^ Matilda was harsh, and 
 soon London, with many of the great barons, turned against her. 
 Stephen had been set 
 at liberty in exchange 
 for Matilda's half 
 brother who was held 
 captive by Stephen's 
 followers ; civil war 
 began and the land 
 was in desperate 
 straits. Bad as 
 Stephen's rule had 
 been, it was certainly 
 better than Matilda's, 
 so the cause of 
 Stephen kept gain- 
 ing, and in 1148 
 Matilda gave up the 
 struggle and left Eng- 
 land, and Stephen 
 was again king. Two 
 or three years later 
 Matilda's son, Henry, 
 a youth of sixteen, 
 
 was sent to England to see what success he could attain. He 
 had, however, to abandon the attempt to gain the crown. 
 
 60. Treaty of Wallingford ; Death of Stephen. 1154. — In 
 1 150 Geoffrey of Anjou, the husband of Matilda, died, and Henry 
 succeeded to the large possessions of the Counts of Anjou. To 
 these he added Aquitaine by marriage (115 2) with Eleanor, the 
 divorced wife of Louis VH of France. He now felt himself strong 
 enough to make another attempt to secure the English crown. 
 
 Ruins of Richmond Castle. 
 This was built in the time of the Normans 
 
 1 Matilda was not crowned. 
 
66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Though only nineteen, Henry was more than the equal of Stephen, 
 and was so successful that Stephen was compelled to treat for 
 peace. By the Treaty of WalHngford (1153) it was agreed that 
 Stephen should retain the crown until his death, but that Henry 
 should be his heir. It was easier for Stephen to agree to this be- 
 cause his son Eustace, whom he had expected to succeed hirn, 
 had lately died. It was also agreed that the castles which had 
 been built during the reign of Stephen should be demolished.^ 
 After a few months Henry returned to his continental possessions. 
 The next year (1154) Stephen died, and Henry succeeded to the 
 English crown without opposition, the first peaceful succession 
 since 1066. 
 
 61. Henry II, Plantagenet. 1154. — Henry of Anjou, known 
 in England as Henry II, was the first of the Angevin family to rule 
 in England. He is also known as Plantagenet.^ 
 
 In person he was a little above the middle height, stout, and 
 with a thick neck. He had a round head and wore his hair closely 
 cropped. He was* a restless, active man, rarely sitting down ex- 
 cept at meals or when he was on horseback. He was careless in 
 his dress ; his manner was usually pleasant and affable, but when 
 he was crossed, he was rough and passionate ; and it was said of 
 him that he would sometimes roll on the ground in a rage and 
 even bite at the straws and sticks near him. On the other hand, 
 he was generally wise and far-seeing in his statesmanship, ener- 
 getic and painstaking in carrying out his plans, and at the same 
 time crafty and tenacious. He was perhaps the most learned 
 monarch of his time and delighted in the society of scholars. 
 Like his Norman ancestors, he was devoted to the chase and 
 excelled in war. He had little regard for religion or for the 
 church. 
 
 Though only twenty-one at the time of his succession, he was 
 
 1 It is said that there were 1115 of these. 
 
 2 Angevin, that is "of Anjou." The name Plantagenet is derived from planta 
 genista; in French, platitegenet, the broom plant, a sprig of which Geoffrey, 
 Henry's father, was accustomed to wear in his helmet. 
 
DOMINIONS OF THE PLANTAGENETS 
 
 67 
 
 6 Longitude 4 West from 2 Greenwich Longitude 2 East from 4 Greenwich 6 
 
58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 wiser and abler than most men of twice his age. He was one of 
 the most powerful monarchs of Europe, for besides England, his 
 possessions in France were greater than those of the king of 
 France himself. By inheritance or through marriage (§ 60) he 
 ruled Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Touraine, Aquitaine, Poitou, Gas- 
 cony, and several smaller states. So important were his conti- 
 nental interests that of his long reign of thirty-five years, only 
 thirteen were spent in Britain, and his longest continuous stay 
 there was two and one half years. But this did not prevent 
 him from understanding the condition of his English kingdom 
 and ruling it wisely. He was skillful in the choice of his ministers, 
 and was always ready to listen to advice. 
 
 62. Thomas Becket. — In his efforts to reform the condition 
 of affairs, Henry was greatly helped by Thomas Becket, after- 
 wards Archbishop of Canterbury, the son of Gilbert Becket, a 
 Norman merchant who had settled in London. Shortly after 
 Henry's accession Thomas Becket was made chancellor^ of the 
 kingdom. Thomas of London, as he was then known, for the 
 practice of having surnames had not been adopted, was fond of 
 display and lived in great style ; but in a hcentious age and amid 
 great temptations he appears to have kept himself free from every 
 kind of vice. He and the king became close friends and jested 
 with each other like boon companions. It is said that they were 
 riding together one cold winter's day when they met an ill-clad 
 beggar. " Would it not be a' charity," said the king, " to give that 
 fellow a cloak and cover him from the cold ?" " Yes," said Becket. 
 Whereupon the king snatched Becket's fine scarlet cloak edged 
 with fur. Becket resisted, and in the struggle the two men were 
 nearly thrown from their horses, but in the end Henry got the 
 cloak and flung it to the beggar. Such were the familiar term- 
 upon which these two men lived. 
 
 1 The chancellor was the secretary of the King's Court, or Curia Regis. He 
 issued writs and other public documents ; kept the great seal of the kingdom ; 
 acted as judge ; and held the right of appointment to many ecclesiastical benefices. 
 
REFORMS OF HENRY II 
 
 69 
 
 63. Henry's Reforms. — Henry's reforms were as thorough as 
 it was possible to make them. He not only followed the plans 
 of his grandfather, Henry I, but carried them still farther. He 
 sent all foreign troops out of the kingdom ; he ordered that the 
 castles which had been built during Stephen's reign should be 
 destroyed, and if, in any instance, his command was not obeyed, 
 he sent troops against that stronghold and destroyed it. He saw 
 clearly that his most dangerous enemies in England were the 
 great barons, and to weaken these he hit upon a plan which 
 strengthened his power on the Continent as well as in England. 
 Henry needed an army to protect his continental possessions ; his 
 English subjects were not bound by feudal laws to fight except 
 at home, and though feudal vassals were liable to foreign service, 
 they could not be forced to serve more than forty days in any 
 one year. This was far too short a time to suit Henry. He 
 therefore encouraged a practice which had been gradually grow- 
 ing up. This was to make a money payment to the king in Heu 
 of personal service. With this money the king was able to hire 
 troops for as long a service as he might choose, and thus the 
 English knights could stay at home. A further result of this prac- 
 tice, and a very important one, was that the knights, who in earlier 
 times were warriors, now became landowners, who devoted much 
 of their time to peaceful pursuits and thereby became vitally in- 
 terested in local affairs. This custom also marked a step in the 
 decline of feudalism, the essence of which was personal service in 
 return for personal benefits. 
 
 The fact that Henry's long absences from England did not 
 seriously weaken his authority was due to the skill with which he 
 chose his representatives. He intrusted two laymen, Richard de 
 Lucy and Robert of Leicester, with almost kingly power. These 
 men, called Justiciars,^ with Becket, carried out the king's policy 
 
 1 The name j'usficiar had different meanings at different periods. In Henry's 
 time the justiciars acted as " permanent prime ministers, as representatives of the 
 monarch in all relations of state, as regents during the king's absence," etc. 
 
70 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 SO well that for ten years England had such a rest from turmoil as 
 she had not known for many years. 
 
 64. Henry and the Church. — When Henry came to the throne 
 the two foes of reform were the barons and the church ; neither 
 of them wished to be restrained, or to give up any of the power 
 acquired during the reign of Stephen. Henry had reduced the 
 barons to submission, but he had little opportunity to take from 
 the church those powers gained in earher times, or not rightly 
 belonging to it. 
 
 Under the general system at that time if a member of the 
 clergy committed a crime, he was to be tried in an ecclesiastical 
 court. This system was open to great abuse, for it permitted 
 persons to become members of the clergy simply to secure clerical 
 privileges, or to escape the secular or ordinary laws. For instance, 
 the ecclesiastical courts could not inflict the penalty of death, and 
 so if one of the clergy or " clerks," as they were called, committed 
 a murder, he escaped death. Moreover, the church courts were 
 more lenient, it was claimed, than others, and criminals got off 
 with Ughter penalties. Henry believed that there should be one 
 law for all his subjects, but so long as Archbishop Theobald lived, 
 there seemed to be no opportunity to bring this about. 
 
 65. Henry and Archbishop Becket. 1162-T164. — Theobald 
 died in 1162, and Henry at once determined to appoint as arch- 
 bishop his friend and chancellor, Thomas Becket, expecting that 
 through him he could carry out his plans. Becket did all in his 
 power to prevent the king from making the nomination and from 
 securing the appointment from the Pope. " I warn you," said 
 Becket, " that if such a thing should be, our friendship would soon 
 turn to bitter hate." But Henry insisted, and Thomas became 
 Archbishop of Canterbury.^ 
 
 From the moment he became archbishop, all his interests were_ 
 centered in the church and all his strength was given to it. He 
 
 1 Becket though a deacon was not a priest, but was forthwith ordained one, and 
 the very next day consecrated archbishop. 
 
HENRY II AND BECKET 
 
 71 
 
 at once resigned the chancellorship, saying, " It is impossible for 
 me to serve two masters," meaning the church and the king. 
 
 It was not long before a conflict arose between the king and the 
 archbishop. Henry was determined that any "clerk" (member 
 of the clergy) who was guilty of a crime should be tried, and in 
 
 Canterbury Cathedral 
 
 The choir was built in the twelfth century, and the nave, transepts, and central 
 tower date from the fifteenth century. Some of the glass is of the thirteenth 
 century. 
 
 some instances sentenced, in a "lay" court, that is, in an ordinary 
 court of justice. Becket insisted that all " clerks " should be tried 
 in a church court, maintaining that Henry's claim was an inroad 
 upon the liberties of the church. 
 
 66. Constitutions of Clarendon. 1164. — Henry summoned a 
 great council to meet at Clarendon near Salisbury, and at his 
 command a committee of bishops and barons issued what are 
 known as the Constitutions of Clarendon. These professed to set 
 forth the customs of the king's grandfather, Henry I. No one 
 
72 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 knew exactly what these were, but Becket and the bishops had 
 agreed to observe them. When issued, they were found to be 
 against the claims of the church. The most important of the six- 
 teen articles provided in many cases that clerks and persons under 
 the protection of the church should be tried in the lay courts ; 
 that bishops who held land as feudal tenants should do homage 
 just as lay tenants were required to do ; that no appeals should be 
 made to the Pope without the king's leave ; that no member of 
 the royal household or "tenant in chief" (that is, a man who was 
 the king's direct vassal) should be excommunicated from the 
 church without the king's knowledge. It cannot be said that these 
 requirements were unreasonable ; for it was absolutely necessary, 
 for the sake of common justice, to settle the questions continually 
 arising between the lay and clerical courts, and to end, as far as 
 possible, the frequent lawlessness arising from the conflicts of 
 authority. 
 
 67. Becket's Refusal and Flight to France. 1164. — Becket, 
 strongly opposed to any lessening of the power of the church, took 
 time for consideration and then managed to evade signing the 
 articles. Henry, angered at Becket's conduct, resolved not to 
 yield. Nine months passed ; Henry then summoned Becket to 
 appear before a royal council held at Northampton to answer, 
 certain charges regarding his lands and his financial transactions as 
 chancellor. Here Becket was found guilty of treason and declared 
 to be a debtor to the crown for a very large amount.-^ 
 
 With his crucifix in his hand, he awaited the decision in the 
 hall. When he was informed of it, he appealed to the judgment 
 of the Pope in defiance of the constitutions, and walked out. As 
 he went along, some one said, "This is a fearful day." "Yes," 
 said Becket, "but the Day of Judgment will be more fearful." 
 He fled in disguise to the coast and crossed over to France. He 
 
 1 It is hardly to be doubted that these charges were only technically true, if 
 indeed they were that. The fact was that Henry wished to get rid of Becket and 
 took this means of doing so. 
 
HENRY II AND I3ECKET 
 
 7Z 
 
 remained in exile six years. Meanwhile Henry banished about 
 four hundred of the archbishop's relatives and friends and con- 
 fiscated the revenues of Becket's see. 
 
 68. Becket in France ; Coronation of Prince Henry, ii 70. — 
 Becket did not find the support in France and from the Pope that 
 he looked for. There were two rival Popes, and Alexander III 
 who had the best claim, was too much afraid that Henry would 
 recognize his rival to give active support to Becket; and the king 
 of France, though he received Becket and showed him honor, did 
 little more. Henry was now free to carry out his own plans, and 
 from this time the Constitutions of Clarendon regulated the rela- 
 tions of church and state, and law gradually took the place of 
 despotism. 
 
 Henry was anxious to have his eldest son follow him on the 
 throne. But since the time of the Norman Conquest no eldest son 
 of an EngUsh king had succeeded his father. Henry determined 
 to have his eldest son crowned during his father's lifetime.* 
 Accordingly, in 1 1 70 Prince Henry was crowned by Roger, Arch- 
 bishop of York. It was then, and still is, the special privilege of 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury, as Primate of all England, to crown 
 the monarchs of England. As soon, therefore, as Becket heard 
 what was to be done, he sent word to Roger that all bishops about 
 to take part in the coronation of the young Prince were excom- 
 municated, and warned him that this order was approved by the 
 Pope. The coronation took place, but Becket's action threw 
 doubt on its validity. To meet this difficulty Henry resolved to 
 make peace with Becket. Henry also feared lest the Pope should 
 excommunicate him or lay an interdict^ on the kingdom. At 
 length, through the agency of the Pope, Henry and Becket met at 
 Freteval, not far from Tours, in France, and some sort of a recon- 
 ciliation was reached. Becket returned to England. 
 
 1 This was often done by continental monarchs. In medieval times coronation 
 was held to be all-important, while in modern times it is considered a non-essential, 
 
 2 Interdict, see § 79, note. 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 After a Canterbury seal of the four- 
 teenth century 
 
 69. Return and Murder of Becket. 1 1 70. — The archbishop 
 landed at Sandwich (December i, 11 70) and was received with 
 shouts of welcome from the people, who looked on him as a pro- 
 tector of their rights. He would not release from the ban of ex- 
 communication the bishops who had taken part in the coronation 
 of the Prince, unless the confiscated estates of Canterbury were 
 restored to him. On this, the bishops resolved to appeal to Henry, 
 who was on the continent. Henry was very angry and cried out 
 
 impatiently, " What a parcel of fools 
 and dastards have I nourished in 
 my house that not one of them will 
 avenge me of this one upstart 
 clerk ! " Four knights who heard 
 him took him at his word and 
 hastened to England and Canter- 
 bury. At first they went unarmed 
 to the archbishop's palace, and had 
 hot words with him, demanding 
 that he should leave the kingdom. 
 But Becket defied them. Then 
 The Murder of Thomas Becket ^^^y ^^^^ out for arms. In the 
 
 meantime Becket's friends per- 
 suaded him to take refuge in the 
 cathedral. Here the knights found him and murdered him. 
 Though Henry at once declared that he had no hand in the 
 murder, and sent to the Pope assurance to that effect, this deed 
 aroused deep indignation, not only in England, but throughout 
 Europe. Thomas was looked upon as a martyr, was soon can- 
 onized, and became the most popular saint in England.* 
 
 70. Henry and Ireland. 1171. — Henry was the first EngHsh 
 king to make an attempt to conquer Ireland. That island was then 
 
 1 To canonize is for the Catholic church to place a deceased person upon the 
 canon or list of saints. St. Thomas of Canterbury continued to be a popular saint 
 down to the Protestant Reformation, when his shrine at Canterbury was destroyed. 
 It was to this shrine that Chaucer, in his great poem, makes his pilgrims travel. 
 
REIGN OF HENRY II 75 
 
 celebrated for its work in metal, and for the skillful illumination 
 of manuscripts, but in almost everything else it was far behind the 
 rest of Europe. There were a number of tribes, each ruled by a 
 chieftain, and petty warfare was almost continual. The church 
 and monasteries were also very much disorganized. It was in the 
 hope that Henry's efforts would place the Irish church under 
 Roman authority that Adrian IV (Nicholas Breakspear), the only 
 Englishman who ever became Pope, is said to have given Ireland 
 to the English king (1154).* 
 
 Then, however, seemed to Henry a good time to make a serious 
 effort to gain Ireland, and in 1171 he crossed the Irish Channel 
 with that end in view. There were already Englishmen in Ireland, 
 for Richard de Clare, afterwards known as Strongbow, with a 
 number of followers, had gone to Ireland in 11 69-1 170 at the in- 
 vitation of Dermot, an Irish chieftain, to assist him in regaining 
 his possessions. They had been successful ; Strongbow had mar- 
 ried Dermot's daughter, and at his death seized upon his kingdom. 
 His rule, like that of many foreign aggressors, was harsh. Henry, 
 therefore, was welcomed by many of the Irish, and yielded to by 
 the earlier English invaders, who lacked the courage and the 
 strength to resist him. Unfortunately for Ireland, Henry was 
 soon forced to leave the island to look after more important in- 
 terests, and with his departure the old condition of petty warfare 
 was renewed. 
 
 71. Henry and the Barons. — There had been in England, as 
 on the Continent, a struggle between the barons and the crown. 
 The tendency had been toward the increase of royal authority ; 
 this the barons naturally resisted, and from time to time, as op- 
 portunity offered, they rebelled. They had been most successful 
 during the reign of Stephen, and the anarchy of that reign showed 
 what might be expected if they should become the stronger party 
 
 1 This grant, if made, for it has never been fully established as a historical fact, 
 was made on the ground that all islands belong to the Pope. It may be taken as 
 an example of the extensive claims of the Papacy at that time. 
 
76 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 in the state. From the first Henry had done all that he could 
 to lessen the strength of these barons and had accomplished 
 much. The barons had chafed at their loss of power, and were 
 determined to make a desperate effort to recover their lost posi- 
 tion. The time was seemingly ripe for such an attempt. As 
 Henry was lord of more than half of France, the kings of France 
 were always ready to take advantage of any movement which 
 might injure their English rival ; so were the petty dukes and 
 counts whose dominions were near by ; the Scots also were alive 
 to any opportunity for enlarging their borders. Besides all these, 
 Henry had foes in his own household. His wife, Eleanor, was on 
 bad terms with him, and sympathized with her sons, who, despite 
 their father's affection for them, were dissatisfied with what he had 
 given them, and were ready to plot against him. All these 
 enemies conspired at the same time against the unfortunate king. 
 
 72. Henry's Reconciliation with the Church and his Penance. 
 1 1 74. — Henry knew that as long as he was on ill terms with the 
 church, his affairs could not prosper ; therefore he resolved to be 
 reconciled to it. He met the papal legates, swore that he was 
 innocent of the death of Becket, and agreed to make certain 
 important concessions. Upon this he received absolution. 
 
 Meanwhile, Henry had caused his eldest son, Henry, to be 
 crowned again, and this time his son's wife, Margaret, daughter of 
 the king of France, had been also crowned. To this son, Henry had 
 given Normandy; for his son Geoffrey, he had secured Brittany;^ 
 and to Richard, his second son, he had given Aquitaine. All these 
 countries were to be ruled under Henry and not independently. 
 But this arrangement did not satisfy his sons ; and the French 
 king, hoping to gain thereby, joined with them and plotted a rebel- 
 lion, to which Eleanor, Henry's wife, gave her aid. The barons at- 
 tacked Henry almost simultaneously in Normandy, on the Scottish 
 border, and in England. He was successful against the rebels 
 
 1 He had done this by the marriage of Geoffrey to Constance, heiress of the 
 duchy. 
 
REIGN OF HENRY II 
 
 77 
 
 in Normandy, and his faithful justiciars, Richard de Lucy and 
 William Mandeville, routed the barons in England. 
 
 The contest was still going on with the Scots when Henry 
 landed in England on his way to Canterbury to do penance at the 
 tomb of Becket. When he reached the entrance of the city, " he 
 dismounted, put on a 
 plain, woolen gown, bared 
 his royal feet, and so 
 walked through the rough 
 and muddy streets to the 
 cathedral. ... At the 
 threshold, he knelt down 
 and said a prayer; on 
 being led to the spot 
 where Becket fell, he 
 kissed it and bathed it 
 with tears." The Bishop 
 of London then spoke to 
 the people on behalf of 
 the king, expressing sor- 
 row that hasty words of 
 his should have led the 
 knights to commit so vile 
 a deed. He also stated that the king confirmed the see of Can- 
 terbury in all her rights. Henry then rose, satisfied with what 
 had been said, and removing his outer garment, knelt down at 
 the tomb to receive from the hands of the monks eighty or more 
 stripes on his back. He was again absolved of the crime, but 
 remained crouching on the bare floor of the crypt all night. 
 
 73. Henry's Success ; Rebellion of his Sons. — In the eyes of 
 the world Henry was richly rewarded for this act of humiliation, 
 for he soon received news of the capture of the Scottish king, and 
 the consequent defeat of his enemies in the north. The king of 
 the Scots, William the Lion, was forced to make the treaty of 
 
 The Penance of Henry II 
 After an old painting 
 
78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Falaise and to do homage to Henry as his overlord, an act which 
 was to have an influence on future events. The few remaining 
 rebelHous barons were speedily put down, and all attempts to 
 establish baronial independence were ended. 
 
 Henry's sons, instigated probably by the king of France, had 
 begun active warfare again in Normandy. The king hurried back 
 to the Continent and in a short time was successful in quelling the 
 outbreak. His terms to the rebels were generous. 
 
 74. Legal and Other Reforms. — Henry now turned to matters 
 of reform. The first thing which claimed his attention was the 
 administration of justice. As early as 1166 he had directed 
 the sheriffs in case of murder, robbery, and theft to summon men 
 of the neighborhood to investigate the case, and ordered that the 
 accused should be brought before a justice sent from the courts at 
 Westminster to the counties. In 11 76 he issued a new Assize, as 
 the documents were called, in which the chief authority was given 
 to the justices who traveled through the shires on their circuits. 
 They were to gain their information regarding crime through 
 twelve knights of the neighborhood, or, if this were not practi- 
 cable, through twelve freemen and four others. Disputes regard- 
 ing lands were to be settled in the royal courts, and, in general, 
 the royal power was extended as much as possible. The effect 
 of this legislation was to lead the freemen to look to the crown for 
 justice rather than to the barons, and so to make legislation 
 uniform throughout the kingdom. 
 
 By the Assize of Arms (1181) Henry reorganized the ^t^ or 
 mihtia which dated back to the time of William the Conqueror. 
 Heretofore, it had been feudal in its character; Henry made it 
 national. By this document every freeman was bound, according 
 to his abihty, to secure arms so that he might be ready at any 
 time to defend the realm against rebels or invaders. This action 
 of Henry is a proof of the strong position he had gained, in that 
 by it he trusted himself, not to paid foreign troops or a standing 
 army, but to the English freemen themselves. 
 
REIGN OF HENRY II 79 
 
 75. The Crusades. Saladin Tax. 11 88. — Among the great 
 events in history are the crusades. (App. i, §§ 59, 65.) These 
 were miUtary expeditions to rescue from infidels the Holy 
 Land and particularly the Holy City, Jerusalem. They were 
 begun in 1096, and in 1099 Jerusalem was captured and the 
 kingdom of Jerusalem set up. This petty kingdom, owing chiefly 
 to the dissensions of the enemies, had lasted until 1187, when it 
 fell before Saladin, a great Mohammedan warrior and statesman. 
 The Pope now proclaimed a new crusade and thousands enhsted 
 in the holy enterprise. Among those who took the cross ^ were 
 Henry, his son Richard, and Philip, King of France. 
 
 In order to raise money for the expenses of the war in the East, 
 Henry laid a new tax upon his English subjects (1188), known as 
 the Saladin Tax. This was levied upon movable or personal prop- 
 erty and not upon land, as previous taxes had been. Each man 
 was allowed to state the amount of his taxable property, but if any 
 doubt arose as to the truth of his statement, a jury of his neighbors 
 was summoned to testify.^ 
 
 76. Rebellion of Henry's Sons. Death of Henry II. 11 89. — 
 Henry never went on the crusade. Before he was ready to start, 
 those who had promised to go were warring among themselves ; 
 first Henry and his son Richard against Philip, and then Richard 
 and Phihp against Henry. At the time of this last conflict Henry 
 was ill and did not show his accustomed skill. He was driven 
 from place to place and finally was forced to submit to Phihp's 
 terms. Among other things he was required to agree that all who 
 had followed Richard in his rebellions should be allowed to con- 
 tinue that allegiance. When the hst of these was shown him, the 
 first name was that of his favorite son, John. " Henry turned on 
 his couch with a groan. ' Now,' said he, ' let all things go as they 
 
 1 To take the cross meant to pledge oneself to become a crusader. " This was 
 symbolized by a small cross of cloth or other material attached to the shoulder of 
 the coat or other garment." 
 
 2 The rate was one tenth upon all rents and movable or personal property for 
 one year. This is the first known instance of an English tax on personal property. 
 
8o HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 will, I care no more for myself, nor for anything in the world.' " 
 He hngered for a few days, repeating again and again, "Shame, 
 shame on a beaten king," and then died (1189). 
 
 Henry H was one of the greatest kings of England, and he has 
 left an enduring influence upon its history. It may be that this 
 policy was often selfish, but it is at the same time true that very 
 often his interests and those of the realm coincided. He changed 
 feudalism in England from a system of government to a system of 
 land tenure ; he brought the barons under control ; he vastly im- 
 proved the administration of justice ; he laid the foundation of the" 
 jury system ; he made the militia national ; he brought the church 
 under the general control of the state ; he gained the good will of 
 the people at large ; " he estabHshed a footing in Ireland and effec- 
 tively asserted the supremacy of England over Wales and Scotland." 
 
 When it is remembered that Henry's continental holdings were 
 far larger than his British possessions, the question at once arises, 
 why was he not equally successful on the Continent? The answer 
 is easily found. In England, he bent all his energies to make 
 himself really king, and to free England from the hindrances of 
 feudalism ; while on the Continent he was simply a feudal lord in 
 regard to many of the lands over which he was scarcely more than 
 nominal ruler ; and moreover he himself on the Continent upheld 
 feudalism and was himself a vassal. Besides this, he apparently 
 never expected to establish a continental kingdom, as is shown by 
 the division of his dominion among his sons. His greatest errors 
 were those in his family policy, which caused the misfortunes 
 at the close of his reign and were responsible for his pathetic end. 
 
 References. Green, Short History, chap, ii, §§ 4-8 ; Gardiner, Stu- 
 dent's History, chaps, vii-x ; Terry, History, Part II, chaps, ii-vi ; TovX, Ad- 
 vanced History, Book II, chaps, i-v; Hunt, Norjnan Britain ; Johnson, Nor- 
 mans in Europe, chaps, xiii-xvi ; Stubhs, Early Plantagenets, chaps, i-v ; 
 Adams and Stephens, Select Docufnents, 1-20 ; Cheyney, Keadijigs, chap, vii, 
 §§ i-vi ; Colby, Selections, §§ 14-24 ; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 15-22; 
 Lee, Source-Book, chaps, vii-viii. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 NORMAN AND ANGEVIN KINGS. RICHARD I — JOHN 
 
 77. Richard I. 1189. — Henry was succeeded without opposi- 
 tion by Richard, his eldest living son.^ He was in many respects 
 the opposite of his father, for while Henry was a soldier from 
 necessity, Richard was a warrior by nature. The name by which 
 he was best known, Richard Coeur de Lion, Richard of the Lion 
 Heart, indicates this. Immediately after his coronation, he began 
 to make ready to join the crusade, for he had already assumed the 
 cross. To raise money for this purpose he sold office after office 
 and privilege after privilege. He sold offices to those who wished 
 to buy, and the right to resign offices to those who wished to give 
 them up ; he declared other offices vacant and put them up to 
 the highest bidder ; he sold charters to cities and towns ; he 
 allowed William of Scotland to buy release from the treaty of 
 Falaise made with his father (§ 73) ; with the consent of the 
 Pope, he sold the privilege of staying at home to those who, 
 having assumed the cross, wished to be relieved of the obligation. 
 Never, perhaps, was there a monarch who was so anxious to raise 
 money as he. 
 
 Richard, though born at Oxford, had in him little of the 
 Englishman, and only seven months of his reign of ten years were 
 spent in England. Almost his whole life had been passed in 
 Aquitaine. It was well that this was so, for it is almost certain 
 that if he had lived in England, dominated as he was by foreign 
 ideas, he would have insisted on introducing them into England. 
 
 1 Prince Henry, who had been crowned before his father's death, and who had 
 given so much trouble, died in 1183, leaving no children. 
 
 8i 
 
82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 As it was, under his representatives England had a far better 
 chance to develop on English lines than would have been possible 
 had he himself taken active part in the government. 
 
 78. Richard and the Crusade. 1189. — Richard left England 
 on the nth of December, 1189. His adventures and warlike 
 deeds of prowess have been the theme of many a romance and 
 song, for he was the embodiment of the ideal hero of that age. 
 He was thirty-two years old, full of the vigor of early manhood 
 and thirsting for opportunity to show his strength and bravery. 
 He started for the East in the latter part of June, 1190, and for 
 three years, in company with Phihp Augustus of France, he had 
 all the adventures and intrigue that any one could wish. There 
 was constant quarreling between the two kings from the start, for 
 they were rivals and jealous of each other, at home as well as 
 abroad, for Richard's dominions in France were more extensive 
 than those of Philip, who was always ready to enlarge his boun- 
 daries at the expense of the English king. 
 
 Richard did not reach Syria until 1191, when he took part in 
 the siege of Acre, the greatest stronghold in Palestine. This city 
 was taken largely through his skill, but then, instead of a united 
 effort to push on and take Jerusalem, the crusaders quarreled, 
 and Philip returned to France to scheme against his rival. Richard 
 continued his efforts to recapture Jerusalem ; twice he was within 
 a few miles of the city, but found himself unable to go farther 
 because his fellow crusaders failed to give him support. Once, 
 it is said, he gained a spot from which he could have seen the 
 holy city, but he refused to look, saying that if he was not worthy 
 to conquer the city, he was not worthy to see it. 
 
 At last a truce for three years was concluded with the Sultan 
 Saladin, the most important feature of which was that the Christians 
 were allowed to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem in safety. 
 
 79. Richard's Return and Capture. 1192. — Richard now 
 prepared to return home. It was high time, for not only was 
 Philip Augustus his active enemy, but his own brother John was 
 
REIGN OF RICHARD I 
 
 83 
 
 doing all in his power to seize the English throne, an attempt in 
 
 which he was aided by PhiHp. Richard, on his return from Acre, 
 
 was shipwrecked on the shores of the Adriatic, and attempting to 
 
 make his way through Austria in disguise, was 
 
 discovered, captured, and thrown into prison 
 
 by Leopold, Duke of Austria, whom he had 
 
 mortally offended at the siege of Acre (1192). 
 
 To treat a crusader in this fashion was a serious 
 
 offense against the church, and the Pope 
 
 promptly excommunicated the duke and laid 
 
 his lands under an interdict.^ 
 
 Leopold paid little attention to this action, 
 for Richard was too valuable a prize lightly to 
 be disposed of; but he consented to sell his 
 interest in the prisoner's ransom to the Em- 
 peror of Germany, Henry VI, who was also a 
 personal enemy of the English king. 
 
 The ransom demanded by the emperor was 
 more than twice as much as the whole reve- 
 nue of England for a year.^ Enough was 
 raised to secure Richard's liberation, and host- 
 ages were given to secure the payment of the 
 balance. Richard was set free in 11 94, after 
 more than thirteen months of unjust imprison- 
 ment. 
 
 80. Richard in England. — Richard reached England early in 
 1 1 94, after an absence of more than four years. His first act 
 
 Richard I in Prison 
 
 After an illuminated 
 manuscript of the thir- 
 teenth century 
 
 1 By this the clergy were forbidden to hold services or to perform certain religious 
 rites, such as marriage, etc. 
 
 2 The amount demanded was 150,000 marks, or about 100,000 pounds sterling, 
 equal to several million dollars at present values. How much was actually paid is 
 not certain, possibly a little more than half, most of which probably came from 
 Richard's continental dominions. There is little foundation for the story that 
 Richard's prison was discovered by Blondel, one of the minstrels, who, while sing- 
 ing a favorite ballad under the walls of the castle, heard the refrain repeated by his 
 royal master. 
 
84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 was to go to Canterbury and pay his devotions at the shrine of 
 St. Thomas a Becket. He then proceeded to London, where he 
 was received with acclamation. To please his subjects, Richard 
 was crowned again, this time at Winchester, " as if to wipe off the 
 stain of his bondage." Most of the time of his brief stay in 
 England was taken up with schemes to raise money to pay the 
 balance of his ransom. The methods used were similar to those 
 employed in collecting funds for the crusade, that is, by selling 
 and by confiscating offices and privileges. England was almost in 
 a state of war, owing to the plotting of Richard's brother, Prince 
 John, and the French king. Richard appointed as justiciar, Hubert 
 Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury, and placed the administration 
 of the kingdom in his hands. He was a faithful servant to Richard 
 and a statesman well trained in the school of Henry H. Under 
 his able rule rebellion was put down and the king's authority 
 strengthened. Having raised all the money he could, after a stay 
 of just two months, Richard left England, never to return. 
 
 81. Richard in France. 1194-1199. His Death. 1199. — 
 Richard went to the Continent, not only to settle affairs with PhiHp 
 Augustus, King of France, but because he had no fondness for 
 England, and loved the sunny southern lands of Aquitaine. His 
 continental possessions needed his presence, for they were spHt up 
 by petty jealousies and grievances. It was owing to this fact that 
 the French kings so often stirred up rebellions against the English 
 kings in the hope that some of the territory would fall into their 
 own hands. Richard was generally successful, but for five years 
 he was almost continually at war. At length, hearing that a 
 treasure had been found on the land of one of his vassals, he 
 promptly claimed it, and when the baron refused, to give it up, 
 Richard besieged his castle. While reconnoitering, the king was 
 shot in the shoulder by an arrow, and as the wound was badly 
 treated, blood poisoning set in. Thus it happened that the great 
 warrior, who had fought in many fierce battles, died from a hurt 
 received in a petty quarrel. 
 
REIGN OF JOHN 
 
 85 
 
 82. John. 1 1 99. — Richard left no children, and at his death 
 but two legitimate male descendants of Henry II were living : 
 Arthur, son of Geoffrey, third son of Henry II ; and John, the 
 fourth son. Arthur was the legal heir, but he was a boy of twelve 
 years. The barons of England had to choose between a man 
 and a boy, and it is not surprising that they chose the man. 
 This was the last time in English history that a king was chosen 
 in this way. 
 
 By common consent John is regarded as the worst king England 
 ever had. He was a bad son, a bad brother, a bad father, a bad 
 friend, and a bad king. It is said of 
 him that "every night he lay down a 
 worse man than he had risen up, and 
 every morning he rose a worse man 
 than he had lain down." He " was a 
 selfish, cruel tyrant of the worst type, 
 extortionate and unjust, treacherous 
 and vindictive, without regard either 
 for the spirit or the form of the law, 
 and wholly destitute of religious feel- 
 ing. . . . What distinguishes his rule Royal Arms of England from 
 
 ° ° Richard I to Edward III 
 
 from that of others is its pettiness, 
 
 meanness, and spitefulness ; its generally irritating character; and 
 
 the utter absence of any redeeming features." His badness had 
 
 one good result : it united against him, as probably nothing else 
 
 would have done, the clergy, barons, and people, who forced him 
 
 to grant liberties which benefited all classes in the kingdom. 
 
 83. Resistance in French Possessions. Arthur Murdered. 
 1203. — John was accepted king in England, but on the Continent 
 Arthur was supported by Philip Augustus of France, for selfish 
 reasons of his own. Many of the barons of John's provinces in 
 France were hostile to him, and, angered by his marriage with 
 Isabella of Angouleme, rose against him. John charged them with 
 treason. The barons appealed to Philip of France, John's over- 
 
86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 lord. He summoned John to appear before a council. John re- 
 fused to appear, and the council declared John guilty of felony. 
 This meant the forfeiture of his fiefs in France. Arthur invaded 
 Normandy. John's representative there was his mother, Eleanor, 
 who though seventy-eight years old, was vigorous and shrewd. She 
 promptly took up arms against her grandson Arthur, but was be- 
 sieged by him until John came to the rescue. Arthur was carried 
 a prisoner to Rouen by his uncle, and, according to popular belief, 
 was stabbed and then thrown into the Seine by the same royal 
 hand (1203). *' No friend ever ventured to assert John's inno- 
 cence, nor did he ever venture to assert it himself, though re- 
 peatedly taxed with the murder." 
 
 84. John and Philip Augustus. 1 203. — The murder of Arthur 
 gave Philip Augustus of France another excuse to attack the 
 Enghsh king. He immediately invaded Normandy, Anjou, Maine, 
 and Touraine and added them to his dominions on the ground that 
 as John had been found guilty of felony, these fiefs were forfeited 
 to him, who was John's Hege lord. 
 
 85. John and the Church. Archbishop Langton. 1207, The 
 Interdict. 1208. — John increased the number of his enemies by 
 quarrehng with the church. The occasion was the choice of an 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, made necessary by the death of Hubert 
 Walter (1205). John insisted on nominating the new archbishop, 
 which was according to custom, but the bishops of the province 
 of Canterbury claimed that to them belonged the right to nomi- 
 nate. Meanwhile, the. monks of the chapter at Canterbury 
 selected a man and sent him to Rome to be confirmed by the 
 Pope. The Pope at this time was Innocent HI, one of the ablest 
 of all the Popes. (App. i, §§ 74-75.) He declined to accept 
 any of the candidates proposed, and appointed Stephen Langton, 
 an Enghsh ecclesiastic residing at Rome. According to custom 
 and tradition, the Pope had not power to make the appointment, 
 but Innocent was always ready to seize an opportunity of extend- 
 ing the power of the Papacy. No better choice could have 
 
REIGN OF JOHN 8/ 
 
 been made, though Innocent could not have anticipated what 
 would result from his action. 
 
 John, incensed at the Pope, swore that he would neither recog- 
 nize Langton nor allow him to land in England. But he had in 
 Innocent a wily and strong antagonist ready to use all the weapons 
 which the church possessed. Innocent placed England under an 
 interdict (1208).^ John remained unmoved; then Innocent ex- 
 communicated him. John repHed by seizing the estates of the 
 bishops who published the decree. But Innocent, going to the 
 extreme of power claimed by the Papacy, proclaimed the deposi- 
 tion of John from the throne (12 12), and summoned Philip of 
 France to head an expedition to England to carry out the decree 
 of excommunication, and to assume the English crown. 
 
 86. John yields to the Pope. 12 13. — John gathered an army 
 to resist Philip, but suddenly John gave way. Around him on 
 every side were hidden foes ; his oppression of the barons had 
 made enemies of them all ; and Rome, France, Scotland, Ireland, 
 and Wales were at war with him. He preferred to yield to the 
 Pope rather than to Philip or to his own barons. He therefore 
 invited the Pope's legate to come to England; he agreed to 
 receive Langton as Archbishop of Canterbury; to give back all 
 the estates of the church which he had confiscated ; and to 
 restore to clergy and laity all rights of which he had deprived 
 them. Two days later he surrendered his kingdoms of England 
 and Ireland to the Pope, and received them back again as fiefs 
 of the Papacy, agreeing to pay for them a yearly rent of 1000 
 marks. ^ 
 
 By this humiliating act John purchased his peace with the 
 church and his security from French attack, for the Pope now for- 
 bade further hostilities on Philip's part. But these gains were 
 more than offset by the suspicions which filled the minds of the 
 people in regard to their ruler. 
 
 1 See § 79, note. 
 
 2 This was equivalent to about £6yo, or more than $ 12,000 in modern money. 
 
S8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 87. John and the Barons. 12 13-12 15. Battle of Bouvines. 
 
 12 14. — John, anxious now to retaliate on Philip, found that he 
 could do nothing until he had made some settlement of matters at 
 home. He therefore summoned four men from each county to 
 meet at St. Albans (12 13), to agree upon the damagesVhich the 
 clergy had suffered and which he had promised to make good. 
 The council, however, turned its attention to matters of reform, 
 and in the king's name promises of better things were made. 
 The barons on their side claimed that the laws of Henry I should 
 be made the basis of reform. John now tried to get the barons to 
 follow him to Poitou, but they refused, first, because they could not 
 serve under an excommunicated king ; and, when this objection had 
 been removed by Langton, they refused on the ground of poverty, 
 claiming also that they had already served the forty days which, 
 under feudal law, were required of them ; nor could they be com- 
 pelled to go beyond the seas. The real reason of their refusal 
 was that though of Norman descent and still speaking French, 
 these barons had become Englishmen, having all their interests 
 in England, and no interest in the designs of John upon France. 
 John was enraged at this action, but could do nothing. The 
 movement to resist John had become general. It was headed 
 by Langton, who, at a council held at St. Paul's, laid before those 
 present the charter of Henry I, promising reforms. This was 
 received with joy and with demands that this charter should be 
 renewed by John. 
 
 In the meantime John had joined a league to support the 
 Emperor Otto IV against the Emperor Frederick II and Philip of 
 France ; he managed to take with him a number of troops from 
 England, and was successful in regaining some of his lost lands 
 south of the river Loire. But another army in connection with 
 the forces of his allies met PhiHp's forces at Bouvines, in Flanders, 
 and was routed, July 27, 12 14. As a result, England lost all 
 the Angevin territory. (App. i, § 80.) John's power and 
 prestige also were so much injured that the barons and their 
 
THE GREAT CHARTER 89 
 
 associates were emboldened to persist in their demands, which 
 were put in writing by Archbishop Langton and placed before 
 the king. When he refused to accede to them, an army was 
 raised to force him to yield. London ranged itself on the side 
 of the barons, and so, deserted by almost all except the hired 
 troops he had brought from the Continent, John was compelled 
 to yield. 
 
 88. The Great Charter. 12 15. — The king, clergy, and barons 
 met at Runnymede on the Thames, not far from Windsor, and 
 
 1 o^we^^lBtt ttti^CWA|.Wn^ 
 
 Facsimile of the Beginning of the Great Charter 
 
 there, on June 15, 12 15, he signed Magna Carta, or the Great 
 Charter, which became one of the most valuable guarantees of 
 English liberty. 
 
 Previous charters had been granted with professed willingness ; 
 the Great Charter was wrung from John. Moreover, it was gained 
 by all the classes working together against the king. Though 
 it was primarily for the benefit of the barons, it also concerned 
 the rights and privileges of all classes. It contained little, if any- 
 thing, that was new, but it brought together in one document 
 many of the privileges which had been granted from time to time. 
 The principle underlying all the sixty-three articles is that there 
 should be fair dealing and justice, not only as between king and 
 subject, but also as between man and man. It must not, how- 
 
90 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ever, be overlooked that in some points the charter was narrow 
 and partial, as, for instance, in regard to the church. 
 
 The main provisions of the charter may be grouped under five 
 heads : (i) The church: this was to be free and to have all its 
 rights and privileges unimpaired. What these were, is not ex- 
 plained, and so an open door was left for doubt as to what rights 
 and privileges were meant. (2) Feudal rights and customs : 
 there had been great abuse of these, both by the kings and by 
 the barons themselves in the treatment of their vassals. Some 
 of these abuses were remedied or lessened. (3) The rights and 
 privileges of the towns : London and all other cities, boroughs, 
 villages, ports, etc., were to enjoy all their old liberties and cus- 
 toms by land and sea. (4) Trade and commerce : " Merchants 
 from friendly states to be free to come and go, and trade subject 
 only to the payment of established customs and duties." Native 
 subjects to come and go as they pleased, except in time of war. 
 (5) Certain general clauses, perhaps the most important of all. 
 Some of these were, *' Justice not to be sold or delayed or refused 
 to any man." '' No free man to be taken or imprisoned or disseized ^ 
 or outlawed or in any way destroyed, except by the lawful judgment 
 of his peers, or by the laws of the land." Besides these matters, 
 there were directions regarding the summoning of councils, the 
 administration of justice, etc. Almost every important interest 
 of the realm was at least touched upon. 
 
 89. Renewal of Struggle between John and the Barons. 
 1 2 15. — Agreements are of little account unless some method is 
 provided for carrying them out, and so the barons, for the first 
 time, made such a provision. It was provided, first, that John 
 should dismiss the foreign troops which he had hired and brought 
 into England ; and, second, that a body of twenty-five barons 
 should be chosen by the barons to hear any complaints of in- 
 fringements of the Charter by the king, and in case of failure 
 
 1 " Disseized," that is, have his land taken from him. " Peers," his equals in 
 rank. 
 
 
REIGN OF JOHN 
 
 91 
 
 to redress, they were to have the right to enforce by arms its 
 provisions. 
 
 John had no intention of keeping the agreement into which he 
 had entered. Pope Innocent, indignant that a matter which con- 
 cerned his feudal authority should have been settled without 
 appeal to him, absolved John from his oath 
 of agreement, threatened to excommunicate 
 the barons, and, a little later, suspended 
 Archbishop Langton and summoned him to 
 Rome. All this was a serious blow to the 
 cause of liberty. The removal of Langton 
 took away the real head of the movement and 
 the barons became disorganized. Meanwhile 
 John with his hired troops began to lay waste 
 the lands of the barons, and for a time it 
 seemed as if he was to be victor. 
 
 90. Louis of France invited to England. 
 
 Death of John. 12 16. — The barons felt 
 
 forced to call in foreign aid, and sent to 
 
 Louis, son of the king of France, asking him 
 
 to come to England and assume the English 
 
 crown. As Louis had married John's niece, 
 
 he had some slight support for his claim. 
 
 He asserted that John had forfeited the crown Effigy of King John 
 
 by the murder of Prince Arthur and by his ^"^ his tomb in Worces- 
 
 •^ -^ ter Cathedral 
 
 failure to keep his coronation oath. These 
 
 were flimsy pretexts; the only valid reason for the coming of 
 
 Louis being the invitation of the barons and the English people. 
 
 Louis accepted the offer and came to England with an army in 
 
 May, 1216. Fortunately for the English, John died suddenly, 
 
 October 19, 12 16, and the land was saved from civil war. John's 
 
 eldest son, Henry, was about nine years old, and the barons felt 
 
 that affairs would be safer in the hands of a young English prince 
 
 controlled by Englishmen than in those of a foreigner. Louis, 
 
92 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 finding that he was losing his adherents one after another, resigned 
 his claim and returned to France. Meanwhile, William Marshall, 
 Earl of Pembroke, who had been appointed '' Governor of the 
 King and the Kingdom," issued in a somewhat revised form the 
 Great Charter, thereby indicating the character of the government 
 which might be expected.^ 
 
 The reign of John will always be remembered for two events of 
 the utmost importance in the development of the English people. 
 These were : (i) The loss of Normandy, which made England a 
 kingdom whose chief interests lay in the British Isles, and there- 
 fore allowed the English to develop on their own lines, thus pre- 
 serving the essential features of Anglo-Saxon institutions. ( 2) The 
 signing of the Magna Carta, a document setting forth the most 
 important constitutional privileges of Englishmen, arranged in a 
 convenient form, which could be appealed to from time to time. 
 
 References. — Green, Sho7-t History, chap, ii, §§6-9; chap, iii, §§ 1-3; 
 Gardiner, Studenfs History, chaps, xi-xii; Terry, History, Part II, chaps, 
 vi-vii; Tout, Advanced History, Book III, chaps, vi-vii; Stubbs, Early 
 Plantagenets, chaps, vi-vii; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents, §§ 
 19-29; Cheyney, Readings, chap, viii, §§ iv-v; Colby, Selections, §§ 27, 
 29-30; Kendall, Source-Book, § 24; Lee, Source-Book, chap, viii, §§ 64, 
 65, chaps, ix-x. 
 
 IThe chief revision was the omission of the clauses which prohibited the raising 
 of taxes without the consent of the Great Council, and those which related to the 
 appointment of the body of twenty-five men to enforce the Charter. It was doubt- 
 less felt, now that John was out of the way, that these provisions, so contrary to the 
 general ideas of the age, might be dropped. 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 NORMAN BRITAIN. 1066-1216 
 
 91. General Results of the Norman Conquest. — Among the^ 
 results of the Norman Conquest and rule were a growth of unity 
 among the people, and the estabUshment of an organized govern- 
 ment with an almost despotic king, whose power was only occasion- 
 ally held in check by the church and the nobles (or barons). The 
 semifeudalism existing in England was modified and extended 
 so as to increase the power of the king. " William made the title 
 to all land depend on his own grant and bound every landowner to 
 himself by a tie of allegiance." 
 
 A marked difference from continental feudalism is seen in the 
 fact that in England there was no privileged noble caste. The 
 son of a noble did not share his father's honors or privileges, 
 though he might have honors and privileges conferred on him 
 independently of his father. This old English custom has never 
 been changed. 
 
 The Conquest made England a European nation, and the Nor- 
 man kings called themselves Kings of the English. Hurtful as 
 her continental wars were in many regards, they certainly gave 
 England a place in continental politics and increased her self- 
 respect. 
 
 92. Domestic Life. — There was comparatively Httle change in 
 the domestic life of the people, especially among the lower classes. 
 In medieval times social habits and customs were far more station- 
 ary than in modern times. Among the upper classes the manners 
 and customs were rather more refined than before the Conquest. 
 The Norman was not as hearty an eater as the Englishman, and 
 preferred lighter and more delicately prepared food. Continental 
 
 93 
 
94 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 luxuries were introduced, and the dress of the upper classes 
 became more elaborate. The tunics were richly embroidered, 
 and the shoes had pointed toes carried out to an absurd length. 
 The Englishman wore his hair long, the Norman cut his short, 
 and shaved his face. The character of the houses and the general 
 manner of living made social intercourse between men and women, 
 the youth, and boys and girls easy, and these facts partly explain 
 the low plane of morality which is found in the chronicles and 
 romances of the age. The so-called chivalry of the Middle Ages 
 was too often only on the surface. The medieval man and the 
 *' gallant " were often brutes in their treatment of women and of 
 those whom they considered beneath them. 
 
 93. The People. — By the opening of the thirteenth century 
 there was little distinction between the descendants of the Nor- 
 man conquerors and the English. Thrown together in close asso- 
 ciation, intermarriages were a common occurrence among 
 almost all classes, and the children of these marriages looked 
 upon themselves as Englishmen, so that the conquerors and con- 
 quered very soon became like each other in manners and habits. 
 Undoubtedly one reason of this was the difficulty of communica- 
 tion and transportation. The Norman was practically cut off from 
 his old home, and was compelled willingly or unwillingly to adapt 
 himself to his new surroundings. His children never knew the 
 home of their fathers on the Continent, and with them of course 
 English influences would prevail. 
 
 94. Classes. — Land continued to be the great source of wealth 
 and position. As under Saxon rule, the earls came first, then the 
 greater barons, and then the lesser barons, and next the knights.^ 
 Below the knights came the small freeholders or free tenants, who 
 had houses and lands of their own and who made a small annual 
 
 1 The earl was formerly the eorl; the greater barons were large landowners 
 and received individual summons to the king's council ; the lesser barons were 
 smaller landowners and were summoned by means of a writ directed to the sheriff 
 of their county or shire ; the knight was originally an armed and mounted soldier 
 and afterward a landowner smaller than a lesser baron. 
 
NORMAN BRITAIN 
 
 95 
 
 fUngV 
 
 % 
 
 C4 
 
 '^^- 
 
 Manor House in Shropshire 
 Built in the twelfth century 
 
 s'j it. « 
 
 payment, something like the modern ground rent, to the lord of 
 the manor. The free tenant could not sell his land without mak- 
 ing a payment to the lord of the manor for the privilege, and 
 when he died his heirs had to make a payment on succession. 
 
 Next came the villeins. These were like serfs ; they could not 
 move away from the manor or be married without the permission 
 of the lord of the manor ; they paid a small ground rent for the 
 land they occu- 
 pied, and were in 
 addition bound to 
 perform various 
 services for the 
 lord of the manor, 
 such as to plow 
 his land and carry 
 in his grain at time 
 of harvest. Their 
 services were regu- 
 lated not by law 
 but by custom. 
 Perhaps on the 
 
 average more than half of the villein's time was given to the lord 
 of the manor. 
 
 95. Manorial System. — The relation of the landowner to his 
 tenants was rather that of a ruler than a simple owner ; he was 
 like the king of a little state. He not only controlled the land 
 but had jurisdiction, also. There was a manorial court, where a 
 great variety of cases were tried, such as disputes as to land, suc- 
 cession to property, failure to perform required or customary 
 duties, and criminal cases. 
 
 The manors varied greatly in size, and one lord might have 
 several manors, and the king several hundred. These manors were 
 cultivated under the "open field system." The land was divided 
 into strips containing an acre or less in each, a certain number of 
 
96 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 which were held by the lord and were cultivated solely for his 
 benefit. The strips were separated from each other by a narrow 
 piece of unplowed land. These strips were cultivated according 
 to some system of rotation of crops. The variety was small : 
 wheat, rye, barley, field peas, and beans were the chief; root 
 crops were generally neglected, and potatoes were as yet unknown. 
 Hay for winter was obtained from meadow land, which was highly 
 
 valued and considered worth at 
 least as much as arable land. 
 Pasture was obtained .on the un- 
 cultivated land and in the woods. 
 After the hay was mown and 
 cured, the meadows were also 
 used for pasture and so were the 
 fields after the crops were har- 
 vested. As a rule, the pasturage 
 was common and the animals were 
 under the care of shepherds or 
 other guardians. 
 
 The land of any one man was 
 not necessarily or usually in one 
 place, but was scattered. He 
 would own a strip here and an- 
 other somewhere else, and still 
 others at other places.^ The land 
 of his neighbors as well as that of 
 the lord of the manor would be 
 similarly scattered. The land, the woods, and meadows owned 
 by the lord of the manor were called the " demesne," and not in- 
 frequently amounted to fully half of the whole manor. Systems 
 of agriculture were poor ; eight or nine bushels of wheat to the 
 
 Manor with Open Fields 
 
 In Yorkshire the shaded strips were 
 the share of the priest. 
 
 1 A modification of the open field system still survives in Germany. Within a 
 very few years, in a village near Olmiitz, Moravia, one man had eighteen diflferent 
 holdings of land, no two of which touched each other. 
 
NORMAN BRITAIN 97 
 
 acre was considered a good yield. Tools were primitive and in- 
 effective. Owing to the high cost of iron, even plows were often 
 of wood and did Htde more than scratch the ground.^ 
 
 There was much that was ineffective and objectionable in this 
 system. Life also was hard, and to us seems to have had few en- 
 joyments. On the other hand, the close relationship between 
 those who Hved on the manor, the common pasture, the common 
 woods, the strips of land inextricably mixed up, the tenants' share 
 in the common service for the lord of the manor, their one church, 
 and their one court, bound them closely together. When to this sys- 
 tem is added the difficulty of communication with other parts of 
 the country the result was a self-centered community which cer- 
 tainly must have been a powerful factor in making the country 
 and its institutions stable. 
 
 96. Towns and Town Life. — Perhaps in no field of develop- 
 ment was there greater change than in the towns. These under 
 Norman rule increased greatly in number and importance. At 
 the close of the reign of John (12 16) there were about two hun- 
 dred towns in England. Of these, London, with a possible popu- 
 lation of 25,000, stood first, followed by York and Bristol with 
 about 10,000 each. The average size was probably about 2500. 
 These towns were generally protected by walls, gates, and some- 
 times by moats, also. Though the government of these towns varied 
 somewhat, all held charters from the king, giving the town certain 
 privileges or guaranteeing old customs. Each town regulated its 
 own concerns, and paid taxes to the king as a community, so the 
 townsman was free from the petty exactions of a lord of the 
 manor. All inhabitants of the town, however, had not equal privi- 
 leges, for these were based on ownership of property within the 
 
 1 The " three field system " prevailed to a great extent. This was to let one 
 third of the land lie fallow for a year ; one third to be planted with spring-sown 
 crops; and one third with autumn-sown crops. The next year the fallow land 
 would be planted with an autumn or spring crop; that which had had a spring 
 crop with an autumn crop or would be let lie fallow, and so on. In the fourth year 
 the first field would lie fallow again. 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 town limits. As the business of the countryman was agriculture, 
 so the business of the townsman was trade of some sort, or man- 
 ufacturing, or both, though some townsmen owned land outside 
 the town, which they farmed. 
 
 97. Merchant Gilds. — There had gradually grown up a system 
 of organizations known as gilds, the object of which was to pro- 
 tect and regulate the trade and industries of the town. Every 
 particular of trade was carefully regulated so as to preserve as far 
 as possible the monopoly to each gild. Trading by foreigners 
 was particularly guarded against, and they were allowed to buy 
 and sell only under the most rigid rules. The merchant gilds 
 were also somewhat of the nature of mutual benefit organizations.^ 
 
 98. Castles. — Very few castles appear to have existed in 
 England before the Conquest, but one of the first actions of the 
 Conqueror was to build a castle wherever he wished to secure 
 obedience to his rule. This was, naturally, often near or in a 
 town. The building was raised on a mound in a commanding 
 situation, from which its garrison could keep watch and sally forth 
 when occasion required. Besides royal castles a large number 
 were erected by the great lords. These fortresses were at first 
 made of wood, but soon stone was substituted. The prevailing 
 type was a square keep of massive construction, with walls of 
 great thickness,- and with small and high windows. Around this 
 keep were often small structures of wood or stone used in times 
 of peace. The White Tower of the Tower of London, begun by 
 William I in 1078, and that of Newcastle built in 1080, are exam- 
 ples of the earlier type of stone castles, and Newark, Rochester, 
 and Castle Rising, built during the troublous reign of Stephen, 
 are examples of the later type.^ 
 
 99. Architecture. — The English were by no means deficient in 
 architecture. The prevailing type of the early Norman churches "^ 
 
 1 Merchant Gilds must be distinguished from the Craft Gilds, which for the most 
 part come later. 2 xhe walls of the White Tower are fifteen feet thick. 
 
 3 See pictures on pages 54 and 65. 
 
 4 Fine architecture was almost confined to churches, monasteries, and castles. 
 
NORMAN BRITAIN 
 
 99 
 
 was massive, with round arches and heavy round pillars, either 
 severely plain, or but slightly ornamented. Among the finest 
 remaining examples are the nave of Durham Cathedral, Norwich 
 Cathedral, and parts of Winchester ; of the later period there are 
 the cathedrals at Peterborough and Ely. 
 
 In the latter part of the twelfth century the pointed, or what is 
 known as the Gothic, style came into use. This had the great 
 
 The Choir of Durham Cathedral 
 
 advantage of allowing stone vaulted roofs, for which the Norman 
 style was not as well suited. The Gothic also allowed slender and 
 graceful columns, loftier ceilings, larger and pointed windows, 
 greater ornamentation, and a lighter effect generally. The change 
 was gradual, and one may see in the same cathedral two or more 
 styles in close proximity.^ 
 
 The Normans were great builders, and hundreds of earlier 
 churches were pulled down, and new ones built in their stead, often 
 on the sites of the old. 
 
 1 It is impossible to give exact dates when a change is gradual, but the Gothic 
 was practically fixed by 1200. 
 
lOO HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 100. Monasticism and Monasteries. — The growth of monasti- 
 cism and of monasteries in Europe from the ninth to the twelfth 
 century was very great (App. i, §§ 47-50), and England was 
 no exception. The Norman was fond of the system and greatly 
 assisted in its development on English soil. Many monasteries 
 were set up and received large grants of 
 land. It was said, and doubtless believed 
 by many, that only in and through the 
 cloister could the religious life of the 
 people be reformed ; to give to a mon- 
 astery was held to be a duty. The Nor- 
 man establishments were at first of the 
 order of St. Benedict, or Benedictines; 
 and afterwards, in the twelfth century, 
 mostly Cistercians or White Monks, an 
 offshoot of the Benedictines. These had 
 a stricter and more ascetic rule than the 
 Benedictines and their church services 
 were much more simple. They generally 
 sought quiet and retired places for their 
 buildings. 
 '^.^ ,y^ Their advent was contemporaneous 
 \v"%'^^- with a religious revival of wide extent, 
 1,1. ' \' -A-- and the very severity of their rule at- 
 
 f^^^^^^u^^^. ^ . J tracted people of all classes. Their es- 
 '1. " ' III tablishments were most frequent in the 
 
 Early English Gothic north of England. The remains of Tin- 
 Spire 
 
 tern, Rievaulx, and Fountains abbeys 
 
 bear eloquent testimony to the wealth and power which they at- 
 tained. For, like all other foundations, prosperity was followed by 
 relaxation in discipline and in habits of life. The Cistercians and 
 the kindred orders undoubtedly did service in reclaiming waste 
 lands, in carrying on and improving some arts and trades, and in 
 preserving manuscripts and developing literature. But the system 
 
 
NORMAN BRITAIN 
 
 lOI 
 
 was itself hurtful in that it tended to lessen the sense of social 
 obligation, and the very charity of the monks, though well mean- 
 ing, was often harmful rather than helpful. They seem to have 
 done nothing in the twelfth century for secular education. 
 
 101. Education; Universities. — The Norman period saw the 
 revival of education, a part of the general European movement. 
 (App. I, § 73.) At first education was for those who expected 
 to enter the church as clerks or clergy, but through many influ- 
 
 
 Ruins of Fountains Abbey 
 
 ences, among them that of the crusades, the desire for education 
 spread, and secular education came into being. The teachers at 
 first were churchmen, but afterwards laymen took up the task. 
 Round these teachers gathered students of various ages, and in 
 time permanent teaching centers were established. The greatest 
 of those on the Continent was at Paris, to which thousands of stu- 
 dents flocked.^ The exact date of the founding of Oxford and 
 Cambridge cannot be fixed. One Robert Pullein, who had been 
 trained at Paris, began to lecture on the Scriptures at Oxford in 
 1 133, and this is the first known date of instruction being given, 
 
 1 For a fuller account of the rise of the universities, see § 122. 
 
I02 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 though a reference is made to Oxford as a place for students, 
 and to a Norman, Theobald, as a lecturer, as early as 1 1 1 7. Cam- 
 bridge is said to have been begun by a secession of students from 
 Oxford in 1209. 
 
 102. Language and Literature. — The effect of the Conquest on 
 language was to make English the language of the people. The 
 Norman landowners and those around the court spoke Norman 
 French. Of the first seven Norman kings, from William I to 
 John, it is Hkely that only Henry II could 
 both understand and speak English. Henry 
 I is said to have been able to understand but 
 not to speak it. The monks and clergy 
 wrote and spoke Latin. This was the uni- 
 versal language of the church and of learned 
 men, and all but the most elementary in- 
 struction was given in it. Most of the literary 
 work that was done in England during the 
 Norman period was in Latin.^ The language 
 of the English was less affected by the Nor- 
 man than by the Danish conquest ; but not 
 having a literature to give it a standard, a 
 number of dialects were the result. The 
 three chief ones were the southern, the 
 middle, and the northern. It is from 
 the middle Enghsh that our modern English 
 has sprung. 
 The close of the twelfth century saw the beginning of a new 
 literary movement which was to develop into a national English 
 literature. The great pioneer in this development was Layamon 
 (about 1200), a priest of Ernley-upon-Severn. His great work. 
 The Brutj consisting of over 32,000 lines, is a history of Britain 
 based on legends. The poet's chief object, he says himself, 
 
 1 Such as the Chronicles of William of Malmesbury (d. 1143 (?)), Geoffrey of 
 Monmouth (d. 1154), and Roger of Hoveden (d. 1201 (?)). 
 
 -7* 
 
 Tower of Magdalen 
 College, Oxford 
 
NORMAN BRITAIN IO3 
 
 was to " tell the noble deeds of Englishmen " in their own 
 tongue.^ 
 
 103. Government ; Courts ; etc. — Various changes in the gov- 
 ernment have been described in the previous chapters, but the 
 greatest was in respect to the power of the king, which had become 
 almost despotic. The old Witenagemote of the Anglo-Saxon 
 times was replaced by the Great Council, which was composed of 
 the greater tenants of the crown, but it had comparatively little 
 real power. It criticised, but there is little evidence for supposing 
 that any great laws were either begun or altered by it. The system 
 of law courts was greatly developed, especially under Henry II. 
 The great officers of government were the Justiciar, the king's 
 chief adviser or minister, and his regent when absent from the 
 country ; the Chancellor, who was the Secretary and holder of the 
 great seal, and issuer of state documents ; and the Treasurer or 
 financial officer. Up to the close of the twelfth century and later, 
 these offices were generally held by church dignitaries. The 
 reason for this was, partly because ecclesiastics were the best 
 educated men, and partly because being unmarried there was 
 no risk of the office becoming hereditary, which might be hurtful 
 to kingly authority. Minor courts and local government have 
 already been touched upon. 
 
 References. — Traill, Social England,\o\.\, chap, iii; Cheyney, Industrial 
 and Social England, chap, i, §§ 6-7; chaps, ii-iv; Tout, Advanced History, 
 Book II, chap, viii ; A. Jessop, Coming of the Friars, etc., Essays, ii-iii; 
 Cheyney, Readings, chap, ix, §§ i-iv; Colby, Selections, §§ 25, 28; Ken- 
 dall, Source-Book, § 23; Lee, Source- Book, chap, viii, §§ 63, 64; chap, ix, 
 §67. 
 
 1 The opening lines of the poem are : — Or in modern English : — 
 
 " An preost wes on leoden, " A priest was on the land, 
 
 Layamon wes ihoten, Layamon was he hight (called); 
 
 He wes Leovenathes sonc; He was Lovenath's son; 
 
 Li the him beo Drihte , Gracious to him be the Lord 
 
 He wonede at Ernleye He dwelled at Ernley, 
 
 Upon Severne Stothe." On Severn's Bank." 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 RISE OF THE ENGLISH NATION AND GROWTH OF 
 PARLIAMENT 
 
 104. Henry III. 1216. — The reign of Henry III is one of 
 the longest in Enghsh history/ and in the course of it Henry suc- 
 ceeded in getting the ill will of all classes. He was vain and un- 
 trustworthy, weak and vacillating ; on the other hand he was, as 
 compared with his father, King John, and his ancestors, moral and 
 religious. He spent much money in the building and improvement 
 of churches, and he was always ready to listen to the claims of the 
 Papacy and yield to them, even at the expense of his own subjects. 
 His heart was on the Continent rather than in England, and he 
 filled his court with foreigners. He was fond of pomp and mag- 
 nificence and was very extravagant. It is said that his debts 
 amounted to four times his annual income, and to raise funds 
 offices were sold and money wrung in every possible way from 
 all classes. 
 
 His reign is divided into four fairly well-defined periods : (i) 
 the period of his minority (1216-1227); (2) that of personal 
 rule (122 7-1 258) ; (3) the period of the Barons' Wars and Pro- 
 visions of Oxford (i 258-1 265) ; (4) a period of peace and 
 prosperity for the country, a time when he was under the influence 
 of his son, afterward Edward I (1265-1272). 
 
 105. Minority of Henry III. 1216-1227. — (i) During the 
 early years of Henry's minority the government was under the 
 strong hand of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, who, before 
 bis death in 12 19, had succeeded both in expelling the French and 
 in restoring order ; he had also more than once confirmed the 
 
 1 Henry reigned fifty-six ; George III, sixty ; and Victoria, sixty-four years. 
 
 104 
 
REIGN OF HENRY III 
 
 105 
 
 Great Charter. He was followed by Hubert de Burgh, an able, 
 patriotic man, who was determined that England should be gov- 
 erned for the benefit of the English. He refused to admit the 
 papal claims upon England and dismissed from the country the 
 legates that the Pope had sent. He maintained the authority of 
 the king as against the barons, and reoccupied the royal castles 
 which, in the troublous times, some of the barons had seized. 
 
 106. Personal Rule of Henry III ; Foreign Favorites. — (2) In 
 1227 Henry declared himself of age and took the government 
 into his own hands. The thirty-one 
 
 years of Henry's personal rule are 
 marked by misgovernment at home ; 
 an unpatriotic, weak, and humiliating 
 policy in regard to papal demands; 
 and a severe and irritating treatment 
 of Aquitaine and Gascony.^ 
 
 In 1232 Hubert was dismissed by 
 Henry, who came almost wholly under 
 the influence of one of his father's 
 Poitevin favorites, Peter de Roches, 
 Bishop of Winchester. Two years later 
 he also was dismissed, and Henry 
 carried on the government himself. 
 Almost hopeless disorder was the result. 
 There was now a great influx of for- 
 eigners into England, and every pos- 
 sible office and gift was bestowed upon 
 foreign favorites. 
 
 107. Personal Rule Continued. — 
 In 1236 Henry married Eleanor of 
 
 Henry III 
 
 After the effigy in Westminster 
 Abbey 
 
 1 That these provinces recognized the English rule was due to the fact that they 
 knew it was better to be under a distant monarch like Henry, than under a near 
 neighbor like the French king. They had practically to choose between these two : 
 under the former there was a chance of gaining independence ; imder the latter, 
 none whatever. They were the only continental provinces remaining to England. 
 
I06 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Provence, a sister of the French queen. This marriage brought a 
 fresh swarm of greedy foreigners into the country. This led to the 
 exaction of still larger sums from the barons and the people. In 
 1242 Henry made an ill-advised and costly expedition to France 
 to recover Poitou from the French. He was defeated and had to 
 make a shameful truce by which he gave up all claim to Poitou. 
 He was followed home by still more foreigners eager to enrich 
 themselves with English spoils.^ 
 
 108. Discontent of the Barons. 1 244-1 258. — The patience 
 of the barons and of all patriotic men was nearly exhausted. 
 Again and again had the barons, m return for concessions from the 
 king, granted him money, only to find that the royal word was 
 worthless. Matthew Paris, a chronicler of the time, writes, " The 
 king breaks everything : the laws, his good faith, his promises." 
 In 1244 the earls, barons, and bishops met in a great council, 
 which about this time began to be called a Parhament,^ and 
 demanded control over the appointment of ministers who should 
 carry on the government and be responsible to the council. 
 Though they were not successful, the attempt shows the advance 
 in public opinion. It was during these years of Henry's misgov- 
 ernment that the English slowly and painfully learned that the 
 king was really dependent upon the nation, and when this fact was 
 clearly understood, there were but few steps to representative 
 government. In 1257 there was a bad harvest, and then came a 
 hard winter. It was quite in accord with his character for the king 
 at this time to seize a quantity of grain which was imported from 
 Germany, and sell it at high prices. He had, moreover, at the 
 request of Pope Innocent, accepted the crown of Sicily for his 
 youngest son, Edmund, and agreed to furnish the money required 
 to win it for him.^ For four years (125 4- 1258) Henry used 
 
 1 One of the results of this invasion of foreigners was a fresh introduction of 
 French words into the English language. 
 '^ The first recorded instance is in 1246. 
 3 This scheme ended in a complete failure. 
 
GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT 
 
 107 
 
 every means possible to furnish the treasury of the Pope with 
 funds. He borrowed money from all who would lend, he wrung 
 it from the unfortunate Jews, he raised all that he could by taxa- 
 tion, and he also demanded large sums from the clergy. This con- 
 duct exhausted the patience of all classes. 
 
 109. Mad Parliament; Provisions of Oxford. — (3) In the 
 spring of 1258 a Parhament was held in London. The king's 
 object in calling it was to get more money, but Parliament insisted 
 on redress of grievances. From its character and determination, 
 it has been termed the Mad Parhament. The king was forced to 
 consent to the appointment of a committee of twenty-four persons 
 to draw up a scheme of reform for the administration of affairs. 
 This was to be presented to an adjourned session to be held at 
 Oxford in the early summer. The Parliament met as appointed 
 and presented a scheme known as the Provisions of Oxford, which 
 arranged for a new government to be carried on practically by a 
 council.^ The king could not well do otherwise than give his oath 
 to support the plan. Some good resulted from the Provisions of 
 Oxford, but the arrangement was too clumsy to be successful, and 
 the members of the committee soon quarreled among themselves. 
 These dissensions gave the king and his friends new courage, and 
 Henry obtained a dispensation from the Pope releasing him from 
 his oath. The condition of affairs became very unsatisfactory, and 
 both parties agreed to leave the whole question to the decision of 
 Louis IX of France. Louis heard the case at Amiens, in France, 
 and his award is known as the Mise of Amiens - (1264). 
 
 110. Mise of Amiens ; Barons' Wars ; Defeat of Henry. 1264. 
 — Louis IX had such a reputation for honesty and purity of 
 life that he is known as St. Louis, but unfortunately he knew little 
 about conditions in England and could only apply the remedy 
 that was obviously necessary in France at that time, which was 
 
 1 The king was to be assisted by a council of fifteen chosen by the twenty-four 
 named above. This council was to appoint all the important state officers, and to 
 meet three times a year a committee of twelve men chosen by the barons. 
 
 2 Mise (mez), an award or arbitration. 
 
I08 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the strengthening of the royal power. Nor could he bring himself 
 to admit that kingly rule, which to his mind was divinely ordered, 
 should be limited or restrained. He therefore decided almost 
 wholly in favor of the king, and annulled the Provisions of Oxford 
 together with all arrangements which had followed them. He 
 decided, however, that all the charters which had been granted 
 before the Provisions of Oxford should hold good. (App. i, § 92.) 
 
 Neither party was satisfied with the decision ; many of the 
 barons deserted their leader, Simon de Montfort,^ and went over 
 to the king, but Simon had still a large following composed of 
 most of the clergy, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the 
 towns, and the great mass of the people. He therefore de- 
 termined to resist the royal forces. War began in the spring of 
 1264, and at Lewes the king was defeated and taken prisoner, as 
 was also his eldest son, Edward. The success of the movement 
 was undoubtedly due to Simon de Montfort. 
 
 111. Simon de Montfort. — This remarkable man belonged to a 
 Norman family, and for many years his interests were outside of 
 England. He inherited the Duchy of Leicester, and by his private 
 marriage with the king's sister roused the indignation of the barons, 
 who were jealous of foreign intruders. Within a few months he 
 quarreled with Henry and was driven from England, but he was 
 soon received again at court. Prudence now led him to live for 
 a time in retirement, and he thus had an opportunity to watch the 
 workings of English rule. The result was to make him foremost 
 among those interested in reform, so that Henry welcomed the 
 chance to send him to a safe distance as Governor of Gascony. 
 
 1 Simon de Montfort was the son of a Simon de Montfort who was celebrated for 
 leading in 1209 a crusade against the Albigenses, an heretical sect in southern 
 France. (App. i, ^77,) The family was Norman, but the sons of Simon the 
 elder had a claim on the Duchy of Leicester through their grandmother, and his 
 brothers having resigned their rights, Simon, the fourth son, claimed and received 
 the duchy. He did not take up his residence in England for some years, but in 
 1236 he was present at the marriage of the king, and two years after married 
 Eleanor, the king's sister ; the marriage was a private one, but took place, it is said, 
 with the knowledge of the king. 
 
SIMON DE MONTFORT 
 
 109 
 
 For several years he gave that turbulent province severe but good 
 government — the best it had known. In 1256 Simon returned 
 to England and found the king as hostile toward him as ever. 
 
 112. Simon de Montfort, the Leader. — From this time Simon 
 de Montfort was prominent in the councils and work of the 
 baronial party. In comparison with those around him his life 
 was pure and temperate, he was 
 deeply religious, had a keen 
 sense of honor, and was cheerful 
 in his social intercourse ; but, on 
 the other hand, he was of a quick 
 and high temper and impatient 
 of opposition. He was bold and 
 determined, a brave and skillful 
 soldier, a learned man and states- 
 man. He was unquestionably a 
 great man and, for his age, a 
 good one ; but that all his ends 
 were patriotic, or that he was not 
 at times cruel, cannot be af- 
 firmed. Without question, he 
 stands out above all others in 
 Henry's reign as a leader against 
 tyranny and as an advocate of a 
 government in which the people should have a larger share of 
 power. That the people believed him to be their friend is shown 
 by the popular ballads of the time, in which he is styled "The 
 Strong," " The True," " The Steadfast," " The Pillar of Righteous- 
 ness." Such was the man who was the leader of the revolt against 
 the king. 
 
 113. Mise of Lewes, 1264; Parliament. — The >day after the 
 defeat at Lewes the king was compelled to sign what is known as 
 the Mise of Lewes. By this he promised to confirm the Provisions 
 of Oxford, and to agree to a new arrangement by which the king- 
 
 SiMON DE Montfort 
 After a window in Chartres Cathedral 
 
no HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 dom should be governed. To devise this scheme a Parliament 
 was called (1264). The important feature of the new plan was 
 that there should be three electors or councilors appointed, in 
 accordance with whose advice the king must act. Of these three 
 Simon de Montfort was the chief. For about a year these three 
 men were the real rulers of England, though they were nominally 
 responsible to Parliament. 
 
 114. Parliament of 1265. 1265-1272. — (4) It became 
 needful to call a new Parliament. To that of 1264 de Montfort 
 had summoned, besides the bishops and abbots, earls and barons, 
 four knights from each shire ; but now, in addition to these clergy 
 and barons and knights of the shire, there were two representatives 
 from each of certain towns. This is known as the Famous Parha- 
 mentof 1265. In it, for the first time, all classes of free Englishmen 
 were represented. It was not, however, like a modern Parliament, 
 because only those were summoned who were favorable to Mont- 
 fort and his government ; and also because the chief business of 
 the Parliament was not to make laws, but to force the king to act 
 in accordance with old customs. The chief importance of this 
 Parliament is that it made a precedent for the future. 
 
 115. De Montfort's Failure and Death. 1265. — De Montfort 
 was not a wise organizer or ruler. His imperious manner, and 
 probably the insolence of his sons, together with the hostility of 
 the Pope, the natural dislike of the English to have their king in 
 captivity, and the jealousy of the barons all worked against him, 
 and it was not many months before the country was in a state of 
 civil war. Prince Edward escaped from his guardians and joined 
 the army against de Montfort. The younger Simon was driven 
 within the walls of Kenilworth Castle, while the Prince hurried to 
 meet the earl, who was at Evesham, not far from Worcester. At 
 first Simon thought it was his son come to help him, but when he 
 saw that it was Prince Edward, he said : "They come on in wise 
 fashion, but it was from me that they learnt it. Let us commend 
 our souls to God, for our bodies are our foe's." The conflict was 
 
REIGN OF HENRY III I I I 
 
 a desperate one. When his horse was brought to the ground, the 
 earl fought on foot until a blow from behind killed him. After 
 the battle his body was horribly mutilated, but the monks of 
 Evesham buried it with great honor. His tomb became an 
 object of pilgrimage, for the people of England regarded him as a 
 saint.^ 
 
 116. Dictum of Kenilworth. 1266. — Though the cause of 
 the barons seemed lost there were many in the royal ranks who, 
 while they hated Simon, shared his desire for greater political 
 liberty. Among these was Prince Edward himself. The action 
 of the king in immediately revoking the popular measures adopted 
 during his captivity, and in confiscating the property of the de Mont- 
 forts and their supporters, aroused widespread national indigna- 
 tfon. Moreover, there was still active resistance from those 
 who had little hope from yielding to the king. Prince Edward 
 and others now saw that conciliation was absolutely necessary to 
 restore peace, and so an agreement was drawn up, known as the 
 Dictum of Kenilworth (1266), which allowed those whose estates 
 had been confiscated to redeem them by a payment of money, 
 while the king, on his part, was to restore the charters. It was 
 not until 1267 that quiet was established. Then, at the Parlia- 
 ment of Marlborough, the king renewed the Provisions of West- 
 minster,^ by which most of the valuable reforms were made part 
 of the law of the land, and Simon's cause, apparently lost, was 
 really victorious. 
 
 117. Peaceful End of Henry's Reign. 1270-1272. — By 1270 
 England was so peaceful that Prince Edward felt that he could 
 fulfill a long-cherished desire to go on a crusade. Accompanied 
 by his wife, Eleanor of Castile, and by many English knights and 
 
 1 Cne of the ballads of the times says : — 
 
 " But by his death Earl Simon hath 
 In sooth the victory won, 
 Like Canterbury's martyr he 
 There to the death was done." — /'". York Powell's version. 
 
 2 The Provisions of Westminster, issued in 1259, carried out in some respects 
 more fully the Provisions of Oxford. 
 
112 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 nobles, he went as far as Acre, but did not accomplish anything 
 of importance.^ 
 
 In 1272 Henry died, but so quiet was the country that Edward 
 did not hesitate to remain abroad about two years. Meantime, he 
 was proclaimed king without any objection, and there was not, as 
 hitherto, a formal choice of a king. It was the first time in Eng- 
 lish history that the succession of the eldest son had been ac- 
 knowledged as a matter of course. 
 
 118. Coming of the Friars. — One of the significant movements 
 of the thirteenth century was the coming of the Friars, or Mendicant 
 Friars. (App. i, §§ 69-72.) To these faithful, earnest mission- 
 aries is chiefly due the religious revival of that century. England 
 shared in the results of the movement. The Dominicans made their 
 first appearance in England in 1220. The Franciscans followed in 
 1224. " In five years from their first arrival the Friars had estab- 
 lished themselves in almost every considerable town in England." 
 
 Conditions in England were favorable for the coming of the 
 Friars. The latter part of the reign of Henry II, and the whole 
 of the reigns of Richard and John, were almost destructive of 
 religious life and character, and the interdict in the reign of 
 John had to a great extent taken away even the semblance of 
 religion. Probably never has the rehgious life of England been at 
 a lower ebb. Into this desert the Friars came. No wonder that 
 their work was effective, or that their growth and influence were 
 great. Like others before and after them, they later fell away from 
 their earUest principles and practices, but the debt which Europe, 
 and especially England, owed to them is incalculable. 
 
 Two of their number were Roger Bacon (12 14-1292), one of 
 the most learned philosophers of the Middle Ages, and Adam 
 Marsh, a great Oxford scholar and friend of Simon de Montfort. 
 Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (11 75-1253), the ablest and 
 best English churchman of the time, was their warm supporter. It 
 was not long before the English Franciscans became the most 
 
 1 This is generally known as the eighth and last crusade. 
 
REIGN OF HENRY III 
 
 113 
 
 learned body in Europe, a!id not a few were chosen to the highest 
 positions in the church.^ 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, iii, §§4-7; chap, iv, §i; 
 Gardiner, Studenfs History, chap, xiii; Terry, History, Part II, chap, viii; 
 Tout, Advattced History, Book III, chap, i; Stubbs, Early Plantagenets, chaps, 
 viii-ix; A. Jessop, The Coming of the Friars, etc.; Traill, Social England, 
 vol. I, chap, iv; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents, §§30-36; Chey- 
 uey, /headings, chap, viii, §v; chap, ix, §§ i-v; Colby, Selections, §§31-32; 
 Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 25-27; Lee, Source-Book, chap, xi, § 81. 
 
 Norman and Angevin Kings from Edward I 
 
 Edward I 
 I 27 2- I 307 
 = (i) Eleanor of Castile 
 I (2) Margaret of France 
 
 (I) 
 
 (I) 
 
 Edward II 
 1307-1327 (deposed) 
 = Isabella of France, 
 I 
 
 Three daughters 
 
 Edward III John 
 
 1327-1377 d. 1336 
 
 = Philippa of Hainault 
 
 1 
 Two daughters 
 
 Edmund 
 
 Joan of Kent 
 = Edward " Black 
 Prince " 
 
 Edward " Black Prince " 
 d. 1376 D. 
 
 — Joan of Kent 
 
 Richard II 
 
 1377-1399 (deposed) 
 = (i) Anne of Bohemia 
 
 (2) Isabella of France 
 
 Lionel 
 of Clarence 
 
 \ 1 
 
 John Edmund 
 
 of Gaunt D. of York 
 of Lancaster I 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 Thomas 
 D. of Gloucester 
 
 Henry IV 
 1399-1413 
 
 Henry V 
 
 Richard, Earl of Cambridge 
 Richard, D. of York 
 
 1413-1422 
 
 = Katharine of France 
 
 Henry VI 
 1422-1461 
 
 I 
 Edward IV 
 1461-1483 
 
 Richard III 
 1483-1485 
 
 I 
 Edward V 
 
 d. 1483 
 murdered 
 
 Richard, 
 D. of York 
 
 d. 1483 
 murdered 
 
 1 There were four great orders of Mendicant Friars : (i) the Dominicans, known 
 from their black hoods as the Black Friars; (2) the Franciscans, known from their 
 gray dress as the Gray Friars; (3) the Carmelites, known from their white dress 
 as the White Friars ; and (4) the Augustinian (or Austin) Friars. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 
 RISE OF THE ENGLISH NATION AND GROWTH OF 
 PARLIAMENT (Continued) 
 
 119. Edward I. 1272. — Edward I, "the greatest of all the 
 Plantagenets," was one of the ablest of English kings. He 
 had, for the most part, a keen sense of what was practicable, 
 and was willing to accept that and wait until he could do more. 
 He was a brave warrior, an able general, a keen hunter, a states- 
 man, a patron of art, and above all things a lawgiver. He was 
 acquainted with Latin and French and probably Spanish. He 
 was an Englishman in sympathy and in education. When he was 
 a young man, not a few instances of cruelty were justly laid to his 
 charge, and at various times during his reign he acted in a harsh 
 and vindictive manner, but as a rule he held his fiery temper under 
 perfect control. Far more than most of his predecessors, he had 
 a high sense of honor, which was shown by his favorite motto : 
 Pachi?n serva, " Keep troth." 
 
 Edward's experience during the latter years of the reign of his 
 father, Henry HI, taught him much, and his association with the 
 great Earl Simon made him familiar with the feelings of the barons 
 and also of the people. From Earl Simon he also learned useful 
 lessons of statesmanship. He recognized that new legislation 
 could not succeed unless it was enacted by the advice and consent 
 of those most interested in it. He therefore consulted the barons 
 when he wished to modify or change the laws relating to them, 
 and the townsmen when he wished to change the laws in which 
 they were interested. 
 
 120. Legislation in Reign of Edward I. — Most of the legisla- 
 tion credited to Edward was a development of that already in use. 
 
 114 
 
REIGN OF EDWARD I 
 
 115 
 
 More important, even, than the legislation was the care he took 
 
 that the justice administered in the courts should be real justice and 
 
 not justice by favor; abuses were remedied, venal judges were 
 
 brought to trial, and those 
 
 found guilty were punished. 
 
 Edward struck also at abuses 
 
 of all kinds, such as unjust 
 
 fines, excessive claims by the 
 
 feudal lords, refusal to allow 
 
 bail, and extortion in any form. 
 
 121. New Statutes. 1275. 
 — Edward's prime objects were 
 to strengthen and increase the 
 royal power, and to extend his 
 rule over the whole of Great 
 Britain. To accompHsh the 
 former, it would be necessary 
 to restrict the power both of 
 the church and of the barons. 
 This was, of course, a gradual 
 
 work, and was in a measure accomplished by the enactment of a 
 number of statutes, passed as occasion called for, and when it was 
 practicable. 
 
 122. Statute of Westminster, 1275 ; of Gloucester, 1278; the 
 Nobles. — Some of the most important of the statutes are the 
 following: the First Statute of Westminster (1275), by which 
 certain abuses were remedied; the Statute of Gloucester (1278), 
 which restricted the privileges of the nobles. A commission was 
 sent through the country inquiring into the titles by which the 
 nobles claimed to hold their property, and the authority by which 
 they exercised special powers. Many had very insufficient 
 grounds for their claims and were greatly alarmed at this order ; 
 others were rebellious. One of the barons, an Earl de Warrenne, 
 drew a rusty old sword before the commissioners and said : " This 
 
 Edward I 
 After an old painting 
 
I I 6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 is my title. My ancestors came over with William the Con- 
 queror and won their lands with the sword, and with the sword 
 will I maintain them." 
 
 123. Compulsory Knighthood. 1278. — Edward, too wise to 
 press matters to extremes, did not disturb any claims which 
 dated back to Richard I ; but he did enough to make his power 
 felt and to pave the way for further restrictions. Another law 
 required every man who owned property amounting to twenty 
 pounds a year to assume knighthood or to pay a fine. This had 
 two results : first, the expensive ceremonies attending the be- 
 stowal of knighthood and the fines of those who declined the 
 honor, brought in large sums of money ; and secondly, those 
 who were thus knighted owed no feudal service to an overlord, 
 but only to the king himself. They were, therefore, in the event 
 of war, likely to support him rather than the barons. 
 
 124. Statutes: Mortmain, 1279; Winchester, 1285. — An- 
 other statute was that known as De Religiosis} or Mortmam,'^ 
 by which it was forbidden to give lands to the church, because 
 such land escaped feudal and other dues. 
 
 By another statute, that of Winchester (1285), every man was 
 compelled to do his share in maintaining law and order. Each 
 district was made responsible for the crimes committed within it, 
 and every citizen was required to aid in bringing criminals to 
 justice. It was further commanded that highways leading from one 
 market town to another should be enlarged so that there should 
 be "neither dike, tree, nor bush, whereby a man may lurk to 
 do hurt, within two hundred foot of the one side and two hun- 
 dred foot on the other side of the way." 
 
 125. Statute of Westminster II, 1285; Entail; Quia Emp- 
 
 1 The statutes were written in Latin and often took their name from the first 
 words of the title of the act. 
 
 2 Mortmain, from the Latin words in manum mortuum (into a dead hand) ; so 
 called, some think, because the land was given into the hand of the dead patron 
 saint of the abbey or monastery. As the church was a continuous corporation, 
 such land was lost for revenue purposes. 
 
GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT 
 
 117 
 
 tores, 1290. — The second Statute of Westminster (1285), 
 among other provisions, began the system of entailed ^ lands 
 which still prevails in England. It was enacted that an estate 
 might be so granted to a man and his heirs that the man who 
 held it would only be a life tenant and could not part with it 
 because it belonged to his heirs. This law was favorable to the 
 barons, for it prevented lands from being seized for debt, or from 
 being alienated by the misconduct of the owner, and so estates 
 could remain in the same family for generation after generation.^ 
 
 
 [< pjsf I ^> I ii li r^ 1 5 
 
 
 ^^^^^J^^Ij^^ 
 
 
 T" 
 
 Westminster Abbey 
 
 Parliament House Westminster Hall 
 
 Where Parliament met in the Fourteenth Century 
 
 Another statute was that known as Q/zia Emptoi-es (1290). 
 This was to prevent the tenant of a feudal lord from granting land 
 to a sub-tenant and himself taking the place of the feudal lord. 
 
 126. The Jews. — An incident of Edward's reign not so pleas- 
 ant to record is his treatment of the Jews. When these first came 
 to England is not known, but it was probably about the time of 
 the Norman Conquest. They were then under the special protec- 
 tion of the king. They were required to live by themselves in 
 quarters of the cities and towns called Jewries. Of course they 
 
 1 Entailed land is land which cannot be sold, but descends, usually, from father 
 to eldest son, or if there is no son to the nearest living male relative. 
 
 - It is possible, in some cases, to break an entail if the next heir is of age and 
 is willing to give up his riglit of inheritance. But his father, or the owner for the 
 time being, must join with him m the action. 
 
Il8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 paid the king liberally for their privilege ; otherwise, with the feel- 
 ing against them which was universal at that time, they would have 
 been driven from the country, if, indeed, they were so fortunate as 
 to escape with their lives. 
 
 Then, as now, the Jews were among the great capitalists of the 
 world. They were almost the only ones in the Middle Ages who were 
 wilHng to lend money at interest (or usury, as it was then called), 
 because, owing to a mistaken reading of certain passages of scripture, 
 the practice was for a long time discountenanced by the Christian 
 church. The kings found the Jews very useful in furnishing money, 
 and it was for this reason that they were protected. As the power 
 of the kings decreased, the position of the Jews became less secure. 
 During the reigns of Henry I and Stephen their condition became 
 steadily worse. Richard wrung large sums from them for his crusade. 
 
 127. Popular Hatred against the Jews. — Popular feeling be- 
 came intensified and the Jewries were often exposed to pillage. John 
 and Henry HI, as might be expected, exacted large sums from the 
 rich Jews and taxed them heavily. Edward seems to have shared 
 the prejudices of his people, for in 1278 he seized many on the charge 
 of clipping the coins, and in London alone two hundred and sixty- 
 seven were executed. For financial reasons Edward might have 
 permitted them to remain in England ; but so strong was the feeling 
 against them that in 1290 they were formally expelled/ and for 
 
 1 About sixteen thousand Jews are supposed to have been affected by this order. 
 It would seem, however, that this expulsion was not complete, for notices of the 
 presence of Jews in England are found from time to time. It was Oliver Cromwell 
 who first, in 1655, publicly sanctioned their return. 
 
 The hatred toward them in the Middle Ages was due to several causes : first, of 
 course, because it was the Jews who had caused Pilate to put Christ to death ; sec- 
 ondly, because of their lending money at high rates of interest. In this latter course 
 the Jews were justified, as lenders were few and the risk of losing both principal 
 and interest was serious. But the rate was often exorbitantly high, sometimes reach- 
 ing sixty per cent. It is easy to see how envy, jealousy, and extortion might follow. 
 No crime was considered too heinous for a Jew to commit, and as the law gave 
 him no protection, he was absolutely dependent on the king for his defense. De- 
 spised by all, goaded by injustice, stung by ribald taunts, conscious of the ever 
 present possibility of torture and perhaps a cruel death, it is not to be wondered at 
 that some individuals of the race were guilty of evil practices. 
 
EDWARD AND WALES 
 
 119 
 
 about three hundred and fifty years they were not permitted to live 
 openly in England. The exiles were allowed to take only their per- 
 sonal property ; all their real estate fell into the hands of the king. 
 128. Edward and Wales; Statute of Wales, 1283; "Prince 
 of Wales," 1 30 1. — Edward recognized that his most important 
 interests were in England, although he did not undervalue his con- 
 tinental possessions. There was much in Great Britain to claim 
 his attention. Wales had submitted to William the Conqueror, 
 
 Carnarvon Castle 
 Founded by Edward I in 1283. After a photograph. 
 
 but the submission was formal rather than actual. To protect 
 English lands, English kings had given to some of the barons on 
 the border almost sovereign powers. These barons of the marches, 
 or border lands, frequently rebelled and joined interests with the 
 Welsh chieftains. One of these latter, Llewelyn, had aided Earl 
 Simon against Henry III, and only after de Montfort was defeated 
 did he give his allegiance to Henry. When Edward came to the 
 throne, Llewelyn refused to do homage to him, but Edward 
 invaded Wales with a strong force and compelled him to give up 
 part of his territory and into this ceded land introduced English 
 laws and English magistrates. It is not unlikely that these men 
 were without skill or tact, for in 1282 a rebellion began under the 
 lead of Llewelyn and his brother, David. Edward with a large 
 force put it down. Llewelyn was killed in battle, and David, who 
 was captured within a year, suffered a traitor's death. 
 
I20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Edward determined to rule Wales as a conquered country. 
 By the Statute of Wales (1283), the country was placed under the 
 direct rule of the crown, the land was divided into shires like 
 England, and so far as was practicable, and with as httle cause for 
 irritation as possible, English laws and customs were introduced. 
 To strengthen his position, Edward built a line of castles for de- 
 fense ; among them, Conway, Carnarvon, and Beaumaris. Later, 
 to propitiate the Welsh, he gave (1301) the title Prince of Wales to 
 his son Edward, who had been born in Carnarvon Castle (1284).^ 
 
 129. Continental Policy ; Scottish Affairs. — Edward more 
 than once crossed the channel to maintain his own rights and 
 those of his wife, Eleanor of Castile. His policy on the Continent 
 was peace, which he was very successful in securing. 
 
 The relations of the Scots and the English were close ; many 
 nobles owned land on both sides of the border, and a large num- 
 ber of Norman barons had settled in the country near the Forth. 
 The Scottish kings, moreover, had intermarried with the English 
 royal families and had held lands in the north of England as 
 vassals of the English king. When Henry H compelled WilHam 
 the Lion, of Scotland, who was his prisoner, to do homage for all 
 Scotland (§73), the overlordship of England seemed assured. 
 Richard I, however, in return for money had released Scotland 
 from William's oath. 
 
 130. Scottish Succession. 1286-1292. — Alexander HI of 
 Scotland died in 1286, leaving as his nearest heir a little girl three 
 years old, the child of his daughter, wife of Eric, king of Norway. 
 As the Scots recognized the claim of this little Margaret, known 
 as " The Maid of Norway," Edward saw a way to unite peacefully 
 the two kingdoms by arranging a marriage between the " Maid " 
 and his son. Unfortunately the little princess died on her way to 
 Scotland (1290), and not only was Edward's plan broken up, but 
 
 1 The title is not inherited by the English monarch's eldest son, but is conferred 
 upon him, and carries with it no authority whatever. Wales did not become really 
 incorporated with England until the reign of Henry VIH. 
 
EDWARD AND SCOTLAND 
 
 121 
 
 the right of succession to the Scottish crown became a matter of 
 serious doubt. Of the thirteen claimants for the throne, only three 
 had definite ground for their claims. These were descendants of 
 David, a younger brother of William the Lion. They were John 
 Balliol, Robert Bruce, and John Hastings.^ 
 
 Table of Scottish Kings to Robert I, showing the Claimants in 1290 
 
 Duncan I 
 1034- 1040 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 Malcom III 
 
 1057-1093 
 = (I) Ingeborg 
 
 (2) Margaret, sister of Edgar Atheling 
 (I) (2) 
 
 r 
 
 "1 I 
 
 Duncan Edgar Alex- Matilda Mary David I 
 
 II 1098-1107 ander I = Henry I 1124-1153 
 
 d. 1095 1107-1124 of England = Maud 
 
 Donald Bane 
 1094-1097 
 
 I 
 Daughter 
 Sir Robert Comyn 
 
 William 
 
 I 
 Richard 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 Henry 
 d. 1152 
 = Ada 
 
 L 
 
 1 I 
 
 Malcom IV William the Lion 
 
 Ada 
 
 1153-1165 
 
 1165-1214 
 = Ermengard 
 
 _l 
 
 David 
 
 Earl 
 
 Huntingdon 
 
 = Maud 
 
 I I 
 
 John, the " Black William 
 
 Comyn " | 
 
 = Margaret, sister Earls of 
 
 of John Balliol Buchan 
 
 John, the " Red Comyn " 
 Killed by Robert Bruce, 1306 
 
 Alexander II Margaret = Alan 
 
 = (i) Joanna, dau. John | 
 
 of England I | | 
 
 (2) Mary Devorguilla Isabella Ada 
 
 I =John Balliol = Robert Bruce = Henry Hast- 
 
 (2) 1292-1296 I ings 
 
 Alexander III Robert | 
 
 1249-1286 I John 2 Hastings 
 
 = (i) Margaret, dau. Henry III Robert I, Bruce 
 
 of England 1306-1329 
 
 (2) lolande 
 
 I 
 (1) 
 
 Margaret 
 = Eric of Norway 
 
 Margaret, " Maid of Norway" 
 d. 1290 
 
 1 Balliol was the grandson of the eldest daughter, Bruce was the son of the second 
 daughter, and Hastings was a grandson of the third daughter. 
 '^ The three chief claimants of the throne in 1290 are in italics. 
 
122 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The claimants agreed to refer the matter to Edward for settle- 
 ment. After his overlordship was acknowledged by the Scottish 
 nobles, he made his decision with wisdom and fairness, awarding 
 the kingdom to John Balliol, who was forthwith crowned at Scone 
 (1292). This award was accepted by the nobles, Balliol paid hom- 
 age to Edward as his feudal lord, and for a time there was peace. 
 
 131. Death of Queen Eleanor. 1290. — Edward reached the 
 summit of his power after the submission of Balliol. He had 
 
 conquered Wales, quieted and strength- 
 ened his continental possessions, and 
 established a government strong at home, 
 respected and influential abroad. It 
 might reasonably have been expected 
 that his last years would be spent in 
 peace, but they were years of toil and 
 trouble. While he was on the way to 
 Scotland in 1290, his faithful wife, to 
 whom he was devotedly attached, died in 
 the north of England. The body was 
 taken from Lincoln to Westminster, and 
 at each place where it had rested, Ed- 
 ward ordered a rich cross to be erected.^ 
 About the same time he lost by death 
 several of his most trusted and faithful 
 counselors and ministers. 
 
 132. England and France. 1293. — Philip IV of France, known 
 as Philip the Fair, was always watching for an opportunity to in- 
 crease his power. As he was the feudal overlord of Edward's 
 continental possessions, it was not difficult to find a pretext for 
 making trouble. One soon offered itself in a quarrel which took 
 place between Gascon and Norman sailors, ending in a sea fight. 
 
 A Queen Eleanor Cross 
 
 1 There were originally seven crosses. The last resting place was Charing, now 
 known from Eleanor's cross as Charing Cross. This is the center of modern 
 London. 
 
GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT 
 
 123 
 
 Philip demanded satisfaction for the injury done to his seamen, 
 and ordered Edward to appear before him as a vassal. This 
 Edward dedined to do, whereupon Phihp promptly invaded 
 Gascony. Unfortunately for the English king, Scotland and Wales 
 now grew rebeUious. French envoys had brought promises of aid 
 and friendship to the Scottish court and had fanned its smoldering 
 discontent into a flame. (App. i, § 93.) 
 
 133. The Famous Parliament of 1295. — Edward resolved to 
 appeal to the people of England for support. The idea of an 
 organized nation composed of several well-defined classes, each 
 with definite rights, and each having the opportunity to express 
 its will, was something new. Heretofore, notwithstanding Simon 
 de Montfort's great Parliament of 1265, it was not thought neces- 
 sary to summon knights or burgesses to attend Parliament, but 
 Edward believed that the more national he could make his work, 
 the stronger it would be. " It is," he said, " a most just law that 
 what concerns all should be approved by all, and that common 
 dangers should be met by measures provided in common," To 
 the Parliament of 1295 he summoned, therefore, not only the 
 barons, but also the clergy in greater numbers than before, be- 
 sides two knights of each shire and two citizens from every city 
 or borough ; about four hundred in all. Thus, the three estates 
 of the realm,^ the clergy, the barons, and the commons, or the 
 people, were all present by representatives ^ or in person. 
 
 This council, sometimes called the Model Parliament, was un- 
 like a modern Parliament, in that it did not make laws, but only 
 voted supplies of money. Its importance lies in the fact that all 
 classes, except the laborers and the peasants, were brought to- 
 gether for a common purpose that they might act for the nation. 
 
 1 " Estates of the realm," the three great divisions of the population of the 
 kingdom. 
 
 2 There were present, in fact, two archbishops, eighteen bishops with some of 
 their lesser clergy, sixty-six abbots, three heads of religions orders, nine earls, forty- 
 one barons, sixty-three knights of the shire, and one hundred and seventy-two 
 citizens and burgesses. 
 
124 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 From this time each of the three estates was recognized in sum- 
 moning a Parliament. 
 
 The supphes granted enabled Edward to send an army to Gas- 
 cony, and, later, one to Scotland. 
 
 134. Edward and the Church. 1296. — Edward did not will- 
 ingly come into conflict with the church, but when disagreements 
 occurred, he did not abate one jot of his authority. The grants 
 made in 1295 were not sufficient, and at a Parliament in 1296 
 Edward asked for a contribution from the clergy. The arch- 
 bishop refused on the ground that a recent bulP of the Pope for- 
 bade them to pay taxes to any lay authority. 
 
 The question was essentially the same as that between Henry 
 II and Becket (§65). Edward, however, was shrewder than 
 Henry, and met the difficulty in a characteristic way. He with- 
 drew from the clergy the support of the law, so that they could 
 be treated as aliens ; that is, they would have no rights in the 
 courts. They were thus practically outlawed, and anybody could 
 plunder them, illtreat them, and even kill them, without fear of 
 punishment. Moreover, the king declared that if they did not 
 yield before a certain time, he would confiscate their lands. That 
 he would be as good as his word, every one knew. So the 
 clergy yielded, and in various ways, under the name of gifts, or 
 through third parties, furnished the king with the money required.^ 
 
 135. General Discontent ; Confirmatio Cartarum. 1297. — Dis- 
 content, however, was spreading among all classes. Edward, in 
 his need for money, had taxed the merchants heavily, laying 
 duties on their goods, and even seizing their stores of wool and 
 leather. The nobles felt that he had diminished their authority, 
 and the clergy were indignant because they had been denied their 
 legal rights. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Winchelsey, now 
 came forward as a spokesman, asking Edward not only to confirm 
 
 1 This bull was that known as Clericis lalcos, and was issued by Boniface VIII 
 in 1296. (App. I, §94.) 
 
 2 The archbishop himself refused to yield, but advised the clergy to act accord- 
 ing to their individual judgment. 
 
REIGN OF EDWARD I 
 
 125 
 
 the Great Charter and other charters, but to add new provisions, 
 so as to prevent monarchs from demanding taxes not approved 
 by Parhament. This angered Edward, for he felt that what he 
 had done was for the good of the whole country, and he thought 
 that he should have been supported. He could not make up his 
 mind to yield personally, though he saw that he must yield. So he 
 started on an expedition to Flanders, leaving his son and coun- 
 cilors to consider the matter. 
 These found it needful to sum- 
 mon a Parliament in order to 
 collect taxes, but the Parliament 
 refused to consider anything un- 
 til the grievances were settled. 
 Accordingly, a document con- 
 firming the old charters was 
 drawn up, and important clauses 
 were added which made it clear 
 that henceforth taxes and revenue 
 were to be under the control of 
 Parliament. It made the mon- 
 archs of England almost depend- 
 ent upon Parliament, for with- 
 out money it would be impossible 
 to carry on the government or 
 pay troops in time of war. This 
 document was signed by Edward at Ghent, November 5, 1297.^ 
 
 136. Scottish Affairs ; Fall of Balliol and Conquest of Scotland. 
 1 296. — Meanwhile Edward claimed that in Scotland appeals could 
 be made from Balliol to him. The Scots felt that to allow this 
 would be an infringement of national rights, and their resistance 
 took shape in. an alliance between France and Scotland which lasted 
 
 1 This document is called the Confirmatio Cartarum (confirmation of the 
 charters). As a matter of fact, it referred rather to general revenues than to royal 
 privileges and prerogatives, many of which were retained for nearly four hundred 
 years (1688). 
 
 Coronation Chair, Westminster 
 Abbey 
 
 Containing the stone from Scone 
 
126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 three hundred years. Balliol, summoned to appear in London 
 before the English king, sent instead a message of defiance. 
 "Has the fool done this folly?" cried King Edward, when the 
 message reached him. " If he will not come to us, we will come 
 to him." The king's march northward was a triumphant one, for 
 the English troops were everywhere successful. Balliol surren- 
 dered and was sent to London, where he was confined in the Tower. 
 Later, he was allowed to retire to the Continent. The Scottish 
 nobles and gentry now swore homage to Edward. He took from 
 Scone the famous coronation stone of the Scottish kings and 
 brought it to London, where it is still kept in Westminster Abbey 
 under the seat of the coronation chair.^ 
 
 137. Scottish Rebellion under Wallace. 1 297-1304. — Ed- 
 ward misjudged the Scottish people. His strict rule was dishked, 
 the introduction of English priests was unpopular, grants of land 
 to English barons became hateful, and the knowledge of being 
 ruled by a conqueror intolerable. This was especially the case 
 among the Lowlanders, who were really of English blood, for it 
 must be remembered that Scotland was peopled by two races : the 
 Gaelic, who inhabited the Highlands, and the Lowlanders, many of 
 whose ancestors had come from England. There were also those 
 of Norman blood among them. The resistance was headed by Sir 
 William Wallace, a somewhat mythical character as we know him, 
 who had gained the confidence of the people and of the lesser 
 nobles by his bold and successful raids on the EngHsh. By 1297 
 :he revolt had become almost general. The Scots were successful 
 at Stirling, and for a time Wallace was master of the country. 
 
 Edward lost no time in marching against the rebellious Scots. 
 Through treachery he came upon Wallace unexpectedly, forced 
 him to join battle at Falkirk (July, 1298), and defeated him. 
 Wallace, however, had succeeded in rousing a national spirit 
 
 1 Legends asserted that this stone was the one which Jacob used for a pillow on 
 his flight from Palestine. According to an old tradition, wherever that stone might 
 be, Scottish kings should rule. Long afterwards, this prophecy was said to be ful- 
 filled when James VI of Scotland became James I of England. 
 
EDWARD I AND SCOTLAND 
 
 127 
 
 scotla:n^d 
 
 In the 13th Century 
 
 Scale of English Miles 
 
 ftC3^^ ORKNEY 
 h/^^ ISLANDS 
 
 NORTH 
 
 Berwick-on-Tweed 
 NVham 
 
 Longitude VTest 4 from Greenwich 
 
 which was never wholly subdued. The Scots were not yet con- 
 quered, and it took Edward six years more to recover his lost 
 ground. The surrender of Stirling, in 1304, completed the con- 
 quest of the country. 
 
 138. Edward's Scottish Policy; Robert Bruce; Death of 
 Edward. 1307. — Wallace, who refused to avail himself of 
 Edward's mercy, was betrayed by one of his countrymen, taken 
 to London, condemned as a traitor, and executed. His head^ 
 
128 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 crowned in mockery with a wreatli of laurel, was set upon a pole 
 on London Bridge. 
 
 Edward planned an excellent scheme of government for Scot- 
 land, but found that it is one thing to make a government for a 
 people and quite another thing to make them like it or obey it. 
 There is no doubt that he acted with moderation, and, except in 
 the case of Wallace, with clemency ; but the Scots wished for 
 independence, not merely for justice and law. The representa- 
 tive of national feeling at this time was Robert Bruce, grandson 
 of one of the claimants of the crown after the death of "The 
 Maid of Norway" (§130). Bruce had yielded to Edward and 
 had taken part in his scheme for the government of Scotland. 
 In some way, however, he roused the king's jealousy and was 
 obliged to take refuge across the border. Early in 1306 he 
 quarreled with Balliol's nephew, " Red Comyn," whom he sus- 
 pected of treachery, and, in the heat of his anger, killed him. 
 Knowing that King Edward would never forgive such a deed, 
 Bruce, almost in self-defense, got himself crowned king of Scot- 
 land at Scone. 
 
 Edward, moved to deep anger by the murder of Comyn, vowed 
 vengeance on all concerned in the deed. Bruce, meanwhile, had 
 been attacked by a small force, his disorderly bands were scat- 
 tered, and he himself became a fugitive among the western islands. 
 Edward carried out his vow. " Noble after noble was hurried to 
 death. The Earl of Athole pleaded kindred with royalty. * His 
 only privilege,' burst forth the king, 'shall be that of being 
 hanged on a higher gallows than the rest.' " The old king was 
 on a sick bed, but, full of vengeance, he rose to lead his army 
 toward Scotland. His strength failed, and on the very borders 
 of the country he was striving to reach he died, July 7, 1307. 
 
 139. Edward II, 1307; Gaveston. — Edward H was the un- 
 worthy son of a worthy father. He seems to have regarded little 
 but his own pleasure, and to have thought that " to have a good 
 time " was the end and aim of Hfe. He was not so much wicked 
 
REIGN OF EDWARD II 
 
 129 
 
 as weak and self-indulgent, and the misfortunes which befell him 
 were of his own making. A man of his character generally leans 
 upon some one stronger than himself, and has favorites. Edward 
 II was no exception. The first of his favorites was Piers Gaveston, 
 a Gascon noble, the companion of his youth, banished by Edward 
 I, but recalled by Edward II on his accession to the throne. 
 Gaveston, an unprincipled, scheming man, had a low opinion of 
 the English and determined to get all he could out of England. 
 
 After some feeble attempts to carry on the war in Scotland, 
 Edward went to France to marry Isabella, daughter of the French 
 king, Philip the Fair, leaving Gaveston as regent. The gay courtier 
 showed little prudence or tact, but the king. on his return heaped 
 honors and estates upon him. 
 
 140. Opposition and Protest of the Barons, 1308; Death of 
 Gaveston, 13 12. — The English nobles deeply resented the favor 
 bestowed on Gaveston, whose reckless and insolent jests at their 
 expense had added insult to injury. The leader of the barons, 
 Thomas, Eaii of Lancaster, was a cousin of the king and the 
 wealthiest lord in the realm. He was an unscrupulous man, de- 
 void of patriotism and political ability, but his wealth and rank 
 gained him his position at the head of the dissatisfied nobles. 
 Under the lead of Lancaster, the barons presented their protest 
 to Parliament. They complained of the unjust taxes and of 
 Edward's extravagance and favoritism. Parliament appointed 
 twenty-one " Lords Ordainers " to act for the king, and Edward 
 was forced to accept the new arrangement. It closely resembled 
 the Provisions of Oxford (§ 109) (1258). All power was in the 
 hands of the barons and the king was forbidden to lay taxes, to 
 go to war, or even to leave the country without their consent. 
 Parliament was to meet at least once a year to consider any such 
 requests from the king. The decrees which the " Lords Ordainers " 
 issued were called " Ordinances." By these Gaveston was per- 
 manently banished, and some special abuses were abolished. 
 
 The barons, however, were shortsighted. In the assembly 
 
I30 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 which made these decrees there were no representatives of the 
 commons. This fact led to the ultimate overthrow of baronial 
 power. By this time it was too late to ignore the Third estate. 
 (§ 133, note.) 
 
 141. Robert Bruce; Bannockburn, 1314; Loss of Scotland, 
 1323. — Edward's weakness and the internal troubles of England 
 gave Robert Bruce (§§ 130, 138) the opportunity he needed 
 to establish the independence of Scotland. The strongholds, 
 which Edward I had retained, were taken one after another, until 
 Stirling alone remained. After being besieged for some time, the 
 English officer who held it agreed to surrender if he was not re- 
 lieved by a certain day (June 24, 13 14). Edward, whose submis- 
 sion to the ordinances had gained for him a grant from Parliament, 
 was stirred to action by this news and marched to the relief of the 
 besieged castle. Bruce had drawn up his troops behind the little 
 stream known as Bannockburn, and had skillfully prepared the 
 surrounding fields by digging pits, planting stakes in them, and 
 then covering the pits with turf. Into these pits the English 
 horsemen plunged and their advance was checked. The EngHsh 
 army was thrown into confusion, most of the men turned and fled, 
 Edward himself setting the example. Stirling surrendered and the 
 EngHsh power in Scotland for a time was at an end. 
 
 Edward refused to give up his claims upon Scotland, and it was 
 not until 1323, after Bruce had made frequent raids, burning 
 Scarborough, Skipton, and other places, and penetrating as far as 
 York, that the English monarch agreed to a truce for thirteen 
 years, Bruce meantime assuming the title of king. 
 
 142. Lancaster and the Despensers. 1314-1322. — After Ban- 
 nockburn, Edward was forced to accept as his adviser Lancaster, 
 who unfortunately was a selfish, incompetent man so far as ruhng 
 was concerned. Edward found another personal favorite in Hugh 
 le Despenser. Despenser was of a noble English family. His 
 father had been councilor to Edward I and was a steady supporter 
 of Edward H ; he M'as not, however, liked by the barons. The 
 
DEPOSITION OF EDWARD II 
 
 131 
 
 two Despensers, father and son, resolved to destroy the influence 
 of Lancaster, but he succeeded in getting a decree passed (1321) 
 which banished the Despensers and forfeited their estates. Later, 
 Lancaster was tried for disloyal dealings with the Scots and for 
 fighting against the king, and was condemned and executed. 
 
 143. Parliament of York. — In 1322 Edward held a Parlia- 
 ment at York which revoked the ''Ordinances" (§140), but 
 laid down the important constitutional statement, '-'all matters 
 to be established for the estate of our lord the king and his heirs, 
 
 
 
 y 4^"^ 
 
 A^ 
 
 w 
 
 ff^,^'S':?i^^Xl''J 
 
 Stirling Castle 
 
 the realm, and the people, shall be treated, granted, and established 
 in Parliament by our lord the king, and by the consent of the 
 clergy, earls, and barons, and by the commonalty of the realm." 
 Some of the " Ordinances " were reenacted, and it seemed for a 
 time as if Edward was about to reform. But his weakness and 
 incompetency could not be cured. 
 
 144. Mortimer. Deposition and Death of Edward II. 1327. 
 — In 1324 Edward sent Queen Isabella and their young son, 
 Edward, whom he had created Duke of Aquitaine, to do homage 
 to the new king of France for the French possessions of the Eng- 
 lish crown. Here the queen met Roger Mortimer, one of the 
 chief nobles of the Welsh marches. With him she plotted not 
 
132 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 only to overthrow the Despensers, who had returned, but also to 
 depose the king. Isabella landed in Suffolk (September, 1326). 
 London and the barons supported her, and Edward found no one 
 to help him. He fled to the west ; there the king and the De- 
 spensers were captured ; the latter were executed, while the king 
 was taken to Kenilworth for safe keeping. 
 
 The young prince, Edward, now about fourteen years old, was 
 proclaimed " Guardian of the Kingdom," and a Parliament was 
 summoned in his name. This met in January, 1327, and the king 
 was forced to abdicate, after signing a declaration of his own mis- 
 deeds and incompetency. " Parliament renounced the homage 
 and fealty of its members, and the steward of the household pub- 
 licly broke his staff as a token that Edward II had ceased to reign." 
 After eight months of imprisonment in various places, the unhappy 
 ex-king was confined in Berkeley castle, where he was murdered, 
 by whose order or by whom is not positively known.^ The depo- 
 sition of Edward was effected in orderly fashion through an act 
 of Parliament setting forth the doctrine that an unworthy king 
 should not rule. There had been no deposition of a king since 
 the Norman Conquest, but this established a precedent, and 
 strengthened the position of Parliament. 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, iv, §§ 1-6 ; Gardiner, Stiidenfs 
 History, chap, xiv ; Terry, History, Part II, chap, ix; Part III, Book I, chaps. 
 i-ii ; Tout, Advanced History, Book III, chaps, ii-iii ; Stubbs, Early Plan- 
 tagenets, chaps, x-xii ; Traill, Social England, vol. II, chap, v ; Adams and 
 Stephens, Select Documents, §§37-55; Cheyney, Readings, chap, ix, § vi ; 
 Colby, Selectiojis, §§ 33-37 ; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 28-29 ; Lee, Source- 
 Book, ch&p. xi, §§81-89. 
 
 1 Whether he was actually murdered is doubted by some. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 PERIOD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR AND CLOSE 
 OF THE MIDDLE AGES 
 
 145. Edward III, 1327; Independence of Scotland, 1328. 
 — Edward III was about fourteen years old when he suc- 
 ceeded to the throne, and the affairs of the kingdom were 
 administered by a council which was wholly under the control of 
 Isabella and her favorite, Roger Mortimer. King Robert Bruce 
 (§§ 130, 138, 141), believing that this was a good time to 
 strengthen his position, made raids into England which it seemed 
 impossible to prevent, as the Scots had no regular army and 
 avoided direct conflict. At last a treaty was made with Scotland 
 (1328) which recognized the complete independence of that 
 country. This treaty, known as the Treaty of Northampton, 
 though really a wise act, was very unpopular, and the peace 
 obtained by it was considered shameful. Mortimer also managed 
 to have Edmund, Earl of Kent, brother of Edward II, executed 
 on a charge of treason. Edmund was popular and his execution 
 was generally resented. 
 
 146. Fall of Isabella and Mortimer. 1330. — The barons, 
 taking it as a warning of what might be their fate at the hands of 
 the arrogant favorite of the queen, turned for a leader to the 
 young king. Edward had married Philippa of Hainault at the 
 early age of fifteen, and now, at seventeen, was a father and 
 mature for his years. Isabella and Mortimer, suspecting danger, 
 had retired to Nottingham Castle. Indignant at the disregard 
 and disdain with which he was treated by his mother and her 
 favorite, Edward willingly lent himself to a plot to destroy their 
 power. At the head of a band of soldiers he entered the castle 
 
 133 
 
134 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 by a secret passage, and arrested Mortimer with his own hands. 
 The prisoner was taken to London, tried, condemned, and ex- 
 ecuted. Isabella was sent to Castle Rising, Yorkshire, where she 
 was kept in confinement for the rest of her life, a period of 
 twenty-eight years. 
 
 147. Character of Edward III. — Edward was now about 
 eighteen years old (1330). He was handsome, accomplished, 
 pleasing and chivalrous in his manners, and a patron of the arts. 
 He was strong and energetic, and a brave soldier. On the other 
 hand, he was extravagant and thriftless, fond of display, and, like 
 most nobles of his time, indifferent to the rights of the common 
 people. He was, moreover, untrustworthy, for the royal word 
 was frequently broken. 
 
 148. Scottish Succession, 1329; Scottish War, 1333.^ — On 
 the death of Robert Bruce, in 1329, the kingdom of Scotland had 
 passed to his young son, David, and the government was carried 
 on during his childhood by a regency.^ Certain barons, dissat- 
 isfied with conditions in Scotland, resolved to put on the Scottish 
 throne Edward Balliol, son of John Balliol, the former king 
 (§ 130). The attempt was successful and Balliol was crowned at 
 Scone (1332). He accepted Edward as his feudal lord, and the 
 English king gave his support to the new claimant. The Scottish 
 nobles, however, soon rebelled against Balliol, and England was 
 involved in another war. After varying fortunes, the Scots were 
 defeated at Halidon Hill (July 19, 1333), and were forced to 
 submit to Edward, giving up to him all their country south of the 
 Firth of Forth. Six years later France, roused to jealousy by 
 Edward's successes, decided to come to the aid of Scotland in 
 accordance with the old treaty of alliance (§ 132). Troops 
 were hired for the invasion of England, and Edward's forces were 
 all needed on the southern coast. Scotland was now freed from 
 
 1 Regency, a government carried on by a regent, one who governs a country 
 in the minority, absence, or disabihty of the king or ruler. There may be more 
 than one regent. 
 
REIGN OF EDWARD Til 1 35 
 
 his oversight, and the nobles, driving BalHol from the throne, 
 brought back from France, where he had taken refuge, the youthful 
 king, David, to be their ruler (1339). This time Edward was 
 too busy on the Continent to interfere. 
 
 Scottish Kings from Robert 1 
 
 Robert I (Bruce) 
 1306-1329 
 = (i) Isabella 
 (2) Margaret 
 (2) \ (I) 
 
 I i 
 
 David II Margaret = Walter Stewart or Stuart 
 
 1324-137 I I 
 
 Robert II (Stuart) 
 1371-1390 
 = Elizabeth Muir 
 
 I 
 Robert III 
 1390-1406 
 = Annabella 
 
 I 
 James I 
 1406-1437 
 = Joan 
 
 I \ \ I 
 
 Margaret Eleanor Elizabeth James II 
 
 = Louis XI = Sigismund = Francis 1437-1460 
 
 of France of Tyrol of Bretagne = Mary 
 
 I \ 
 
 James III Mary 
 
 1460- 1488 = James, Lord Hamilton 
 
 = Margaret of Denmark | 
 
 I Elizabeth 
 
 James IV = Mathew Stuart, Earl of Lenox 
 
 1488-1513 I 
 
 = Margaret dau. Henry VII = (2) Archibald, John, Earl of Lenox 
 
 I of England Earl of Angus ~ 
 
 James V | | | 
 
 1513-1542 Margaret Henry Stuart Charles Stuart 
 
 = (l) Madaleine dau. Lord Darnley 
 
 Francis I of France = Mary, Queen of Scots 
 
 (2) Mary of Guise 
 
 I Arabella 
 
 (2) Mary, Queen of Scots d. 1615 
 
 1542-1567, deposed = William, 
 
 = (i) Francis II. of France Lord Beauchamp 
 
 (2) Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley 
 
 (3) James, Earl of Bothwell 
 
 (2) James VI (of Scotland and I of England) 
 i567-i'^25 1603-1625 
 
136 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 149. England and France. 1328-1338. — The French king, 
 Phihp VI, Hke his predecessors, desired to lessen the power of the 
 great vassals of the crown and to bring them and their lands under 
 royal sway. While the French kings may have pursued this policy 
 from selfish motives, it was one of the leading tendencies of the age, 
 and plays an important part in the history of succeeding centuries. 
 
 Philip had shrewdly calculated upon the help that his Scottish alli- 
 ance might give, and began a series of aggressions which Edward was 
 bound to resist. The French had attacked the Enghsh shipping 
 and even landed upon the Isle of Wight (1336). The Enghsh king 
 made alliances, so far as he could, with all the governments whose 
 dominions bordered on those of France, and he even succeeded 
 in persuading the Emperor of Germany to join him. These alli- 
 ances were gained chiefly by the payment of large sums of money. 
 
 150. Edward and the Flemings ; War begun. 1338. — The rela- 
 tions of England with Flanders (part of modern Belgium) were 
 very close. Taking advantage of business interests and of political 
 hatred, Edward arranged a treaty with the Flemish burghers, who 
 were eager to cast oif their allegiance to the Count of Flanders 
 and to maintain peace with the island kingdom which supplied 
 their cities with wool for their prosperous industries. 
 
 Edward landed in Flanders in 1338, intending to attack France 
 from that side, but he soon found that he could not depend upon 
 his alhes, for while they were eager to get all the money out of him 
 that they could, they would do little fighting. They told him that 
 as the king of France was their overlord, they could only fight for 
 a king of France. Edward had, at one time, claimed this title, but 
 had given it up in 1331. Now he formally reasserted it (1340), 
 and declared that he was fighting for his crown. But the real 
 reason was that he thought by this claim that he would please the 
 Flemings and thereby gain something in his struggle with France.^ 
 
 1 Charles IV of France died (1328) without a son, and was succeeded by his 
 cousin, Philip VI. The French naturally preferred Philip, a Frenchman, to the 
 other claimants, who were foreigners. Isabella, mother of Edward III, however, 
 set up a claim to the French crown on behalf of her son, on the ground that she was a 
 
THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR 
 
 137 
 
 Coat of Arms adopted 
 BY Edward III 
 
 The French fleurs-de-lis 
 quartered with the English 
 h'ons 
 
 151. Beginning of the Hundred Years' War. 1338. — By this 
 attack Edward began what is called The Hundred Years' War, a 
 war with even less to justify it than most wars have had. On the 
 English side, the war was almost wholly 
 
 one of conquest ; on that of the French, 
 a struggle against foreign rule. That 
 Philip provoked war is evident, and if 
 the character of the age can be taken 
 into consideration, Edward can hardly 
 be blamed for retaliation ; his fault lies 
 in the fact that when there was an op- 
 portunity to make an honorable peace, 
 he declined to embrace it. 
 
 152. England supports Edward ; 
 French Defeat at Sluys. 1340. — The 
 English Parliament and people supported 
 Edward for several reasons : they wished 
 to preserve their trade with Flanders; 
 
 they resented the aid given by France to Scodand ; they were 
 angry at the damage done to English shipping, and at the descent 
 of the French upon the Isle of Wight. Parliament voted Edward 
 supplies after he had promised some reforms. He had come back 
 to England to raise funds, but Philip, hoping to prevent his return 
 to the continent, gathered a great fleet at Sluys in Flanders. Ed- 
 ward, not unprepared, attacked the French fleet (1340). As the 
 
 sister of Charles, and therefore nearer than a nephew. The French asserted that 
 under the law, the succession could come only through a male heir. Edward now 
 revived this old claim, saying that though his mother might not inherit, he could. 
 The claim was not as flimsy in that age as it would be now, but Edward had already, 
 on account of his French possessions, done homage to Philip as king of France, 
 his overlord, and, moreover, a grandson of Louis X, afterwards Charles the Bad of 
 Navarre, had been born since 1328, and his claim according to Edward's own argu- 
 ment was better than his. But Edward took the title to please the Flemings and 
 added the French fleur-de-lis to his coat of arms, took as his motto Dieu et mon 
 Droit (God and my Right), and styled himself king of England and France. The 
 lilies of France remained in the arms, and France in the official title, of the English 
 monarchs until 1801. The motto is still retained. 
 
1-38 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 vessels drew near one another, the English archers swept the decks 
 of the French ships with their arrows and won the day. The 
 French fleet was almost annihilated and thousands of men perished. 
 So great was the disaster, according to the story, that for a time no 
 one dared to report it to the French king. At length, the court 
 jester said to him, "What cowards these Enghsh are !" and when 
 asked why, replied, " Because they dare not leap into the sea as 
 our brave Frenchmen did." For thirty years or more after this 
 victory, England was supreme at sea and all fear of a French in- 
 vasion was dispelled. 
 
 153. Policy of Philip of France. — Edward, for some unex- 
 plained reason, did not follow up his victory. He besieged a 
 city and spent months in vainly trying to get Philip to agree to 
 settle their differences in a fair fight, but Philip's policy was to 
 avoid an open battle.-^ In this way he tired out his adversary 
 and caused him to spend large sums of money in maintaining his 
 army. At length Edward was glad to make a truce for nine months 
 and return home (1341). Beyond the destruction of the French 
 fleet, he had gained nothing, but had rather lost. 
 
 French Kings, Showing Claim of Edward III 
 
 Louis IX, " Saint Louis" 
 
 I 
 Philip III 
 I 270- I 285 
 
 Philip IV, the Fair 
 1285-1314 
 
 Margaret 
 = Edward I 
 of England 
 
 Charles, Count of Valois 
 
 Philip VI 
 1328-1350 
 
 Louis X Isabella PHILIP V Charles IV 
 1314-1316 = Edward II 1316-1322 1322-1328 
 
 I of England 
 
 John I | 
 
 b. and d. 1316 Edward III 
 of England 
 
 1 It was much easier to do this in that age than now, for the strength of a coun- 
 try lay in its fortified towns. Many of these it was almost impossible to take ex- 
 cept after a long siege in which hunger was the chief weapon. If a king did not 
 wish to fight, he simply kept his forces in the castles or fortified cities and let his 
 enemy ravage the land. 
 
ENGLISH VICTORIES 
 
 139 
 
 154. The Breton Succession ; Renewal of French War ; Crecy, 
 1346. — The Duke of Brittany had died leaving no direct male 
 heir, and according to Breton law the daughter inherited ; but with 
 absolute inconsistency, Edward sup- 
 ported the indirect male claim- 
 ant. His reason, doubtless, was that 
 Brittany would be a good place from 
 which to attack France. Accord- 
 ingly, in 1346, he took a large army 
 into France by way of Brittany. 
 Philip pursued his old policy of 
 avoiding an open battle. After rav- 
 aging Normandy, Edward marched 
 in the direction of Paris. At last 
 Philip, having a much larger army, 
 attacked him at Crecy. Here Ed- 
 ward, who had chosen his position 
 skillfully, gained one of the greatest 
 victories in English history (August 
 26, 1346). 
 
 "It was a victory of foot-soldiers over horse-soldiers, of a 
 nation in which all ranks joined heartily together, over one in 
 which all ranks, except that of the gentry, were despised." It 
 was chiefly to the archers that the success was due. The battle 
 was a death blow to the strictly feudal idea that the knight was all 
 in all. 
 
 It was at this battle that Edward's son, afterwards known as 
 the " Black Prince," won his spurs and was knighted, though 
 only about sixteen years old.-' 
 
 155. Capture of Calais. 1347. — Edward had punished Nor- 
 mandy; it was now the turn of Calais. He found it necessary to 
 besiege the city, which, after holding out for nearly a year, at last 
 
 1 So called, probably, from the color of his armor. The armor of the Black 
 Prince still hangs in Canterbury Cathedral. 
 
 English Archer 
 
i40 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 surrendered on account of lack of food (August 4, 1347). At the 
 intercession, it is said, of Queen Philippa, Edward treated the 
 inhabitants with reasonable clemency. Those who took the oath 
 of allegiance to him were allowed to remain, the others were 
 expelled. English colonists were brought over, the walls were 
 repaired, a strong garrison was stationed there, and a market for 
 wool, tin, lead, etc., was established. Calais became a prosperous 
 city, remaining in the hands of the English for two hundred and 
 ten years (§ 281). Soon after the surrender of Calais, a truce for 
 six years was arranged.^ 
 
 The Scots, who had practically regained their independence, 
 took advantage of Edward's absence to invade England ; but 
 they were badly defeated at Nevil's Cross (October 17, 1346), 
 and their king, David Bruce, was taken prisoner. 
 
 156. Advent of Luxury ; Chivalry. — Edward was received by 
 the English with enthusiasm. The spoils of war were rich, and 
 reckless extravagance, especially among the upper classes, pre- 
 vailed.^ Tournaments, shows, celebrations of various kinds, were 
 frequent ; and the effect of foreign influences was seen in domestic 
 and church architecture, as well as in household living. 
 
 One of the influential institutions of the age was what is known 
 as Chivalry. The word is hard to define, but chivalry itself may be 
 described as a code of rules based upon certain ideals of conduct, 
 as, that every knight should be courageous ; devoted to his lord ; 
 respectful to ladies and eager to serve them ; that he should be 
 generous, loyal, and true', and strive to render justice. Nominally 
 high in its ideals, its rules applied only to persons having the 
 rank of a knight or a higher rank ; it set forth fighting as the 
 noblest occupation that a man could follow, but too often under 
 
 1 It was at the siege of Calais that cannon were used for the first time. They 
 appear to have been of little value owing to their faulty construction and the gun- 
 ners' ignorance of how to use them. It has been said that they were first em- 
 ployed at Crecy, but this seems to be an error. 
 
 2 It was at this time (1348) that Edward established the well-known order of the 
 Garter by decorating a selected band of his knights with a blue garter. 
 
ECONOMIC CHANGES 
 
 141 
 
 color of chivalry men were brutal and immoral. On the other 
 hand, it can be hardly questioned that, where the rules were 
 applicable, life was somewhat less coarse, woman was held in 
 higher esteem, and courtesy and consideration were more com- 
 mon than they would otherwise have been.^ Perhaps its worst 
 fault, if no stronger word be used, was the utter disregard of the 
 rights of those outside its pale ; for in the view of the knight the 
 common people had no rights. 
 
 157. The Black Death. 1349- — In the midst of the rejoicing 
 and the luxurious living in England came a devastating pestilence 
 known as the Black Death. Like most similar visitations, it ap- 
 pears to have started in Asia and moved gradually westward. In 
 the early part of 1348 it was in central France, and by August it 
 made its appearance in England. So far as is known, it was the 
 most destructive of all pestilences.- It is estimated that, before it 
 ran its course, about half the population of England perished.' 
 
 Though great economic changes would have come about in any 
 case, this terrible disaster had of necessity important effects 
 upon the social and economic life of England. The plague had 
 fallen most heavily upon the working classes, on account of the 
 unsanitary conditions of their home surroundings. The supply of 
 agricultural laborers decreased at least one half and wages rose. 
 By this time rents and wages were generally paid in money. There 
 were, however, many who were still under the old feudal laws, and 
 these were unable to demand an increase in wages as the others 
 could. They therefore refused to work for their lords. The land- 
 
 1 Tennyson's poem " Sir Galahad " is the picture of an ideal knight of the most 
 lofty character. 
 
 2 Some authorities believe that the Black Death was what is now known as the 
 bubonic plague. 
 
 3 Augustus Jessopp tells us that the records show that in one Norfolk Manor 
 Court five law cases in 1349 were adjourned from the 20th of March to the 23d of 
 April. When the cases were called, out of the sixteen persons concerned, princi- 
 pals and witnesses, eleven were dead of the plague. In a single year upwards of 
 eight hundred parishes of Norfolk and Suffolk lost their parsons, eighty-three of 
 them twice, and ten three times. 
 
142 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 lords, owing to scarcity of help, were often obliged to accede to 
 the demands of the laborers. In this trouble they appealed to the 
 king, who issued an ordinance requiring laborers to work for the 
 same wages that were paid before the Black Death. Those who 
 refused to comply were to be imprisoned, and the landlords or 
 masters who offered to pay higher wages were to forfeit twice the 
 amount paid. 
 
 158. Statute of Laborers. 1351- — When Parliament met 
 (1351) it passed the first Statute of Laborers, practically confirm- 
 ing what the king had already ordered. It is not surprising that 
 some such law was enacted, for the working classes were wholly 
 unrepresented in Parliament and were generally held to exist 
 chiefly for the benefit of the upper classes. This legislation did 
 not indicate any special feeling against the lower classes, for the 
 landlords were simply trying to preserve that which they had been 
 brought up to consider as their right, and which generations of 
 laborers had never thought of contesting. 
 
 It was found impossible to enforce the Statute of Laborers, for the 
 landholders themselves preferred to pay high wages and even fines 
 rather than lose their crops altogether. But these laws caused hard 
 feeling between the classes and ultimately led to rebellion (1381). 
 
 159. Poitiers. 1356. — Philip of France died in 1350, and 
 was succeeded by his son John. In 1355 the war with France 
 was renewed. The Black Prince landed in Bordeaux and began 
 a campaign which was little better than a pillaging expedition. 
 While he was on his way back to Bordeaux, he was met near 
 Poitiers by King John with a force about four times as large as 
 his own. John, sure that he had the English in his power, de- 
 manded severe terms of surrender. The Black Prince could not 
 accept them, and resolved to fight. As at Cr^cy (§ 154) the 
 English chose a strong position and stationed their troops skill- 
 fully, again trusting mainly to the archers. In the battle which 
 followed, the French were defeated with heavy losses, and King 
 John and his younger son with hundreds of knights were taken 
 
TREATY OF BRETIGNY 
 
 143 
 
 prisoners. A truce was made for two years and the Black Prince 
 returned to England with his captives. Meanwhile peace was 
 made with Scotland and David Bruce was released on the promise 
 of paying a large sum of money. 
 
 160. France in 1359. Treaty of Bretigny. 1360. — Edward 
 offered to make peace with France, but his terms were too hard 
 for the Dauphin, the king's son and regent, to accept. Edward 
 accordingly again invaded France in 1359. He found the country 
 in a sad state, peasants in revolt, and nobles oppressing the peas- 
 ants in order to obtain funds to redeem their relatives held in cap- 
 tivity. The Italian poet, Petrarch, who visited France about this 
 time, says, " I could not believe that this was the same kingdom 
 which I had seen so rich and flourishing. Nothing presented 
 itself to my eyes but a fearful solitude, an extreme poverty, land 
 uncultivated, houses in ruins, even the neighborhood of Paris 
 manifested everywhere marks of destruction and conflagration. 
 The streets were deserted ; the roads overgrown with weeds ; the 
 whole is a vast solitude." 
 
 Finally, in 1360, the Treaty of Bretigny was made, by which 
 Edward, giving up his claims to the French crown and to the 
 lands north of Aquitaine, was to receive all Aquitaine and the dis- 
 tricts around Calais and Ponthieu, these to be held absolutely and 
 with no feudal obligations. King John died a captive. 
 
 References. — Green, S/ior^ History, chap, v, § i ; Gardiner, Studenfs 
 Histojy, chap, xv ; Terry, History, Part III, Book I, chap, iii ; Tout, Advanced 
 History, Book III, chap, iv, § I-18 ; A. Jessopp, Coming of the Friars, etc., 
 Essay iv ; Traill, Social England, vol. II, chap, vi, in part ; Adams and 
 Stephens, Select Docwnents, §§ 55-76 ; Cheyney, Readings, chap, x, §§ i-iv ; 
 Colby, Selections, §§ 38-40 ; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 28-33 ; Lee, Sotirce- 
 Book, chap, xi, §§ 90-93, chap. xii. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 PERIOD OF THE HUNDRED YEARS^ WAR (Continued)-, 
 SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES IN ENGLAND 
 
 161. English Failure in France. 1368-1375. — It was impos- 
 sible for the Treaty of Br^tigny to be a permanent settlement, for 
 Aquitaine was French and would not rest quietly under English 
 rule. 
 
 Edward, the Black Prince, was made Duke of Aquitaine and 
 sent to rule the country. His rule was far from wise ; he suffered 
 himself to be entangled in Spanish affairs ; and he aided with 
 troops the wicked Pedro the Cruel who had been driven from the 
 Spanish throne. Though successful at first, the campaign ended 
 disastrously. Edward, with but a fifth of his army, returned to 
 Bordeaux, broken in health and owing large sums of money for 
 which Pedro had failed to reimburse him. To get funds he laid 
 a hearth tax ^ on the Gascons ; but they refused to pay it and 
 appealed to the king of France, as their liege lord, for redress. 
 Although such an appeal was contrary to the provisions of the 
 Treaty of Bretigny (§ 160), which expressly gave Aquitaine and 
 the other province to Edward free of feudal obligations, Charles V 
 (§ 160, note) summoned the Black Prince to appear before him 
 at Paris. 
 
 The Prince replied, "We will go to the court of Paris, since 
 the king orders it ; but it shall be with helmet on head and sixty 
 thousand men behind us." The war now broke out again. 
 Charles the Fifth was a wiser man than his father, and he had 
 able generals, perhaps the best of whom was Bernard Du Guesclin. 
 Their policy was the old one of avoiding battle, and of letting the 
 
 1 A hearth tax was a tax upon every fireplace, and so fell upon rich and poor 
 alike. It was always an unpopular way of raising revenue. 
 
 144 
 
ENGLISH POSSESSIONS IN FRANCE 
 
 145 
 
146 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 English use up their strength by marching hither and thither 
 through the country. Though hard on the French people, it was 
 wise from a military point of view. In the course of the cam- 
 paign, the Black Prince recaptured Limoges, since so celebrated 
 for its manufacture of china, and in revenge ordered more than 
 three thousand of its inhabitants, men, women, and children, to 
 be butchered ; so little did chivalry, in that day, count for those 
 who according to its code were not gentlefolk. 
 
 The Black Prince was now forced to return to England on 
 account of his failing health. The war was continued under the 
 command of John of Gaunt (Ghent) a younger son of Edward III. 
 The Enghsh were unsuccessful everywhere, and in 1375, when a 
 truce was made, only Calais, Cherbourg, Bayonne, Brest, and 
 Bordeaux were left in English hands. 
 
 162. Last Years of Edward III. — The last years of the reign 
 of Edward III were years of trouble, if not of disgrace. The 
 good Queen Philippa had died and the king came under the 
 influence of a certain Alice Perrers, who wheedled the prema- 
 turely old man into doing just what she and her favorites wished. 
 The Black Prince was ill of an incurable disease, which prevented 
 him from taking part in public affairs, and the younger son of 
 Edward, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, was a selfish, unprin- 
 cipled man who clung to the old narrow policy of the barons. 
 
 The wars in France and the extravagance of the court had so 
 exhausted the treasury and the ordinary means of raising money 
 that it was found necessary to call a Parliament in 1376. This is 
 known as the " Good Parhament." The Black Prince, now on 
 a sick bed, supported as far as possible this body, which took 
 unexpectedly strong measures of reform. They elected a Speaker 
 to represent them, and impeached two members of the royal 
 council together with Alice Perrers.^ 
 
 163. The ''Good Parliament," (1376), Death of Edward III, 
 1377. — Unfortunately the Black Prince died, and the Parliament 
 
 1 This is the first case of impeachment by Parliament (1376). 
 
GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT 
 
 147 
 
 then in session, fearing the power of John of Gaunt, begged the 
 king to recognize Richard, the Httle son of the Black Prince, as 
 heir to the crown. The Commons insisted on having Richard 
 brought before them (1376), "that they might see and honor 
 him as the very heir apparent." The "Good Parliament" ad- 
 journed, having done a good work, but hardly had the members 
 reached their homes, before John of Gaunt took the reins again, 
 
 Tomb of the Black Prince in Canterbury Cathedral 
 
 recalled Alice Perrers, arrested the Speaker of the late Parliament, 
 and did all he could to nuUify its reforms. A new Parliament 
 was called which, so far as it could, reversed the work of its pred- 
 ecessor. In 1377 Edward III died, after a reign of fifty-one 
 years. He had long outHved his usefulness and at the time of his 
 death was practically imbecile. His good fortune in following 
 such a weak man as Edward II, with his military successes in the 
 earlier years of his reign, and a certain amount of personal dig- 
 nity, have given him an unduly high rank in history. 
 
 164. Growth of Parliament. — The real interest of Edward's 
 reign lies, not in the brilliant victories of Crecy (§ 154) and 
 Poitiers (§ 159), or in the successes in Scotland, but in the 
 
148 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 growth and development of the national feeling as shown in the 
 political, literary, religious, and social conditions of England. 
 The most important poUtical feature is the increase in the power 
 of Parliament. Practically annual sessions were held throughout 
 the reign. The knights of the shire sat beside the representatives 
 of the towns and greatly aided in establishing the dignity and 
 importance of the Commons. The growing feeling of distrust 
 toward the king made Parliament watchful of legislation, and 
 helped to establish precedents that were very useful. The power 
 of the Commons became greater, and, in time, the consent of 
 both houses was necessary for legislation. As Edward's needs 
 forced him to yield more and more, it came about that, by the 
 end of his reign, no money could be raised by taxation except 
 with the consent of Parliament. Furthermore, the royal ministers 
 and officers were held responsible to ParHament and could be im- 
 peached for misconduct. These were great constitutional gains. 
 
 165. The English Language. — Another striking feature of 
 Edward's reign is the growth in the use of the English language. 
 The Norman influence had been so strong that Edward himself 
 never learned to speak English fluently, and French was still the 
 language of the court.^ Latin was the language of the church and 
 the universities, and French that of the law courts. By 1362 the 
 proceedings in the law courts were ordered to be carried on in 
 English; the dislike felt toward the French on account of the 
 Hundred Years' War greatly decreased the use of the French 
 tongue, and English began to be generally used for all purposes. 
 Scarcely any attempt had been made to reproduce English 
 speech in literary form, and the writings of Langland and Chaucer 
 (§ 167) were at once a result and a cause of the greater use of 
 the English language. 
 
 166. England and the Papacy. — But not only in political and 
 literary matters was the reign of Edward III an epoch. Some of 
 the social movements have already been noticed (§ 156), to these 
 
 1 It is not likely that Edward I understood English. 
 
CHANGES DURING REIGN OF EDWARD III 
 
 149 
 
 must be added a great religious movement as well, though, as was 
 the case with the social movements, the most important features 
 belong to the next reign. 
 
 The Popes of Rome had, since 1309, resided at Avignon on the 
 borders of eastern France. As they were under French influence, 
 the EngHsh, already more than restive under the requirements of 
 the church, became more and more averse to contributing to the 
 expenses of the papal court. The intervention of the Pope in 
 English ecclesiastical matters was, moreover, increasingly disliked, 
 not so much because he was the Pope as because he was a for- 
 eigner. For a long time the bishops, abbots, and various members 
 of the clergy had been appointed by persons who were granted 
 the privilege by the Pope. This privilege was called the "right 
 of provision." In 135 1 Parliament passed the first Statute of Pro- 
 visors, which made all persons receiving such " provisions " liable 
 to imprisonment, and forfeited the office itself to the crown. The 
 first Statute of Praemunire, passed in 1353, forbade any appeal to 
 foreign courts, and punished with forfeiture and imprisonment any 
 who should appeal. 
 
 The abuses, moreover, which had crept into the church were too 
 evident to be denied. But the opposition to the churchmen was 
 not wholly on account of their worldliness ; many envied them their 
 power, for they frequently held political as well as clerical positions. 
 "In the Parliament of 137 1, bishops were declared unfit to hold 
 offices of state." Among those who were thus deprived of politi- 
 cal office was the great William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, 
 "who used his wealth to found (1379) at Winchester the first great 
 public school in England," now known as Winchester College. 
 
 167. Langland and Chaucer. — That the opposition was not 
 against the church, but against unfaithful churchmen, and that 
 there was a real desire in England for a better life, is clearly shown 
 by the writings of William Langland. His poem, " The Vision of 
 Piers Plowman," first appeared in 1362. It is a satire, in the form 
 of a vision, in which the narrator sees the selfishness of those in 
 
I50 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 power, and especially the evil practices of those who hold offices 
 in the church. His idea is not destruction, but reform. His 
 sympathies are wholly with the common people, though he recog- 
 nizes the need of all classes to make up an ideal community, a 
 community in which justice and right shall rule. His great con- 
 temporary, Chaucer, on the contrary, is rather the poet of the 
 upper classes. He is neither a reformer nor a moralist. He 
 pictures Hfe as he sees it, and the portraits which he draws are 
 unsurpassed for vividness and truthfulness. He is unmistakably 
 modern in his point of view and belongs to the period that we are 
 accustomed to call the Renaissance (§ 223). He seems to have 
 almost equal pleasure in depicting the *' poor parson of the town " 
 whose life was an ideal one, and the wanton "wife of Bath." 
 Still it must be said that Chaucer never makes vice attractive ; he 
 simply portrays life as it exists and leaves the reader to draw the 
 moral lesson. 
 
 168. Ireland. 1367-1377. — The English kings had not been 
 successful in firmly estabhshing their rule in Ireland. The Irish 
 were a collection of tribes varying in their customs and laws and 
 in the degree of their civilization. Banding together at one time 
 against a common foe, they would at another be at enmity among 
 themselves. The English power at no period extended much 
 beyond the neighborhood of Dublin. The war with France took 
 so much of the attention of the English that Ireland was practi- 
 cally neglected, but after the Treaty of Br^tigny (§ 160) it was 
 felt that the English interests in that island should be preserved 
 and extended. After about six years of effort, attended with but 
 little success, a Parliament of the English colonists was called in 
 1367. This body passed what is known as the Statute of Kil- 
 kenny, to define the relations which should exist between the 
 EngHsh residents and the native Irish. A line was fixed, though 
 it was changed afterwards from time to time, within which English 
 customs and laws were to prevail. Englishmen living within the 
 Pale (see map of Ireland, page 219), as it was called, were forbid- 
 
RICHARD II 
 
 151 
 
 den to use the Irish language, to marry Irish wives, or to adopt 
 Irish customs and laws, and equally strict regulations were made 
 regarding the Irish living within the Pale. The legislators seemed 
 to have thought it was better to be actual rulers over a little, than 
 nominal ones over much. 
 
 It was found impossible to enforce the statute. There was 
 rebellion among the English settlers, and incursions on the part of 
 the Irish were frequent ; while the war with France, which had 
 broken out at this time, made it impracticable for the English to 
 do much in the way of organizing a strong government. 
 
 169. Richard II ; Taxes. 1377. — Richard II was about eleven 
 years old when he came to the throne. There was no opposition 
 to his succession, and a council was appointed to govern the 
 country until he should come of age. This included members of 
 the opposing factions, but the king's uncles, including the Duke 
 of Lancaster, were excluded, though this fact did not much in- 
 terfere with the latter's influence with the government. 
 
 The war with France continued, the French pillaged the south- 
 ern coasts of England, the English armies in France were unsuc- 
 cessful, and expenses were heavy. Parliament, it is true, had 
 granted large sums, but had limited the expenditure more strictly 
 than had been attempted before. Taxes did not bring in so large 
 an amount as had been anticipated, and other taxes were levied, 
 among them a poll tax ^(1379, 1380). This tax, laid on every 
 one over twelve years old, was one which could not easily be 
 evaded and was levied on rich and poor alike, and of course was 
 relatively much higher for the poor than for the rich. Its im- 
 position at once aroused class feeling. 
 
 170. Peasants' Revolt. 1 381. — The Black Death, as we 
 have seen (§ 157), exercised no small influence upon wages 
 and upon the condition of the laborers, but there were also large 
 numbers of villeins (small farmers) who had good reason for dis- 
 content. Two burdens were especially grievous : (i) the villein 
 
 1 Parliament had laid a small poll tax (a tax on persons) in 1377. 
 
152 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 could not plead in court against his lord, and so had no legal 
 means of redress against injustice at the hands of him with whom 
 he had most to do; (2) he could not legally sell the land he 
 occupied, or leave the farm, without permission from his lord. 
 
 The legislation which had attempted to regulate labor had 
 failed, owing to natural causes; but it had stirred up a strong 
 class feeling which needed very little to rouse it ' into action. 
 These taxes were the match that lighted the fire. The revolt be- 
 gan in Essex (May, 1381), and before a month had passed, it had 
 spread through the southern counties of England. Manor houses 
 were burnt, legal records destroyed, landlords, law officers, and 
 others murdered, and scenes of violence enacted far and near. 
 Before the middle of June, a large band of Kentish rebels ap- 
 proached London and encamped on Blackheath, about five miles 
 from London" Bridge. 
 
 John Ball, a popular preacher, and Walter Tyler, commonly 
 known as Wat Tyler, were among the leaders. John Ball, the 
 principal agitator, was a religious zealot who had been traveling 
 around the country for twenty years or more preaching his doc- 
 trine of equality for all men. He attacked church and state 
 alike, for he believed that all existing institutions were wrong. 
 All things, he said, should be in common, and there should be 
 neither lord nor vassal. ''Are we not," he would say, "all de- 
 scended from Adam and Eve ? " This caught the popular ear, 
 and the great burden of the day became : 
 
 " When Adam delved and Eve span 
 Who was then a gentleman? " 1 
 
 171. Attack Upon London. 1381. — The mob was swelled by 
 recruits from other counties, and on the T3th of June^ London 
 
 1 John Ball had been imprisoned at Maidstone, Kent, for his attacks on the 
 church, but had been released by the rebels a few days before, and had joined the 
 mob in front of London. He delivered a sermon before the great gathering, taking 
 for his text, it is said, the couplet quoted above. 
 
 2 It is thought that the mob at this time numbered 100,000 men. 
 
THE PEASANTS' REVOLT 
 
 153 
 
 opened its gates. Fortunately for himself, John of Gaunt, who 
 was the special object of hatred by the rebels, was absent in the 
 north of England, but they burned his splendid palace of the 
 Savoy, together with the Temple and Inns of Court, the abode of 
 the lawyers, against whom they felt a strong grudge. The king 
 and his followers took refuge in the Tower. Around this strong- 
 hold the mob howled, crying for the blood of their enemies. At 
 
 V 4t^s-t- 
 
 ^/e=Z^ 
 
 \^ \\ 
 
 ^at^ 
 
 
 '^White Chapel 
 
 The y^^ / _ 7/ VAld Gate 
 
 // /^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J^Q Tower 
 
 
 // //:2^**^ LONDON BiaWE^*"^^"^^;^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 ^^^^^^^^ 
 
 \ M sou/thwaric''^^^ 
 
 ^^^^^^^""^^^^^ 
 
 "We/tniiiTister "^XV^ 
 
 -^=^ 
 
 
 
 last the assailants agreed to retire to Mile End, if the king would 
 meet them there on the next day and listen to their grievances. 
 This he readily promised to do, and was as good as his word, for, 
 the next morning, accompanied by only a small retinue, he rode 
 to the place. He heard their complaints, agreed to their de- 
 mands, and promised them charters which would carry out their 
 wishes. '' You shall never again," he is reported to have said, 
 " be named or held for serfs." ^ 
 
 While the conference was going on at Mile End, the insurgents 
 
 1 Among the demands were : that all customary services (feudal) should be 
 abolished ; that the rent for land should be fourpence per acre ; and that trading 
 in fairs and markets should be open and free to all. At that period, almost ail 
 buying and selling in the country was carried on at fairs and markets held peri- 
 odically, and tolls were levied on every bridge and roadway to the fair, and 
 brought in a large revenue. At Winchester when the fair was held nothing but 
 food was allowed to be sold in the city. 
 
154 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 who had remained in London broke into the Tower and murdered 
 Archbishop Sudbury, Hales, the Treasurer, and Legge, the col- 
 lector of the poll tax, besides others. 
 
 172. Richard pacifies the Rioters. 1381. — Richard met the 
 rioters, with Wat Tyler at their head, the next day at Smithfield. 
 Here Tyler was struck down by the Lord Mayor and was dis- 
 patched by the king's attendants. Instantly the crowd was in an 
 uproar, shouting, " Kill ! Kill ! They have slain our captain ! " 
 Richard, with a boldness and courage hardly to be expected, 
 rode among the mob, crying: "What need you, my masters? 
 I am your captain and your king ! Follow me ! " The rnob 
 was pacified, and then, overawed by the royal troops who 
 soon came up, retired peaceably after receiving promises of 
 redress. Thus ended the first stage in the peasant revolt of 
 1381. It was the first great struggle in England between labor 
 and capital. 
 
 173. Results of Peasants' Revolt. 1381. — The nobles and 
 wealthier classes soon recovered from their surprise and the insur- 
 rections were rigidly put down. When Parliament met, it revoked 
 the charters granted by the king, on the ground that he was too 
 young to be responsible for them. The ringleaders in the revolts 
 were treated without mercy, and, to outward appearance, the 
 laborers had gained little or nothing; in fact, for a time, their 
 cause seemed lost. One effect of the uprising was that the 
 wealthier classes found themselves striving together against 
 those whom they now regarded as a common enemy. Natural 
 causes, however, worked for the benefit of the laboring classes. 
 Employers soon discovered that it was for their own advantage 
 to have contented workmen, and therefore allowed privileges 
 which, in the course of years, helped to put an end to villeinage 
 itself. 
 
 174. Religious Conditions. — There was need of reform in 
 religious as well as in social and political matters. While there 
 were many self-sacrificing and truly pious men among the clergy, 
 
WYCLIFFE 
 
 55 
 
 such as described by Chaucer,^ there can be no doubt that, during 
 the latter part of the fourteenth and the earher part of the fifteenth 
 centuries, the spiritual state of the church was exceedingly low. 
 Simony,- luxury and worldliness were common. The people dis- 
 trusted priests and looked upon them as enemies. The influence 
 of the clergy for good was 
 also severely injured by an 
 unfortunate division in the 
 church itself, known as the 
 Great Schism, which lasted 
 thirty-eight years and which 
 brought reproach upon the 
 church and injury to true 
 Christianity. (App. i, 
 
 §96.) 
 
 175. Wycliffe. — Oneof 
 the most remarkable men 
 of the fourteenth century 
 was John Wycliffe, often 
 called the " Morning Star 
 of the Reformation."^ In 
 him scholastic* learning and 
 modern ideas were curi- 
 
 JoHN Wycliffe 
 After an old print 
 
 1 A bettre preest, I trowe that nowher noon is. 
 He wayted after no pompe and reverence, 
 Ne maked him a spyced conscience, 
 But Christes lore, and his apostles twelve, 
 He taughte, and first he foKved it himselve. 
 
 — Prologue, Canterbury Tales. Skeat's Chaucer. 
 
 2 " Simony is the act or practice of trafficking in sacred things ; particularly, 
 the buying or selling of ecclesiastical preferment." 
 
 3 He was born in Yorkshire about 1320 and was educated at Oxford. He be- 
 came Master of Balliol College about 1370. He was sent as an ambassador to 
 Bruges in 1374 to negotiate regarding papal and royal claims to grant benefices. 
 On his return he was presented with the royal living of Lutterworth, not far from 
 Oxford. Here he died in 1384. His name is variously spelled : Wycliffe, Wyclif, 
 Wickliffe, Wicklif, Wiclif. 
 
 •* Scholastic, a term used to describe a needlessly minute division of a subject ; a 
 method much used in the Middle Ages. 
 
156 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ously combined. His character was pure, and he seems to have 
 had an attractive personaHty. He had early denied the claims 
 of the Popes to draw funds from England. His great doctrine 
 was that all possessions were held directly from God, and that 
 failure to obey God forfeited one's right to these worldly posses- 
 sions. This implied the teaching that kings held their realms by 
 divine right. It may have been this latter doctrine which ex- 
 plains how it was that John of Gaunt supported Wycliffe, and how 
 it was that Wycliffe became a follower of John of Gaunt ; though 
 it is difficult to understand how a man like Wycliffe could have 
 identified himself with the cause of Lancaster. 
 
 176. Teachings of Wycliffe; His English Bible. 1378. — 
 Wycliffe believed that the abuses in the church were largely due 
 to the connection between the church and the state, and therefore 
 urged the clergy to confine themselves to spiritual duties and 
 leave secular matters alone. He attacked the Friars, who had, in , 
 the course of years, lost much of their original simplicity, and 
 who, though individually poor, belonged to rich and powerful 
 orders. He believed in poverty, though not in asceticism, and he 
 urged the priests to a life of active benevolence. He encouraged, 
 if he did not himself organize, bands of preachers who went about 
 the country preaching in the English language and addressing 
 themselves especially to the lower classes. These men were called 
 "poor priests." They lived upon frugal fare, and by their sim- 
 plicity and earnestness did a vast amount of good. 
 
 Wycliffe, moreover, attacked church doctrines which had been 
 generally accepted. He laid great stress on the Bible as the 
 ground of faith, and, probably with the help of some of his friends, 
 translated it into English.^ Heretofore the Latin Bible had been 
 
 1 Parts of the Bible had already been translated into English and into French, 
 but these manuscripts were rare. Copies of the whole volume and of parts were 
 now made especially for circulation among the people. The fact that there are still 
 in existence over one hundred and fifty copies more or less complete indicates that 
 a large number must have been in circulation. The translation was made from the 
 Latin version known asthe Vulgate, and not from the Hebrew and Greek texts, as 
 were Tyndal's and King James's versions, and the Revised Version of 1881-1885. 
 
LOLLARDRY 1 57 
 
 the only one available for ordinary use, and Latin was an unknown 
 language to the mass of the people. Wycliffe's translation was 
 executed about 1378, and, considering the great expense of pro- 
 ducing manuscripts, it had a large circulation. His teaching and 
 that of his " poor priests " met a popular need, and the effect of 
 the movement was correspondingly great. Indeed, it was said at 
 one time that every other man one met was a Lollard,^ as a fol- 
 lower of Wycliffe was called. 
 
 177. Wycliffe's Teaching in Bohemia. — The movement re- 
 ceived much support from Richard's wife, Anne of Bohemia, who 
 embraced Wycliffe's views. When, upon her early death (1394), 
 her followers returned to Bohemia, they carried with them 
 Wycliffe's doctrines and books. These were one of the sources 
 of the great movement of John Hus in the next century (App. 
 I, § 98). Wycliffe died in 1384. At the Council of Constance 
 (1414-1428) (App. I, § 97) at which John Hus was con- 
 demned to be burned at the stake, a decree was passed de- 
 nouncing Wycliffe's teaching, and ordering that his bones should 
 be exhumed and burned and cast into a stream. This was done, 
 and the old church historian, Fuller, thus speaks of it : '' This 
 brook did convey his ashes into the Severn, Severn into the nar- 
 row sea, and that into the wide ocean. And so the ashes of 
 Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine, which is now dispersed 
 all the world over." 
 
 178. Suppression of Lollardry. — Though the Lollards were 
 not accused of taking part in the Peasants' Revolt, it was natural 
 that the effort to put down the social uprising should suggest the 
 suppression of the Lollards. As a result Lollardry became almost 
 confined to the lower classes and the tradesmen and mechanics of 
 the towns. Owing to the severity of the laws against heresy^ the 
 Lollards kept very quiet, but they were far from being crushed 
 
 1 The origin of the name given to Wycliffe's followers is uncertain. It seems to 
 have come from Germany, where it was applied to those who " mumbled " church 
 music. Others think it means " babblers," and others " heretics." 
 
 2 For the medieval feeling in regard to heresy see App. i, § 76. 
 
158 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 out. During the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509) the increasing 
 number of men burnt for Lollardry indicates the prevalence of 
 its teachings, and there can be no question that Lollardry was a 
 powerful though quiet influence until the middle of the reign of 
 Henry VIII (§ 189). 
 
 179. Richard and the Nobles; Lords Appellant; "Merciless 
 Parliament." 1386. — The reign of Richard II was a period of 
 strife between the nobles and the king for control. The action of 
 the young king at the time of the attack of the mob on London 
 had shown that he was by no means a man who could be easily 
 led, and had revealed unexpected strength of character. After 
 the Peasants' Revolt, Richard, to a considerable degree, acted 
 independently of the council by which the realm was supposed 
 to be governed. He soon began to gather around him favor- 
 ites who counseled him to assume that position of independence 
 and high prerogative to which his natural disposition inclined 
 him. 
 
 The war with France continued with ill success, and the French, 
 in 1386, threatened an invasion. The men whom Richard had 
 raised to a high place were disliked by the country; and when 
 Parliament demanded their removal, Richard replied that he would 
 not dismiss a scullion from his kitchen at such a request. Times 
 had changed, however, and it was too late for an English king to 
 take such a position. An unacceptable minister was impeached, 
 fined, and imprisoned, and a Commission was chosen to rule the 
 country. 
 
 Richard released his minister as soon as Parliament adjourned. 
 Hearing that Richard was about to maintain his position by force, 
 the leaders of the opposition appeared with an army of 40,000 
 men and effectually put an end to the king's plans. The five 
 lords who headed this movement were called the Lords Appellant 
 because they appealed or accused of treason Richard's councilors. 
 A Parliament, known as the "Merciless Parliament," met in 1388 
 and finished the work of the five Lords Appellant. 
 
RICHARD II AN ABSOLUTE MONARCH 
 
 159 
 
 180. Richard II takes the Government into his Own Hands. 
 
 1389. — Richard had submitted, it is true, but the rule of the 
 nobles was not agreeable to the country ; if the choice was be- 
 tween selfish nobles and a selfish king, the people preferred the 
 latter. Without any warning 
 of his intention, Richard, in 
 1389, asked his uncle before 
 the whole council of re- 
 gents, how old he was. 
 '' Your Highness," replied 
 the Duke of Gloucester, " is 
 in your twenty-second year." 
 "Then," said Richard, ''I 
 must be old enough to man- 
 age my own affairs, as every 
 heir is at liberty to do when 
 he is twenty-one." Richard 
 dismissed the council, and 
 from that time began to rule 
 alone. For the next eight 
 years he ruled as a constitu- 
 tional monarch, and the 
 
 kingdom was well adminis- ^^^^^ ^^ engraving based on the original 
 
 tered. In I ^04 his wife '" Westminster Abbey. Probably the oldest 
 
 "^^ ' authentic portrait in England 
 
 Anne of Bohemia, died 
 
 without children. The same year Richard concluded a truce 
 
 with France and Scotland for four years. 
 
 181. Richard an Absolute Monarch. 1397-1399. — In 1396 
 Richard entered upon negotiations which resulted in his marriage 
 with Isabella, the eight-year-old daughter of the French king, 
 when a further truce for twenty-eight years was agreed upon. 
 From this time his character seems to have changed. He 
 became suspicious, and began a career of absolutism and un- 
 constitutional acts. Intimidated by a body of Cheshire archers, 
 
 Richard II 
 
t6o 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the Parliament of Shrewsbury (1398) granted subsidies to the 
 king for Hfe, and the authority of Parhament itself was delegated 
 
 Descendants of Edward III, showing Claims of Lancaster and York 
 
 Edward III 
 
 1327-1377 
 = Philippa ot Hainault 
 
 I 
 
 Edward, " Black 
 
 Prince " 
 
 d. 1376 
 = Joan of Kent 
 Richard II 
 1377-1399 (deposed) 
 
 Lionel 
 
 Duke of 
 
 Clarence 
 
 = Elizabeth 
 
 (I) 
 
 I \ 
 
 John of Gaunt Thomas 
 Duke of Duke of 
 
 Lancaster Gloucester 
 = (i) Blanche 
 
 (2) Constance 
 
 (3) Katharine Swynford 
 
 I 
 
 Edmund 
 
 Duke of 
 
 York 
 
 I 
 William 
 
 I 
 Philippa 
 = Edmund Mortimer 
 Earl of March 
 
 I 
 Earl of March 
 
 I 
 
 Henry IV 
 
 1399-1413 ^ 
 
 : Mary Bohun 
 
 I 
 
 Henry 
 Beaufort 
 
 Richard 
 
 E. of Cambridge 
 = Anne dau. Earl 
 of March 
 
 John 
 Beaufort 
 of Somerset 
 
 Richard 
 D. of York 
 
 Edmund 
 E. of March 
 d. 1484 
 
 Anne 
 = Richard 
 
 Earl of 
 Cambridge 
 
 I 
 
 Richard, D. of York 
 Cicely Neville 
 
 John 
 of Bedford 
 d. 
 
 1410 
 
 Henry V 
 1413-1422 
 = Katharine 
 of France 
 
 I 
 Henry VI 
 1422-1461 (deposed), d. 1471 
 = Margaret of Ajou 
 
 I 
 Edward, d. 1471 
 
 Edmund 
 
 Edward IV 
 
 1461-1483 
 = Elizabeth Woodville 
 I 
 
 George 
 of Clarence 
 
 I 
 Richard HI 
 
 1483-1475 
 = Anne Neville 
 
 I 
 Edward V 
 d. 1483 
 
 Richard 
 d. 1483 
 
 Henry VIII 
 1509- 1549 
 
 I 
 Elizabeth 
 Henry VII 
 
 148S--1509 
 I 
 
 Charles VI of France 
 
 I 
 Katharine 
 : (i) Henry V of England 
 (2) Owen Tudor 
 
 (2) Edmund Tudor 
 
 = Lady Margaret Beaufort 
 
 I 
 HENRY VII 
 
 I 
 Catharine 
 = Edward 
 Courtenay 
 
 Henry Courtenay 
 
 Marquis of Exeter 
 
 d. 1538 
 
 Humphrey 
 
 Duke of 
 
 Gloucester 
 
 Thomas 
 Duke of 
 Clarence 
 
 I 
 Margaret 
 : Charles the Bold 
 D. of Burgundy 
 
 I 
 Mary 
 = Maximilian 
 
 I 
 Philip 
 = Joanna dau. 
 Ferdinand and 
 Isabella of Spain 
 
 Charles V 
 
 Philip II 
 
 John Beaufort 
 
 "D. of Somerset 
 
 d. 1444 
 
 Lady Margaret Beaufort 
 
 = Edmund Tudor, E. of Richmond 
 
 Henry (Tudor) VII 
 1485-1509 
 
RICHARD DEPOSED l6l 
 
 to a small committee of eighteen lords, two bishops, and six 
 members of the House of Commons. This made the king prac- 
 tically an absolute monarch. 
 
 It was impossible that such a change should be made without 
 challenge. The party of opposition found its leader in Henry 
 Bolingbroke, Earl of Derby, son of John of Gaunt. On the death 
 of John of Gaunt (1399), Richard had seized his lands, Henry 
 having been banished without apparent cause, the year previous. 
 Henry was bitter against Richard, and well fitted to lead the 
 opposing forces. The king, meanwhile, had organized an expedi- 
 tion against the Irish, who were invading the lands within the Pale 
 (§ 168). Henry landed in Yorkshire in July, 1399, first pro- 
 claiming that he came to recover his family estates which had 
 been illegally taken from him ; then that he had come to redress 
 the wrongs of the nation. The rebellious commoners hailed him 
 as their deliverer ; one powerful noble after another joined him, 
 and the Duke of York, whom Richard had left as regent, deserted 
 the royal cause and went over to Henry. 
 
 182. Richard Deposed; His Death. 1400. — When Richard 
 heard what had taken place, he strove to raise. forces to resist the 
 rebellion, but the greater part of his army disappeared in a single 
 day, and at last he found himself almost alone in Conway 
 castle, Wales. He was persuaded to meet Henry for confer- 
 ence at Flint, where he was surrounded and betrayed into the 
 hands of his enemy. He was taken to London, confined in 
 the Tower, and compelled to sign his abdication. When Parlia- 
 ment came together, the Act of Deposition vvith its twenty-three 
 reasons was read, and the throne declared vacant. Henry now 
 came forward, and in a speech delivered in English, claimed the 
 crown by virtue of being a descendant of Henry III.^ No dis- 
 
 1 Henry's claim to the throne had little to support it. He was descended on 
 his mother's side from Edmund, the younger son of Henry HI. A lad, Edmund 
 Mortimer, Earl of March, who was descended from Lionel, younger son of 
 Edward HI (see Genealogy, p. i6o), was the legal heir, and Richard, who was child- 
 less, had so recognized him. As has been well said: "The real importance . . . 
 
1 62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 senting voice was heard, and Henry of Lancaster became 
 Henry IV of England, and Richard was imprisoned in Pontefract 
 Castle, Yorkshire. The change was the work of the nobles, and 
 the people had but little hand in it. Like the Revolution of 1688, 
 it was almost a " bloodless revolution, for three of Richard's coun- 
 cilors were the only lives sacrificed." 
 
 Richard's character is a difficult one to understand. It is hard 
 to believe that his constitutional rule for eight years was all a 
 pretense for the sake of gaining a position which would enable 
 him to seize absolute power. It is possible that his mind became 
 affected, and that this led to his change of conduct ; at the same 
 time it must be confessed that all his life he was subject to great 
 fluctuations of character. A conspiracy against Henry in favor of 
 Richard took place early in 1400, but it was suppressed. Soon 
 afterwards it was learned that Richard was dead.^ To disprove 
 ugly rumors against himself, Henry exhibited Richard's body, but 
 as only the face was shown, it proved nothing. It is still believed 
 that the unfortunate prisoner met his death by Henry's orders. 
 Henry was also careful to keep the young Earl of March, the 
 hereditary heir to. the throne, in confinement during the whole 
 reign. The young heir to the Scottish throne, Prince James, who 
 had fallen into English hands, was also imprisoned, and was not 
 released for about nineteen years (§ 185). 
 
 References. — Green, Sho7-t History^ Q\\2c^.y, §§ 1-5; Gardiner, Sticdenfs 
 History, chaps, xvii, xviii ; Terry, History, Part III, Book I, chaps, iv-v ; 
 Tout, Advanced History, Book III, chap, iv, §§ 19-28 ; Traill, Social Eng- 
 land,No\.\\, chap, vi (in part); Adams and Stephens, Select Docwnents, 
 §§ 79-105 ; Cheyney, Readings, chap, x, §§ v-vii ; chap, xi, § i ; Colby, 
 Selections, §§ 41-43 ; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 34-35 ; Lee, Source-Book, 
 chap, xiii, §§ 96-98. 
 
 lay not in what Henry said, but in what he avoided saying. It was a reversion to 
 the old right of election and to the precedent set in the deposition of Edward II." 
 
 1 Henry gave out that Richard had voluntarily starved himself to death in Ponte- 
 fract Castle, his place of confinement ; but few believed this. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 HUNDRED YEARS' WAR (Concluded). WARS OF THE 
 ROSES. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES 
 
 183. Henry IV (of Lancaster). 1399. — Henry of Lancaster 
 was king by virtue of the authority of a Parliament controlled by 
 the more conservative and aristocratic party of the baronage, and 
 he knew that the only way he could maintain himself on the 
 throne was by submission to the wishes of Parliament. The same 
 is true of all monarchs of the Lancastrian house. They were 
 kings by sufferance, not by divine right. Henry laid down as his 
 policy strict obedience to law, regard for Parliament, and aUiance 
 with the church and with the nobility. We see him, then, en- 
 deavoring to suppress the Lollards (§§ 176-178), upholding the 
 temporal power of the clergy, and, in general, opposing the move- 
 ments which led toward greater freedom for the lower classes. 
 He was a shrewd man and possessed considerable political in- 
 sight ; he was temperate in his habits, religious in disposition, and 
 though not naturally vindictive, he could on occasion use stern 
 measures to make his word respected. He had declared himself 
 in favor of vigorous reforms, and this, together with the fact that 
 the nearest heir by hereditary descent was a child (§ 182, note), 
 made the country willing to accept him. It was recognized that 
 a strong king was needed, and the country was tired of govern- 
 ment by councils or regents. Notwithstanding this, during his 
 ^eign of fourteen years Henry had his full share of conspiracies 
 and invasions of greater or less importance. 
 
 184. Rebellions; The Percys; Owen Glendower. 1403. — A 
 truce with Scotland expired in 1399 and the Scots assumed a 
 hostile attitude. As it was needful to prevent them from forming 
 
 ^63 
 
164 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 an active alliance with France, Henry invaded Scotland, getting 
 as far as Edinburgh. He was, however, compelled to leave in 
 order to hurry to Wales, where a rebellion to establish the inde- 
 pendence of that country had broken out under Owen Glendower, 
 or Glyndwr, a descendant of the old Welsh princes. The danger 
 was increased by the outbreak of a conspiracy against Henry, in 
 which the Percys, who were among the most powerful nobles, 
 took part. They had been supporters of Henry, but became 
 estranged from him, and proclaiming the Earl of March to be the 
 rightful king, they joined Glendower as the best way of securing 
 their ends. But in July, 1403, the Percys and their supporters 
 were defeated at Shrewsbury, and Henry Percy, known as " Hot- 
 spur," was slain. Glendower, however, continued to hold out. 
 In 1406 a French force landed at Milford Haven, but the French, 
 disappointed at the weakness of their Welsh allies, returned to 
 France, and the Welsh uprising came to an end. Glendower 
 went into retirement and died some years later a free man. 
 
 Henry put down all conspiracies, and guarded against future 
 ones by executing the leaders without mercy .^ Among those who 
 were thus executed was Archbishop Scrope of York, whose death 
 showed clearly that Henry would stop at nothing to secure his 
 crown. 
 
 185. Seizure of James I of Scotland, 1406; His Captivity. — 
 Domestic troubles in France took away fear of that country, and 
 difficulties with Scotland were averted through the capture by an 
 English ship of the young son and heir of the Scottish king as he 
 was going to France (1406 ?), ostensibly to be educated, but really 
 to escape his uncle, who wished to gain the Scottish throne for 
 himself. Henry kept the boy as a hostage for the good behavior 
 of the Scots, saying that the prince should have been sent to him 
 in the first instance, as he could speak French as well as his brother 
 of France. Not long after this. King Robert of Scotland died, 
 
 1 Conscious of the danger from the hereditary claims of young Mortimer, Earl 
 of March, Henry imprisoned him in the Tower. 
 
HENRY IV OF LANCASTER 
 
 165 
 
 and the boy became James I ; but even then Henry would not let 
 him go, and for about nineteen years the young man remained 
 in honorable confinement at Windsor Castle. While there he fell 
 in love with Lady Jane Beaufort, a member of the royal family. 
 James afterwards married her, and she became queen of Scotland. 
 James was one of Scotland's ablest rulers.^ 
 
 Court Costumes in the Time of Henry IV 
 
 186. Henry and the Church; Heretics. — Partly from personal 
 reasons and partly from policy, Henry supported the church. 
 The church was active in attempting to root out heresy of all 
 kinds. The ecclesiastical courts could condemn men as heretics, 
 but had no power to burn them, which was considered the proper 
 method of punishment. The bishops and abbots at this time 
 formed a majority in the House of Lords, but though there was 
 in the House of Commons a strong feeling against the church on 
 account of its wealth, there was little or no sympathy with heresy. 
 
 1 James I was no mean poet, and when in captivity composed a long poem, 
 " The King's Quair " (King's Quire or Book) . The story of his life is one of the most 
 romantic in English and Scottish annals. His uncle, the Duke of Albany, was 
 regent in his absence, and because he desired the throne for himself, he made 
 little effort for the release of his nephew. Lady Jane Beaufort was a sister of John 
 Beaufort, from whom Henry VH was descended. 
 
I 
 
 1 66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 So when a statute for the burning of heretics i^De haeretico com- 
 burendo) was brought forward, it met with httle opposition 
 (1401). This was the first act of the kind passed in England, 
 Even while it was under consideration by Parliament, a priest, 
 William Sawtre, or Sautre, convicted of heresy by the Convocation 
 of Canterbury, was burned alive by the order of the king. This 
 famous statute was used against the Lollards and several suffered 
 under it. 
 
 187. Death of Henry IV ; Henry V. 1413-1422. — In main- 
 taining himself upon the throne, Henry had been ably assisted 
 by his young son, Prince Henry, who also took his place in the 
 Council and showed himself as able there as on the batdefield, 
 but there arose between him and his father a quarrel, which had 
 not ceased at the king's death. Henry IV, who had suffered much 
 from ill health, died in 14 13 and was succeeded without opposi- 
 tion by his son, who became Henry V. 
 
 Henry V was twenty-five at the time of his succession. He is 
 regarded as one of the most brilliant and popular of English mon- 
 archs. " He was temperate, chaste, and frugal, serious and con- 
 sistent in his devotions, generous and courteous in his dealings 
 with others." He spoke Httle, but was well educated and well 
 informed. He was the most successful general of his time, equally 
 good in strategy and in the campaign. His personal appearance 
 was comely, and he was so swift of foot that it was said he could 
 run down a deer. According to later authorities^ his youth was 
 wild and even dissolute, but contemporary writers make no men- 
 tion of these reports. 
 
 188. Henry and Parliament. — His first acts show that he had 
 confidence in his title to the crown, for he liberated the Earl of 
 March, the legal heir (§ 182, note), and entered into friendly re- 
 lations with him ; he also brought the remains of Richard II from 
 where they had been interred and placed them in the grand tomb 
 
 1 It is upon these late accounts that Shakespeare bases his stones of " Prince 
 Hal " in his " King Henry IV." 
 
HENRY V AND PARLIAMENT 
 
 167 
 
 in Westminster Abbey, which Richard had prepared for himself 
 and his queen ; he ignored previous quarrels among the royal 
 councilors, and placed in his Council members of each faction. 
 Recognizing the importance of conciliating Parliament, he 
 granted the privilege that a law once passed should not in any way 
 be changed. This was an im- 
 portant concession, for hereto- 
 fore the text of the laws had 
 been left to the Council to frame, 
 and not infrequently the word- 
 ing was so altered as to defeat 
 the very purpose of the law. 
 Parhament had gained much 
 
 Henry V 
 
 during the reign of Henry IV. 
 Among the privileges of mem- 
 bers were these : that they 
 should not be held responsible 
 for what was said in Parliament ; 
 that " except for treason, felony, 
 and surety of the peace " they 
 should be free from arrest ; and 
 that petitions to the king should 
 be speedily answered. Already Parliament named the Royal 
 Council, controlled taxation, audited the royal accounts, and in- 
 sisted that redress of grievances should precede grants of money. 
 Indeed, rarely, if ever before, had Parliament so much power and 
 royal recognition as during the reign of Henry V. 
 
 189. Henry and the Church; Lollardry ; Oldcastle. — Henry 
 had no sympathy with heresy, and he determined to stamp it out. 
 The most prominent victim was Sir John Oldcastle, Lord Cobham, 
 a knight of the west of England. Oldcastle finally surrendered 
 himself. He boldly proclaimed his views, and refused to recant, 
 though Henry himself, who was under obligations to him for his 
 support of his father, begged him to do so. Oldcastle was then 
 
1 68 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 handed over to the secular authority to be burnt, but he escaped, 
 and organized a rebellion in defense of liberty of conscience. 
 Unfortunately the Lollards answered the call. There could be 
 but one end. The rising was promptly crushed, and many per- 
 sons were put to death. Oldcastle, after being in hiding three 
 years, was captured, hanged as a traitor, and his body burned as 
 that of a heretic (1418).^ Lollardry, however, was not extin- 
 guished, but its influence worked silently in favor of freedom of 
 thought. The doctrines were widespread, and convictions for 
 heresy continued into the reign of Henry VIII. The history of 
 the Lollards shows that Protestantism in England had a gradual 
 and steady growth, for the Lollards were practically Protestants 
 before Luther. 
 
 190. Henry and France ; claims French Crown. — Henry, doubt- 
 less led by policy as well as by a strong desire for military glory, 
 turned his attention to foreign affairs. France at this time was torn 
 by domestic factions and wars, and her king, Charles VI, was in- 
 sane. In England there were powerful barons who, unless they 
 were employed abroad, might stir up factions against Henry ; 
 moreover, such a war was in itself pleasing to the barons. The 
 higher clergy also favored it because it would divert attention from 
 them, and besides all this, the times were prosperous and the 
 people were willing to support the king. 
 
 From a modern point of view Henry's action was wholly un- 
 justifiable. Beyond the ravages of some privateers from Nor- 
 mandy during the reign of Henry IV, there was not even a plau- 
 sible pretext for war, and Henry seems to have really made war 
 chiefly for war's sake. 
 
 France, anxious to avoid a conflict, in vain offered Henry those 
 parts of Guienne and Gascony which England had lost since 1375, 
 and also the hand in marriage of Katherine, daughter of the French 
 king, together with a handsome dowry. Henry laid claim to the 
 French crown and to all the territory which England had ever 
 1 See Tennyson's poem, " Sir John Oldcastle." 
 
HENRY V AND FRANCE 1 69 
 
 held in France, putting forward the same reasons which Edward 
 III had used (§ 150).! 
 
 191. Henry invades France; Agincourt. 1415. — Henry ac- 
 cordingly set out on his expedition in 1415, taking with him a 
 small but well-equipped army. He landed near Harfleur on the Seine, 
 which town he took after a siege of thirty days. He then marched 
 toward Calais to join forces with the Duke of Burgundy, but was 
 met by a French force nearly four times the size of his own, near 
 the castle of Agincourt, not far from Calais. Here, owing to 
 Henry's skill, to the lack of French discipHne, and to the unac- 
 countable blunders of the French general, he won a great victory 
 (October 25, 14 15), one to be placed beside Cr^cy and Poitiers. 
 Agincourt, however, brought litUe real advantage to Henry except 
 in the way of renown and popularity at home. He returned to 
 England in November, and was received with enthusiasm, Parlia- 
 ment making him grants of revenue for life. 
 
 192. Conquers Normandy, 141 7; Treaty of Troyes, 1420; 
 Heir to French Crown. — Affairs in France were at their worst in 
 141 7, and Henry, seizing the opportunity, landed in Normandy 
 with twenty-five thousand troops. After a few towns had been 
 taken, he forbade all pillage and announced that his purpose was to 
 save the land from anarchy and to introduce order and just rule. 
 In less than two years all Normandy fell into his hands. This 
 would not have been possible had France been free from domestic 
 factions. But this division of forces led to the Treaty of Troyes 
 (May 21, 1420), by which the Dauphin (the heir to the French 
 crown) was disinherited and Henry was recognized as the heir of 
 Charles VI, the insane king. Henry, moreover, was to marry 
 Katherine, the king's daughter, and be regent of France until her 
 father's death. The Enghsh king had apparently gained all he 
 wished ; but nations cannot always be transferred by the agree- 
 ment of their rulers. 
 
 1 The claim to the crown was almost absurd, for if there was any claim whatever, 
 it belonged to the Earl of March, who was the hereditary heir of Edward III. 
 
170 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 193. Henry and France ; Death of Henry. 1422. — The Eng- 
 lish were hated by the French ; and though the leaders had 
 accepted Henry, because for the time it seemed the best pohcy, 
 they were in no sense loyal to him, and, in fact, Henry never con- 
 trolled the greater part of France. Not long after the treaty, 
 Henry went to England, taking his bride, Katherine, with him. 
 He left his brother, the Duke of Clarence, to look after his 
 interests in France, but the duke lacked skill and judgment. 
 Henry was forced to return. He was successful in quieting 
 France, but, stricken with disease, he died (1422) at the early 
 age of thirty-five. Within a few weeks Charles VI also died, 
 and thus the infant son of Henry, not yet a year old, was made 
 king of England, as Henry VI, and, by the Treaty of Troyes, of 
 France also. 
 
 194. Henry's Will; The Regency, 1422 ; Bedford in France. — 
 Henry in his will appointed regents for England and France, but 
 the English Privy Council held that Henry's will was not binding, 
 and authorized the calling of a ParHament. This Parhament set 
 aside as invalid Henry's provision for regents, and appointed John, 
 Duke of Bedford, Protector of the Realm, and Humphrey, Duke 
 of Gloucester, to act in Bedford's absence.^ As a matter of fact 
 the- Council itself, many of whose members were appointed by 
 Parliament, held the regency, and Bedford and Gloucester had 
 little real power. 
 
 By T428 Bedford had made himself master of almost all France 
 north of the Loire, except the strong and important city of Orleans ; 
 it was plain that if he could take it, the chances would be favorable 
 for overcoming the French heir known as Charles VII. ^ Bed- 
 ford's forces, accordingly, laid siege to Orleans. That they were 
 not successful is due to one of the most romantic and pathetic 
 incidents in history. 
 
 1 Both were brothers of Henry, though very diflferent in character, Gloucester's 
 character being as bad as Bedford's was good. 
 
 2 He was a son of Charles VI of France. 
 
 I 
 
JOAN OF ARC 
 
 171 
 
 195. Joan of Arc. 1429. — Just when the fall of Orleans 
 seemed certain and the cause of Charles Vll was at its lowest 
 ebb, a great change took place in the fortunes of France. There 
 was in Domr^my, a little village in eastern France, a country girl 
 of sixteen, who has since been known as Joan of Arc, or in 
 
 Joan of Arc at the Head of her Troops 
 
 French, Jeanne d'Arc. She was peasant-born, but the horrors of 
 the conflict, and the woes of her unhappy country dwelt upon her 
 mind till her heart was full of pity for the king, whom, in her 
 imagination, she clothed with every virtue. She came to believe 
 that St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret bade her go 
 forth to save the king and to conduct him to Rheims to be 
 anointed with the holy oil and crowned. At last, in 1429, clothed 
 in man's armor, she rode to Chinon, where the king was, and 
 having with great difficulty gained an audience with him, con- 
 vinced him that her mission was divine. Officers and churchmen 
 aUke regarded her with suspicion, but her evident piety, her 
 
172 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 simplicity, her faith in her mission, and the dismal condition of 
 the king's cause made them give way, and she was allowed to ac- 
 company an army sent for the reHef of Orleans. She gained the 
 city without difficulty and inspired the garrison with such courage 
 that the English were driven away and the siege raised. From 
 that time she bore the name of the Maid of Orleans. The 
 French followed up their successes under the leadership of Joan, 
 until she saw Charles crowned king at Rheims (1429). . 
 
 196. Joan of Arc Captured ; Sold to English : Burned. 1430- 
 143 1. — The mission of Joan of Arc was now accomplished and 
 she wished to return home, but she was persuaded to stay with the 
 army. She urged an immediate attack on Paris, but delays were 
 made, the affair was badly managed, and the Maid was wounded. 
 The soldiers became jealous of her, and she no longer had the 
 power she once possessed. Philip of Burgundy, in a skirmish 
 captured the Maid (1430), and sold her to the English for ten 
 thousand crowns. Charles, for whom she had done so much, made 
 no effort to save her. She was imprisoned for about a year, and 
 then was tried by an ecclesiastical court as a heretic and sorceress. 
 In spite of a noble defense, she was condemned to be burned. 
 This sentence, to the disgrace of the English, of Charles VII, and 
 of the French churchmen who condemned her, was carried out 
 at Rouen, May 30, 1431. " At the stake she behaved with heroic 
 simphcity. When the flames curled round her, she called upon 
 the saints who had befriended her. Her last utterance was a 
 cry of ' Jesus.' An EngHshman who had come to triumph hung 
 his head for shame. * We are lost,' he said, ' we have burned a 
 saint.' " 1 
 
 197. Loss of France; End of Hundred Years' War. 1453. — 
 The disgraceful treatment of Joan of Arc did not help the English 
 cause. Though no longer present to inspire them, she had taught 
 
 1 In that superstitious age it was not strange that her successes were supposed 
 to be due to witchcraft; and this belief was confirmed, according to their ideas, by 
 her own statements that she had heard voices urging her to save France. 
 
END OF THE HUNDRED YEARS' WAR 
 
 173 
 
 the French the possibiHty of united action and had encouraged 
 them by her victories, and in spite of Bedford's efforts, the EngHsh 
 gradually lost ground. In the latter part of 1431 the English 
 boy king, Henry VI, was brought to Paris and crowned king of 
 France in the cathedral of Notre Dame, but Bedford did not dare 
 to keep him in France. As the English control weakened, it was 
 difficult to get Parliament to make grants of funds to carry on the 
 war or to support the English rule in France. In 1435 Bedford 
 died. Effort after effort was made to redeem the failing fortunes 
 of the English. Burgundy deserted them in 1435 } later, Paris fell 
 into the hands of the French ; by 1450 all that Henry V had 
 gained was lost, and in a few years more (1453) all the French 
 territories that remained to England were the Channel Islands 
 and Calais. The Hundred Years' War with its record of victory 
 and defeat, of glory and shame, was at last ended. 
 
 The war had brought both upon England and France untold suf- 
 fering, widespread destruction of property of all kinds, and terrible 
 loss of life. Even on the grounds of expediency, there had been 
 little or nothing to justify the war in the beginning, and there had 
 been still less to excuse its continuance. While it cannot be 
 denied that some benefits resulted from the prolonged conflict, it is 
 scarcely possible not to believe that progress and civilization were 
 greatly checked, and what was won by blood might have been 
 more easily and better gained by the apparently slower develop- 
 ment which belongs to times of peace.^ (App. i, § 93.) 
 
 198. Henry VI. 1422. — The history of pohtical events in 
 England for a number of years after the death of Henry V is little 
 more than a record of petty quarrels between the nobles who wished 
 to control the government during the long minority of Henry VI. 
 
 Henry VI grew up to be a pious, excellent man, who was 
 wholly out of place as a king. He came of age in 1442, and 
 
 i Though no formal treaty of peace was signed, the war was over. The English 
 kings continued to call themselves kings of France until the Act of Union in 1801 
 (§§ 590, 591). when the meaningless title was silently dropped. 
 
174 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 through the influence of the Earl of Suffolk was married (1445) to 
 Margaret, daughter of Rene, Duke of Anjou. It was a most 
 unfortunate marriage for the House of Lancaster, for her ill-advised 
 council and behavior helped greatly in bringing ruin on her 
 husband's cause. 
 
 199. Land Enclosures ; Retainers. — The labor troubles, which 
 led to the Peasant RebelUon in 1381, had by no means settled the 
 economic question. It is true that villeinage had almost died out. 
 The large landholders very commonly let their land to tenants who 
 paid money rent for it, but this practice was not very profitable, 
 and gradually it became common to inclose land and give it up to 
 pasturage. This system commended itself to the landlord, for it 
 required fewer men to care for flocks and herds than to cultivate 
 fields. On the other hand, many men were thrown out of employ- 
 ment, and the enclosure of what had been common land fell 
 heavily on the tenants, as it deprived them of land that they had 
 formerly used. The great nobles gathered many of those thrown 
 out of work into bands of retainers, forming, in fact, petty armies. 
 
 The conclusion of the war in France brought back numbers of 
 soldiers used to the rough campaign life of that day and accus- 
 tomed to acts of pillage and ruffianism. These also found employ- 
 ment with the rich nobles, thus swelling the bands of retainers. 
 The country, therefore, was in a condition to invite disorder, 
 with a weak central government, powerful nobles at the head of 
 armed bands, a discontented people, and justice almost unobtain- 
 able. The evil of the system of retainers was clearly seen and 
 Parliament passed several acts designed to lessen the dangers of 
 " livery and maintenance," as the keeping of these bands of retain- 
 ers was called ; but with the inefficient government existing, it 
 was impossible to enforce the laws. The election of members of 
 Parliament was often a farce, as it was wholly under the control of 
 the local sheriff or nobleman. 
 
 200. Jack Cade's Rebellion. 1450. — The discontent of the 
 people was shown in what is known as Jack Cade's Rebellion. 
 
 1 
 
JACK CADE'S REBELLION 
 
 175 
 
 This movement, though primarily of the lower classes, was sup- 
 ported by men from all ranks. There was a strong feehng against 
 the government then in power under the leadership of the Duke 
 of Suffolk.! 
 
 Richard, Duke of York, the next heir to the throne,^ had been 
 careful not to be identified with the Cade Rebellion, though he 
 was quite willing to gain any 
 advantage from it. For reasons 
 of his own he had espoused the 
 popular cause. 
 
 The rebellion began in Kent, 
 probably because there the mis- 
 government was strongly felt and 
 the loss of France had greatly 
 injured the trade and manufac- 
 tures which had flourished in 
 that part of the country. 
 
 Jack Cade was an Irish ad- 
 venturer Vv^ho claimed that he was 
 a son of the late Earl of March. 
 He advanced toward London at 
 the head of thirty thousand men. 
 They demanded, first, the re- 
 dress of grievances, — such as excessive taxation, the squandering 
 of the revenues, the oppression of the sheriffs, illegal elections, the 
 corruption of officials, etc., — and they finally urged the restora- 
 tion of the Duke of York to power. This last was practically 
 saying that the king was unfit to rule. A detachment of the king's 
 forces met them, but was defeated, Henry then agreed to dismiss 
 
 Henry VI 
 
 After the portrait in the National 
 Portrait Gallery 
 
 1 Suffolk had become so unpopular that he was impeached, convicted, and 
 banished. On his way to France, he was seized and murdered. 
 
 2 Richard was the son of Anne, who was descended from Lionel, third son of 
 Edward III. Richard's father was descended from Edmund, fifth son of Edward 
 III. so that York had a double claim upon the throne. The House of Lancaster 
 came through John of Gaunt, fourth son of Edward HL 
 
176 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the treasurer and sheriff of Kent, against whom they had a 
 special grudge. London opened its gates to the crowd, but when 
 the rebels began to plunder houses and shops, and in spite of the 
 king's dismissal, murdered the royal treasurer and the sheriff of 
 Kent, the Londoners turned against the insurgents and forced them 
 out of the city. After a fight on London Bridge, the mob agreed to 
 retire on promise of pardon. Jack Cade, who kept a small force 
 with him, was finally overtaken and slain by the new sheriff of Kent. 
 201. Insanity of Henry, 1453; Birth of an Heir, 1453; Re- 
 bellion of York, 1455; Wars of the Roses Begun, 1455. — ^^ 
 1453 Henry VI became insane and a regency was needful. In 
 the same year Queen Margaret gave birth to a son. Like the 
 birth of a son to James II in 1688 (§ 468), it was a most un- 
 desirable occurrence for England, for it put an end to the Duke 
 of York's claim to the throne, and made the way easier for factions 
 to exist. York was made the protector of the kingdom in 1454, 
 but, unfortunately, Henry regained his health. He was, however, 
 under the influence of Queen Margaret, who was determined to 
 drive York from power. This she succeeded in doing, and York 
 now became the enemy of the king and resolved to regain his 
 position by force. He collected an army and gained several power- 
 ful noblemen to his active support. He marched south and met 
 the royal force, under Somerset, the old favorite of the king, at 
 St. Albans, about twenty miles north of London. Here a battle 
 was fought (May 22, 1455), in which the Yorkists were successful, 
 and Somerset was slain. The king was taken prisoner, but the 
 conquerors affirmed their loyalty to him and pretended to be his 
 humble liegemen. This battle is reckoned as the beginning of the so- 
 called Wars of the Roses, which distracted England for thirty years.^ 
 
 1 The badge of the Yorkists was a white rose, and that of the Lancastrians a red 
 rose. Exactly how these emblems were chosen is not certainly known. The red 
 rose of Lancaster does not seem to have been adopted till after the struggle nad 
 been going on for some time, while the white rose appears to have been an ancient 
 badge of the House of York. The popular tradition is given by Shakespeare in 
 his " Henry VI," Part I, Act 2, Scene 4. 
 
WARS OF THE ROSES I 77 
 
 202. Peace, 1458; Renewal of Conflict, 1459; York's Success, 
 and then Defeat and Death, 1460. — Henry pardoned York 
 and his companions, all of whom made professions of loyalty. 
 Henry soon had a return of insanity, and Parliament appointed 
 York as Protector, the length of his service to be determined by 
 Parliament itself. But Henry's attack was short, and when he 
 resumed control, York retired. For two years there was reason- 
 able quiet, but then hostilities began again. The Yorkists were 
 unsuccessful, and York fled to Ireland. At Margaret's dictation a 
 partisan Parliament of Coventry (1459) passed an act of attainder 
 against York and his supporters, the Earls of Salisbury and War- 
 wick, the first instance of the kind in English history. This was 
 a serious blunder, for whereas the struggle had been for control 
 of the government, now, on the part of the Yorkists, it was for life 
 and property and the rights of their children as well. It forced 
 them to fight. In the same year (1459) the Yorkist earls defeated 
 the royal army and captured the king. York now returned from 
 Ireland and laid claim to the throne on the grounds of his birth 
 (§ 200, note). 
 
 It was a bold claim to make after the Lancastrians had sat on 
 the throne for three generations. The matter was debated in 
 Parliament, which finally decided that Henry should retain the 
 crown during his life, but that York should succeed him. Henry 
 assented to this, but Queen Margaret had no intention of yielding 
 the right of her son to inherit the crown, and she refused to accede 
 to the new arrangement. She withdrew to the north, the majority 
 of whose inhabitants were favorable to the Lancastrian cause, 
 raised an army, met the Yorkists at Wakefield, and defeated them 
 (Dec. 30, 1460). In the battle York himself was slain, and his 
 head crowned with a paper crown was fastened over one of the 
 gates of the city of York. 
 
 203. Edward, Earl of March, becomes Edward IV. 1461. — 
 Richard's eldest son, Edward, Earl of March, only nineteen 
 years old, now became Duke of York and the leader of the 
 
178 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Yorkists. Two battles were fought, in one of which the Yorkists 
 were victors and in the other the Lancastrians. The lawlessness of 
 Margaret's followers and the ravages and outrages which they com- 
 mitted greatly incensed the Londoners. When Edward reached 
 London he was welcomed by the citizens, and, sure of support, he 
 summoned a council of lords and declared his right to the Eng- 
 lish throne. The council thereupon deposed Henry on the grounds 
 of bad faith and incompetency, and offered the crown to Edward. 
 He accepted it and was proclaimed king as Edward IV (1461). 
 He soon marched north to defend his title and his throne. He 
 was accompanied by the Earl of Warwick, the craftiest and most 
 powerful of the English nobles. The Lancastrian forces were met 
 at Towton, Yorkshire (March 29, 146 1) and in a battle, fought for 
 hours in a blinding snowstorm, were routed. Margaret and her 
 son escaped to Scotland, while Henry was taken prisoner. 
 
 204. Edward and Warwick. — The principal supporters of the 
 Yorkist cause were the Nevilles, a rich family, the head of which 
 was the Earl of Warwick. As Edward was only about twenty 
 years old, Warwick naturally expected to have a controlling voice 
 in the affairs of the kingdom. Edward, however, in 1464 secretly 
 married Elizabeth Grey, a widow belonging to the family of the 
 Woodvilles, and soon began to bestow political and other favors 
 upon his wife's kindred. In various ways Edward showed that 
 he had resolved to be his own master. At last he dismissed 
 Warwick (1467) and thus made him his determined enemy. 
 
 Warwick, who had no son, married one of his daughters to the 
 I j Duke of Clarence, a brother of Edward, and encouraged him to 
 
 think that he might be placed on Edward's throne. Several ris- 
 ings, probably stimulated by Warwick, took place, but were put 
 down by Edward. Warwick fled to France, where he became 
 reconciled to Queen Margaret and made common cause with her 
 against Edward, who was now their common enemy. King 
 Louis XI of France supported the movement against Edward, who 
 by his extravagance and luxury had alienated many from him. 
 
EDWARD IV AND WARWICK 
 
 179 
 
 An expedition against him led by Warwick took him by surprise, 
 and he fled to Holland for safety (1470). Henry was again pro- 
 claimed king, but the revolution was short-lived. Edward, aided 
 Dy the Duke of Burgundy, returned to England, landed in York- 
 shire, and, marching toward London, met the Lancastrian forces 
 at Barnet, a few miles from the city, where he defeated them 
 
 W VRWICK C^bXLL 
 
 (April 14, 1471). Warwick and several others of the Lancastrian 
 nobles were slain. ^ 
 
 205. Lancastrian Defeat at Tewkesbury; Death of Henry VI. 
 1471. — Edward was not yet secure, for Margaret, on the very 
 day of the battle of Barnet, had landed in the west. Edward 
 hastened to meet her forces, and at Tewkesbury (May 4, 147 1) 
 defeated her. Her son, now a young man of seventeen, was 
 either slain in the battle, or murdered after it,- thus destroying all 
 her hopes. 
 
 The last of the male Beauforts, Edmund, Duke of Somerset, 
 was captured, and though Edward had solemnly promised him 
 and other prisoners their lives, they were executed without mercy. 
 
 1 W^anvick was known as the " kingmaker " from the important part which he 
 played in setting up and putting down kings. 
 
 '^ It was reported tliat the young prince was slain alter the battle, in the king's 
 presence, by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the king's brother. 
 
l8o HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 On the night of Edward's return from London, Henry VI died in 
 the Tower (1471), put to death, it has ahvays been supposed, by 
 order of Edward. There was not now a single member in the 
 House of Lancaster old enough to dispute Edward's crown ; nor 
 was there a descendant of Henry IV living ; and of the Beau- 
 forts, the descendants of John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford, 
 the only representative was the exiled Henry, Duke of Richmond, 
 fourteen years old, the son of Lady Margaret Beaufort and Ed- 
 mund Tudor. Besides this, the slaughter among the adherents 
 both of York and Lancaster had, for the time, removed fear of 
 the nobility. Edward was therefore master of the situation. 
 
 206. Edward's English Policy; Continental Affairs. 147 1- 
 1475. — The king now entered upon a period which was, for the 
 most part, one of peace. His rule was despotic, and Parliament 
 had little real power. Parliaments, it is true, were summoned 
 occasionally, and the king laid before them important measures, 
 but these were almost always decided as he wished. 
 
 In 1475 Edward joined with Charles the Bold of Burgundy, his 
 brother-in-law,^ in an alliance against Louis XI of France, the 
 object of which was to increase Burgundy's domains, on the one 
 hand, and, on the other, to give Normandy and Aquitaine to 
 Edward. The affair was well planned, and if Burgundy had been 
 able to carry out his share of the enterprise, it would have gone 
 hard with Louis. Fortunately for Louis, Charles was prevented 
 from joining Edward, and the latter, in disgust, entered, into a 
 treaty with Louis, the shrewdest monarch of his time. Louis 
 calculated what the war would probably cost and then offered to 
 buy Edward off. His proposition was accepted, and Edward 
 returned to England without striking a blow. (App. i, § 93.) 
 
 207. Benevolences. — In raising money for the prosecution of 
 war with France a new method of securing funds was employed. 
 This was the system of " benevolences." The king would send or 
 
 1 Edward had in 1468 married his sister Margaret to Charles the Bold, Duke of 
 Burgundy. 
 
POLICY OF EDWARD IV l8l 
 
 go to a wealthy noble or gentleman and ask him of his free will or 
 " benevolence " to give him a sum of money. There was no pre- 
 tense of repayment ; but the gift, so called, was generally obtained, 
 as to refuse might mean confiscation of the whole of one's fortune. 
 This unconstitutional system of gaining funds apparently was not 
 protested against, partly because the people were indifferent, as it 
 saved them from taxation and affected only the rich, and partly 
 because even for the rich it was better to endure such injustice 
 than to run the risk of bringing back the horrors of civil war. 
 
 Edward was little inclined for war, and with the exception of 
 his expedition to' France and a brief campaign against Scotland, 
 the last twelve years of his reign were peaceful. A few years 
 before his death he charged his brother, the Duke of Clarence, 
 with treason ; the charge was sustained, Clarence was condemned, 
 and was confined in the Tower, where he was secretly murdered.^ 
 
 208. Death of Edward IV, 1483; His Character. — Edward 
 IV, though inferior to many of his predecessors, was a strong man, 
 bold, unscrupulous, cruel, and shrewd, rather than brilliant. His 
 personal habits were coarse and sensual, but he encouraged art 
 and literature as well as commerce and manufactures. That he 
 was tolerated is due to the fact that all classes realized the need 
 of a strong hand at the helm, preferring his despotism to the chaos 
 and misery they had endured under his immediate predecessors. 
 
 Edward IV died in 1483 at the early age of forty- two, worn out 
 with dissipation. He left three children — two sons and a daughter. 
 
 209. Edward V, 1483 ; Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Pro- 
 tector ; Richard III, 1483. — The eldest son of Edward, who 
 was but thirteen, succeeded him as Edward V. England with 
 good reason had learned to shrink from the rule of regents and 
 
 1 This was the Clarence who went over to Warwick and later married his 
 daughter, and still later deserted Warwick at the battle of Barnet, and so helped to 
 ruin Warwick's cause. Clarence was a worthless renegade, the " false, fleeting, 
 perjured Clarence," as he was called ; but the spectacle of one brother openly and 
 personally charging another with crime and then causing him to be put to death, 
 was revolting even to that rough age. 
 
l82 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 protectors. The king's brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 
 who had always been trusted by Edward, was appointed Protector 
 by the Royal Council. 
 
 Richard immediately began to scheme for his own advancement 
 
 to the throne. He caused the 
 little king and his brother to be 
 seized and put into the Tower 
 on the pretense of safe keeping, 
 and on June 25, 1483, a partisan 
 Parliament proclaimed Richard 
 king, and the next day he was 
 crowned as Richard III. Not 
 long after this time the little 
 princes in the Tower, sons of 
 Edward, were put to death, it 
 has always been believed by the 
 express command of Richard 
 himself. The fact of the murder 
 was not known at first, but by 
 degrees the story was spread abroad and excited universal indig- 
 nation.^ Richard rapidly lost popularity, and though he really 
 governed well, his skill did not avail. Misfortunes came upon 
 him. In 1484 his only son died, and the next year, his wife. 
 
 210. Henry Tudor ; Battle of Bosworth Field ; Death of Rich- 
 ard III. 1485. — Meanwhile, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond 
 (see Genealogy, p. 160), the Lancastrian claimant of the throne 
 (§ 205), was on the Continent, laying plans for the invasion of 
 England. In July, 1485, he landed at Milford Haven, Wales, 
 and marched across England with his forces constantly increasing 
 by new adherents, for the feeling that the king's cause was lost 
 was now very general. Henry met the royal forces at Bosworth 
 
 1 The exact fate of the Httle princes was unknown for about thirty years, then a 
 man acknowledged that they had been smothered, and that their bodies had been 
 buried under a stone at the foot of a staircase. Two hundred years later two 
 small skeletons were found in the place indicated. 
 
 After 
 
 Richard 111 
 contemporary portrait 
 
END OF WARS OF THE ROSES 1 83 
 
 Field, in the very center of England (August 22, 1485). Richard 
 fought desperately, but could not count on his own supporters. 
 One of these, Lord Stanley, went over to Henry at the beginning 
 of the battle, while others stood aloof. Richard was killed on the 
 field and his cause was lost. Richard had worn his crown in the 
 conflict, and after the battle Lord Stanley, amid shouts of " King 
 Henry," put it upon Richmond's head. 
 
 211. Henry VII. 1485. — Henry had little or no claim to the 
 throne by hereditary right.^ He did not attempt to justify himself 
 on that basis. Parliament, ignoring hereditary claims, accepted the 
 situation by declaring that the inheritance of the crown was to 
 ** rest and abide in King Henry VH and his heirs." " He was 
 chosen to vindicate no theory of hereditary or other abstract 
 right, but to govern with a firm hand, to give peace within his 
 gates, and prosperity unto his people." 
 
 Henry owed his success to a combination of nobles who were 
 tired of war and wished for peace. They included men of oppo- 
 site parties who now saw that an easy way of ending the conflict 
 would be for Henry to marry Elizabeth, daughter and only surviv- 
 ing child of Edward IV, who represented the Yorkist claims. But 
 Henry, unwilling for his kingship to depend solely upon his wife's 
 claim, secured recognition from Parliament, and also from the Pope. 
 Then he married Elizabeth, who was about twenty years old (i486), 
 thus uniting the claims of York and Lancaster and securing the sup- 
 port of the adherents of each party. But it was Henry's ability and 
 shrewdness which made his throne secure. Circumstances were 
 favorable for a man who could take advantage of them, and Henry's 
 intelligence and readiness stood him in good stead. 
 
 212. Effects of the Wars of the Roses ; Social and Economic 
 Changes. — With the battle of Bosworth Field the Wars of the 
 
 1 On the hereditary principle the daughter of Edward IV; the children of Lionel, 
 Duke of Clarence; and Lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry's own mother, had prior 
 claims. Indeed Henry could claim only through his mother. It is true that there 
 had been no queen regnant, but Matilda had been crowned and the justice of 
 her claim was admitted by the succession of her son as Henry II. 
 
184 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Roses ended (1455-1485). The whole land, weary of the wars 
 and bloodshed of thirty years, was ready for a change. '' These 
 wars were set on foot by causes not peculiar to England. They 
 were part of a general European movement which was the struggle 
 to end the anarchy which accompanied feudalism, and replace it 
 by strong and efficient monarchies." 
 
 The conflict had been chiefly between the great nobles supported 
 by their retainers ; the people, as a whole, did not take an active 
 share in the struggles ; this is shown by the comparatively small 
 number of men who took part in most of the battles. While the 
 Wars of the Roses destroyed the old nobility, they did not prevent 
 the development of the other classes. The social and economic 
 changes, which had begun long before, continued, and the close of 
 the struggle revealed the growth of the towns, the development of 
 commerce and manufactures, and the advance in the condition of 
 the working classes. It was, indeed, during this period that the 
 foundations of England's commerce were securely laid, and it saw 
 the beginning of that passion for material prosperity which has so 
 often controlled English pohtical action. English merchants inter- 
 fered with the monopoly hitherto held by the merchants of the 
 Hanseatic League,^ and exported and imported goods themselves, 
 establishing a direct and profitable trade with the Continent. At 
 first these " adventures " were made by the towns, but later by in- 
 dividuals or companies. In this way it came about that by the 
 close of the fifteenth century almost all of England's foreign trade 
 was carried on in English vessels, and a company of trained seamen 
 was brought into existence. 
 
 Naturally literature had not flourished. Though it was the time 
 of the Renaissance in Italy, the movement had comparatively little 
 efl"ect upon England, for the upper classes were engrossed with 
 wars, and the middle classes with a desire to increase their wealth 
 
 iThe Hanseatic League was a powerful commercial league of German cities 
 through the hands of which most of the produce of northern Europe and Russia 
 reached England. (App. i, § 68.) 
 
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES 1 85 
 
 and to take advantage of the new avenues for trade which were 
 opening before them. The universities were still laboring under 
 restrictions which had been placed upon them in the old Lollard 
 days, and the church was keen against heresies. What really 
 brought about a change in England was chiefly due, not to indi- 
 viduals, as was the case in Italy, but rather to the introduction of 
 printing, which scattered the new learning far and wide. 
 
 -. iBtm fegamtt mmt^ 0ate««c of m m psc 
 
 M«?o.^«w»)^a)owfp2WE/(Kt6notbetbe« 
 ntt&at<^3 fiS^Af fpg^ fat eoo aUe/ 
 
 Facsimile of Part of Caxton's ^neid 
 
 213. Printing in England; Caxton's Press. 1476.— Printing 
 by means of blocks had been known in England as early as the 
 time of Edward III (1350), but, as elsewhere, it did not have much 
 influence. During the reign of Edward IV, William Caxton, an 
 Englishman who had lived in Flanders, introduced the new method 
 of printing from movable types. (App. i, § in.) On the Conti- 
 nent he had already printed in English The Game afid the Flay 
 of Chesse. Under the patronage of Edward IV he set up his 
 press in 1476 at Westminster, near where the Houses of Parlia- 
 ment now are. Here he issued Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, the 
 Morte d' Arthur of Malory, and many other works, for the demand 
 was large. He was a translator as well as a printer, and transla- 
 tions of Vergil's yEneid (from a French version), the Golden 
 Legend, Sayings of the Philosophers, and other works appeared 
 from his pen. He not only preserved much that otherwise might 
 have been lost, but he exercised a vast influence on literature by 
 bringing these works into circulation when a national literature 
 was in process of formation, and helped thereby to flx the English 
 language in the form in which it has survived. 
 
i86 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, v, § 6, chap, vi, §§ 1-3; Gardi- 
 ner, Studejifs History, chaps, xix-xxii; Terry, History, Part III, Book 1, 
 chaps, vi-viii; Tout, Advanced History, Book IV, chaps, i-v; Gairdner, 
 Lancaster and York, Selections and chaps, xi, xii; Traill, Social England, 
 vol. II, chaps, vi-vii; Adams and Stephens, Select Docianents, §§ 105-133; 
 Cheyney, Readings, chap, xi; Colby, Selections, §§ 44-48; Kendall, Source- 
 Book, §§ 37-43; Lee, Source-Book, §§ 99-103. 
 
 The Tudors 
 
 Henry (Tudor) VII 
 
 1485-1509 
 = Elizabeth of York 
 I 
 
 Arthur Margaret 
 
 d. 1502 = James IV 
 
 : Catherine of Scotland 
 
 of Aragon | 
 
 James V 
 = Mary of Guise 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots 
 1542-1567, d. 1587 
 = (i) Francis II of France 
 
 (2) Henry Stuart, 
 Lord Darnley 
 
 (3) James, E. of Bothwell 
 
 (2) James VI of Scotland 
 I of England 
 
 Henry VIII 
 1509-1547 
 (i) Catherine of Aragon 
 
 (2) Anne Boleyn 
 
 (3) Jane Seymour 
 
 (4) Anne of Cleves 
 
 (5) Catherine Howard 
 
 (6) Catherine Parr 
 
 I I 
 
 (i) Mary (2) Elizabeth 
 
 1553-1558 1558-1603 
 = Philip II 
 
 of Spain 
 
 Mary 
 = (i) Louis XII 
 
 of France 
 (2) Charles 
 D. of Brandon 
 
 (3) Edward VI 
 1547-1553 
 
 (2) Frances 
 = Henry Grey 
 D. of Suffolk 
 I 
 
 I 
 Eleanor 
 
 I 
 Lady Jane Grey 
 Lord Guilford Dudley 
 d. 1554 
 
 Lady Catherine Grey 
 = Lord Beauchamp 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 THE BEGINNING OF MODERN ENGLAND; THE TUDORS 
 
 214. Beginning of Modern England ; The Tudors. — During the 
 latter part of the fifteenth century feudahsm in Europe was rapidly 
 disappearing, petty states were giving way before large ones, people 
 and nobles were beginning to learn the advantage of unity and 
 peace, and to see that the welfare of the nation was superior to 
 that of any party or faction. The new movement was equally ap- 
 parent in England. Men were weary of civil war, anarchy, and 
 factional quarrels. Though Parliament had sought to limit the 
 power of the crown, it was itself unable to rule. To escape an- 
 archy the Englishman was ready to grant almost any power to " a 
 firm and masterful hand." It is this fact which explains the 
 almost despotic rule of the Tudors. 
 
 215. Character of Henry VII ; His Policy. — Henry VII was a 
 thrifty, almost niggardly, man, shrewd, suspicious, and cautious, 
 with a cool head and far-sighted wisdom. He was reserved and 
 dignified, and his tastes were both artistic and literary ; a lover of 
 architecture, his magnificent memorials, the Henry VII chapel 
 at Westminster Abbey and King's College chapel at Cambridge, 
 show that on occasion he could spend money liberally. He was 
 not fond of war, probably on account of its cost rather than from 
 any higher motive, and avoided it as much as possible. He had 
 that most valuable quality of a ruler — the ability to choose skillful 
 advisers. 
 
 Henry placed before himself two main objects which were 
 closely connected : (i) the firm establishment of himself and his 
 family upon the throne; and (2) the destruction of the power of 
 the great nobles. The first he helped greatly by his marriage 
 
 187 
 
1 88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 with Elizabeth Woodville (§ 211) and by crushing two revolts of 
 the Yoricist party. 
 
 216. The Simnel and Warbeck Rebellions. 1487-1492. — In 
 1487 a man named Lambert Simnel, pretending to be the Earl of 
 Warwick, whom Henry had imprisoned, set on foot a rebellion. 
 The movement was begun in Ireland. He was supported by many 
 in England, even by the queen's mother, Elizabeth Woodville, and 
 was aided by Margaret, the widow of the Duke of Burgundy, sister 
 of Edward IV, who was always ready to injure the Tudors. Henry, 
 however, was prompt in meeting the insurgents, defeated them, 
 took Simnel a prisoner, pardoned him, and gave him a place as 
 scullion in the royal kitchen. 
 
 Still another rebellion, far more important than that of Simnel, 
 took place in 1492. This time the one personated was a son of 
 Edward IV, the little Duke Richard, who had been murdered in 
 the Tower (§ 209). Perkin Warbeck, this pretender, also made 
 his first appearance in Ireland, and from there went to France, 
 where he was kindly received by Charles VIII. He went next to 
 Margaret of Burgundy, who not only welcomed him, but also rec- 
 ognized him as her nephew. Perkin Warbeck was a Fleming, of 
 fine presence, attractive in his manners, well educated, and suited 
 to the position which he claimed. The importance of the War- 
 beck conspiracy lies in the fact that it offered a chance for all of 
 Henry's enemies to attack him. Ireland, Scotland, and Burgundy 
 welcomed the coming of Warbeck. 
 
 Henry with characteristic shrewdness made a treaty with 
 France, thus detaching that country from Warbeck, and later by 
 removing trade privileges from the Flemings he withdrew the 
 support of Burgundy. He also determined to strike at the Eng- 
 lish conspirators so hard that no doubt of his purpose could be 
 left in men's minds. The head of the movement appeared to be 
 Sir William Stanley, whose desertion of Richard III on Bosworth 
 Field contributed more than anything else to Henry's victory. 
 Like many another traitor he had come to repent of his work and 
 
HENRY VII 
 
 189 
 
 Henry VII Chapel, Westminster Abbey 
 
 tried to undo it. Henry had him seized, tried, and executed. 
 How far the evidence justified this action is not known, but the 
 effect intended by the king was secured, for the Yorkist faction 
 was thoroughly intimidated. 
 
 Warbeck now made an attempt upon England from the Conti- 
 nent, but being unsuccessful, he fled to Ireland, and afterwards 
 to Scotland. Here he was welcomed by James IV, acknowledged 
 as Edward's son, and given a wife of the nobility. After two years 
 
IQO 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 he went to Cornwall, where there was considerable disaffection 
 against Henry on account of heavy taxation. Warbeck obtained 
 some support, but after an unsuccessful attack upon Exeter he 
 lost heart and took refuge at Beaulieu in the New Forest. He 
 was captured, brought to London, and having confessed his fraud, 
 was sent to the Tower. Here he was well treated, but in an 
 attempt to escape, in company with Edward Plantagenet, Earl of 
 Warwick, the only remaining Yorkist of the royal male line, the 
 two young men were captured. Both were executed (1499).^ 
 This was the last serious attempt to dispossess Henry of his throne. 
 
 217. Henry and Ireland; Poynings Acts, 1494. — Henry, an 
 active and alert man, was always alive to the needs and possibili- 
 ties of his kingdom. The ease with which Simnel and Warbeck 
 had gained support in Ireland showed clearly how Httle English 
 rule amounted to in that island. Henry accordingly sent as 
 deputy Sir Edward Poynings, who had been his trustworthy com- 
 panion in exile. Poynings first gained control of the Pale (§§ 168, 
 181) and then called an Irish Parliament, which, in obedience to 
 his compulsion, passed a series of acts, known as the Poynings 
 Acts (1494) : (i) that the consent of the English king and council 
 v/as necessary for the summoning of an Irish Parliament ; (2) that 
 all bills considered by an Irish Parliament must have been pre- 
 viously considered by the English Parliament ; (3) that the laws 
 of the English Parliament were binding upon Ireland.^ This 
 arrangement was not very successful, and Henry, recalling his 
 deputy, sent back (1496) the Earl of Kildare, whom he had dis- 
 placed for Poynings. 
 
 218. Henry and the Nobles. — Henry attacked the power of 
 the great English nobles by laws against the maintenance of large 
 bands of retainers. These laws he was fortunately strong enough 
 
 1 As Warwick had been in confinement since he was ten years old, he could not 
 have been guilty of very serious offenses. Henry simply wished to put him out of 
 the way; this was, however, Henry's only judicial murder. 
 
 2 It should be remembered, however, that this legislation was only for those who 
 lived within the limited area of the Pale, who were chiefly English. 
 
THE STAR CHAMBER 
 
 191 
 
 Henry VII 
 
 After the portrait in the National 
 Portrait Gallery 
 
 to entorce. One of his chief supporters at Bosworth Field (§ 210) 
 was the Earl of Oxford. The king on one occasion paid him 
 a visit, and when the royal 
 visitor took his leave, he was 
 amazed at the large retinue of 
 men drawn up in his honor. 
 The king said, " My lord, I 
 thank you, but my attorney 
 must speak to you." Oxford 
 was fined ^15,000 for his 
 display, a sum equivalent to 
 ten times that amount at 
 present values. By such ac- 
 tions Henry not only secured 
 large sums of money, but at 
 the same time weakened the 
 power of the nobility, and 
 greatly diminished the likelihood of civil war. 
 
 219. The Star Chamber. 1487. — From very early times it was 
 customary for the king to have a body of advisers known as the 
 Royal Council or the Great Council. The power and functions 
 of this body had varied with the varying circumstances of the 
 country. At the time of Simnel's conspiracy Henry secured from 
 Parliament an act which set apart five members of the Council 
 and two judges whose special business was to decide upon cases 
 relating to the great nobles, such as the maintaining of bands of 
 retainers, or any interference with the course of justice, and to 
 deal with cases which local juries or common law courts were too 
 weak to handle. Complaints were heard at Westminster (London)_, 
 and judgment, which extended to fine and imprisonment, was 
 given by the court without a jury. The court sat in a room 
 known as the Star Chamber,^ and hence received that name. 
 
 ^ The origin of the name of the room is uncertain. It is " so called, either be- 
 cause the roof was decorated with stars, or because it was the room in which had 
 
19: 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 That the court exercised a good influence and was popular in its 
 early days is undoubted, but it afterwards became an instrument 
 of tyranny (§ 369). Henry also reorganized the courts to the 
 advantage and protection of the great middle classes upon whom 
 he relied for his support, 
 
 220. Henry VII and the Finances. — Henry's management of 
 the finances of the country was shrewd and wise. Every source 
 of income was carefully examined and made to produce as much 
 as possible. Officials were held to a rigid account of receipts and 
 payments, and every avenue of expenditure was closely watched 
 to cut off unnecessary outlay. Henry, moreover, avoided that 
 fruitful source of expense, foreign wars. Besides the regular 
 methods of raising revenue he employed others, some of which, 
 strictly speaking, were illegal. Among them he made use of 
 benevolences^ (§ 207). In collecting these benevolences Arch- 
 bishop ]Morton, who was Henry's Chancellor, is said to have 
 invented a new method of forcing money out of the wealthy, 
 known as " Morton's Fork." ^ If a man reputed to be wealthy 
 Hved economically, he was told that he must have saved money, 
 and therefore could afford to give to the king ; on the other hand, 
 a man living in fine style was told that if he could afford to live so 
 handsomely he could well spare some of his wealth for the king. 
 Besides this, old feudal dues were sought out and demanded ; and 
 Henry even went into commerce and added to his wealth in that 
 way. By this course he not only secured funds, but was enabled 
 to rule without ParHament, for at this period perhaps the chief func- 
 tion of Parliament was to make money grants. The fact that he 
 summoned Parliament only seven times during his whole reign of 
 twenty-four years indicates the success of his poHcy. 
 
 been formerly kept Jewish bonds or ' starres.' " The court sometimes numbered 
 among its members bishops and heads of colleges. 
 
 1 The statute abolishing benevolences passed during the reign of Richard III 
 was ignored by Henry on the ground that it was passed by a usurper (§ 209). 
 
 2 Notwithstanding tradition it is doubtful whether Morton is really to be credited 
 with the invention of " the fork." 
 
THE BEGINNINGS OF MODERN ENGLAND 
 
 193 
 
 221. Henry VII and Foreign Affairs. — Henry was as careful 
 in his administration of foreign affairs as in his domestic manage- 
 ment. His object above everything else was to maintain peace. 
 When war seemed inevitable, he was always ready to come to terms 
 if such could possibly be accepted. The great powers on the con- 
 tinent of Europe at this time were Spain and France. The true 
 policy of England was to keep aloof and watch her opportunity to 
 take advantage of the quarrels of her neighbors ; but to be in 
 alliance with some continental power was thought essential, 
 
 222. Henry VII and Foreign Marriages ; Prince Henry and 
 Catherine of Aragon. 1505. — Henry strove to increase his own 
 power and that of England by the marriage of his children. His 
 eldest son, Arthur, was contracted to Catherine of Aragon, 
 daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain (App. i, § 89); 
 and his eldest daughter, Margaret, was married to James IV 
 of Scotland.^ 
 
 Princess Catherine came to England in 1501 and was married 
 to Prince Arthur, who was then about fourteen. The next year 
 Arthur died, and her father and mother proposed that she should 
 marry Henry's next son, Henry, who was about eleven years old, 
 and six years younger than Catherine. They argued to themselves 
 that Henry would never repay the half of Catherine's marriage 
 portion which had already been sent, and that all that they would 
 have to do would be to complete the original portion. Henry, 
 fearing lest the half already received might be demanded from 
 him, willingly accepted the proposition. A dispensation from the 
 Pope (Julius II) was obtained (1503), but when the time for the 
 betrothal arrived (1505) young Henry privately made a formal 
 protest against the future marriage, doubtless instructed thereto by 
 his wily father. 
 
 223. The Renaissance in England ; Erasmus ; Colet ; More. 
 — It was during Henry's reign that the revival of letters, or Ren- 
 
 iThis marriage, through her great grandson, James VI, led to the union of the 
 crowns of England and Scotland on the death of Queen Elizabeth. 
 
194 
 
 HISTORY OF ENXtLAXD 
 
 aissance, first strongly affected English life and thought. (App. i, 
 § 113.) Many young Enghshmen visited Italy, the center of the 
 learning, and brought back with them books and new ideas, and 
 new aspirations as well. Scholarly Italians came to England with 
 stimulating effect. Greek was introduced at the universities, and 
 three men, Grocyn, Linacre, and Colet were all teachers of it. 
 John Colet was appointed Dean of St. Paul's, London, and 
 founded St. Paul's school, which still flourishes; and Linacre 
 was appointed tutor to the Prince of Wales. From this time 
 education took a fresh start in England. Another man to whom 
 England owed much was Erasmus, a continental scholar, who 
 first came to England in 1498. He resided for a time at Oxford, 
 later at Cambridge and at London, and 
 frequently visited England in after years, 
 keeping up his friendship with the Eng- 
 lish scholars. 
 
 The flower of English culture in the lat- 
 ter part of Henry's reign was Sir Thomas 
 More. Colet, Erasmus, and More, known 
 as the Oxford Reformers,^ were the pio- 
 neers in the advancement of learning 
 and true education in England. 
 
 224. The Cabots. 1497. — Henry, 
 though a strong supporter of commerce 
 and trade, declined to assist Columbus 
 in his efforts to raise funds for his first 
 voyage. (App. i, § 112.) Later, how- 
 ever, Henry gave John Cabot and his son 
 Sebastian leave to undertake a voyage 
 westward and in the name of the English 
 crown to take possession of any lands 
 
 The expedi- 
 tion sailed in 1497 from Bristol, then 
 1 So called because the movement began at Oxford with John Colet. 
 
 Cabot Memorial Tower 
 
 Erected at Bristol, England, 
 in memory of the first sailor that they might discover 
 from England to visit .\merica 
 
THE RENAISSANCE IN ENGLAND 
 
 195 
 
 the second largest port of England. The Cabots reached Cape 
 Breton and Labrador, thus discovering the continent of North 
 America, They brought back little but the record of their dis- 
 covery. An entry in the royal accounts reads, " Ten pounds to 
 him that found the new Isle." In 1498 the Cabots made a 
 second voyage to America, extending their explorations perhaps as 
 far as Albemarle Sound. ^ The English paid little attention to 
 these discoveries at the time, but later upon them based their 
 claims to North America. 
 
 225. Death of Henry VII ; Henry VIII. 1509. — Henry died 
 in 1509, leaving to his son a secure throne, a full treasury, a strong 
 and well-organized, though scarcely a constitutional, government, 
 and a peaceful and prosperous people. No king in England for 
 years had come to the throne under such favorable auspices as 
 did Henry VIII. He was eighteen years old, tall, well formed, 
 athletic, and an adept in all the manly sports of the day. He 
 was pleasant in his manners, skilled in music, and well educated. 
 Indeed "no previous king had been so well educated; he knew 
 Latin, French, Spanish, and some Greek." He sympathized with 
 the new learning, and scholars and people alike rejoiced at his 
 accession. Soon afterwards (1509) he married Catherine of Ara- 
 gon, the widow of his brother Arthur, to whom he had been so 
 long betrothed. This marriage had momentous consequences. 
 Henry's reign falls into two clearly defined periods : that in which 
 Wolsey was his great minister (1509-15 29) ; and that in which 
 Henry for the most part ruled for himself (15 29-1547). 
 
 One of the first acts of Henry was to send to the Tower two 
 men, Empson and Dudley, who had been his father's agents in 
 collecting money. They were tried and convicted, not of illegally 
 forcing money payments, of which they may have been guilty, 
 but of conspiracy against the crown. This' act was an object 
 
 1 What part Sebastian Cabot, the son, took in these enterprises is uncertain. 
 The value of money at that time was perhaps ten times as much as at present, so 
 ten pounds was no small sum. 
 
196 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 lesson which showed that the worst offense which could be com- 
 mitted was one against the king. 
 
 Henry enjoyed spending money as much as his father had 
 delighted in hoarding it, and for the first few years of his reign 
 fetes, tournaments, masquerades, balls, and the like followed one 
 another rapidly. 
 
 226. Foreign Affairs ; Rise of Wolsey. — Continental affairs 
 soon began to attract Henry's attention, and in 151 1 Pope Julius 
 II induced him to attack France because the Pope wished to 
 drive the French out of Italy. There was still in England a 
 strong feehng against France, and no objection was made to 
 Henry's plans ; in fact, many of the younger generation were 
 more than ready for a war. Henry found a minister in Thomas 
 Wolsey, one of the most interesting as well as one of the most 
 able men in English history. 
 
 Wolsey was of humble though respectable birth,^ and afterwards 
 was often reminded of his humble origin. He was a Bachelor of 
 Arts of Oxford when he was but fifteen, and had risen rapidly until 
 he reached the post of king's almoner.^ Although trained for a 
 churchman, he had a remarkable aptitude for diplomacy and for 
 organization, which made him equally fit for the church council, 
 the king's council, or the army board. He had accompanied 
 Henry in an expedition to France, had gained his confidence, 
 and had become his most trusted adviser. 
 
 227. Scotland ; Flodden Field, 1 5 1 3 ; France. — In 1 5 1 3, while 
 Henry was in France, James IV of Scotland, notwithstanding 
 the fact that Henry was his brother-in-law (§ 222), invaded the 
 north of England, but his army was overthrown by the Earl of 
 Surrey at Flodden Field (September 9, 15 13), and he, with the 
 
 1 His father was reported to have been a butcher, and one of the squibs against 
 
 his son reads : 
 
 " Begot by butchers, but by bishops bred, 
 How high his honor holds his haughty head." 
 
 There seems to be little or no ground for this tradition, for the older Wolsey 
 appears to have been a merchant or grazier of the town of Ipswich. 
 
 2 Almoner, the distributor of the king's alms or bounty. 
 
HENRY VIII AND LOUIS XII 
 
 197 
 
 flower of Scottish nobility, was slain. This took away all danger 
 of a northern invasion for twenty years, as James's son was a 
 child. Wolsey had not favored the Spanish alliance, though he 
 had carried out Henry's wishes. Henry, however, found that 
 Maximilian and Ferdinand were using him solely for their own 
 advantage. Louis XH 
 of France was very 
 ready to come to terms 
 with Henry, and, as this 
 policy was in accord 
 with Wolsey 's views, 
 an understanding was 
 soon brought about. A 
 marriage was arranged 
 between Henry's 
 younger sister, Mary, 
 and Louis XH^ (15 14), 
 and the French also 
 agreed to pay a large 
 sum of money to the 
 English. Unfortu- 
 nately for the per- 
 manence of the plans, 
 Louis Xn died a few months after the marriage, and was suc- 
 ceeded by his cousin and son-in-law, known as Francis I. 
 
 228. Continental Aifairs ; Wolsey's Policy. — The death of 
 Louis broke up the alliance between France and England. 
 Francis soon invaded Italy and gained a great victory (Marignano, 
 
 Henry VIII 
 
 After the portrait by Holbein 
 
 1 The Princess Mary protested bitterly against this arrangement, as she wished 
 to marry Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. All she could gain from her brother 
 was the promise that if she married this time to please him, she might marry next 
 time to please ht-rself. After the death of Louis (1515), who was her senior by 
 thirty-four years, she married Brandon while still in France, so as to give her 
 brother no opportunity of going back on his word. From her was descended the 
 unfortunate Lady Jane Grey (§§ 268, 269, 275). 
 
198 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 September 13-15, 1515). Ferdinand of Spain died early in 1516 
 and was succeeded by his grandson Charles. The three most 
 powerful monarchs in Europe were Charles of Spain, Francis of 
 France, and Henry of England, all of them under thirty, and 
 each one able and ambitious. A strife for the mastery in European 
 aifairs was inevitable. Wolsey's policy for England was peace, 
 and to preserve this he strove to maintain what was called in later 
 times " the balance of power in Europe." ^ But Wolsey's plans were 
 thwarted by the death of Maximilian, the Emperor of Germany 
 (15 19), for Charles, Francis, and Henry immediately became 
 competitors for the imperial crown. Henry had no chance, and 
 doubtless was well aware of the fact, but he wished to assume an 
 important position in European politics. (App. i, § 123.) 
 
 229. Charles of Spain elected Emperor, 15 19; Visits Henry, 
 1520. — After some scheming on all sides, Charles of Spain, a 
 grandson of the late emperor and of Ferdinand and Isabella, was 
 chosen (June 28, 15 19) and became Charles V of the German or 
 Holy Roman Empire. He was about twenty-one, and the ruler, 
 real or nominal, of more extensive dominions than any one since 
 Charles the Great.^ 
 
 Wolsey strove to hold both Francis and Charles in the position 
 of seeking alliance with England. Francis was readily influenced 
 because he feared the great power of Charles ; and an alliance with 
 Henry was desired by Charles to prevent the union of the forces 
 of France and England. Wolsey, therefore, arranged that Henry 
 should meet both Charles and Francis. Charles came to England 
 in May, 1520, and met Henry at Canterbury. 
 
 230. Field of the Cloth of Gold. — Henry went to France in the 
 same year (1520) and met Francis near Calais. Here was a con- 
 tinual round of feasting, tournaments, and the like, carried on with 
 such an amount of display and magnificence that the place was 
 
 1 The principle in this policy is " such an adjustment among sovereign states that 
 no single state is in a position to interfere with the independence of the rest." 
 This is often interpreted to mean " existing conditions should remain as they are." 
 
 * He is said to have had, by virtue of his many possessions, seventy-five titles. 
 
FIELD OF THE CLOTH OF GOLD 
 
 199 
 
 called the Field of the Cloth of Gold. The expressions of good 
 will and friendship exchanged did not amount to much, for shordy 
 afterwards Henry and Charles met again, and a treaty between 
 them was signed.^ 
 
 War soon broke out and, in spite of Wolsey's efforts, England 
 and Charles V formed an active alliance, an English army taking 
 the field against France (1522). Henry gave as a reason for his 
 
 The Field of the Cloth of Gold 
 After the painting in the Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace 
 
 action that his commercial interests in Flanders, one of Charles's 
 provinces, made the alliance necessary. Charles was successful 
 in his campaign, defeating Francis and taking him prisoner at 
 Pavia, Italy (February 24, 1525),^ but, though he was victor, he 
 had alienated both Henry and Wolsey by his evident duplicity. 
 (App. I, § 123.) 
 
 231 . Wolsey at the Height of his Power. — Wolsey was now at 
 the height of his power. His surroundings were magnificent; he 
 had from three hundred to eight hundred attendants ; his palace 
 at Hampton Court was equal to those of royalty ; and his revenue 
 
 1 It should be remembered that Henry's wife was Charles's aunt. 
 
 2 It was after this battle that Francis, in writing to his mother to announce his 
 defeat, used an expression which has come down to us in the form, " All is lost save 
 honor." 
 
200 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 was princely. He was Bishop of Toiirnai, Bishop of Lincoln, 
 Archbishop of York, Cardinal of the Church, Chancellor of the 
 Kingdom, and Papal Legate, all at the same time. His state and 
 his manner of life went beyond even the lax morals of that day. 
 
 Wolsey, though a high official in the church, seems to have 
 looked upon the church chiefly as a useful part of state machinery. 
 Still, he was well aware that some reformation of the church 
 was certainly coming, and though he was opposed to Luther, he 
 saw that it would be wiser to take some steps towara reforma- 
 tion himself rather than have it forced upon the country. 
 Accordingly, with the acquiescence of both king and Pope, he 
 dissolved a number of small monasteries and apphed their 
 revenues to the support of education. In this way Cardinal 
 College was founded (1524), which, under the name of Christ 
 Church, is now the largest college at Oxford. 
 
 Wolsey's success made for him many enemies, and their number 
 was increased by his haughty manners, and by what he did both 
 of his own will and by command of the king. Much of his un- 
 popularity was due to the taxation required by the French war. 
 
 232. Wolsey and Parliament. 1523. — Wolsey was a firm 
 believer in absolute monarchy, and this was one reason why he 
 was able to retain the favor of Henry for so long a period, abso- 
 lutism being the cardinal doctrine of all the Tudors. Hitherto 
 Henry and Wolsey had avoided calling Parliaments, but now it 
 seemed needful to summon a Parliament to grant funds, which 
 Wolsey seems to have thought was its only function. The Par- 
 liament met in 1523, but was by no means inclined to grant the 
 immense sum which was demanded. Wolsey " had been so busy 
 in managing emperors and kings that he had forgotten how to 
 deal with his own countrymen," and most unwisely and unwarrant- 
 ably entered the House of Commons in an effort to intimidate its 
 members. He was met by a stubborn silence, the Commons re- 
 fusing to discuss his demands in his presence. He retired in 
 humiliation, and finally received only about half of the sum asked 
 
WOLSEY AND HIS POWER 
 
 20I 
 
 for. After the battle of Pavia (§ 230), money was again needed, 
 
 but recourse was now had to a forced loan which resembled 
 
 the old benevolences, 
 
 and was called at that 
 
 time "an amicable 
 
 loan." This, Hke the 
 
 previous efforts to raise 
 
 funds,^ was exceedingly 
 
 unpopular, and Wolsey 
 
 had to bear the brunt 
 
 of the dissatisfaction, 
 
 for it was not known 
 
 at the time that the 
 
 king was responsible 
 
 for the measure, and 
 
 Wolsey loyally took the 
 
 blame which the selfish 
 
 monarch was only too 
 
 ready to shift from his 
 
 own shoulders. 
 
 Cardinal Wolsey 
 
 References. — Green, Sho7't History, chap, vi, §§ 3-5; Gardiner, Studenfs 
 History, chaps, xxiii-xxiv; Terry, History, Part III, Book II, chaps, i-ii 
 (pp. 494-520); Tout, Advanced History, Book V, chaps, i-ii; Traill, Social 
 England, vol. II, chap, viii; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents, §§ 134- 
 143; Cheyney, Readijigs, chap, xii, §§ i-ii; Colby, Selections, §§51-53; 
 Kendall, Source- Book, §§ 44-46. 
 
 1 Some historians believe that forced loans were attempted before Parliament 
 was summoned. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 THE TUDORS (Continued) 
 
 233. Henry VIII and Catherine. — Henry had lived with Cath- 
 erine for about eighteen years with apparent satisfaction. Several 
 children had been born to them, but only one, the Princess Mary, 
 had survived infancy. Up to this time no queen had sat upon the 
 English throne, and Henry was fearful that there might be some 
 trouble attending Mary's succession. He had, before 15 21, re- 
 moved the various possible Yorkist claimants to the crown, but 
 still the final issue was doubtful. He therefore above all things 
 desired a son that the succession might be unquestioned. There 
 can be little doubt that if Catherine had been the mother of a son 
 that lived, the divorce would never have taken place. Political ex- 
 pediency caused Henry to insist on a divorce. He was, more- 
 over, growing tired of Catherine, who was much older than he, 
 and his fancy was attracted by a young and pretty maid of honor 
 at the court, Anne Boleyn. He therefore professed to be troubled 
 with scruples concerning his marriage with Catherine, who was the 
 widow of his brother Arthur (§§ 222-225). According to church 
 canons such a marriage was unlawful, but a special dispensation 
 of Pope Julius H had made it legal (§ 222, note). The question 
 was, how to persuade the present Pope, Clement VH, to revoke 
 the action of his predecessor.^ The matter was further com- 
 plicated by the fact that Catherine was the aunt of the Emperor 
 Charles V ; moreover, Charles had captured Rome and held the 
 
 iThe question turned on the point as to whether Julius II was justified in grant- 
 ing the dispensation; if he was, the marriage could not be annulled; but if not, 
 then the marriage was invalid, and Henry was at liberty to marry whom he pleased. 
 
 202 
 
HENRY VIII AND WOLSEY 
 
 Emperor Ch.\rles V 
 
 Pope a prisoner. The Pope needed the support of the Emperor 
 on account of the Protestant Reformation, which was shaking to 
 its very foundations the power of the Papacy in Germany. On the 
 other hand, Clement had no wish to 
 offend Henry, as under the existing 
 condition of affairs in Europe his 
 enmity might be a very serious thing. 
 
 234. Wolsey and the Divorce. — 
 Wolsey was a skillful diplomatist, but 
 he now had to face a matter which, 
 however it might end, was pretty 
 sure to be his ruin. He does not 
 seem at first to have known of 
 Henry's desire to marry Anne Boleyn, 
 and he was willing, though it was 
 against his judgment, to try to gain 
 the Pope's consent to a divorce. 
 
 The Pope, whose policy was clearly that of delay, did his best to 
 prolong the discussion. After about two years of diplomacy the 
 Pope appointed a commission, of which Wolsey was a member, to 
 sit in England (1529). Still no decision was reached. Then 
 Catherine herself made an appeal to the Pope, who took the 
 case into his own hands, and adjourned the trial to Rome, thus 
 insuring still further delay. Henry, unaccustomed to be thwarted 
 in anything, resented this treatment of a matter in which he was 
 personally and passionately concerned. 
 
 235. Henry and Wolsey; Fate of Wolsey. 1530. — Henry 
 vented his wrath upon Wolsey, who was already the enemy of the 
 Duke of Norfolk, Anne Boleyn's uncle, and of Anne herself He 
 was charged with violating the old Statute of Praemunire by be- 
 coming papal legate, and thought it wisest to plead guilty. He 
 was exiled to York and was deprived of the greater part of his 
 possessions and of all of his honors and positions, except that of 
 Archbishop of York. Henry's action was contemptible, for he 
 
204 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 had himself asked for the legatine office for Wolsey, he had prac- 
 tically forced the cardinal to accept it, and it had been used for 
 Henry's benefit. Wolsey knew the king too well to make the 
 slightest resistance, but humbled himself before his unjust master, 
 thereby probably saving his life and the few honors which were 
 left him. But his enemies, fearful of his popularity in the north, 
 brought against him charges of treason. He was summoned to 
 London to answer these, but his health had already broken down 
 under his trials and misfortunes ; he was seized with severe illness 
 and died at Leicester abbey on his way to the Tower (November 
 29, 1530). "Ah," he said to the officer who had him in charge, 
 " had I but served God as diligently as I have served the king, 
 He would not have given me over in my gray hairs. But this is 
 my due reward for my pains and my study, not regarding my 
 service to God but only my duty to my prince." 
 
 236. Cranmer and Cromwell. — Henry again tried to gain per- 
 mission from the Pope to accomplish his purpose. In 1530, by 
 the advice of Thomas Cranmer, afterwards Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury (§ 240), he appealed to the universities of Europe to give 
 an opinion as to whether the Pope had power to legalize a 
 marriage with a brother's widow. As might have been expected, 
 the universities took their time, and when their decision was given 
 it was so evidently the result of royal bribery^ that the Pope 
 remained unmoved by it. Nearly three years had now passed, 
 and by the advice of a new counsellor, Thomas Cromwell, Henry 
 resolved to take things into his own hands. Cromwell, who had 
 been a follower of Wolsey, was, like him, an unscrupulous states- 
 man. Though of humble birth he had great ability ; he also was 
 a firm believer in absolute monarchy, and his policy was more 
 daring than that of the cardinal had been. 
 
 237. Parliament of 1529. — ^Up to this time Henry had ruled 
 practically without Parliaments ; now he made a total change in 
 his poHcy. A Parliament was called in 1529 and it sat continu- 
 
 1 Bribery was a recognized weapon of diplomacy. 
 
HENRY VIII AND PARLIAMENT 
 
 205 
 
 ously for seven years.^ It is one of the most important Parlia- 
 ments in English history. No previous Parliament had been the 
 author of such momentous legislation, and few if any succeeding 
 Parliaments have equaled it. It severed the bonds which united 
 England to Rome ; it 
 established the Na- 
 tional Church ; it dis- 
 solved the smaller 
 monasteries ; it fixed 
 the articles of reli- 
 gious belief; it settled 
 the succession to the 
 crown ; it greatly in- 
 creased the royal 
 authority; it abridged 
 the liberties of the 
 subjects; it united 
 Wales and England ; 
 it passed various 
 economic acts of 
 far-reaching effect ; 
 
 and it dealt with many important social problems. Henry, wiser 
 than Wolsey, who would have abolished Parliament, contrived that 
 his Parliaments should follow his lead. He thus gained the ap- 
 pearance of acting in accord with the wish of the people, and 
 yet had his own way all the time. 
 
 238. Henry breaks with Rome. 1532. — Failing to get the 
 Pope to do as he desired (§ 234), Henry resolved to break with 
 the Roman church. The times were propitious for such an act. 
 Englishmen had never liked foreign influence in the country ; the 
 clergy were wealthy, and there had been undoubted abuses ; and 
 in England the church had lost much of its hold on all classes. 
 Henry was also eager to get hold of the riches of the clergy. 
 
 1 Heretofore Parliament had not sat more than a year without a new election. 
 
 Thomas Cranmer 
 
206 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Lollardry was by no means extinct, and there is little doubt that the 
 new learning had its effect in arousing a feeling against the church. 
 
 It was probably Cromwell who first urged Henry to break with 
 the church. Moving more slowly than Cromwell advised, Henry 
 first denied the power of the Pope to issue any dispensation ; then 
 he called upon Parliament to reform abuses in the church, and 
 sent the petition it framed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who 
 in turn called upon his bishops to reply. The answer of the 
 bishops showed how little they understood either the times they 
 lived in or the king, for they not only said in effect that they ac- 
 knowledged no authority in regard to their laws other than the 
 Bible and the Catholic church, but went even farther, and advised 
 the king " to temper his laws in conformity with these." 
 
 239. Charges against the Clergy; Henry Supreme Head of the 
 Church. 1532. — This position gave Henry his chance, of which 
 he was not slow to avail himself. He induced Parliament to de- 
 clare that the clergy themselves, by the recognition of Wolsey as 
 papal legate, had become guilty of a breach of the Statute of 
 Praemunire, and were therefore liable to a confiscation of all their 
 goods. It was a discreditable charge from beginning to end, for, 
 as the king himself had authorized Wolsey to be legate, if the 
 clergy had refused to obey Wolsey at the time, they would have 
 been punished by royal command. The Convocations ^ of Canter- 
 bury and York offered to buy their pardon for ^118,000, equiva- 
 lent at present values to about ten times that amount ; but Henry 
 refused unless they would acknowledge him as " the singular (sole) 
 protector and only supreme governor of the English church." 
 The convocation could not agree to this statement ; but at last 
 Archbishop Warham suggested the phrase " so far as the laws of 
 Christ permit, its supreme head." The clergy were forced to 
 submit. The words were skillfully chosen, for while they did not 
 ostensibly attack the papal authority, they could, if needful, be in- 
 terpreted to the Pope's great disadvantage. Henry, however, was 
 
 1 Convocation, the representative assembly of the clergy. 
 
HENRY VIII AND THE CHURCH 207 
 
 not satisfied even with this, and later the convocations were forced 
 to sign a "Submission of the Clergy," by which they agreed not 
 to meet in convocation, or pass any canons ^ except by the king's 
 permission (1532). 
 
 240. ''Annates'' held back, 1532; Cranmer Archbishop, 
 1533. — Henry now felt himself in a favorable position to deal with 
 the Pope, though he had no wish to come into unnecessary con- 
 flict with him, and so when Parliament passed an act requiring 
 the bishops to hold back the "Annates," or "first fruits," as they 
 were called, which were annually sent to Rome, he did not sign 
 the bill until he was satisfied that Pope Clement would riot give 
 his sanction to the divorce of Catherine. Henry also secured 
 from Parliament the declaration that no appeals should be made to 
 outside authority, a proceeding which was in accord with the 
 popular feeling. Henry could now do as he pleased. Meantime 
 the Archbishop of Canterbury (William Warham) had died, and 
 Henry had appointed Thomas Cranmer in his place (1533). 
 Cranmer was of good family and had great intellectual abihty, but 
 was inchned to yield to a stronger will, a fact which justly laid 
 him open to the charge of vacillating conduct. 
 
 241. Henry marries Anne Boleyn. 1533 (?). — Henry him- 
 self ended the long struggle by a secret marriage with Anne 
 Boleyn.^ In 1533 Convocation was practically forced to declare 
 that Henry's marriage with Catherine was illegal, and so when the 
 question came before Cranmer, sitting in his episcopal court, he 
 pronounced that marriage void. The secret marriage with Anne 
 Boleyn was then announced, and on June i, 1533, she was crowned 
 queen by Cranmer in great state in Westminster Abbey. Parlia- 
 ment also passed an act fixing the succession on the children of 
 Anne, and disinheriting Mary, the daughter of Catherine. On 
 
 1 Ecclesiastical laws. 
 
 2 The date is uncertain, some think it was in November, 1532, others in Janu- 
 ^'■y. 1533- Anne was the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, and was born in 1507. 
 She was therefore about twenty-six years old, and Henry about forty-two. 
 
208 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 September 7, 1533, Anne gave birth to a daughter, who Hved to be 
 the renowned Queen Elizabeth. 
 
 242. Act of Supremacy; Final Break with Rome. 1534. — 
 Meantime Pope Clement had declared the marriage with Catherine 
 legal, and threatened Henry with excommunication if he did not 
 take her back. As there was no hope of influencing the Pope, 
 Henry determined to break definitely with Rome. He accordingly 
 secured from his subservient Parliament a succession of acts, includ- 
 ing the great Act of Supremacy/ which completed the separation. 
 
 For the most part this legislation was received by the people 
 withouf any especial objection. There was for them little prac- 
 tical alteration in the substitution of the king for the Pope, and 
 no change was made in the doctrines to which they were accus- 
 tomed. There were, however, many to whom the change meant 
 much. The Carthusian monks of London dared to make a pro- 
 test, and twelve of them were put to death as a warning to others.^ 
 
 243. Execution of Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher. 
 1535. — The noblest victim of the new regime was Sir Thomas 
 More, the Oxford reformer, the exemplar of the new learning. 
 He had been Speaker of the House of Commons, and on the fall 
 of Wolsey had been made Chancellor of the Kingdom, an office 
 which he had resigned just before Henry began his attack on the 
 church. Sir Thomas More and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, 
 both of whom had formerly been personal friends of the king, 
 would not take the oath of succession because it involved the 
 acknowledgment of the illegahty of Catherine's marriage. They 
 offered to take any oath regarding the succession Parliament might 
 
 1 The Act of Supremacy (1534) declared " that the king our sovereign lord, his 
 heirs and successors, kings of this realm, shall be taken, accepted, and reputed the 
 only supreme head on earth of the Church of England, called Angllcana Ecclesia, 
 . . ." and shall have " full power to repress, redress, reform, order, correct, restrain, 
 and amend all such errors, heresies, abuses, contempts, and enormities, whatso- 
 ever they may be, . . . any usage, custom, foreign authority, prescription, or any 
 other thing or things to the contrary notwithstanding." 
 
 2 Three of them were hanged, the rest were " chained to posts in a noisome 
 dungeon where they were left to perish of jail fever and starvation." 
 
HENRY VIII AND THE CHURCH 
 
 209 
 
 require, provided the question of the marriage was omitted, but 
 this being the important point in Henry's mind, he imprisoned the 
 two men in the Tower. In 1535, ^^ ^^*^^^ refusal to acknowledge 
 the Act of Supremacy, 
 they were executed, and 
 their heads were set up 
 on London Bridge. 
 
 Fisher had been the 
 father confessor of Lady 
 Margaret Beaufort, the 
 mother of Henry VH, 
 and had been a faithful 
 follower of the Tudors 
 ever since that time. He 
 was a scholar and a friend 
 of the new learning ; he 
 was an upright man and 
 one whose influence had 
 always been for righteous- 
 ness. 
 
 More was perhaps the 
 greatest ornament of Henry's reign. He was the author of Utopia, 
 and was not only one of the most learned men of his time, but 
 also a keen observer of human nature. His ready wit did not fail 
 him at the last. " I pray you," he said, as he ascended the scaffold, 
 " see me safe up, and for my coming down I will shift for myself." 
 Again, after he laid his head upon the block, he moved his beard 
 aside, saying, " Pity that should be cut that has not committed 
 treason."^ 
 
 244. Thomas Cromwell; The Monasteries. 1535. — In 1535 
 
 Thomas Cromwell, though a layman, was appointed Vicar-General 
 
 of the kingdom. Cromwell, while a follower of Wolsey, had seen 
 
 something of the workings of many of the monasteries throughout 
 
 1 Sir Thomas More was fifty-seven years old, and Bishop Fisher seventy-six. 
 
 Sir Thomas More 
 
2IO HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the country, but he had probably seen their worst side. His stead- 
 fast purpose to make the king sole ruler could be furthered by at- 
 tacking these institutions, and he proceeded to do so without pity. 
 The monasteries were wealthy, and Henry wanted money ; where 
 could it be obtained more easily than by despoiling them? It 
 was not hard to persuade Henry to a course that promised to be 
 his advantage, and he quickly fell in with the idea. 
 
 Cromwell saw that there must be some apparent justification 
 for the radical measures which he proposed, and so a commission 
 was sent out to investigate the condition of the monasteries and 
 abbeys. As might be supposed, a commission sent out to dis- 
 cover abuses would be very sure to find them. The report was, 
 in fact, precisely what was desired. The condition of the largest 
 institutions was reported as fairly good, but that of the smaller 
 ones as very bad. 
 
 245. First Dissolution of Monasteries. 1536. — Parhament 
 accepted the report and abolished those monasteries possessing 
 less than a certain income. The number thus suppressed was 
 376 ; their estates were confiscated to the crown, and the inmates 
 were allowed to choose between entering the largest establish- 
 ments^ or abandoning the monastic life; to those choosing the 
 latter course a small pension was allowed. A special court was 
 established to deal with questions arising from this dissolution of 
 the monasteries, as it was called. 
 
 It is probably true that in some of the monasteries abuses and 
 indolence did exist, but that this condition was general can hardly 
 be believed. The monks as a rule were reasonably easy landlords, 
 and hospitable to the stranger and the needy. On the other hand, 
 the monastic system had outlived its usefulness in England, and 
 had become injurious to the country. Enormous riches were 
 locked up in the hands of the abbots, out of the reach alike of 
 
 iThe establishments belonged chiefly to monks of the Benedictine, Cistercian, 
 and Cluniac orders. About two thousand monks and nuns were turned out, and 
 in all, counting attendants, about ten thousand people were dispossessed of 
 homes and employment 
 
DISSOLUTION OF MONASTERIES 
 
 21 I 
 
 English Monasteries dissoLVED by Henry VIII 
 
 the state and of the community ; a large number of men kept 
 in seclusion were of little advantage to themselves or to anybody 
 else ; furthermore, the abbeys and monasteries were no longer 
 centers of learning and schools of industry, as they had been three 
 centuries earlier. Had Henry and Cromwell based their action on 
 the comparative uselessness of the monasteries and the hindrance 
 
2 12 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 they were to the development of the countr}', and had they taken 
 measures to dissolve them in a just manner, providing systematically 
 for the support of the dispossessed monks during life, they would 
 have acted more nearly in accordance with fairness and honesty. 
 
 246. Second Dissolution of Monasteries begun, 1538; Economic 
 and Political Effects. — The dissolution of the larger monasteries 
 was begun in 1538 ; some abbots were persuaded to surrender 
 their buildings and property on the promise of grants for their 
 maintenance, for they knew that refusal meant loss of everything ; 
 but others stood out. In 1539 Parliament passed an act dissolving 
 all monasteries.^ Abbots who resisted were hanged without mercy, 
 buildings were torn down, and the lead, glass, and stone sold for 
 building materials ; shrines were despoiled of gold and jewels, 
 graves were ransacked, and even libraries were destroyed. Among 
 the shrines thus despoiled was that of St. Thomas a Becket at 
 Canterbury, the richest and most popular in England.^ By 1540 
 it is estimated that eight thousand persons belonging to establish- 
 ments had been turned adrift, and ten times as many thrown out 
 of employment. The wealth thus acquired was applied mainly in 
 such a way as to benefit Henry, and that it was shrewdly distributed 
 was shown at a later date. Part of it went to establish new 
 bishoprics, and a few grammar schools ;^ a part was spent in forti- 
 fications on the seacoast ; a part was turned into the royal treasury, 
 and large sums were bestowed on men whom Henry had called 
 around him to form a new nobility"* which would be friendly to him 
 and be a set-off against such of the old nobility as had survived the 
 Wars of the Roses. Of the land belonging to the monasteries a 
 large part was sold to the small landholders near the monasteries 
 
 1 The total number of religious establishments of all kinds, large and small, 
 which were suppressed has been stated at 3219, with an annual income at present 
 values of about $ 10,000,000. 
 
 2 The bones of the martyr were taken from the shrine, burnt, and then scattered 
 abroad. 
 
 3 These foundations were little more than a blind to turn attention from the real 
 facts. 
 
 4 Among tbe§e were the Cecjls, Cavendishes, Dudleys, Russells, and Seymours. 
 
ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EFFECTS 213 
 
 at low prices. To such an extent was this done that when, in the 
 reign of Mary, a proposition was made to restore the monasteries, 
 it was said that more than twenty thousand famihes protested 
 against the scheme, and so it had to be abandoned (§ 271). 
 
 The change of ownership brought about a decided change in the 
 method of renting the land. Under the monasteries the whole or 
 part of the stock on a farm was leased with the land ; the new 
 owners sold the stock, and raised the money rent. The result 
 was that the poorer tenants were almost ruined. From this date 
 pauperism increased, and so, as there were no monasteries to give 
 relief, it had to be provided by the state or local authorities. 
 
 An important political result of Henry's action was the removal 
 of the abbots from the House of Lords. This greatly diminished 
 not only the size of that house, but, what was of more importance, 
 the influence of the church in it ; the royal power, by control of 
 elections to the lower house, was also increased, and from that time 
 to this the lay members have always been largely in the majority. 
 The political revolt from Rome was at last fully accomplished. 
 
 247. Pilgrimage of Grace. 1536-1537. — That the radical 
 measures of Henry and his prime minister should arouse oppo- 
 sition was to be expected, and various symptoms of unrest showed 
 themselves. In 1536 there was a rising in some of the northern 
 counties, which were more strongly Catholic in their sympathies 
 than were those in the south. It was a protest against the anti- 
 Catholic movements and legislation, especially the dissolution 
 of the monasteries. In addition there were, as the result of a 
 period of change, social and economic reasons for the rising, such 
 as land enclosures, the enforced removal of many suits at law to 
 Westminster, and other grievances. There was no talk of over- 
 turning established institutions, or the king, or Parliament. In 
 fact it was a desire to return to the old ways. This rebellion was 
 called the "pilgrimage of Grace," ^ and was marked by wonder- 
 
 1 " Pilgrimage of Grace," so called because the malcontents declared they would 
 go on a pilgrimage to the king at London to state their grievances. 
 
214 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 fully few outrages, considering the times and the ignorance of 
 the common people who took part in it. 
 
 Henry sent the Duke of Norfolk to quell the rising. He made 
 terms with the malcontents, promising, on the king's behalf, redress 
 of certain grievances. The insurgents dispersed, but later (1537) 
 risings took place in other places, and believing they had been 
 deceived, those who had yielded to Norfolk rose again. This 
 time Henry, who possibly did not intend to keep his former prom- 
 ises, had no mercy. He sent orders to Norfolk to execute a suffi- 
 cient number of the rebels thoroughly to intimidate the others. 
 All classes, from the poorest peasants to great nobles and church- 
 men, had taken part in this uprising, and the punishment fell 
 heavily upon all. This rising also brought about a political change 
 in the north, for heretofore the northern counties of Northumber- 
 land, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Durham, and York had not 
 been technically incorporated with England, but had been largely 
 under the control of powerful barons. Now Henry organized the 
 Council of the North, under whose control he placed this district.^ 
 
 248. Death of Catherine; Execution of Anne Boleyn, 1536; 
 Jane Seymour; Prince Edward, 1537. — Meantime two important 
 events had occurred. Catherine of Aragon, the unfortunate 
 divorced wife of Henry, died early in 1536. Henry by this time 
 had become tired of Anne Boleyn and wished to get rid of her. 
 She was accordingly accused of gross immorality, was tried by a 
 court of peers over which her own uncle presided, and though she 
 strenuously denied the charges, she was pronounced guilty and 
 was beheaded.^ Anne was executed (May 19, 1536), and the fol- 
 lowing day Henry married Jane Seymour. The next year a son, 
 
 1 There was already a system of councils, but Henry so reorganized its powers 
 that the Council of the North was practically a new body. It lasted until the Civil 
 War, 1641 (§ 369). 
 
 2 There is no doubt that Anne was indiscreet in her conduct, and that she was 
 arrogant, and even insolent, but that she was guilty of the crimes of which she was 
 accused can scarcely be believed. In her trial no witnesses were summoned 
 against her, nor did she have any counsel for her defense. All her alleged partners 
 in guilt denied the charges, except one, and he confessed only under torture. 
 
HENRY VlirS MARRIAGES 215 
 
 afterwards Edward VI, was born, and Henry had at last the heir 
 so long wished for, but unfortunately Jane died a few days after 
 the birth of her son. About Edward's right to succeed there 
 could be no question, for both Catherine and Anne were dead 
 before his father's marriage to Jane Seymour.^ 
 
 249. Ten Articles of Religion. 1536. — The break with Rome 
 was followed by results that were far-reaching. Neither Henry 
 nor his advisers, not even Cromwell himself, could have expected 
 such great changes as quickly came after the rupture with Rome. 
 While Henry's personal interests had much influence, there were 
 other forces at work at the same time. The great movement 
 known as the Protestant Reformation, which was taking place on 
 the continent of Europe under Luther and his supporters, had its 
 effect ; the new learning made many thoughtful men unwilling to 
 accept doctrines on simple authority ; and, moreover, the prevail- 
 ing feeling of the day was one of restlessness and discontent. In 
 the eventful year 1536 the English clergy, recognizing the growing 
 dissatisfaction in regard to the church, had in convocation drawn 
 up and published ten articles. In these it was stated among other 
 things that the Bible and the three creeds — the Apostles', the 
 Nicene, and the Athanasian — were the sole authority for matters 
 of faith. 
 
 250. Tyndale's Bible, 1526; Coverdale's, 1538. — The natural 
 result of referring to the Bible as authority was to create a demand 
 for copies of the book. An English translation had been made by 
 William Tyndale several years before this time, but Henry himself 
 had prohibited its use. Now he authorized a revision of this 
 translation by Miles Coverdale, and in 1538 ordered that a copy 
 should be placed in every parish church. 
 
 William Tyndale had been a student at Oxford and at Cam- 
 bridge, and had been deeply stirred by the Greek New Testament 
 
 1 The suspicious king could not rest satisfied after his marriage to Jane Sey- 
 mour, but obtained an act from his ready Parliament fixing the succession to the 
 crown in Jane's children, and declaring also that Mary and Elizabeth were illegiti- 
 mate. 
 
2l6 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 which had been issued by Erasmus (1516). From that time Tyn- 
 dale had one thought closely at heart. " If God spares my life," he 
 
 said to a noted churchman, 
 " I will cause a boy that 
 driveth the plow shall know 
 more of Scripture than thou 
 dost." Tyndale's first transla- 
 tion of the Bible, which was 
 introduced into England in 
 1526, was denounced as he- 
 retical. A pile of these Prot- 
 estant books was burned be- 
 fore Wolsey in St. Paul's 
 churchyard; but in spite of 
 royal decrees, copies of Tyn- 
 dale's translation were circu- 
 lated throughout England and 
 eagerly studied by persons of 
 all classes. Coverdale's re- 
 vision^ and the king's sanction 
 brought the book into still 
 greater prominence and favor, 
 but it was too late for its 
 author to see his dream come 
 true. After years of persecution on the Continent, whither he had 
 gone to continue his work, Tyndale was imprisoned for heresy 
 and cruelly put to death in 1536. 
 
 251. Religious Reaction; The Six Articles of Faith, 1539; 
 Plot against Henry. — All this agitation led to some reaction, and 
 so when the Parliament came together in 1539 a movement was 
 
 1 On the title-page of what was really a revised edition in 1539, known as the 
 Great Bible, there is a woodcut, thought to be designed by the great artist Holbein, 
 representing Henry seated on his throne and giving the Bible with his right hand 
 to the clergy and with his left hand to the laity. Thus Henry is represented as tak- 
 ing the place of the Pope. 
 
 Chained Bible in the Church of 
 St. Crux, York 
 
RELIGIOUS REACTION 21 7 
 
 made to check, if not to control, the tendency toward Protestant- 
 ism. Accordingly six Articles of Faith were drawn up, setting 
 forth doctrines which must not be called into question, and severe 
 penalties for their violation were prescribed. These represented 
 the conservative element. On the whole the convictions under 
 these articles were comparatively few, as both Cromwell and 
 Cranmer disapproved of them and had opposed their adoption. 
 
 Henry was not exempt from plots to dispossess him of the 
 throne. The line of Edward IV was extinct, and a conspiracy, in 
 which the exiled Reginald Pole ^ and other members of the family 
 were concerned, was discovered in 1538. Henry, like all the 
 Tudors, was relentless where personal interests were in question. 
 He caused two of the leaders in the plot to be beheaded and the 
 aged Countess of Salisbury to be confined in the Tower. Two 
 years later she was executed (1541). The character of the plot 
 and the evidence against the conspirators are but little known. 
 
 252. Cromwell's Loss of Prestige ; Anne of Cleves. 1539-1540. 
 — Henry's quarrel with Rome had not been due to religious con- 
 viction, but to religious expediency, and to a determination to 
 have his own way. He did not share Cromwell's leaning toward 
 Protestantism, and he was quite willing to let the church remain 
 as it had been, provided his own authority could be substituted 
 for that of the Pope. With this point of view many Englishmen 
 were ready to agree. 
 
 There had always been more or less jealousy of Cromwell's 
 political influence. His interest in Protestantism now led him to 
 attempt an alliance against the Emperor, Charles V. To further 
 this end he brought about a marriage between Henry and Anne of 
 Cleves, a German princess, whom the king had never seen. When 
 his bride was presented to him Henry was greatly disappointed in 
 her appearance, and, though the marriage was celebrated, it was 
 
 1 Reginald Pole was the son of Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, a niece of 
 Edward IV. Reginald Pole became Archbishop of Canterbury under Mary 
 (§§ 278. 283). 
 
2l8 HISTORY OP^ ENGLAND 
 
 almost immediately annulled. Cromwell's influence with the king 
 had suffered a fatal blow. 
 
 253, Fall of Cromwell. 1540. — Meantime, even before the 
 marriage with Anne, the main object of an alliance — a league 
 against Charles — had been made unattainable by the temporary 
 reconciliation of the Emperor with Francis and some of the 
 Protestant princes. Cromwell had thus failed in his policy as 
 well as in his plans regarding the king's marriage. Henry vented 
 his wrath upon his prime minister. Many of the nobility hated 
 the "upstart," and carried out their share in his punishment with 
 pleasure. Within a week after the divorce of Anne, a bill of at- 
 tainder against Cromwell was passed by Parliament, and without 
 having been given the opportunity to speak a word in his own 
 defense, he was executed (July 28, 1540). 
 
 Severe as Cromwell was, and questionable as not a few of his acts 
 had been, he either carried out or confirmed three revolutionary 
 changes in England, which were : (i) reform in the Church of 
 England ; (2) putting an end to the power of the Pope in Eng- 
 land ; (3) and transferring the power which had formerly belonged 
 to the Pope to the English crown. All this had been accomplished 
 without war either at home or abroad, a result which no other 
 nation of that period was able to attain. 
 
 254. Henry rules Alone ; Catherine Howard and Catherine 
 Parr. — For the rest of his reign Henry ruled without any prime 
 minister. In the year of Cromwell's downfall (1540) Henry mar- 
 ried his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, a cousin of Anne Boleyn. 
 Before two years had passed Henry discovered that she had been 
 guilty of improper conduct before her marriage, and by a bill of 
 attainder she was condemned, and afterwards beheaded. The next 
 year (1542) Henry married his sixth and last wife, Catherine 
 Parr, a young widow, who managed to outlive him.^ 
 
 1 The following lines serve to tell the story of the fate of Henry's wives : — 
 
 " Divorced, beheaded, died, 
 Divorced, beheaded, survived." 
 
HENRY VIII AND IRELAND 
 
 219 
 
 PETtRS.iNCRS ..BOSI 
 
 255. Henry VIII and Ireland. — In addition to the dangers 
 threatening Henry from the Continent, he was ahvays Kable to 
 attacks from Ireland and Scotland, and also to domestic irrita- 
 tions stirred up from time to time by his continental enemies. 
 Ireland was in about the same condition as it had been under 
 Henry's predecessors. Beyond the English Pale (§§ 168, 181), 
 
2 20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the native chiefs, with no idea of union for common benefit, 
 fought among themselves, and were also always ready to aid 
 France or Scotland, as the case might be. The House of York 
 had been popular in Ireland, and it will be remembered that both 
 Warbeck and Simnel (§ 216) had found support there. After the 
 era of Sir Edward Poynings and the passage of the Poynings Acts 
 (§ 217) there was comparative quiet for a time, but the normal 
 condition of unrest soon returned. There were endless quarrels 
 between the Butlers, who were headed by the Earl of Ormonde, 
 and the Geraldines or Fitzgeralds, who were led by the Earls of 
 Kildare and Desmond. Several attempts had been made to 
 preserve order, but these had been failures, partly because no 
 systematic policy was followed, and partly because of the willful 
 misunderstanding of the Irish character, or the ignoring of it. 
 
 In 1533 a rebellion broke out, headed by a Lord Thomas 
 Fitzgerald. After considerable difficulty this was put down, and 
 the leader and five of his uncles were hanged as traitors. An 
 attempt was now made to force reformatory measures in the 
 church of Ireland. It is likely that the upper classes cared little 
 about the matter, but the great mass of the population were 
 strongly Catholic and deeply resented the measures which were 
 taken. Nearly everything that had occurred in England was re- 
 peated in Ireland. Monasteries were broken up and their prop- 
 erty seized ; shrines were despoiled and their ornaments and 
 wealth carried off; relics and images, which were regarded with 
 veneration by the people, were ruthlessly destroyed ; and English- 
 speaking priests were placed in charge of the churches. These 
 proceedings were not confined to the Pale, but wherever practi- 
 cable were forced upon the Irish outside. The result was that a 
 vast amount of ill feeling was needlessly and cruelly stirred up. 
 
 By a Parliament held in Dublin (1542) Henry was acknowledged 
 to be king of Ireland ; hitherto he had borne the title Lord of 
 Ireland, which had been granted to Henry II by Pope Adrian IV 
 (1154) (§ 70). The new title showed his independence of the 
 
HENRY VIII AND SCOTLAND 221 
 
 Pope. This Irish ParUament is interesting, as it was the first in 
 which the native chiefs took part. Henry gave these chiefs Eng- 
 Hsh titles, and tried to gain their support by bestowing on them 
 the spoils of the monasteries, and he succeeded in keeping them 
 quiet for the few remaining years of his reign. 
 
 256. Henry VIII and Scotland. — The plan of Henry VII in 
 marrying his eldest daughter, Margaret, to James IV (§ 222) had 
 not proved very successful in bringing about a better feeling 
 between England and Scotland. James V during his minority 
 had been much under the influence of the French party in Scot- 
 land. They were friendly to the clergy, who were bitterly opposed 
 to the reforming poHcy of Henry VIII. The consequence was 
 that the young king joined the French party and married, first, 
 Magdalen, daughter of the French king, then, after her early death, 
 Mary of Guise, a member of a powerful family in France. Henry's 
 overtures of friendship to James were not kindly received. Shortly 
 after the death of Cromwell, England's relations with France 
 became greatly strained, and Henry, conscious that he might be 
 attacked from Scotland, determined to anticipate the blow and 
 strike himself. In 1542 the Duke of Norfolk crossed the border 
 and ravaged the Scottish lands. An army which James sent under 
 an incompetent general against Norfolk was terribly defeated at 
 Solway Moss, and for a time the danger from Scotland was 
 removed. James V was so distressed at the tidings of defeat that 
 he was seized with illness and died. A few days before his death 
 word was brought to him that his wife had given birth to a daugh- 
 ter. " Ah," he said, thinking of the Scottish crown, " it came 
 with a lass, and it will go with a lass."^ This daughter was she 
 who is known the world over as Mary Queen of Scots. 
 
 257. Henry VIII and France. 1543-1546. — In 1543 the long- 
 looked for war with France broke out. Henry had made friends 
 
 1 Marjory, daughter of Robert Bruce I, married Walter Stuart; her son, Robert 
 II (1371-1390), brought the crown of Scotland into the Stuart family. See genea- 
 logical table, page 135. 
 
222 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 again with the Emperor Charles V, who did not let Henry's treat- 
 ment of his aunt, Catherine of Aragon, stand in the way when any- 
 thing was to be gained. Henry sent troops to aid Charles and 
 himself took the field against Boulogne. Charles, finding it to his 
 advantage to make peace with France, deserted Henry and left 
 him to fight his battles alone. The English king was successful in 
 taking and holding Boulogne, which enabled him to make better 
 terms than would otherwise have been possible. The useless war 
 came to an end in 1546. 
 
 258. Domestic Affairs. — Henry now turned his attention to 
 home affairs. The war had been expensive and the finances of 
 the country were in a bad way. When Henry ascended the throne, 
 he was free from debt and wealthy, but the vast stores accumu- 
 lated by his father, Henry VH, had all been squandered, together 
 with the wealth acquired by the dissolution of the monasteries and 
 the spoliation of the church. Henry had to do something and 
 he was ready to do almost anything. Parliament relieved him 
 from the necessity of paying a loan which had been contracted 
 some time before ; a benevolence levied in 1545 helped him some- 
 what ; but to benefit himself still further he followed the dangerous 
 plan of debasing the coinage.^ Twice he reduced the amount of 
 silver in the coins, and paid his debts with the money of the 
 same nominal value, but really of much less worth. The result on 
 the business of the country was disastrous, as such expedients 
 must always be, though the full effect was not felt for some time. 
 The cost of the necessities of life more than doubled, while wages 
 increased little more than half, thus making a heavy burden fall 
 on the working classes, who were least able to bear it. The effects 
 of the debasing of the coinage also fell heavily on the landowners, 
 and on the commercial class as well, for the continental mer- 
 chants would not take the debased English coins in payment 
 for goods or in settlement of debts. 
 
 1 Henry reduced the value of the coins more than one half. The full value of the 
 coinage vi^as not restored until the reign of Elizabeth. 
 
RIVAL PARTIES IN THE STATE 
 
 223 
 
 259. An English Prayer Book; Rival Parties; Death of 
 Henry. 1547. — Meantime there had been a reaction in religious 
 matters, and in 1543 Bishop Gardiner had forbidden the reading 
 of the Bible to ''husbandmen, artificers, and journeymen, and to 
 all women except gentlewomen." In 1544 Archbishop Cranmer, in 
 directing prayers to be offered for Henry and the English armies be- 
 fore Boulogne, ordered that they should be said in English so that all 
 might miderstand them. In the same year he composed in English 
 that part of the church service known as the Litany, and he also 
 issued a small book of private prayer in English. These were the 
 foundation of what is now known as the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 There were two parties in the state — the conservative, headed 
 by the Duke of Norfolk, his son Henry Howard, the poet, and 
 Bishop Gardiner ; and the radical, or Protestant, headed by 
 Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford, brother of Queen Jane 
 Seymour, and by John Dudley. The latter party was supported 
 by Archbishop Cranmer. 
 
 Henry's health had been failing for some time ; he had grown 
 extremely stout, and so weak that he was not able even to sign 
 his name, but was compelled to use a stamp in signing documents. 
 As Henry felt his life drawing to a close he wished to make the 
 succession of his son as secure as possible, and beHeving that the 
 interests of the little king would be safest in the hands of his 
 uncle, Edward Seymour, resolved to put the other claimants to 
 the throne out of the way. The Duke of Norfolk and his son, 
 Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey,^ were arrested on a charge of 
 treason, and the earl was executed ; his father was to have been 
 executed the next week, but Henry died before he could sign the 
 bill of attainder, and the duke remained in prison. 
 
 1 Surrey in addition to some frivolous charges was accused of quartering the 
 royal arms on his shield. This he had a right to do, as he was undoubtedly of 
 royal descent, but his action was exceedingly ill-advised under such a king as 
 Henry, Surrey was a highly educated man and one of England's truest poets. 
 He introduced blank verse into English literature, and was one of the earliest 
 English poets to use the form of the Italian sonnet. 
 
224 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 260. Character of Henry VIII ; His Achievements. — Few 
 kings of England have provoked more discussion than Henry 
 VIII. For many years the attention of readers and students was 
 so centered on his bad quaHties and evil deeds that his ability 
 and his real achievements were overlooked. He was coarse, 
 hard, selfish, revengeful, false when it suited his purpose, deter- 
 mined to have his own way, and unscrupulous in attaining it. On 
 the other hand, he was clear-headed, far-sighted, courageous, and 
 intelligent ; in matters of pubhc interest he knew exactly what he 
 wanted, and, what was of far more importance, was rarely mis- 
 taken in his judgment of how far he could go. He was, like his 
 daughter EHzabeth, an admirable judge of public opinion. It is 
 this fact which explains what would otherwise be so singular, that 
 until the latter part of his reign he was popular. 
 
 Henry VIII succeeded in almost everything he undertook, and 
 very much of what he did, or what was done with his approval, 
 remains. Among other things, as has been seen, he destroyed 
 the monasteries ; he severed England from Rome ; he set up a 
 state church; he completed the union between England and 
 Wales; he helped to develop Parliament. 
 
 More than preceding monarchs Henry recognized the value of 
 commerce. He made navigation of the great rivers free, suppress- 
 ing tolls and removing other hindrances. He improved the 
 harbors, in one instance at least, at his own expense ; though he 
 did not found the Royal Navy, he was the first to organize it into 
 a separate department. He encouraged foreign trade and vigor- 
 ously repressed piracy. He built larger ships for the navy, and 
 The Great Harry , a four- master, finished in 15 15, was consid- 
 ered a maritime wonder. It was in her that Henry crossed the 
 Channel to meet Francis I at the Field of the Cloth of Gold 
 (§ 230). 
 
 While the important social, religious, and political changes of 
 his reign can only in some measure be ascribed to him, yet it 
 must be said that, had he chosen, he could have postponed the 
 
CHARACTER OF HENRY VHI 
 
 22 
 
 progress of England perhaps for another generation. It should be 
 remembered that Henry had no standing army, and, except in 
 the case of the Pilgrimage of Grace, that force was not used to 
 settle domestic troubles. It was not needed because, on the 
 whole, Henry represented what was the feeling of the majority 
 of the people. 
 His success can be 
 explained in no 
 other way. 
 
 The only thing 
 which can be said 
 for Henry on the 
 moral side is, that 
 we have no reason 
 to suppose that he 
 was much worse 
 than his contem- 
 poraries. He did 
 openly what others 
 did secretly. The 
 peculiar circum- 
 stances of his posi- 
 tion brought his 
 vices into light and 
 kept them there, while those of others were excused or ignored, 
 and have been forgotten. 
 
 The rule of the age was not principle or religion, but expe- 
 diency. This governed everything in the state, and to a very 
 large extent in the church, also. When this fact is understood, 
 many things become clear. Henry was no better than his age, 
 and expediency and pleasure ruled his life. But after all has 
 been said that can be said, Henry remains one of the most 
 immoral kings that England has known.^ 
 
 1 William Rufus, John, and Charles II probably were worse than he. 
 
 Ship of the Navy of Henry VIII 
 
 After an old print 
 
2 26 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 261. The English Reformation; the Succession. — In Henry's 
 reign was accomplished the break from Rome known as the Enghsh 
 Reformation.^ This movement, of such great import to England, 
 differed greatly from similar movements on the Continent. ** It was 
 from above, not from below ; royal, not popular ; political, not 
 doctrinal ; gradual, not revolutionary." It was part of Henry's 
 policy of expediency. One result of the course in England was 
 that the terrible wars of rehgion on the Continent did not have 
 their counterpart in England ; Great Britain was saved a Thirty 
 Years' War, though she did not escape some persecution, both 
 Catholic and Protestant. 
 
 Henry's fears regarding the succession probably led to the passage 
 by Parliament (1544) of an act which restored Mary and Elizabeth 
 to legitimacy, and gave Henry the power to name his successors 
 should his own descendants fail. Accordingly, he left a will pro- 
 viding that in case Edward should die without children, first Mary, 
 and then Ehzabeth should succeed, and if neither of them should 
 have children, the crown should go to the descendants of Henry's 
 younger sister, Mary (§ 227, note), Duchess of Suffolk. He thus, 
 contrary to the rules of descent, left out the descendants of his 
 oldest sister, Margaret, wife of James IV of Scotland (§ 222). 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, vi, §§ 5-6, chap, vii, § i ; Gar- 
 diner, Studenfs History, chap, xxiv, §§ 15-17, chaps, xxv-xxvi ; Terry, His- 
 tory, Part III, Book II, chaps, ii-iv (pp. 520-558); Tout, Advanced History, 
 Book V, chap, ii, §§ 17-30, chap, iii ; Seebohm, Era of the Protestant Revo- 
 lution, Part I, chap, iii (e). Part II, chap, ii, Part III, chap, ii; Traill, Social 
 England, vol. Ill, chap, ix ; Adams and Stephens, Select Doctmients, §§ 144- 
 159 ; Cheyney, Readings, chap, xii, § iii ; Colby, Selections, §§ 54-58 ; Kendall, 
 Source-Book, §§ 46-48; Lee, Source-Book, §§ 108-122. 
 
 1 The reaction under Mary was only temporary, and the nominal reunion with 
 Rome never became a reality. 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 EDWARD VI AND MARY 
 
 262. Edward VI. 1547. — Edward VI was but little more than 
 nine years old when he came to the throne. Like his sisters, 
 Mary and Elizabeth, Edward was carefully educated. Like them, 
 also, he was a precocious child. When he was ten years old he 
 knew Latin, Greek, and French ; when thirteen he had read at 
 least two of Aristotle's treatises and had translated some of Cicero 
 into Greek. It is related of him that he " was always cheerful at 
 his books," and that no study delighted him more than that of 
 the Holy Scriptures, " of which he reads daily ten chapters with 
 greatest attention." Young as he was, he took deep interest in 
 the affairs of his kingdom, and seems to have exercised no small 
 influence during the latter years of his short reign. He was 
 brought up under strong Protestant surroundings, which naturally 
 had a lasting effect upon him. 
 
 263. Protector Somerset. 1547. — Henry had arranged for a 
 council to rule the realm during his son's minority, and had ap- 
 pointed men from both the reform and the conservative parties in 
 the hopes that a middle course would be pursued. This arrange- 
 ment was set aside by the executors, who appointed Edward 
 Seymour, the little king's uncle, now Duke of Somerset, Lord 
 Protector of the Realm and Governor of the King, and for a time 
 he ruled almost independently of the council. Somerset, as he is 
 generally called, was an able man, and apparently desirous of 
 acting for the good of the country, but he possessed no skill in 
 statecraft. The times called for statesmanship of a high order, and 
 chiefly because he did not possess this, he failed. There were 
 four matters each of which demanded the most careful and tactful 
 
 227 
 
2 28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 handling : the social conditions ; the relations with Scotland ; the 
 relations with the continental powers ; and the attitude toward 
 Protestantism and the rehgious question in general. 
 
 264. Progress of the Protestant Movement. — Somerset sympa- 
 thized with the reform movement in the church. A commission was 
 sent out to investigate the state of affairs and to reform abuses. 
 By order of this commission paintings on the walls of churches 
 and chapels were whitewashed, images torn down, splendid 
 stained glass windows ruthlessly broken into pieces, and carvings 
 and statuary ruined. Parliament repealed the Six Articles (§ 251) 
 and also modified religious observances. Chantries, fraternities, 
 and gilds of a religious character were abolished and their prop- 
 erty confiscated.^ Many, if not most, of these and other changes 
 were made by act of Parliament, but this is no indication that they 
 accorded with the popular wish, for it must be remembered that all 
 through the Tudor period (1483-1603) Parhament represented, not 
 the people, but only certain portions of the community, and was 
 usually chosen in accordance with the will of the sovereign. Never- 
 theless the fact that ParHaments were called and consulted by the 
 monarch was of vast importance, for thereby precedents were set 
 to which the people could appeal when opportunities for greater 
 liberty came. 
 
 While London and a number of the cities and towns sympathized 
 to a great extent with the new religious movement, the people of 
 the rural districts clung to the old ceremonies and to the beliefs 
 in which they had been brought up. They had been willing that 
 Henry should take the place of the Pope as head of the church, 
 but to give up the church services and doctrines was quite another 
 thing. England was far from being Protestant at Henry's death. 
 
 265. Character and Policy of Somerset; an English Prayer 
 Book. 1549. — Somerset seems to have been a sincere and con- 
 
 1 To win the approval of the country at large some schools were founded from 
 the spoils, but these did not exceed twenty or twenty-five at most, and some were 
 so inadequately provided for that they amounted to little. Some of these schools 
 still exist and are called King Edward VI Grammar Schools. 
 
CHARACTER AND POLICY OF SOMERSET 
 
 229 
 
 scientious man ; he was tolerant in an age of intolerance ; he did 
 not persecute those who differed from him ; he sympathized with 
 the common people against the nobles ; and he apparently sup- 
 ported Protestantism from personal conviction. On the other 
 hand, he was arrogant in manner and did not hesitate to push 
 
 Coronation Procession of Edward VI passing Cheapside Cross 
 After a contemporary painting 
 
 his own interests ; he failed to understand the public mind, and 
 he blundered in almost everything he undertook. His aims were 
 high ; his execution was ill-advised and bungling. Henry had 
 arranged for a marriage between his son Edward, nine years old, 
 and the young queen Mary of Scotland, aged four. Somerset 
 rightly believed that Henry's policy of thus uniting England and 
 Scotland was wise, but he attempted to force Scotland to ratify it. 
 You may persuade a Scotsman, but it is exceedingly difficult to 
 force him. Somerset invaded Scotland, won a decisive victory 
 at Pinkie Cleugh near Edinburgh (1547), and ravaged the south- 
 eastern part of the kingdom. The Scots, angered, sent the little 
 
2 30 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Mary to France, where she was brought up under Catholic influence 
 and became a bitter enemy of England. Furthermore, an alliance 
 between Scotland and France was brought about, to the great 
 injury of both England and Scotland. 
 
 In religious matters, also, Somerset showed great lack of judg- 
 ment. In 1548 priests, by act of Parliament, were allowed to 
 marry. In 1549 English churches, by an Act of Uniformity, were 
 required to employ the English language and use what is known 
 now as the First Prayer Book of Edward VI. This book was 
 chiefly the work of Archbishop Cranmer, and consisted of trans- 
 lations into beautiful English of various parts of the old Latin 
 service books. The book was a conservative one and could hardly 
 be called Protestant, but the change was unwelcome to very 
 many, especially to the people of Devonshire and Cornwall. A 
 serious rebellion broke out in these counties in 1549, due mainly 
 to religious causes, but also to social grievances. In the same 
 year another rebellion broke out in Norfolk, known, from the 
 name of its leader, as Ket's rebellion. But the causes of this were 
 wholly social.^ Somerset, understanding the grievances of these 
 people, began with lenient treatment, but was compelled at last to 
 use force. His effort failed in Norfolk, and the Council, with the 
 aid of German troops, put down the rebellion with great severity. 
 
 266. Foreign Affairs ; Deposition of Somerset. 1549. — Somer- 
 set was no more successful in foreign affairs than in domestic. 
 He neither negotiated an alliance with the Emperor Charles V, 
 nor watched France. War broke out with France in 1549. To 
 crown all, the debt of the country had been greatly increased. 
 It was no wonder that Somerset was deposed from the Protecto- 
 rate (1549). While it is true that Somerset tried to do too many 
 things at once, and showed deplorable lack of judgment, it should 
 also be remembered that he ruled in a time of extraordinary diffi- 
 culty. Henry VIII had left the land in debt, with a debased cur- 
 
 1 Robert Ket was the lord of a manor, but took the popular side, demanding 
 that all inclosures of land should be pulled down, and all villeins should be sef 
 free (1549). 
 
DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND AS PROTECTOR 23 1 
 
 rency and a dissatisfied people ; social conditions were in a state 
 of unrest, owing to changes little understood and beyond the reach 
 of legislation. It is to the great credit of Somerset that, almost 
 alone of his class, he tried to lessen these evils, thereby incurring 
 the enmity of his own associates. 
 
 267. Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, in Control, 1549; Act 
 of Uniformity, 1552. — Dudley, Earl of Warwick, but better 
 known by his later title of Northumberland, now assumed the 
 leadership, though he did not take the title of Protector. He 
 was a son of Dudley, minister of Henry VH, and was an able 
 soldier, a skilled admiral, and a diplomatist, but he was unprin- 
 cipled and wholly devoted to self-advancement. He took up the 
 cause of Protestantism from selfish motives only. Peace was 
 made with France, and laws attempting to remedy the social 
 and financial difficulties were passed. The government, however, 
 issued more debased coin, thereby increasing the financial 
 troubles. Somerset was recalled to the Council, and it was soon 
 evident that he was regaining his former influence. On a charge 
 of treason, which could not be proved, and then on a charge of 
 felony, Dudley sent him to the Tower and afterwards caused him 
 to be executed. 
 
 Meanwhile Dudley, who had been created Duke of North- 
 umberland, believed that his only chance lay in leading the party 
 of extreme radical reformers of the church. The persecution of 
 the Protestants on the Continent sent to England a number of 
 refugees, particularly those who followed the Swiss reformer, 
 Zwingli, and their influence on English religious practice became 
 great. (App. i, § 127, Note.) In 1552 a new Act of Uniformity 
 required the use in all churches of the Second Prayer Book of 
 Edward VI. This was a revision of the edition of 1549 and was 
 more distinctly Protestant in its statement of doctrine. This 
 book, to all intents and purposes, is the Book of Common Prayer 
 now used by the Church of England and, with considerable 
 change, by the Episcopal Church in America. In 1553 there 
 
232 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 was put forth, as the standard of doctrine, a document known as 
 the Forty-two Articles of Religion. These showed very clearly 
 the influence of the continental reformers. Somewhat revised in 
 the reign of Elizabeth, they are the Thirty-nine Articles of the 
 Church of England to-day. 
 
 268. The Succession; Schemes of Northumberland. 1553. — 
 The health of the young king, who had never been robust, now 
 began to fail, and it became evident that his life must soon end. 
 This alarmed Northumberland, for, unless he could make his 
 position secure, he himself would be likely to suffer the fate of 
 Somerset. The will of Henry VIII, which had been ratified by 
 Parliament, fixed the succession, first, in Edward's children if 
 he had any, then in Mary, then in Elizabeth, and then in the 
 heirs of Henry's youngest sister Mary (§ 261). This arrange- 
 ment was satisfactory to the country at large. 
 
 Mary, the daughter of Catherine of Aragon, clung tenaciously 
 to the Catholic religion. When the Council forbade her to prac- 
 tice its rites, the Emperor Charles V, her first cousin, interfered 
 in her behalf, and from motives of policy she was allowed 
 to have her way. Should she come to the throne, it was certain 
 that, whatever else might happen, Northumberland and his follow- 
 ers would be driven from power. He therefore hit upon the 
 scheme of setting aside both Mary and Elizabeth as illegitimate, 
 and of placing on the throne a descendant of Mary Brandon, 
 Henry's youngest sister. 
 
 With his usual craftiness, the duke married one of his sons. 
 Lord Guilford Dudley, to Lady Jane Grey, Mary Brandon's grand- 
 daughter, and then brought his arguments to bear upon the king. 
 Skillfully placing before the young ruler the great dangers to the 
 Protestant faith which would surely arise if Mary, a strong Catholic, 
 should succeed to the throne, Northumberland persuaded Edward, 
 who was an equally strong Protestant, that he had the right to 
 dispose of the crown by will as his father had done. It was then 
 easy to prevail upon him to leave the crown to Lady Jane Grey. 
 
QUEEN MARY 233 
 
 As Lady Jane Grey was Northumberland's daughter-in-law, 
 Northumberland thought that he would continue to be master of 
 the kingdom. It was exceedingly difficult to get the Council to 
 agree to this arrangement, for though Henry had disposed of the 
 crown by will, his action had been approved by Parliament, whereas 
 Edward was a minor and Parliament had not even been consulted. 
 The influence of Northumberland, however, backed by the per-, 
 sonal appeals of the king, prevailed. 
 
 269. Death of Edward VI ; Lady Jane Grey. 1553. — The will 
 had hardly been executed when Edward VI died (July 6, 1553). 
 Two days after Edward's death, Northumberland proclaimed Lady 
 Jane Grey as queen. Except by a very few of the extreme reform 
 party, the proclamation was received with coldness. Lady Jane 
 Grey was unknown, and Northumberland was hated ; moreover, 
 it was almost universally believed that Mary was the rightful heir. 
 Her steady endurance had won respect, and the ultra-reformers 
 had gone so far that they had provoked resentment. Mary fled to 
 the eastern part of England, which, though it was the stronghold 
 of Protestantism, loyally supported her. The troops of Northum- 
 berland led against her went over to her side, and he, hoping to 
 save his head, acknowledged her as queen. He was, however, 
 arrested and sent to the Tower, and though he abjectly renounced 
 Protestantism, his recantation did not delay his execution. Lady 
 Jane Grey and her husband were also arrested and sent to the 
 Tower. The young queen of nine days was not yet seventeen 
 years old ; she had been carefully educated and was familiar with 
 Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. She had a lovely character and dispo- 
 sition, and had unwilHngly assumed the position, beheving it was a 
 duty imposed upon her. 
 
 270. Mary I. 1553. — While there was undoubtedly some re- 
 action against the extreme Protestantism of Edward's government, 
 it was not that which made the people welcome Mary, but rather 
 the feeling that she was the rightful heir. 
 
 Mary was the first queen regnant of England. She was thirty- 
 
2 34 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 seven years old when proclaimed. She too had been carefully edu- 
 cated. At eight she could read Latin and Greek ; at eleven she 
 conversed with ease in Latin, French, and Spanish, besides having 
 some knowledge of Italian. She had also been taught astronomy, 
 geography, natural science, and mathematics, and she was an able 
 performer on the lute and spinet. She possessed the Tudor 
 ability and courage in no small degree, but lacked the faculty of 
 reading public opinion which was so marked a characteristic of her 
 grandfather, father, and sister. She was naturally kind in disposi- 
 tion, and for personal wrongs showed at first great clemency. 
 "The most honest of Tudor rulers, she never consciously did 
 what she thought to be wrong." But her one passion was to re- 
 store England to the Catholic Church. Though she owed her 
 throne to the loyalty of her subjects, and was received with ac- 
 clamation, she gradually aroused almost universal hatred. From 
 first to last her reign was a tragedy. No other reign in English 
 history, not even that of King John, is regarded by the English 
 with such aversion ; no monarch has secured a harsher epithet 
 than that by which she is known, " Bloody Queen Mary." 
 
 271. Religious Reaction. 1553. — Her first Parliament de- 
 clared her to be the legitimate heir, repealed all acts concerning 
 religion passed during the reign of Edward VI, and, in general, 
 restored the conditions existing under Henry VIII. This meant 
 the abolition of the services in English, and the disuse of the 
 English Prayer Book ; the reinstatement of the mass, the celibacy 
 of the clergy, and the Six Articles (§ 251). Though it must 
 have been distasteful, Mary even assumed the title Supreme 
 Head of the Church. Besides this, she set free all the bishops 
 and nobles who had been imprisoned during the previous reign, 
 among them Bishop Gardiner and the Duke of Norfolk ; she im- 
 prisoned Archbishop Cranmer and Bishops Ridley and Latimer, 
 and would doubtless have arrested more had not many of the 
 Protestant clergy fled to the Continent for safety. She made 
 Gardiner, former Bishop of Winchester, her chancellol. 
 
QUEEN MARY 
 
 235 
 
 Mary would have not only restored England to the Pope, 
 but also given back the lands and properties of the monks seized 
 by Henry. But submissive as her Parliament was, it was not 
 ready to go farther in the matter of religion. The confiscated 
 lands were held by about four thousand owners, who could not 
 be persuaded to resign them. 
 Mary, however, still clung to 
 the idea of restoring England 
 to the Pope. 
 
 272. Foreign Affairs. — 
 Mary now came more fully 
 under the influence of Charles 
 V and his ambassador at 
 London. For Charles she 
 entertained feelings of grati- 
 tude and trust. He had in- 
 terfered on her behalf during 
 the late reign, he was the 
 champion of Catholicism, he 
 was also her first cousin, be- 
 ing the grandson of Ferdinand 
 and Isabella, and so a nephew of her mother, Catherine of 
 Aragon. 
 
 European politics at this time played a great part in English 
 affairs. The next legal heir to the English crown after Mary's 
 sister, Elizabeth, was Mary Queen of Scots, who was in France, 
 and was to marry the heir to the French crown. Should she 
 succeed to the English throne, England and Scotland would 
 become allies of France, Charles's great rival. To prevent this 
 possibility and secure the English alliance for Spain, Charles pro- 
 posed to Mary, the English queen, that she should marry his son, 
 Philip.^ (App. I, § 128.) Philip was a widower and about twelve 
 years younger than Mary, but for him she conceived a romantic 
 1 Later Philip II of Spain. 
 
 Queen Mary 
 After a portrait by Antonio Moro 
 
236 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and sincere affection, and with true Tudor determination she 
 resolved to marry him. 
 
 273. The Spanish Marriage. — Parhament was opposed to a 
 marriage with any foreigner and wished Mary to marry Courtenay, 
 a lineal descendant of Edward IV, who had been kept in confine- 
 ment many years. Except his royal blood there was nothing to 
 recommend him, for he was dissolute in his habits and of small 
 ability. Mary, to show her displeasure, dissolved Parliament. 
 She went on with negotiations, and signed the marriage treaty early 
 in 1554. It was agreed that Phihp should be only titular king of 
 England, that the crowns of England and Spain should never be 
 united, that England should not be required to aid Spain against 
 France, and that no foreigner should hold any command in the 
 English army or navy. 
 
 274. Wyatt's Rebellion. — The news of what Mary had done 
 led to Wyatt's rebellion (1554). Sir Thomas Wyatt and his fellow- 
 conspirators, who were strong Protestants, raised the cry against 
 the foreign marriage, endeavoring to keep the religious question 
 in the background. The rising began in Kent, where the dread 
 of Spanish invasion was keen. Wyatt, at the head of what was 
 hardly more than a mob, marched to London, and for a time it 
 seemed as if the queen and her party were in great danger. The 
 Tudor spirit and courage of Mary were equal to the situation. 
 She went to Guildhall^ and in a bold speech declared that she 
 threw herself for protection on her subjects, and that she would 
 never marry without the consent of Parliament. The tide turned, 
 the powerful landowners went over to Mary, and even promised 
 men to support her. Though Wyatt, by a circuitous route, 
 reached the center of London, it was with only a few followers, 
 and before long he was captured. An earlier rising in Devonshire 
 was also a failure. 
 
 1 Guildhall, originally a hall for the meeting of a gild (or guild). As such a hall 
 was often used for the meeting of the town corporation, it came to mean, as in this 
 case, the town hall or council chamber. 
 
LADY JANE GREY 
 
 '^Zl 
 
 Jane 
 
 Inscription cut in wall of Lord Guilford Dud- 
 ley's Cell in the Tower of London. 
 
 275. Execution of Lady Jane Grey. 1554. — If Mary had been 
 lenient in the earlier days of her reign, she was so no longer. 
 The Tudor vindictiveness of Henry VII and Henry VIII re- 
 appeared in her. Wyatt, Suffolk, and other leading rebels were 
 sent to the block, and saddest of all, the youthful Lady Jane Grey 
 and her husband, Lord 
 Guilford Dudley, who had 
 been confined in the 
 Tower ^ since the acces- 
 sion of Mary, were also 
 executed, though they had 
 no connection with the 
 plots. Lady Jane Grey 
 was sacrificed to the 
 doctrine of expediency. 
 She had some claim to 
 
 the crown by descent, she had been the center of Northumber- 
 land's plot, and around her some future revolt might center ; per- 
 sonal character or even innocence had nothing to do with the 
 matter. She met her death with calm courage, and while she 
 acknowledged her mistake in taking the crown, she denied that 
 she had wished or sought it. " She was sixteen years and five 
 months old, an almost perfect type of youthful womanhood." In 
 all a hundred or more were executed, and others were seized. 
 
 276. The Princess Elizabeth. 1554. — Among those arrested 
 was the Princess Elizabeth. The plan of the rebels was to pro- 
 claim her queen and marry her to Courtenay. That Elizabeth 
 knew of the plot can hardly be doubted, but she was too shrewd to 
 commit herself in writing. Renard, the Spanish ambassador, strongly 
 advised her execution, but the moderate men in the Council, too in- 
 fluential to be ignored, opposed even her imprisonment. Eliza- 
 beth, in a letter to Mary, protested that she was innocent. For two 
 
 1 On the walls of the room in the Tower occupied by her the word "Jane" 
 which she cut is still pointed out. 
 
238 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 months she was kept a close prisoner in the Tower. Then, as noth- 
 ing could be proved against her, she was sent to Woodstock, where 
 she was kept under close surveillance. She was at this time about 
 twenty-one. Under the circumstances it cannot be said that she was 
 treated harshly, as she was known to be a Protestant by profession. 
 
 277. Mary marries Philip II of Spain. 1554. — The failure of 
 the rebellion greatly strengthened Mary's position, and a new 
 Parliament consented to the marriage with Philip. Philip had 
 shown great indifference to Mary, for a young man of twenty-seven 
 could hardly be expected to feel much affection for a sickly, plain- 
 looking woman nearly twelve years his senior. He came to Eng- 
 land, and in July, 1554, Mary and he were married by Gardiner at 
 Winchester. Philip was given the title of king, his name appeared 
 with Mary's in public documents, and their heads were stamped on 
 the coins of the realm, but that was about all. The coolness of 
 Philip toward Mary increased until it ended in ill-concealed dislike. 
 Philip read the signs of the times better than did the queen, and 
 procured the freedom of Elizabeth, thus leaving the way open to be 
 friendly with her should she succeed to the throne. 
 
 278. Reconciliation with Rome. 1554. — Having accomplished 
 the Spanish marriage, Mary now bent all her energies to secure the 
 nation's reconciliation to Rome, and its return to an acknowledg- 
 ment of the papal supremacy. The Parliament which met after 
 the marriage, more compliant than its predecessors, restored the laws 
 providing for the burning of heretics, and agreed to the reconcilia- 
 tion with Rome, but steadfastly refused to restore the abbey lands 
 confiscated in the reigns of Henry and Edward, and though Mary 
 set the example by restoring to the church all lands under her con- 
 trol, it was not until the Pope had waived any claim to the confis- 
 cated lands, that the reconciliation with Rome was agreed to. 
 Cardinal Pole (§ 251), the Pope's representative, was received by 
 Mary in imposing state. The queen, Philip, and both Houses of 
 Parliament, kneeling before him, received absolution for past 
 offences, and England was restored to communion with Rome. 
 
RELIGIOUS DIFFICULTIES 
 
 239 
 
 279. Persecution. 1555. — The reaction in favor of the 
 Catholic Church had now reached its height. Several further steps, 
 which Mary earnestly desired, Parliament declined to take. If she 
 had rested with parliamentary action, and had been contented 
 with a few examples of persecution, it would have been far better 
 for her and for the cause she had so much at heart. To require 
 conformity in religious observances 
 
 was held lawful both by Catholics 
 and Protestants ; to persecute and 
 inflict punishment upon heretics 
 had been practiced both by Cath- 
 olics and Protestants ; neither could 
 consistently blame the other. It 
 was the relentlessness of the perse- 
 cution, on the one hand, and the 
 heroism and faithfulness to convic- 
 tion shown by the sufferers, on the 
 other, that roused first the compas- 
 sion, and then the horror of the 
 people. 
 
 It would seem that the responsi- 
 bility for the persecution must rest 
 chiefly with Mary herself, and then 
 
 upon Bishop Gardiner and Cardinal Pole, who were her principal 
 advisers. Her hatred of heresy (App. i, § 76) was so deep, her 
 belief in its soul-destroying effects so completely assured, that 
 nothing seemed too severe if thereby it might be rooted out. 
 Her share in the persecution was undoubtedly the result of deep- 
 seated, honest conviction. Philip and the Spanish ambassador, 
 wholly from motives of policy, advised moderation, but without 
 avail. 
 
 280. Martyrdom of Rogers, Hooper, Ridley, Latimer, 1555 ; 
 Archbishop Cranmer, 1556. — The sole issue in these persecutions 
 was heresy ; with the single exception of Cranmer, whoever 
 
 t~0 
 Philip II 
 After a portrait by Titian 
 
240 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 abjured his faith would have suffered lightly or been safe. One 
 of the first victims was John Rogers, who had helped in the trans- 
 lation of the Bible into English. He was burned at the stake. 
 He was followed by Bishop Hooper of Gloucester ; then Bishops 
 Ridley and Latimer^ were burned at Oxford. Cranmer, Arch- 
 bishop of Canterbury, had been deposed in 1556. Under the 
 pressure of fear he recanted several times. But Mary had no pity 
 for him who had been so prominent in the divorce of her mother. 
 He was to die, but as he alone of the accused had been conse- 
 crated by the Pope, it was deemed needful to get papal sanction 
 for his death ; this was given. When brought into St. Mary's 
 Church, Oxford, to make a public recantation, he surprised his 
 audience by renouncing his former recantations, and holding out 
 his right hand, said, " This hand hath sinned and it shall suffer 
 first." When the fire was lighted around him, "he was seen to 
 thrust forth his right hand into the flames, crying aloud, * This hand 
 hath offended ; ' and so held it steadfastly till it was consumed." 
 
 281. Philip II leaves England, 1555 ; Loss of Calais, 1558. — 
 Philip remained in England about a year, and then, despite Mary's 
 passionate entreaties, departed for the Continent on the plea of 
 urgent business. The excuse was a valid one, for his father, the 
 Emperor Charles V, was about to resign his honors to Philip and 
 go into that strange retirement which lasted until his death. (App. 
 I, § 128.) Philip's departure was a piece of good fortune for 
 England, because it very much lessened the risk of continental 
 entanglements. It was nearly two years before Philip returned 
 to England (1557), and then only for a brief visit, in order, if 
 possible, to get England to aid him in a war against France. 
 The Spanish connection grew more and more distasteful to the 
 English people, who reahzed that the one purpose of Philip was 
 to make England actively support Spain. 
 
 1 Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Worcester, was one of the ablest and most liberal of 
 the churchmen of his time. He spoke in forceful English on the problems of the 
 day and exercised great influence. He was about seventy at the time of his death. 
 
CLOSE OF MARY'S REIGN 24 1 
 
 Philip accomplished the object of his brief visit and Mary de- 
 clared war against France (1557). The only result of importance 
 was the loss of Calais (January 5, 1558). England had held this 
 seaport since 1347 (§ 155). The English people felt that its 
 loss was a heavy blow to their honor; to Mary, it seemed a 
 calamity. She said that if her body was opened, "Calais" 
 would be found written on her heart. 
 
 282. Persecution continued ; its Effects. — The most dis- 
 tinguished of the Protestant sufferers have been named, but 
 neither age nor sex was spared. The whole number of deaths 
 was almost three hundred. The persecutions were confined in 
 a great measure to the southern and eastern counties of England, 
 for here was the stronghold of Protestantism. Here, too, the 
 loyalty of the people had given Mary her crown, a loyalty ill 
 requited by her to whom it had meant so much. This con- 
 centration of persecution caused a reaction against Mary so strong 
 that nothing could withstand it. Thousands went over to Prot- 
 estantism, and many able men fled to the Continent, there to 
 become still stronger Protestants. These, full of zeal for their 
 new doctrines, held themselves ready to return to England when- 
 ever opportunity offered. 
 
 Mary had reigned about five years, but in that short period 
 more suffered death than in the reign of either Henry VIH or 
 Elizabeth, though one reigned thirty-eight and the other forty- 
 five years. In the reign of Elizabeth, poHtical considerations 
 always decided a case, while under Mary the religious question 
 was the only one at issue. 
 
 283. Close of Mary's Reign. 1556-1558. —Gardiner died in 
 1556, and Cardinal Pole, who had been appointed Archbishop of 
 Canterbury (1556) after the death of Cranmer, became Mary's 
 chief and almost sole adviser. 
 
 The fact that she was childless was a terrible grief to Mary. 
 She was, moreover, the victim of an incurable disease, and the 
 last ten months of her reign were full of gloom and foreboding. 
 
242 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Everything she had most desired — the complete restoration of 
 her kingdom to the faith she adored, the love of a husband to 
 whom she was devoted, the child she passionately longed for — 
 all these were denied. There is scarcely a more pathetic spec- 
 tacle in history. She died in November, 1558, having recognized 
 her sister as her successor.^ Cardinal Pole's death occurred 
 shortly afterwards. 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, vii, §§ 1-2; Gardiner, Studenfs 
 History, chap, xxvii; Terry, History, Part III, Book II, chap, iv (pp. 558- 
 570), chap, v; Tout, Advanced History, Book V, chaps, iv-v; Creighton, Age 
 of Elizabeth, Book I, chaps, ii-iv; Traill, Social England, vol. Ill, chap, x; 
 Adams and Stephens, Select Docwnents, §§ 159-166 ; Cheyney, Readings, 
 chap, xii, §§ iv-v; Colby, Selections, §§ 58-60; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 49- 
 51; Lee, Source-Book, §§ 122-132. 
 
 1 As a matter of fact it made no difference whether Edward, Mary, or Elizabeth 
 recognized a successor, for it was not theirs to appoint one. The matter was 
 governed by the laws of succession and by the will of the people. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 
 ENGLAND IN THE FIFTEENTH AND SIXTEENTH 
 CENTURIES 
 
 284. Rise of the Middle Class. — Nearly all of the great move- 
 ments of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries had their beginning 
 with men of the middle class. The men who brought about the 
 Renaissance and the Reformation, who transformed the medieval 
 world into the modern world, were neither nobles nor ecclesias- 
 tics. The great statesmen of Henry VII and Henry VIII were 
 men who had risen from obscurity. Columbus and his contem- 
 porary explorers were all men of the middle class. Under feu- 
 dalism there were but two ranks — the lords and the villeins — and 
 under strictly agricultural conditions the system worked fairly 
 well. But it is not adapted for commercial life or for a class 
 whose service is based on wages or on money payments. With 
 the revival of trade with the East, and with the improvements in 
 shipping, there was a great increase of commerce, and along trade 
 routes cities and towns sprung up, whose citizens were unwilling to 
 be villeins. Commerce and industry quicken the intellect more 
 than agriculture. Travel and intercourse sharpen the wits more 
 than staying at home. It was the growing intelligence of the 
 community, stimulated and enlightened by trade and travel, that 
 transformed the world in art, industry, politics, and religion, and 
 brought about a revolution in social and economic conditions. 
 Commercial, trade, and town life made a middle class. Owing to 
 the fact that feudalism was never fully developed in England there 
 was greater opportunity for the development of middle class con- 
 ditions. And nowhere in Europe has the influence of the middle 
 class been more important 
 
 243 
 
244 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 285. Land Systems. — The manorial system of the previous 
 century (§ 95) still prevailed, as a rule. Dwellings, farm buildings, 
 and methods of agriculture had improved but little. Rents and 
 wages were, however, generally paid in money. Even down to 
 the middle of the sixteenth century the rule of custom was the 
 ultimate standard to which everything was referred, and its im- 
 portance must be kept in mind. Rents, dues, rights, occupation 
 
 Fifteenth Century Farm-house, near Salisbury 
 
 of land, and administration of justice depended not so much upon 
 law as upon custom, and that rather upon local than national 
 usage. The attempt to remedy this evil led to the passage of 
 many laws, some of which aggravated the difficulties and hard- 
 ships they were meant to cure (§§ 157, 158). 
 
 The greater part of the population of England was in the south- 
 ern and eastern counties, and the total number in 1558 has been 
 estimated at about three millions. Notwithstanding the slowness 
 of the agricultural population to make changes, changes were all 
 the time going on, and it was largely the prevaihng conservatism 
 and the slavery to custom that caused so much suffering in Eng- 
 land during the transition period. Even able men like Sir Thomas 
 More had failed to see the signs of the times and the advantages 
 of competition. 
 
INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS 
 
 245 
 
 286. Woolen Trade ; Inclosures. — Intercourse between nations 
 becoming easier and more frequent led to a greater interchange 
 of products and increased the number of trades, and all these led 
 to a diversity of material interests. The woolen manufacturers of 
 Flanders and of France were celebrated, and they needed wool. 
 England is admirably suited for raising sheep on account of its 
 climate, which is favorable to the growth of grass. The English 
 wool was of fine quahty, and hence in demand on the Continent. 
 The manufacture of woolen goods sprung up in England also, and 
 the larger landholders in England found it to their advantage to 
 raise sheep in great numbers. Sheep raising was no new thing, 
 the change was in the substitution of sheep raising for other forms 
 of agriculture.^ As the land system in vogue was not suited for 
 this purpose, they began not only to inclose common land in 
 order to obtain large fields for their flocks, but also to turn out or 
 " evict " small tenants, so that land which had formerly been used 
 for raising grain might be turned into pastures. 
 
 287. Increase of Pauperism. — Sheep raising did not require 
 so many men as tillage ; where it had taken over a hundred men 
 to look after crops, ten or a dozen could look after sheep. The 
 process of inclosures and of increasing the size of farms, there- 
 fore, threw many out of employment. Villages were depopulated, 
 and houses were pulled down or fell to ruin, while their tenants 
 were compelled to seek for other employment or become vaga- 
 bonds. Under the old system " tramps," as we call them, were 
 almost unknown, and such as did exist had a ready refuge at the 
 numerous monasteries and abbeys. But with no refuge, not even 
 almshouses or poorhouses, they threw themselves on the com- 
 munity in increasing and alarming numbers, down to the time of 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 1 The change was not wholly due to the demand for wool. Farming where 
 hired labor was employed had come to be improfitable under the old system, and 
 it is likely that men of property thought they saw in sheep raising a profitable use 
 of capital. 
 
246 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 288. Social Changes. — While the inclosure of land was not 
 wholly responsible for the social unrest, much of this must be laid 
 to its charge. In fact, the whole agricultural system was under- 
 going a great change. Rents fixed by custom were changing into 
 the modern system, under which the farm or land is let to him who 
 will pay the most for it. This in itself tended to raise rents, which 
 were still further increased by the fact that many who had formerly 
 lived in towns went into the country to use their capital in farming 
 and sheep raising on a large scale. The rise in rents also tended to 
 bring about an improvement in the methods of agriculture in order 
 to meet the additional charges. Again, there was a great increase 
 in the number of parks, which were used by their noble owners 
 simply as pleasure grounds or for the preservation of deer and game. 
 This decreased the amount of land that could be used as tillage. 
 
 The administrators of the various governments of the fifteenth 
 and sixteenth centuries, though they often failed to understand 
 the causes, were fully aware of the conditions, and the statute 
 
 books record many laws enacted to 
 redress these evils; but sometimes 
 the laws could not be enforced, some- 
 times they were totally inadequate, 
 and at other times they proved to 
 be unwise. Besides this, the great 
 landowners, who were always in- 
 fluential in Parliament, clearly did 
 their best to render futile such legis- 
 lation as they thought would harm 
 their own interests. 
 
 Many of the risings against the 
 government in the time of Henry VIII and Edward VI had their 
 origin fully as much in social as in religious causes. Ket's rebel- 
 lion (1549) was wholly social (§ 265). 
 
 289. Debasement of the Coinage; Influx of Silver. — The de- 
 basement of the coins, already referred to (§ 258), begun under 
 
 Coin of Henry VIII 
 
SOCIAL CHANGES 
 
 247 
 
 Henry VIII and continued under the government of Edward VI, 
 was injurious to all classes, but most so to the poor. The effect, 
 as must always be the case, was to raise the cost of all articles. 
 When a shilling contained only half as much silver as it had for- 
 merly, it would purchase only half as much. Besides this, the 
 great influx of silver from American mines so lowered its value 
 that its purchasing power was 
 itself lowered. As the price of 
 labor was fixed chiefly by custom, 
 the unfortunate laborer, though re- 
 ceiving nominally the same amount 
 in wages, found himself hardly 
 able to buy half as much with it. 
 And attempts to fix the rate of 
 wages by law too often increased 
 the evil. 
 
 290. Town Life; Gilds. — Life 
 in towns was much as it had 
 been, but the power and influence 
 of the gilds ^ was greatly les- 
 sened through confiscation of their lands by Henry VIII and, 
 later, by Somerset. In these measures only the London gilds 
 were spared. The organization and development of the gilds 
 made it increasingly difficult for an apprentice to become a 
 master, or for a common workman or journeyman to better his posi- 
 tion. Above all, the restrictions by gilds on labor in the towns led 
 to a great increase in the number of independent workmen, many 
 of whom left the old centers of manufacture and settled in the 
 villages and market towns, disposing of their goods at the markets 
 or fairs held periodically. This was especially the case with 
 cloth workers. As all labor was hand labor, such a movement 
 
 1 Gilds are of very ancient origin. They were divided into merchant and craft 
 gilds. The former dealt with the general trade of the country, while the craft gild 
 dealt with its own particular industry or craft. They regulated details of trade and 
 manufacture rigidly and had great power. 
 
 Arms of the Gild of Merchant 
 Taylors 
 
248 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 could easily be accomplished. The result on many towns was 
 disastrous. 
 
 291. Trade and Commerce. — On the other hand, trade and 
 commerce, particularly in the seaports on the eastern coast, 
 greatly increased. Trade was especially flourishing with Flanders, 
 at first with Ghent and Bruges, and then with Antwerp. An 
 Italian writer of the times has left on record a list of the articles 
 of commerce exchanged. " Antwerp sends to England," he says, 
 "jewels, precious stones, silver bullion, quicksilver, wrought silks, 
 gold and silver cloth and thread, camlets, grograms, spices, drugs, 
 sugar, cotton, cummin, linens fine and coarse, serges, tapestry, 
 madder, hops in great quantities, glass, salt, fish, metalhc and 
 other merceries of all sorts, arms of all kinds, ammunition for 
 war, and household furniture. . . . From England, Antwerp re- 
 ceives vast quantities of coarse and fine draperies, fringes, and all 
 other things of that kind to a great value ; the finest wool ; excel- 
 lent saffron, but in small quantities ; much lead and tin ; sheep 
 and rabbit skins without number, and various other sorts of fine 
 peltry, and leather ; beer, cheese, and other provisions in great 
 quantities ; also Malmsley wines, which the English import from 
 Candia."^ This was the commercial activity of England, which 
 saw such great expansion during the reign of Elizabeth. 
 
 292. Domestic Life ; Women and Children. — There was a de- 
 cided advance in the standard of living. Owing to the difficulty 
 and expense of transportation, houses were built of the material 
 nearest at hand, but stone had begun to displace wood, and when 
 stone was not convenient, brick was used.^ Houses were poorly 
 lighted, ill-ventilated, and in winter scarcely warmed by the open 
 
 1 " Camlets," fine woolen, or wool and silk materials ; " grograms," a coarse 
 fabric made of silk, or silk, wool, and mohair; " draperies," cloths; " merceries," 
 textile fabrics, usually fine goods ; " saffron," a dye and a drug prepared from saf- 
 fron flowers ; " peltry," undressed skins of animals valuable for their fur. 
 
 2 Brick, which was common in Roman Britain, as remains abundantly testify, 
 somehow fell into disuse. It was revived by the Flemings in the reign of 
 Edward IV (about 1480) . 
 
DOMESTIC LIFE 
 
 249 
 
 wood fires, though an advance is shown by the introduction of 
 charcoal and coal as fuel. On the other hand, there were more 
 rooms, because greater privacy was desired, and the great hall or 
 living room was diminished in size for the same reason, the 
 master and mistress preferring to have their meals apart from 
 their dependents. The 
 hall, too, was no longer 
 used as a sleeping apart- 
 ment. To a less extent 
 similar changes took 
 place in houses of 
 smaller size. The floors 
 were still bare or strewn 
 with rushes ; articles of 
 glass and silver were 
 practically unknown, ex- 
 cept in the houses of the 
 very wealthy ; almost all 
 the household comforts 
 now universal were ab- 
 sent. The dress of those 
 in the court circles was 
 rich and expensive, but that of others was simple and well suited 
 to their various occupations. The Englishman of that day, as at 
 present, was a large eater ; his meals were very substantial, and 
 while comparatively little wine was drunk, an abundance of ale 
 and beer was considered essential. Early hours for meals were 
 still the custom, partly because of the lack of artificial hght. The 
 farmers had dinner at one, and supper at seven, while the gentry 
 dined at eleven and supped at five. 
 
 The demand for industrial laborers in the fifteenth century greatly 
 affected the condition of women. We find them employed in 
 various arts and industries, and they are mentioned in the statutes 
 regulating labor. They were sometimes even admitted to the 
 
 ^-^<;^ 
 
 Husbandman and Country Woman of 
 Fifteenth Century 
 
250 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 gilds. Among other industries they were cloth makers, cloth 
 workers, weavers of linen, dealers in silk, also in general mer- 
 chandise, keepers of inns and taverns, and brewers on a large 
 scale. In an account of the Duke of Norfolk of payment for 
 haymaking, more women than men are named, and preparing the 
 straw for thatching roofs was almost wholly woman's work. Be- 
 sides this, household service was very common, and it is interest- 
 ing to note that this was not considered servile, for women of 
 good position shared in it. The wages of women then, as now, 
 were much below those of men, sometimes not more than half as 
 much. The problems of the fifteenth century relating to the 
 employment of women were practically the same as at present, 
 and similar arguments for and against changes were used.^ 
 
 There is little information regarding child labor, but it is per- 
 fectly clear that very young children were employed on the farms 
 and elsewhere. One case is known where a child of eight years 
 was put to the plow ; apprentices are spoken of as being eleven, 
 and ordinances and statutes fixing the age for work at thirteen or 
 fourteen indicate that there was need for their passage. Appar- 
 ently the legal definition of " a child " was " under fourteen." 
 Probably no class had a harder time than the children of this 
 period. The ignorance of the parents was as much to blame as 
 anything else. 
 
 The average duration of life, owing to the absence of sanitary 
 regulations and the ignorance of the commonest laws of health, 
 was much shorter than it is now. This may account for the fact 
 that children matured earlier than at present.^ 
 
 1 Women had a voice in the choice of churchwardens, and sometimes were 
 churchwardens themselves. They also sometimes held offices of importance. 
 
 2 As instances may be given the family of Henry IV: One of his sons was 
 viceroy of Wales at nineteen, another viceroy of Ireland at eighteen, another the 
 associate general of an army at seventeen. At the battle of Shrewsbury the Prince 
 of Wales (afterward Henry V) was one of the generals at the age of fifteen. Lady 
 Margaret Beaufort married at the age of fourteen and was the mother of Henry VII 
 when she was fifteen. The precocity of the children of Henry VIII and that of 
 Lady Jane Grey has already been noted. 
 
 ■j»i 
 
 i 
 
EDUCATION AND LITERATURE 25 I 
 
 293. Travel ; Education ; Literature. — All roads were bad and 
 almost all travel was on horseback ; communication between 
 differents parts of the country was infrequent and the few letters 
 which were exchanged were conveyed by private hands. An 
 increased interest was taken in education, which is shown by the 
 estabhshment and endowment of schools, some of which are still 
 in existence. The education of both men and women in the 
 upper classes was sometimes carried to a high degree of ex- 
 cellence, as is shown by the example of the daughter of Sir 
 Thomas More, by Lady Jane Grey, by the poet Henry Howard, 
 Earl of Surrey, by the Paston family, and many others. The 
 spread of education increased the number of those who could 
 read, and so increased the demand for books, and though by the 
 close of the fifteenth century many books were produced in 
 England, so great was the demand that books were among the 
 very few articles which could be imported free of duty. Another 
 fact showing the increase of general education is the number 
 of books printed in English. Literature gave promise of the 
 future in the poems of the Earl of Surrey and of Sir Thomas 
 Wyatt the elder in the collection known as TottePs Miscellany^ in 
 the writings of Sir Thomas More, of Roger Ascham, in Cranmer's 
 Prayer Book, Latimer's sermons, and, above all, in Tyndale's Bible. 
 
 References. — Traill, Social England, vol. II, chaps, vi-viii; Cheyney, In- 
 diistrial and Social History, chap, vi (in part) ; Tout, Advanced History, 
 Book V, chap, viii (in part); Cheyney, Readings, chap, xii, §§ 191-194; 
 Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 61-68. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH 
 
 294. Elizabeth. 1558. — The accession of Elizabeth found the 
 country discredited abroad; and at home, in debt, weak, the 
 people torn by internal dissensions, sullenly resentful against their 
 former sovereign, and showing little or no patriotism or national 
 spirit. 
 
 Elizabeth was received by the English without a dissenting 
 voice, though some of the strong Catholics must have dreaded the 
 change of rulers. At the time of her accession she was about 
 twenty-five years old. A Venetian ambassador in London thus 
 describes her : " In face she is pleasing rather than beautiful ; but 
 her figure is tall and well proportioned. She has a good com- 
 plexion, though of a somewhat olive tint, beautiful eyes, and above 
 all a beautiful hand, which she Hkes to show. She is of admirable 
 talent and intelligence. . . . She has great knowledge of language, 
 especially Italian. . . . She is proud and haughty." Besides 
 Italian, she could speak French and Latin with ease, and Greek 
 fairly well. She was a " bold horsewoman, a good shot, a graceful 
 dancer, a skillful musician, and an accomplished scholar"; she 
 was fond of literature and encouraged its development. She was 
 like her father in her hearty, friendly manner, and love of popular- 
 ity, which she cultivated by visiting among the nobility and 
 gentry. She also had a good share of his coarseness and fond- 
 ness for display. In her vanity, her frivoHty, and her love of 
 coquetry and flattery she resembled her mother, Anne Boleyn. 
 Like most of the Tudors, she was unscrupulous, untruthful when it 
 suited her purpose, unfeeling, and relentless. Like them, also, she 
 was governed by the principle of expediency. She was as parsi- 
 
 252 
 
QUEEN ELIZABETH 
 
 253 
 
 monious as Henry VII, and never was the expenditure of the 
 public funds more closely watched or economically distributed 
 than by her. Unlike the rest of the Tudors, she had her passions 
 and frivolities under perfect control, and when it suited her pur- 
 pose, the vain, trifling woman became the keen, shrewd, far- 
 seeing, wise queen. 
 
 Few monarchs have ^-,*/o 
 
 better understood 
 their people. As a 
 rule she knew the 
 exact limits of her 
 power, but if she 
 found that she had 
 gone too far she 
 always contrived to 
 retire with dignity. 
 Young as she was 
 on coming to the 
 throne, she had 
 learned much, both 
 by observation and 
 experience, and the 
 policy she laid 
 down for England, 
 and for herself as well, was steadily pursued throughout her long 
 reign. Like her father, she wished to guide public affairs, but she 
 knew the value of able ministers of state ; and no English monarch 
 has shown more wisdom in choosing counselors, or more faithful- 
 ness to them, than Elizabeth. At the very beginning she chose 
 Sir William Cecil, afterwards known as Lord Burghley, to be her 
 chief adviser, and for forty years he remained in her service. 
 His brother-in-law, Sir Nicholas^Bacon, she made keeper of the 
 seal, and so there was harmony in the administration. Sir Francis 
 Walsinghanij pefhaps the ablest diplomatist of the day, though 
 
 Queen Elizabeth 
 
254 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 unscrupulous with others, was for many years her faithful and 
 devoted secretary of state. 
 
 295. Domestic Problems confronting Elizabeth. 1558. — Few 
 monarchs on succeeding to the throne have had more difficult 
 problems to solve. The people were one in hating a foreign 
 supremacy, but aside from that, there was difference of opinion. 
 Probably a majority of the people would have preferred, in reli- 
 gious matters, a return to the conditions prevailing during the later 
 years of Henry VIII, but the extremists, both on the Catholic and 
 Protestant sides, would doubtless have rebelled against this ; and 
 Ehzabeth knew that she could not afford to risk the opposition of 
 the Protestants. Though she herself would have been well satisfied 
 to return to the policy of her father, she saw that it could not be. 
 She therefore determined to pursue a middle course. Personally 
 she cared little for religion, but as the daughter of Anne Boleyn, 
 whose marriage had been pronounced illegal by the Pope, she was 
 practically forced to support Protestantism. 
 
 296. Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity. 1559. — Her first 
 Parliament was naturally Protestant in its character, and soon 
 passed a new Act of Supremacy, and one of Uniformity. The Act of 
 Supremacy in general resembled those of her father's reign, though 
 it was more moderate. The title Supreme Head of the Church 
 was dropped, and Elizabeth was described as '' the only supreme 
 Governor of this realm, as well in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things 
 or causes, as temporal." Most of Mary's church legislation was 
 repealed, but not all the statutes of Edward VI and of Henry VIII 
 were revived, and the laws passed were studiously moderate and 
 framed to appeal to moderate men. The Act of Uniformity re- 
 stored the Prayer Book of Edward VI after being so revised by a 
 commission that even extremists might be wilHng to accept it. 
 All the bishops of Mary's reign, except one, were removed ; but 
 out of 9400 clergymen then in Bngland less than 200 refused to 
 comply with the Acts. These were dismissed. On laymen a 
 moderate fine was levied for absence from chtirch ; all office- 
 
ELIZABETH AND THE PROTESTANTS 
 
 255 
 
 holders were required to take the oath of supremacy. Matthew 
 Parker, a man of moderate views, who was fully in accord with 
 Elizabeth's ideas, was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, and 
 the break with Rome was complete. 
 
 297. Catholics and Puritans. — While these arrangements in 
 regard to the church were satisfactory to the great body of the 
 people, they were distasteful to the extremists. On the one hand, 
 the strong adherents of the Pope could not conscientiously attend 
 the services of the church ; on the other hand, those who had been 
 refugees in the days of Mary, had become thoroughly imbued with 
 the teachings of the Swiss Protestants and especially with the doc- 
 trines of John Calvin, who ruled at Geneva. These rejected the 
 system of church government by bishops, any fixed form of prayer 
 or liturgy, and the use of vestments. They followed what is usually 
 known as Presbyterianism. They had no desire to leave the Church 
 of England, but wished to purify it from what they termed errors 
 in doctrine and practice, and in consequence were called Puritans. 
 
 Elizabeth, and indeed most persons, whether Catholics or 
 Protestants, believed that uniformity in belief and in church serv- 
 ices was essential to the well-being of a nation. It is important 
 to bear this in mind, for otherwise it is not possible to understand 
 what seems to us gross intolerance. Toleration in religious matters 
 is of later growth, and neither it nor perfect religious freedom is 
 even yet universal. The disposition of the religious question by 
 EHzabeth, though commendable, could not be regarded as final, 
 for the conditions were changing all the time. 
 
 298. Elizabeth and Foreign Relations. — Not less important 
 than religious matters was England's relation to the rest of Europe. 
 Elizabeth wished to keep the country independent of foreign 
 complications. At that time the two great continental powers 
 were France and Spain. Each one of them desired to control 
 England. There was a traditional enmity between England and 
 France, due, on the one side, to the humiliation involved in the 
 repeated loss of territory and to England's claims to the French 
 
256 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 crown; on the other, to the disturbing influence of France in 
 Scotland and the possibiHty that the Netherlands, England's best 
 market, might fall into her rival's hands. 
 
 Spain's desire to control England, or at least to be friendly with 
 her, was due to the fact that England might gain dominion of the 
 channel and the North Sea, the only means of direct communica- 
 tion between Spain and the Netherlands, and by her fleet also 
 greatly injure Spain's American commerce. Besides this, should 
 England join France, it meant for Spain the probable loss of the 
 Netherlands. 
 
 Elizabeth and Cecil were keenly aware of the situation, and 
 during the whole reign it was their policy to play off one country 
 against the other. If Philip II in following out his Catholic 
 sympathies undertook to move against England, Cecil immedi- 
 ately made overtures to France, or in some way frightened him 
 with the possibility of a French alliance. When needful he would 
 pursue a similar line of action toward France by aiding the 
 Huguenots^ in France or the Protestants in Scotland. In the 
 main, during the earlier years of Elizabeth's reign it was the 
 pohcy of both Spain and England to keep on friendly terms. So 
 important did Philip judge this to be that soon after Mary's 
 death he even offered to marry Elizabeth. Indeed, he seems to 
 have been personally attracted by her, but she declined the 
 alHance. 
 
 299. The Marriage Question. — The question of the queen's 
 marriage was one which for a large part of her reign occupied a 
 very prominent place ; it was constantly urged upon her by Parlia- 
 ment, for the question of the succession was a serious one. Ac- 
 cording to the usual laws of inheritance the next heir to the English 
 crown was Mary Queen of Scots, who was the wife of the heir to 
 the kingdom of France. She was a devoted Cathohc, and if she 
 succeeded to the throne, not only would England come under 
 Catholic influence, but under the influence of France as well. The 
 1 The Protestants in France were so called. The origin of the name is uncertain. 
 
GENERAL POLICY OF ELIZABETH 
 
 257 
 
 heir, according to the will of Henry VIII, was Catharine Grey, 
 
 sister of Lady Jane Grey. Catholic though he was, Philip could 
 
 not support Mary Queen of Scots, for that would throw England 
 
 into the hands of France. He therefore proposed sundry eligible 
 
 suitors to Elizabeth, all of whom she rejected. Indeed, as has 
 
 been well said, while she was 
 
 ready to entertain the idea of 
 
 marriage in general, she always 
 
 found after a time some fatal 
 
 objection to each individual 
 
 suitor. 
 
 As a matter of fact it is not 
 likely that Elizabeth ever seri- 
 ously intended to marry. She 
 was too fond of power to share 
 it with any one, and she was 
 shrewd enough to see that by 
 entertaining this or that matri- 
 monial project she could gain 
 time and avoid committing her- 
 self in matters of state policy. 
 Deeper than this was the rec- 
 ognition that to marry a for- 
 eigner would weaken, if not destroy, the confidence of the people 
 and sacrifice her popularity ; on the other hand, to marry an 
 Englishman, as many of her subjects wished her to do, would 
 arouse jealousy among her nobility. She carried out her policy 
 consistently, although more than once she involved herself in 
 considerable difficulty, and showed how unscrupulous she could be. 
 Besides this, by her vagaries and duplicity she often placed her 
 counselors in positions of great embarrassment. 
 
 She refused to recognize any successor, and thus made it de- 
 sirable for her subjects to keep her on the throne, for those who 
 had the best legal claim were thoroughly distrusted. 
 
 1^, 
 William Cecil 
 Afterward Lord Burghley 
 
258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 300. Peace, the General Policy of Elizabeth ; its Effects. — 
 
 The general policy of both EHzabeth and her counselors, particu- 
 larly Cecil, was peace. The loss of Calais (§ 281) in the previous 
 reign proved now to be a great benefit, for as England owned no 
 territory on the Continent, she had no possessions to defend and 
 could keep herself as much aloof as she pleased. 
 
 One of the earliest acts of Cecil was to call in the debased coinage 
 of the previous reigns and replace it as fast as possible with coins of 
 a definite and true value. This brought confidence and established 
 trade on a sound basis. Besides this, artisans were invited to 
 come to England and set up manufactories. Others came in order 
 to escape the persecutions on the Continent. Thus from Flanders 
 there came Flemings who were familiar with the manufacture of 
 lace, cutlery, hats, clocks, etc., and who were especially skillful in 
 the weaving of flax and wool. Huguenots from France also came, 
 bringing with them the arts in which they were proficient. The 
 freedom from wars and the encouragement received soon caused 
 abundant prosperity among manufacturers. Increased trade and 
 commerce stimulated agriculture. The cultivation of hops, of new 
 grasses, and of roots for winter consumption increased to a great 
 extent. 
 
 301. Statute of Apprentices, 1563 ; Poor Laws, 1563 ; 1601. — 
 
 The condition of the laborer, however, continued unsatisfactory. 
 
 Though the price of food had risen threefold, wages remained 
 
 about the same. With the purpose of improving conditions, two 
 
 laws were passed (1563) ; one, known as the Statute of Apprentices,^ 
 
 fixing hours of labor, and providing for the regulation of wages ; 
 
 the other attempting to provide for the increasing number of 
 
 paupers. Men were appointed in each parish to make a list of the 
 
 paupers and of those who had property. The latter were required 
 
 to make contributions to a fund for the support of the poor. Then, 
 
 1 This act provided that no person should be allowed to work at a trade unless he 
 had previously served a seven years' apprenticeship. The duty of regulating wages, 
 etc., was placed upon the justices of the peace. This act was held not to apply to 
 trades established after its passage. It was not repealed until 1814. 
 
SCOTLAND 
 
 259 
 
 SO far as possible, all begging was suppressed. This Poor Law 
 was somewhat modified in 1597 and 1601, and then, with but 
 slight changes, remained in force till 1834. Its effect was bad, for 
 it tended to keep down wages, the employers knowing if a man's 
 earnings would not support him and his family, he would be helped 
 from the rates (taxes). A " Hving wage " was therefore not deemed 
 essential. 
 
 302. Scotland. 1547-1559. — The victory of Pinkie Cleugh 
 (§ 265) had destroyed all hope of pleasant relations between the 
 two countries, and the Scots had turned for aid to France. Mary 
 of Guise, a French princess, the wife of James V (§ 256), had 
 acted as regent during the long minority of her daughter, the 
 young Mary Queen of Scots. Mary was educated in France, had 
 married the Dauphin, heir to the French crown, and there was 
 every prospect that Scotland would become an appanage of France. 
 Meantime, however, the conduct of the Regent Mary was such as 
 to raise up a party violently opposed to her and to French influence. 
 In seeking support the leaders of this party recognized two probable 
 sources of aid : the followers of the reformed religion, who had be- 
 come strong in Scodand ; and Elizabeth, to whom the estabUsh- 
 ment of Catholicism in Scotland would be a serious menace, for 
 Mary, the wife of the Dauphin, was, according to Catholic ideas, 
 the rightful queen of England. 
 
 Under the exactions of Mary of Guise, Protestantism increased 
 rapidly and came to mean also opposition to France. As those 
 who favored reform in church doctrine and practice pledged them- 
 selves by an agreement or "covenant," they were called Cove- 
 nanters ; their leaders were the " Lords of the Congregation " ; 
 most of these men, however, cared little for rehgion and joined 
 the Covenanters only from motives of expediency. 
 
 303. John Knox ; the Reformation in Scotland. — The leader 
 among the Protestants was John Knox, who had been driven into 
 exile by Mary of Guise. He had first taken refuge in England, 
 but on the death of Edward VI had fled to Geneva, where he be- 
 
26o HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 came an earnest follower of Calvin. In 1559 he returned to Scot- 
 land and was the life of the reforming party. He was a fearless, 
 bold, zealous man, of boundless energy and strength of will. The 
 Covenanters rose against the established order, pulled down 
 images, sacked and destroyed monasteries, and would not allow 
 mass to be celebrated. But these were the acts of a mob rather 
 than of an organized force, and the body of men soon dispersed. 
 Mary of Guise had received troops from France, and the outlook 
 for the " Lords of the Congregation " was desperate unless they 
 could get aid from England. 
 
 304. Elizabeth and Scotland. 1560. — EHzabeth, to whom 
 rebeUion was one of the worst sins, found it hard to bring herself 
 to aid rebels, as the Scots undoubtedly were. Moreover, she 
 detested John Knox, because he had written a book called " The 
 Blast of the Trumpet against the Monstrous Regimen of Women," 
 in which he denounced in strong language the rule of women as 
 being contrary to Scripture. But she could always put aside her 
 personal feelings if she chose, and she determined to aid the 
 Scotch Protestants. Elizabeth was practically forced to take this 
 step, for as soon as the Dauphin became Francis II, King of 
 France, his young wife, Mary Queen of Scots, assumed the arms 
 and title of Queen of England. (App. i, § 129.) This act meant 
 that Elizabeth was charged with being illegitimate and a usurper, 
 and that on the first opportunity France would probably attempt 
 to enforce the claim of Mary. 
 
 In January, 1560, an English fleet appeared in the Forth and con- 
 trolled it; an English army encamped before Leith, and with the help 
 of the " Lords of the Congregation " closely invested that port. 
 The French troops suffered from famine and were forced to make 
 a treaty by which the French agreed to leave Scotland and to 
 recognize the right of Elizabeth to the crown of England. The 
 death of the regent helped to bring about this peaceful adjustment. 
 
 305. Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. — Except possibly Napoleon 
 Bonaparte, no figure in modern history has been the subject of 
 
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 
 
 261 
 
 more discussion than has Mary Queen of Scots ; no one has had 
 warmer defenders or more bitter assailants, and so much doubt is 
 still justly felt as to her real character that it is impossible to reach 
 a thoroughly satisfactory judgment in regard to her. She was 
 about nineteen when she, a young widow, reached Scotland (1561).^ 
 
 She was beautiful, with 
 fascinating manners ; she 
 was skilled in all feminine 
 accomplishments and in 
 horsemanship ; in intel- 
 lectual matters and state- 
 craft she was hardly in- 
 ferior to Elizabeth. She 
 lacked, however, the cool- 
 ness and self-control of 
 her great rival, and it was 
 her giving way to her pas- 
 sions that brought upon 
 her disaster and finally a 
 tragic death. 
 
 Mary was not received 
 with enthusiasm in Scotland. The country had become Protestanj:, 
 though many of the nobles were Catholic in sympathy, and there 
 was no conservative middle class, as in England. Mary's course 
 was at first moderate ; she made no objection to the Calvinism of 
 the people, while reserving liberty for herself to have mass cele- 
 brated. By her skill and tact she gained over a number of the 
 nobles to her side. 
 
 306. Mary's Marriage with Darnley. 1565. — It was almost 
 impossible for a woman in Mary's position to remain single. 
 Elizabeth, wishing to gain possession of Scotland, proposed that 
 the young widow should marry Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, 
 who was in high favor at the English court. But Mary took the 
 1 Her husband, Francis II of France, had died late in 1560. (App. i, § 129.) 
 
 Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots 
 After a contemporary portrait 
 
262 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 matter into her own hands and married (1565) her cousin, Henry 
 Stuart, Lord Darnley. (Genealogical Table, page 186.) He was, 
 like herself, a descendant of Margaret, daughter of Henry VH, 
 and in the Hne of succession to the English crown. He had been 
 brought up in England, and was a Catholic, which was a strong 
 recommendation to Mary, who had hopes of uniting the Catholic 
 interests of both countries. Her power in Scotland was so limited 
 that she longed to be queen of England before Elizabeth's death 
 might give her the throne. It is likely, therefore, that Darnley's 
 leadership among the English Catholics, who were becoming restive 
 under Elizabeth, was one reason for her marriage. 
 
 Whatever hopes she may have had regarding Darnley were 
 bitterly disappointed. He was a frivolous, weak-minded, vicious 
 man, for whom she could have had neither respect nor affection, 
 and for counsel and companionship she turned to an accom- 
 plished Italian, David Rizzio, who was her foreign secretary. 
 Darnley, jealous of Rizzio, plotted with some of the Protestant 
 nobles to assassinate him. The conspirators rushed into Mary's 
 private supper room in Holyrood Palace and murdered him 
 almost before her eyes. Mary, who needed Darnley's help in 
 carrying out her own schemes, concealed her own hatred with con- 
 ^jLimmate skill, persuaded him to return to her, but forced the 
 other assassins to leave Scotland. A few months after Rizzio's 
 murder Mary's only child was born, he who was to be James VI 
 of Scotland and James I of England. 
 
 307. Murder of Darnley, 1567 ; Mary marries Bothwell. 
 1567. — Darnley and Mary quarrelled again, and from this time 
 Mary's serious troubles began. Disgusted with Darnley and seek- 
 ing for some one to aid her, she found such an one in James 
 Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell. He was a coarse, rough man, but he 
 was brave, masterful, and of considerable ability.^ Mary became 
 passionately attached to him. Both she and Bothwell were 
 
 1 He was three years younger than Mary, and at this time twenty-two, the same 
 age as Darnley. 
 
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 263 
 
 already married, and that difficulty had to be overcome. Bothwell 
 could arrange for a divorce, but there was no way to get rid of Darn- 
 ley except by assassination. He was at this time recovering from 
 a serious illness, and was induced to take up his quarters in a lonely 
 farmhouse near Edinburgh, where Mary came to see him. One 
 
 
 1^ nW^ -^^ _j:-%_wi.-.v ^^ti 
 
 HoLYROOD Palace, Edinburgh 
 The principal residence of the monarchs of Scotland 
 
 evening while she went to Edinburgh the house was blown up, and the 
 dead body of Darnley was found the next morning in the garden. 
 There has never been any doubt that the murder was the work 
 of Bothwell, but whether Mary was an accomplice or not has 
 never been known. There is no proof that she took an active 
 part in the plot ; but there seems to be little doubt that she 
 was aware that some plot existed and made no effort to frus- 
 trate it.^ An investigation followed and Bothwell was acquitted. 
 
 1 The documentary evidence against Mary was contained in the famous " Cas- 
 ket Letters." These were discovered, it was said, in a casket found in the hands 
 of one of Bothwell's followers. They purported to be a correspondence between 
 Mary and Bothwell, and if genuine were conclusive of Mary's guilt. Even ex- 
 perts have been unable to agree whether any or all are genuine, or forged, or copies 
 of genuine originals. 
 
264 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 So strong was public opinion that Mary did not dare to marry 
 openly, so it was arranged that he should apparently carry her 
 off by force. This was done, and they were married by the 
 Protestant service. 
 
 308. The Scots rebel against Mary ; she Abdicates, 1567. 
 — Mary's conduct was more than the Scots could stand, 
 and there was soon open rebellion. Deserted by his followers, 
 Bothwell fled, and Mary, having surrendered, was shut up in 
 Lochleven Castle (1567). She was forced to abdicate, and her 
 infant son James was proclaimed as King James VI, with the Earl 
 of Murray, Mary's half brother, as regent. In the spring of the 
 following year (1568) she made her escape, called upon her 
 Catholic subjects for aid, and attempted to regain her crown. Her 
 forces were defeated at Langside, not far from Glasgow, and her 
 cause became desperate. 
 
 309. Mary takes Refuge in England, 1568; Embarrassment of 
 Elizabeth. — Believing that she would be safer in England than 
 anywhere else, she fled across the border, resolving to throw 
 herself on the mercy of Elizabeth. It was a daring course, and 
 one which placed Elizabeth in an extremely embarrassing posi- 
 tion. On principle she was opposed to rebellions, but if Mary 
 was restored to Scotland, it would be sure to anger Elizabeth's 
 Protestant allies in that country ; if she was allowed to go to 
 France, conspiracies would instantly be formed to place her on 
 the English throne to which she was the legal heir; if she re- 
 mained in England, she would be a center around which the 
 English Catholics could rally, and she might be even more 
 dangerous than if she was in France. 
 
 As usual, Elizabeth pursued a dilatory policy. Her chief aim 
 seems to have been to present Mary's conduct in such a light that 
 no foreign power could consistently support her. First of all, 
 Elizabeth, with questionable right,^ insisted that an investigation 
 should be made into the murder of Darnley, and a commission of 
 1 Mary was a foreigner, an ex-queen, and not an English subject. 
 
PLOTS AGAINST ELIZABETH 265 
 
 investigation was held first at York and later at London.^ No de- 
 cision was made, however, as Elizabeth suddenly changed her 
 mind and the charges were dropped. All this time Mary refused 
 to answer the charges, to recognize the commission, or to make 
 any concessions whatever. Elizabeth resolved to keep Mary in 
 honorable imprisonment, and to await results. This policy, based 
 on expediency, brought a train of trouble after it. For nearly 
 twenty years plot after plot was framed to put Mary on the English 
 throne, and she can hardly be blamed that either directly or indi- 
 rectly she should lend her aid or countenance to them. 
 
 310. Plots, 1569; Excommunication of Elizabeth. 1570. — 
 A serious effort to displace Elizabeth was made under the lead of 
 two prominent earls ^ of the northern counties. Elizabeth acted 
 promptly and the rebellion was put down. Though not fond of 
 bloodshed, she showed no leniency. The chiefs escaped, but four 
 or five men of rank were executed, and seven hundred of the 
 lower classes were put to death without mercy. The thorough 
 manner in which the rebellion was put down greatly strengthened 
 Elizabeth's position, and there was no other revolt during her 
 reign. Those who plotted against her could plan for nothing but 
 her assassination. 
 
 According to the Catholics Elizabeth was illegitimate, having 
 been born during the lifetime of Catherine of Aragon, whose 
 divorce in their view had been illegal and therefore null and void. 
 Hence in their view she had no legal claim to the English throne, 
 of which Mary was the rightful claimant. Heretofore, owing to 
 the condition of European politics, no direct action against Eliza- 
 beth had been taken by the popes. In 1566 Pius V had come to 
 the throne. He was a fiery and impetuous man, zealous for his 
 church, and filled with an intense desire to recover the dominions 
 which had been lost to Rome. Without taking counsel of his 
 
 1 It was before this commission that the Casket Letters were produced (§ 307, 
 note). 
 
 2 Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and Charles Neville, Earl ofWest- 
 minster. 
 
266 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 royal supporters, he issued a Bull ^ of excommunication against 
 Elizabeth, depriving her of her kingdom, absolving her people 
 from their allegiance, and commanding them not to obey her or 
 her legislation (1570). This action on the part of the Pope did 
 two things : (i) it made an irreparable breach between England 
 and Rome so long as Elizabeth lived; and (2) it forced English- 
 men either to obey the Pope and thus make common cause with 
 his supporters such as Spain ; or to give unqualified obedience and 
 support to Elizabeth, and hence to Protestantism, for the Bull 
 compelled her to uphold the Protestant party. The Catholics in 
 England, therefore, were marked out for suspicion, through no 
 fault of their own. The Pope had placed them in a position which 
 they did not wish to assume, but which they could not very well 
 disavow. To obey the Pope in things spiritual seemed to involve 
 a political duty to deny the legitimacy of their queen and to dis- 
 obey the law of their country. That in this period of terrible 
 strain so many Catholics held true both to their spiritual faith and 
 to their patriotism is greatly to their credit. 
 
 311. Persecution of Catholics ; the " Counter-Reformation." — 
 More serious still were the persecutions of the Cathohcs to which 
 the Pope's action led, and which are a sad blot on Elizabeth's 
 reign. It was the political bitterness which caused the relentless- 
 ness of her measures. Had not this been present, it is hardly 
 likely that any person would have suffered death. As it was, 
 every Catholic was suspected of being a traitor, if not an assassin, 
 and in the Hght of that day it cannot be wondered at that Eliza- 
 beth and her advisers acted as they did. On the Continent the 
 reaction against the Reformation known as the Counter-Reforma- 
 tion was well under way. If England could be regained, thought 
 the Catholics, not only would that land come under Catholicism, 
 a thing in itself greatly to be desired, but one of the strongest 
 supports of Protestantism would be withdrawn. Very naturally, 
 
 1 On the 15th of May this Bull was found tacked on the door of the palace of 
 the Bishop of London. 
 
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 267 
 
 therefore, great efforts were made to bring England back to the 
 fold. (App. I, §§ 137-140.) 
 
 312. The Ridolfi Plot. 15 71. — It was inevitable that Mary 
 Queen of Scots, the legal heir to the English throne, should be the 
 center of all conspiracies. Elizabeth was now to reap the troubles 
 she had sown by her harsh treatment of Mary and by her shifty 
 policy. 
 
 In 1572 a new plot ^ was formed to assassinate Elizabeth and 
 Cecil, put Mary on the throne, and restore Catholicism. It was 
 discovered in season, and the Duke of Norfolk, who in case of 
 success was to have married Mary, was put to death. Parliament 
 demanded Mary's execution also, declaring her to be a "con- 
 tinual menace to the realm," but Elizabeth could not make up her 
 mind to this extreme measure. 
 
 313. St. Bartholomew's Day, 1572; Revolt of the Netherlands. 
 1579T — Meantime the struggle between Catholicism and Protes- 
 tantism was still going on in France, and what is known as " the 
 massacre of St. Bartholomew's Day " nearly ended friendly rela- 
 tions between England and France. 
 
 The king of Spain also had been trying in vain to force his sub- 
 jects in the Netherlands to become Catholics and accept his des- 
 potic rule. They had finally broken into open revolt, and in 1579 
 the northern provinces formed a union and chose William, Prince 
 of Orange, for their head. 
 
 314. Jesuit Missionaries in England ; Philip II. — In England 
 Catholicism was losing ground, though there were zealots who 
 hoped to restore it to its former influence. Mainly through their 
 efforts Jesuit missionaries were sent from the Continent to dissemi- 
 nate their faith among the English people. Parliament passed 
 rigid laws against all who failed to attend the Established Church, 
 and persecution was renewed. The Catholics became openly 
 hostile, and the murder of William of Orange by a CathoHc fanatic 
 
 1 It was known as the Ridolfi plot from the name of an Italian agent of the con- 
 spirators. 
 
268 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 in 1584 deepened the distrust with which they were regarded by 
 the queen's adherents. In 1585 the Netherlands invited Ehzabeth 
 to be their ruler, but she refused. 
 
 PhiHp II, provoked by Elizabeth's secret aid to the Nether- 
 lands, and angry at the depredations of Spanish ships by English 
 seamen, which the English government winked at, began to take 
 actively hostile measures by giving aid to the various conspiracies 
 which threatened the queen's life. (App. i, §§ 135, 136.) 
 
 315. Further Plots. — Elizabeth was now in a very dangerous 
 position. The policy of France under the new king was not a 
 friendly one ; the religious struggles in that country overshadowed 
 any other interest. The assassination of William of Orange had 
 left the Netherlands without a head, and Philip was free to act. 
 Another plot was discovered to assassinate Elizabeth and set Mary 
 on the throne by the aid of Spain and the French Catholics of the 
 Guise party in France. The Spanish ambassador was implicated 
 and forced to leave the country. The leader, Francis Throgmor- 
 ton, was executed. This plot led to what was called the Bond of 
 Association, an agreement signed by thousands, both Protestants 
 and Catholics. It bound the signers in the event of the assassina- 
 tion of Ehzabeth to hold the person responsible for whose benefit 
 the act might be committed, and to bar such person absolutely from 
 the succession. Though no name was mentioned, Mary Queen of 
 Scots was meant. Further, any signer who refused to carry out 
 this oath-bound agreement was to be held guilty of treason. Par- 
 liament was soon convened, and the Bond was authorized by law. 
 
 It was plain to EHzabeth's Council that so long as Mary Queen 
 of Scots was alive she would be the center of plots which would be 
 dangerous, not only to Elizabeth, but to the peace of the kingdom. 
 No one could blame Mary for trying to escape from captivity, but 
 it was believed that she was implicated in all the plots against the 
 life of Elizabeth. Her confinement was made more rigid, and she 
 was put under the care of Sir Amyas Paulet, a strict Puritan. 
 She was surrounded with spies, and, unknown to her, all her cor- 
 
EXECUTION OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS 
 
 269 
 
 respondence passed through Walsingham's hands. It was not 
 long before there was another plot (1586). This is known as 
 Babington's plot, from the young Catholic gentleman who was 
 one of the leaders. Enough evidence was found to warrant a 
 judicial investigation, and Walsingham produced copies of letters 
 from Mary to Babington signifying her approval of what was 
 
 ^^^^^mMr -"^ w '' ' ■' 1 ''11 l"'i 
 
 
 ^& 
 
 London Bridge in the Time of Elizabeth 
 
 going on. Under torture, or threats of torture, the conspirators 
 confessed, and were tried, condemned, and executed. 
 
 316. Trial and Execution of Mary Queen of Scots. 1587. — It 
 was impossible for Elizabeth to ignore the charges against Mary, 
 and a commission was appointed to try her. This sat first at 
 Fotheringay Castle, Northamptonshire, where she was confined, 
 and then at Westminster. Mary denied both the jurisdiction of • 
 the court and her complicity in Babington's plot. The court, 
 however, unanimously found her guilty, but left her sentence for 
 the queen and Parliament to fix. Parliament when it met peti- 
 tioned the queen for the execution of Mary, a proceeding which 
 seems to have met with approbation from the majority of the 
 people. Elizabeth was in a difficult position. Whatever she did 
 she would incur blame. She certainly appears at her worst in 
 
 1&^. 
 
270 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 this emergency. There can be little doubt that so far as she was 
 personally concerned, she did not desire to put Mary to death, 
 but she did wish to evade all responsibiHty in the matter. She 
 prorogued Parliament without giving any definite answer to its 
 appeal, and she tried in vain to get some acknowledgment or 
 promise from Mary, who, insisting on her innocence, refused to 
 admit or promise anything. The Royal Council felt as strongly 
 as Parliament that swift action must be taken, and finally Elizabeth 
 signed the death warrant. Then she tried through the Secretary 
 to get Sir Amyas Paulet to put Mary to death under the terms of 
 the Bond of Association, a suggestion which was indignantly re- 
 jected by Paulet. 
 
 At last the Council took matters into its own hands and sent 
 . the warrant to Northamptonshire. On February 8, 1587 (O. S.), 
 in the great hall of Fotheringay Castle, Mary was beheaded, 
 maintaining her dignity to the last. She disinherited her son 
 James and left her claim to the English throne to Isabella, daugh- 
 ter of Philip II of Spain, and a lineal descendant of John, Duke 
 of Gaunt, son of Edward III. 
 
 317. Elizabeth and the Execution. 1587. — When EUzabeth 
 heard of the execution she behaved as if she were beside herself. 
 She protested that she had intended to pardon Mary, threw all 
 the blame upon her Council, and wreaked her real or assumed 
 anger on Burghley and Davison, the Secretary, through whom the 
 warrant had been dispatched. Davison was dismissed from the 
 public service and condemned to pay an enormous fine, which 
 • ruined him. To France and Scotland, the two countries most 
 interested, the queen sent word that the deed was the work of the 
 Council, and not her own, certainly a piece of transparent hypoc- 
 risy. As a matter of fact the execution of Mary placed EHzabeth 
 in a stronger position than ever, for it removed the only one 
 around whom the Catholics and the Catholic powers could rally. 
 James VI of Scotland, son of Mary, who stood next in the succes- 
 sion, recognized by all as legitimate, was a Protestant ; Isabella's 
 
EXECUTIONS IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY 
 
 271 
 
 claim, shadowy as it was, involved Spanish influence, and neither 
 France nor any other power would do anything to make England 
 an appanage of Spain. In England the death of Mary ended any 
 likelihood of domestic revolt. No one would kill Elizabeth to put 
 James on the throne, and, as always. Englishmen hated interfer- 
 ence from abroad. 
 
 318. Assassinations and Executions in the Sixteenth Century. — 
 However one of the present day may feel in regard both to 
 Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots, they must be judged by the 
 standards of their day. There is no doubt that assassination was 
 a recognized method of getting an enemy out of the way — it was 
 not looked upon as a heinous crime, though a perpetrator should 
 be punished if discovered. This was especially true on the 
 Continent. The annals of the continental powers during the 
 fifteenth and sixteenth centuries are full of instances. Even in 
 England a political murder was not objected to, provided it was 
 done under color of law. There was no general objection raised 
 to the execution of Sir Thomas More, or of Fisher, or even of 
 Lady Jane Grey. It is almost certain that many nobles were 
 concerned in the murder of Darnley and were fully as guilty as 
 Mary. In her case it was not the murder of Darnley, but the 
 marriage with Bothwell, that raised the hatred of her subjects. It 
 made them sure that it was not politics, but personal passion, which 
 was the motive. The execution of Mary was not objected to by 
 the people of England, because it was purely a political deed. 
 As long as she lived she was a menace to the peace of England, 
 she was the center of plots, her accession would have brought on 
 civil war, and there can be little doubt that Parliament and the 
 English people were more than ready to assume the responsibility 
 of her death. 
 
 319. England and the Sea; Drake. 15 7 7-1580. — Up to the 
 time of Elizabeth the dominion of the seas had been held by Spain 
 and Portugal. The discoveries of Columbus and the other early 
 explorers aroused the English and led to the expedition of the 
 
272 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Cabots, which was followed in time by private enterprises. 
 Martin Frobisher in 1576 and 1577 had explored Labrador and 
 Newfoundland ; John Davis, second only to Drake as an explorer, 
 had discovered the straits which bear his name ; Sir John Haw- 
 kins, in 1562 and in 1564, made two expeditions to the Guinea 
 coast to kidnap or buy cargoes of slaves to be sold to the Spaniards 
 in the West Indies, and thus started that traffic which was to bring 
 such untold suffering and difficulty upon America. Ten years 
 earlier than this, Willoughby had opened trade between England 
 and Russia, then called Muscovy. The Company of Merchant 
 Adventurers in London sought out various channels of trade in 
 the Baltic and elsewhere. 
 
 But the most daring and fruitful expedition was that of Francis 
 Drake. Drake had made a voyage to Panama, and having as- 
 cended one of the mountains and caught sight of the Pacific, he 
 vowed that one day he would spread the English flag upon that 
 ocean. It was not till 1577 that he had the opportunity. Then 
 he set sail with five small vessels and succeeded in reaching the 
 Pacific by way of the Straits of Magellan with one ship, the Pelican, 
 afterwards called the Goldeii Hind. He secured an immense 
 amount of plunder from the unsuspecting Spaniards, visited the 
 coast of California, crossed the Pacific, and rounding the Cape of 
 Good Hope, reached England after three years of adventure. 
 He was the first explorer who had personally completed a circum- 
 navigation of the globe.^ His exploit filled the English nation 
 with pride, and EHzabeth, visiting the Golden Hind, knighted him 
 on the deck. Philip II of Spain, angry at Drake's plundering and 
 at the continual seizure of Spanish vessels by English adventurers, 
 demanded reparation. 
 
 320. Maritime Codes in the Sixteenth Century. — The condi- 
 tion of affairs at sea in the sixteenth century must not be judged 
 by the standards of the twentieth. While there is no doubt that 
 there was a great deal of real piracy, the actions of Drake and his 
 
 1 Magellan had died on the return voyage. 
 
ENGLAND AND THE SEA 
 
 '^IZ 
 
 contemporaries were not considered as such, nor should they be. 
 While it is true that private gain had perhaps much influence with 
 the English adventurers, the sea was still a place where each man 
 had to look after his own interests, and one could not complain 
 much if he and his property were seized by some freebooter. It 
 should also be re- 
 membered that the 
 bloodthirstiness and 
 cruelties of the genu- 
 ine pirate were wholly 
 absent from Drake and 
 his fellows ; they felt 
 themselves, in short, 
 to be knights-errant, 
 who were doing both 
 God and their country 
 high service in de- 
 spoiling "idolaters," as 
 they styled their ene- 
 mies and those of 
 their country, while at 
 the same time they 
 were filling their own 
 pockets with gold. 
 
 English vessels and crews were seized in Spanish ports. Englishmen 
 were taken and put to torture or even to death, and yet Philip 
 would not interfere. In view of this action, neither he nor any 
 one else could blame the English for making reprisals in the only 
 way possible. 
 
 These years of adventure and exploration gave England an un- 
 surpassed race of sailors, boLl, energetic, skillful, and ready in 
 emergencies. 
 
 321. Philip II and England. 1587. — After the death of 
 Mary Queen of Scots Phihp resolved to attack Elizabeth, for 
 
 Queen Elizabeth making Drake a Knight 
 
2 74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 while Mary lived he was always fearful lest she should be placed 
 upon the throne, and then join France. He began to collect a 
 fleet for the purpose of attacking England. Phihp's plans were 
 known in England and Drake was commanded to sail from 
 Plymouth in order — in his own language — " to singe the king of 
 Spain's beard." The day appointed for sailing was April 12, 1587. 
 No one knew Elizabeth better than did Drake, and so he set sail 
 before the appointed day. Countermanding orders came in due 
 time, but Drake was out at sea, and Elizabeth could disavow his 
 action if she wished. Drake entered the harbor of Cadiz, sunk 
 one man-of-war, set fire to most of the others in that port, and 
 seized all the stores he could. On his return voyage he captured 
 a large Spanish East Indiaman, and reached home in safety after 
 crippling the Spanish navy for a year at least. (App. i, § 138.) 
 
 322. English and Spanish Fleets. 1588. — Philip was furious 
 and doubled his preparations for a grand effort against England ; 
 he would have made the attempt in the winter of 1587-15 88 had 
 not his admiral died. But for this England would have been 
 caught unprepared. Spain had collected a fleet of about one 
 hundred and thirty ships, the largest of which were about three 
 hundred tons. To meet this fleet England had gathered one 
 hundred and ninety-seven ships, but they were much smaller than 
 the Spanish vessels and the aggregated tonnage was about one 
 half. On the other hand, the English vessels were better armed, 
 were manned by trained seamen, and commanded by the most 
 skillful sea captains of the time. The English relied upon their 
 skill, their quickness of movement, and the excellence of their 
 artillery. The Spaniards looked upon their fleet chiefly as a 
 means for transporting troops ; the English expected to fight their 
 battles on the sea. 
 
 323. The "Invincible Armada." 1588. — After several attempts 
 theSpanish "Invincible Armada," as it was called, set sail in July, 
 1588, under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia, who, to 
 his credit, had done all that he could to dissuade Philip from ihe 
 
 1 
 
THE SPANISH ARMADA 
 
 275 
 
 undertaking. The English fleet was commanded by Lord Charles 
 Howard of Effingham, and under him were Drake, Hawkins, 
 Frobisher, and other successful seamen. Howard and his sub- 
 ordinates were in thorough sympathy. The Armada reached the 
 EngHsh Channel on July 19th. The wind was from the south and 
 favorable for the Spaniards. Howard allowed the enemy to pass 
 him and then followed. In this way he had the advantage of 
 
 The Spanish Armada in the English Channel 
 
 After an engraving by the Society of Antiquarians following a tapestry in the 
 House of Lords 
 
 attacking from the windward side. The English ships kept up a 
 running fight until the Armada reached Calais, by which time ship 
 after ship had been captured. The Spaniards were forced from 
 their shelter by fire ships sent among them by the English. A 
 severe naval engagement then took place, and though the Spaniards 
 fought bravely, the skill of the English in handling their vessels 
 gave them the victory. The wind, still blowing strongly from the 
 south, compelled the Spaniards to sail to the north and try to go 
 around the British Isles and so return to Spain. They met with 
 severe storms, many ships were wrecked off the coasts of Scotland 
 
276 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and Ireland, and scarcely half of the Armada reached Spain. The 
 English were filled with almost uncontrollable joy, for the greatest 
 danger which had ever menaced them was at an end. They 
 recognized that the elements had much to do with the complete- 
 ness of the victory, for on a medal struck in commemoration of 
 the event are the words, " God blew with his wind and they were 
 scattered." Philip bore his losses in a fine spirit, saying to his 
 admiral, "I sent you to fight against men, not with the winds." 
 
 324. Result of the Spanish Defeat. — The results of the failure 
 of Spain can hardly be overestimated. It not only delivered 
 England from fear of a foreign domination, but it gave her con- 
 fidence in her own strength ; it established her as a Protestant na- 
 tion ; it showed her that her opportunity lay in maritime affairs 
 and made her a great naval power ; it united all factions for the 
 time being and created a national spirit which was never lost. 
 To the world at large the results were scarcely less important. It 
 guaranteed the freedom of the United Netherlands ; and it dealt 
 a fatal blow to the supremacy of Spain in Europe. 
 
 The war with Spain was not ended, though Philip would gladly 
 have made terms. The conflict was upon the seas, and the Eng- 
 lish made many attacks upon Spain ; but, though Drake, Hawkins, 
 and Howard were the leaders, the war dragged on until after the 
 death of both Philip and Elizabeth (1603). 
 
 325. Religious Difficulties. — Notwithstanding the national 
 feeling in England, there were still petty jealousies, and, more 
 dangerous than these, a real difference of opinion concerning 
 religion. The sympathy with Calvinism and the Presbyterian 
 methods, which the refugees of the time of Mary brought back 
 with them, was not lessened as the years went by. The Catholics 
 wished to enjoy their religion undisturbed; the Puritans wished 
 to change the national church altogether and to do away with 
 bishops and episcopacy. The leading advocate of this latter move- 
 ment was Thomas Cartwright of Cambridge, a professor of divinity. 
 There were still others^ though comparatively few, who separated 
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
 277 
 
 entirely from the church and set up congregations of their own so 
 that they could worship in the manner that seemed to them right. 
 These were called Separatists, and sometimes Brownists, after one 
 of their principal leaders, Robert Browne. These were the first 
 Congregationalists, and from them came the Pilgrims of New 
 England and later the Independents, who played so important a 
 part in the reign of Charles I. 
 
 To Elizabeth anything but uniformity was hateful, and acts 
 were passed by Parhament to compel conformity to the Church of 
 England. Those who refused to attend the church services, or 
 who denied the authority of the queen in ecclesiastical matters, 
 were to be imprisoned until they submitted. Stronger laws were 
 also passed against the CathoHcs, and under these laws prosecu- 
 tions took place which led to several executions, though not explic- 
 itly on religious grounds, but on the charge of stirring up sedition. 
 
 326. Foreign Affairs. — It was impossible for Elizabeth to keep 
 out of European politics, much as she desired to do so. The 
 struggle with Spain led her to take part in French affairs. 
 Henry III of France was a weak man and his heir was Henry 
 of Navarre, a Protestant and a leader of the Huguenots. It was 
 the policy of Philip to prevent this succession, but when Henry III 
 was assassinated, Henry of Navarre ^ became king, EHzabeth aiding 
 him with troops. It was not long before he saw that his throne 
 could never be secure while he was a Protestant ; he therefore 
 became a Catholic and soon made peace with PhiHp. Henry, 
 however, gave his Protestant subjects toleration by the famous 
 Edict of Nantes (April 15, 1598). (App. i, §§ 130, 131.) 
 
 327. Ireland. — Meanwhile Elizabeth had a problem on hand 
 which had been a more or less difficult one for every English 
 government since the time of Henry II (1171) — the Irish ques- 
 tion. During the reigns of Edward VI and Mary affairs in Ireland 
 
 1 Henry of Navarre was the first king of the Bourbon family; this famous 
 dynasty reigned over France till the French Revolution (1792). The House of 
 Valois had held the throne since 1328. 
 
2"]^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 had been very unsatisfactory. All efforts to establish Protestantism 
 had been unsuccessful. 
 
 Under Elizabeth, matters for twenty years or more were no bet- 
 ter. She was unable and unwilling to send an army large enough 
 to subdue the island, and the Irish would not put aside their own 
 petty quarrels to unite for the general good. Matters were further 
 complicated by the landing of a body of troops led by a Sir James 
 Fitzmaurice under the authority of the Pope and with the aid and 
 countenance of Philip II, with the object of injuring Elizabeth and 
 gaining Ireland pohtically.for the CathoHc cause. The effort was 
 a failure. An insurrection in Munster (1579) under the leader- 
 ship of the Earl of Desmond, the head of the great Fitzgerald 
 family, was ruthlessly put down after four years' strife, and thou- 
 sands perished chiefly from want and destitution. 
 
 The English with a strange inconsistency followed the same 
 methods with the Irish which they condemned ^ violently in the 
 Spaniards. Munster was desolated and the most of the territory 
 forfeited to the crown. It was divided among the English adven- 
 turers, who, in the end, were compelled to let the lands to Irish 
 tenants, and thus set up a system of absentee landlordism. It 
 must be said, however, for the credit of Elizabeth and Burghley 
 that they were opposed to this pohcy of extermination. 
 
 328. Irish Rebellion. 1598-1602. — For ten or twelve years 
 Ireland was in comparative quiet, but trouble arose, partly from 
 the attacks of the Irish on the few English settlers, whose treat- 
 ment of the natives was such as to provoke resentment ; partly 
 from the lawless and cruel treatment of the inhabitants by the 
 troops left without pay ; pardy from natural hatred of the English. 
 This new rebellion broke out in Ulster. Here the Irish chiefs 
 united and placed themselves under the Earl of Tyrone. Tyrone 
 gained a victory over the English forces and the greater part of 
 Ireland rallied to his support. This was the first national and re- 
 ligious revolt against England. Largely through his own efforts 
 the Earl of Essex was sent to Ireland to put down the rebelHon, 
 
ESSEX AND LEICESTER 279 
 
 but he was unsuccessful ; and it was not until 1602, under Lord 
 Mountjoy, that the rebellion was finally crushed by a policy of 
 starvation and extermination. 
 
 329. Earl of Essex. — In the early part of Elizabeth's reign 
 two young English noblemen had been spoken of as possible 
 suitors for her hand. One was the Earl of Essex, the other the 
 Earl of Leicester. After the death of Essex, Leicester married 
 his widow, and when her son, the young Earl of Essex, grew up, 
 gave him a position in his company of soldiers. This youth, who 
 became one of the queen's later favorites, was a man of consider- 
 able ability, but he had an overwhelming sense of his own im- 
 portance and his attitude toward Elizabeth was often rude and 
 presumptuous. It is said that she was once so offended by his 
 lack of good manners that she boxed his ears. 
 
 Essex was brave but rash, and his impatience with Elizabeth's 
 methods often led him into serious difficulties. His failure in 
 Ireland brought him back hastily to explain matters to the queen. 
 Bursting into her presence without regard to his muddy and travel- 
 stained appearance, he made his excuse for his ill success. The 
 queen decided that he needed to be taught a lesson and ordered 
 him to be placed in temporary confinement. He was tried for 
 exceeding his orders, and his various offices were taken away from 
 him, but in time he was granted his freedom. Counting upon his 
 general popularity to regain his position, Essex marched into Lon- 
 don at the head of a small body of men to compel the queen to 
 reinstate him and to dismiss his enemies. He was promptly arrested 
 and convicted of treason. Very reluctantly Elizabeth signed his 
 death warrant, and he was executed in 1600. 
 
 330. Literary Development; New Statesmen; Raleigh. — The 
 years succeeding the defeat of the Spanish Armada were very 
 prosperous for England ; the whole nation was full of enthusiasm ; 
 there were no foes to fear, and the energy which had been so con- 
 spicuously displayed in naval and military fields now found an 
 outlet in commerce, exploration, settlement, and, above all, in the 
 
28o 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 field of literature. No period in the literary history of the world 
 has surpassed the later years of Elizabeth's reign in the richness, 
 fullness, variety, and extent of its poetry, prose, and especially the 
 
 drama. Spenser, Marlowe, 
 Johnson, Lyly, Bacon, 
 Hooker, with many others, 
 and, surpassing all, Shake- 
 speare give to her time a 
 literary glory which no 
 subsequent reign has 
 equaled. 
 
 Other changes were tak- 
 ing place. Nearly all of 
 Elizabeth's old counselors 
 had died, though Burghley 
 lingered on almost to the 
 close, faithful to his mis- 
 tress to the very last. 
 Younger men now came 
 to the front. The most 
 notable of these were the 
 Earl of Essex, already 
 spoken of. Sir Walter 
 Raleigh, and Sir Robert 
 Cecil, son of Lord 
 Burghley. Essex and Raleigh with most of their companions were 
 eager to make themselves and England famous, and would willingly 
 have entered into all kinds of adventures and daring schemes. 
 Cecil, trained by his father, continued the same line of cautious 
 policy, and, when time for a decision came, Ehzabeth generally 
 took Cecil's side. 
 
 More than any other man, Raleigh can be taken as typical of 
 the age. He had a broad mind ready to accept new develop- 
 ments in any field ; he was a great sea captain ; he was a good 
 
 Sir Walter Raleigh and his Son 
 After a contemporary portrait 
 
ELIZABETH AND PARLIAMENT 28 1 
 
 soldier, a statesman almost of the first rank, an historian, one of 
 the best prose writers of the day, and a fair poet. He was an ac- 
 complished courtier, a skilled diplomatist, a far-seeing colonizer. 
 He was daring, courageous, ambitious, and, on occasion, almost as 
 pitiless as Elizabeth herself. 
 
 331. Parliament under Elizabeth; Monopolies. — Like her 
 father, Ehzabeth fully appreciated the advantages of appearing to 
 rule with the support of ParUament, and in the early days of her 
 reign she had comparatively little trouble ; but ParHament annoyed 
 her with repeated petitions for her marriage, and, furthermore, its 
 membership was more strongly Protestant than she liked. Its in- 
 fluence had been steadily growing, and as time went on it was 
 harder and harder to manage. She, therefore, tried to do without 
 Parliaments, only calling them when she needed money. In her 
 long reign of forty-five years there were only thirteen Parliaments. 
 
 Elizabeth was niggardly to her supporters, and when she was 
 compelled to reward them, she did it so as to cost her as little as 
 possible. One way was to give to an individual the control over 
 certain articles of trade or commerce, such as wine, salt, etc. 
 These monopolies were usually granted for fixed periods and 
 might be renewed or not. As early as 1597 strong objection to 
 this practice was made in Parliament. In 1601 such a decided 
 protest was made that Elizabeth, seeing that she must yield, did 
 so gracefully. The message which was sent to Parliament closed 
 with these words, "Though you have had, and may have, many 
 princes more mighty and wise sitting in this seat, yet you never 
 had, or ever shall have, any that will be more careful and loving." ^ 
 
 332. Death of Elizabeth, 1603; Her Success. — During the 
 last two or three years of her reign Elizabeth was a lonely old 
 woman, but she never lost her courage or her activity. In the 
 latter part of 1602 her health began to fail, and on March 24, 
 1603, she died in the seventieth year of her age and the forty-fifth 
 of her reign. 
 
 1 Notwithstanding this, monopolies continued until the time of the Civil War. 
 
282 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Whatever were Elizabeth's faults, and they were many, she had 
 an instinctive knowledge of what was best for England, and for 
 England she lived. To appreciate how great her success was, it 
 is only needful to compare the England of 1558 with the England 
 of 1603. With her closes the Tudor dynasty, perhaps the ablest 
 that has governed England. The rule of the Tudors was practi- 
 cally an absolute one, but they had such a clear sense of the real 
 feehngs of the people that they rarely came into conflict with 
 them. In fact, England's experience of the evils of a factious 
 nobility had been bitter enough to make her ready for a strong 
 government, even though it was despotic. The old sentiment of 
 independence was, however, not lost ; it simply slumbered, ready 
 at a touch to wake into life. 
 
 333. Characteristics of the Reign. — With the possible excep- 
 tion of the reign of Victoria, no other period in English history 
 has shown so great changes as the Tudor period; for there was 
 scarcely a field of human interest which was not revolutionized. 
 Perhaps the only great exception was the condition of the ex- 
 tremely poor, which continued very unsatisfactory, though serious 
 yet mistaken efforts to better it were made by the enactment of 
 Poor Laws. 
 
 Taken as a whole, England was more prosperous at the close 
 of Elizabeth's reign than ever before. The long years of peace 
 had given trade, commerce, and agriculture the opportunity for 
 development. One result of this was to raise the standard of 
 living among all classes. In the country, stone houses took the 
 place of wooden ones, glass was used for windows, chimneys re- 
 placed holes in the roof, pillows and bolsters supplanted hard 
 round logs, and pewter plates and spoons those made of wood. 
 
 Among the upper classes the changes were still more marked. 
 Dress became rich and showy. Men and women alike wore silks, 
 gold and silver cloth, velvets and damasks, as well as jewels and 
 ornaments such as bracelets, earrings, brooches, and rings. Ruffs 
 made of lawn cambric, which are so characteristic a feature of the 
 
CHARACTERISTICS OF ELIZABETH'S REIGN 
 
 283 
 
 Elizabethan portraits, were worn by both sexes. The extent and 
 richness of some of the wardrobes can hardly be beheved. EHza- 
 beth is said to have left three thousand gowns. 
 
 334. Architecture ; Furniture ; Amusements. — The feeling of 
 security led to great changes in the architecture of the period. 
 Thick walls and narrow windows were no longer essential, and so 
 
 Charlcote Hall 
 An English manor house of the time of Queen Elizabeth 
 
 the old castles were often modified, large windows and doorways 
 were cut in the walls, moats were filled up and fortifications were 
 demolished. Gothic architecture died out and a mixture of 
 Gothic and Italian took its place, the best examples of which are 
 to be found in the stately manor houses, which have come down 
 to our own time. Around these handsome and extensive gardens 
 were laid out. In the houses windows were as conspicuous as 
 their absence had been in earher times. The walls were hung 
 with rich tapestries, the ceilings decorated with paintings, and the 
 rooms adorned with handsome furniture. Among household and 
 other articles which were introduced or came into general use 
 were handkerchiefs, steel needles, mirrors, silk stockings, cambric, 
 starch, seahng wax, potatoes (1563), newspapers (1588), and some- 
 what later (16 10) forks. The floors were still strewn with rushes. 
 One of the marked characteristics of the Elizabethan period 
 was the great attention given to amusements of various kinds. 
 
284 HISTORY op; ENGLAND 
 
 Neither time nor money was spared to make them attractive. 
 Fairs, festivals, pageants, masques, dances, etc., were all entered 
 into with zest. EHzabeth herself set the example in her Royal 
 Progresses, as they were called. These were visits made by her to 
 her nobles or to the cities and universities. At such times, the 
 shows and the extravagant expenditure were almost beyond belief. 
 
 335. The Drama ; Literature. — In nothing did the spirit of the 
 age show itself more than in the drama. Plays, masques, allegor- 
 ical dramas, and tableaux were acted on all occasions. No other 
 period in Kterary history produced so many plays. Thousands 
 were written and acted, and then fell into obscurity. Only the 
 best survived. The reign of Ehzabeth saw almost the beginning 
 of English drama, and in Shakespeare saw its highest develop- 
 ment.^ The characteristics, the feelings, the aspirations, the fail- 
 ings, the energy, the boldness, the life, and the extravagancies of 
 the age can be learned tetter from the Elizabethan plays than 
 elsewhere, and best of all in those of Shakespeare. 
 
 But it is not only for the drama that the reign is distinguished 
 in literature. The works of Edmund Spenser, the first great poet 
 since Chaucer, of Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Walter Raleigh, George 
 Gascoigne, Francis Bacon, and others, the lyrics of the dramatists, 
 and fugitive pieces, and the translations from the classics formed 
 a wealth of Hterature hitherto unknown in English annals. 
 
 336. Education. — When the monasteries were destroyed many 
 schools went with them, but probably most of them were not a 
 very great loss. However that may be, there were established in 
 England between 1509 and 1553 over one hundred schools, some 
 at the public expense, and not a few by private endowment. The 
 education was scanty and crude. The school work began at 6 a.m. 
 and lasted till 11 ; then went on again from i to 5. There were 
 
 1 •' Ralph Roister Doister," first published about 1556, though written earlier, is 
 generally held to be the first English comedy ; " Gammer Gurton's Needle " (1553), 
 the second. " Gorboduc," sometimes called " Ferrex and Porrex," a tragedy, was 
 acted in 1561. With Marlowe's " Tamburlaine," 1587, the age of the great drama 
 began. 
 
VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY 
 
 285 
 
 no holidays except a few days at Christmas, Easter, and Whitsun- 
 tide. The children of the nobility and of the upper classes had 
 private tutors. Life at the universities was much as it had been, 
 and conditions were only sHghtly better than at the schools. At 
 the same time education was more widely diffused. Every gentle- 
 
 Interior of the Gr.\mmar School at Stratford-on-Avon 
 
 man was expected to be educated, and among the upper classes 
 women not infrequently were as highly cultured as the men. The 
 letters of the Paston family (1422-1509), which have been pre- 
 served, show remarkable culture among the members of that 
 family, and it can hardly be the only instance. 
 
 337. Voyages of Discovery and Settlement. — The voyages of 
 Drake and others have already been mentioned (§319), but 
 these were not all ; expeditions of almost equal importance were 
 undertaken, and besides these, schemes for definite colonization 
 were set on foot. One of the first was the patent granted to Sir 
 Humphrey Gilbert in 1578, but this amounted to nothing. In 
 1583, however. Sir Humphrey himself sailed for the New World, 
 having a fleet of five ships carrying two hundred and sixty men. 
 They reached Newfoundland and Cape Breton, but the storms 
 
286 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 were so severe that the attempt at colonization was given up. 
 On the return voyage the brave commander went down with all 
 his crew, and of the five vessels only one reached England. This 
 failure did not deter others, notably Sir Walter Raleigh (§ 330), 
 who by his various efforts to colonize Virginia (1584-1587) was 
 the real founder of English settlement in America, although he 
 never saw the region in which he felt so great an interest. 
 
 338. Commercial Spirit ; Development of the Middle Class. — 
 One great result of the policy of Elizabeth's reign, that of peace 
 and economy, honest money and rewards of merit, was the won- 
 derful growth of the commercial spirit. The English merchants 
 were quick to take advantage of the new fields opened to them, 
 and men of all classes took part in business and other enterprises, 
 and the wealth of the nation was vastly increased. 
 
 A result of the increased wealth was the growth in power and 
 influence of what had now become an important factor in English 
 life — a great middle class. It was the representatives of this class 
 who were now taking the lead in English political life, and in the 
 House of Commons they were in the majority. Under Elizabeth 
 they began to be restive, as has been shown by their objection to 
 monopolies, but they were too proud of Elizabeth and too loyal to 
 the queen who had done so much for England, to do more than 
 grumble and petition. It was evident, however, that her successor 
 would need skill, abihty, and tact to live harmoniously with his 
 Parliaments. 
 
 References. — Gxeen, Short History, chap, vii (§§ 3-8); Gardiner, ^/«- 
 denfs History^ chaps, xxviii-xxx ; Terry, History, Part III, Book II, chaps, 
 vi-vii ; Tout, Advanced History, Book V, chaps, vi-vii ; Creighton, Age of 
 Elizabeth, Book I, chap, v, Book II, chaps, i-ii, Book III, chaps, iii-iv. Books 
 IV-VII; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents, §§ 1 67-180; Traill, Social 
 England, vol. Ill, chaps, xi-xii; Cheyney, Readings, chap xiii; Colby, Selec- 
 tions, §§ 61-67; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 52-60, 68; Lee, Source-Book, 
 §§ 133-147- 
 
THE STUARTS 
 
 287 
 
 The Stuarts 
 
 James I 
 (VI of Scotland) 
 
 I 603- I 625 
 : Anne of Denmark 
 I 
 
 1 I 
 
 Henry Charles I 
 
 d. 1612 1625-1649 
 
 = Henrietta Maria of France 
 
 I n I \ I Prince 
 
 Charles H Mary James H Henry Henrietta Maria Rupert 
 1660-1685 1685-1688 d. 1660 = Philip 
 
 Catherine =(i)Anne D. of Orleans 
 
 of Braganza Hyde | 
 
 d. 1671 
 (2) Mary of Modena 
 
 Descendants 
 (in direct 
 Stuart hne) 
 
 Elizabeth 
 = Frederick, Elector Palatine 
 
 _i 
 
 Sophia 1 
 
 = Ernest 
 
 Augustus 
 
 of Hanover 
 
 (or Brunswick) 
 
 George I 
 
 of England 
 
 1714-1727 
 
 = William of Orange 
 
 William HI 
 
 1688-1702 
 
 = Mary H 
 
 d. James H 
 
 i6'88-i694 
 
 :) Mary H 
 1688-1694 
 
 (i) Anne 
 
 1702-17 14 
 
 = George of 
 
 Denmark 
 
 (2) James 
 
 " The Old Pretender 
 = Mary Sobieski 
 
 Charles Edward 
 
 The Young Pretender " 
 
 d. 1788 
 
 I 
 Henry 
 Cardinal Stuart 
 d. 1807 
 
 1 Elizabeth had several children, but Sophia was the oldest Protestant child. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 STRUGGLE AGAINST PERSONAL RULE 
 
 339. James I. 1603. — James I of England (VI of Scot- 
 land) was the son of Mary Queen of Scots ^ and Henry 
 Stuart, Lord Darnley (§§ 306, 307) ; both were grandchil- 
 dren of Margaret, daughter of Henry VII, and by the usual 
 laws of inheritance James was the legitimate successor of Eliza- 
 beth.^ The birth and bringing up of James had been unfortunate. 
 Except for a few months in Denmark he had never been out of 
 Scotland, and was therefore not only unacquainted with foreign life 
 and thought, but also with the conditions and customs in the 
 country over which he was to reign. Elizabeth understood both 
 England and the English ; James understood neither. The time 
 for despotic rule in England had ended, and the period of transi- 
 tion to a constitutional government would have been full of diffi- 
 culties even to the most tactful monarch, so the failure of James 
 and his immediate successors is not surprising. 
 
 James had been well educated, and was possessed of considerable 
 intellectual ability. He was by nature kindly in disposition, and 
 desirous of avoiding extremes in anything. At the same time he 
 could be stubborn in holding to an opinion or a policy. He was 
 
 1 The attitude of James toward his mother has often been called in question. It 
 should be remembered that he never saw her after he was a year old, and that he 
 was brought up among those to whom she was the incarnation of all that was evil. 
 These facts are a palliation, though not a defense, of his conduct toward her. He 
 did, however, destroy Fotheringay Castle, and he raised a handsome monument to 
 her in Henry VH Chapel, Westminister Abbey. 
 
 2 His succession was based on this right, for Parliament simply recognized him. 
 It is true that he had been designated by Elizabeth on her deathbed as her suc- 
 cessor, but unratified by Parliament, apart from the claim by birth, this had no value. 
 According to the will of Henry VIII, under which Elizabeth herself succeeded, the 
 legal heir was a descendant of Mary Brandon, Henry's younger sister. 
 
 288 
 
JAMES I 
 
 289 
 
 m- 
 
 
 vain of his acquirements and had an exaggerated estimate of his 
 
 ability. Not the least of his defects was a total lack of power to 
 
 read character, nor was he better able to judge of the currents of 
 
 pubhc opinion or the signs of the times. He was lazy, dilatory, 
 
 and careless, fond of theory, but hated practice. In person he was 
 
 tall and ungainly, shambling 
 
 in his walk, slovenly in his ^^^*' -.v 
 
 dress and habits, and a great 
 
 drinker, though by no means 
 
 a drunkard. 
 
 340. James comes to Lon- 
 don. 1603. — Sir Robert 
 Carey,^ a cousin of Elizabeth, 
 by three days' hard riding, it 
 is said, carried tidings of the 
 queen's death to James at 
 Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh. 
 Three days later James was 
 proclaimed King of England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland, just a century after the marriage of James 
 IV of Scotland to Margaret, the daughter of Henry VII, whose 
 policy thus bore fruit after many years. 
 
 James set out almost at once for London. His journey thither 
 occupied a month, and along the whole route he was received with 
 enthusiasm. With his queen, Anne, Princess of Denmark, he was 
 crowned at Westminster (July 25, 1603). James decided to fol- 
 low the policy of Elizabeth, and continued her ministers in office, 
 making Sir Robert Cecil his chief adviser. This course, the best 
 that he could have taken, was not acceptable either to the Puri- 
 tans or the Catholics. 
 
 341. Millenary Petition; Hampton Court Conference, 1604; 
 Bible of 1611. — On his way to London James was presented by 
 the Puritans with a petition, known as the Millenary Petition be- 
 
 1 He was a grandson of Mary, sister of Anne Boleyn. 
 
 Vi,;Hri 
 
 James I 
 
 I 
 
290 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 cause it was reported to have been signed by one thousand 
 clergymen.^ In this some modification of the use of rehgious 
 ceremonies and clerical vestments was asked for. The requests 
 were moderate, but it soon became evident that James had no 
 notion of allowing any alteration in church services or organiza- 
 tion. However, a conference between the English bishops and 
 four leading Puritan clergymen was held at Hampton Court 
 Palace, and hence known as the Hampton Court Conference 
 (1604). James himself took a prominent part in this meeting, 
 the only important result of which was an arrangement for a new 
 version of the Bible, which appeared in 161 1, and which, on 
 account of its excellence, displaced all previous English transla- 
 tions. Known as the "Authorized Version," it remains to this 
 day a model of literary English. 
 
 At this conference James took the position of a firm supporter 
 of episcopacy, stating as his motto the adage, " No bishop, no 
 king," while as his guiding principle he proclaimed the divine 
 right of kings.^ 
 
 342. Plots against James; Raleigh. 1603. — Two conspira- 
 cies against James were very soon set on foot ; the one known as 
 the Main Plot, and the other as the Bye Plot. The chief interest 
 in these plots is the fact that Sir Walter Raleigh was accused of 
 being concerned in the Main Plot. According to the custom of 
 the day, he was required to prove his innocence, to answer charges 
 without preparation, and was forbidden the assistance of counsel. 
 Raleigh was convicted, but was reprieved and thrown into the 
 Tower, where he remained thirteen years. 
 
 343. James and Religion. — James was inclined to allow the 
 private exercise of religion, provided Catholics would acknowledge 
 that loyalty to him was above loyalty to the Pope, and would agree 
 that there should be no increase in their numbers. This was a 
 
 1 In reality the signers numbered about 800. 
 
 2 It is to James's discredit that ten of the principal signers of the Millenary 
 Petition were thrown into prison, and narrowly escaped the charge of treason for 
 their action. 
 
THE GUNPOWDER PLOT 
 
 291 
 
 demand to which neither the Pope nor the Catholic party could be 
 expected to agree. However, James remitted fines for non-attend- 
 ance at church services, with the result that there were many empty 
 pews in the parish churches and great gatherings of Catholics 
 outside them. The Protestants took it for granted that these 
 
 Hampton Court from the Thames 
 
 worshipers were new converts, and James in alarm went back to 
 the policy of Cecil. All priests were ordered to leave the country, 
 several were hanged, and the fines for recusancy were rigidly 
 enforced. 
 
 344. The Gunpowder Plot. 1605. — The extremists were 
 so irritated at what had happened that after the fashion of 
 the day they turned from peaceful means to conspiracy, resulting 
 in the " Gunpowder Plot." The cold-blooded plan to destroy 
 innocent and unsuspecting men along with those against whom 
 there was a grudge or who might take hostile action distin- 
 guished the Gunpowder Plot from all others, and makes its anni- 
 versary still remembered in England. There is much in the plot 
 which cannot be explained, but on the whole it would seem that 
 tradition is not far wrong. The men who were concerned in it 
 were not ruffians, but gentlemen by birth. In substance the plan 
 was to blow up with gunpowder the king and Parliament on the open- 
 ing day of the session, November 5, 1605. For this purpose there 
 were stored in a cellar under the House of Lords thirty-six barrels 
 of gunpowder. Everything was ready, when one of the conspir- 
 
292 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ators sent to his brother-in-law, a member of the House of Lords, 
 a letter of warning. Through this the government discovered the 
 plot and apprehended Guy Fawkes, the man who had charge of 
 the powder. The other conspirators fled into the country, there 
 to attempt to raise a rebellion. The leader and a few friends were 
 surrounded in a house in Staffordshire, and killed. Fawkes, after 
 being tortured to obtain evidence, was, with several companions, 
 executed. Among others Garnet, the head of the English Jesuits, 
 was put to death. His trial failed to show any complicity on his 
 part, but only a knowledge that a plot existed of which he did not 
 give notice to the government.^ As a result of the plot severe laws 
 against the Catholics were passed and carried out relentlessly, and 
 the cause of religious toleration was indefinitely retarded. 
 
 345. James's First Parliament, 1 604-1 6ii ; Foreign Policy. — 
 The extravagance of James soon forced him to summon a Par- 
 liament. This sat from 1604 until 1611, and was continually out 
 of harmony with the king. James lectured the members, dwelling 
 on his favorite doctrine of the divine right of kings, while Parlia- 
 ment insisted on its privileges and the right to withhold supplies 
 until grievances were redressed. James sought to replenish his 
 treasury by laying customs duties, selling titles of nobility, im- 
 posing excessive fines, granting monopolies, etc. ; but so far as 
 Parliament was concerned he obtained very little money. 
 
 Early in his reign peace was made with Spain and he sought an 
 alliance with her, though at the same time he was friendly with 
 France. In foreign affairs James's policy in the main was wise 
 because he wished for peace, which was the best thing for 
 England, but he was unable to carry out his policy in a states- 
 manlike manner. 
 
 346. Scotland and Ireland. — One thing upon which James 
 had set his heart was the union of England and Scotland, for, 
 though he was king of both countries, each was governed by its 
 own laws and its own Parliament. He had, without authority, as- 
 
 1 Technically this is called Misprision of Treason. 
 
COLONIZATION AND COMMERCE 293 
 
 sumed the title of King of Great Britain and Ireland, but Parlia- 
 ment refused to take any steps looking toward a union.^ 
 
 The conquest of Ireland was almost coincident with the death of 
 Elizabeth ; therefore James was really the first king of England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland. Ireland, though subdued and helpless, 
 was by no means friendly. Hoping to improve matters, James 
 granted to colonists from England and Scotland large tracts of 
 land in the north of Ireland, declared to be forfeited to the crown 
 on account of a small rebellion in 1607. Thus were formed the 
 Protestant districts of Ulster. At the time (161 1) this was the 
 wildest part of Ireland; ,in after years it became the most in- 
 dustrious and wealthy. This colonizing scheme^ had both good 
 and evil effects ; on the one hand it strengthened the Enghsh rule, 
 while on the other it gave rise to much hard feeling, so that a 
 bitter enmity arose between the Protestants and Catholics of 
 those districts, an enmity which exists to this day. 
 
 347. Colonization ; Commerce. — Meanwhile the spirit of coloni- 
 zation was active. In 1607 Jamestown in Virginia was founded, 
 and earlier a colony in the small West India island of Barbados. 
 These were followed by Plymouth, Massachusetts, settled in 1620 
 by the Pilgrims ; Massachusetts Bay, in 1629 ; Maryland, in 1634 ; 
 and others established at various dates till the settlement of 
 Georgia, in 1733. 
 
 With the development of colonization there was the increase of 
 trade and commerce. In 1600 Elizabeth had given a charter to a 
 commercial company known as the East India Company, organized 
 for securing the trade of the far East. In India trading stations, 
 or factories as they were called, were established, and thus began 
 
 ^ There can be little question that the Commons were right in their position. To 
 have united the two kingdoms would at that time almost inevitably have strength- 
 ened the royal power in both England and Scotland, which w^ould have been a 
 calamity. That which the Commons refused to do in 1607 they did gladly in 1707. 
 
 2 In order to raise funds for this undertaking James founded a new order of 
 hereditary knighthood, and sold what were known as baronetcies. The price for 
 each title was ^1800. The shields of baronets still bear a red hand, known as the 
 red hand of Ulster. 
 
294 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 England's interest in India. Stations were established in Africa 
 also, and everywhere England was beginning to contend with 
 the Dutch for the supremacy in commerce. English ships now 
 traded with almost all the ports of the Mediterranean, and with 
 Spain, Portugal, France, Hamburg, and the Baltic ports. A large 
 business was done in the fisheries off Newfoundland and in the 
 whale fisheries of the North x\tlantic. 
 
 348. Raleigh's Venture, 1617; His Execution. 161 8. — 
 James was ready to listen to any scheme for making money, of 
 which he stood in so great need, and when Sir Walter Raleigh, 
 who had been thirteen years in the Tower (§ 342), offered, if re- 
 leased, to head an expedition to Guiana in search of some gold 
 mines of which he had heard in his visit to that country many 
 years before, the king willingly acceded to the proposition. 
 
 Sir Walter started in 161 7. He agreed not to take any warlike 
 measures against the Spaniards, with whom James was now at 
 peace, a promise which it was impossible to keep, for the alleged 
 mines were in territory claimed by Spain, any intrusion into which 
 she would certainly resent. After many difficulties the small fleet 
 reached the mouth of the Orinoco, and Raleigh waited there 
 while some of his vessels went up the river. They found a 
 Spanish settlement and, in a skirmish which ensued, were 
 defeated. Raleigh was compelled to go back to England. 
 Meantime the Spaniards demanded that he should be punished as 
 a pirate. James, fearful of a break with Spain, finally caused 
 Raleigh to be executed under the old unjust sentence of treason. 
 The common view at the time was that he was executed simply to 
 please Spain, and modern investigation has only confirmed it. 
 
 349. Favorites. — Sir Robert Cecil, who had been created 
 Earl of Salisbury, died in 1612, and James determined to rule 
 without a chief minister of state. Unfortunately he could not get 
 along without some kind of adviser, and so came under the in- 
 fluence of favorites, men who were interested simply in their own 
 advancement and concerns. The first of these was Robert Carr, 
 
THE SPANISH SCHEME 
 
 295 
 
 Coat of Arms of the 
 Stuart Kings 
 
 a Scotsman, who was made Viscount Rochester, and later Earl 
 of Somerset. After several years he fell into disgrace, and a new 
 favorite was found in George Villiers, afterwards Earl, and later, 
 Duke of Buckingham. It was soon recognized that no plan or 
 policy had a chance of success unless it 
 was approved by him, and so he became 
 the real ruler of the land. 
 
 350. Prince Charles and the Spanish 
 Scheme. 16 16. — The year which saw 
 the death of Cecil (161 2) saw also that 
 of Prince Henry, James's eldest son, who 
 was about nineteen. He was a youth of 
 the greatest promise, and there have 
 always been suspicions that his death was 
 not wholly the result, as claimed, of cold 
 and fever. The removal of Prince 
 
 Henry and Cecil deprived James of the only men who might 
 have restrained him from his foolish course. The heir to the 
 throne was now Charles, the second son. James, full of the de- 
 sire for peace and an alliance with Spain, and supported by 
 Buckingham, determined to marry Charles to the Spanish Infanta 
 Maria, granddaughter of Philip II and sister of the ruHng king of 
 Spain. Instinctively the English people felt that, if carried out, 
 such a policy would make England the practical supporter of 
 Spain. This belief united men who would not otherwise have 
 acted together — those who feared for their estates, those who 
 feared for their religion, and those who feared for their country. 
 
 James now began to show toleration toward the Catholics, and 
 for the first time in many years Catholics had an easy time, 
 provided they were content to remain quiet. This course was 
 unpopular, for the people at large regarded favor to Catholics as 
 favor to Spain. Spain was willing enough to carry on negotiations 
 with James, for, as long as they continued, there was not much 
 likehhood of England's interference with Spanish designs. 
 
296 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 351. Thirty Years' War. 1618-1648.-111 1618 the Thirty 
 Years' War, one of the most desolating wars in history, broke out 
 on the Continent. The immediate occasion for the outbreak 
 was a struggle for the crown of Bohemia between Frederick, 
 Elector- Palatine of the Rhine, and Ferdinand of Austria ; but 
 it really was a struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism. 
 Frederick had married Elizabeth,^ (16 13), James's only daughter, 
 and, as the representative of Protestantism, was strongly supported 
 by English opinion ; but when he begged James for help his ap- 
 peal was refused, though volunteers were allowed to join his forces. 
 It was not long before Frederick lost both the crown of Bohemia 
 and the Palatinate. (App. i, §§ 143-152.) 
 
 352. Parliaments of 1614 and 1621. — In 1614 James called his 
 second Parliament, but it was unwilling to do anything for him until 
 he abandoned his illegal methods of taxation, and ceased his inter- 
 ference with elections. James in anger dissolved the Parhament, 
 which in consequence of not having passed a single act was called 
 the "Addled Parliament." James now began to raise money by 
 benevolences, somewhat as Henry VII had done, but he was soon 
 forced to call his third Parhament (162 1). This Parliament re- 
 fused to grant supplies until grievances had been redressed. 
 First it dealt with monopolies ; these were hated chiefly as an 
 abuse of royal power, though monopolies of such necessaries of 
 life as salt, oil, etc., were always unpopular. 
 
 353. Impeachment of Bacon. 1621. — The next thing that 
 Parhament took up was the conduct of government officials, and 
 Francis Bacon, the Lord Chancellor, was chosen as an example. 
 He was a friend to monopolies, and some suitors in his court 
 claimed that he had received bribes. In those days it was gener- 
 ally understood that presents were to be given to judges and others ; 
 indeed it was a recognized method of payment for services ren- 
 dered. Bacon had received such gifts or bribes before judgment 
 
 1 After the death of Queen Anne (1714), the grandson of EHzabeth, George of 
 Hanover, came to the throne of England as George I. 
 
CONFLICT WITH PARLIAMENT 
 
 297 
 
 Gold Coin of James I 
 
 This coin, commemorating the union of Eng- 
 land and Scotland, was the first to bear the 
 legend " Great Britain." 
 
 was pronounced, and while the case was still pending, thus laying 
 himself open to grave charges. He confessed the facts and was 
 sentenced to pay a fine of ;^io,ooo, to be imprisoned in the 
 Tower at the king's pleas- 
 ure, and to retire from 
 public life. He was even 
 forbidden to come within 
 twelve miles of the court. 
 James, probably more be- 
 cause he considered Bacon's 
 impeachment an infringe- 
 ment on his royal rights 
 than from compassion, re- 
 mitted the fine and released him after two days' imprisonment.^ 
 The essential point in the case, as in the prosecution of certain of 
 the monopolies, was that the Commons had revived the right of 
 impeachment of the officers of the crown, a weapon which could 
 inflict powerful blows (§ 162, note). 
 
 354. Conflict with Parliament. 1622. — Having disposed of 
 the monopolies and of Bacon, the Parliament was ready to grant 
 James some small supplies. After a recess it came together 
 again, and at this time the negotiations with Spain were being 
 carried on. The Commons immediately sent word to the king, 
 requesting him to marry his son to a Protestant princess. James 
 replied that Parhament had no right to discuss matters upon 
 which he had not consulted them, and that they should not 
 " meddle with mysteries of state." Not only this, but he 
 threatened to punish members for their words in the House. 
 This roused the ire of the Commons, and they put on record a 
 notable statement of their right to free speech in the House, and 
 to an unhindered discussion of all matters relating to the realm. 
 
 1 Bacon claimed, and, so far as records show, justly, that in no case had his de- 
 cisions been affected by bribes, but with that question the Commons were not 
 concerned. 
 
298 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 James was so angered that he sent for the Journal containing this 
 declaration, and tore out the leaf with his own hands. In a few 
 days he dissolved the Parhament, and threw several of the 
 prominent members into prison. 
 
 355. The Spanish Scheme Fails. 1623. — Meantime the ne- 
 gotiations in regard to the Spanish marriage dragged on. Buck- 
 ingham and Prince Charles resolved to see what a visit to Madrid 
 would do. When they reached that city, they found that not only 
 all sorts of difficulties were thrown in the way, but that the In- 
 fanta herself was unalterably opposed to a marriage with any 
 heretic. After numerous disputes and adventures they gave up 
 the matter in disgust and returned to England, to be received 
 with enthusiasm, not because either Charles or Buckingham was 
 popular, but because the proposed alliance with Spain had failed. 
 Buckingham now turned to France and proposed that Charles 
 should marry Henrietta Maria, the sister of the king, Louis 
 XIII. 
 
 356. Last Days of James. 1624-1625. — The last Parha- 
 ment which James called (1624) pronounced monopohes illegal 
 and canceled all grants except bona fide patents which were to 
 run fourteen years. War was declared against Spain, and troops 
 for the aid of Frederick were authorized to be raised in England. 
 Of the twelve thousand Enghshmen who went out to fight the 
 cause of Protestantism, fully three fourths perished in Holland 
 from cold and disease, so poorly furnished were they with needful 
 supplies. (App. I, § 145.) 
 
 In Scotland James's course had been as ill-advised as in Eng- 
 land. Greatly pleased by the reception which he had received 
 from the strong churchmen in England, he had resolved to intro- 
 duce episcopacy into Scotland. Bishops were appointed, and 
 the Presbyterian system was modified, though not without opposi- 
 tion. As a matter of fact the bishops had little power. 
 
 James died in March, 1625, and was succeeded by his son 
 Charles I. 
 
CHARLES I 
 
 299 
 
 357. Charles I Marries. 1625. — Charles was at that time 
 twenty-four years old. In many ways he was a better man than 
 his father, and he was unquestion- 
 ably desirous of ruhng well. His 
 private hfe was exemplary and he 
 was free from many of the vices 
 common in his day. On the other 
 hand he was obstinate, impulsive, 
 unwise, impatient of detail, inclined 
 to double dealing, and had, like his 
 father, an overweening sense of his 
 divine right as king. He was 
 handsome and dignified, devoted 
 to the church, and, in his way, 
 pious. He could not understand 
 any point of view other than his 
 own, and was rarely able to make 
 up his mind what line of action to 
 pursue. He failed to understand 
 his people, and though he had de- 
 voted friends he was never popular 
 except for the few months after his 
 return from Spain. 
 
 A treaty with France had been 
 arranged in 1624, and before he called his first Parliament the 
 marriage with Henrietta Maria of France had been celebrated by 
 proxy in front of the doors of the great church of Notre Dame in 
 Paris (June, 1625), and the young queen of sixteen came to England. 
 
 358. Spanish War; First Parliament. 1625. — When the 
 first Pafrliament of Charles met, the nation was already at war with 
 Spain, and he naturally expected that large grants of money 
 would be made ; but he was granted only two comparatively small 
 amounts, and "tonnage and poundage"^ for one year, though 
 
 1 " Tonnage and poundage " was another name for customs duties. 
 
 Charles I 
 After a painting by Vandyke 
 
300 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 it had been usual to make such a grant for the Hfetime of a new 
 king. The Commons distrusted Buckingham and his influence 
 upon the king, and the power to grant or withhold supplies was in 
 those days the only weapon which they could use, for even the 
 right of impeachment was still questioned. Charles wrathfully 
 dismissed the Parliament, and he and Buckingham managed to 
 send off an expedition to Spain, but it was a failure. 
 
 359. Charles's Second Parliament, 1626; Impeachment of 
 Buckingham. — Charles, from want of funds, was compelled to call 
 another Parliament (1626), but this second body was no more 
 tractable than the first. Charles had tried to get rid of the leaders 
 of the former House by making them sheriffs and hence ineligible 
 for election to Parliament. But it was of no avail, for new chiefs 
 appeared. Under the leadership of Sir John Eliot, a Cornish 
 gentleman, the Commons impeached Buckingham, charging him 
 with mismanaging the revenue, with buying and selHng offices, and 
 with lending ships to France. These charges were true, but a 
 number of others included in the impeachment were clearly unjust. 
 The vote passed the Commons, and Sir John EHot and Sir Dudley. 
 Digges were chosen to present the charges before the House of 
 Lords. Charles, under the pretext that they had used seditious 
 language, threw Eliot and Digges into prison. Parliament refused 
 to transact any business until their release. When they were set at 
 liberty the prosecution was again taken up, and Charles, to save Buck- 
 ingham, dissolved ParHament, without getting a penny of supplies. 
 
 360. Forced Loans. — In order to obtain funds Charles had 
 recourse to forced loans, benevolences, etc. Many of those who 
 refused to pay were committed to prison, among them Eliot ; 
 others had soldiers billeted upon them, or were compelled to join 
 the army or navy. In 1627 war broke out with France,^ and'to pro- 
 vide for it a forced loan was attempted. For denying that this was 
 legal the Chief Justice was dismissed from the bench. Five gentle- 
 
 1 This war was occasioned by King Charles sending the French attendants of 
 the queen out of England. 
 
CHARLES AND PARLIAMENT 
 
 301 
 
 men who refused to pay were thrown into prison, and when a writ of 
 habeas corpus ^ was issued in their favor, the jailer replied that the 
 prisoners were kept by the king's order and could not be released. 
 When their case came before the court, the judges sent the prisoners 
 back to jail, thus practically acknowledging that the king had the 
 right to imprison at his pleasure. Charles, however, finding that 
 he did not gain anything in this way set the five gentlemen free. 
 
 361. Charles's Third Parliament. 1628. — Finding it impossible 
 to get along without supplies, Charles called his third Parliament. 
 Among its members was Sir Thomas Wentworth, who, with Eliot, 
 John Pym, and Sir Edward Coke, took the lead in the great struggle 
 for the rights of the individual in regard to person and property. 
 This matter took precedence of all other business. At first the 
 grievances were drawn up in the shape of a bill, but the king re- 
 fused to consider it ; then the Commons drew up a statement in 
 the form of a petition enumerating the grievances of the past and 
 providing for the future. Wentworth withdrew his support from this. 
 Charles at first refused to have anything to do with the petition, 
 but finding that it had the support of the Lords and that he could 
 not get anything out of the Parliament unless it was signed, he finally 
 attached his signature and the Petition of Right became law (1628). 
 
 362. The Petition of Right. 1628. — The four subjects of the 
 Petition were : martial law, billeting of soldiers, arbitrary taxa- 
 tion, and arbitrary imprisonment. It made provision that martial 
 law should not be employed in time of peace ; that the soldiers 
 should not be quartered upon private citizens against their wish ; 
 that all such methods of raising money as a forced gift, loan, be- 
 nevolence, tax, or such like charge without consent of Parliament 
 should be considered illegal ; and that no one should be imprisoned 
 without some definite charge. As soon as it was known that the 
 king had signed the Petition there was great rejoicing over all Eng- 
 
 i Habeas corpus — the writ issued by a judge or proper ofificer demanding that 
 the prisoner should be brought before him to see if the commitment to prison was 
 legal or justly made. 
 
302 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 land, and Parliament immediately granted Charles five subsidies 
 (£350,000). 
 
 The Petition of Right ^ has always been considered one of the 
 great constitutional safeguards of English liberty, but its importance 
 lies in the fact that by it the people asserted and gained the right 
 to set a limit to the arbitrary power of the king and his govern- 
 ment. It was a statement of principles, but it made no provision 
 for carrying them out; for instance, while it required that each man 
 should have a trial, there was nothing to prevent that trial from 
 being an unfair one, or from being held before judges wholly in 
 the king's interest. No surety was given for the appointment of 
 impartial judges, and they continued, therefore, to be appointed and 
 removed at the king's pleasure Again, the language was vague, 
 so that within a week a serious question arose between the king 
 and Parhament as to its meaning. But with all these shortcomings 
 it marks a definite stage in the struggle for constitutional liberty. 
 
 The Commons next took up the question of tonnage and pound- 
 age, which they held to be a tax, though the king claimed that 
 these duties did not come under the Petition of Right. They had 
 been granted by Charles's first Parhament for only a year, but he 
 had collected them ever since. The Commons, moreover, renewed 
 their attack on Buckingham, so Charles prorogued Parliament. 
 
 363. Assassination of Buckingham ; Rochelle Expedition. 1628. 
 — Having now enough money, the king planned an expedition 
 for the relief of the Protestants of Rochelle in France, which was 
 besieged by the French forces. Buckingham was to lead it, but 
 while he was at Portsmouth ready to embark, he was assassinated. 
 
 The expedition sailed for Rochelle, but when it arrived off the 
 harbor and the masters of the merchant vessels which had been 
 pressed into service saw the preparation for defense, they refused 
 to go into action and Rochelle was left to its fate. Charles 
 later (1630) made peace with France and Spain. 
 
 1 It was called the Petition of Right to show that it was intended to explain 
 old rights and privileges, not to curtail royal prerogatives or gain new liberties. 
 
CHARLES AND PARLIAMENT 
 
 303 
 
 364. Religious Difficulties. 1629. — Meantime other difficulties 
 existed regarding religious doctrines and practices. The Catholic 
 successes on the Continent, known in history as the Counter- 
 Reformation, had frightened the English Protestants. Besides, 
 there were the negotiations of James and Charles with France and 
 Spain, both CathoUc powers, and in addition the fact that Queen 
 Henrietta Maria was a CathoHc. 
 
 The preaching and teaching of the men trained in the con- 
 tinental schools during Mary's reign had brought its legitimate 
 fruit, and a large number of the educated classes were now strong 
 Calvinists and Protestants, while their representatives had an over- 
 whehiiing majority in Parhament. To them uniformity in Cal- 
 vinistic doctrine was essential. Tolerance, either of another's 
 beHef, or of his rehgious practice, if it differed from Calvinism, 
 was beheved to be a positive sin. 
 
 On the other hand, there was a party of High Churchmen 
 strongly opposed to Calvinism, laying much stress on ritual and 
 ceremony. The followers of this party, believing that the king was 
 the head of the church, were stanch supporters of the royal 
 authority and high in favor with Charles. The Puritans believed 
 that unless the royal power was curtailed, it meant the complete 
 supremacy of High. Church authority. Religion and politics were, 
 therefore, inextricably interwoven, and gave a bitterness and 
 relentlessness to the struggle which a purely political conflict 
 would not have had. 
 
 365. Parliament of 1629. Eliot's Resolutions. Parliament 
 Dissolved. 1629. — Parliament met in 1629. The question of 
 tonnage and poundage came up again. One of the members of 
 Parliament had refused to pay this tax and had been imprisoned. 
 Parliament claimed that his arrest was an attack on their privileges, 
 one of which was that members should be secure from arrest.^ 
 
 1 This would seem to have been an extravagant claim, for Parliament was not in 
 session at the time, but technically there was something to be said for it. Pym 
 urged the Commons to dispute tonnage and poundage only on the ground that it 
 was illegally levied. 
 
304 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Charles steadfastly refused to let the officers who had arrested 
 the men appear before the Commons, and adjourned the House. 
 He was unsuccessful in his efforts to influence members, and when 
 the House came together again he sent orders for another adjourn- 
 ment (March 2, 1629). The members, fearing that Parliament 
 would be dissolved, shut the doors so as to keep the king's mes- 
 senger from' coming in, and also to insure privacy. Then fol- 
 lowed a scene of the wildest confusion, during which the Speaker 
 was forced to remain in his chair while three resolutions, offered 
 by Eliot, were agreed to with shouts of assent. 
 
 The substance of the famous articles was that whoever should 
 bring in innovations in religion or any opinions differing from the 
 *' true and orthodox church " ; or who should advise the taking 
 and levying of tonnage and poundage, if not granted by Parlia- 
 ment, or be an actor therein ; or who should voluntarily yield or 
 pay said subsidies, these not being granted by Parliament — should 
 be reputed a capital enemy to the kingdom and commonwealth. 
 As soon as the resolutions were passed the House adjourned. In 
 a few days Charles dissolved Parliament, and none was called for 
 eleven years. 
 
 366. Punishment of Sir John Eliot and Others. — Charles 
 determined to punish the chief of his enemies. . Nine members of 
 Parliament were brought before the Privy Council. Most of them 
 apologized after experiencing imprisonment and were released ; 
 the others were brought before the Court of King's Bench. 
 These denied the jurisdiction of the court, claiming that they 
 could not be called in question for what was said within the 
 House of Commons. They were charged with riot and sedition, 
 and were condemned to pay fines, and to lie in prison until the 
 fines were paid and apologies made to the king. Sir John Eliot, 
 who was one of them, declined to pay the fine or to apologize. 
 He lay in the Tower three years ; then, having contracted con- 
 sumption, he begged to be allowed his liberty. Charles refused, 
 and in a month Eliot died (1632), a martyr to the cause of parHa- 
 
PERSONAL RULE OF CHARLES I 
 
 305 
 
 mentary privilege and political liberty. To the earnest and 
 respectful petition of his son that his body might be taken to his 
 old home, Charles heartlessly replied, " Let Sir John Eliot be 
 buried in the church of that parish where he died." So he was 
 buried within the inclosure of the Tower and his grave is now 
 unknown. Eliot's companions in imprisonment, Valentine and 
 Strode, remained in the Tower until they were released in 1640. 
 
 Costumes of the Nobility, Time of Charles I 
 
 367. Personal Rule of Charles. 1629-1640. — Charles now 
 entered upon the second well-defined period of his reign — that of 
 personal government — daring which he tried to get on without 
 Parliament. This might have been possible had it not been for 
 the money question. Though Charles was not extravagant, he was 
 not economical, and the ordinary revenues were insufficient. It 
 must not be supposed that the government was altogether bad ; it 
 was the principle upon which the government was administered, its 
 illegal methods of raising money, and the punishments it inflicted 
 for refusals to pay fines and levies, that were evil. Charles and his 
 counselors failed to realize that some compromise between king 
 and Parliament was needful. The Commons were equally unable 
 
306 HISTORY OP^ ENGLAND 
 
 to understand the situation. A conflict was inevitable, but in 
 bringing it to an issue Charles was certainly the most to blame. 
 
 Charles's later advisers were Richard Weston, afterwards Earl of 
 Portland, Lord Treasurer; William Laud, afterwards Archbishop 
 of Canterbury ; and Sir Thomas Wentworth, afterwards Earl of 
 Strafford — all able men. Weston was a good financier, and his 
 skill was of the utmost advantage to Charles. But Wentworth 
 and Laud were the most influential. 
 
 368. Sir Thomas Wentworth; Laud. — Wentworth's course has 
 always been something of an enigma : he was one of the most 
 earnest participators in the early debates which led to the 
 passage of the Petidon of Right, and had himself drawn the 
 bill first presented to the king, but took no active part in 
 the debate regarding the Petition itself, and then went over to 
 the royal side, becoming the king's earnest supporter. He was a 
 firm believer in the royal power, and seems to have been honest in 
 his conviction that a despotic rule was best for the country, and 
 that it was more likely that a king would be intelligent and patriotic 
 than a ParHament. But he had an ill-concealed contempt for 
 public opinion, for the people as the source of power, and for 
 individual liberty. 
 
 William Laud, the last of the three great advisers, was, like 
 Wentworth, conspicuously an honest man. He was a zealous 
 High Churchman and hated Puritanism. He was a strong up- 
 holder of uniformity in church services, and indeed of outward 
 conformity in every way. He was a persecutor, just as those in 
 power had been under Mary and Elizabeth. He differed from 
 them in this, that he did not put to death, but all that imprison- 
 ment, mutilation, loss of position, and exile could do was done. 
 The press was under the control of the archbishop, therefore no 
 Puritan sermon, tract, or treatise was allowed to be published ; it 
 had been customary in many places for the churches to be used as 
 halls for discussion and meetings of various kinds ; this was strictly 
 prohibited, and lecturers and private chaplains were forbidden to 
 
THE STAR CHAMBER 
 
 307 
 
 address an audience. When men and women met in the woods 
 or in barns to hold devotional services they were seized and tried 
 for illegal worship. Like Wentworth, Laud had no sympathy with 
 free thought and the doctrine of individual liberty. One result of 
 his policy was to send twenty thousand men and women of the 
 sturdiest blood in England to seek a home in the wilds of North 
 America. In this way Laud was really the founder of xA.nglo- 
 Saxon supremacy in North America, for it is hardly to be supposed 
 that except to escape religious persecution so many of that class 
 would have braved the suffering and the risks of a seventeenth 
 century emigration. 
 
 369. The Star Chamber ; High Commission ; Council of the 
 North. — The government of the country was now practically 
 carried on by Wentworth and Laud. There were three tribunals 
 which were made instruments of much tyranny. These were the 
 Court of Star Chamber, the Court of High Commission, and the 
 Council of the North, ^ all of them, for the purposes to which they 
 were now put, of questionable legality. 
 
 Those who were accused of resisting the royal will were brought 
 before the Star Chamber. For instance, Doctor Alexander Leigh- 
 
 1 The Court of Star Chamber was a court organized in 1487 for the trial of of- 
 fenders, especially nobles and powerful men, and those who could not be reached 
 so well through the ordinary tribunals. It was composed of members of the 
 Privy Council (§ 219). 
 
 The Court of High Commission was instituted by Mary in 1557 for the purpose 
 of examining and punishing cases of heresy and schism. It was reorganized under 
 EHzabeth (1559) and made a permanent tribunal in 1583. It was composed of 
 prelates. Privy Councilors, and a few others. 
 
 The Council of the North was originally established by Henry VIII after the 
 Pilgrimage of Grace (§ 247) to keep the northern counties in order and ad- 
 minister justice in the king's name. Wentworth, soon after he joined the king's 
 party, had been appointed its president, and had reorganized it after the plan of 
 the Star Chamber. It was composed of members of the Privy Council. 
 
 Still another court was the Council of Wales, set up in 1536 by Henry VIII ; it 
 was similar to the Council of the North. 
 
 All these courts, however excellent they had been, had become the instrument2 
 of tyranny. They tried cases without a jury and often arbitrarily. They violated 
 the first principles of justice, for the members of the courts were too often both 
 accusers and judges. All were abolished by Parliament in 1641. 
 
3o8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ton, a Scotch physician and minister resident in London, presented 
 a petition to ParHament for the aboUtion of episcopacy, and after- 
 wards expanded it into a book in which all the ills of the country 
 were charged to the king and the bishops. For this he was brought 
 before the Court of Star Chamber, and condemned to be flogged, 
 and to have his nose slit, one ear cut off, and his face branded. 
 William Prynne published a long and dreary, but severe, attack 
 upon the stage, called Histriomastix^ or the Scourge of Stage- 
 players. In it he was specially severe on actresses. It happened 
 that the queen had just taken part in some theatricals at the court, 
 and it was held that he had not only attacked the king, who sup- 
 ported the stage, but also the queen. For this offense he was 
 expelled from the bar, deprived of his university degree, sentenced 
 to lose his ears in the pillory, to pay a heavy fine, and to be 
 imprisoned at the king's pleasure. This was in 1 633-1 634. In 
 1637 Prynne with two others incurred the wrath of Archbishop 
 Laud, by publishing, from their prison, books attacking the bishops. 
 The offenders were brought before the Court of Star Chamber, and 
 were heavily fined ; the ears of Prynne's companions were cut off, 
 ihis own were sheared more closely, and the three men were sent 
 to distant separate prisons, and finally to the Channel Islands. 
 On their way from the prison to the pillory they were greeted by 
 thousands of sympathizers and hailed as martyrs. 
 
 370. The Policy of " Thorough." — Laud and Wentworth 
 became close friends and supported each other. Laud told Went- 
 worth that he ''was all for ' thorough,' ^ the system of complete dis- 
 cipline on which his heart was set." Laud %vas the better able to 
 carry out his principle of " thorough " because he was a member 
 both of the Court of Star Chamber and of the Court of High 
 Commission. In the course of three years he caused every parish 
 in England to be visited and the practices of the clergymen in- 
 
 iThis word " thorough " has been inseparably joined with the name of Went- 
 worth, though Laud seems to have been the first to suggest it. In their use it meant 
 " the prompt and resolute prosecution of any policy." 
 
LAUD AND WENTWORTH 
 
 309 
 
 quired into. If any deviation from the precise form of the Prayer 
 Book was found, or if anything was not done in exact accord 
 with directions, Laud was informed and unless the clergyman con- 
 formed he was cited to appear before the Court of High Commi# 
 sion, and was either suspended or deprived of his office. That 
 there was in many places need of better order and decorum is 
 quite likely, but Laud was doubtless not aware how much Puritanism 
 had increased ; his requirements seemed to many like a return to 
 Catholicism, and it was honestly believed in some quarters that it 
 was Laud's idea to bring England back to Rome. 
 
 371. "Book of Sports." 1633. — At Laud's advice Charles 
 issued the Book of Sports. This was a declaration, originally 
 drawn up in the 
 
 reign of James I 
 (161 8), stating 
 that certain sports, 
 such as bowls, 
 leaping, wrestling, 
 vaulting, etc., were 
 lawful on Sundays. 
 Had the procla- 
 mation been made 
 in the usual way, 
 it would hardly 
 have made much 
 disturbance ; but every clergyman was ordered by Laud to read it 
 from his pulpit after service on a Sunday. To many this seemed 
 a direct violation of the law of God ; some refused to read, and 
 others got around it in various ways. One clergyman, it is said, 
 read the declaration and then the Ten Commandments, saying, 
 " Dearly beloved, you have heard the commandment of God and 
 of man ; obey which you please." 
 
 372. Wentworth in Ireland. 1633-1639. — Meanwhile Went- 
 worth had been appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland. He assumed 
 
 Boys' Sports 
 From a book of 1659 
 
3IO 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 charge of that island in 1633, and immediately put into vigorous 
 practice his policy of '^ thorough." In his administration he 
 showed his extraordinary power of organization and government. 
 ^e ruled despotically, he required imphcit obedience, and he was 
 often unjust. " He moved straight to his object over all obstacles 
 whatever, and if he found his path obstructed by disloyal and 
 contumacious persons, he scrupled little as to the particular method 
 whereby to brush them aside; " but after six years of rule he left 
 Ireland more prosperous than she had ever been before. Trade 
 had never been so profitable or so extensive, the linen industry had 
 been introduced, the revenues of the island showed a surplus in- 
 stead of a deficit, churches which had been in ruins had been re- 
 built, well-considered laws had been enacted and were enforced, 
 and the Irish Sea was cleared of the pirates who had long infested 
 it. Besides this he had created an army, well drilled and effec- 
 tive. But his rule was hateful to all classes in Ireland. 
 
 373. Gustavus Adolphus ; Thirty Years' War. 1630-1632. — 
 On the Continent the Thirty Years' War (§ 351) was still devastat- 
 ing Europe. The Protestants had at last found a leader in Gus- 
 tavus Adolphus, the famous king of Sweden, and the tide seemed 
 to be turning. The English people were deeply interested in the 
 success of Gustavus, and would have gladly aided him, but with 
 the exception of some Scotch and English volunteers, no aid was 
 extended. Charles had no sympathy with the religious movement. 
 At Liitzen (1632), the great Gustavus lost his life, and for sixteen 
 or seventeen years longer the terribly devastating war dragged on. 
 
 374. Ship Money. 1634. — Various expedients were adopted by 
 Charles to raise money without summoning Parliament. These 
 were principally the revival and extension of old royal prerogatives, 
 the best known of which was " ship money." In old times during 
 war a king could call on the seaport towns for ships to defend the 
 realm. This right Charles, at the suggestion of the attorney- 
 general, Noy, determined to revive (1634). London responded 
 with a certain number of vessels, but the other towns gave money. 
 
SHIP MONEY 
 
 3ii 
 
 This method was so successful that Charles resolved to extend it 
 to inland towns (1635). These of course would furnish money, 
 not ships. Charles spent the revenue thus secured upon a navy. 
 A third writ of ship money was made in 1636. It was now clear 
 that the king meant to impose a permanent and general tax. 
 There was much grumbling, and, to make a test case, John Hamp- 
 den, a wealthy country gentleman of Buckinghamshire, refused to pay 
 the amount for which he was assessed. It was a matter of only 
 twenty shillings, but with him resistance was a matter of principle.^ 
 
 The case was tried (1638) before twelve judges, and seven of 
 the twelve pronounced in favor of the king. The claim was made 
 that '' ship money " was not a tax, but money contributed for the 
 defense of the realm instead of personal service. On the other 
 hand, it was argued that it was a tax levied without consent of 
 Parliament. The small majority by which the king's victory was 
 obtained took from it much of its value, while the arguments of 
 the lawyers and the opinions of the judges excited the deepest 
 interest and were read far and wide.^ The tax was felt by every 
 one who had any property, and Hampden's case brought the 
 whole question of royal power before the country as nothing else 
 had done. Ship money continued to be collected, but it was paid 
 with more and more reluctance. 
 
 375. Enlargement of the Forests. — The king also obtained 
 funds by extending the bounds of the royal forests, in connection 
 with which fines were imposed. Originally very much of the 
 land of the kingdom had lain within the domains of what were 
 known as the royal forests, but for more than three hundred years 
 these boundaries had been fixed in accordance with an arrange- 
 ment made in the reign of Edward I (12 7 2-1 30 7). The king 
 
 1 Lord Saye, one of the Puritan lords, also protested, but Hampden's was made 
 the test case. 
 
 2 Finch, the Chief Justice, in his opinion upheld the absolute power of the king. 
 " Undoubtedly," said a contemporary, " my Lord B'inch's speech made ship money 
 much more abhorred and formidable than all the commandments by the Council 
 table and all the distresses taken by the sheriffs of England." 
 
312 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 now set up a claim that this arrangement was invalid and seized 
 large tracts. The occupiers of these lands were compelled to pay 
 fines or lose their property.^ 
 
 376. Scottish Opposition. — The first open revolt against arbi- 
 trary royal power came from Scotland. Though England and 
 Scotland had now the same king, they continued to have separate 
 laws and separate Parliaments. Charles's first visit to Scotland, 
 after his accession had been in 1633 ; he had been enthusiasti- 
 cally received and was crowned at Holyrood. But he very soon 
 managed to arouse strong opposition. 
 
 Neither Charles nor Laud could rest until a new Prayer Book 
 was drawn up for Scotland. Though this was more Protestant than 
 was the English book, it was still a church service book and was 
 called the " mass in English " ; for Scotland, even among the 
 ranks of the clergy, was overwhelmingly Puritan. 
 
 377. The Scottish Liturgy; the Covenant. 1638. — The new 
 Liturgy was read for the first time in St. Giles's church, Edinburgh. 
 Hardly were the opening words uttered when a scene of great 
 confusion took place. Women shouted their disapprobation, and 
 it is said one woman threw a stool at the dean's head, narrowly 
 missing the archbishop. The Council ordered the omission of 
 both the old and the new services till the king's pleasure could be 
 known. Charles refused to yield, but it was impossible to find a 
 clergyman in Edinburgh who would use the book. 
 
 Resistance to the royal command became almost universal, and 
 thousands signed a national covenant, engaging to defend the 
 reformed religion, and promising " to labor by all means lawful to 
 recover the purity and liberty of the gospel, as it was established 
 and professed before the innovations." 
 
 An assembly of the church held at Glasgow declared that the 
 king had no right to meddle with the religion of a nation, and 
 went on to abolish episcopacy, canons, and liturgy. 
 
 1 Seventeen villages were added to the Forest of Dean ; Rockingham Forest 
 was enlarged from six miles to sixty, and Waltham Forest in similar fashion. 
 
TROUBLES IN SCOTLAND 313 
 
 378. Scottish Rebellion; Treaty of Berwick. 1639. — This 
 was rebellion indeed. Charles's treasury was empty, he had no 
 army, and little moral support. By forced loans and other means 
 he collected enough money to raise 12,000 troops, but they were 
 mutinous, ill-trained, and unsympathetic. On the other hand, the 
 troops which the Scots gathered were well disciplined, ably led, and 
 were full of enthusiasm for their cause. 
 
 Charles, finding that his men would not fight, was compelled to 
 negotiate with the Scots the verbal treaty of Berwick (June 2, 
 1639). The substance of this agreement was that Charles prom- 
 ised the Scots a General Assembly, a free Parliament, and an act 
 of pardon and oblivion; while the Scots, on their side, agreed to 
 disband the troops, to do away with unlawful committees, and 
 to restore the castles to the king's officers. The statements were 
 vague and no provision was made for possible disagreements. 
 The Scottish Assembly and Parliament (1639) insisted on the abo- 
 lition of episcopacy, and on other matters almost equally distaste- 
 ful to Charles. The bodies were adjourned and Charles again 
 determined to try force. 
 
 379. Strafford (Wentworth) ; "Short Parliament," 1640; 
 Advance of the Scots. — Charles now chose for his chief adviser 
 Wentworth, who was recalled from Ireland and created Earl of 
 Strafford. Much as Strafford disliked and distrusted English Parlia- 
 ments, he saw that the only chance for the success of Charles in 
 Scotland lay in gaining the support of England, and this must come 
 through Parliament. Charles unwillingly followed his advice, and 
 in April, 1640, after an interval of eleven years. Parliament met. 
 But under the leadership of Pym and Hampden, Parliament posi- 
 tively refused to grant any supplies until grievances were redressed. 
 Charles was not ready for this, and after three weeks the Parlia- 
 ment, without passing a single act, was dissolved (May 5, 1640). 
 From its brief session it is known as the " Short Parliament." 
 
 The Scots invaded England (August, 1640). Again Charles 
 managed to raise an army and sent it to the North, but it fell back. 
 
314 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 before the enemy, leaving an, open path for the invaders. The 
 Scots entered Yorkshire, and Charles was forced to treat with them. 
 He promised to pay the expenses of their army until a permanent 
 treaty could be arranged, and as a pledge left Durham and 
 Northumberland in their hands. He called a great council of the 
 peers at York for advice, but they could only advise him to call 
 another Parliament and to open fresh negotiations with the Scots. 
 
 380. Beginning of the "Long Parliament." 1640. — As there 
 was nothing else for him to do, Charles summoned a ParHament. 
 From the length of its existence it is known as the " Long Parlia- 
 ment. " ^ It consisted largely of country gentlemen, among whom 
 were John Pym, John Hampden, Edward Hyde, and a man, almost 
 unknown at the time, but destined to become the greatest of them 
 all — Oliver Cromwell. 
 
 It began its sessions November 3, 1640. Pym at once took a 
 leading part. There can be little doubt that the Parliament voiced 
 the popular feehng as few of its predecessors had done, and more- 
 over had behind it the Scottish army, ready to march at any moment 
 if Charles failed to keep his promise of paying its expenses. This 
 payment, as no one knew better than Charles, was impossible unless 
 Parliament voted supplies. The Parliament came together believ- 
 ing that the whole body poHtic needed reformation. Three 
 things were to be done at once : (i) the victims of Charles's arbi- 
 trary government were to be set at liberty ; (2) the king's advisers 
 and ministers were to be punished ; (3) the government of the 
 realm was to be so modified as to prevent arbitrary rule in the future. 
 
 In pursuance of the above determination, Prynne, Leighton, and 
 others were released from prison ; Strafford was impeached on a 
 charge of treason, and soon after Laud was imprisoned. 
 
 381. Trial of Strafford. 1641. — The trial of Strafford is one 
 of the most celebrated in English annals. He was at the head 
 of the king's army in Y^orkshire and in comparative safety. He 
 was fully aware of the risk he ran in coming to London, but, 
 
 1 Beginning November 3, 1640, it was not formally dissolved until March 16, 1660, 
 
THE LONG PARLIAMENT 
 
 315 
 
 
 "Will . m-lT^ 
 
 Execution of the Earl of Strafford 
 After a contemporary print 
 
 Charles having assured him that if he came "he should not suf- 
 fer in his person, honor, or fortune," he made the journey. He 
 was at once impeached by the Commons and sent to the Tower. 
 Strafford's trial began before the Lords in the great West- 
 minster Hall, March 22, 1641. After the trial had lasted more 
 than three weeks the Commons, becoming assured that from lack 
 of legal evidence he would not be convicted of treason, passed a 
 bill of attainder, which required a simple majority vote, and sent 
 it to the Lords. Had the Lords not heard rumors of a royal plot 
 to liberate Strafford and intimidate Parliament by bringing the 
 army from Yorkshire, it is possible that the bill would have been 
 rejected. But convinced that the king's chief adviser was a dan- 
 gerous man, they passed the bill by a small majority. The signa- 
 ture of Charles was still required to make the bill effective. To 
 his eternal discredit, Charles authorized a commission to give the 
 
3l6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 royal assent/ thus breaking his word of honor to Strafford. "Put 
 not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men, for in them 
 there is no salvation,"^ Strafford exclaimed, when the news of 
 Charles's action reached him. He was executed on May 12, 1641, 
 " rather because men feared his ability than because his offenses 
 were legally punishable with death." ^ 
 
 382. Legislation of the "Long Parliament." 1641. — The 
 " Long Parliament " passed what is known as the Triennial BilL 
 This required that every Parliament should sit not less than fifty 
 days, and that a Parliament, whether summoned by the king or 
 not, should meet at least once in three years. Charles was com- 
 pelled by the condition of affairs to sign this bill. The Courts of 
 Star Chamber and High Commission, the Councils of the North, of 
 Wales, of Lancaster, and of Chester (§ 369), were abolished, and 
 the districts formerly covered by them were placed under the 
 common law. Ship money, compulsory knighthood, and the 
 work of the forest commissions were done away with, tonnage and 
 poundage was declared to be illegal, and various other reforms were 
 made effective. Judges were hereafter to hold office during good 
 behavior and be no longer removable at the king's pleasure. 
 
 Thus far, the " Long Parliament " had acted, in the main, on 
 the line of reformation rather than revolution. Even the treat- 
 ment of Strafford, under the circumstances, might be condoned ; 
 
 1 In an impeachment the Lords would be obliged to decide according to the 
 law, and the evidence submitted; while in a bill of attainder they could act ac- 
 cording to the spirit rather than the letter. In an impeachment the accused has 
 the opportunity of making a defense, of which Strafford made good use; in a bill 
 of attainder the accused is condemned unheard. There is little question that in 
 the earlier days, at least, men were condemned by a bill of attainder, because it 
 made the nation responsible, and the monarch could thus shift the responsibility to 
 Parliament, or divide it with that body. The gross injustice of such bills made the 
 framers of the Constitution of the United States insert the article forbidding them. 
 (Article I, § 9.) They are now universally abolished. 
 
 2 So given in Whitelock's Me7norials ; compare Psalm 146: 3. 
 
 3 The populace in London demanded Strafford's death, and a mob gathered 
 around the palace of Whitehall, shouting for his execution. Charles claimed that 
 the life of his queen and of his children were in danger, and this was his excuse 
 for giving assent to the bill. 
 
THE LONG PARLIAMENT 317 
 
 but the Parliament did not stop with these things. Among other 
 acts, a bill was passed forbidding the dissolution of Parliament ex- 
 cept with its own consent.^ This prevented a monarch from ap- 
 pealing to the people by ordering a new election, and made it 
 possible, as was afterwards abundantly shown, for Parliament to 
 become as great a tyrant as the king had ever been.^ 
 
 383. Ecclesiastical Measures ; Distrust of the King. 1641. — 
 An act, known as the " Root and Branch Bill," which provided 
 
 for the abolition of episcopacy, failed, for though many were 
 willing that most of the innovations introduced by Laud should 
 be done away with, they were not ready to abolish episcopacy. 
 
 Charles visited Scotland, as there now seems no doubt, to try to 
 persuade the Scots to support him in his endeavors to coerce the 
 EngHsh Parliament. But Ireland suddenly claimed his attention. 
 The native Irish had risen in rebellion against the English and 
 Scottish settlers, and it was reported that terrible atrocities were 
 taking place in that island. Could Charles be trusted with the 
 command of an army? It was even rumored that the king and 
 queen were in sympathy with the rebels. 
 
 384. The Grand Remonstrance. 1641. — Parliament in justi- 
 fication of its position drew up a paper known as " The Grand 
 Remonstrance," in which the evil deeds of the king and his coun- 
 selors were set forth at great length.^ To this there was compara- 
 tively little objection, but when it was proposed to name the rem- 
 edies for these evils, a very decided difference of opinion was 
 manifested. The debate on the document was long and passionate, 
 and not until the early hours of the morning, by the small majority 
 of eleven in a House of three hundred and seven members, was 
 
 ^ Charles with great reluctance signed the bill. 
 
 2 In republics and constitutional monarchies this possibility is met by fixing the 
 exact time for which legislative bodies are elected, or by limiting the period of their 
 existence. In England by the Septennial Act (1716) no Parliament could sit for 
 more than seven years, and by the Act of 191 1 the limit has been reduced to five 
 years. The average length of Parliaments has been about three or four years. 
 
 3 It contained 206 clauses. 
 
3l8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the bill passed. It was ordered to be presented to the king and 
 to be printed for distribution. 
 
 385. Attempted " Arrest of the Five Members." 1642. — There 
 was a decided reaction in favor of Charles ; and if he had possessed 
 any wisdom, or if he had shown himself deserving of confidence, 
 reformation rather than revolution would have been the outcome. 
 But his words and conduct dissipated any hope of conciliation. 
 
 He believed that he had proof that Pym and his friends, during 
 the late troubles (1640), had invited the Scots to enter England 
 under arms. If this were true, they were legally guilty of treason. 
 He therefore ordered the Attorney-General to impeach them as 
 traitors before the House of Lords. His right to do this was 
 questionable.^ Not content with this, the next day (January 4, 
 1642), followed by about four hundred men, he went to the House 
 of Commons, and demanded that the five members should be given 
 up to him.^ Intelligence of the king's purpose had reached the 
 accused, and slipping out of the House, they were conveyed by way 
 of the river to the city.^ It was not a moment too soon, for, as 
 they were entering the boat, the king passed into the House. 
 He advanced to the Speaker's chair and told the House that he 
 had come for the five traitors, but when he looked around he could 
 not see them. After some words he turned to withdraw and was 
 followed by cries of " Privilege," " Privilege." This attempt of 
 Charles to intimidate the House with an armed force was a stu- 
 pendous blunder;^ it roused opposition to his cause as nothing 
 else had done ; and it confirmed Parliament in the opinion that 
 it was useless to treat with him. The inhabitants of the city of 
 London, who had welcomed him joyfully a short time before, 
 
 1 The right of impeachment rested, by custom, with the House of Commons. 
 In the United States it rests with the House of Representatives. 
 
 2 The accused were Lord Kimbolton of the House of Lords, and Pym, Holies, 
 Hampden, Haslerig, and Strode of the Commons. 
 
 3 The " city " was London proper, from Temple Bar eastward beyond the 
 Tower. Parliament sat in Westminster, which was west of Temple Bar. 
 
 4 The king's right to arrest any one personally was open to question, because as 
 the king's person was sacred, there would be no remedy for a false arrest. 
 
^ 
 
 CHARLES LEAVES LONDON 
 
 319 
 
 believing 
 
 were now hopelessly alienated. The Commons voted that the 
 king's entrance by force was a breach of " privilege," and that the 
 attempted arrest of the five members was " false, scandalous, and 
 illegal." Deeming Westminster unsafe, they adjourned to the city. 
 386. The King leaves London. — On the loth of January (1642), 
 Charles, 
 it to be a 
 
 safer 
 
 place, retired with 
 the queen and his 
 children to Hamp- 
 ton Court. He 
 did not see Lon- 
 don again until he 
 came as a prisoner 
 to stand his trial 
 and meet his death 
 (1649). 
 
 On the depar- 
 ture of Charles, 
 the Commons re- 
 turned to West- 
 minster in triumph. 
 
 Temple Bar 
 
 Taken down in 1878; reerected near Waltham 
 
 Cross, 1888. 
 
 The king had placed himself distinctly in the wrong. During the 
 first six months of 1642 efforts were made both by king and Parha- 
 ment to gain control of the military forces of the kingdom and to put 
 themselves legally in the right. A bill for the exclusion of the 
 bishops from the House of Lords was, by the advice of the queen, 
 signed by the king, and this was the last important concession 
 which he made. Soon afterwards, Henrietta Maria, the queen, 
 fled from the kingdom with the crown jewels, intending to sell 
 them and raise an army for Charles. 
 
 Parliament was undoubtedly moved by the concessions made ; 
 but various incidents, and especially a warrant of the king author- 
 izing the Earl of Newcastle to take possession of Hull, one of the 
 
320 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 few strong fortresses of the kingdom, brought back all the old dis- 
 trust of Charles.^ 
 
 387. The Militia Bill, 1642 ; The Nineteen Propositions, 1642. 
 — Parliament retaliated by passing the MiHtia Bill, by which the 
 control of the army, militia, and all military stores and arms was 
 given to Parliament. Charles refused to agree to give up what had 
 always been the royal prerogative. On learning of his refusal both 
 Houses made the bill an ''Ordinance"- and determined to en- 
 force it without the king's consent. 
 
 In June, 1642, Parliament sent to the king at Oxford what are 
 known as " The Nineteen Propositions." These were revolution- 
 ary in character, for by them all power, executive as well as legis- 
 lative, would, for all intents and purposes, be placed in Parliament. 
 It was impossible for Charles to assent to any such proposals, and 
 it cannot be supposed that the majority of the nation would have 
 approved of them at that time.^ 
 
 References. — Green, Short History^ chap, viii (§§ 1-6); Gardiner, 
 Studenfs History, chaps, xxxi-xxxiii; Terry, History, Part III, Book III, 
 chaps, i-iii (pp. 618-680); Tout, Advanced History, Book II, chaps, i-ii 
 (§ 28) ; Gardiner, Puritati Revolution, chaps, i-vi ; Traill, Social England, 
 vol. IV, chap, xiii; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents (§§ 181-206); 
 Cheyney, Readings, chaps, xiv-xv (§ 11); Colby, Selections (§§ 68-73); 
 Kendall, Source-Book (§§ 69-79); Lee, Source-Book (§§ 148-159). 
 
 iThis seemed sufficient proof that he was intending to use force. 
 
 2 The first ordinance of this kind had been passed in 1641, and from this time 
 an ordinance was understood to mean " a declaration of the two Houses without 
 the necessary concurrence of the king."' 
 
 3 Parliament at the present day does govern England executively as well as 
 legislatively, but only through the cabinet, which is really a committee of 
 Parliament. This, however, is a very different thing from direct executive action, 
 which Parliament in June, 1642, proposed to establish, and actually attempted 
 later. Besides this in 1642 Parliament strove to force its will on the nation, while 
 now it professes to abide by the will of the people, and a new election of members 
 must be held at least once in five years. 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 THE PURITAN REVOLUTION AND THE COMMONWEALTH 
 
 388. Civil War Begins. 1642. — Charles, having made York 
 his headquarters, went to Hull, where war supplies were stored 
 and demanded their surrender. Sir John Hotham, the Parlia- 
 mentary commander in charge, refused to give them up or even 
 to admit Charles within the walls. After causing his heralds to 
 proclaim Hotham a traitor, Charles retired. Both he and Parlia- 
 ment began to collect troops, and on August 22, 1642, Charles set 
 up his standard at Nottingham. This is usually taken as the 
 beginning of the Civil War. 
 
 The contest was waged by minorities, for it can hardly be 
 doubted that the majority of the English people were decidedly 
 adverse to war. That it was waged at all is due to two facts : 
 (i) that the influential men in the kingdom were divided between 
 the two parties; (2) and to their conviction that only the sword 
 could settle the problems before the country. On each side were 
 ranged men of every class and position in the community, it being 
 a common thing to find families divided, father against son, 
 brother against brother, and friend against friend. 
 
 As compared with wars preceding and following it, it was 
 humane, and by the side of the Thirty Years' War on the Continent, 
 which was contemporary, it was merciful. Though there was much 
 plunder, and some destruction of property, there was no laying 
 waste, and scarcely any ruthless treatment of the inhabitants.^ 
 
 1 When the conflict was in Scotland, or in Ireland, or when Irishmen or even 
 Irishwomen were found in the king's armies, exceptions must be made to the above 
 statements. Both Scotland and Ireland were regarded as enemies, and against 
 Ireland the Parliamentarians felt especially bitter, because it was believed that 
 Charles, if successful, would restore the Catholic religion, in return for their aid. 
 
 321 
 
32 2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The majority of the nobility were on the side of the king. On 
 the side of Parhament were perhaps a third of the nobihty, a large 
 minority of the gentry, most of the middle class, many of the 
 yeomen, and the commercial, manufacturing, and burgher classes. 
 Parhament had control of the wealth of the country, and of almost 
 all the large cities and seaports. It must be remembered that in 
 those days the bulk of the population was in southern England.^ 
 All the north and northwest of England was agricultural, with a 
 comparatively scattered population. 
 
 389. Conditions affecting the Conflict. — The total population 
 of England was about four and a half milHons, or not much more 
 than half that of greater London at the present day ; and of this 
 population three fourths were agricultural. The number of men 
 usually engaged in a battle was small, and the cavalry formed a 
 very important part of the armies, at times even one half. This 
 was probably due in part to the relatively poor equipment of the 
 seventeenth century foot soldier, and partly to the unfenced and 
 unhedged character of the country, which allowed cavalry to be 
 used to great advantage. 
 
 Geographically, it may be said that the lands south of the 
 Humber and east of the Severn were on the side of Parliament, 
 and the others on the side of the king. A line drawn from Hull 
 to Gloucester will nearly indicate the dividing line at the opening 
 of the conflict. Of course, there were many exceptions, as, for 
 instance, Oxford and the country immediately surrounding it and 
 all Cornwall were for the king, while Plymouth and the south 
 central part of Yorkshire were for Parliament. 
 
 390. Religious Differences, etc. — 'The real division among the 
 people was on account of religion more than anything else. It 
 was Puritanism that attracted the upholders of Parliament ; and a 
 fear of Puritanism, the love of episcopacy, and the genuine behef in 
 
 1 There were of course wealthy nobles and others on the side of the king, but 
 the wealth of the nobility was largely in land and not so available as the property 
 of the Parliamentarians. 
 
THE CIVIL WAR BEGINS 
 
 323 
 
324 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGIAND 
 
 the divine right of kings, that brought supporters to Charles.^ The 
 Catholics were royahsts. They might possibly find a friend in the 
 king ; from the Puritans they could look for nothing but persecution. 
 
 The problems presented to a patriotic and thoughtful English- 
 man in 1642 were difficult of solution, and none can be blamed 
 for taking either side in the conflict. Good and patriotic men 
 could be found on both sides. It was a war of civilians taking 
 up arms, for the most part unwilHngly, because it was thought to 
 be absolutely necessary. The war produced but two men of 
 unusual military skill : Prince Rupert among the royalists ; ^ and 
 Oliver Cromwell, the Puritan, who proved himself one of the 
 great commanders of history. 
 
 391. "Cavaliers and Roundheads," 1642; Edgehill, 1642. 
 — The war broke out in the summer of 1642. In money and 
 general resources the Parliament had the decided advantage of 
 the king, for London, then as now the great financial center of the 
 kingdom, was strongly for Parliament. Besides this. Parliament 
 controlled the usual methods of raising money and held the sea- 
 ports ; the navy also was on its side. On the other hand, the 
 king had the best officers and those accustomed to the army. 
 Very soon the followers of Charles were called Cavaliers, and the 
 ParHamentarians were nicknamed by their opponents Roundheads.' 
 
 Charles gave the command of his forces to the Earl of Lindsay, 
 and the command of his cavalry to his nephew. Prince Rupert. The 
 Earl of Essex'' commanded the forces of Parliament. Charles's 
 
 1 Cromwell said the war was undertaken for " the maintenance of our civil lib- 
 erties as men, and our religious liberties as Christians." (1644.) 
 
 2 Prince Rupert (§ 351 and note) was the son of Elizabeth, daughter of James I, 
 and Frederick, the Elector-Palatine. He was only twenty-three when he came to 
 his uncle's assistance, but had already in Germany, during the Thirty Years' War, 
 seen much rough service. He seems to have been the strategist of the royal side, 
 but not to have been able to carry out a campaign. "He was one of the most 
 versatile men of his time, being an artist, philosopher, experimentalist, and inventor, 
 as well as soldier and sailor." 
 
 3 Cavaliers meant originally horsemen, then gentlemen ; the cavaliers wore their 
 hair long, while the Puritans wore theirs cut short, hence the nickname, roundhead. 
 
 * Essex was the son of Robert Devereux, Elizabeth's favorite (§ 329) . 
 
"CAVALIERS AND ROUNDHEADS" 325 
 
 plan was to attack London, but he was overtaken by Essex, and 
 the first battle of the war was fought at Edgehill, not far from Ban- 
 bury (October 23, 1642). The immediate advantage was with 
 the king. He marched to Oxford, and then toward London. He 
 reached Brentford, only a few miles from the capital, but was 
 afraid to encounter the London militia drawn up to meet him, 
 and so retired to Oxford. Charles never again was so near actual 
 success as at this time. 
 
 392. Royalist Successes. 1643. — During the early part of 
 1643 fortune favored the royalists, but each party had learned 
 valuable lessons, — the royalists, that the men opposed to them 
 were determined in their purpose ; and the Parliamentarians, that 
 unless they could improve their cavalry it would go hard with them. 
 No one was more convinced of this than Cromwell, and to him 
 more than to any one else is due the formation of a body of cav- 
 alry of which he himself said, " They had the fear of God before 
 them, and made some conscience of what they did." 
 
 During the year 1643 the Parliament lost ground; and was 
 deprived of two of its ablest supporters, John Hampden, who was 
 killed in a skirmish, and John Pym, who died of illness. Bristol 
 was sacked in July by Prince Rupert, and Gloucester was besieged. 
 This city was at the last extremity when Essex marched to its relief 
 and raised the siege. The tide in favor of the king was stayed. 
 
 393. Charles and the Irish ; Solemn League and Covenant. 
 1643. — Both parties now sought foreign aid. Fortunately 
 for England the Thirty Years' War (§§ 351, 373) was still 
 engrossing the attention of the chief continental powers, and 
 so England was spared the presence of foreign troops and their 
 excesses. Charles turned to Ireland and made a treaty with the 
 Irish, known as the Cessation of Arms, but it was of httle real 
 advantage to him. Parliament, on its part, made overtures to 
 Scotland. Through the efforts of Pym an agreement known as 
 the Solemn League and Covenant had been entered into. This 
 bound the Parliament to endeavor to bring " the religion of 
 
326 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 England, Scotland, and Ireland to as much conformity as 
 possible, and to reform religion according to the word of God, 
 and the example of the best reformed churches." This meant 
 Presbyterianism. To the Scots this matter was vital ; with them 
 it was " no Presbyterianism, no Scottish army," and Parliament 
 had to yield. There followed the pulling down of crosses, break- 
 ing of stained glass windows in the churches and cathedrals, tear- 
 ing down of crucifixes and altars, and defacing of memorial tablets 
 and monuments. 
 
 394. Laud executed, 1645; Marston Moor, 1644. — Late in 
 1644 Archbishop Laud, who had been in prison since 1640 
 (§ 380), was brought out for trial. Like Strafford, he was finally 
 condemned by an act which really was an act of attainder though 
 called an "ordinance." He was executed in January, 1645. 
 
 After the signing of the Solemn League and Covenant, a Scottish 
 army crossed the border and joined the Parliamentary forces. The 
 armies met at Marston Moor near York (July 2, 1644). The 
 royalists were led by Prince Rupert and Lord Byron ; the Parlia- 
 mentarians by Fairfax, the Scots by the Earl of Leven, and the 
 cavalry by Cromwell. Owing to the steadiness of the Scots, 
 and above all to the discipline and enthusiasm of Cromwell's 
 troops of horsemen, the royalists were routed. From this time 
 Cromwell occupied a place in the front rank of the Parliamentary 
 leaders. 
 
 395. Self-denying Ordinance; the "New Model." 1645. — 
 Notwithstanding the defeat at Marston Moor, Charles was able to 
 gain some successes in the south. Cromwell saw that the army 
 should be on a firmer basis, and through his efforts and those who 
 sympathized with him. Parliament passed the Self-denying Ordi- 
 nance (April 3, 1645). ^y '^'^is, members of either house of Parlia- 
 ment were disqualified from holding positions in the army. But 
 a special exception was made in the case of Cromwell. Indeed, 
 he could not be spared in either position. Another bill was passed, 
 by which a regular paid army was created, with a severe discipline 
 
PARLIAMENTARY VICTORIES 
 
 Z'^1 
 
 modeled after the example of Cromwell's soldiers. This army 
 was known as the " New Model " and was one of the most 
 remarkable bodies of troops the world has ever seen.-^ Higher 
 praise could hardly be given than that awarded by the Cavalier 
 historian Clarendon, who says, " An army whose order and dis- 
 cipline, whose sobriety and manner, whose courage and success, 
 made it famous and terrible all over the world." Under the new 
 regulations Fairfax was made commander in chief and Cromwell 
 lieutenant general. 
 
 396. Naseby. 1645. — The new army met the king's forces at 
 Naseby, near the center of England (June 14, 1645), ^^^ 
 after a severe battle routed the royalists. Charles fled, leaving 
 his baggage, including his private correspondence, to be captured 
 by the enemy. Perhaps worse for him than his defeat were the 
 revelations made of his secret negotiations with the French, with the 
 Duke of Lorraine, and with the Irish, to bring troops into England 
 to support him, and also of his willingness to abolish the laws against 
 the Catholics. 
 
 One after another the royalist towns and fortresses fell into 
 the hands of the Parliamentarians, the Scottish royal army was 
 at length defeated, and by the middle of the year 1646 the war 
 was practically ended. 
 
 397. Charles turns to the Scots, 1646; Negotiations. — 
 Charles concluded to throw himself on the mercy of the Scots, and 
 in May, 1646, rode into their camp and gave himself up ; Doubt- 
 less with the hope of playing off the Scots against the English. 
 
 The Scots took Charles to Newcastle, and then followed a 
 series of negotiations between Charles and ParHament, and be- 
 tween the Scots and Parliament. The principal demands of 
 Parliament were, that Charles should (i) abolish episcopacy and 
 enforce the Covenant (§393); (2) give up to ParHament the 
 control of the militia for twenty years ; (3) enforce the laws 
 against the CathoHcs. Charles should have declined these prop- 
 1 It is to the " New Model" that England owes her red-coat uniform. 
 
328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ositions at once ; but, as usual, he followed a policy of delay. 
 Large arrears of pay were due the Scots, for which they were 
 clamorous, and an arrangement was reached by which they agreed 
 to return to Scotland on receipt from Parliament of a certain sum 
 of money. This was given; and in January, 1647, they departed 
 for Scotland, leaving Charles in the hands of agents of the English 
 Parliament. 
 
 398. Presbyterians and Independents ; the Army. — There 
 were now two determined parties in England — the Presbyterians 
 and the Independents. The former had, as far as possible, made 
 England Presbyterian, and their great object was to keep the 
 control of the church in the hands of Parliament. The Inde- 
 pendents, who were the successors of the Brownists (§ 325) of 
 Elizabeth's reign, holding that each congregation should rule 
 itself, naturally believed in toleration, something which was as 
 hateful to the Presbyterians as it had been to Laud. The Inde- 
 pendents had no objection to Presbyterianism as such, provided 
 there was toleration, but the course of action that Parliament was 
 taking alarmed them. 
 
 The strength of the Independents lay in the army, a fact which 
 the majority in Parliament did not sufficiently take into account. 
 The war was at an end, but large arrears of pay were due the 
 men, and ParHament attempted to disband the army before 
 paying it off. This step united the army against Parliament. 
 Cromwell, having in vain tried to bring matters to a satisfactory 
 conclusion, took the side of the army, seeing that a mutiny which 
 had already begun, if not arrested, would end in civil war or 
 anarchy. He might be able to prevent either. Parliament had 
 already opened secret negotiations with Charles, and also with the 
 Scots. In the eyes of the Presbyterians to be under the army and 
 independency would be even worse than to be under Charles. 
 
 399. Seizure of Charles; the Army and Parliament. 1647. 
 — Cromwell saw that the king was the key of the situation; 
 without him neither Parliament nor the Scots could accomplish 
 
THE ARMY AND PARLIAMENT 
 
 329 
 
 much. Charles had been removed to Hoh-nby House, near 
 Northampton, under the charge of strict' Presbyterians. In order 
 to forestall any attempt of the latter to carry off Charles, Crom- 
 well sent Cornet Joyce with a body of soldiers to secure the royal 
 prisoner for the army. Joyce, however, deemed it best to remove 
 Charles to a place of greater safety. When asked by Charles for 
 his authority, Joyce pointed to his soldiers and said, " There is my 
 commission." 
 
 Cromwell joined the army, restored order, and marched toward 
 London. Parliament, justly frightened, promised the army the 
 payment of all arrears and the retraction of sundry offensive 
 declarations. The army, conscious of its strength, would not be 
 satisfied with this, but insisted on the exclusion from Parliament 
 of eleven Presbyterian leaders, on religious toleration, short Par- 
 liaments, the right of petition, and other changes in the direction 
 of democratic government. Parliament tried to gain time by 
 temporizing. The eleven leaders fled from London. The city 
 was Presbyterian in its sympathies, and a mob broke into the 
 building where Parliament was sitting. Upon this the army 
 marched into the city and was master of the situation. 
 
 400. "The Heads of Proposals." 1647. — Fairfax, Cromwell, 
 and Ireton, the men at the head of the army, were none of them 
 extremists ; they did not wish a military rule, and once more 
 negotiations were opened with Charles, who was now at Hampton 
 Court. The chief points of the *' Heads of Proposals," as the 
 propositions were called, were religious toleration, certain reforms 
 in Parliament, control of the militia by Parliament for ten years, 
 and the appointment of a great Council of State to rule in con- 
 nection with the king. These were more liberal terms than 
 Charles could expect. Convinced, however, that another war was 
 imminent, and sure that one side or the other would turn to the 
 royalists, he again pursued his old policy of double dealing by 
 carrying on at the same time secret negotiations with the royalist 
 party in Scotland. 
 
330 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The conciliatory policy of the leaders was very distasteful to a 
 large body of extremists in the army known as Levellers, who 
 boldly accused Cromwell and his companions of betraying the 
 cause of the people, and demanded that Charles should be 
 "brought to justice." Charles, aware of his danger, fled to 
 Carisbrooke Castle in the Isle of Wight, where he was treated as 
 a prisoner. 
 
 401. Risings in Favor of Charles, 1647; "Second Civil 
 War." — The double deahng of Charles convinced the Inde- 
 pendent leaders that he was wholly untrustworthy. Meanwhile 
 the Scots, who had entered into an agreement with him by what is 
 known as the " Engagement," marched from Scotland ; many in 
 England were weary of fighting, had no liking for a mihtary rule, 
 and felt that they would rather trust Charles than the army. 
 There were risings in Wales, in Kent, in Essex, and other places. 
 Thus began the Second Civil War^ (May, 1648). 
 
 Cromwell marched to the north and in a series of engagements 
 completely defeated the Scots. The rising in Kent was soon put 
 down by Fairfax ; refugees fled to Colchester, hoping for aid from 
 the Scots. After a siege Colchester fell (August, 1648), and the 
 citizens and defenders suffered terribly for their defense. Two of 
 the leaders were shot, and the soldiers were sent to the West 
 Indies, there to serve as unwilhng laborers, while the property 
 of the citizens was given to the besiegers. 
 
 The whole country was at the mercy of the army, which was 
 almost as angry with Parliament as with the king. 
 
 402. Treaty of Newport ; " Pride's Purge " ; " The Rump." 
 1648. — Meanwhile Parliament had been carrying on negotia- 
 tions with the king, known as the Treaty of Newport.^ Charles 
 temporized as usual ; Parliament continued to treat with him ; 
 but by the orders of the army Charles was taken to Hurst 
 
 1 For the Second Civil War Cromwell held Charles responsible ; it was in his 
 sight an unforgivable sin. 
 
 2 So called from the town in the Isle of Wieht where the negotiations were 
 carried on. 
 
TRIAL OF CHARLES I 
 
 331 
 
 Castle. On December 5, 1648, a party of soldiers under the 
 command of a Colonel Pride stood at the door of the House of 
 Parliament and excluded all who were known to be unfriendly to the 
 army or in favor of the king. This action is known as " Pride's 
 Purge." One hundred and forty-three members were thus driven 
 out. The remnant left was called in contempt the " Rump." 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight 
 
 Tower erected by Anthony Woodville, in the time of Edward IV. Gateway erected 
 by EHzabeth, 1598. 
 
 403. Trial and Execution of Charles I. 1649. — The next step 
 was to remove Charles. The remnant of the House of Commons 
 was in accord with the army ; but the few peers would not join in 
 bringing the king to trial, so the Commons, declaring that as 
 representatives of the people they had all power, proceeded to 
 create a high court of justice to try the king, " that man of 
 blood." One hundred and thirty-five men were named as mem- 
 bers of the court, but less than half of them were present when the 
 trial began. 
 
 Charles was charged with treason by bringing on civil war, and 
 raising armies " against the Parliament and the kingdom." The 
 trial began on January 21, 1649. The king denied the jurisdiction 
 of the court, and refused to plead. The trial was a mockery; 
 Charles was convicted, and on the 27th his sentence was read. 
 
^^2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The long document recites the several charges and concludes, 
 " For all which treasons and crimes this Court doth adjudge that 
 he, the said Charles Stuart, as a tyrant, traitor, murderer, and 
 public enemy to the good of the people of this nation, shall be 
 put to death by the severing of his head from his body." The 
 sentence was carried out on January 30, 1649, in front of White- 
 hall Palace, London. 
 
 Charles bore himself with dignity and calmness during his trial 
 and at the time of execution ; and this has cast a halo around his 
 character which it does not deserve. That he richly merited 
 punishment can hardly be questioned ; that he deserved death is 
 quite another matter; that he was illeg%lly tried and condemned 
 is scarcely open to debate ; that most, if not all, of the regicides, 
 as they were called, were sincere and honest in their belief that 
 his death was a necessity must be acknowledged ; that his trial 
 and execution were blunders was abundantly proved by subsequent 
 events ; that, in spite of its illegality, it was a terrible precedent to 
 establish the fact that kings are responsible to their subjects must 
 be granted. 
 
 404. Effect of the Execution of Charles. — The news of the death 
 of Charles was received by the vast majority of Englishmen with 
 horror, the act " outraged beyond hope of reconciliation the two 
 parties in the state who were strong in numbers and in conservative 
 tradition, the Presbyterians and the Cavaliers ; and it alienated 
 the great mass of men who had no party at all." Had it not been 
 for hopeless differences, which not even this act could heal, it 
 would have gone hard with the Independents. The royahsts 
 distrusted the Presbyterians, and the Presbyterians distrusted the 
 royahsts. The small party of the Levellers distrusted all others ; 
 their program, "manhood suffrage, annual Parliaments, and 
 religious hberty," which seems reasonable enough at this day, was 
 unwelcome to all but themselves. 
 
 In such a condition of affairs it was evident that if the leaders 
 of the army did not assume the power, the result would be anarchy ; 
 
EFFECT OF THE EXECUTION 
 
 33: 
 
 and so we have the curious spectacle of a small body, professing to 
 represent the people, entering upon a career of despotism upheld 
 by force. Fortunately for England and English institutions the 
 men who controlled affairs were honest, self-sacrificing, and, with 
 
 Trial of King Charles I in Westminster Hall 
 
 few exceptions, disinterested. During their official career there 
 can be no question that the government was administered more 
 economically and with a far greater regard to the public gdod than 
 it had ever been under the Stuarts ; nevertheless it was a kind of 
 rule justly hateful to the patriotic EngHshman. 
 
 405. The Commonwealth. 1649. — The death of the king 
 was followed by the setting up of a republic. King and Lords 
 were abolished, and the country, under the name of a Com- 
 monwealth, was to be ruled by a House of Commons. As the 
 
334 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 members of the " Rump " did not dare to risk a new election, 
 they assumed the position of the Commons and appointed a 
 Council of State of forty-one men, which was to take place of the 
 old Privy Council. A new judiciary was appointed, and the gov- 
 ernment went into operation. 
 
 406. Dangers confronting the Commonwealth. 1649. — The 
 new republic was beset with dangers. First, from the royalists, 
 who had been greatly moved by the king's death ; and then by the 
 publication of a little book called Eikon Basilike, or the Royal 
 Image, purporting to be an autobiography of Charles, written 
 during his last days, with his prayers and meditations suggested by 
 his approaching death.^ This volume was widely read and exer- 
 cised an enormous influence. John Milton tried to answer it with 
 his Eikonoclastes, or Image Breaker; but with little avail, for 
 while Milton's book appealed to the understanding, the other 
 appealed to the heart. 
 
 Perhaps a still greater danger arose from the dissatisfied 
 Levellers, who clamored for a thoroughgoing democracy. Crom- 
 well saw that mutiny in the army would be fatal to success, and 
 the mutinies which occurred in several places were rigorously 
 crushed. 
 
 407. Charles II proclaimed in Ireland, 1649; Cromwell in 
 Ireland. 1649. — As soon as the news of the death of Charles 
 reached Ormond, the royalist leader in Ireland, he proclaimed 
 Prince Charles as Charles II. The Presbyterians of Ulster (§ 346) 
 went over to his side, and Prince Rupert with several ships held 
 the south of the island. Affairs in Ireland looked desperate for 
 the Cohimonwealth. The Council of State offered the command 
 to Cromwell. He landed at Dublin in August, 1649, with a small 
 army and began a course of conduct which, more than any other 
 of his career, has laid him open to severe criticism. Everywhere 
 
 1 This book was almost universally believed at the time to have been written by 
 Charles I ; it has been proved since to have been the work of Dr. John Gauden, a 
 clergyman, after the Restoration made Bishop of Worcester. 
 
CROMWELL IN IRELAND 
 
 335 
 
 the well-trained men of Cromwell's army were successful. Drogh- 
 eda was taken a few weeks after his landing, and then Wexford. 
 In each case the garrison had refused to surrender, the towns had 
 been carried by assault, and each garrison, with the exception 
 of a few men sent to the West Indies, had been slaughtered 
 without mercy .^ Cromwell justified this terrible severity, first by 
 the laws of war, which allowed victors to put to death those who 
 refused to surrender, and secondly, as a 'punishment for the 
 "innocent blood which had been shed" in the rebellion of 1641 
 (§ sS^). Though successful in striking terror into the hearts of 
 his opponents, these massacres remain a sad blot on the memory 
 of Cromwell. 
 
 408. Subjection of Ireland. 1652. — By the close of 1649 ^^^ 
 the coast of Ireland, except the single town of Waterford, was in 
 Cromwell's hands. But a new danger menaced the Commonwealth 
 from Scotland, and in May, 1650, Cromwell was recalled to 
 England. He left his lieutenants to complete the conquest of 
 Ireland, This was accomplished by the middle of 1652. It was 
 subdued as it had never been before, but it " was devastated from 
 end to end, and a third of its population had perished during the 
 struggle." 
 
 The Irish settlement after the conquest resembled Strafford's 
 plan (§ 372). Cromwell's idea was confiscation of the land of 
 Irish owners who had taken part in the rebellion ; ^ colonization 
 by English Protestants ; conversion of the Irish Catholics ; and 
 the impartial administration of justice. In religious matters the 
 Irish were little better off than they had been, for while liberty of 
 conscience was allowed, and no one was compelled to attend 
 Protestant places of worship, the outward exercise of Catholicism 
 was strictly forbidden, and under the Commonwealth and the 
 Protector, " priests were hunted down, and either imprisoned or 
 
 1 At Drogheda 2800 men were put to the sword, and at Wexford 1500, as well as 
 every priest who fell into the hands of the victors. 
 
 2 It is estimated that about two thirds of the land of Ireland passed to new 
 owners. 
 
336 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 exiled." With all his ability and greatness Cromwell was not able 
 to see that such treatment would inevitably inspire a hatred of 
 Protestants and of English rule. There can be Httle doubt that it 
 was the treatment in regard to religious matters which aroused the 
 lasting resentment far more than any political tyranny. 
 
 409. Scotland. Dunbar. 1650. — The Presbyterians in Scotland 
 had no sympathy with the Independents, and on receipt of the 
 news of Charles's death had proclaimed his son as Charles II, 
 King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Scottish envoys at 
 London demanded that " upon just satisfaction given to both 
 kingdoms " he should be given the crown. Parliament refused to 
 entertain any such proposition and expelled the envoys from 
 England. This was war. It was, however, necessary for Charles 
 II and the Scots to come to some sort of an agreement. The 
 Scots insisted that Charles should subscribe to the Covenant and 
 force Presbyterianism upon England and Ireland. Against these 
 conditions he strove for some time, but finally yielded. He came 
 to Scotland and was crowned at Scone, January, 165 1. 
 
 Parliament had voted that both Cromwell and Fairfax should 
 command the army against the Scots, but Fairfax refused to take 
 the field against his old allies and resigned his position, and Crom- 
 well became commander in chief. The army entered Scotland in 
 July, 1650; the first few weeks were discouraging, but at Dunbar, 
 September 3, 1650, Cromwell gained one of his greatest victories 
 — " three thousand men fell in the battle and ten thousand were 
 taken prisoners." Though this victory gave him the southern 
 part of Scotland, the northern still held out for Charles. 
 
 410. Defeat of Charles II at Worcester. 1651. — The disaster 
 at Dunbar tended to unite the royalists and Presbyterians in 
 Scotland and inspired a hope that a similar union might be 
 brought about in England. So Charles's army, under David 
 Leslie, hastened southward, Charles accompanying it. England, 
 however, was so tired of war that few persons joined the royal 
 Standard, *' Englishmen dishked the government much, but they 
 
CHARLES II DEFEATED AT WORCESTER 
 
 disliked the Scots more," Cromwell, with part of his army, 
 hastened after Leslie and Charles, overtook them at Worcester, 
 and compelled them to fight a much larger force than their own, 
 September 3, 165 1, the anniversary of Dunbar. The result was a 
 rout; only a remnant of the Scots was able to reach Scotland. 
 
 
 Great Friar's Street, Worcester 
 After an old print 
 
 Charles, after many hairbreadth and romantic escapes, managed to 
 reach France.^ 
 
 411. Union of England and Scotland. — General Monk, who 
 had been left in charge by Cromwell, reduced Scotland to submis- 
 sion (1652), and like Ireland it was given a new form of govern- 
 ment. The Scottish Parliament was abolished ; trade was made 
 free between England and Scotland ; toleration for all Non- 
 conformists except Catholics was established ; and the judicial 
 system was reformed. Scotland was given thirty members of 
 Parliament at Westminster, while the country was governed by a 
 council of nine (after 1655), of whom two were Scots. Under 
 
 i " Though the Englishmen would not fight for Charles, they would not betraji 
 him, and of the scores he trusted not one proved false." 
 
2^ ^8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 their rule Scotland had such order and safety as had not been 
 known before.^ But with few exceptions the Scots hated the 
 union with England. 
 
 When the news of the victory at Worcester reached Parliament, 
 it voted Cromwell a large income and gave him Hampton Court 
 for a residence. 
 
 412. Foreign Affairs ; Holland. — The government could now 
 turn its attention to enemies abroad, where the Commonwealth 
 was not regarded with favor. As almost all the continental gov- 
 ernments were monarchical, the execution of Charles was to them 
 a blow of deep significance. Besides this the courts of Europe 
 were full of Enghsh royalist refugees. The ambassadors of the 
 Commonwealth had been received with coolness at the various 
 courts to which they had been sent, and two had been killed by 
 royalists. 
 
 It would seem that England and Holland, both being republics, 
 should have been at least friendly ; but WilHam H, the stadtholder, 
 had married Mary, a daughter of Charles I, and so was friendly to 
 the royalists. He, however, died in October, 1650; the office 
 of stadtholder was abolished, and the United Netherlands became 
 still more democratic. But the strong commercial rivalry growing 
 up between the Dutch and the English kept the countries apart. 
 By 1650 the Dutch controlled the carrying trade of Europe and 
 had grown rich. They had the best ships and sailors in the 
 world. Wherever the English ships went, — whether in the East 
 or West Indies, in the Baltic or the North seas, and even in 
 America, — they found the Dutch, and poUtical and commercial 
 disputes were constantly arising. 
 
 413. Navigation Act, 1651; War with Holland, 1652-1654. 
 — These disputes and the growth of the Dutch trade led to the 
 passage by Parliament of the famous Navigation Act of October, 
 1 65 1. By this act it was forbidden to bring into England any 
 
 1 Scotland was treated much more leniently than Ireland. There was no general 
 confiscation of the land, the penalty of forfeiture being imposed on only a few. 
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
 339 
 
 goods from any ports in Asia, Africa, or America, except in vessels 
 built in England, owned by Englishmen, and manned by English 
 sailors. A similar regulation was made for goods exported from 
 England. From any European country goods could be carried 
 only in vessels owned in that country, or in English vessels. As 
 an enforcement of the Navigation Act would deprive the Dutch 
 of all the profitable carrying trade to England except in the few 
 articles of Dutch manufacture, they protested, but without avail. 
 
 Besides this England claimed that the sovereignty of the seas 
 surrounding Britain belonged to her, and that homage should be 
 given her for these ; she claimed certain fishing rights in the 
 North Sea ; also the right to seize goods of an enemy even if 
 found on a neutral ship. All these claims the Dutch denied, and, 
 as an agreement could not be reached, war broke out between the 
 English and the Dutch (1652). The war was wholly a naval one. 
 The Dutch had many merchantmen ; and the English had a larger 
 navy. The Dutch had, however, the first naval captain of his day 
 in Van Tromp. The English found a great captain in Robert 
 Blake.-^ Good soldiers at that time were supposed to be good at 
 sea also, and Blake, who had distinguished himself in the Civil 
 War, had in 1649 been appointed Admiral and General at Sea. 
 He had sailed against Prince Rupert, and had done good service in 
 the Mediterranean and elsewhere, and was now chosen to meet 
 Van Tromp. Many sea fights took place with varying fortunes 
 until early in 1653, when Blake and his companion, Monk, 
 another soldier turned sailor, defeated Van Tromp off Portland 
 Bill. Blake won another victory in June, 1653, and in July Monk 
 defeated the Dutch off the Texel, and Van Tromp was killed. 
 The next year (1654) peace was made, the Dutch agreeing to the 
 Navigation Act and some other of the English demands. The 
 result of the war was to remove any danger of interference in the 
 
 1 Blake, born in 1599, was fifty when he took his first naval command. How 
 much training he had is not known. It is possible that as a young man he may 
 have made some voyages, though there is no reason to suppose it was as a 5a,ilQi 
 (§ 424). 
 
340 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 domestic affairs of England by foreign powers, and greatly to 
 increase the respect paid to the Commonwealth. 
 
 414. Expulsion of "The Rump." 1653. — Meanwhile the 
 "Rump" (§ 402) had become more and more unpopular. 
 Funds had been raised by compelling royalists to pay large sums 
 of money in order to retain their estates. More than this, all 
 measures of reform were stopped, a course which greatly angered 
 the army. The '' Rump," regardless of the remonstrances of the 
 army, proceeded to form a plan of government ingeniously con- 
 trived to retain the power in the hands of the " Rump " itself. 
 
 When Cromwell learned that Parliament was about to pass an 
 act with this end in view, he went to the House (April 20, 1653) 
 *' dressed as he was, not like a general or a soldier, but hke an 
 ordinary citizen, ' clad in plain black clothes with grey worsted 
 stockings,' and sat as he used to do in an ordinary place." When 
 the speaker was about to put the question, Cromwell rose and 
 spoke, strongly rebuking the members for their selfish conduct, 
 and ended by saying, *' You are no Parliament ; I say you are 
 no Parliament. I will put an end to your sitting." *'Call them 
 in," he said to one of his friends who sat near him ; and presently 
 twenty or thirty of Cromwell's own regiment came in and drove 
 out the members. Cromwell ordered the door to be locked, and 
 then went off. Henceforth force was to rule. Evil as force was, 
 it was at least something real and not a pretense. 
 
 It was a bloodless revolution. " There were no resignations, no 
 arrests, and no further force. The fighting men approved, the 
 ofificials obeyed, and the nation acquiesced." 
 
 415. The ''Barebones Parliament." 1653. — Cromwell, not 
 fond of force, wished to set up a government with at least some 
 show of being representative. But not daring to order a new 
 election, he and his fellow army officers summoned an assembly, 
 nominated by themselves, consisting of one hundred and forty 
 men from different parts of England, and a few from Scotland and 
 Ireland. This body was called in ridicule " Praise God Bare- 
 
THE "BAREBONES PARLIAMENT 
 
 341 
 
 bones ^ Parliament " after a man of that name who represented in 
 it the City of London. Another name by which it is known is the 
 " Little Parliament," but strictly speaking, it was no Parliament at 
 all. As might be expected, it was one of the most unmanageable 
 and impracticable sets of men ever gathered in an assembly. The 
 
 Cromwell dissolving the Long Parliament 
 
 more moderate men in the assembly shrank from the wilder acts 
 and plans of their fellow-members, and by a trick, passed a bill 
 dissolving the body and resigning its power into the hands of 
 Cromwell (December 12, 1653). 
 
 416. "The Instrument of Government," 1653; Cromwell 
 "Protector." — The officers of the army now tried their hand and 
 
 1 His name is given as Barbon, Barebone, and Barebones. He was a leather 
 seller. He survived all the dangers of the Civil War and Restoration, and died in 
 1679. 
 
342 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 proposed "The Instrument of Government." By this it was pro- 
 vided that the government of the Commonwealth of England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland should be vested in one person styled the 
 Lord Protector, appointed for life, and in a Parliament which should 
 meet once in three years. The power of the Protector was limited 
 by a Council of State. The scheme was really a limited monarchy 
 restricted by a written constitution.^ Though distasteful to the 
 extremists, it was acceptable to the army and to most persons. 
 Before the Parliament should meet the Protector was authorized 
 to pass "ordinances." Of this permission Cromwell, who was of 
 course appointed Protector, took liberal advantage, and for the 
 most part his laws were wise and all in the direction of improving 
 the morals and order of the Commonwealth. 
 
 417. Oliver Cromwell. 1599-1658, — However opinions may 
 differ concerning Cromwell's personal aims and conduct, in the 
 long list of great Englishmen he must always stand in the front 
 rank. He was born in 1599 of a good family in Huntingdonshire.^ 
 He attended the Huntingdon Grammar School and at seventeen 
 went to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. How long he re- 
 mained at the university is not known, but he was married at the 
 age of twenty-one and soon after set up as a country gentleman. 
 In 1628 he was elected to represent Huntingdon in the third 
 Parliament (§ 361) of Charles I. He early took the side of the 
 people in his own neighborhood and became popular and 
 influential in the eastern counties. Before he was thirty he was 
 " a professor of religion " and was known as a zealous Puritan. 
 He was a member of the Short Parliament (§ 379) and also of 
 the Long Parliament (§ 380). In person he/ was slightly under 
 six feet, strong and well made ; his light brown hair he wore 
 
 1 The title was taken from that of the Protector Somerset in the time of Edward 
 VI (see § 263). Cromwell was more nearly a regent than anything else. The 
 office was not to be hereditary. 
 
 2 He was descended from the sister of Thomas Cromwell (§ 236), the great min- 
 ister of Henry VIII. Her son Henry took the name of Cromwell. From Henry 
 Cromwell, also, John Hampden was descended. 
 
OLIVER CROMWELL 
 
 343 
 
 long, allowing it to reach to his shoulders ; his eyes were blue or 
 gray, and his eyebrows heavy ; his nose was large, and likewise his 
 mouth, which was firm-set. He was dignified in his bearing, and 
 often affable. In his youth he was athletic and he retained his 
 love of sport all his life ; he was fond of riding, hunting, hawking, 
 playing bowls, and other 
 exercises. He was de- 
 voted to music and when 
 at Hampton Court had 
 two organs, which were 
 frequently brought into 
 use. He valued art and 
 learning and encouraged 
 them. 
 
 His greatest personal 
 characteristic was his reli- 
 gious faith. His sense 
 of personal responsibility 
 was profound, and in all 
 his actions he moved, as 
 he believed, under divine 
 
 guidance. Not to recognize this fact is to misunderstand his life. 
 The former country squire, who had known comparatively httle of 
 active public life until he was more than forty, was now at the age 
 of fifty-four the ruler of England. He had a keen sense of his 
 duties and responsibilities, and, though a firm believer in law, in a 
 constitutional government, and in the rights of the people, it was 
 his misfortune to .feel compelled to wield absolute power. 
 
 418. England in 1654. — There can be scarcely a doubt that 
 some such rule as that of Cromwell w^as needed in England in 
 1654. "He had with him the Puritan rank and file, and the 
 great majority of the superior officers, . . . the men of business ; 
 all moderate men of every party who desired peace, order and 
 'good government ; the great cities, the army and navy." 
 
 Oliver Cromwell 
 
344 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 His opposers were not only the Cavaliers, for against him he had 
 the Republicans, to whom the revolution meant republican equality 
 more than liberty, and legal right even more than order and pros- 
 perity. Besides these were the " Sectaries," men of every shade 
 of religious belief and fanaticism, who sprang up as the result of 
 the religious conflicts of the time. 
 
 The weakness of the Instrument (§ 416) was that it provided no 
 means, such as the American Supreme Court, for deciding doubt- 
 ful points, nor was there any provision for amendment. 
 
 419. First Protectorate Parliament. 1654. — The first Protec- 
 torate Parliament met in September, 1654. Cromwell was bitterly 
 disappointed with its action. Its first work was to call in question 
 the authority by which the Instrument of Government had been 
 drawn up, and then it proceeded to evolve a scheme of its own, in 
 which the greater part of the power would be in the hands of 
 Parliament. 
 
 This was something which Cromwell would not endure, for he 
 was determined that, if he could prevent it, there should not be 
 the rule of an irresponsible Parliament. Parliament, on its part, 
 was equally determined that there should not be military rule and 
 a despotism. Cromwell was in a grave dilemma, and chose what 
 seemed to him the lesser evil. As soon as five months had 
 elapsed he dissolved the Parliament and entered upon autocratic 
 rule, though, so far as possible, governing according to the Instru- 
 ment of Government. 
 
 420. The Major Generals; Military Rule. 1655. — Plots 
 against his life became frequent, Ireland and Scotland were restive, 
 and there were risings of Cavaliers, and also of Levellers. Crom- 
 well now divided the country into ten military districts, over each 
 one of which he set a major general with practically arbitrary 
 powers. This was pure military rule, which only the unsettled 
 state of affairs could possibly justify. To maintain these officers 
 and their men he taxed the Cavaliers, on the ground that it was 
 due to them that the necessity existed. This policy, while it cer- • 
 
FIRST PROTECTORATE PARLIAMENT 
 
 345 
 
 tainly insured good order and personal safety, angered the 
 royalists beyond remedy, and also forced upon the whole country 
 the fact that his government was a military despotism. Men now 
 began to refuse to pay some of tlie taxes imposed, on the ground 
 that they were not levied by Parliament. 
 
 421. Cromwell's Religious Policy. — Cromwell's treatment of 
 the religious difficulties in the country is greatly to his credit. 
 Under his rule there was greater tolerance and religious liberty 
 than had ever been known in England. The chief exceptions 
 were " Papists " and " Prelatists," as the Puritans called them, and 
 these were excepted chiefly on political grounds, for they were in- 
 evitably hostile to the government. But even the " Prelatists " or 
 Episcopalians were treated with leniency, and congregations meet- 
 ing in private were not molested. The Catholics also, though 
 not allowed to celebrate their worship publicly, were not in other 
 respects disturbed, and fared better than they had at the hands of 
 the Parliaments of Charles I or the Commonwealth. The Jews, 
 too, who had been proscribed since the time of Edward I (1290) 
 (§ 127), while not legally tolerated, were allowed to reside in 
 England and worship in private houses. 
 
 The result of Cromwell's policy was the rise of many sects, for 
 it was a period of religious and intellectual stirring among the 
 English common people. Under no other regime for fifty years 
 before or after would such a result have been possible. That 
 this toleration temporarily fell with the Protectorate is due to the 
 fact that the toleration was only partial, for political rights were 
 confined to Puritans and those who in essentials agreed with them. 
 The non-religious people were alienated by the severe rule of the 
 major generals, the restrictions upon amusements, arbitrary ar- 
 rests, imprisonments, deprivation of political rights, and other fea- 
 tures of despotic rule ; while the smaller but more influential class 
 of landholders was even more alienated by what they had to 
 undergo. The result was that Puritanism began to mean to a 
 large and increasing class almost everything hateful. It was poetic 
 
346 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 justice that when the Puritans fell, their successors should treat 
 them to a dose of their own medicine. 
 
 422. Cromwell's Foreign Policy. — Meanwhile Cromwell's 
 foreign policy prospered. He had a very clear conception of what 
 he wanted : (i) to prevent the restoration of the Stuarts by foreign 
 aid ; (2) to form a league of all the Protestant nations in Europe ; 
 (3) to foster and increase English commerce so that it would 
 become supreme. The military and naval success of the Common- 
 wealth prevented the likelihood of interference with the domestic 
 concerns of England. But to unite the nations on a religious 
 basis alone he found was impracticable. 
 
 At the Peace of Westphalia (1648) France, under Louis XIV, 
 was the strongest power in Europe. Her supremacy was disputed 
 only by Spain. After the peace with the Dutch (1654) (§ 413) 
 Spain and France alike were desirous of an alliance with England. 
 Cromwell wavered for a time. From Spain he asked among other 
 things toleration for English merchants in Spanish ports and free- 
 dom of trade for English traders in the West Indies. These privi- 
 leges Spain declined to grant. Cromwell turned to France, for in 
 that day it was not thought advisable, perhaps not possible, to 
 remain neutral. 
 
 423. The Vaudois. 1656. — Meanwhile the Duke of Savoy 
 was striving by force of arms and persecutions to compel the 
 inhabitants of the Vaudois valleys, whose religion long antedated 
 the Reformation, to become Catholics. In this effort terrible 
 outrages had been committed, the news of which deeply stirred 
 the Protestants of England. Cromwell informed Cardinal Mazarin, 
 the French Minister of State, that until this persecution was 
 stopped no treaty would be concluded with France. Mazarin 
 was so anxious for the English alliance that he compelled the 
 Duke of Savoy to end the persecution and grant the Vaudois 
 liberty of worship. 
 
 424. Naval Victories ; Penn and Venables ; Blake. 1654-165 8. 
 — In the meantime Cromwell had sent an expedition under Admiral 
 
CROMWELL'S FOREIGN AND COLONIAL POLICY 
 
 347 
 
 Sir William Penn ^ and Robert Venables, a successful soldier, 
 to the West Indies (1654) to seize the island of Hispaniola, and 
 to injure the Spanish interests in the West Indies as much as 
 possible. The attack on Hispaniola was a failure, but Jamaica 
 was captured and has since remained a part of the British Empire. 
 An expedition to the Mediterranean under 
 Admiral Blake (§413) was a brilliant success. 
 
 A treaty with France was signed (1655) 
 and war with Spain broke out in earnest. 
 Blake captured a Spanish fleet with a large 
 amount of treasure on board, and also de- 
 stroyed a large Spanish fleet off Teneriffe, 
 but died at sea on the way home. The 
 same year English troops joined the French 
 forces and later gained a victory over the 
 Spaniards (June 4, 1658) near Dunkirk, 
 which fell into the hands of the allies and 
 was given to England. 
 
 425. Cromwell's Colonial Policy. — 
 Cromwell was appointed one of the 
 
 commissioners of plantations early in his political career, and so 
 was brought very soon into comparatively close touch with 
 colonial affairs. At one time he seems to have thought about 
 emigrating himself. His colonial policy was successful, and his 
 influence was enduring. He desired an ever-increasing empire 
 bound to the mother country by strong ties and yet with a reason- 
 able freedom of its own. It was in fact a plan closely resembling 
 the present policy of Great Britain. 
 
 With the New England colonies settled by Puritans and Inde- 
 pendents he was in close sympathy, and throughout his rule he 
 cultivated their friendship. During the time of the Civil War the 
 northern colonies in America were adherents of the Puritans, and 
 
 Flag of the Common- 
 wealth 
 
 1 Admiral Penn was the father of the stil 
 founder of Pennsylvania. 
 
 more celebrated William Penn, the 
 
348 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the southern followers of the king, and at its close many Cavalier 
 refugees fled to Virginia and the West Indies. On the death of 
 Charles I, Governor Berkeley of Virginia proclaimed Charles II, 
 and in Barbados there was practically rebellion against the Com- 
 monwealth. But the government in England sent an expedition 
 to compel the allegiance of the refractory provinces. 
 
 426. Colonization Schemes. — The passage of the Navigation 
 Act (1651) (§ 413) was a severe blow to colonial commerce and 
 was unpopular everywhere, but nevertheless at the time it tended 
 to increase the authority of the mother country, and though Crom- 
 well would not give up the act, certain small concessions were 
 made to the colonies. So far as their internal affairs were con- 
 cerned Cromwell interfered very little if at all. 
 
 The expedition of Penn and Venables (§ 424) was part of the 
 same colonial plan, and though Cromwell was chagrined at the 
 apparent failure of that scheme and both Penn and Venables were 
 sent for a short time to the Tower, the expedition laid the founda- 
 tion of England's influence in the West Indies which has never 
 been lost. Though Jamaica was held of small account, Cromwell 
 made great efforts to colonize it with Enghshmen, and offered 
 great inducements to New Englanders to remove there. He him- 
 self said that " an opportunity is offered for their enlargement and 
 removing them out of a barren country into a land of plenty." 
 But the sturdy New Englanders preferred their "barren country" 
 to an unknown tropical island and a climate which they dreaded. 
 
 427. The Second Protectorate; Parliament, 1656; Humble 
 Petition and Advice, 1657. — The continental policy required 
 money, and Cromwell, not only because he wished more money, 
 but also from his inherent love of constitutional methods, felt 
 it needful to call a second Parliament (1656), but, as before, no 
 one was allowed to be seated who was not supposed to be in 
 general sympathy with the government. This body was accom- 
 modating. Cromwell withdrew his major generals (§ 420), and 
 the House voted him money. A plot against Cromwell was discov- 
 
DEATH OF CROMWELL 
 
 349 
 
 ered, and Parliament, weary of the constant troubles, thought that 
 a nearer return to the old constitution would be helpful. A new 
 scheme of government was devised, called the " Humble Petition 
 and Advice," which provided for two houses of Parliament, a re- 
 vision of the powers of the chief executive, and greater liberality in 
 the matter of religion. Cromwell was asked to take the title of king, 
 with the power of naming his successor. The army was opposed to 
 the name of king, or it is likely that Cromwell would have assumed it. 
 He kept the title of Lord Protector, but was king except in name. 
 
 428. Parliament dissolved, 1658; Death of Cromwell, 1658. — 
 In accordance with the new constitution he appointed a new House 
 of Lords, and the new government went into operation. It was 
 not a success ; the two Houses quarreled with each other, the mem- 
 bers excluded by Cromwell were seated, and there was a majority 
 hostile to him. At last (February 4, 1658) Cromwell, grievously 
 disappointed, dissolved the Parliament with sad and bitter words. 
 
 Cromwell was now beginning to break down both in health and 
 spirits. In August he became ill and on September 3, 1658, the 
 anniversary of his great victories of Dunbar (§ 409) and Worcester 
 (§ 410), he died. His body, after lying in state, was privately 
 buried in the Chapel of Henry VII in Westminster Abbey. He 
 was given a magnificent public funeral. 
 
 For many years after Cromwell's death he was regarded by 
 many almost with detestation, but opinion has changed in a 
 remarkable degree. Though his shortcomings are recognized, his 
 great ability is universally admitted, and it is acknowledged by 
 most persons that *' it was his design to do good in the main." 
 Cromwell's error, it would seem, was the attempt to govern Eng- 
 land as the representative of a minority. He held his position 
 only because of his ability. It was inevitable that such a course 
 should end in despotism.^ 
 
 1 This change in opinion was chiefly due to Carlyle's Life and Letters of Oliver 
 Cromwell (1845). One evidence of the change is the erection of a fine statue to 
 his memory under the very shadow of the Houses of Parliament (1899). 
 
-^O HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 429. Richard Cromwell : Protector. 1659 ; Resigned, 1659. — 
 After CromweH's death his son Richard was promptly proclaimed. 
 The strength of the Protector's rule was shown by the apparently 
 willing acquiescence by almost all parties in Richard's succession. 
 A new Parliament was summoned, chosen on the old basis of the 
 Long Parliament (^§ 3S0). The members were disposed to make 
 friends with Richard because he was not a soldier, for the one 
 thing the Commons feared, and justly, was the army. 
 
 The situation would have been difficult even for a man of Oliver 
 Cromwell's ability, and for his son it was impossible. The army 
 made the first move. It demanded that the command should be 
 given to Fleetwood,^ with powers independent of the Protector. 
 Richard could not aiibrd to accept such terms, but consented to 
 dissolve Parliament and allow the long Long Parliament to be 
 recalled. In this the Republicans were supreme. The power in 
 the state was claimed both by Parliament and the army, there was 
 no room for a Protector, and Richard, practically coerced, 
 resigned his position (May 25, 1659^ leaving the army and Par- 
 hament to fight it out between themselves.- 
 
 430. The Army ; "'The Rump " ; Monk, 1 659-1 660. — It was to 
 be expected that the army and the " Rump " (§ 402) should quarrel. 
 Lambert, who was now at the head of the army, followed the ex- 
 ample of Cromwell and turned out the ''Rump." But the army 
 leaders found that it was no easy task to nm a government, and 
 in a few weeks recalled the remnant of the Long Parliament. 
 There was, however, a man who had not yet come upon the scene, 
 General Monk, who had been in charge of Scotland. 
 
 He saw that unless something were done anarchy would come 
 upon the countr}-. He therefore crossed the border and entered 
 England Qanuar}- i, i66o\ was joined at Newcastle by Fairfax of 
 
 1 FIee^vood %^-as the brother-in-law of Richard; and Desborough, another of 
 the armv leaders, was his uncle. His foes were truly of his own household. 
 
 - On the Restoration (1660), Richard Cromwell retired to Paris, and lived there 
 under an assumed name for about twenty years. He then returned to England 
 and spent the rest of his long life in retirement. He died in 1712. 
 
PARLIAMEXT INVITES CHARLES II 
 
 351 
 
 Civil War fame (§ 394), and together they marched upon London. 
 No one knew what course Monk would take. He found that the 
 " Rump " was hated by all parties, and so declared himself in 
 favor of a free Parliament. He demanded the restoration of all 
 members who had been expelled from the Long Parliament by 
 Pride's Purge (§ 402), and having an army at his back, he was 
 obeyed. This Parliament provided for the election of a new 
 Parliament called the " Convention Parliament," ^ appointed 
 Monk general of the army, and voted its own dissolution TMarch 
 16, 1660). Monk recognized that the restoration of the old 
 monarchy and Charles H as king was the nation's wish, and saw 
 to it that the elections were free. Monk's character has been the 
 subject of much deserved criticism, but he rendered an incalcu- 
 lable service to England in bringing about the Restoration in a 
 peaceable and orderly manner. 
 
 43L Declaration of Breda. 1660. — Meantime communications 
 were held with Charles, and to make his restoration easier he issued 
 his Declaration of Breda (April 4, 1660).^ 
 
 Charles in this document offered a general pardon to all 
 except those specially exempted by Parliament, and to consent to 
 a bill for " liberty to tender consciences, and that no man shall be 
 disquieted or called in question for differences of opinion in mat- 
 ters of religion which do not disturb the peace of the kingdom." 
 The document was drawn so as to throw the whole responsibility 
 upon a Parliament which would be Hkely to be favorable to his 
 interests. 
 
 432. Convention Parliament invites Charles ; His ArrivaL 1660. 
 — The Convention Parliament met April 25, 1660. The Decla- 
 ration of Breda was welcomed with joy, and Parliament voted that, 
 "according to the ancient and fundamental laws of this kingdom, the 
 Government is and ought to be, by King, Lords, and Commons." 
 
 1 So called because, though conforming in other respects to the old laws, it was 
 summoned without royal writs. 
 
 2 So called from the town in the Netherlands where it was issued. 
 
352 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 On the 25th of May, 1660, Charles landed at Dover, and was 
 greeted with cheers. His entrance into London on his birthday, 
 four days later, was a time of still greater rejoicing. There can be 
 little doubt that underlying all motives for this rejoicing was the 
 very real fear of anarchy and civil war. The restoration was the 
 one measure upon which the nation as a whole could agree. 
 
 433. Results of the Puritan Revolution. — Though the old 
 order appeared to be restored, it was not so in fact, for much of 
 the influence and some of the salutary legislation of the Long 
 Parliament were too deeply rooted to be overthrown. The revolu- 
 tion had arrested the growth of an absolute monarchy, and roused 
 a lasting feeling of dislike to absolute power, whether wielded by 
 King, Parliament, Protector, or army. It was never afterwards 
 possible to have a court of Star Chamber, or Council of the North, 
 or to lay taxes by royal prerogative ; and public officers could no 
 longer be shielded from the action of Parliament ; and, though it 
 was many years before real toleration and religious freedom came 
 about, it was from the Commonwealth and the Protectorate that 
 their advocates gained their inspiration. Besides all this, and by 
 no means of least importance, the English acquired a wholesome 
 dread of civil war and military rule. 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, viii, §§ 8-10; Gardiner, 
 Sttidenfs History^ chaps, xxxiv-xxxvi; Terry, Part III, Book III, chaps, iv-v; 
 Tout, Advanced History, Book VI, chap, ii, §§ 30-47, chap, iii; Gardiner, 
 Puritan Revolution, chaps, vii-x, § i; Traill, Social England, vol. IV, 
 chap, xiv; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents, §§ 207-221; Cheyney, 
 Readings, chap, xv, §§ iii-v; Colby, Selections, §§ 73-76; Kendall, Source- 
 Book, §§ 79-89; Lee, Source-Book, §§ 160-174. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 THE RESTORATION, AND THE REVOLUTION OF 1688 
 
 434. Charles II. 1660. — The restoration of Charles was a 
 compromise, for the Declaration of Breda recognized the power of 
 the people in a way and to a degree that Charles I never would 
 have done. The position of the king was a difficult one : he 
 brought back with him not a few Cavaliers whose claims must be 
 recognized, and many of the royalists, whose estates had been con- 
 fiscated under the Commonwealth, were clamorous for their return 
 or for indemnities ; while, on the other hand, those who had profited 
 by the confiscations were by no means ready to give up their lands. 
 The army was safely disposed of by paying it off, after which all 
 the soldiers except about 5000 were disbanded. 
 
 Charles II was a much abler man than his father, and if his 
 moral character had been even fairly good, and if he had been 
 less selfish, he might have been an excellent ruler. But he was 
 unscrupulous, supremely selfish, and doubtless the most immoral 
 sovereign that ever sat upon the English throne. His court was 
 a disgrace to the nation. He was not, however, without some 
 good points, for he wished to see England powerful abroad, and to 
 develop her colonial and commercial policy. He was naturally 
 tolerant, and one of the early acts of his new power was to order 
 the persecutions of the Quakers in New England to cease. Indeed, 
 all through his reign, he was favorable to toleration, but his laziness 
 and selfishness were always most prominent, and when his own 
 personal gratification was in question other things were deemed of 
 slight account. He had one quality which his father utterly lacked, 
 and that was an instinctive perception of how far he could go, and 
 for this reason the opposition to him never went as far as rebellion. 
 
 353 
 
354 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 It is said that he had made up his mind on one point — that he 
 " would never go upon his travels again." 
 
 435. Treatment of the King's Enemies. — On the whole it 
 cannot be said that those who had fought against Charles I and 
 Charles II were harshly treated. An act of general indemnity 
 and pardon was passed, excepting only the regicides — as those 
 who had sat in judgment on the king were styled — and a very few 
 others.^ In all, thirteen were put to death, and others imprisoned 
 or exiled. One of the acts which might be termed despicable was 
 the exhuming of the bodies of Cromwell and others of the Parlia- 
 mentary leaders. The bodies were dragged through the streets 
 on a sledge, then hung on the gallows at Tyburn for a day, after 
 which they were cut down and decapitated, and the heads of 
 Cromwell, Ireton, and Bradshaw were set up on the top of West- 
 minster Hall. The bodies were buried at the foot of the gallows.^ 
 
 The Convention Parliament, besides passing the Indemnity Act, 
 abolished mihtary tenures, feudal dues, and the right of purvey- 
 ance.^ The Navigation Act of 1651 (§413) was reenacted. 
 There was such a division of opinion in regard to the religious 
 problems that they were left unsolved. The result of the legis- 
 lation was to restore social conditions very nearly to the state in 
 which they had been before the Commonwealth. This Parliament 
 was dissolved in December, 1660. 
 
 436. The " Cavalier Parliament." 1661-1679. — A new ParHa- 
 ment was called, which met in May, 1661. From its strong 
 royalist feeling it has been called the " Cavalier Parliament," and 
 
 1 In the matter of lands the question was so difficult that it was said, " Parlia- 
 ment had passed an Act of Indemnity for the King's enemies and Oblivion for his 
 friends." 
 
 2 There seems to be little doubt that " where Connaught Square now stands, a 
 yard or two beneath the street, trodden under foot and beaten by horsehoofs, lies 
 the dust of the great Protector." 
 
 3 Purveyance is the right of a sovereign to buy up provisions and other necessa- 
 ries for the royal household at an appraised price, in preference to all others, even 
 without the owner's consent. The king could also compel certain other services. 
 To compensate Charles for this loss he was granted certain excise duties. 
 
THE RESTORATION 
 
 355 
 
 sometimes, from its length, the "Second Long ParHament" 
 (§ 380). It also resembled that body in being fully as intoler- 
 ant and vindictive in its measures. As the Convention Parlia- 
 ment had restored political and social conditions, so this was 
 resolved to restore religious conditions and destroy Puritanism. 
 While Parliament 
 also restored some 
 of the prerogatives 
 of the king, it had 
 no intention of 
 giving him control 
 over revenues, or 
 the coasts ; or fur- 
 nishing him with 
 a standing army; 
 or allowing per- 
 sonal interference 
 with freedom of 
 speech in Parlia- 
 m e n t , which 
 henceforth was to 
 be checked only 
 by Parliament it- 
 self. 
 
 One of the first 
 acts was to confirm the legislation of the Convention Parliament, 
 which had not been legally summoned. This act of confirmation 
 was only passed by the earnest efforts of both Charles and his 
 chief minister, Lord Clarendon. Later (1664) it repealed the 
 Triennial Bill (§ 382), restored the bishops to the House of 
 Lords, and gave back to the Established Church (1661) all its 
 property which had been seized. 
 
 437. The Clarendon Code. 1661-1665. — Parliament now 
 began the enactment of what is known as the ''Clarendon 
 
 Charles II 
 
356 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Code." ^ The first act was the Corporation Act. By this, mem- 
 bership in the various bodies which governed the towns was con- 
 fined to such persons as would partake of the communion by the 
 rites of the Church of England, would renounce the Covenant 
 (§ 393), and take the oaths of allegiance, non-resistance,^ and 
 supremacy. All Nonconformists by the act were debarred from 
 poHtical power.^ 
 
 The Act of Uniformity (1662) required all clergymen to use 
 the Episcopal Prayer Book and give their *' unfeigned assent and 
 consent to all and everything contained and prescribed in and by 
 the book." Those who refused to do this by St. Bartholomew's 
 Day (August 24), 1662, were to be expelled from their livings. 
 Those who dissented from the doctrines of the Church of England 
 were now called " Dissenters " rather than Nonconformists.'* 
 
 The next law relating to church matters was the Conventicle 
 Act (1664), the purpose of which was to prevent Dissenters 
 (ministers or laity) from holding meetings for worship. By the 
 act the attendance of adults at any religious meeting or conventicle ^ 
 other than the Church of England was punished by imprisonment 
 for the first and second offense, and transportation for the third, 
 on pain of death if the criminal returned to England. 
 
 Thousands, rather than obey such a law, braved all dangers and 
 in consequence suffered terrible persecution. Hundreds died in 
 the filthy and horrible jails of that day, and others endured long 
 imprisonment. The most celebrated of these was John Bunyan, 
 
 1 So called from the Earl of Clarendon, Charles's minister, whose policy was car- 
 ried out. This succession of laws was, (i) The Corporation Act (1661), (2) Act 
 of Uniformity (1662), (3) Conventicle Act (1664), and (4) the Five-Mile Act 
 (1665). Together they made a code unequalled in English history for what can 
 hardly be called by any other name than tyranny. 
 
 2 This was the doctrine that it was unlav^^ful at any time to take up arms against 
 the sovereign. 
 
 3 The chief nonconformist bodies at that time, besides the Roman Catholics, were 
 (i) the Presbyterians, (2) the Independents, (3) the Baptists, and (4) the Society 
 of Friends, or Quakers. 
 
 4 The title Nonconformists has in recent years again come into general use to 
 distinguish Protestants who do not belong to the Established Church. 
 
 5 This was defined as a meeting of five or more persons for religious worship. 
 
THE CLARENDON CODE 
 
 357 
 
 the Baptist, who spent eleven years in Bedford jail rather than 
 obey the law.^ The Quakers suffered most of all, for they not only 
 refused to obey the Conventicle Act, but also, on conscientious 
 scruples, declined to take any oath whatsoever, though they were 
 always willing to make a declaration of their allegiance to the 
 government. During the reign of Charles II 13,000 Quakers suf- 
 fered imprisonment, mainly on account of the Conventicle Act. 
 
 But the purpose was to root out dissent, and to further this the 
 Five-Mile Act was passed (1665). By this act no clergyman or 
 schoolmaster was allowed to settle within five miles of a city, 
 or corporate town, or any place where he had been minister or 
 teacher, unless he declared that he would not " at any time en- 
 deavor any alteration of government either in church or state," and 
 would subscribe to the doctrine of non-resistance. This act bore 
 most heavily on those clergymen who had been expelled from 
 their livings by the Act of Uniformity (1662). Unable to exercise 
 their former office of minister, many had turned to teaching. By 
 this legislation they were cut off from almost all means of self-sup- 
 port, for many of them were too old or feeble to turn to manual 
 labor. Besides this there is little doubt that it seriously retarded 
 the progress of education. 
 
 438. Results of the Clarendon Code. — That it was possible to 
 pass such drastic legislation as the Clarendon Code is due to 
 several causes. There was a wave of enthusiasm passing over the 
 country which carried into Parliament a large royalist majority.^ 
 Many of the members were young men belonging to families 
 which had suffered from Puritanism, and were large landowners or 
 members of the landowning class. To such the democratic 
 system of the Presbyterians, Independents, and others was wholly 
 distasteful. 
 
 The result of the Code was to make a permanent change in the 
 
 1 It was while thus imprisoned that he wrote Pllgrhn's Progress. 
 
 2 Charles recognized this fact, and, knowing it was not likely he would get 
 another such Parliament, did not dissolve it for eighteen years. 
 
358 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 religious life of the kingdom. The Presbyterians and Independ- 
 ents among the gentry and nobiHty, unwilhng to forfeit their 
 political rights and social position, almost all conformed to the 
 state church. To do this was made easier by the great reaction 
 from Puritanism. 
 
 The persecutions of the Restoration period were caused more 
 by poHtical hatred than by religious intolerance. 
 
 439. The Restoration in Scotland. — In Scotland the union so 
 carefully planned by Cromwell (§ 411) was set aside. As in 
 England, so in Scotland, the nobility and gentry were pleased at 
 the Restoration, for they had suffered much under the Common- 
 wealth. But the Scottish Parliament, which soon met, was as 
 obsequious to the wishes of Charles as the Convention (§ 430) 
 and the Cavaher Parliaments (§ 436). It declared that with the 
 king lay "the sole choice and appointment of all the chief officers 
 of the kingdom and of summoning and dismissing Parliaments, 
 and of making war and peace." It declared "the king supreme 
 Governor of this Kingdom over all persons and in all cases." But 
 even worse than this, all that had been done in the Parliaments 
 which had been held since 1633 was declared null and void. Be- 
 sides this it voted the king an annual grant of ;^40,ooo, an amount 
 which the nation could not afford to pay.^ 
 
 440. Punishment and Persecution in Scotland. — As in England, 
 it was felt needful to punish some of those who had supported the 
 Commonwealth and Protectorate. The chief of these was the 
 Marquis of Argyll. The evidence against him was scanty and 
 slight, but, notwithstanding, he was condemned and executed 
 (May 27, 1661).^ Several others also suffered death. Acts similar 
 to the Act of Uniformity and Five-Mile Act were also passed. 
 
 1 So sweeping were the acts of this Parliament that it was said that the members 
 were drunk, and it went by the name of " the Drunken Parliament." 
 
 2 Argyll had been at the head of the Covenanters. He had been one of the chief 
 agents in the restoration of Charles, and trusted to the declaration of pardon. But 
 this did not save him. It is said that the chief evidence against him was given by 
 Monk, " an example of baseness which staggered even the public men of that day." 
 
SCOTLAND AND IRELAND 359 
 
 The Scottish Covenanters then suffered a persecution similar to 
 that inflicted upon the Nonconformists in England, and the brutal 
 treatment of the Covenanters remains one of the blackest chapters 
 in Scottish history. 
 
 441. Restoration in Ireland. — In Ireland, as in Scotland, the 
 union was dissolved, and the Parliament discontinued by Crom- 
 well was reestablished. Though the rehgious persecution was less 
 than in England the political policy pursued was worse, for it per- 
 manently alienated the large Catholic population of that island. 
 The Irish problem, it is true, was a difficult one. The govern- 
 ment at first by the Act of Settlement (1661) allowed the settlers 
 under the Cromwellian rule, and those who held land gained un- 
 der the rule of Charles I, to hold their lands. Later, owing to 
 the number of claimants among the royalists and among the fa- 
 vorites of Charles II, it was deemed needful to dispossess some 
 of the Cromwellian settlers (Act of Explanation, 1665). This, 
 however, did not benefit the Irish, and the result was that only 
 a third of the land and possibly even less was held by Irish Cath- 
 olic owners,' and though there was an Irish Parliament, it was 
 filled with men of English descent and Protestants,^ who con- 
 firmed all acts of government, while the Catholics had no voice. 
 
 Pohtically also the dissolution of the union with England was 
 greatly injurious to the interests of Ireland, for it deprived the is- 
 land of all benefits of the general legislation of the English Parlia- 
 ment, placing her almost in the position of a foreign country, and 
 making possible that feature of absentee landlordism which has 
 been such an instrument for evil. 
 
 442. The Restoration and Foreign Affairs ; French Alliance. — 
 The Restoration made more difference in the foreign policy of 
 England than appeared on the surface. Cromwell always shaped 
 
 1 It is stated that " whereas before 1641 about two thirds of Irish land fit for cul- 
 tivation had been in the hands of Catholics, before the end of the reign of Charles 
 II, two thirds were in the hands of Protestants." 
 
 2 "So complete was the English supremacy thus established, that (up to 1687) 
 one Catholic only had been returned to Parliament since the Restoration." 
 
360 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 his policy for what he beheved to be the benefit of England ; 
 while Charles made his own personal advantage the chief object. 
 France, under Louis XIV, was the strongest power in Europe. It 
 was clearly for the interest of England that the influence of France 
 should be checked. But Charles believed that the French alli- 
 ance would be to his personal advantage and so fell in with the 
 wishes of Louis. 
 
 Dunkirk, acquired under Cromwell (§ 424), he sold in 1662 to 
 the French. This act, though unpopular at the time, was really a 
 good thing for England, as holding Dunkirk was a heavy expense, 
 and continental possessions were a hindrance to her independence. 
 In the same year, as a result of the French diplomacy, Charles 
 married Catharine of Braganza, a Catholic princess, sister of the 
 king of Portugal, a close ally of the French. The treaty made 
 with Portugal on the occasion of this event gave England Tangier, 
 opposite Gibraltar, and Bombay with the island on which it is 
 situated, in India. Bombay was soon handed over to the East 
 India Company and became the most important of its stations. 
 In addition to these transfers Catharine brought a large dowry. 
 This marriage made a bitter enemy of Spain, for it strengthened 
 Portugal, which, formerly a part of Spain, had cast off her rule in 
 1640. The French alliance was displeasing to many in England. 
 
 443. War with Holland, 1 664-1 667 ; New Netherland captured, 
 1664. — The Dutch were still the great commercial rivals of the 
 English. England had reenacted the Navigation Act (§§ 413, 
 435), and various conflicts had arisen between the two nations. 
 In addition to this, Charles was angry because the Dutch had 
 elected John De Witt, an able statesman, as their Stadtholder, in- 
 stead of his own nephew. Prince William, son of the late William 
 of Orange. Fighting began in 1664. English ships took posses- 
 sion of New Netherland (afterwards New York), while the Dutch 
 seized English possessions in Africa. 
 
 In 1665 war was formally declared. The Dutch had the abler 
 officers, and their fleet under Admiral Ruyter at one time sailed 
 
THE PLAGUE AND THE GREAT FIRE 36 1 
 
 up the Thames, entered the Medway, burned several war vessels, 
 and blockaded London itself. Such a thing had not been known 
 in centuries and has never occurred since. Notwithstanding the 
 Dutch successes, England gained some victories and showed her 
 power conclusively. Louis XIV joined the Dutch, partly in ac- 
 cordance with a treaty and partly because he had no wish to see 
 England mistress of the seas. 
 
 444. Peace with Holland ; England gains New Netherland. 
 1667. — The Dutch were glad to conclude a peace with the Eng- 
 lish (1667). By this treaty each nation was to retain possession 
 of what lands it held at the time. This agreement brought New 
 Netherland under English dominion. Charles granted it to his 
 brother James, Duke of York, and the name was changed to New 
 York. The acquisition of New Netherland was of vast importance, 
 for it gave the English an unbroken coast line in America, and 
 uninterrupted territory from Maine to Florida. The colonial 
 policy of the Restoration was a continuation of the expansion 
 policy of the Protectorate, as is seen in the establishment of 
 Carolina (1663); New Jersey (1667); and Pennsylvania (1681). 
 
 445. The Plague, 1665; The Great Fire, 1666. — During the 
 Dutch war London was visited by a terrible epidemic (1665). 
 The plague, as it was called, had appeared in England at intervals 
 of about five years. But this was the most devastating invasion. 
 It is estimated that in London out of a population of 500,000 
 about 70,000 perished. All that were able to do so fled to the 
 country, business was practically suspended, and a pall of horror 
 was over the city. So numerous were the deaths that all usual 
 formalities were dispensed with ; " carts were the biers, and wide 
 pits the graves." At night the carts went slowly through the city, 
 the driver ringing a bell and calling, " Bring out your dead." On 
 the coming of cold weather the disease was stayed.^ 
 
 1 At that time considered as a visitation of Providence, it was probably the 
 bubonic plague, and its ravages were vastly increased by bad water, tilth, the ab- 
 sence of sewerage, and of everything now known as sanitation. 
 
3^2 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The year following the visitation of the plague, London was 
 visited by another calamity in the shape of the Great Fire. This 
 began on September 2, 1666, and continued three days. A large 
 part of the city was destroyed ; it is said that eighty-nine churches, 
 among them the splendid Gothic cathedral of Saint Paul, and 
 
 Fleeing from the Plague in London 
 After an old print 
 
 over 13,000 houses were consumed, and more than a third of the 
 inhabitants were rendered homeless. Though the fire occasioned 
 great loss and suffering at the time, it was in fact a great blessing, 
 for all the plague spots and hundreds of ill-built and unsanitary 
 buildings were destroyed. 
 
 446. Clarendon ; His Daughter marries James, the King's 
 Brother. 1660. — The chief minister and adviser of Charles was 
 Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon (§ 437). He was an upright, 
 moral man compared with those around him, and was undoubtedly, 
 from his point of view, patriotic, but his ideas of government were 
 those of a previous age. " By representing king against Parliament 
 in matters of money, and Parliament against king in matters of 
 religion, he incurred the hostility of both." 
 
 His unpopularity increased, and in 1667 Charles dismissed him 
 
THE CABAL 
 
 ;63 
 
 from office. A few months later the Commons impeached him 
 on a charge of high treason, but the evidence was so flimsy that the 
 Lords refused to send him to prison. By the advice of Charles he 
 fled to France, and Parliament passed an act of banishment.^ 
 
 St. Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt after the Great Fire 
 
 447. The "Cabal Ministry," 1667; Aims of Charles II.— 
 
 Up to this time Charles had been greatly influenced by Clarendon ; 
 now Charles determined to rule without any chief minister of state, 
 but he frequently consulted five men more than others. These men 
 were Clifford, Arhngton, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. 
 As their initials spelled Cabal \\i^y came to be called the " Cabal 
 
 1 While abroad he finished his History of the Rebellion, a valuable work, though 
 greatly prejudiced. 
 
364 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Ministry." ^ Of these Lord Ashley, afterwards the Earl of Shaftes- 
 bury, was the ablest. All were unprincipled, selfish, and corrupt. 
 Except upon a few points they were not united and cannot be 
 considered as a cabinet in the modern sense. Their common 
 dislike of the old Cavalier party led them to support toleration 
 at home and peace abroad. 
 
 Charles II has not had credit enough given him for the skill and 
 tenacity with which he pursued for along series of years the object 
 of his wishes — personal power, freedom from the dominion of the 
 Episcopal party, and the reestablishment of Catholicism; his 
 method was intrigue at home and abroad. His main reliance was 
 upon Louis XIV. 
 
 448. Intrigues of Charles II and Louis XIV. — The rapidly 
 growing power of France had been regarded with apprehension 
 by the English, and in 1668 a triple alliance was formed between 
 England, Sweden, and Holland for the purpose of forcing Louis to 
 give up his scheme of increasing his possessions at the expense 
 of Spain. Louis, deeming it wisest to yield for the time, made 
 peace, and gave up some of his conquests (1668). Charles, out- 
 wardly supporting the Triple Alliance, was negotiating secretly with 
 Louis, to whom he had privately communicated the terms of the 
 Alliance. 
 
 As a result of the influence of Louis, Charles negotiated with 
 
 him a secret treaty called the Treaty of Dover (1670). The main 
 
 points were that Charles agreed to support Louis in a war against 
 
 the Dutch ; to support him in his claim to the Spanish throne in 
 
 case the king of Spain should die without a direct heir ; and to 
 
 avow himself a CathoHc " as soon as the affairs of his kingdom 
 
 should permit." Louis on his part was to give a large sum of 
 
 1 The word was used to signify a number of persons uniting to gain some private 
 ends. It was nothing but a coincidence that the initials of the men in question 
 should form the word. Lord Ashley had been prominent in the Commonwealth 
 as Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper ; Buckingham was the son of the old favorite of 
 Charles I (§§ 349, 363) and had the reputation of being " the maddest, wittiest, most 
 profligate man in England" ; Lauderdale was " the Episcopal tyrant of Scotland " , 
 Clifford was a strong Catholic ; and Arlington was favorable to Catholicism. 
 
WAR WITH HOLLAND 365 
 
 money in return for the aid against the Dutch ; turn over to Eng- 
 land the province of Zealand in Holland in case of success ; give 
 Charles personally ^200,000 a year for declaring himself a Catho- 
 lic ; and also to furnish troops and money to support Charles in 
 England. No English monarch ever made a more disgraceful 
 treaty, and Charles did not dare to make known some of its pro- 
 visions even to the members of the Cabal. 
 
 One of the reasons which induced Charles to enter into the 
 arrangement with Louis was his difficulty in raising money. In 
 167 1 Parliament granted a large sum nominally for the navy, after 
 which Charles prorogued Parliament. In 1672 the treasury was 
 bankrupt and Charles suspended payment of all loans which had 
 been made to the government.^ 
 
 449. War with Holland, 1672; William of Orange. — In the 
 same year war was declared against Holland in accordance with 
 the Treaty of Dover. This war was unpopular. The Dutch had 
 not expected war, and when the armies of Louis invaded Holland 
 they were unprepared. WiUiam, the young Prince of Orange, 
 nephew of Charles,^ though under twenty-two, was made general 
 of the Dutch forces, but he had too few men to take much risk. 
 De Witt, the Grand Pensionary, or ruler of Holland, seeing no 
 other resource, cut the dikes which kept out the sea and effect- 
 ually prevented a further advance by the French. 
 
 Meanwhile WilHam had been proclaimed Stadtholder in Hol- 
 land, and his career more than justified the choice. When Buck- 
 ingham, who was sent from England to urge him to accept the 
 terms of Louis, said to him, " Do you not see that the republic is 
 lost?" it is reported that William replied, "I know one means 
 of never seeing it — to die in the last ditch." From this time 
 
 1 This, known as the "Stop of the Exchequer," was really the beginning of Eng- 
 land's national debt. Among the loans whose payment was thus stopped was one 
 of ;^ii,ooo due Admiral Sir William Penn, the father of William Penn. It was in 
 recognition of this debt that Charles II granted William Penn the province of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 2 He was the son of Charles's sister Mary, who married the Prince of Orange 
 in 1641. 
 
366 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 until his death (1702) William was the leader of Europe against 
 Louis XIV and the aggressions of France. 
 
 450. James, Duke of York, becomes a Catholic ; Declaration of 
 Indulgence. 1672. — James, Duke of York, the brother of the 
 king, publicly joined the Catholic Church (1672). Charles, while 
 ParHament was not sitting, issued a Declaration of Indulgence ; ^ 
 this suspended the penal laws against Nonconformists and thus 
 gave liberty of worship to CathoHcs as well as Dissenters. It re- 
 leased from prison thousands who were held for disobeying the 
 ecclesiastical laws of Parliament. Many of the Dissenters dreaded 
 the use of the king's claimed prerogative even more than the penal 
 laws against themselves. 
 
 451. Parliament meets; The Test Act. 1673. — Parliament 
 came together again after an interval of nearly two years. A 
 resolution was passed that " penal statutes in matters ecclesiastical 
 cannot be suspended but by act of Parliament." Charles found 
 that no money would be forthcoming unless he withdrew the Dec- 
 laration, and so he unwillingly complied with the wish of Parlia- 
 ment (1673). 
 
 Fearful as it had been of dissent. Parliament was now still more 
 fearful of the Catholics,^ and so passed the Test Act. This re- 
 quired, among other things, that all persons holding office under 
 the crown must partake of the communion according to the usage 
 of the Church of England. It was impossible for a Catholic to 
 retain office under this act, and among those who resigned their 
 positions were the Duke of York, Clifford, and Arlington. Charles 
 
 1 Charles claimed the right to issue this declaration under the royal power of 
 pardon and dispensation. No one doubted the power of the king to pardon in 
 individual cases, and this power to some extent implied the power of dispensation, 
 that is, to dispense with a law in an individual case. But to make such a general 
 dispensation as Charles claimed would mean the annulling of the acts of Parlia- 
 ment at the king's pleasure. 
 
 2 The real cause of the great opposition to the Catholics was not religious, but 
 political. It was believed that Catholic rule would bring England under the 
 political control of the Pope. This feeling was in part an inheritance from the time 
 of Elizabeth. 
 
INTRIGUES OF CHARLES 
 
 Z^l 
 
 did not dare to refuse to sign the bill, for no grant of money had 
 been made, but immediately after he had affixed his signature 
 Parliament made a large grant. 
 
 The king, wishing to placate the Commons, appointed Sir 
 Thomas Osborne high treasurer and practically prime minister. 
 He became the Earl of Danby, and is generally known by that 
 name. He w-as a * 
 
 strong Cavalier and 
 great supporter of 
 the church, but he 
 recognized fully the 
 danger England was 
 in from Louis, and 
 would have gladly 
 renewed the Triple 
 Alliance (§ 448) had 
 it been possible. 
 The war with the 
 Dutch, however, was 
 ended in 1674. 
 
 Meanwhile, the 
 Duke of York had 
 married Mary of Mo- 
 dena, an Italian 
 
 Duke of York 
 Afterwards King James II 
 
 Catholic princess.^ 
 Should she have a son, he would be heir to the throne of England, 
 and with CathoHc parents he would undoubtedly be educated in 
 their faith. 
 
 452. Intrigues of Charles; Danby. 1673-1678. — From this 
 time the reign of Charles was so full of intrigues on all sides that 
 it is exceedingly difficult to thread one's way through the tangles 
 
 1 The first wife of James, Ann Hyde, daughter of Clarendon, had joined the 
 Catholic Church shortly before her death in 1671. Her two daughters, Mary and 
 Anne, had been brought up as Protestants, and should James come to the throne, 
 his heirs would be Protestants ; but now there was possibility of a Catholic heir. 
 
368 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 of deceit and falsehood. As Danby was working against France, 
 and Charles secretly for France, the result was that England's 
 position became little short of scandalous. Charles prorogued 
 Parliament and did not call it for about a year. Meanwhile he 
 made another secret treaty with Louis, promising to enter into no 
 engagement with a foreign country without the consent of Louis, 
 accepting all the time h^avy bribes from him. Danby, on his 
 part, used bribery in order to gain members of Parliament over to 
 his side, and Louis, aware that Parliament was hostile to him, also 
 sent bribes to Shaftesbury to secure his support in a scheme to get 
 Parliament dissolved. 
 
 When Parliament met in 1677 it urged Charles to make war 
 upon France, whereupon Charles adjourned it. A third secret 
 treaty was made with Louis, by which Charles got the promise of 
 more money. Notwithstanding these treaties with France, Charles 
 in 1678 gave his consent to the marriage of his niete, the Princess 
 Mary of York, to his nephew, William of Orange, Stadtholder of 
 Holland, the archenemy of Louis.^ 
 
 453. Louis makes Peace, 1678; "Popish Plot," 1678; Parlia- 
 ment Dissolved, 1679. — Louis XIV, disgusted by the dupHcity 
 of Charles, and distrustful of him, made a peace with his enemies 
 (Peace of Nimeguen, 1678). He began to bribe the opposition 
 in Parliament and made known the character of the secret deal- 
 ings that he had had with Charles. During the negotiations be- 
 tween Louis and Charles, Danby, at the command of Charles, had 
 written a letter to Louis asking him for money. This correspond- 
 ence was published and led to the impeachment of Danby. 
 
 Just at this time an ex-clergyman, Titus Oates, announced 
 that he had intelligence of the existence of a plot to assassinate 
 the king and restore CathoHc rule. The intrigues which had 
 come to light and the general fear of Catholicism caused the 
 
 lAs has been seen above, Mary was at the time the next heir (§ 451, note) to 
 the English throne after James. She and her husband afterwards came to the 
 throne as William and Mary. 
 
HABEAS CORPUS ACT 369 
 
 reality of the plot to be believed, in spite of its improbability and 
 of the fact that Gates had a very bad record showing him to be 
 totally untrustworthy. Informers abounded, and many innocent 
 Catholics suffered imprisonment and death. Parliament passed 
 an act disabling Catholics from sitting in Parliament, and 
 five Catholic peers were impeached.^ Charles, to save Danby, 
 dissolved Parliament (1679). I^ had been chosen in 1661 and 
 thus, with the single exception of the famous Long Parliament 
 (§ 380), is the longest Parliament in EngHsh history. 
 
 454. Habeas Corpus Act, 1679; Exclusion Act. — The new 
 Parliament (March, 1679) was violently Protestant. Two measures 
 especially engaged its attention : (i) a Habeas Corpus Act - for 
 the protection of persons accused of crime. This act Charles 
 signed with reluctance. (2) A bill for the exclusion of James 
 from the succession to the crown, on the ground of his being a 
 Catholic. The Commons passed such a bill, but before it was acted 
 upon by the Lords, Charles, to gain time, dissolved Parliament. 
 
 455. "Petitioners and Abhorrers ; " Whig and Tory; High 
 Church and Low Church. — Another Parliament was chosen (Oc- 
 tober, 1679), but Charles dared not allow it to meet. About this 
 time the people began to divide into two parties, the one favor- 
 ing the exclusion bill and hence the meeting of Parliament ; and 
 the other defending the king's prerogative to call Parliament 
 or not as he pleased. The adherents of the former were called 
 " Petitioners," because they sent petitions for the meeting of Par- 
 liament, and the others "Abhorrers," because they expressed their 
 abhorrence of the petitions. These names before long were changed 
 to Whig and Tory,^ the Whigs being those who supported exclusion. 
 
 1 Though undoubtedly false, the Oates plot had lasting results, for the exclusion 
 of Catholics from Parliament continued till 1829, one hundred and fifty years. 
 
 '^ By this act accused persons were secured from the evasions of the old habeas 
 corpus requirements (§ 361, note) . 
 
 2 Whig was a name which had been applied to the Covenanters of Scotland ; 
 Tory was a name taken from Irish outlaws. From this time Whig has been used 
 to indicate those who advocate liberal measures, and Tory those who are essentially 
 conservative or opposed to change. 
 
370 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Two other terms came into use about this time which have also 
 come down to our times with comparatively little change of mean- 
 ing. The strong advocates of the church received the name of 
 the High Church Party, and the more liberal members the name 
 of Low Church Party. The Tories were practically all High 
 Churchmen, and the Whigs, Low Churchmen. 
 
 456. Scotland, 1679; Duke of Monmouth. — The administra- 
 tion of Scotland had roused much ill-feeling. The Covenanters 
 had murdered Archbishop Sharp (§ 440) and a revolt broke 
 out. The Duke of Monmouth,^ sent to put this down, was suc- 
 cessful, and then treated the rebels with much clemency ; but the 
 Duke of York, who was sent as Lord High Commissioner, ex- 
 ercised great severity, using torture to extract information against 
 the rebels. Shaftesbury, to carry out his own plans, began to use 
 Monmouth, who was now spoken of as a possible heir to the throne. 
 
 457. Oxford Parliament. 1680. — At last, a year after it was 
 chosen, Charles called the Parliament elected in 1679 to meet at 
 Oxford. The temper of this Parliament was similar to that of the 
 preceding one. A new Exclusion Bill was hurried through the 
 Commons, but, by the efforts of the Marquis of Halifax, defeated 
 in the Lords. The Commons on this refused to pass any money 
 bill unless the Exclusion Bill was first enacted. Halifax was im- 
 peached, and Lord Stafford, one of the Cathohc peers accused by 
 Oates, was tried and executed." Charles had no recourse but to 
 dissolve Parliament. As money was a necessity, the king resolved 
 to make an attempt to secure a more tractable Parliament, and 
 another election took place, and the new Parliament, hke the pre- 
 vious one, was called to meet at Oxford. 
 
 458. Charles's Fifth Parliament, 1681 ; Personal Rule, 1681- 
 1685. — Parliament, still bent on an Exclusion Bill, believed 
 that, as Charles was greatly in need of money, they controlled the 
 situation. But Louis XIV, having got all he wished from the Whigs, 
 
 1 Monmouth was one of the many illegitimate children of Charles. 
 
 2 The charge was almost without question a false one. 
 
PERIOD OF PERSONAL RULE 37 1 
 
 turned again to Charles as the better tool. A verbal treaty had 
 
 been made through the French ambassador by which a three years' 
 
 supply of funds had been promised Charles. He was now free to 
 
 carry out his plans. After 
 
 Parliament had been in 
 
 session only a week he 
 
 suddenly appeared in the 
 
 House of Lords, summoned 
 
 the Commons to meet him, 
 
 and forthwith dissolved „ r- r- ^ tt 
 
 Silver Crown of Charles II 
 
 Parliament. No other Par- 
 ham ent was called during his reign, and the Tories had complete 
 control. This period has been called the " second Stuart tyranny." 
 
 459. Attacks on Town Charters. — Charles and the Tory Party 
 at once began to put into force the old Clarendon Code (§ 437 )» 
 and Dissenters were persecuted even more severely than they 
 had been under the Cavalier ParHament (§ 436). Shaftesbury, a 
 special object of hatred to the king, was accused of high treason, 
 but before he could be legally tried, the Grand Jury of Middlesex 
 (his place of residence) had to find a true bill against him. But 
 as London and Middlesex juries were strongly Whig, there was no 
 hope of an indictment. By what is known as a Writ of Quo 
 Warranto the city of London was accused of certain irregularities 
 and its charter was taken away ; the king took upon himself the ap- 
 pointment of a Lord Mayor and other officers, and thus obtained 
 control. Other cities and towns were treated in the same way, 
 and still others resigned their charters, hoping to make better terms 
 with the king. In all there were sixty-six cities and towns whose 
 charters were thus forfeited or remodeled. Meanwhile Shaftes- 
 bury escaped to Holland and died in exile (1683). 
 
 460. Rye House Plot, 1683; Execution of Russell and 
 Sidney, 1683. — A new plot now startled the country. Some of 
 the more violent of the Whig party formed a plot to attack both 
 the king and James at a place called the Rye House, on their way 
 
372 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 back from the Newaiarket races, and seize or murder them. 
 Charles returned earlier than was looked for and so escaped. The 
 plot was revealed by one of the conspirators. Among those seized 
 were Lord William Russell, Essex, and Algernon Sidney. Russell 
 and Sidney were convicted on scanty evidence, and were executed. 
 Essex, found dead in the Tower, is supposed to have committed 
 suicide. At these unjust trials Judge Jeffreys ^ became prominent, 
 and his career earned for him the title of the " infamous judge." 
 
 461. Charles defies the Laws; His Death, 1685. — The effect 
 of the Rye House Plot was to increase the power of the crown 
 and to make Charles popular. He now dared openly to disre- 
 gard the laws : by neglecting to call a Parliament, though more 
 than three years had elapsed since the dissolution of the preceding 
 one ; by restoring the Duke of York to the Council in defiance of 
 the Test Act; and by releasing Danby from the Tower (§ 453). 
 
 Shortly after this Charles was seized with apoplexy, and in four 
 days died. Before his death he acknowledged himself a Catholic 
 and was admitted to that church. So strongly were the Tories 
 intrenched that James, Duke of York, brother of Charles, suc- 
 ceeded to the throne without opposition. 
 
 462. James II, 1685. — James was fifty-two years old. He 
 had had considerable experience in administration and was 
 businesslike in his habits. He resembled his father in his belief 
 in the divine right of kings, in his obstinacy, tenacity of purpose, 
 and inability to see any side of a question but his own. So 
 far as his mental ability may be judged from results, it was 
 much below that of Charles. Like Charles, he was extremely 
 immoral. He came to the throne under favorable circumstances, 
 the Tories being in full power and the nation inclined to give him 
 a fair trial. He had only himself to blame for the fact that his 
 reign lasted only three years. 
 
 One of his first acts was to allow the celebration of the mass 
 
 1 It is said of him that " as a criminal judge he was undoubtedly the worst that 
 ever disgraced the bench." 
 
REIGN OF JAMES II 373 
 
 in the royal chapel ; another was to collect the customs duties 
 before they were granted by Parliament. As he had issued writs 
 for a new Parliament, these matters did not excite the comment 
 which they might otherwise have done. He desired above all 
 things to be free from the control of Parliament, and to reestab- 
 lish the Catholic religion; but fearing that Parliament might 
 not be in accord with his wishes, he followed the example of 
 Charles and secured a promise of aid from Louis if Parliament 
 should be contrary. But Parliament met, having a large Tory 
 majority, and granted James for life not only the revenue given 
 Charles but ;2^5 00,000 in addition. 
 
 463. Scotland, 1685; Argyll's Attempt, 1685.— The Scot- 
 tish Parliament had also met, but, as only Episcopalians could sit 
 in it, and those represented but a small part of the population, the 
 legislation was not in accord with the wishes of the majority of the 
 people. This Parliament, as strongly Tory as was the English one, 
 avowed its belief in the divine right of kings and passed laws against 
 the Covenanters even more bitter than those which had been in 
 force. To give or take the Covenanters' oath was made treason ; it 
 was also enacted that, "All persons, preachers, or hearers, proved to 
 have been present at a conventicle were henceforth to be punished 
 by death and confiscation." This went beyond the English laws. 
 
 It was not long before serious attempts to overthrow the new 
 king were made both in Scotland and in England. Holland was 
 the great resort of refugees from England and Scotland. Here 
 Argyll was the chief among the Scottish refugees, and Monmouth, 
 the illegitimate son of Charles, among the English. Argyll was 
 the son of that Argyll who had suffered death in the early days of 
 the Restoration (§ 440). A simultaneous attempt at insurrection 
 in England and Scotland was planned, Argyll to lead the Scottish 
 and Monmouth the English rising. Argyll, disappointed in not 
 receiving the expected support, was soon captured and was exe- 
 cuted without trial (1685), under an old bill of attainder which 
 had been passed against him (1681). 
 
374 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 464. Monmouth's Attempt. 1685. — Monmouth landed in 
 June, 1685, at Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire, declaring himself the 
 legal successor of Charles II. He soon gathered about five 
 thousand men who enthusiastically supported him as the Prot- 
 escc»:->t defender of England. He was proclaimed king at Taun- 
 ton. ivi.Mimouth, however, gained no recruits from the gentry or 
 nobility, which of itself was fatal to his cause. Though he 
 marched to Bath and Bristol, neither of these towns would receive 
 him. The king had meanwhile sent an army under Lord Fever- 
 sham and Lord Churchill.^ Monmouth attempted a surprise at 
 Sedgemoor, near Bridgewater, but was defeated (July 6, 1685). 
 This was the last battle fought on English soil. He was captured, 
 taken to London, and executed (July 15) under a Bill of Attain- 
 der which Parliament had already passed. 
 
 465. Treatment of the Rebels ; Judge Jeffreys. — The treat- 
 ment of the rebels was vindictive and cruel in the extreme, and 
 the months following the Monmouth rebellion have a record 
 unmatched in English history. A large number of his followers 
 were hanged by the command of one Colonel Kirke. He was 
 followed by a commission of judges headed by Jeffreys. This 
 series of trials is known by the name of the " Bloody Assize." ^ 
 During its continuance, in addition to the executions by order of 
 Kirke, more than 300 persons were put to death,^ and over 800 
 sold to the West India plantations. Besides the executions an 
 immense amount of plunder was secured. The demeanor of 
 Jeffreys on the bench toward the unfortunate accused was brutal. 
 " He shouted, swore, and laughed over his victims," taunting 
 them, and treating them savagely. On his return to London he 
 was rewarded by being appointed Lord High Chancellor. 
 
 466. Eifects of the Monmouth Rebellion ; Course of James. — 
 The crushing of the Monmouth rebellion and the punishment of 
 
 1 John, Lord Churchill, afterwards the Duke of Marlborough, England's greatest 
 general. 2 Assize, the sitting of the courts to try cases. 
 
 3 For more than fifty years death had been considered as the punishment foi 
 leaders only. James returned to the practice of Henry VIII and Elizabeth. 
 
THE "BLOODY ASSIZE" 
 
 375 
 
 the rebels had some hnportant effects. First, it showed the power 
 of a standing army, and the hopelessness of resistance by untrained 
 men ; secondly, it united most of the Protestants, the Whig refu- 
 gees, and the Whig party in favor of William, Prince of Orange, 
 and his wife, the Princess Mary ; thirdly, it caused James to rely on 
 his army ; and finally, it helped to bring about the loss of his crown. 
 
 James, believing himself secure, immediately set about restoring 
 Catholicism. Officers of the state and of the army whose loyalty 
 he doubted were replaced, as far as practicable, by Catholics or 
 those who would support the king. Parliament was not in as 
 complaisant a mood as before, and refused to alter the Test Act 
 (§ 451) or the Habeas Corpus Act (§ 454), though it offered to 
 make a liberal grant for the army. James thereupon prorogued 
 Parliament, and it did not meet again during his reign. 
 
 467. James attempts Despotic Rule. 1687. — James not only 
 attempted to rule without a Parliament, but fell back on the dis- 
 pensing power of the crown, as Charles II had done. By changing 
 the judges on the bench he managed to get a decision confirming 
 this power to the king. He appointed Catholics to various posts 
 of authority and influence ; he required the heads of Magdalen 
 College, Oxford, to appoint a Catholic to be their president; he 
 constituted, though under a slightly different name, a new Court 
 of High Commission, introduced Catholics into the Privy Council, 
 and received a Papal Nuncio at court. He had already striven 
 to conciliate Ireland so that he might have help from that island. 
 
 His course became so unpopular that he began to curry favor 
 with the Dissenters, by issuing Declarations of Indulgence. By 
 these documents (1687-1688) he, by royal authority, suspended 
 all laws against Catholics and Dissenters. Contrary to his expec- 
 tations, this act had a rather cool reception even among those 
 whom personally it benefited most. For they saw clearly that James 
 gave them liberty from prison and freedom for worship chiefly 
 because thereby he hoped to gain their support. Still, " the 
 prisons were opened to thousands of the best men in England ■ 
 
376 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and everywhere public worship was freely resumed by congrega- 
 tions who have never since been forced to close their doors," for 
 no party that has since been in power has dared to reenact or 
 enforce " conventicle acts " or the like. 
 
 468. Trial of the Seven Bishops, 1688; Birth of James's 
 Son, 1688. — The second Declaration of Indulgence was com- 
 manded by James to be read in all churches on two Sundays in 
 June (1688). This at once aroused opposition, and six bishops, 
 with the Archbishop of Canterbury, petitioned James against the 
 Declaration. This proceeding he treated as a seditious libel, and 
 ordered the seven prelates to be prosecuted on this charge. 
 This action united all Protestants in support of the bishops. Had 
 not James been blindly obstinate, he would have recognized the 
 danger of thus proceeding against those supported by public 
 opinion, but an event took place at this time which encouraged 
 him to go on — the birth of a son. This child now became the 
 legal heir to the crown.^ Up to this time many had been willing 
 to endure James because he was past middle hfe, and his heir, 
 Mary of Orange, was Protestant. The whole aspect of affairs at 
 once was changed. 
 
 James insisted on the continuance of the prosecution of the bish- 
 ops. The jury rendered a verdict of acquittal (June 30) and 
 London went wild with joy, and even the soldiers, upon whom 
 James depended, cheered in their quarters on Hounslow Heath. 
 
 469. Invitation to William of Orange; William lands at Tor 
 Bay. 1688. — On the same day as the acquittal of the bishops, 
 seven prominent men of the kingdom ^ sent an urgent message 
 to William of Orange, asking him to come to England and save 
 the country. These represented all parties, but of course the 
 Whigs were in the majority. Besides this, William received 
 
 1 By the general law of succession a son takes precedence of his elder sisters. 
 
 2 The seven signers were the Earl of Devonshire, Henry Sidney (brother of 
 Algernon Sidney (§ 460)), Admiral Russell, and Shrewsbury, all Whigs ; Compton, 
 Bishop of London, a " trimmer," Danby, a former champion of the royal preroga- 
 tive (§ 452) ; and Lumley, who had been a Catholic. 
 
WILLIAM OF ORANGE 
 
 377 
 
 assurances of support from various persons still in the king's 
 service, among them Lord Churchill (§ 464) and several other 
 officers of the army. Having such a strong support, William gath- 
 ered a force to take with him to England and secure the throne. 
 
 Release of the Seven Bishops 
 
 He landed at Tor Bay November 5, 1688, not far from where 
 Monmouth had landed (§ 464). He brought his Dutch and other 
 troops with him, numbering about 15,000. At once all England 
 deserted James. It was useless to attempt resistance, and 
 James, who had accompanied the army, returned to London 
 to learn that his other daughter, Anne, and her husband, Prince 
 George of Denmark, had also deserted his cause, and that Churchill, 
 the commander of the army, had joined forces with the invader. 
 
378 HISTORY OF EXGLAXD 
 
 470. Flight of James. 16SS. — James, now ready to do any- 
 thing to save his crown, agreed to call a Parliament, and appointed 
 a commission to negotiate with William. But fearing the result 
 of the conference, he sent his wife and infant son to France and 
 sought safety himself in flight, having destroyed the writs for a new 
 Parhament, and thrown the Great Seal of the Kingdom into the 
 Thames. He was captured by some sailors and brought back.. 
 His presence greatly complicated affairs, and William made it easy 
 for him to escape again. The fact of his flight rendered it possible 
 to say that he had abdicated the throne, thus removing the scruples 
 of some who, while quite ready to support William, could not con- 
 scientiously do so as long as James was in England and nominally 
 on the throne. James's own blunders and folly made the way 
 much easier for his downfall. 
 
 471. Difficulties before William, 16SS; Convention Parlia- 
 ment. 1689. — The position of William was by no means an easy 
 one. He had published a declaration before leaving Holland that 
 he would restore the liberties of England, and that he would abide 
 by the decision of a freely elected Parliament. To assume the 
 throne by conquest would not be in accord with his declaration, 
 and might raise up a host of enemies. After consulting with some 
 of the leading men it was concluded to follow the example of >>Ionk 
 in 1660, and call a Convention Parliament (§ 430). It met in 
 January, 1689, with a Whig majority, though there were Tories in 
 the Commons and among the Lords who were reluctant to give up 
 the divine right of kings. Two resolutions were passed. First, 
 that James had broken the original contract between king and 
 people by his conduct, and that having withdrawn himself from the 
 kingdom had abdicated the government and left the throne vacant. 
 Secondly, that it was "not consistent either with the safety or 
 welfare of the kingdom to be governed by a popish prince." ^ 
 
 1 The first of these resolutions pleased the Whigs because it made James's dep- 
 osition depend on his breaking the laws, and the Tories, because it declared the 
 throne vacant by his own act, thereby relieving them from the charge of denying 
 their old principle of divine right. 
 
THE REVOLUTION OF 1688 379 
 
 472. The Revolution of 1688. — William and Mary refused any 
 plan of government which did not give equal power to each. 
 This forced Parliament to accept the Whig doctrine that in Parlia- 
 ment, as representing the people, lay the right to decide who 
 should reign in England. This was the real revolution of 1688, if 
 such it may be called. It was then concluded to offer the crown 
 to William and Mary as joint sovereigns ; William to administer 
 the government during his Hfetime, Mary to succeed should she 
 survive him.^ The Whigs had no intention of repeating the ex- 
 perience of 1660, and so a Declaration of Right was drawn up as 
 a statement of what was considered to be the law of the kingdom.^ 
 
 This document was accepted by the Parliament and by William 
 and Mary, who were proclaimed together, February 13, 1689. As 
 the change of rulers was accomplished without bloodshed it bears the 
 name of the " bloodless revolution," and the " glorious revolution." 
 
 Strictly speaking, it was not a revolution at all, for it made no 
 change in the form of government, which was still that of King, 
 Lordsj and Commons. It did, however, change the theory of that 
 government, which no longer was by divine right, but by the will of 
 the people as expressed by Parliament. It formed a precedent 
 by which any future Parliament could change rulers who vvere 
 not acceptable. 
 
 References. — Green, S/ior^ History, chap, ix, §§ 1-6 ; Gardiner, 
 Studenfs History, chaps, xxxvii— xli ; Terry, History, Part III, Book III, 
 chaps, vi-viii ; Tout, Advanced History, Book VI, chaps, iv-v ; Gardiner, 
 Puritan Revolution, chap, x, §§ 3-6 ; Traill, Social England, vol. IV, 
 chap. XV ; Adams and Stephens, Select Documents, §§ 222-234 ; Cheyney, 
 Readings, chap, xvi ; Colby, Selections, §§ 77, 78, 81 ; Kendall, Sonrce- 
 Book, §§ 90-101 ; Lee, Source- Book, §§ 175-188. 
 
 1 The succession was to go to their children if they had any ; if not, then to 
 Mary's sister Anne and her children, and then to any children of William by a 
 second wife, should he survive Mary and marry again. William was at this time 
 thirty-eight, and Mary twenty-six. 
 
 -There were, in fact, some new principles laid down in the Declaration of Right, 
 as the illegality of the suspending or dispensing power of a Court of Ecclesiastical 
 Commission, etc. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 ENGLAND AT THE CLOSE OF THE SEVENTEENTH 
 CENTURY 
 
 473. Population ; Agriculture ; The Towns. — The population 
 of England at the close of the seventeenth century was about five 
 and one half millions^ and of these about four fifths lived in the 
 country. With so small a population it followed that much of the 
 land was unoccupied, and forests, marshes, and fens abounded. 
 But the general prosperity of the later years of the century led to 
 the draining of marshes and fens and to increasing the amount 
 of land devoted to agriculture and grazing, but in methods there 
 was little improvement. The Poor Laws of Elizabeth (§ 301) 
 were modified to some extent, but vagrancy and pauperism re- 
 mained a great evil. 
 
 Town life was much as it had been, but there was considerable 
 increase in the style and the comforts of living. London even 
 then was the largest city in Europe, with a population of about 
 500,000. London Bridge was che only bridge across the Thames, 
 the streets were ill paved, not lighted at night until 1682, and then 
 only in winter. The police force was small and inadequate, and 
 many robberies and abductions took place. The clubhouses of 
 the day and the great lounging places, where news was discussed 
 and gossip spread abroad, were the coffeehouses. Sanitary con- 
 ditions, as in all cities and towns and indeed everywhere, were in a 
 deplorable state. There were no sewers, heaps of offal often ren- 
 dered the air foul, and the public squares were used as dumping 
 grounds for all kinds of refuse. 
 
 1 This is considerably less than the population of " Greater London " in 1911, 
 which was 7,252,963. 
 
 380 
 
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ENGLAND 
 
 381 
 
 The condition of the jails and houses of correction was such as 
 to be almost unbelievable, and in consequence deaths from jail 
 fever and exposure were frightfully common. 
 
 Outside of London, whose great and rapidly increasing size was 
 a cause of much apprehension to thoughtful men, the only large 
 towns were Bristol and Norwich, which numbered each perhaps 
 20,000 or less. Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, and Sheffield 
 were all small ; Leeds, the largest, having but about 7000 inhab- 
 itants. The northern counties were still sparsely settled. 
 
 Coach and Sedan Chair 
 After title-page of tract, Coach and Sedan, 1636 
 
 474. Travel; Letter Post; News. — Owing to the badness of 
 the roads traveling was difficult. On important routes, from 
 London to York, for example, there were " stage wagons " which 
 carried light goods and passengers. These vehicles were without 
 springs, and a ride in one of them was a rough experience. A 
 journey from London to York in four days was considered to be 
 making good time.^ The wealthy traveled in their own coaches 
 or on horseback. The roads, moreover, were infested with high- 
 waymen, and robberies and even murders were frequent. The 
 inns were, for the time, good, attractive, and comfortable, far 
 more so than many private dwellings. 
 
 Postal service was poor, and in many places letters were delivered 
 only once a week. Newspapers in the modern sense did not ex- 
 ist. The chief paper was the London Gazette, but it contained 
 
 1 " In 1669 a Flying Coach left Oxford at six in the morning, and reached Lori' 
 don at seven the same evening — fifty-five miles in thirteen hours." 
 
382 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 very little intelligence. What was called the Neivs Letter was 
 more interesting. This printed the gossip of the coffeehouses 
 and of London, and appeared usually once a week. It was sent 
 into the country, and aside from private sources was the sole 
 means of learning what was going on. 
 
 A Potter A Tailor 
 
 After Comenius's Orhus Pictiis, English edition, 1659 
 
 475. Trade ; Manufactures ; Minerals. — Domestic trade was 
 considerable, but as the roads were bad, and canals had not been 
 introduced, inland communication was necessarily by means of 
 pack horses. There may still be seen in the north of England 
 bridges built for the accommodation of such traffic, and afterwards 
 widened for the use of wheeled vehicles. When not sent inland, 
 goods were forwarded by coastwise vessels. 
 
 The foreign trade was extensive and was chiefly carried on 
 from London and Bristol. Then, as now, London was the great 
 shipping center of Europe. 
 
 Manufactures were backward. Almost all fine goods were 
 imported. The chief domestic manufacture was that of wool, 
 but other industries were springing up and were fostered by 
 laws which at present seem very far from being based upon 
 true economic principles. The use of some fabrics was entirely 
 prohibited, and the manufacture or importation of other goods 
 supposed to be injurious to the established manufactures was 
 forbidden. The silk trade, which had existed from very early 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
INDUSTRIAL LIFE 
 
 383 
 
 times, was greatly increased by the French refugees after the 
 revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 1685. 
 
 There were no large textile mills, but spinning and weaving 
 were carried on in the homes of the operatives, and from them 
 the fabrics went to the fullers who dressed the goods, and then 
 to the dyers. The great mineral 
 deposits, which at a later day 
 made England so rich, were un- 
 developed, and the greater part 
 of the steel and iron used was 
 imported. Coal had not come 
 into general use, wood being the 
 chief fuel employed. 
 
 476. The Classes. — At the 
 restoration the nobility regained An English Citizen riding with his 
 
 their old influence and power. ^^ 
 
 After a print of 1623-1625 
 The clergy, even of the Estab- 
 lished Church, were miserably paid and in the country were prac- 
 tically dependent on the good will of the gentry. 
 
 Below the gentry came the yeomen or small farmers. These 
 were sturdy individuals, and often very independent. Lower than 
 these were the laborers. These had no political or civil power, 
 and, owing to the Poor Laws, which had come down from the time 
 of Elizabeth, and to what is known as the Law of Settlement 
 (1662), were practically bound to the soil. The man who was 
 willing and even anxious for work was not allowed to seek it 
 outside his parish. This policy greatly increased the number 
 of paupers who had to be supported.^ The chief employment of 
 the laboring class was agriculture of various kinds, including the 
 raising of great quantities of sheep. 
 
 477. Social Life. — Partly owing to the difficulty of communi- 
 cation, and partly from habit, the country gentlemen spent most 
 
 1 It is estimated that at this period " the paupers amounted to about one seventh 
 of the community." 
 
384 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 of their time in the country, and possibly some never went 
 to London. At this period the gentry as a class were poorly 
 educated and had little interest in anything beyond the manage- 
 ment of their estates and in hunting and the like.^ At the same 
 time, as they were the local magistrates and officers of the 
 militia, they exercised no small influence on the country at large. 
 Society in the cities, and particularly in London, underwent 
 a great change after the Restoration. The reaction from the 
 Puritanism of the Commonwealth was great. The loose and 
 licentious manners introduced from France by Charles II and his 
 court are beyond description. The conversation in the " salons," 
 at court entertainments, and on the boards of the theaters was 
 such as cannot even be named nowadays. At the same time 
 it must be remembered that there were exceptions, and among 
 the clergy and others there were not a few men and women of 
 purity of life and noble characteristics. 
 
 478. Dress. — The dress of the upper classes, especially in 
 London, was in striking contrast with that during the Common- 
 wealth, for bright colors, a great deal of ornament, richly laced 
 cloaks and collars, flowing plumes, silk waistcoats reaching to the 
 calf of the leg, and the like were the rule. During this period 
 was introduced the curled and flowing periwig — the most absurd 
 of the fashions of the day. But though additional hair was thought 
 needful for the top of the head, the face was clean shaven. 
 
 The dress of the women was, perhaps, relatively less extravagant 
 than that of the men. While possibly they did not wear periwigs 
 to the same extent as the men, these were common, fair hair being 
 the fashion. Fringes of curls were popular. Black patches on the 
 face, rouge, and cosmetics were greatly in vogue. The dress of 
 the middle and lower classes was generally simple and appropriate. 
 
 479. Meals; Amusements. — Meals were still at early hours; 
 ordinary dinner being at one o'clock, and even the more fashionable 
 
 iThe picture Sir Walter Scott gives of the Osbaldistone family in " Rob Roy," 
 though it is of a later date, is scarcely an exaggerated one. 
 
 i 
 
SOCIAL LIFE AND AMUSEMENTS 385 
 
 persons kept early hours, leaving the house after a dinner-party as 
 early as seven or eight o'clock. Mercantile business began at six 
 or seven a.m., and to rise at four or five in the morning was not 
 uncommon. Forks were not common, and the table manners 
 would be considered unbearable now. Drinking was universal, 
 and comparatively little water was used, but instead wines, ales, 
 beer, and to some extent tea, coffee, and chocolate, though these 
 last three were of recent introduction.^ Even the children were 
 given small beer in preference to water. 
 
 Among the upper classes particularly, there was a decided reac- 
 tion from the later Puritan severity. Cockfighting and bull baiting 
 were attended by many, though held to be rather vulgar. Theaters 
 were crowded, and the plays and the acting were of such a char- 
 acter as would not be tolerated at the present time. Cardplaying 
 was the favorite amusement of all, and gambling was carried to 
 great extremes. BiUiards were popular, masked balls and enter- 
 tainments numerous ; and for quieter home amusements even fine 
 ladies and gendemen did not disdain "crambo," "hunt the 
 slipper," " bhndman's buff," and similar games. Horseracing, 
 fencing, boxing, and prize-fights were favorites among the sporting 
 class. Tennis, pell-mell (a game of ball), bowls, and football 
 were common. For citizens of almost all classes, pleasure grounds, 
 parks, gardens, bear-gardens, were a great source of recreation. 
 In the country, the old sports were still common. 
 
 Among the popular attractions were public executions. These 
 were eagerly attended ; on the occasion of an execution Tower 
 Hill was crammed with lookers-on (§ 381), while windows which 
 commanded a close view of the scene were let at fabulous prices. 
 
 480. Education. — Social accomplishments were generally con- 
 sidered of more importance in education than book learning : the 
 dancing master was better paid than the schoolmaster. The ele- 
 ments of education were usually taught at home, and if the 
 
 1 Chocolate was advertised as a new beverage in 1657, tea in 1658, and the first 
 coffeehouse in London was opened in 1652. 
 
386 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 parents were well off, the boy was sent to a grammar school or one 
 of the schools like Winchester or Eton, and then to Oxford or 
 Cambridge. For all who could afford it, travel on the Continent 
 under a tutor was regarded as the finishing touch to a liberal edu- 
 cation, and frequently this was given instead of university training. 
 
 Oxford, showing Many Seventeenth Century Buildings 
 
 In the education of girls, social accomplishments were even more 
 important than was the case with the boys. Household acquire- 
 ments were held in high esteem among the more sober people, 
 but among the fashionable set or " women of quahty " dancing, 
 painting, music, and French took the first place. The children 
 of the country gentry and of the yeomen had a meager education, 
 and for the girls a training in household duties was all-important. 
 
 481. Architecture. — There was very little change in architectural 
 styles until about 1640, when, largely through the influence of 
 Inigo Jones, the Italian or classical style came into use and con- 
 tinued to be for many years the favorite style for public build- 
 ings, and even of dwelHng houses. But the great exponent of 
 the style was Sir Christopher Wren. The great fire of London 
 (§ 445) afforded him a wonderful opportunity, and to his genius is 
 due the great St. Paul's Cathedral which rose on the ruins of 
 
ARCHITECrURE, LITERATURE, AND SCIENCE 
 
 ;87 
 
 1^1 
 
 A Fine Type of Seventeenth Century Architecture 
 
 the old, and remains one of the glories of London.^ In addition 
 
 to this great work, he designed fifty-two churches in London. 
 
 Many of them are 
 
 remarkable for the 
 
 gracefulness and 
 
 fine proportions of 
 
 their spires. 
 
 From the time 
 of Henry VII al- 
 most all the fine 
 work in painting 
 was done by for- 
 eign artists. Hol- 
 bein, of the time 
 of Henry VIII, 
 has left a gallery 
 of portraits of 
 inestimable value. 
 
 Vandyck, a Fleming of the time of Charles I, has left us portraits 
 of that monarch and of distinguished persons of the reign, remark- 
 able for beauty and what might be termed poetic touch. Charles I 
 was a great patron of art and made a valuable collection of paint- 
 ings. Under Cromwell and Charles II, Sir Peter Lely, a Hollander, 
 was the great portrait painter. 
 
 482. Literature; Science. — The literature of the seventeenth 
 century covers so many fields and is so vast that little can be done 
 but call attention to this fact. The literature of the Elizabethan 
 period really extended far into the reign of James, and there is no 
 dividing line. The drama and lyric poetry, both secular and re- 
 ligious, abounded. Ben Jonson, George Chapman, Fletcher, 
 Ford, Webster, among the dramatists ; Herrick, Herbert, Crashaw, 
 
 1 The cathedral is the third in size in Europe, and was thirty-five years in building. 
 It was designed and built under one architect, one master mason, and one bishop. 
 In the crypt is the famous inscription above the tomb of Wren (died, 1725) ; Si 
 monumentuin requieris, circumspice: " If you seek his monument, look around," 
 
388 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and others, among the lyrists, — lived far into the century. Later 
 ( 1 608-1 6 74), John Milton gained a place only second to Shake- 
 speare, while a host of 
 graceful lyrists carried 
 on the traditions of an 
 earher day. 
 
 Never had England 
 had such a wealth of 
 prose. Bacon, Sir 
 Thomas Browne, 
 Hobbes, Fuller, 
 Jeremy Taylor, Walton, 
 Bunyan, Baxter, and 
 above all, for style and 
 beauty of language, the 
 Authorized English 
 Version of the Bible, 
 issued in 161 1, which 
 more than any other 
 one book helped to keep English pure and simple. 
 
 Closely connected with literature was the great advance of sci- 
 ence. In this century was made the discovery of logarithms by 
 Napier, and of the circulation of the blood by Harvey. Bacon in 
 his philosophical works, by laying the emphasis on experience and 
 experiment, exercised a lasting influence in the field of scientific 
 investigation. In 1662 the Royal Society, founded a few years 
 earlier, received its charter. Among its founders were Sir Chris- 
 topher Wren and Robert Boyle, the chemist. 
 
 John Milton 
 
 References. — Traill, Social Eng/and, yol.iv, cha.ps.x\i\-xv; Cheyney, /«- , 
 
 dustrial and Social History^ chap, vii (in part) ; Tout, Advanced History^ \ 
 
 Book vi, chap, v; Macaulay, History of England, chap, iii; Cheyney, Read' \ 
 
 ings, chap, xvi, § 2; Colby, Selections, §§ 68, 74, 75. ', 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT AND PARTY GOVERNMENT 
 
 483. William III (1650-1702) ; Mary (166 2-1 694) ; 1688.— 
 William was cold and haughty in manner, and had neither the 
 wish nor the power to attract a personal following. He had been 
 educated in the school of extreme Calvinism and had no sympathy 
 with episcopacy. Though he never was popular with his English 
 subjects, they learned to respect him. He was much helped by 
 Queen Mary, who was handsome, winning in her manner, warm- 
 hearted, gentle, and of irreproachable private character. She 
 was, moreover, though broad in her sympathies, devoted to the 
 Church of England. 
 
 William had accepted the invitation to come to England chiefly 
 because the support of England was necessary for the Protestant 
 league against Louis XIV. He loved Holland and his Dutchmen, 
 and endured the English. He was courageous, an excellent 
 general, and a keen and far-sighted statesman. No defeat or dis- 
 aster caused him to yield in the slightest degree in his struggle to 
 thwart the efforts of Louis for absolute supremacy in Europe. 
 
 484. Early Incidents of the Reign; Non- Jurors. 1690. — 
 William, as he had been put on the throne by the joint action of 
 the Whigs and Tories, chose his ministers of state from both parties. 
 
 On the same day that William and Mary accepted the throne, 
 the Convention Parliament (§ 471) was declared to be a true Par- 
 liament. This was partly on account of the risk in calling a new 
 one, and partly because it had been so recently chosen that it was 
 reasonable to suppose that it represented the views of the electors. 
 
 Several important matters claimed the attention of the Parlia- 
 ment, (i) A new oath of allegiance and supremacy was needed. 
 
 389 
 
390 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 That all who held government offices should take the oath of 
 allegiance to WiUiam and Mary went without saying, but in the 
 case of the clergy it was not quite so clear. WilHam being a non- 
 churchman wished the clergy to be excepted, but the majority in 
 Parliament insisted, and so all clergymen were required to take the 
 
 oath of allegiance to 
 the king and queen 
 and to acknowledge 
 them as heads of the 
 Church of England. 
 All who did not take 
 these oaths by Febru- 
 ary, 1690, were to be 
 deprived of their 
 benefices. Arch- 
 bishop Bancroft and 
 seven bishops refused 
 and were in conse- 
 quence deprived of 
 their offices and 
 others appointed in 
 their place. About 
 four hundred of the 
 clergy following their example were dispossessed of their livings. 
 These men were called Non-Jurors, and formed a little body of 
 their own which lasted for a century.^ 
 
 485. Bill of Rights; Toleration Act. 1689. — (2) The 
 Declaration of Right (§472) was embodied in a formal Bill of 
 Rights. This bill has long been considered as one of the bulwarks 
 of British hberty. (3) A Toleration Act. Though not by any 
 means giving religious liberty, this act was a vast advance on any- 
 
 1 Of the eight ecclesiastics the Archbishop and four of the bishops were of the 
 seven who had refused to read the Declaration of James (§ 468) . They held to the 
 divine right of succession and to the doctrine of passive obedience, both of 
 which the Revolution had overthrown. 
 
 William III 
 
WILLIAM AND MARY 
 
 391 
 
 thing before it. Dissenters were still deprived of many privileges, 
 and the laws against them remained on the statute books, the pen- 
 alties only having been removed.^ 
 
 486. Mutiny Act, 1689; Parliament Dissolved, 1690; Act of 
 Grace, 1690. — (4) A Mutiny Act. This was occasioned by a 
 mutiny in the army, 
 soon suppressed by 
 William's Dutch 
 troops. 
 
 A bill was passed 
 giving the king power 
 to maintain a stand- 
 ing army and enforce 
 martial law, but re- 
 stricting this latter 
 power to six months 
 (afterwards length- 
 ened to one year). 
 This meant that in 
 order to keep the 
 army together a new 
 mutiny act must be 
 passed by Parliament 
 every year. This action had the further advantage of requiring 
 annual sessions of Parliament. Thus it was one of the most 
 important bills which had ever been passed.^ 
 
 1 It was many years before Dissenters were allowed to hold any public or mili- 
 tary office unless they partook of the communion according to the usage of the 
 Church of England; and not until 1870 could they enjoy all the privileges of the 
 universities of Oxford and Cambridge. To the credit of William III, it must be 
 said that no Catholic lost his life at the time of the Revolution, and no cruel 
 persecutions of any kind took place during his reign. 
 
 2 The practice of passing annual Mutiny Acts has been continued down to the 
 present time, and is one of the most important checks on royal power in the 
 English constitution. In the United States a similar check on the President is 
 made by the provision in the Constitution that no appropriation for the army can 
 be made for a longer period than two years. 
 
 Queen Mary 
 
392 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The strife between the Whigs and Tories was bitter, and it was 
 difficult for WiUiam to mediate between them, and at last, in 1690, 
 he dissolved Parliament and called another one. In this the 
 Tories had a majority. It, too, was by no means pliant, but 
 through William's influence an Act of Grace was passed which 
 granted indemnity to all poHtical offenders except a very few, and 
 these were never punished. 
 
 487. Ireland ; Siege of Londonderry. — If the Revolution was 
 bloodless in England, it was by no means so in Ireland and Scot- 
 land. In Ireland the resistance was almost a national one, not so 
 much because of personal opposition to William, as because a 
 large party believed that it might be possible to secure the 
 independence of Ireland, and so, though this party supported 
 James, they did not do so simply for his sake. James landed in 
 Ireland in March, 1689, bringing with him some French troops. 
 He at once called an Irish Parliament to meet in Dublin. This 
 was a Catholic body. It proclaimed the independence of Ireland 
 and repealed the Act of Settlement (1661) (§441) which had 
 confirmed land to Englishmen ; it then passed " The Great Act of 
 Attainder," by which 2443 Protestants named in the bill were, 
 without trial or hearing, condemned to death and their property 
 confiscated. 
 
 The Protestants in the southern part of the island were forced 
 to submit to James. Those in the north, who were the most 
 numerous, for self-preservation attempted resistance, and in Ulster 
 they took arms in the name of William and Protestantism. The 
 chief towns of Ulster were Londonderry and Enniskillen. Lon- 
 donderry was soon besieged by the army of James. A boom 
 stretched across the river prevented supplies from reaching the 
 town, which was closely invested. Though reduced to the utmost 
 extremities for food, the citizens held out for 105 days; then, 
 when but two days' scanty provisions remained, ships sent by 
 William broke the boom in the river and brought food to the fam- 
 ishing people. James's army raised the siege and Londonderry 
 
AFFAIRS IN IRELAND 
 
 393 
 
 was saved. A few days later the men of Enniskillen, who had un- 
 dergone a somewhat similar experience, defeated their foes at 
 Newton-Buder. (See Macaulay, History of England^ chap, xii.) 
 
 488. Battle of the Boyne, 1690; Treaty of Limerick, 1691. 
 — William recognized the necessity of retaining Ireland if he 
 wished to continue to be king. He therefore sent Marshall 
 Schomberg, one of his best generals, to Ireland with a body of 
 English troops. But this army, greatly weakened by an epidemic 
 of camp fev^er, accomplished little. William himself then went 
 to Ireland, landing at Carrickfergus in June, 1690. He brought 
 30,000 English and Dutch troops with him. On the first of July, 
 at the battle of the Boyne, he defeated James and drove his army 
 in a panic toward Dublin. James fled to France, but Schomberg 
 was killed in the battle. 
 
 William entered Dublin as a victor and then went on to 
 Limerick, but was unable to take the town. He returned to 
 England at the close of the summer, leaving affairs in charge of 
 one of his Dutch generals. Not until October, 1691, was the con- 
 quest of Ireland completed. Then by the Treaty of Limerick 
 peace was made. The terms were not severe. All Irish soldiers 
 who wished to do so were allowed to go to France and enter the 
 service of Louis. ^ The other provisions of the treaty unfortu- 
 nately were never carried out. 
 
 489. Intolerance of the Irish Parliament. — As the English 
 Parliament had passed an act excluding Catholics from the Irish 
 Parliament, the latter was now as strongly Protestant as its im- 
 mediate predecessor had been Catholic. It refused to be bound 
 by the terms of the Treaty of Limerick. Protestant supremacy 
 was then settled in a way which went beyond even Cromwell or 
 Strafford. Catholics were deprived of all poHtical rights, and were 
 not allowed to hold lands or will property except to Protestants ; 
 
 1 It is said that 34,000 took advantage of this permission, and emigrated with 
 their families. The famous Irish Brigade of France was formed from these men. 
 Irish names have since occurred in French annals of civil and military service with 
 credit and renown. 
 
394 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 orphans, if minors, were put under the care of Protestant guard- 
 ians ; CathoHc schoohnasters were not permitted, nor were Catho- 
 lics allowed to send their children abroad to be educated ; priests 
 and monks were ordered to leave the island and not to return 
 under pain of death. This code was one of the most vindictive 
 and persecuting in British annals. 
 
 490. English Parliament, and Ireland ; Irish Emigration. — ■ 
 But it was not only the Irish Catholics who suffered. The Eng- 
 lish Parliament was now the final authority in relation to Irish 
 affairs, and this body was as intolerant as it was unjust. To bene- 
 fit English cloth makers the export of Irish cloth was prohibited, 
 although this greatly injured the Protestants in the north of 
 Ireland, to whom this industry had become a chief means of 
 support. The Toleration Act (§ 485), to please the few Epis- 
 copalians in Ireland and the High Church Party in England, was 
 noi. extended to Ireland,"and so the Presbyterians, who had fought 
 and suffered so much at Londonderry, were forbidden to worship 
 according to their conscience. As a result thousands of Protes- 
 tants, of that Scotch-Irish class so sturdy, so independent, and so 
 able, found refuge in the New World, peopling the region 
 then known as the backwoods of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the 
 Carolinas. It is hard to conceive of a policy short of bodily 
 cruelty more fatal to harmony, development, and justice. The 
 vast majority of Irishmen were permanently embittered against 
 England. Had he been free from Parliament, William's well- 
 known love of tolerance would doubtless have made a very much 
 better settlement. But it must be confessed that, on the whole, 
 his treatment of the Irish question, so far as he had the power, is 
 not to his credit, and remains one of the blots upon his reign. 
 
 491. Revolution in Scotland. 1689. — The resistance in Scot- 
 land to William and Mary's rule was not so strong as in Ireland. 
 In March, 1689, a convention was called to meet in Edin- 
 burgh. It proved to have a large Whig majority. It declared that 
 James VII (James II of England) had forfeited the crown; it 
 
AFFAIRS IN SCOTLAND 
 
 195 
 
 passed a Declaration of Right called the " Claim of Rights," and 
 offered the crown to William and Mary. The offer was accepted, 
 and William and Mary took the Scottish coronation oath at White- 
 hall, London, in the presence of Scottish commissioners, and 
 agreed to carry out the wishes of the convention. The convention 
 restored Presbyterianism, which became the state rehgion and has 
 Continued to be so from that time. 
 
 492. Highlanders and Dundee. 1689. — James's representative, 
 John Graham of Claverhouse, now Viscount of Dundee, went to 
 the Highlands to try to stir up the clans to rise for James. But 
 these Highlanders were far more interested in their own petty 
 feuds than in James or William. By skillful management Dun- 
 dee got together a large force of men ready to do anything to 
 keep down the clan Campbell, against the members of which 
 all had grudges. As the Campbells were Whigs, they were sup- 
 porters of William and Mary, Thus the enemies of the Camp- 
 bells were hostile to William. The Highlanders under Dundee 
 met the forces of William under Mackay at the pass of Killie- 
 krankie and defeated them (July, 1689). But Dundee was 
 killed and Mackay was soon able to rally his troops. The High- 
 landers, more desirous of plunder than of a successful campaign, 
 soon retired to their mountain homes with their spoil. This left 
 William master of Scotland, for James had no large following in the 
 lowlands, which were the more populous portions of the country. 
 
 493. Massacre of Glencoe. 1692. — The Highlanders were 
 still in a very restless state, and it was determined to attempt to 
 buy them off. Al.l who would not come in and take the oaths 
 of allegiance before December 31, 1691, were to be considered 
 guilty of treason. One of the chieftains, Macdonald of Glencoe, 
 put off taking the oath till the last moment. A snowstorm de- 
 layed him, and though the magistrate explained how the oath was 
 belated, Campbell, bent on personal revenge, sent an officer with 
 a party of troops to Glencoe, the home of the Macdonalds. 
 They were treated with hospitality for a fortnight. Then one 
 
396 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 morning, before dawn, the soldiers fell upon their unsuspecting 
 hosts, and slaughtered the chief, his wife, and thirty-eight of the 
 clan, including some women and children. Two or three times 
 as many perished from cold and hardship in their flight. 
 
 The primary responsibility for this massacre rests with Captain 
 Campbell, who led the expedition, and John Dalrymple, known 
 as the Master of Stair,^ William's chief agent in Scotland*; 
 William, however, cannot be acquitted of blame. The most that 
 can be said in palliation of William's share in this transaction 
 is, that he, doubtless, had no idea of the way in which his order 
 would be carried out. So great was the indignation excited by 
 this deed that William was forced to dismiss the Master of Stair 
 from office. 
 
 494. Foreign Affairs; Beachy Head. 1690. — After the Peace 
 of Nimeguen (§ 453) William had succeeded in forming a 
 great league known as the Grand AlHance against Louis. His 
 accession to the English throne was of the greatest advantage to 
 him, and without it he must have failed. The action of Louis in 
 supporting James II was all that was needed to make England 
 actively support the alliance. War was declared against France 
 in May, 1689 ; but as William was in Ireland (§ 488), all authority 
 was given to Mary. Notwithstanding Holland, Spain, Denmark, 
 Sweden, and other powers were allied against him, Louis managed 
 to hold his own. He equipped a strong fleet, and on June 30, 
 1690, the French Admiral Tourville won a great victory over the 
 combined English and Dutch fleets off Beachy Head. The Eng- 
 lish were almost panic-stricken. The courage, wisdom, and 
 ability with which Mary conducted affairs during this trying 
 time endeared her to all Englishmen. The French contented 
 themselves with burning Teignmouth, but for the moment all 
 England was united. Following the defeat off Beachy Head came 
 the news of William's victory of the Boyne (§ 488), and England 
 once more breathed freely. Much as the victory meant to Eng- 
 1 The eldest son of a Scottish lord was called by the title of Master. 
 
PEACE OF RYSWICK 
 
 397 
 
 land, it also affected the whole course of European history. For 
 it destroyed any hope of attacking William by way of Ireland, 
 and this left him free to carry out his continental plans against 
 Louis XIV. 
 
 495. Victory of La Hogue. 1692. — The defeat at Beachy 
 Head was a severe blow to the pride of England and also of 
 Holland, besides making the danger of a French invasion a very 
 real one. Had Louis been better advised, or had he dared to 
 risk an invasion without waiting for a rising of the Jacobites^ in 
 England, he would have not only greatly injured England and her 
 power, but have inflicted a possibly fatal blow upon William and 
 his plans. As it was, England put forth great efforts, and by the 
 time Louis felt ready to attempt an invasion Admiral Russell met 
 the French fleet off La Hogue, Normandy, and inflicted a crushing 
 defeat (May 19, 1692) before the eyes of James H, who was on 
 shore watching the action. That victory saved England from any 
 invasion and blasted the hopes of James. 
 
 496. Peace of Ryswick. 1697. — On land the fighting was 
 mostly in the Netherlands, and the French were generally the 
 victors; but somehow, William, who crossed over to Holland 
 every summer, was able to bring it about that the French secured 
 very little fruit from their success, and Louis scarcely did more 
 than hold his own. William at last won a decided victory at 
 Namur (1695), and in 1697 peace was declared and a treaty signed 
 at Ryswick, near The Hague. Louis gave back all his conquests 
 made during the war, and acknowledged William as king and the 
 succession to the crown as had been fixed by Parliament. WilHam 
 thus succeeded in setting limits to the power of France, secured 
 his own recognition, put an end to France's support of James H, 
 had come out of the struggle stronger than at its beginning, and, 
 moreover, had gained for England a position in Europe such as 
 she had not held since the time of Cromwell. On the other 
 
 1 The adherents of James from this time were called Jacobites, from Jacobus^ the 
 Latin for James, 
 
398 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 hand, the Grand AlHance against France was dissolved, and France 
 remained unquestionably the strongest and most united power in 
 Europe. 
 
 497. The National Debt; Bank of England, 1694; Triennial 
 Bill. 1694. — The war had been costly to England, and the raising 
 of funds to meet the outlay had been no easy matter. Out of 
 this need arose two institutions which have lasted till the present 
 day — the National Debt and the Bank of England. Heretofore, 
 money had been generally raised by taxation, or by short loans 
 from bankers or individuals, which were always considered to be 
 temporary measures. But Charles Montague, Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer, proposed (1693) that the government should raise 
 money by a loan, the payment of which should be in the distant 
 future and the interest upon which should become a part of the 
 fixed annual national expenses.^ The next year (1694), at the 
 suggestion of William Paterson, a member of Parliament and a 
 successful merchant, a company of merchants agreed to lend the 
 government ;£"i, 200,000 at a specified rate of interest in return for 
 a charter conferring certain banking and financial privileges. The 
 need of the country for better banking and monetary facilities made 
 the enterprise a successful one, and the Bank of England not only 
 became the financial agent of the government, but also gave the 
 merchants of England a far safer place of deposit than the old- 
 fashioned system of banking with the goldsmiths. 
 
 Not the least important result of these financial measures was 
 the additional support that it gave to William's government and 
 the principles of the Revolution. All who subscribed to the loans, 
 or who had stock in the Bank, or deposited in it, became thereby 
 personally interested in the permanence of the existing govern- 
 ment ; for, if James II should return, it was morally certain that no 
 effort would be made to pay interest on money which had been 
 used to keep him from the throne. 
 
 Parhament also passed (1694) a new Triennial Bill, by which it 
 
 1 The early loans were arranged upon a complicated system of life annuities. 
 
FINANCES AND THE SUCCESSION 
 
 399 
 
 was provided that no Parliament could sit longer than three years. 
 This was a direct blow at the royal power, as it required frequent 
 appeals to the voters. William had vetoed a similar bill in 1693, 
 but felt obliged to assent to this.^ 
 
 ■■■■■ ^^«W'?S2^'^^I-^ 
 
 
 The Bank of England 
 The present building, Threadneedle Street, London 
 
 498. Death of Queen Mary ; The Succession ; Freedom of the 
 Press; Plots. — In the very last days of 1694 (December 28) a 
 great sorrow fell upon England in the death, from smallpox, after 
 a very short illness, of Queen Mary, at the early age of thirty- three. 
 She was much beloved by the nation at large. To William the 
 blow was a crushing one and he never fully recovered from it.^ 
 
 As Mary and William were childless, Mary's sister was the next 
 heir to the throne. She had married Prince George of Denmark 
 
 1 B)'the Triennial Bill of Charles I (1641) (§ 382) h was required that a Parlia- 
 ment should sit at least once in three years; this bill called for a new election once 
 in three years. 
 
 2 William had not always been a faithful husband, and during the early years of 
 their married life he had been unkind, but through Mary's devotion to him and 
 his interests he became deeply attached to her. 
 
 The conduct of Mary in accepting her father's throne has been stigmatized by 
 Stuart defenders as " a violation of the moral law," and as " unnatural conduct." 
 But in royal affairs family relations have too often been sacrificed without condem- 
 nation to be severely dwelt upon in the case of Mary and Anne. That Mary recog- 
 nized with pain the necessity of acting as she did is abundantly evident, but she felt 
 that it was her duty to follow her husband. 
 
400 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 (1683), but of her numerous children only one was surviving at the 
 time of Mary's death. 
 
 In 1695 ^^ important step in the direction of greater liberty 
 was the removal of the censorship of the press ; this was accom- 
 plished by the House of Commons refusing to renew the Licensing 
 Act.^ From this time the people could not only worship as 
 they pleased, but also print what they pleased, provided it was 
 not "libellous, seditious, or blasphemous." 
 
 Perhaps the most serious of the many plots to restore James was 
 that called Fenwick's plot from the chief conspirator. Sir John 
 Fenwick. He was seized, but owing to a new law in regard to 
 treason requiring the testimony of two witnesses, he could not be 
 convicted. Parliament therefore condemned him by a bill of at- 
 tainder, and under it he was executed (January, 1697). This was 
 the last bill of attainder passed by an English Parliament under 
 which an execution took place.^ 
 
 499. First Party Ministry. 1697. — William had chosen his 
 ministers from both pohtical parties. But the plan had not 
 worked well. As there was always a reasonable doubt of William's 
 ability to retain hi^ crown, some of the leaders while in his service 
 did not hesitate to communicate with James, and in some instances 
 were mixed up with Jacobite plots. Marlborough, who had fought 
 successfully for William in Ireland, had been dismissed in disgrace 
 for complicity in some of these plots. Corruption, especially 
 among the Tory leaders, had also come to light. William there- 
 fore was almost obliged to turn to the Whigs. On the advice of 
 the Earl of Sunderland, once one of the ministers of James II, he 
 
 1 A Licensing Act passed in 1662 had been renewed from time to time ; by this 
 it was made unlawful under severe penalties to publish any book or paper unless 
 previously licensed by the government licenser. The act had been allowed to lapse 
 in 1679, but had been reenacted in 1685. 
 
 2 Though the old Law of Treason of Edward III had nominally required the 
 testimony of two witnesses, it had been evaded. The new law made the sworn 
 testimony of two witnesses essential. It also allowed the accused the right of legal 
 counsel, a copy of the indictment before the trial, and other privileges which had 
 previously been denied, 
 
FIRST PARTY MINISTRY 
 
 401 
 
 determined to form a ministry wholly of Whigs. Of these he con- 
 sulted four more than others, and they became known as the Junto. ^ 
 There is no reason whatever to suppose that William had in mind 
 a ministry responsible to the House of Commons, but the plan 
 was clearly a step in that direction. 
 
 500. Recoinage Act, 1696; The Loyal Association. — Another 
 measure of great importance was the Recoinage Act (1696). 
 Coins had been usually issued with smooth edges, and it was easy 
 to clip slight pieces of metal from them, the result being that coins 
 were seldom of their full nominal value. To remedy this it was 
 decided to call in all coins and issue an entirely new set with 
 milled edges to prevent clipping. To compel the presentation of 
 the old coins for redemption, all old and mutilated coins were to 
 cease to be a legal tender after a certain date. To insure the 
 genuineness of the issue. Sir Isaac Newton, the noted scientist and 
 philosopher, was appointed master of the mint. 
 
 At the conclusion of the Peace of Ryswick (§ 496) William was 
 more nearly popular than he had ever been. The Fenwick and 
 other plots against him had also aroused public sympathy, and as 
 in the case of Elizabeth an association " was formed to protect him 
 or avenge his death, should he be assassinated, and Parliament 
 passed an act requiring all officers civil and military to join it. 
 
 501. The Darien Scheme. 1695-1699. — The selfish policy of 
 England was seen, not only in Ireland, but in Scotland as well. 
 For instance, the Navigation Act (§ 443) was not extended to Scot- 
 land, neither could the Scots have a share in the English trading 
 companies. While English commerce was profitable and increas- 
 ing, that of Scotland was small and hampered by the lack of privi- 
 leges that England enjoyed. William Paterson, the originator of 
 
 1 Junto, a Spanish word meaning a knot of men. The ministers were Lord 
 Somers, Lord High Chancellor; Montague, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Loid 
 Russell, First Lord of the Admiralty ; and Lord Wharton, the " political boss " of 
 the day. 
 
 2 It was called the " Loyal Association." Over four hundred members of the 
 House of Commons and thousands of private citizens joined. 
 
402 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the Bank of England, a Scotsman by birth, conceived the idea of 
 establishing a trading company, somewhat like the East India 
 Company, for trading with America and the West Indies. The 
 Isthmus of Panama, or Darien, as it was then called, was selected 
 as the main station, as it commanded both oceans. A charter 
 was granted by the Scottish Parliament, and a large sum of money 
 was invested in the scheme. Two expeditions of colonists went 
 out (1698, 1699) and attempted to make a settlement, but two 
 most important features were either overlooked or ignored : first, 
 the tropical climate ; and secondly, the fact that Darien was in 
 Spanish territory. Besides this, both the East India Company 
 and the Dutch merchants looked upon the scheme as an infringe- 
 ment of their rights. William dishked the plan, for it would, if 
 carried out, inevitably lead to war with Spain, besides angering 
 the Dutch. Through disease, attacks by the Spaniards, and 
 lack of support the enterprise ended in failure and total loss for 
 the stockholders and emigrants. The Scots laid the whole blame 
 upon William, and there was much ill feeling against him and 
 England. 
 
 502. The Army; Irish Land Grants. 1699, 1700. — William 
 recognized that the Peace of Ryswick (§ 496) was only a cessation 
 of hostilities. In Parliament, however, the inherited fear of a 
 standing army and the great expense of maintaining it united both 
 Whigs and Tories in support of a measure to reduce the English 
 army to a peace footing. In the face of William's opposition, by 
 the end of 1700 the army had been reduced to 7000 men. More- 
 over, William was forced to send his faithful Dutch guards back 
 to Holland. This so angered him that it is said that he threat- 
 ened to abdicate. This action of Parliament was a sorry return 
 for what William had done for England, and also a mean treat- 
 ment of the Dutch soldiers who had bravely fought the battles of 
 Enghshmen. 
 
 Other troubles came from Ireland. Large tracts of land in 
 that island had come into the possession of the crown after the 
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
 403 
 
 conquest ; of these lands William very unwisely made large grants 
 to his favorites, especially to his Dutch friends. The House of 
 Commons, ill pleased with this action, proceeded to annul these 
 grants and divide the land among favorites of its own. It also 
 declared forfeited land which had not been forfeited at all. The 
 Lords, though opposed to these measures, finally yielded.^ The 
 Commons also fiercely attacked Somers, the Lord High Chancel- 
 lor, and William required his resignation. This helped to estab- 
 lish a precedent that ministers of state unwelcome to the House 
 of Commons cannot remain in office. 
 
 503. The Spanish Succession. 1698. — Louis XIV had agreed 
 to the Treaty of Ryswick (§ 496) because he wished to get ready 
 for another conflict which he saw was inevitable. This was in 
 relation to the question as to whom the empire of Spain would 
 descend. The king of Spain, Charles II, was childless and in 
 such ill health that he might die at any moment. The first wife 
 of Louis XIV was the older sister of Charles, and Louis might 
 claim the Spanish crown for one of his sons or grandsons. The 
 
 The Spanish Succession 
 
 Philip III of Spain 
 1598-1621 
 
 \ 
 
 I \ I 
 
 Anne Philip IV of Spain Maria 
 
 = Louis XIII of France 1621-1665 = Emp. Ferdinand III 
 
 I ' I 
 
 Louis XI V | \ 1 | 
 
 = Maria Theresa Charles II of Spain Margaret (i)= Leopold I 
 
 I 1665-1700 Theresa I d. 1705 
 
 Louis the Dauphin | = (3) Eleanor 
 
 Maria 
 
 Louis, Philip V = Max Emanuel Joseph I Archduke Chkrles 
 
 D. of Burgundy of Spam of Bavaria d. 1711 Emp. CHARLES VI 
 
 I D. of Anjou , I ,. , (after 171 1, d. 1740) 
 
 Louis XV 1700-1746 Joseph Ferdinand 
 
 ^ '^ Electoral Prince 
 
 d, 1699 
 
 iThe Commons gained their point with the Lords by attaching the land meas- 
 ures to a money bill which the Lords were forced to pass or leave the govern- 
 ment without sufficient funds. In modern times this is called " attaching a rider." 
 The Lords were not allowed to alter a money bill. 
 
404 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 younger sister of Charles had married the German emperor, 
 Leopold of Austria, whose grandson, a child, was the Electoral 
 Prince of Bavaria. By the marriage settlement in each case the 
 sisters of Charles had renounced any claim each might have to 
 the Spanish crown ; so, legally, they and their children were 
 disqualified. Leopold, however, was claimant for himself or his 
 son on the ground that he was the son of an aunt of Charles, 
 who had made no renunciation of her claim. The Dauphin of 
 France, son of the oldest sister, would have had the best claim, had 
 it not been for his mother's renunciation. 
 
 The vast territories of Spain, both in Europe and the New 
 World, made the question of the Spanish succession one of very 
 great importance to every European government. If a French 
 prince should be given the crown, it would enormously increase 
 the lands under French influence and greatly strengthen the 
 power of Louis ; should the Austrian prince succeed, it would 
 have a similar effect upon Austrian influence and power. 
 
 To England and Holland, independently of the increase of 
 power brought to their great enemy, Louis, should the French 
 claimant gain the throne, there might be an incalculable loss of 
 commercial wealth and power. The greater part of the carrying 
 trade of the world was now divided between England and Hol- 
 land, and the trade of both with Spain and her colonies was 
 extremely profitable. Besides this, Spain had become so weak 
 that a very large part of her trade with her own colonies had 
 fallen into English and Dutch hands. Should the Austrians gain 
 Spain, the balance of power in Europe would also be affected, 
 though not to so great a degree. William saw conditions far 
 better than most, and strove to meet them in the way most 
 favorable for the interests of England and Holland ; and if possible 
 to avoid war, which would inevitably break out should either 
 France or Austria receive the crown. 
 
 504. The Partition Treaties. 1698, 1700. — Louis, not yet 
 ready for another war, was willing to listen to the overtures of 
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
 405 
 
 William, who tried to persuade him that it was better for him to 
 gain part of Spain's dominion peacefully than to go to war for the 
 whole. As a result of this negotiation a secret treaty, known as 
 the First Partition Treaty, was signed by England, France, and 
 Holland (1698). This provided that in case of the death of 
 Charles of Spain his crown should go to the young Electoral Prince 
 of Bavaria, but that certain provinces of the kingdom should be 
 divided between France and Austria. This certainly was the 
 wisest plan, but unfortunately the child died the next year (1699). 
 A second secret Partition Treaty was arranged (1700) between 
 WilHam and Louis by which the Archduke Charles, second son of 
 Leopold of Austria, took the place of the Electoral Prince, and some 
 changes were made in the disposition of the territories.^ 
 
 Where so many interests are involved, secrecy becomes almost 
 impossible ; and when Charles of Spain and the Spainards learned 
 of what had been going on, they were indignant at this parceling 
 out of the destiny of Spain by foreigners. 
 
 505. Death of Charles of Spain ; His WilL 1 700. — Charles 
 of Spain died (November i, 1700) and surprised every one by 
 leaving all his dominions to Philip, Duke of Anjou, second son of 
 the Dauphin, and so grandson of Louis XIV.^ Louis was in a di- 
 lemma, but the Partition Treaty had not been accepted by Austria 
 and would not be, for the will of Charles provided that in case the 
 Duke of Anjou refused the inheritance it was to go the Archduke 
 Charles, who would then get the whole dominion instead of part, 
 as would be the case if Louis carried out the treaty to which he 
 had agreed. Louis had to decide either to refuse the will and 
 have Austria and Spain united, or accept the will and break the 
 treaty and run the risk of having England, Holland, and Austria 
 
 1 The fact that Charles of Spain was believed to be incapable of negotiating 
 partly explains the otherwise high-handed measures of William and Louis. 
 
 2 He was the younger son of the Dauphin Louis. Old renunciations were dis- 
 posed of by the argument that they had been given so that the kingdoms should 
 not be united, and as the will provided that " no part of the monarchy should be 
 alienated from its main body, and that this should never be united with any other 
 foreign state," there was no violation of asfreements. 
 
406 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 declare war. He concluded to accept the will and break his word. 
 Louis's grandson was recognized as Philip V of Spain. At the 
 time it seemed as if all that William had been striving for had 
 been lost. 
 
 506. English Feeling; The Act of Settlement. 1701. — The 
 Tory Parhament was angry when the fact of the Partition Treaties 
 came to light, and WiUiam's Whig ministers were impeached for 
 their share in the negotiations on the ground that it put Protestant- 
 ism in danger. Their impeachment, however, was dropped and 
 the Parliament was dissolved. A new Parliament had also a Tory 
 majority in the Commons. The important work of this body was 
 the final settlement of the succession to the crown. Anne's last 
 child, the little Duke of Gloucester, had died, and after Anne the suc- 
 cession was in doubt. By this time the vast majority of both Whigs 
 and Tories had given up the doctrine of the divine right of kings, 
 and held that the right to fix the succession lay in Parliament. 
 Accordingly the Act of Settlement was passed (June 11, 1701), 
 fixing the succession in case of either Wilham or Anne having no 
 direct descendants, in the Electress Sophia of Hanover ^ and her 
 Protestant descendants. It was further provided that all future 
 monarchs must be Protestants and members of the Church of 
 England. Becoming a Cathohc, or marrying a Catholic, would 
 bar any heir from the throne. Other provisions were that no per- 
 son holding office under the crown, or receiving a pension from 
 it, could sit in the House of Commons.^ Judges were to remain 
 in office during good behavior and could be removed only by both 
 Houses of Parhament. This act was the final blow in England to 
 absolute power and the divine right of kings, for in fixing the suc- 
 cession as it did regardless of strict hereditary descent, it asserted 
 
 1 Sophia was the daughter of Elizabeth, daughter of James I, who had married 
 (1613) the Elector Palatine (§351), afterwards king of Bohemia. There were a 
 number of heirs nearer in blood, but they all were Catholics, Elizabeth was a sister 
 of Prince Rupert (§390). 
 
 2 This provision was changed in a few years, when it was decided that any mem- 
 ber of Parliament appointed to office must offer himself for reelection. This rule 
 still holds good. 
 
ACT OF SETTLEMENT; DEATH OF WILLIAM HI 407 
 
 in the strongest way the right of the people to choose by whom 
 they should be ruled. 
 
 507. The ''Old Pretender"; Grand Alliance. 1702. — Mean- 
 time, Louis entered upon a course which brought against him the 
 enmity of even the extreme Tories. James II died in 1701, and 
 Louis immediately recognized his son as James III of England, 
 Scodand, and Ireland. This was contrary to the spirit if not the 
 letter of the Treaty of Ryswick (§ 496), and at once aroused deep 
 indignation among both Whigs and Tories. Louis also seized 
 certain fortresses on the Dutch borders which had by treaty been 
 garrisoned by Dutch troops ; he proclaimed that France would be 
 treated as the most favored nation in trade with the Spanish-Amer- 
 ican colonies, and that Philip V was ehgible to th^ French crown. 
 
 William had already been able to organize a new Grand AUiance, 
 and Austria had declared war against France. A new Parliament 
 was chosen which had a Whig majority. It soon passed an act of 
 attainder against the Pretender, as he was called, who claimed to 
 be James III. The act, though from some points of view foolish 
 and harmless, showed the Pretender and Louis what they might 
 expect. Louis had touched England in her most tender points — 
 her commerce and the right to choose her rulers. Holland's very 
 existence was threatened, as well as her commerce. The interests 
 of England and Holland were one. 
 
 508. Death of William III. 1 702. — Parhament authorized an 
 army of 40,000 men and made a grant for the navy. While Wil- 
 liam was full of preparation for the new conflict, he was suddenly 
 cut off. While riding from Kensington to Hampton Court his 
 horse stumbled over a molehill ; William fell, broke his collar bone, 
 and sustained internal injuries. Weak in body and in frail health, 
 he was not able to stand the shock, and in a few days (March 8, 
 1702) he died, just when it seemed that there was the best chance 
 of succeeding in his lifelong effort. 
 
 William was the last king of England who can without question 
 be called great. " His record as a ruler pure and simple, as a 
 
408 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 mere expert in the art of governing, has never been surpassed, 
 perhaps never equaled in history." He was rich in the great 
 saving virtues of " good sense, self-restraint, and honesty." He 
 was always faithful to his compact with the people of England, and 
 yet held " in one hand the threads of a vast network of European 
 diplomacy, and in the other the sword which kept the most for- 
 midable of European monarchs at bay." 
 
 509. Anne. 1702. — Anne, sister of Mary, succeeded to the 
 crown without opposition. She was the second daughter of 
 James II (§ 451, note), and was thirty-seven at the time of her ac- 
 cession. Her husband. Prince George of Denmark, was a man of 
 small capacity and coarse habits, who had little influence.^ Anne 
 was of " middle size, well proportioned ; her hair was of dark 
 brown color, her complexion ruddy ; her features were regular, her 
 countenance was rather round than oval, and her aspect more 
 comely than majestic." In character she was kindly, honest, 
 religious, and true to her friends ; but she was also obstinate and 
 narrow-minded, and of small intellectual power. She had a true 
 sense of her responsibihties and was a thorough Englishwoman, 
 having, as she said in her first speech, an entirely English heart. 
 This fact, more than any other, endeared her to her subjects and, 
 added to her kindness of heart, gave her the name of " good 
 Queen Anne."^ 
 
 Anne was High Church in her views and so sympathized with 
 the Tories. Like most obstinate persons, when carefully managed 
 she was easily influenced by a strong character. In her case 
 such a one was found in Sarah, the wife of Marlborough, who, 
 beginning as Sarah Jennings, a lady-in-waiting, became the bosom 
 friend of Anne. A woman of strong will, ambitious, and not 
 overscrupulous, she gained unbounded influence over the queen. 
 
 ■I Charles II said of him, " I have tried him drunk, and I have tried him sober, 
 and there is nothing in him." 
 
 2 There can be little doubt that the feeling wijis increased by the circumstance 
 that she came between two foreign monarchs — William, a Dutchman, and George, 
 a German. 
 
QUEEN ANNE 
 
 409 
 
 510. Churchill, Earl of Marlborough (1650-1722). — John 
 Churchill, Earl of Marlborough (§ 464), was at Anne's accession 
 fifty-two years old. He was thoroughly selfish ; he had not 
 hesitated to betray James II or William, when he believed that 
 his own interests could be served, and he was avaricious, insin- 
 cere, and a time- 
 server ; in private 
 morals, however, he 
 was better than 
 most public men of 
 that vicious age. 
 He was handsome 
 in person, suave 
 and graceful in his 
 manners, tactful, 
 and resourceful, ap- 
 parently " never in 
 a hurry, never 
 vexed, and never 
 worried." While 
 somewhat lacking 
 in broad statesman- 
 ship and true polit- 
 ical abihty, his tact 
 and pleasant man- 
 ner made him almost as successful a diplomatist as William. 
 Though it is said that he never commanded an army until he was 
 more than forty, he never lost a battle ; and he ranks with the 
 best generals of history. The relations between Anne and his 
 wife gave Marlborough the position which might not otherwise 
 have been his. His course was dictated by selfishness, but it 
 happened that, at least for a time, his selfishness coincided with 
 the policy of William, England, and Europe against Louis XIV 
 and Spain. 
 
 Queen Anne 
 
4IO HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 511. Tory Ministry ; War of the Spanish Succession. 1702- 
 
 1 7 13. — Anne soon exchanged William's Whig ministers for Tory 
 ones, and through Marlborough's influence the chief minister 
 was Lord Godolphin, whose son had married one of Marlbor- 
 ough's daughters. Godolphin was an unprincipled man, like 
 his friend, but he was an able financier and a warm-hearted 
 supporter of Marlborough and his plans. 
 
 War against France was formally declared in May, 1702.^ It 
 lasted twelve years and is known as the War of the Spanish 
 Succession. Against France and Spain were aUied England, 
 Holland, Austria, most of the smaller German states, and Prussia, 
 lately made a kingdom by the emperor of Germany to secure 
 her for the Grand Alliance.^ 
 
 Louis XIV had some support in Germany, for the Electors 
 of Bavaria and Cologne were on his side. Another decided ad- 
 vantage was that, instead of being his enemies, the Spanish 
 Netherlands were now under his control. The opposing forces 
 were well matched and the issues involved were great. The 
 active campaign was begun in the Spanish Netherlands. To 
 Marlborough was given the command of both the English and the 
 Dutch forces, and he was successful, capturing two cities and 
 gaining control of the Rhine. In other places the allied states 
 were not so fortunate. Marlborough returned to England, re- 
 ceived the thanks of the Commons, and was created a duke by 
 the queen. It was needful for the alHes to set up some one as 
 king of Spain, and the Archduke Charles, second son of the 
 Emperor Leopold, was selected. 
 
 512. Blenheim. 1 704. — Portugal joined the Alliance in 1 703 
 (Treaty of Methuen); and Savoy, angered by the overbearing 
 attitude of Louis, deserted him and joined the Alliance. Louis, 
 beHeving that Marlborough would not leave the Netherlands, 
 
 lit was waged not only in Europe, but in America as well, where it went by the 
 name of Queen Anne's War. 
 
 2 The Electorate of Brandenburg became the Kingdom of Prussia, January i8, 
 1701. 
 
 I 
 
MARLBOROUGH'S CAMPAIGNS 4II 
 
 attacked Austria. But Marlborough by forced marches joined 
 Prince Eugene of Savoy,^ and the combined armies met the 
 French and Bavarian armies at Blenheim (German Blindheim) 
 on the Danube, not far from Hochstadt, and completely defeated 
 them (August 13, 1704). Austria was saved, Bavaria was at the 
 mercy of the aUies, and France humbled, for she had not lost 
 a battle in the field for sixty years. The English in their delight 
 presented the manor of Woodstock to Marlborough and began 
 to erect upon it the huge pile of buildings called, after the victory, 
 Blenheim. 
 
 513. Gibraltar, 1704; Marlborough and Allies Victorious, 
 1 704-1 709. — In the same year (1704) an expedition under Lord 
 Rooke captured the fortress of Gibraltar, and the next year (1705) 
 Lord Peterborough took Barcelona, and with an allied army of the 
 English, Dutch, Portuguese, and Catalans (belonging to a re- 
 volting province of Spain) occupied Madrid (1706). Marlborough 
 next began hostilities in the Netherlands and won a memorable 
 victory over the French at Ramilies (May, 1706). Prince Eugene 
 was successful in Italy, and the year 1 706 closed with the alHes 
 victorious everywhere and the power of France humbled as it 
 had not been for centuries. Louis was ready to make peace, 
 but the alKes, flushed with success, would not hear of his terms, 
 and so the war went on. 
 
 The year of 1707 was one of disaster for the allies. Though 
 they had won victories and taken Madrid, the capital, they had 
 not advanced any nearer the real conquest of Spain. A few thou- 
 sand men marching about does not mean control. The next year 
 Marlborough came to the aid of the Dutch an»i gained another of 
 his great victories at Oudenarde (1708) and also other successes. 
 Again Louis made overtures for peace, and again they were re- 
 fused. Louis made desperate efforts, and raised another army, 
 
 1 Eugene was a younger member of the House of Savoy ; he was born in France, 
 but deeming himself insuhed by Louis, he left France and entered the service of 
 the emperor. He ranks after Marlborough as the best general of the Alliance. 
 
412 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 only to be defeated by Marlborough and Eugene at Malplaquet 
 (September ii, 1709), one of the most bloody battles on record.^ 
 This was the last great victory of Marlborough, for though the 
 war hung on, it was marked by no great engagement. 
 
 514. The War Unpopular; Dismissal of Marlborough, 1710; 
 Negotiations, 1711. — The English were weary of fighting and the 
 expenses had been enormous. Louis had been humbled, and 
 reasonable terms had been offered. It was felt that Marlborough 
 and the Whigs, who had gradually got into office, were prolong- 
 ing the war for their own benefit. The Whigs made several false 
 moves ; and Anne dismissed some of her ministers, dissolved Par- 
 liament, and called a new one (17 10). This had a Tory majority. 
 Private negotiations for peace were entered into with Louis, and 
 Marlborough saw his influence and power steadily decline. In the 
 same year he was accused of appropriating public money, and of 
 other matters, and was by the queen herself dismissed from all 
 pubHc offices.^ At last, in 171 1 the allies opened negotiations 
 with Louis, but it was not until 1713 (March 30) that the Treaty 
 of Utrecht was signed and the long war came to a close. 
 
 515. Peace of Utrecht. 1713. — The main features of this 
 most important treaty were : (i) Spain and the Indies were as- 
 signed to Philip V; (2) it was agreed that Spain and France 
 should never be united; (3) France recognized the Protestant 
 succession in England and agreed to expel the Pretender from 
 France ; (4) the Dutch were to garrison certain fortresses along 
 the southern frontier of what had been the Spanish, but which by 
 the treaty became the Austrian Netherlands; (5) to the Duke of 
 Savoy was given Sicily in addition to his former possessions, with 
 
 1 The allies lost about 20,000 of their 100,000 men, and the French about 12,000. 
 
 2 Marlborough's defense was dignified. He claimed that he had received the 
 funds in accordance with established precedent, and that they had been used, 
 not for his own benefit, but in the secret service for the good of the general cause. 
 Impartial judgment must acquit him of the charges. Marlborough retired to the 
 Continent, not returning to England till the death of Anne. George appointed 
 him commander-in-chief, but he was treated with neglect. His health failed, and 
 he died in 1722. 
 
UNION OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND 
 
 413 
 
 the title of King of Sicily ; (6) Brandenburg was recognized as the 
 kingdom of Prussia; (7) England received Acadia (Nova Scotia) 
 and Newfoundland, and France relinquished any claim to the 
 Hudson Bay Territory; (8) England retained permanently the 
 fortress of Gibraltar and the Isle of Minorca.^ Certain other 
 political settlements were made. This treaty had a vast influence 
 on the development of the British colonies in America. In the 
 commercial agreements also England gained much. France 
 agreed to receive no commercial privileges from Spain which 
 would give her special advantage in the trade with Spain or her 
 colonies, and Spain confirmed a recent arrangement by which the 
 exclusive right to import 
 negro slaves into the Span- 
 ish Indies was granted to 
 England. This is known 
 as the Assiento. 
 
 By this treaty England 
 greatly strengthened her 
 commercial and maritime 
 position, but did not secure 
 as much as she was entiUed 
 to, considering Marl- 
 borough's great victories, 
 and the enormous expenses the war had entailed upon her. France 
 came out of the struggle retaining her territories, but shorn of her 
 prestige, exhausted financially and economically, and worst of all, 
 retaining the system of absolutism which was to result in the great 
 revolution of the eighteenth century. 
 
 516. Union of England and Scotland (1707); Ireland. — 
 Meanwhile the course of domestic affairs in England had been of 
 no little interest. First of importance was the legislative union 
 
 ^•^y^ 
 
 Uhion Jack 
 
 Scotch cross of St. Andrew, h. English 
 cross of St. George 
 
 1 Several treaties were required to arrange the great variety of interests involved, 
 and the emperor did not agree to terms until the next year; Peace of Rastadt 
 (1714). 
 
414 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 of England and Scotland. Various incidents had occurred to in- 
 crease the ill feeling between the countries until it was clear that 
 unless a union came about there would be trouble. A joint com- 
 mission in which each country was equally represented was ap- 
 pointed to prepare a plan of union (1706). There was great 
 opposition in Scotland to the terms agreed upon, but finally, the 
 Scottish Parliament passed the bill of union, which was ratified by 
 the English Parhament, and the union became a fact May i, 1707.^ 
 Though unpopular in Scotland, and to some extent in England, 
 the union was of incalculable advantage to each country, but par- 
 ticularly to Scotland. 
 
 There was no change in the laws against Cathohcs in Ireland, 
 and the commercial regulations which practically crushed Irish 
 trade and manufacturers remained unaltered. 
 
 517. Domestic Politics; Creation of Tory Peers. 17 11. — The 
 Duchess of Marlborough, by her arrogance and ill temper, gradually 
 lost her influence ov^r the queen and her place was taken by a 
 Mrs. Masham, a strong Tory. A new Parliament called by Anne 
 had in it a large majority of Tories and High Churchmen. A Tory 
 ministry was now formed, with Robert Harley, soon to be Earl of 
 Oxford, and Henry St. John, afterwards Viscount Bolingbroke, as 
 chief men. It was through their influence that Marlborough lost 
 his position (§514). There was still a Whig majority in the House 
 of Lords, but this was overcome by the creation of twelve peers 
 by the queen. This action was of more than temporary importance, 
 for it had now come to be a fact that the ministry, if not wholly 
 the ruhng power in the state, was so in most things. A precedent 
 
 1 The important terms were : (i) the Electress Sophia and her heirs, if Prot- 
 estants, should succeed to the crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain ; 
 (2) the two countries should be governed by one Parliament sitting in London, in 
 which Scotland should be represented by forty-five members in the Commons, and 
 in the House of Lords by sixteen peers elected by the whole body of Scottish nobles 
 for every Parliament ; (3) all ports of England and her colonies should be open 
 to the Scots; (4) Scotland should maintain her own church and her own law; (5) 
 there should be one fiag, made of the crosses of St. Andrew and St. George com- 
 bined ; this came to be known as the " Union Jack." 
 
DEATH OF QUEEN ANNE 415 
 
 was established which hereafter made it possible for the government 
 to create enough new peers to overcome any hostile majority in 
 the House of Lords (§§ 619, 693). 
 
 518. Occasional Conformity Act, 1711; Schism Act, 1714. — 
 Two intolerant acts were passed by Anne's last Parliament. The 
 first of these was the Occasional Conformity Act (1711). This 
 practically drove all Dissenters from office.^ The second and 
 far worse act was the Schism Act ( 1 714) . By this it was forbidden 
 for any one to keep a school unless he had a license from a bishop 
 of the Church of England. This would prevent any Dissenter 
 from teaching in any public or private school and would force 
 Dissenters, if they sent their children to school, to send them to 
 church schools. Through the efforts of the Whigs, schoolmistresses 
 were excepted and also those who taught only reading, writing, 
 arithmetic, and a few other elementary subjects. This intolerant 
 act remained in force four years. 
 
 519. Death of Queen Anne. 17 14. — Just at this time the 
 Electress Sophia died at the age of eighty, and her son George 
 became the heir to the crown. He was known to be favorable to 
 the Whigs, and opposed to the Treaty of Utrecht (§ 515). Queen 
 Anne's health was poor, and, should she die, it was practically 
 certain that the Tories would go out of office. The sole objection 
 in the minds of many High Church Tories to James the Pretender 
 was his religion, and if he could be persuaded to turn Protestant 
 it was believed that the Act of Succession could be repealed. James 
 honorably refused to change his religion. Exactly what plans 
 were being laid is not known, but before anything was matured 
 Queen Anne died suddenly of apoplexy (August i, i 714). Boling- 
 broke and his friends were unprepared, and the Whig members of 
 the Council were able to proclaim George, Elector of Hanover,^ 
 as George I, King of Great Britain and Ireland. 
 
 1 The provisions of the act made it impossible for any but members of the 
 Church of England to hold office. It is greatly to the discredit of the Whigs in the 
 House of Lords that this bill was passed through their connivance. 
 
 2 Though he is usually so called, the correct title was Brunswick-Liineburg. 
 
41 6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 520. George I (1660-1727). 1714. — George Lewis of Han- 
 over, the son of Sophia, granddaughter of James I, was now fifty- 
 four years old ; he was a soldier and had seen active service in the 
 late wars. His private life was immoral ; in public his manners 
 were cold and unattractive. Though he was charged with being slow 
 in intellect, he had a very clear idea of European politics ; he 
 administered his paternal inheritance with skill and success, and 
 he was much hked by his Hanoverian subjects. Notwithstanding 
 the fact that his mother spoke English fluently, and he knew that 
 
 House of Brunswick or Hanover 
 
 Sophia 
 
 (Granddaughter of James I) 
 
 = Ernest, D. of Brunswick-Liineburg 
 
 I 
 
 George I Sophia Charlotte Ernest Augustus 
 
 1714-1727 = Frederick I of Prussia d. 1728 
 
 = Sophia Dorothea 
 
 George II Sophia Dorothea = Frederick William I of Prussia 
 
 1727-1760 
 = Caroline of Anspach 
 
 I 1 1 z^ n. 
 
 Frederick Anne William Mary Louisa 
 
 Prince of Wales = William D. of Cumberland 
 
 d. 1751 of Orange d. 1765 
 
 = Augusta 
 
 Augusta George III 
 
 1760-1820 
 = Charlotte 
 
 I 
 
 I \ \ \ \ i \ I 
 
 George Frederick William Edward Ernest Augustus Aldolphus six 
 
 IV D. of York IV D. of Kent D. of d. 1843 D. of . daughters 
 
 1820-1830 d. 1827 1830-1837 d. 1820 Cumber- Cambridge 
 
 = Caroline = Adelaide = Victoria land d. 1850 
 
 of Brunswick | King of | 
 
 I Victoria Hanover j 1 — [ 
 
 Princess Charlotte 1837-1901 1837- George Augusta Mary Adelaide 
 
 d. 1817 = Albert of 1851 £>. of d. 1900 
 
 Saxe-Coburg-Gotha | Cambridge = Francis 
 
 I George V d. 1904 D. of Teck 
 
 Edward VII of Hanover | 
 
 I 1851-1866 
 
 George V deposed Victoria Mary (Princess May) 
 
 = George, Prince of Wales 
 George V 
 
THE WHIGS IN POWER 
 
 417 
 
 he would probably inherit the English crown, he never troubled 
 himself to learn the English language, and throughout his reign of 
 thirteen years he never was able to converse with his British sub- 
 jects in their own tongue. He never cared for England, and, 
 whenever it was practical, gladly visited his Hanoverian dominions. 
 He was endured 
 by his British sub- 
 jects as a neces- 
 sity. His family 
 life was tragic ; 
 he had been mar- 
 ried when about 
 twenty-one to his 
 cousin, Sophia 
 Dorothea. After 
 eleven years he 
 divorced her on a 
 charge of infidel- 
 ity and imprisoned 
 her in a castle 
 where she re- 
 mained till her 
 death, a period of 
 thirty- two years.^ 
 He hated his 
 eldest son, after- 
 wards George II, and never was fully reconciled to him. 
 
 521. The Whigs in Office ; Results of the Accession of George I. 
 — Though ignorant of English politics and English ways, George 
 recognized that it was to the Whigs he owed the crown, and he 
 intrusted his English interests to the W^hig statesmen. He was 
 
 George I 
 After the painting by Sir G. Kellner 
 
 1 There is no doubt that there were fauUs on botli sides, but the charges made 
 against the unhappy princess have never been proved, and the whole transaction is 
 a terrible stain on the character of George, 
 
 I 
 
4l8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 well aware of the influence England had in continental affairs and 
 took good care that in England's foreign policy the interests of 
 Hanover should suffer no loss. Notwithstanding their dislike of 
 George, the English people owe him a large debt of gratitude. 
 His ignorance of the English language forced him to govern 
 through ministers, and as it was a farce for him to preside at de- 
 liberations which he was unable to follow, he set the precedent of 
 staying away from councils. The result of this practice was that 
 the ministers of the crown acquired increased power and be- 
 came to a very large extent independent of the king. Moreover, 
 as it was needful that the ministry should have a head, the office 
 of prime minister was a natural development. 
 
 It also became more and more evident during George's reign 
 that the ministry must be in accord with the majority in the Com- 
 mons, for as the Commons held the purse strings of the nation, 
 they could successfully block almost any action of the cabinet, 
 and so it came about that the Commons and not the king had 
 the final voice in government. The fact that George was a 
 foreigner, more interested in continental affairs than in English, and 
 moreover unable to speak the English language, added greatly to 
 the ease and rapidity of the change to a limited monarchy and free 
 constitutional government — a change which came about peacefully. 
 
 522. Unequal Representation in Parliament ; Whigs in Power. 
 1 714. — The House of Commons represented the landholders and 
 the merchants rather than the people. Members were chosen 
 much as they had been in the days of Elizabeth or even earlier, 
 and few changes had been made in the election districts. Owing 
 to the changes of population, in some places a few voters chose 
 two members of Parliament, while in others, where a large popu- 
 lation had grown up, there were no representatives, because 
 there had been no representative a century or more earlier. In 
 the country, and often in the towns or boroughs as well, the large 
 landholders had an overwhelming influence in elections. The 
 government also often controlled elections by its influence and by 
 
UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT 419 
 
 bribery, which now rightly looked upon as a crime was then a 
 common method of gaining political ends. England was, there- 
 fore, an aristocratic rather than a democratic country. The 
 party which had the most political skill was the one likely to 
 get control and retain it. The Whigs at the accession of George 
 were the best political managers ; circumstances favored them, 
 and they were not slow to see their advantage and seize it, 
 and they retained the direction of public affairs for about fifty 
 years (1714-1761). While there is much to blame in their 
 methods, their long rule, which was based upon a policy of peace, 
 was of inestimable benefit to England, for it gave her not only 
 the opportunity to extend her commerce and develop her manu- 
 factures, but also a period of quiet in which political and religious 
 differences became less and less acute. 
 
 523. Whigs and Tories (1714, 1715) ; Riot Act. 1715. — 
 The Whigs, determined to get rid of the Tory leaders, impeached 
 on a charge of high treason the Earl of Oxford, Bolingbroke, and 
 the Duke of Ormond, against whom there was suspicion of having 
 held communication with the Pretender, and on account of secret 
 dealings with France during the negotiations connected with the 
 Treaty of Utrecht (§ 515). Bolingbroke and Ormond fled to the 
 Continent, and a bill of attainder was passed against them.^ Ox- 
 ford was tried and escaped with two years' imprisonment in the 
 Tower. There were still many Jacobites in the country, and 
 having failed to secure their end by intrigue, they resorted to 
 revolt. There were riots in several towns and to cope with such 
 occasions a new Riot Act was passed (1715).^ 
 
 524. Scottish Rising. 1715. — Louis XIV, in defiance of the 
 Treaty of Utrecht (§ 515), not only allowed the Pretender to re- 
 
 1 Bolingbroke entered into the service of the Pretender, becoming his chief 
 adviser. 
 
 2 By this act a crowd consisting of more than twelve persons refusing to separate 
 within a given time, after notice by a competent authority, might be dispersed, and 
 the partakers in the disturbance held guilty of felony, while those who might take 
 life in putting down the mob could not be held guilty of murder. A similar act 
 had been passed in the time of Queen Mary. 
 
420 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 main in France, but assisted him in getting ready to make a 
 descent upon Scotland. While these preparations were going on, 
 Louis died (September i, 1715.) In Scotland the union was still 
 unpopular, and Argyll (§ 463), who had espoused the Hanoverian 
 side, was hated by the Highlanders. But for any permanent suc- 
 cess it was needful for the Pretender to have hearty support from 
 France, a well-organized plan, enthusiasm for the cause, and 
 simultaneous risings in England and Scotland. Not one of these 
 conditions was adequately met. The Earl of Mar raised the 
 standard of the Pretender in the Highlands, September 6, 17 15, 
 and a month later (October 7) there was a rising in Northumber- 
 land under the Earl of Derwentwater and a Mr. Forster, the 
 member of Parliament for the county. These latter were joined 
 by a few others, and also by a number of Lowland sympathizers 
 from Scotland. The combined forces reached Preston, where 
 they surrendered to the king's army. The same day the Earl of 
 Mar's army was checked at Sheriffmuir, near Dunblane, and he 
 was compelled to retreat. James landed in Scotland in Decem- 
 ber ; but the Highlanders had gone home ; the English risings 
 had been put down ; and he found little support ; so there was 
 nothing left for him but to return to France. On reaching that 
 country he dismissed Bolingbroke, the only one of his followers 
 who had given him the good advice not to make this attempt.^ 
 
 525. Leaders Executed; Results of the Rising. — The Whigs 
 treated the Scottish rebels with comparative leniency, but in 
 England the Earls of Derwentwater and Kenmure were beheaded 
 on Tower Hill, and thirty-eight other persons were put to death, 
 many were banished to practical slavery in the West Indies, and 
 many estates were forfeited. 
 
 The failure of the attempt showed conclusively that very few of 
 the English nobles and gentry were willing to risk their lives and 
 property in any attempt to restore the Stuarts. 
 
 1 After this Bolingbroke deserted the Pretender and turned to the Hanoverians. 
 He was able to return to England in 1723 by the repeal of the bill against him. 
 
SEPTENNIAL ACT 
 
 421 
 
 526. Septennial Act, 1 716 ; Repeal of Occasional Conformity and 
 Schism Acts, 17 18. — On the plea that a general election was 
 unwise in the disturbed state of the country, the Whig Parliament 
 passed a bill extending the possible duration of a ParHament to 
 seven years (1716),^ and, though a number of attempts were made 
 to return to triennial Parliaments, the act remained in force until 
 191 1 (§ 691), when the limit was changed to five years. ^ 
 
 One result of the Pretender's attempt was that the Whigs, de- 
 sirous of gaining the support of the Dissenters, repealed (17 18) 
 the Schism Act of 17 14 and the Occasional Conformity Act of 
 1711 (§518). The Test and Corporation Acts (§§451, 437) 
 were continued for many years.^ 
 
 527. Triple Alliance. 1716. — Hanover was threatened both 
 from Sweden and Russia. The latter, under Peter the Great, was 
 now entering into the field of European politics. 
 
 Several of George's ministers resigned or were dismissed because 
 they objected to defending George's Hanoverian dominions. 
 Nevertheless George managed to form in 17 16 a Triple Alliance 
 between Holland, France, and England ; for, strange as it may 
 seem, the interests of these three nations agreed, or seemed to 
 agree, for the time. Louis XIV was succeeded by his great grand- 
 son, Louis XV, a boy whose guardian and regent was Philip, Duke 
 of Orleans, the next heir to the French crown. Philip was jealous 
 of Philip V of Spain, who, moreover, might claim the French 
 crown in case of the death of Louis XV, who was a sickly lad. 
 Peace was made in 1720 and for twelve years Europe was quiet. 
 
 528. South Sea Scheme. 1711-1722. — The peace policy of 
 the Whigs had brought great commercial prosperity to England, 
 and there was much capital to be invested. As always happens 
 
 1 Though not passed until May 7, 17 16, it is known on the Statute Books as the 
 ." Septennial Act of 1715." 
 
 2 As a matter of fact, very few Parliaments have lasted over six years, and the 
 average duration has been about four years. 
 
 3 To placate the Dissenters an indemnity act was passed relieving them from the 
 penalties of the bills if they did not conform to the provisions. Such a bill was 
 passed annually until 1828, when the Test Act was repealed. 
 
422 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 under such circumstances, many schemes of commercial enter- 
 prise were set on foot. The largest and most venturesome of 
 these was carried on by the South Sea Company. This was a 
 trading company founded in 17 ii with the exclusive right of 
 trading in the South Seas (Pacific Ocean) in accordance with the 
 
 The Old South Sea House, London 
 
 terms of the Treaty of Utrecht (§515). It had been very suc- 
 cessful and had paid good dividends on its stock. As the 
 wealth of Spanish America was believed to be boundless, the 
 success of the company was thought to be assured. The South 
 Sea Company now offered to buy up the national debt, on which 
 a heavy rate of interest was paid, and so great was the con- 
 fidence in the resources of the corporation that a bill passed Par- 
 liament (1720) allowing holders of the national debt to exchange 
 their government securities for the company's stock. Thousands 
 took advantage of this permission and the shares of the company 
 rose from ;£i30 to ;£iooo. Not only this, but the success of 
 
SIR ROBERT WALPOLE 
 
 423 
 
 the South Sea Company encouraged the wildest speculation even 
 for the most absurd purposes.^ 
 
 It was not long before the reaction came. So many fraudulent 
 schemes were exposed that public confidence was destroyed in all 
 schemes, including the great company, and in one month its shares 
 fell from ^1000 to ^i 75, while most of the other schemes collapsed. 
 Public indignation was great, especially against the ministry of the 
 crown and the directors of the South Sea Company. The latter were 
 disgraced and their property seized and sold and the proceeds 
 awarded to the sufferers. The conduct of the ministers of the 
 crown was investigated. One of them was expelled for corruption, 
 one committed suicide, one died of apoplexy, and one who was 
 acquitted resigned his office and soon afterwards died.^ 
 
 529. Sir Robert Walpole. 1 721.— The fall of the Whig 
 ministry brought the opposing faction into power. Fortunately for 
 Sir Robert Walpole, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, he had 
 been out of office when the speculation was at its height, and he 
 had written against the scheme ; so, though he had accepted 
 office before the crash, no one could blame him for the disasters. 
 He was believed to be the man needed to meet the emergency, 
 and in 1721 he became not only first lord of the treasury (the 
 chief man in the cabinet) but also chancellor of the exchequer. 
 He was the best financier of his time and one of the best in Eng- 
 lish history. He held his post as prime minister for twenty-one 
 years, the longest tenure of that office in English annals.^ He was 
 born in 1676 of a good family; he was educated for the church 
 at Eton and Cambridge, but on the death of his elder brother he 
 
 1 Some of the objects for which men seriously ventured their money were : to make 
 salt water fresh ; to extract silver from lead ; to import large donkeys from Spain ; and 
 even for " an undertaking which shall hereafter be revealed," the projector giving 
 no idea of the character of the enterprise, but nevertheless finding many supporters. 
 
 2 There is no doubt that the directors of the company suffered unduly. They 
 had been guilty of bribery and had been very unwise in their administration, but 
 they had done nothing illegal in their management. 
 
 2 Walpole was nominally out of office for a few days at the time of the death of 
 George I (§ 531), but they can hardly be counted, as nothing was done in the 
 interval. 
 
424 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 succeeded to the family estates, and entered Parliament at the age 
 of twenty-four and continued a member until raised to the peerage 
 in 1742. He had a remarkably clear head for business, and the 
 duties of his office were transacted like those of a banker. He 
 had the knack of managing men, and was one of the most skillful 
 of pohtical leaders. Like many of the prominent men of his time, 
 his private life was immoral, and his conversation was, even for 
 that day, unusually gross. He cared little for literature and art, 
 and his recreation was fox-hunting. Though accused of enrich- 
 ing himself at the public expense, his enemies were unable to find 
 proof of their charges, and posterity has acquitted him of this ac- 
 cusation. Like others he made use of bribery and bought and 
 sold votes and made use of the offices within his gift to further his 
 ends, but not as would seem for his personal benefit. 
 
 530. Walpole's Policy; Death of George I. 1727. — His favor- 
 ite motto was " Let well alone." He has been charged with being 
 an enemy to reform, jealous of rivals, and fond of peace at any 
 price.'- The charges are in the main unjust, for he saw clearly 
 that peace at home and abroad was essential to real prosperity, 
 and rather than disturb that, he was willing to sacrifice even those 
 things that he would have been glad to see changed. This fact 
 explains his attitude toward Dissenters and his slowness to grant 
 them privileges which might awaken hostility in the Tory and 
 High Church factions. The proof of the shrewdness of his policies 
 is shown by the vast strides in wealth and prosperity made by 
 England during his lease of power. While the prosperity was 
 ultimately due to natural causes, Walpole by his poHcy afforded 
 a favorable opportunity for these causes to work. He believed 
 in colonial expansion and favored the trade of the colonies, grant- 
 ing them special trading privileges, and more than once refused to 
 allow laws to be passed restricting colonial interests. He was 
 
 1 On one occasion he said, " The most pernicious circumstances in which this 
 country can be are those of wBjr ; as we must be losers while it lasts and cannot be 
 great gainers when it ends." 
 
WALPOLE^S POLICY 
 
 425 
 
 lax in enforcing the Navigation Acts (§ 443) which would 
 operate to the disadvantage of the colonies. His principle was 
 " the greater the prosperity of the colonies, the greater would be 
 their demand for English goods ; and that was the true way in 
 which to turn colonies into 
 a source of wealth to a 
 mother country." 
 
 Among the beneficial 
 acts of Walpole was a re- 
 form of the tariff laws. He 
 placed many articles of im- 
 port and export on the free 
 list and reduced duties, 
 especially on the neces- 
 saries of life. In one case 
 his plan for a reform of 
 taxation nearly cost him 
 his position. This was the 
 famous Excise (or Internal 
 Revenue) Bill. Those who 
 fancied themselves injured 
 
 by the plan set up such a strong opposition, and created so much 
 excitement, that Walpole deemed it wise to withdraw the bill, 
 though it could have been passed. He declined to pass a measure 
 which might have to be carried out by arms, saying, " I will not 
 be the minister to enforce taxes at the expense of blood." 
 
 George I, while on his way to Hanover, was struck down with 
 apoplexy and died near Osnabriick, 1727. 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, ix, §§ 7-10; Gardiner, StudenCs 
 History, chaps, xlii-xlv (§ 19); Terry, History, Part IV, chaps, i-iii, p. 877; 
 Tout, Advanced History, Book VI, chaps, vi-vii, Book VII, chap, i; Traill, 
 Social England, vol. IV, chap, xvi; Adams and Stephens, Select Docu- 
 ments, §§ 235-248; Cheyney, Readings, chap, xvii, §§ i-iii; Colby, Selec- 
 tions, §§ 83-89; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 102, 115; Lee, Source-Book, 
 §§ 189-195- 
 
 Sir Robert Walpole, afterwards Earl 
 OF Orford 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT AND PARTY GOVERNMENT ' 
 
 (Continued) 
 
 531. George II (1683-1760). 1727. — George II was forty- i 
 
 four at the time of his accession. He was perhaps quite as i 
 German in his tastes as his father, but was able to speak Enghsh 
 
 fluently. He was a brave soldier, he had a good knowledge of , 
 foreign politics, and understood British affairs fairly well. He was 
 
 businesslike, inclined to be just, but like his family, frequently un- • 
 
 reasonable and always obstinate. Immoral in his private life as | 
 
 his father had been, he was unlike him in that he had, and justly, . 
 
 the highest respect for his wife and for her judgment.^ *' He | 
 
 hated his eldest son with the greatest bitterness, much more ; 
 
 bitterly than his father hated him." He was avaricious and | 
 
 niggardly and disliked nothing so much as spending money or ' 
 
 giving it away. In person he was small and dapper, and while ! 
 
 not handsome, was far from commonplace in appearance. 1 
 
 As George I had hated his son it had been needful for Walpole i 
 
 also to be opposed to him, so when George II came to the throne 1 
 
 he had no mind to retain Walpole in office. His first act was ; 
 to offer the position of prime minister to Sir Spencer Compton, 
 
 speaker of the Commons, but his incapacity for the office was so ! 
 
 clearly shown that before George made his first speech to Parlia- I 
 
 ment, through the influence of Queen Caroline, who was fully ! 
 
 aware of Walpole's ability, Walpole was restored to his post. ; 
 
 iHis wife was Caroline of Anspach; they were married in 1705. She was ! 
 
 " alert, sprightly, and keen . . . the impersonation of good sense." How her power i 
 
 over him was regarded is shown by a couplet of the time : J 
 
 " You may strut, dapper George, but 'twill all be in vain; f 
 
 We know 'tis Queen Caroline, not you, who reign." j 
 
 425 J 
 
REIGN OF GEORGE II 
 
 427 
 
 532. Increasing Power of Walpole. — The new Parliament met 
 with a Whig majority in 1728. Selfish as Walpole undoubtedly 
 was, he had the right idea of the character of a government for 
 Great Britain. Before Walpole's time each member of a cabinet 
 administered the affairs of 
 
 his department very much 
 as he pleased, and for his 
 own interests. Walpole be- 
 lieved that as he had the 
 responsibility he should 
 direct the course of the 
 government, especially as 
 all looked to him for the 
 financial means to carry on 
 the business of state. 
 Gradually he got rid of 
 troublesome ministers, and 
 practically ruled alone, his 
 companions being men of 
 second-rate ability. 
 
 533. Opposition Party. — The opposition party received re- 
 cruits from the Tories. Bolingbroke, having obtained permission, 
 returned to England (1723) (§ 524), and immediately began 
 to organize a new Tory Party supporting the Hanoverian dynasty, 
 for he saw that the cause of the Stuarts was lost. He associated 
 himself with the old Tories, the discontented Whigs, and' later 
 with Frederick, Prince of Wales, thus forming the opposition 
 party to Walpole, who was attacked with the greatest vigor both 
 by means of the press and also in Parliament. They called 
 themselves " Patriots " and " patriot Whigs," claiming for them- 
 selves every patriotic virtue. 
 
 534. Walpole's Domestic and Foreign Policies. — Walpole's 
 domestic policy was acceptable to the money and substantial 
 interests, but his administration of foreign affairs was not popular, 
 
 George II 
 
428 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 though he had acted with extraordinary skill in furthering the 
 cause of peace in Europe. Queen Caroline, who had steadily 
 used her influence with the king in Walpole's favor, died in 1737. 
 
 Walpole neither cared for literature nor appreciated the value 
 of literary support. Bolingbroke, Gay, Swift, Arbuthnot, and 
 Pope, all writers of ability, wrote for the opposition and often 
 directly and bitterly against Walpole. He also undervalued the 
 assistance of young men, calling them " the boys, " and affected 
 to despise them. 
 
 535. Spain; War of Jenkins's Ear, 1739; Walpole Resigns, 
 1742. — By the Treaty of Utrecht (§ 515) England had been 
 restricted to "one ship a year" in trading with the Spanish 
 colonies. But by means of various subterfuges this trade was 
 increased, and there was also much smuggling. This incensed 
 Spain, already angry with England for her retention of Gibraltar. 
 Spain not only claimed, but exercised, the right of searching vessels 
 in the West Indies for contraband goods. There were also stories 
 of great cruelty practiced by Spaniards against Englishmen seized 
 for smuggling or other violations of the maritime or custom laws. 
 One case brought prominently before the country was that of a 
 Captain Jenkins, who, claiming that his ear had been cut off by- 
 the Spaniards, exhibited the ear in proof of his assertions.^ 
 Walpole was forced to declare war against Spain, and the " War of 
 Jenkins's ear" (1739) was the result. This conflict was an unsuc- 
 cessful one and seriously injured Walpole's prestige. 
 
 When a new Parliament met, it was found that his majority was 
 small. He was defeated in a contested election case, and then 
 resigned, 1742. He was created Earl of Orford and entered the 
 House of Lords. His health failed and he died in 1745. Thus 
 closed a long and successful career. He had entered office when 
 affairs in England were gloomy; he left it with England pros- 
 perous as she had never been before. 
 
 1 The story of Jenkins was long disbelieved in by many, but documentary evi- 
 dence has recently turned up confirming his tale. 
 
WAR OF THE AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION 
 
 429 
 
 536. War of the Austrian Succession. 1 740-1 748. — Mean- 
 time the Emperor Charles VI had died (1740), and, according to 
 the Pragmatic Sanction, his daughter Maria Theresa was the 
 successor to his hereditary dominions.^ The Elector of Bavaria, 
 who had been chosen Emperor as Charles VII, claimed the 
 Austrian dominions as a male heir, and was supported in his claim 
 by France and Spain. Thus began the War of the Austrian 
 Succession (i 740-1748), carried on not only in Europe, but also in 
 the colonies as well. In the American Colonies the war between 
 England and France was known as King George's War ( 1 744-1 748). 
 
 537. War with France and Spain ; The Young Pretender, 1745. 
 — The real stake at issue in this conflict was colonial and maritime 
 supremacy. France, to divert the attention of England, planned 
 (1744) an invasion of England in favor of Charles Edward, the son 
 of the Pretender,^ and hence called the Young Pretender. Had 
 not a severe storm wrecked the fleet intended to carry the Young 
 Pretender, an invasion would have followed. 
 
 Meanwhile Charles Edward gathered together a few followers, 
 and with only two ships sailed for Scotland to attempt to win 
 over the Highland clans to his cause. He landed with seven 
 companions (July 25, 1745) at Moidart on the west coast. Re- 
 ceived at first with coolness, enthusiasm was soon aroused, and a 
 small force gathered around him. The English commander in 
 Scotland was an incompetent man, and Charles gained a victory 
 at Prestonpans (September 21, 1745), which gave him the control 
 of Scotland. He proclaimed his father as James VIII of Scot- 
 land at Edinburgh, and remained two months in the capital. 
 
 1 Charles VI had been elected emperor of Germany at the death of his brother 
 Joseph in 171 1, and had succeeded him as Archduke of Austria. He had no son 
 and wished his daughter to succeed to his Austrian possessions. No woman had 
 held this position, and to insure her succession he issued a document called a 
 Pragmatic Sanction, and presented it to the chief powers of Europe to secure their 
 support or sanction. England was one of those that signed. 
 
 2 James, the " Old Pretender," was advanced in years, and it was planned that 
 his son should act as his regent. Ciiarles Edward was twenty-four years old, and 
 very attractive in manners and person. 
 
430 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 538. The Young Pretender in England, 1 745 ; CuUoden, 1 746. 
 — Disappointed in the failure of the lowland Scots to support 
 him, he decided to march into England, an undertaking which 
 even his own supporters regarded as foolhardy. In England 
 he received Httle or no support, and on reaching Derby his 
 condition became critical, for his soldiers, unaccustomed to cam- 
 paigning, were getting weary, and large royalist forces were collect- 
 ing to attack him. By the advice of his officers he returned reluc- 
 tantly to Scotland.^ He retired with a dwindling army towards 
 Inverness, and at Culloden Moor met with a crushing defeat by 
 the much larger royal army under the Duke of Cumberland (April 
 16, 1746). Every effort was made to capture Charles Edward, 
 but though a reward of ^30,000 was offered for him, he was not 
 betrayed, and after a series of most romantic adventures he 
 escaped to France. 
 
 539. Severe Measures in Scotland; End of the Stuarts. — The 
 punishment meted out to the Jacobites was severe ; three Scottish 
 nobles were executed, and about eighty other persons were put to 
 death with all the barbarous customs which, even in the middle of 
 the eighteenth century, were regarded as allowable by the upper 
 classes, and were witnessed by crowds of the lower classes with a 
 vulgar but eager appetite for the horrible. In addition to this, 
 very many were transported, and the clans were disarmed and 
 forbidden to wear their national costume. ^ Garrisons were stationed 
 at various places, and the hereditary jurisdiction of the chiefs was 
 abolished. As one result of this policy there were many emigrations. 
 Population became sparse in many parts, and the Highlands never 
 regained their former condition. 
 
 From this time the fortunes of Charles Edward became worse 
 and worse. As a young man he was handsome, affable, brave to 
 daring, and was possessed of considerable intelligence ; but, hke 
 
 1 It is possible that, had Charles followed his own wishes and pushed on to 
 London, which was unprepared to resist him, he might have succeeded in 
 gaining for a short time the crown of England. 
 
 2 This restriction was removed at a later period. 
 
END OF THE STUARTS 43 1 
 
 all his family, he was obstinate. It is said that he acquired the 
 habit of drinking to excess during his Scottish campaigns ; however 
 that may be, in later Hfe he became a confirmed profligate and 
 lost all his friends. He died at Rome in 1 788, leaving no child to 
 inherit his claims.^ His only brother, Henry, entered the Catholic 
 priesthood, was made a cardinal, and died 1807. With him the 
 direct Stuart line ended.^ 
 
 540. Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. 1748. — Meanwhile the War of 
 the Austrian Succession continued. The French were successful 
 in the Austrian Netherlands ; but they found the Dutch no easier to 
 conquer than in the days of Louis XIV. What success they had 
 in Europe was more than balanced by the loss of Cape Breton in 
 America, and other colonial possessions, and by their defeats at 
 sea. The Spaniards had been plundered in the Pacific by Com- 
 modore Anson, a British sailor, who, circumnavigating the globe 
 in his voyage, almost repeated the story of Drake, and hke Drake, 
 was himself rewarded with a title. 
 
 By 1748 the contestants were ready for peace and the Treaty of 
 Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) was signed (October 7), which recognized 
 Maria Theresa, and also the Hanoverian succession in England, 
 provided that the Pretender should be expelled from France, and 
 settled some other minor points of dispute. 
 
 541. Reformation of Calendar. 1752. — In 1751, Frederick, 
 Prince of Wales, died, and his son, thirteen years old, afterwards 
 
 1 The times of the Young Pretender are immortahzed in Scott's Wavcr/ey, and 
 other of the Waverley novels, and also in many songs, especially those by Lady 
 Nairne, 
 
 2 During the last years of Henry, George III allowed him a pension of ^4000 a 
 year. At his death in 1807 Henry left to the English monarch the crown jewels 
 which James H had taken with him in his flight from England in 1688. George IV 
 erected in St. Peter's, Rome, a fine monument by Canova to the memory of the ex- 
 iled Stuarts. Queen Victoria, on a visit to Paris, seeing that the monument to James 
 II at St. Germain's was dilapidated, had it renewed at her own expense. She had 
 to the last a fondness for her Stuart ancestry. The " legitimate Stuart heir," by the 
 strict laws of hereditary descent, is a member of the family of the Dukes of Modena 
 (Italy), lineal descendants of Henrietta, daughter of Charles I, who married the 
 Duke of Orleans and died in 1670. 
 
432 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 George ^11^ became the heir to the throne. In 1752 the calendar 
 was reformed by the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, known 
 as the " New Style," which had already been adopted by most of 
 the European nations. The year was made to begin with January 
 ist instead of March 25th, and in order to make the reckoning 
 conform to the new style eleven days were dropped in the month 
 of September, the third of that month being called the 14th. So 
 many persons did not understand the need of the change that there 
 was considerable excitement and the matter was made a political 
 one. Some even cried out, " Give us back our eleven days."^ 
 
 542. William Pitt. — At the retirement of Walpole there was 
 no man fitted to take his place, but there was a young man coming 
 into public notice, who was shortly to become one of England's 
 ablest statesmen ; this was William Pitt, afterwards known as "the 
 Great Commoner," though as a matter of fact he was the repre- 
 sentative of the influential Whig families rather than of the 
 people. William Pitt, born in 1708, was educated at Eton and 
 Oxford ; owing to ill health he did not complete his course at the 
 university, but spent some time in foreign travel. Entering 
 Parliament in 1735 as a member for Old Sarum,^ he first attracted 
 attention by his eloquence. Unfortunately there was no accurate 
 system of reporting in those days, but judging by the accounts of 
 those who heard him and by the effects produced, it is perhaps 
 safe to say that he has never been surpassed in the halls of Par- 
 liament.^ He was tall and handsome in appearance, but haughty 
 and affected in his manners, self-confident, and often overbearing. 
 
 1 With the exception of Russia, all civilized nations now employ the Gregorian 
 calendar, so called from Pope Gregory XIII (1572-1585), under whose patronage 
 the system was devised. 
 
 2 This was what was known as a " family borough," that is, there were so few 
 voters that one family was able to control the election. Old Sarum was perhaps 
 the most glaring example of the kind; at the time of the Reform Bill of 1832 it is 
 said that there were no residents, and two members of Parliament were elected by a 
 single property holder. 
 
 3 It was said of his eloquence " that it impressed every hearer with the conviction 
 that there was something in him even finer than his words; that the man was in- 
 finitely greater than the orator." 
 
BEGINNINGS OF COLONIAL EMPIRE 
 
 41 '> 
 
 On the other hand, he was upright, earnest, patriotic, and in an age 
 when few pubHc men hesitated to take bribes or to use pubHc 
 position for private advantage, Pitt was stainlessly honest and never 
 bettered his private fortune or position at the public expense. 
 Ambitious as he was, he never hesitated to oppose the popular 
 opinion if he believed 
 that it was in error. 
 
 543. Colonial Em- 
 pire in India and 
 America. — The 
 Treaty of Aix-la- 
 Chapelle (1748) 
 (§ 540) left unsettled 
 the question of the 
 control of the great 
 colonial empire 
 which was opening 
 before the nations of 
 Europe. Spain was 
 barely able to hold 
 what she had gained, 
 and the great com- 
 petitors for what was 
 
 left were France and England. The fields of action were India 
 and America. Ever since the fifteenth century India had been an 
 object of desire to European nations, and the English East India 
 Company (founded in 1600) had been very successful. It possessed 
 trading posts at Fort William (Calcutta), Bombay, Fort St. George 
 (Madras), and at other places. The French had not been idle, and 
 they also had trading posts at various points, the most important 
 of which was Pondicherry, not far from Madras. 
 
 544. French Policy in India ; Clive ; " Black Hole of Calcutta." 
 1766. — For many years the rivalry between the French and Eng- 
 lish in India had been commercial rivalry alone, but now cir- 
 
 VViLLiAM Pitt, First Earl of Chatham 
 
434 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 cumstances were such that political rivalry was almost inevitable. 
 India had been controlled by the great Mogul empire which had 
 lately broken up ; and the number of small states which had been 
 formed was the cause of much confusion. 
 
 The French general-commandant, Dupleix, an able and ambitious 
 
 man, believed that 
 by setting the na- 
 tives against one 
 another he could 
 gain for France a 
 commanding posi- 
 tion in India. He 
 also saw the possi- 
 bility of so training 
 native troops that 
 large numbers of 
 recruits from France 
 could be dispensed 
 with. As early as 
 the war of the Aus- 
 trian Succession he 
 had begun to carry out his policy and had captured Madras from 
 the English, but had been compelled to restore it by the terms 
 of peace. But he had met his match in a young Englishman, 
 Robert Clive,^ who was so successful that Dupleix was recalled by 
 
 1 Robert Clive, the son of a bankrupt Shropshire squire, was an unruly lad, and 
 when at the age of eighteen he was offered a clerkship in the East India Company's 
 service in India, he accepted it. His early adventures form a romantic if not 
 tragic story. It was not long before he entered the military service, and soon 
 showed his ability. He rapidly rose in position, and defeated the French and 
 natives in many engagements, some of them against great odds. Invalided to 
 England in 1753, he paid his father's debts. Returning to India- in 1755, he again 
 entered upon a career of great military success. Returning to England, he was a 
 member of Parliament (1760-1774), He was created Baron Clive in the Irish 
 peerage. He was again in India (1765-1766) and showed himself equally successful 
 in civil affairs. He returned to England for the last time in 1766. He was vigor- 
 ously attacked by his political enemies and those whose enmity he had incurred in 
 
 Robert, Lord Clive 
 
THE BRITISH IN INDIA 
 
 435 
 
 India. Worried at these attacks and in poor health, he committed suicide when 
 but forty-nine (1774) . His conduct in more than one instance was open to question 
 according to modern ideas, but he must be judged in accordance with the standards 
 
436 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the French government (1754). In 1756 the Nawab^ of Bengal, 
 angered against the Enghsh, attacked Calcutta, which was unpre- 
 pared, and captured it. The English were treated without mercy. 
 One hundred and forty-six prisoners were confined in a room less 
 than twenty feet square on one of the hottest nights (June 20, 
 1756) of a tropical climate. The guards were deaf to all en- 
 treaties, and the sufferings of the prisoners were terrible. In the 
 morning only twenty-three survivors, weak and ghastly, were 
 dragged out. "The Black Hole of Calcutta" remains in history 
 as an awful example of suffering.^ Clive hastened to avenge this 
 act, retook Calcutta, and later, at the battle of Plassey (June 23, 
 1757), inflicted a crushing defeat upon a vastly larger force of 
 natives, secured Bengal for England, and so laid the foundation of 
 England's empire in the East. 
 
 545. The War in America. 1754-1755- — Hostilities had al- 
 ready broken out between France and England in America. 
 The French controlled the valley of the St. Lawrence and had 
 established a chain of forts and trading-posts in the Mississippi 
 valley. One of the most important of their posts was Fort 
 Duquesne, at the junction of the Allegheny and Monongahela 
 rivers. Alarmed at the advance of the French, the legislature of 
 Virginia sent a small force to reconnoiterand to guard the frontier. 
 The colonists under Major George Washington were unsuccessful 
 and later were compelled to surrender to superior forces (July 4, 
 1754).^ The next year General Braddock was sent out from 
 England as commander-in-chief of the American forces. He 
 determined to secure Fort Duquesne, and against the advice of 
 Franklin, Washington, and others, attacked the French and was 
 defeated, he himself being killed (July 13, 1755). 
 
 of the age in which he lived and the circumstances which surrounded him. " He 
 was great in council, great in war, great in his exploits, which were many, and great 
 in his faults, which were few." i Nawab Surajah Dowlah (Siraj-ud-Dauld). 
 
 2 See Macaulay's famous description in his Essay o?t Clive. 
 
 3 This skirmish was really the beginning of the Seven Years' War, one of the 
 most momentous struggles in its results of any of the wars of modern times. 
 
THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR 437 
 
 546. The Seven Years' War, 1756 -1763; Political Condi- 
 tions. — In 1756 war, known as "The Seven Years' War," was 
 declared in Europe. Nominally waged to establish the balance 
 of power in Europe, the real causes of the war were commercial 
 and colonial (compare § 537). The conflict in Europe was begun 
 by Frederic the Great of Prussia invading Saxony, and the French 
 capturing Minorca from the English, both in 1756. 
 
 The English cabinet was weak, and owing to the dislike of George 
 II, Pitt was kept in the background. For about forty years the 
 English and Austrians had been on friendly terms, mainly because 
 both nations had reason to fear Prussia. Now, however, Austria, 
 believing that she could get more out of France than England, 
 made overtures to that country ; while George II, thinking that 
 it was safer to have Frederic as a friend than an enemy, joined 
 in alHance with him. The result was that Europe became divided 
 into two great leagues, — Austria, Russia, France, and Saxony on 
 the one side and Prussia and England on the other. 
 
 547. William Pitt and the War. — The early days of the war 
 were gloomy for England. News from the Continent, India, and 
 America was discouraging. The popular indignation in England was 
 great, and a new ministry was formed by the alliance of the Duke 
 of Newcastle and WilHam Pitt, whom popular demand i"orced into 
 the cabinet (1757). Pitt became secretary of state and prac- 
 tically prime minister, while Newcastle looked after the patronage. 
 
 Pitt's self-confidence stood him in good stead. " I am sure 
 that I can save the country," he is reported to have said, " and 
 I am sure that no one else can." Never perhaps has there been 
 a better example of the power of a strong and able man. He 
 had a remarkable faculty for putting the right man in the right 
 place, and defeats were soon turned into victories. He paid 
 heavy sums of money to Frederic to aid him, " for," he said, 
 " America must be conquered in Germany." 
 
 548. Results of Pitt's Policy; Quebec, 1759. — The aid and 
 encouragement of Pitt inspired confidence everywhere. Hanover, 
 
438 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 lost for a time to the French, was recovered at Minden (1759) ; 
 Admiral Hawke defeated the French at Quiberon (Brittany) 
 (1759); Louisburg (Cape Breton) was destroyed (1758); and 
 the French abandoned Fort Duquesne, which was occupied by the 
 English and renamed Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) in honor of William 
 Pitt (1758). In 1759 an expedition was sent under General 
 James Wolfe to capture Quebec. Here the French under the 
 Marquis de Montcalm made a brave defense on the Heights of 
 Abraham, a battle in which both generals fell (September 13, 1759). 
 But England won. With the fall of Montreal (1760) all Canada 
 came under British control, and with the exception of New Orleans, 
 France had lost everything on the American continent. 
 
 Though Pitt had spent enormous sums of money, the results 
 were correspondingly great. He had put England in the fore- 
 most place in naval, com.mercial, and colonial matters, he had re- 
 gained Hanover for the Georges, he had strengthened if not 
 saved Prussia, and had prevented France from gaining the 
 supremacy in Europe. 
 
 549. Death of George II, 1760; George III, 1 738-1820. — 
 Just at this time George II died (October 25, 1760) and his grand- 
 son George, the eldest son of Frederick, late Prince of Wales, 
 succeeded. George HI had been born and educated in England 
 and delighted to call himself an Englishman. These facts helped 
 very much to do away with any feeling against the House of 
 Hanover. He was twenty-two years old when he came to the 
 throne. He was of good size, and had a florid complexion, was 
 tolerably good-looking, and was generally affable in his manners. 
 " He was sincerely pious and his morality was strict." He had 
 been poorly educated, was only moderately intelligent, and was 
 narrow in his views and prejudiced. " His leading characteristic 
 was described by himself as firmness, and by those who were 
 opposed to him as obstinacy." He was a firm believer in the 
 authority of a king, and in order to secure what he believed was 
 the royal prerogative, he used all the influence he possessed, em- 
 
CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA, 1755 
 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA, 1763 
 AFTER THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 (ACCORDING TO PEACE OF PARIS) 
 
REIGN OF GEORGE III 
 
 439 
 
 ploying even bribery to further his efforts. This struggle he 
 pursued without interruption as long as he had mind and strength 
 and, by sheer obstinacy and personal good character, to a great 
 degree he gained his end. He disliked no one more than Pitt 
 and resolved, at the first 
 opportunity, to dismiss him. 
 
 550. Resignation of Pitt, 
 1761 ; Bute, Prime Minister, 
 1762. — Don Carlos of Na- 
 ples became king of Spain 
 as Charles III in 1759, and 
 in 1 761 he joined with the 
 Bourbons of France in a 
 family compact which bound 
 France, Spain, and Italy to 
 support each other against 
 England. Pitt deemed it 
 wise to declare war upon 
 Spain, but George had forced 
 into the cabinet the Earl of 
 Bute, his old tutor, who opposed the plan. Newcastle and others, 
 fearing the expense, would not support Pitt, and so he resigned 
 (1761). Bute became prime minister in 1762. A more incom- 
 petent minister England never had. Till he made his speech as 
 prime minister he had never spoken in the House of Commons 
 and knew Httle or nothing of the routine of business. 
 
 551. War with Spain; Peace of Paris, 1763. — He was com- 
 pelled, however, to begin a war against Spain which, owing to 
 the preparations that Pitt had made, was successful. The English 
 captured Manila in the Philippines, and Havana in Cuba. In 
 1763 (February 10) the Peace of Paris was signed which ended 
 the Seven Years' War. Canada and Cape Breton were given to 
 England, and the Mississippi fixed as the boundary between Louisi- 
 ana (Spanish) and the British possessions ; Havana was restored 
 
440 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 to Spain, who gave Florida in return, and also received back 
 Manila. France gave up Minorca, but received Pondicherry 
 and other places in India for trading purposes alone, and two 
 small islands^ off Newfoundland to be used only for fishing purposes. 
 To the American Colonies the terms of the peace were of incalcu- 
 lable importance, as they were now removed from fear of any hostile 
 power, except the Indians, and could expand in safety.^ 
 
 552. Grenville's Ministry, 1763; John Wilkes. — The un- 
 popular Bute was replaced by George Grenville (1763), brother- 
 in-law of Pitt. Grenville, though a fair man of business, was not 
 capable of taking in large issues and had quarreled with Pitt mainly 
 on account of the vast expenditures Pitt's poHcy had involved. 
 Grenville and his cabinet were guilty of at least two very serious 
 blunders. The first was the prosecution of John Wilkes for libel. 
 Wilkes, a sharp, unscrupulous man who cared for httle but himself, 
 had succeeded in getting elected a member of Parliament for one 
 of the London districts. He published a libel on the king in his 
 paper the North Briton, for which he was arrested on a *' general 
 warrant,"^ sent to the Tower, and his papers seized and exam- 
 ined. A member of Parliament can only be arrested for breach 
 of the peace or treason ; Wilkes was therefore discharged, and 
 suing for damages recovered ;£iooo. Next the House of Com- 
 mons voted Wilkes' paper to be a seditious libel, ordered it to be 
 burned by the common hangman, and expelled Wilkes from the 
 House. All this made him a popular hero, and the represen- 
 tative of a righteous cause, for the action of the government and 
 Parliament was regarded as an attack upon the freedom of the 
 press, and the liberties of the people-'* 
 
 1 St. Pierre and Miquelon, which she still holds (1913). 
 
 2 The treaty was made without regard to Frederic of Prussia, and he was greatly 
 angered at the action of England in thus deserting him. 
 
 3 A "general warrant" is " a warrant directed against no particular individual 
 but against suspected persons generally." 
 
 4 Three times was Wilkes elected and rejected by the House of Commons ; the 
 fourth time (1764) he was allowed to take his seat. It is strange that to a man so dis- 
 reputable as Wilkes, men should be indebted in so great a degree for such important 
 
TROUBLES WITH AMERICA 44 1 
 
 553. American Stamp Act. 1765. — The second blunder 
 which Grenville made was the passage of the celebrated Stamp 
 Act for taxing the American Colonies (1765). The object of this 
 act was to help raise funds for troops to defend the Colonies, and 
 all the funds were to be spent in America. The tax was to be 
 collected by means of stamps placed upon legal documents and 
 papers. The colonists bitterly resented this action, for, while 
 they conceded the right of Parliament to regulate trade, they 
 denied the right to tax without representation. Grenville also 
 proposed to enforce the nearly obsolete Navigation Laws. This 
 action was perhaps even more hateful to the colonists than the 
 Stamp Act, for it would seriously injure their trade. Before, how- 
 ever, the news of the action of the Americans reached England, 
 Grenville had come under the displeasure of King George, and 
 his ministry fell. The new ministry was headed by the Marquis 
 of Rockingham. He was not disposed to stir up trouble with 
 the Colonies, and so the Stamp Act was repealed, and "general 
 warrants" were declared illegal ; but the right to tax was affirmed 
 at the same time in a Declaratory Act. Again the ministry was 
 changed, this time Pitt, who had been created Earl of Chatham, 
 being a member and actually prime minister, though not officially 
 so, as the Duke of Grafton was the nominal head. 
 
 554. The Townshend Acts. 1767. — In less than a year 
 Chatham was compelled to retire on account of ill health, and 
 Charles Townshend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, determined 
 to tax America, and Parliament passed the Townshend Acts, pro- 
 viding for the taxing of glass, red and white lead, paper, tea, and 
 some other articles.^ This action again stirred up the Americans, 
 and non-importation agreements were common. Troops were 
 sent to Boston, and the " Boston Massacre " (1770) was one result 
 of the measure. All taxes were now repealed except that upon 
 
 safe-guards as the illegality of general warrants, the right of the people to elect their 
 own representatives, and the publication of parliamentary proceedings. The 
 name of Wilkes is perpetuated in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. 
 1 Townshend died in 1767. 
 
442 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 tea, but the Americans looked upon the question of taxation as a 
 matter of principle, and, on this ground, one tax was as bad as fifty. 
 
 555. Lord North, Prime Minister, 1770; The King's Policy 
 toward America. — As Lord North, who became prime minister 
 in 1770, was in accord with George's views as to the monarchy, 
 George became himself the real prime minister and introduced 
 the departmental system which Walpole had discarded. Under 
 this system each head of a department looked to the king for 
 instructions — not to the cabinet. 
 
 The news of the reception of the tea vessels at Boston, New 
 York, Philadelphia, and Charleston forced the government to 
 consider some, definite plan of action in American affairs, for 
 it was clear that either the scheme of taxation would have to 
 be abandoned, or enforced by arms. The king and his cabinet 
 resolved to force their regulations on the rebelHous colonists. As 
 the greatest outbreak had occurred at Boston, it was determined 
 to teach that city and the colony of Massachusetts a lesson which 
 would at the same time intimidate the other Colonies. So Par- 
 liament passed the various acts so familiar to Americans — the 
 Boston Port Bill, by which that port was closed to all commerce ; 
 the Transportation Bill, allowing persons accused of certain crimes 
 to be transported from Massachusetts for trial elsewhere ; the bill 
 practically revoking the charter of Massachusetts ; and the Quar- 
 tering Act, allowing soldiers to be quartered upon private families. 
 Besides this, to conciliate Canada, the Quebec Act was passed, 
 confirming certain privileges o'f the Canadians, and extending the 
 borders of Canada into territory which the Atlantic Colonies 
 beUeved of right belonged to them. 
 
 556. Crisis in American Affairs. — These acts brought on the 
 crisis in American affairs. In vain Burke and Chatham, with all 
 the power of which they were capable, had urged conciUation 
 with America ; it was not until news of the meeting of the Colo- 
 nial Congress in America reached England that the ministry began 
 to see the necessity of some conciliation. In 1775 Lord North 
 
 i 
 
WAR WITH AMERICAN COLONIES 443 
 
 carried a bill through Parliament which provided that such Colo- 
 nies as made a grant toward the expenses of the British empire 
 should be free from taxation. It was, however, too late for such 
 a concession, for the principle for which the Americans contended 
 was untouched. 
 
 The treatment of the American question in 1774 and 1775 ^Y 
 the British government was extremely ill advised. The king and 
 his ministry knew little or nothing of the true conditions in Amer- 
 ica, and were unwilling to learn from those who did know them. 
 The fact was that colonial affairs were administered, not in the 
 interests of the Colonies, but of the British government. This, 
 whether clearly understood at the time or not, was the real cause 
 of the revolt. The Stamp Act and " taxation without representa- 
 tion " were occasions rather than causes of resistance. England 
 was unprepared for war, and the difficulties of carrying on cam- 
 paigns three thousand miles from the source of supplies were 
 apparently ignored. 
 
 557. War with the American Colonies. 1775. — Actual war- 
 fare began with the battle of Lexington (x'Vpril 19, 1 775), and on the 
 Fourth of July, 1776, the thirteen colonies proclaimed their in- 
 dependence of Great Britain. It was a step not anticipated by 
 many in America, who had taken up arms simply for the redress 
 of grievances, and was opposed by many others who were called 
 loyaHsts ; but the action of the British ministry made independ- 
 ence the logical conclusion of events. Seldom has a war of 
 such importance been so badly managed on each side. England 
 sent out for the most part poor troops, many of them hired from 
 the petty German states; her generals, with one or two excep- 
 tions, were incompetent ; ^ and there was no national support at 
 home, for many of the best men in England, and a large body 
 of the people, were opposed to the war. In America, after the 
 
 1 It is also probable that some of the British generals who were Whigs were dis- 
 inclined to gain victories for a Tory government. This would explain Howe's in- 
 activity in Philadelphia (1777-1778), when he could have driven Washington from 
 Valley Forge, 
 
444 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 first year, at least, the militia could not be depended upon for 
 steady service in' the field; Congress was niggardly in its sup- 
 port of Washington, and continually failed to provide funds for 
 the necessary military expenses, being occupied much of its time 
 in petty quarrels, factions, and cabals. To the patriotism, skill, 
 and marvelous serenity and patience of Washington, more than to 
 any other one cause, the final success of the Americans was due, 
 though had it not been for the support he received from men like 
 Franklin, Robert Morris, General Greene, and others, even he 
 might have failed, and this notwithstanding the inestimable aid 
 the Americans received by the French alliance (1778). 
 
 658. Progress of the War ; French Alliance with America. — 
 During the first year of the war the Americans had rather the 
 worst of it. But later, at Saratoga, the British general, Sir John 
 Burgoyne, was forced to surrender to the Americans (October 1 7, 
 1777) — an event of vast iniportance. Great as was the effect in 
 America, it was perhaps even greater in Europe, where England 
 was not loved. France in particular had not forgotten her treat- 
 ment in the Seven Years' War, and had already been secretly 
 aiding America. Now she openly entered into a treaty with the 
 new United States, not so much from sympathy with the young 
 republic as from a desire to avenge her own humiliation. The 
 young Marquis Lafayette gave his services. Troops were sent to 
 America, and the French Admiral D'Estaing sailed to the West 
 Indies with a fleet to attack British interests in that quarter. 
 
 559. Overtures to America, 1779 ; England's Difficult Position. 
 — The British ministry now offered nearly everything which the 
 Americans had demanded, except independence, but it was too 
 late.^ Meanwhile France had declared war against England (1778) 
 and was followed by Spain (1779), and later by Holland (1780); 
 in addition Ireland was getting very resdess. But this was not all ; 
 
 ^ The recognition of the independence of the Colonies was proposed in Parlia- 
 ment, and Chatham made his last effort in opposing the motion. While rising to 
 reply he fell back in a fit of apoplexy from which he did not recover (1778). He 
 would have granted everything except independence. 
 
END OF PERSONAL RULE 
 
 445 
 
 Russia, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden in 1780 formed the Armed 
 Neutrality League for self-protection and partly with the object of 
 putting a stop to the British practice of searching vessels of neutral 
 nations. It was this combination of forces against her which pre- 
 vented Great Britain from blockading the American ports, and 
 from sending more reenforcements to her armies in America. 
 Having so many colonial possessions which she was compelled to 
 protect or lose, she could not spare men and vessels, and " we see 
 a naval war waged from the extended character of the British 
 Empire, in all quarters of the globe at once." Had she had 
 only her American Colonies to contend with, it would have gone 
 hardly with them. In the midst of this condition of affairs the in- 
 telligence of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown (Oc- 
 tober 19, 1 781) reached London, and every one felt that the war 
 with America was virtually over. 
 
 560. Ireland, 1782 ; Lord North Resigns. — The condition of 
 affairs in India was far from assuring, while the success of the 
 Americans stimulated in Ireland a feeling of independence long 
 unknown. The Irish Parliament declared its legislative independ- 
 ence of the British Parliament (i 782), and under the lead of Henry 
 Grattan passed acts looking to the relief of some of the Catholic 
 disabiUties.^ Lord North was compelled to acknowledge the 
 commercial equality of England and Ireland and to allow the Irish 
 free export of their most important commodities. It is not to be 
 wondered at that Lord North, the prime minister, felt obliged 
 to resign (February, 1782) against the king's wish. 
 
 It is now clear that most of what used to be charged to Lord 
 North was really the work of George III. " North was rather the 
 agent than the responsible adviser of the king, who himself practi- 
 cally directed the policy of the ministry, even on the minutest 
 points." The blame which justly rests upon North is that he was 
 willing to act as the tool of the king. 
 
 1 All these measures were the work of Protestants, for the Catholics still had no 
 voice in Irish affairs. 
 
446 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 561. End of Personal Rule, 1782; Whig Ministry. — With 
 
 the fall of North's ministry the strictly personal rule and depart- 
 mental system of King George came to an end, and from hence- 
 forth government by a responsible ministry was assured. The new 
 ministry, to the indignation of the king, had to be composed 
 
 of Whigs. Rock- 
 ingham became 
 prime minister and 
 among his asso- 
 ciates were Charles 
 James Fox and the 
 Earl of Shelburne ; 
 while Edmund 
 Burke, though not 
 in the cabinet, oc- 
 cupied a subordi- 
 nate position in the 
 government. The 
 new ministry faced 
 no easy task. Ire- 
 land must be paci- 
 fied, economical re- 
 form instituted, and 
 above all the war 
 ended. Legislative 
 independence was 
 granted to Ireland, 
 the old Poynings' Act (§ 217) was modified, and other conciliatory 
 measures adopted. Some important bills in the direction of eco- 
 nomical and political reform were passed, but the ministry and 
 Parliament were half hearted, for their chief desire was to limit 
 royal power rather than to reform abuses. 
 
 562. Shelburne Ministry; William Pitt, the Younger, 1782. 
 — Before the question of foreign affairs had progressed far, Rock- 
 
 WiLLiAM Pitt, the Younger 
 
PEACE WITH AMERICA 
 
 447 
 
 ingham died and Shelburne became prime minister. In his cab- 
 inet a new man came into office, whose name was to be indeUbly 
 fixed in EngHsh history — WiUiam Pitt, the second son of WilHam 
 Pitt, Earl of Chatham. Entering Parliament in 1 781, before he was 
 twenty-two, he at once made his mark, and now at twenty-three 
 he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, and he became 
 leader in the House of Commons. 
 
 The first work of the new ministry was to bring about peace. 
 All parties agreed on the acknowledgment of the independence 
 of America; the only question was upon what terms. A pre- 
 liminary treaty was made in 1782. 
 
 563. Peace with America; United States Acknowledged, 1783. 
 — At last, on January 20, 1783, a treaty of peace was signed at 
 Paris between Great Britain and the United States, acknowledging 
 the independence of the latter and making the Mississippi the 
 western limit, and the southern boundary of Canada and New 
 Brunswick, the northern limit, of the new repubhc. The same day 
 were signed at Versailles prehminary treaties with France and 
 Spain.^ Spain regained Minorca and Florida, and restored the 
 Bahamas to Great Britain, which retained Gibraltar. 
 
 564. Coalition Ministry, 1783 ; Fox's India Bill. — Before the 
 negotiations were concluded Shelburne's ministry had fallen, and 
 George III was compelled to assent to what was called the ^' Coali- 
 tion Ministry." ^ The Duke of Portland was the nominal head of 
 the cabinet, but it was really directed by Fox and North. 
 
 George III hated this combination and determined to get rid 
 of this cabinet. His opportunity came when a bill for the reorgan- 
 ization of the government of India, introduced by Fox and passed 
 by the Commons, was brought before the Lords. Originally 
 simply a trading association, the East India Company had become 
 the ruler of large provinces and a vast population. That this 
 
 1 Later, peace was made with Holland, neither party gaining much advantage by 
 the war. 
 
 2 " Coalition," the name applied to a union in a government or cabinet of men 
 of different political parties or factions. 
 
448 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 was an unwise condition goes without saying. Fox's bill proposed 
 that the national government should assume all authority by means 
 of a governing board. But the plan infringed on the prerogatives 
 of the crown, as the governing board was at first to be appointed 
 by Parliament. The management of the commercial business was 
 to be intrusted to a second board appointed by the first. The 
 bill was not popular, and George III authorized Lord Temple to 
 say to the Lords that *' whoever voted for the bill was not only not 
 the king's friend, but would be considered by him an enemy." 
 This was sufficient, and the Lords by a small majority rejected the 
 bill.i 
 
 The Commons and the ministry resented the king's action and 
 the ministry refused to resign. Late at night the king sent for the 
 seals of the office and dismissed the ministry, refusing even to see 
 them. 
 
 565. First Pitt Ministry, 1783. — The king promptly sent 
 for William Pitt and requested him to form a new ministry. Thus 
 before he was twenty-five William Pitt was prime minister of Eng- 
 land and chancellor of the exchequer (December 19, 1783). 
 His appointment " was received in the House of Commons with 
 derisive laughter." There was a strong opposition having a major- 
 ity of fifty, and embracing with perhaps a single exception every 
 good debater and speaker but himself.^ 
 
 So few prominent men were on the side of Pitt in the Commons 
 that he was the only member of the cabinet in that body. De- 
 feated again and again and called upon to resign, he refused, say- 
 ing, as long as he was supported by the king he would neither 
 resign nor would a new election be ordered. Sure that he would 
 in time gain the confidence of the country, he determined to re- 
 tain his post. His judgment was not at fault. Admiration for 
 pluck, his father's name, the disHke of the former coalition minis- 
 
 1 This attempt of the king personally to influence a House of Parliament was 
 clearly unconstitutional. 
 
 2 No minister would now dare to accept office under such circumstances, but 
 would either decline, or dissolve Parliament and order a new election. 
 
FIRST PITT MINISTRY 449 
 
 try, the unskillfulness of the management of Fox and his opponents, 
 all turned to his advantage, and in March, 1 784, he felt his posi- 
 tion strong enough to appeal to the country by a new election. 
 His judgment was vindicated, and in the new House of Commons 
 he had a large majority. 
 
 The ministry, begun amid the jeers of its enemies, lasted seven- 
 teen years (i 783-1801), with the single exception of that of Sir 
 Robert Walpole (§519) the longest in English history. Pitt 
 united in himself more valuable qualities than either his father or 
 Walpole. He was an orator second to few, a skillful debater, a 
 brilliant financier, and an ardent patriot ; his readiness, his appre- 
 hension, and his resources were extraordinary. He never sought 
 his own personal financial advantage. " His life was pure ; in an 
 age of eager scandal it was beyond reproach." His manners were 
 stiff and repellent, and he would unbend only to his intimates. 
 Young men, however, found him sympathetic and inspiring, and he 
 was fond of them. He had to contend against ill health from his 
 earliest years, and, after having had one of the most brilliant po- 
 litical careers in history, he died, worn out, when not forty-seven, 
 an age at which many have yet to make their name known. 
 
 References, — Green, Short History, chaps, ix, § lo-x, § 2 ; Gardiner, Stu- 
 dent's History, chaps, xlv, § 19-xlix ; Terry, History^ Part IV, chaps, i (p. 877) 
 to V ; Tout, Advanced History, Book VII, chaps, ii-iii, § 31 ; Macaulay, Essays, 
 Lord Clive ; William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, and Earl of Chatham ; Traill, 
 Social England, vol. V, chaps, xxvii-xxviii ; Adams and Stephens, Select Doc- 
 uments^ §§ 249-254 ; Cheyney, Readings, chap, xvii, §§ iv-v, chap, xviii, §§ i, 
 iii, iv ; Colby, Selections^ §§90-101; Kendall, Source-Book, §§104-107; 
 1 1 7- 1 22; L.Qe, Source-Book. 
 
CHAPTER XXV 
 
 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
 EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 
 
 566. Great Inventions ; The Industrial Revolution. — The 
 commanding place given England in European affairs by the pol- 
 icy of William III was extended by the victories of Marlborough. 
 During the long administration of Walpole peaceful occupations 
 had developed as never before, and the increase in material pros- 
 perity and in population was great. 
 
 Old methods in manufacturing had prevailed up to the reign of 
 George III, for until the middle of the century there were, in the 
 modern sense, no mills or factories. But about that time four great 
 inventions soon changed the whole character of textile manufacture. 
 These were Hargreaves' spinning-jenny, a machine by which a 
 man could spin eight threads at once instead of one ; Arkwright's 
 system of spinning by means of rollers, which operated more rap- 
 idly than the spinning- jenny ; Crompton's mule, which combined 
 the advantages of both Arkwright's and Hargreaves' machines; 
 and later (about 1784), Cartwright's power loom, which was to 
 weaving what the mule and the jenny were to spinning. These 
 machines needed greater power than could be applied in a private 
 house and more capital than an ordinary man could furnish, and 
 so companies were formed and mills with horse or water power 
 were built. James Watt patented his steam engine in 1 769, and 
 began the manufacture of steam engines in partnership with 
 Matthew Boulton ; and in 1785 the first steam engine was used in 
 a cotton mill. So began what is well termed the Industrial Revolu- 
 tion ; or " the adoption of machinery and artificial power, the use 
 of a vastly greater amount of capital, and the collection of scat- 
 tered laborers into great, strictly regulated establishments." 
 
 450 
 
 j 
 
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 45 I 
 
 567. Iron and Coal; Movement of Population. — But the de- 
 velopment of manufacture was accompanied by other economic 
 changes. In 1760 John Roebuck discovered that iron could be 
 smelted with mineral coal as well as by the aid of charcoal. The 
 result was a vast increase in mining, in the manufacture of iron, 
 and improvements in all branches of the trade. 
 
 A striking result of the change in commerce and manufacture 
 was the change in the movement of population. Liverpool, little 
 more than a village at the beginning of the century, became a 
 great port, especially for the American trade ; Lancashire and 
 Yorkshire, hitherto almost exclusively agricultural, became the seat 
 of great mills,^ and mining and smelting operations were carried 
 on where formerly sheep and cattle grazed quietly or the farmer 
 harvested his grain and other crops. 
 
 568. Transportation ; Roads ; Canals. — But for the satisfactory 
 development of material wealth and prosperity better means of 
 transportation were needed. Up to the middle of the century the 
 roads were generally little more than track ways, deep with mud 
 in the winter, and dusty and full of ruts in the summer. Traveling 
 was slow and dangerous. " The flying machine " or fast coach 
 was three days making the journey between London and Sheffield, 
 a distance of 160 miles. The necessity for better roads was so 
 evident that before the end of the century great improvements 
 were made, and turnpikes were introduced where tolls were re- 
 quired which were applied to keeping the roads in good order. 
 This not only facihtated the transportation of goods, but also of 
 travelers, and correspondingly improved the postal service. But 
 even on good roads the carriage of heavy goods was difficult and ex- 
 pensive, and therefore attention was turned to the improvement 
 of the rivers and the building of canals. To such an extent was 
 this carried out that between 1758 and 1803 there were constructed 
 in Great Britain about three thousand miles of canals. In the 
 
 1 This was largely due to the existence of many streams which furnished water 
 power. 
 
452 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 colliery districts still another method of facilitating the transport 
 of heavy commodities such as coal and iron was devised — that 
 of laying rails, first of wood, then of iron, upon which wagons bear- 
 ing heavy loads could run with ease. 
 
 569. Greater Liberty of Action. — Down well into the middle 
 of the century the medieval idea that it was the province of the 
 government to regulate all the economic life of the people had 
 continued to find acceptance. But in the latter part of the cen- 
 tury the view gained more and more adherents that " men had a 
 right to be left free to do as they chose, so far as such freedom 
 was practicable." This view was greatly fostered by the pubhca- 
 tion (1776) of Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations y still one of the 
 greatest works on political economy. 
 
 570. Agriculture ; Land Inclosure Acts. — Great changes also 
 took place in agriculture. Small farms became less profitable, and 
 large farms, worked on less unscientific principles, grew in number. 
 Up to the middle of the century much land remained common, 
 that is, after crops were harvested the villagers had the right to 
 turn their cattle on it. But early in the reign of George III a 
 number of inclosure acts lessened greatly the amount of this com- 
 mon land, both pasture and arable. This legislation was hard on 
 the poor, for it tended to cause land more and more to fall into 
 the hands of the large holders. The number of laborers increased 
 and at the same time the number of paupers. The system of 
 Poor Laws dating from the time of Elizabeth, bad in her day, was 
 worse under the changed circumstances, so that, while the wealthy 
 and middle classes were steadily bettering their condition, that of 
 the agricultural laboring class was growing worse. Their condition 
 was intensified by the system of corn laws (first passed in 1773), 
 which restricted the importation of grain into England. 
 
 571. Religious Thought and Practice. — But it was not only in 
 commercial and material matters that great changes occurred. 
 They were as marked in the field of rehgious thought and practice. 
 There were many skeptics. The High Churchism of the reign of 
 
THE WESLEY AN MOVEMENT 453 
 
 Queen Anne and the zeal of the Dissenters had given place to a 
 cool, philosophic view of religion that laid great stress on reason 
 and external morality rather than on doctrine or on emotional ex- 
 pression. A large number of influential men disbelieved in Chris- 
 tianity and were called Deists. It is probable, though there were 
 many individual exceptions, that the general spiritual condition of 
 England had never sunk lower than in the first twenty-five or thirty 
 years of the eighteenth century. 
 
 572. Wesleyan Movement. 1730. — But a change came. 
 About 1 730 a band of young Oxford students formed a small so- 
 ciety for the purpose of mutual improvement, for Bible and reli- 
 gious study, and for practicing works of charity and benevolence. 
 They were in derision called by their fellow-students " Methodists." 
 The leading spirit in this band was John Wesley; with him were 
 associated his brother, Charles Wesley, and later George White- 
 field. John Wesley is one of the great men of history and his 
 influence has been of surpassing power. *' He was a man who 
 had made rehgion the single aim and object of his life, who was 
 prepared to encounter for it every form of danger, discomfort, and 
 obloquy ; who devoted exclusively to it an energy of will and a 
 power of intellect that in worldly professions might have raised him 
 to the highest positions of honor and wealth." Whitefield was un- 
 surpassed as an eloquent preacher, and after 1739 the Methodist 
 leaders "went about the country preaching extempore, with the 
 most intense fervor of language and gesture, and usually with a 
 complete disregard of the ordinary methods of the preachers of 
 the day." 
 
 573. Results of the Wesleyan Movement. — The effect of this 
 preaching can hardly be described ; thousands were moved to 
 a reformed and a religious life. It was natural that the clergy 
 of the Estabhshed Church should be shocked and should refuse 
 to allow such enthusiasts to occupy their pulpits. As a result the 
 preachers took to speaking in the open air ; next, as a matter 
 of necessity, chapels were built to accommodate the adherents of 
 
454 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the new preachers. A still further consequence was the organi- 
 zation of the converts into a new body, which ultimately became 
 known as the Methodists or Wesleyans. Wesley always refused to 
 withdraw from the Church of England, but after his death, in 1791, 
 the Wesleyans became a separate body both in name and in fact. 
 The importance of the Wesleyan movement lies not only in 
 strictly religious history, but in the effect it had upon the popula- 
 tion of Great Britain. Addressed largely to the lower classes, 
 it had a lasting influence upon them. It tended to call attention 
 to the importance of the individual; it placed a life of new 
 possibilities before him, raised his self-respect, and, moreover, 
 gave him a voice in a powerful organization. The influence of 
 the movement on the Church of England and other religious 
 bodies was by no means small, and perhaps no other movement 
 of the century was more far-reaching in its efl'ects. 
 
 574. Growth of Religious Toleration ; Philanthropic Move- 
 ments. — Other characteristics of the century were the decHne in 
 the spirit of persecution, and the increase in religious toleration.^ 
 Some of the disabihties of the Catholics were removed, but the 
 removal of even these ultimately led to serious riots both in Scot- 
 land and England (Lord George Gordon Riots, 1780). 
 
 Another feature of the age was the rise of philanthropic move- 
 ments, prominent among which was the effort of John Howard 
 (i 726-1 790) to improve the condition of the prisons, which 
 were but a trifle better than the scandalous ones of the seven- 
 teenth century. Another was the effort for the abolition of the 
 slave trade, in which, in the later years of the century, Thomas 
 Clarkson (i 760-1846) and William Wilberforce (175 9-1 833) 
 took such an unselfish and earnest part. 
 
 575. Dress and Social Customs. — The increase in wealth 
 among the commercial and trading classes, the improvement in 
 means of communication and transportation, and the doctrine 
 
 1 Exception must be made in the case of Catholics, for the feeling against 
 them was still very strong. 
 
SOCIAL CHANGES 
 
 455 
 
 of equality spread abroad by the philosophers, especially by 
 Rousseau of France, all tended toward a greater simplicity in 
 dress, manners, and social customs. The flowing wig, the knee 
 breeches, long waistcoats, gay colored clothing among men, and 
 swords as ornaments, gradually went out of fashion. Among 
 women, also, customs and man- 
 ners became more simple. 
 
 576. Fashionable Life; Gam- 
 bling ; Duelling. — The most 
 fashionable vice of the day was 
 gambling. Gambling naturally 
 led to the creation of large 
 debts — " debts of honor " as 
 they were called — entailing 
 great loss and often bankruptcy 
 and ruin upon the loser and his 
 family. Besides this, disputes 
 frequently arose which, accord- 
 ing to the ideas of that day, 
 could only be settled by the 
 sword or pistol. And, indeed, 
 duelling was a common method 
 of setthng any question where a man's " honor " was supposed to 
 be involved. 
 
 Drinking to excess continued to be common. One, two, or 
 even three bottles of port wine at dinner was not unusual, and 
 drunkenness in public was not especially commented upon. 
 
 The moral life of George III set a good example, and the effect 
 of the religious revival was great ; so that by the close of the 
 century much that had been treated as venial became disreputable 
 among the greater part of the community. 
 
 577. Evil Effects of the Industrial Revolution. — The Indus- 
 trial Revolution, as was inevitable, brought for the time being 
 much suffering to the poorer classes. The spinners and weavers, 
 
 An Eighteenth Century London 
 Tavern 
 
456 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and others who had worked at their homes, often from age or 
 from other causes were unfitted to work in the mills, and hence 
 were deprived of their means of living, for they were unable to 
 compete with the large manufacturers. The smaller establish- 
 ments where handwork 
 was employed were 
 also soon done away 
 with by the new power 
 machinery or factory 
 system, as it is called. 
 But with the improve- 
 ments in manufactur- 
 ing came the tendency 
 to treat the workers 
 rather as machines 
 than as human beings. Long hours of labor, dark and ill-ventilated 
 workrooms, and unhealthful and dirty dwellings were their usual 
 lot. Women and children labored as long as the men, — children 
 of nine years often working fifteen or more hours a day. There 
 were no factory or labor laws to regulate or restrict, and as the 
 workers had no vote, and were forbidden by law to form trade 
 unions, their case was indeed hard. 
 
 References. — Traill, Social England, chaps, xx-xxi; Cheyney, Industrial 
 and Social History, chaps, vii-viii (in part) ; Gardiner, Studenfs History, 
 chap. 1, §§ 22-31; Tout, Advanced History, Book VII, chap, vi; Cheyney, 
 Readings, chap, xviii, § ii; Colby, Selections, §§ 91, 93, lOO, 102, 106; 
 Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 110-I14, 1 16. 
 
 A Stagecoach of the Late Eighteenth 
 Century 
 
CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 EFFORTS FOR REFORM; FRENCH REVOLUTION; 
 NAPOLEONIC WARS 
 
 578. Pitt and Reform; India Bill (1784) ; Warren Hastings. 
 — The task presented before the younger Pitt was one of extreme 
 difficulty. Personally he was a man of peace, and earnest for 
 political and social reform, but circumstances were such that he 
 is chiefly remembered as a great war minister. He warmly sup- 
 ported the efforts of Wilberforce for the abolition of the slave 
 trade, was sincerely desirous to better the condition of Ireland, 
 and to reform the administration of India. The last matter 
 occupied his attention first, and in 1784 he carried his India Bill. 
 This provided for a Board of Control, appointed by the govern- 
 ment, the president of the board to be a cabinet minister. Po- 
 litical matters came under its duties, while all commercial matters 
 were to be managed by the Company, which also appointed the 
 commander-in-chief and the governor-general, subject to the veto 
 of the government; other political offices were to be filled by 
 the Board of Control. This plan worked so well that it lasted 
 until 1858. The first governor under this arrangement was 
 Warren Hastings.^ His administration was highly successful, but 
 on his return (1785) he was impeached on a charge of extortion, 
 oppression, and cruelty. His famous trial, begun in 1788 and 
 taken part in by Fox, Burke, and Sheridan, was to a very great 
 extent political; it lasted until 1795, when he was acquitted.^ 
 Though he had been severe and arbitrary, and he had used 
 methods not allowed in civihzed countries, he was not guilty of 
 the grave charges made against him. 
 
 1 Hastings had been govenor general since 1773. 
 
 2 It is said that the trial cost Hastings ^^79,000, and almost ruined him, 
 
 457 
 
458 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 579. Pitt and Finances. — In financial methods Pitt was, in 
 general, a follower of Adam Smith. He reduced the customs 
 duties on many articles so much that smuggling became unprofit- 
 able and at the same time legitimate trade was encouraged ; he 
 made a treaty with France which greatly increased the com- 
 merce between the two countries and nearly brought about free 
 trade ; he reduced expenditures and introduced efiiciency into 
 the administration of public business ; he did away as much as 
 possible with the opportunities for bribery and abolished many 
 sinecure offices ; and he devised plans for paying off the national 
 debt which were a credit to his character. 
 
 580. Foreign Affairs; The Regency Bill. 1 788-1 789. -7- Pitt 
 gained the friendHness of Prussia, decreased the influence of 
 France in Holland, and in 1788 formed a Triple Alliance with 
 Prussia and Holland " to maintain their common interests, and for 
 their mutual defense and guarantee against every hostile attack." 
 
 An attack of insanity befell King George in 1788, and the ques- 
 tion of a regency had to be settled; Pitt declared that in such a 
 case Parliament should decide, and referred to the example of 
 Henry VI (§ 202). Charles James Fox and his friends claimed 
 that, by virtue of his position as heir, the Prince of Wales should 
 be regent. Pitt finally brought in a bill providing for a regency 
 by the Prince of Wales, but under strict conditions. Before the 
 bill could get through Parliament the king recovered, but Pitt's 
 position was greatly strengthened by the stand he had taken. 
 
 581. The French Revolution. 1789. — In 1789 the French 
 Revolution, the most stirring event in the eighteenth century, 
 broke out. The revolution was the natural result of the policy 
 of Louis XIV, followed by the corrupt reign of Louis XV. At 
 first the French Revolution was welcomed by many in England as 
 a step forward in the cause of Hberty; but in 1790 Burke, who 
 viewed the matter with very different eyes, published his Reflec- 
 tions on the French Revolution, in which, with all his eloquence, 
 he warned his countrymen against the radicalism and dangerous 
 
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION a^q 
 
 doctrines of the French revolutionists. His book had an enor- 
 mous sale and greatly influenced public opinion, and more so as 
 the excesses of the French indicated the fulfillment of his worst 
 forebodings. 
 
 Pitt, at first inclined to sympathize with the efforts in France 
 after liberty, followed a policy of absolute neutrality. Later he 
 came gradually to Burke's opinion, and his fear of what might 
 take place, not only on the Continent but also in England, influ- 
 enced greatly his administration of public affairs. 
 
 582. France a Republic, 1792; Execution of Louis XVI; War 
 with France. 1793. — France was proclaimed a Republic in 
 
 1792 (Septeiiiber 21), and late in the year roused all the sov- 
 ereigns of Europe against her by passing two decrees. "The 
 first of these decrees promised assistance to all nations that should 
 revolt against their governments ; while the second compelled all 
 territories occupied by the French to accept the new French in- 
 stitutions." ^ These decrees were speedily followed by the execu- 
 tion of Louis XVI (January 21, 1793), and the Continent and 
 England were horrified. A few days later France declared war 
 against England and Holland. From this time for nearly twenty- 
 two years England was almost continually at war with France. 
 
 Pitt's policy was to give money to the European sovereigns to 
 fight the battles rather than to contribute many men to their 
 armies.- The administration of the navy was superior to that of 
 the army, and some of the greatest naval victories of England 
 took place during this period. 
 
 583. The "New Toryism." — In the stress of the French revo- 
 lutionary times Pitt dropped all efforts at reform and devoted his 
 attention to finance, to the war, and, perforce, to the condition of 
 
 1 The new Republic had already seized Nice and Savoy, the Low Countries, 
 and the country along the Rhine, so this was no idle threat. 
 
 2 This is called to subsidize. To such a large extent was this done that from 
 
 1793 to 1805 more than ;^9,ooo,ooo were paid by Great Britain to European states 
 in support of the struggle against France and Napoleon, and, in addition, loans of 
 about ;^6,200,ooo were made. 
 
460 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Irelande From this time also Pitt became the leader of a new 
 poHtical combination which has been called the '' New Toryism." 
 The principles of this body were defense of things as they are ; 
 opposition to all changes ; and security for the rights of property, 
 — all these being opposed to the principles enunciated by the 
 French revolutionists. Many of the Whigs joined the party, which 
 became for about thirty years the ruling one in Great Britain. 
 
 584. The Coalition against France, 1793; Bonaparte. — Eng- 
 land, having already helped Austria and Prussia with money, joined 
 in a coalition with Austria, Prussia, Spain, and Holland (i793)- 
 Notwithstanding this great array against them, the French were 
 successful, not only in protecting themselves, but also in extend- 
 ing their boundaries. Holland was captured (1795) and made 
 into the Batavian Republic; Prussia, Spain, and some of the 
 smaller states made a treaty with France, leaving England, Austria, 
 and Sardinia to continue the struggle. 
 
 A new general now appeared in France, Napoleon Bonaparte, 
 who in 1797 drove the Austrians out of Italy, and forced Austria to 
 make a peace. This left England alone against France. 
 
 585. British Success at Sea; Bonaparte's Plans to crush 
 England. — At sea, however, England had been successful, for 
 in 1795 the Cape of Good Hope and Ceylon had been taken from 
 the Dutch ; an attempt of the French to get a foothold in Great 
 Britain had proved a failure; in 1797 Admird Jervis and Com- 
 modore Nelson had defeated a Spanish fleet off Cape St. Vin- 
 cent; and the Dutch fleet was defeated off Camperdown by 
 Admiral Duncan. 
 
 Pitt was desirous of making peace, but the French, believing 
 that England was exhausted, demanded terms which were im- 
 possible for the English to accept. 
 
 Bonaparte, who was practically the master of France, resolved 
 to cripple England by destroying her trade with India. To do 
 this he set out with an army and fleet for Egypt, the key to the 
 East. He was successful in gaining Eygpt, but the English fleet 
 
WARS OF NAPOLEON 
 
 461 
 
 under Nelson defeated the French at the battle of the Nile 
 (August I, 1798), and the advance of the French in Syria was 
 checked at St. Jean d'Acre by Sir Sidney Smith (1799). Napo- 
 leon's plans had failed. 
 
 586. Second Coalition against 
 France, 1799; French Suc- 
 cesses. — Meantime a new coali- 
 tion of England, Austria, and 
 Russia was formed, and France 
 seemed in a critical condition. 
 But Napoleon, leaving his army 
 in Egypt, returned to France, 
 overthrew the weak government 
 of the Directory, which had been 
 formed in Paris, caused himself 
 to be appointed First Consul, 
 with practically autocratic powers, 
 and set himself to regain the 
 power and prestige of France. 
 
 The strong government of Napo- 
 
 « 
 
 leon was welcomed by the majority of the people. Through his 
 wonderful energy and ability. Napoleon won back Italy by a 
 series of brilliant victories, induced Russia to leave the coali- 
 tion, and forced Austria to make a humiliating peace (1801). 
 
 Russia now formed an armed neutrality agreement between 
 the northern powers, including herself, which declined to allow 
 Great Britain to search neutral vessels for enemies' goods. This 
 action England regarded as hostile, and a fleet under Admiral 
 Parker and Nelson was dispatched to the Baltic. The Danish 
 fleet was defeated off Copenhagen, and England gained control of 
 the Baltic. England was supreme at sea as Napoleon was on land. 
 
 587. Restrictive Laws ; Ireland. — Meantime domestic affairs 
 were claiming the serious attention of the British government. 
 Through fear of revolutionary movements, stringent legislation had 
 
 Napoleon Bonaparte 
 After the portrait by Paul Delaroche 
 
462 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 been passed in England, the most repressive of which was the 
 suspension (1794) of the Habeas Corpus Act.^ In thi« legisla- 
 tion Pitt was supported by the great majority of the people. 
 
 The Irish Parliament (§ 560) was wholly Protestant and the 
 large Catholic population was unrepresented. Some of the 
 Protestants, led by Henry Grattan, with whom Pitt sympathized, 
 wished to have Catholics sit in the Parliament ; others were bit- 
 terly opposed, because they believed that Protestant ascendancy 
 would be lost. The Protestants were divided, and the EngHsh 
 government by means of influence and bribery controlled the 
 ParUament. 
 
 588. " United Irishmen ; " " Orangemen." — Stirred up as Irish- 
 men had been by the American Revolution, the French Revolu- 
 tion had a great effect upon them. A society to work for 
 Catholic emancipation, parliamentary and other reforms was 
 organized and called the "United Irishmen. "^ This movement 
 soon resulted in a purpose to gain the complete independence of 
 the island. On the other side, the extreme Protestants formed an 
 organization first called " Orange Lodges," and then the " Orange- 
 men."^ Between these two extremes was the great body of the 
 people. In 1793 a Catholic Relief Bill was passed by which 
 Catholics were given the right to vote for members of Parliament, 
 but were not allowed to be elected to Parliament — a measure 
 that could do but little good. 
 
 589. France and Ireland, 1796; Irish Rebellion, 1798. — 
 That the United Irishmen should make overtures to France, and 
 that France should see in Ireland a chance to injure England, was 
 a legitimate result of the state of affairs. In 1796, after the news 
 of the coalition between England, Austria, and Prussia, the French 
 Directory prepared to invade Ireland with 25,000 men under 
 
 1 Others were the Alien Bill, requiring all foreigners to state their business and to 
 be registered ; the Traitorous Correspondence Bill, extending and defining the law 
 of treason; and the Seditious Meetings Bill. 
 
 2 So called because at first it was the purpose to unite both Catholics and Prot- 
 estants in the movement. ^ go called after William of Orange. 
 
REBELLION IN IRELAND 
 
 463 
 
 General Hoche. The expedition started and some vessels reached 
 Bantry Bay, but owing to severe storms the attempt was a failure. 
 Troubles arose in the north of Ireland between the Orangemen 
 and Catholics, and the latter were severely treated by the govern- 
 
 Sackville Street, Dublin, Latter Part of the Nineteenth Century 
 
 ment troops, torture even being used to discover where arms were 
 concealed. 
 
 In 1798 there was actual rebellion, and for some time a reign 
 of terror existed in the island. The Protestant victors inflicted 
 upon the insurgents atrocities too terrible to describe. 
 
 590. The Union of England and Ireland. 1800. — Pitt now 
 came to the conclusion that the only way to keep the peace was 
 to unite Ireland and England under one government. But by 
 the agreement of 1782 this could not be done unless the Irish 
 Parliament was willing to vote its own dissolution. The means 
 taken to accomplish this did not seem out of the way in the 
 eighteenth century. There were in Ireland, as in England, 
 boroughs returning members to Parliament which were controlled 
 
464 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 by some rich man or noble.^ Therefore, to gain a majority in 
 the Parliament, the EngUsh government bought seats of the own- 
 ers, bestowed titles of nobility where it was thought they would 
 be useful, gave pensions, and, to some extent, used direct bribery. 
 By this means the Irish Parliament in 1800 was brought to 
 approve of a scheme of union which was accepted by the Eng- 
 lish Parliament and received the royal approval (August 2, 1800). 
 
 591. Terms of the Irish Union; Resignation of Pitt, 1801. — 
 The union went into . effect on January i, 1801. The Irish 
 Parliament was abolished and the people of Ireland were to 
 be represented in the British Parliament by 100 members in the 
 House of Commons, and by thirty-two Irish representative peers ^ 
 in the Lords. These were chosen for life by the body of the Irish 
 nobles. The crown, moreover, was not to increase the number of 
 Irish peers by the creation of new peerages. There was to be free- 
 dom of trade between Great Britain and Ireland, but the law 
 courts and the executive departments of government were separate. 
 
 The Catholics took no active part in these arrangements and 
 iheir interests were not directly looked after.^ It was, however, 
 understood that something would be done for them. Pitt intended 
 to give them representation in Parliament and other rights, and 
 immediately after the Act of Union took steps in this direction. 
 That nothing was done was due to the bigotry and obstinacy of 
 George III, who held that to grant privileges to Catholics would 
 violate his coronation oath. When Pitt found that persistence 
 was useless, he resigned his post as prime minister (March, 1801). 
 Had he been successful in carrying his measures, much, if not all, 
 of the trouble of succeeding years would doubtless have been 
 
 1 It is stated that out of 300 members of the Irish House 188 were nominated by 
 88 individuals in boroughs where nomination meant election. 
 
 2 The number was made up by four Irish Episcopal bishops and twenty-eight 
 lay peers. 
 
 3 There can be little doubt that had the Catholics united against the Union it 
 could not have been carried. Some advocated, some opposed, more were neutral. 
 They believed they had less to fear from an imperial Parliament than from an 
 Irish Protestant one. 
 
UNION OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND 
 
 465 
 
 'SH 
 
 
 W^M 
 
 
 
 , : il 
 
 nai 
 
 1 
 
 i^S 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 The Union Jack after the 
 Union with Ireland 
 
 avoided, and the Irish question might have had a peaceful soki- 
 tion more than a century ago. 
 
 A new great seal and royal banner were adopted ; the Irish 
 cross was added to the Union Jack ; the words King of France 
 were dropped from the royal title, which became King of the 
 United Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland.^ 
 
 592. Peace of Amiens. 1S02. — 
 The battle of Copenhagen withdrew 
 Denmark from the armed neutrality, 
 the Czar Paul was assassinated (1801), 
 and his successor, Alexander I, made 
 peace with England, so as England 
 
 was supreme at sea there was little to fight about. A peace was 
 therefore concluded between France, England, Spain, and Holland 
 by the Treaty of Amiens (March, 1802). England retained Cey- 
 lon, but otherwise gained little by the war so far as territory was 
 concerned. 
 
 593. Schemes of Bonaparte ; War Renewed, 1803. — Bonaparte 
 after the Treaty of Amiens apparently attempted to regain for 
 France the colonial empire she -had lost in 1763 (§ 551). With 
 this in view he sent an expedition to Haiti to make it a base for 
 operations in the West ; he planned an American colonial empire 
 in Louisiana, demanding of Spain that she should transfer that ter- 
 ritory to France, which was done secretly ; he sent an expedition 
 to India to see what could be accomphshed there ; and he even 
 seems to have had designs on Australia. All these plans came to 
 naught. The failure of the Haiti expedition was fatal to his 
 Louisiana project, and rather than let that territory fall into the 
 hands of England, as, from her control of the sea, it was practically 
 sure to do, he sold it to the United States (1803). 
 
 By the Treaty of Amiens the island of Malta was to be restored to 
 
 1 The population of Ireland in 1801 was 4,500,000 and that of Great Britain 
 10,500,000; in 1911 that of Ireland was 4.381,951 and of Great Britain 40,834,714. 
 
466 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the Knights of St. John, its former owners ; but England, fearful 
 that Bonaparte might make it a base for future operations against 
 Egypt, proposed to hold it for ten years, and then restore it to 
 the Knights. Bonaparte made this a pretext to declare war against 
 England, and several thousand British citizens who were visiting 
 France were seized because of an attack by the English on some 
 French shipping and were put in prison.^ In little more than a 
 year, therefore, after the Treaty of Amiens, war began again 
 (May, 1803). 
 
 594. Justification of the War. — The war lasted until 18 14. 
 How far it was justified, even on general principles of military and 
 political expediency, has been with many a matter of question. 
 One now can scarcely doubt that the English course was unwise ; 
 a steady policy of neutrality and peace would have been far better 
 for England in every way, and would at least have been justifiable 
 on her part. The war which followed brought upon her great 
 losses and heavy burdens. The main object of the war was 
 undoubtedly to maintain the balance of power in Europe, and, 
 nominally, to protect the liberties of Europe against the encroach- 
 ments of a usurper — Napoleon Bonaparte. That the people on 
 the Continent did not feel that there was likely to be any special 
 addition to their burdens should the French despot succeed, is 
 evident from the comparative apathy with which they accepted 
 his rule whenever they came under it. 
 
 In Great Britain the whole nation was united against Napoleon, 
 and when an invasion seemed imminent, 300,000 volunteers 
 promptly offered themselves to protect their country. Still, had 
 it not been for the twenty miles of sea between Dover and Calais, 
 it might have gone hard with Great Britain. While there is no 
 reason to suppose that Napoleon could ever have really con- 
 quered England, he might have been able to inflict upon her 
 terrible losses. 
 
 1 The number is said to have been as high as 12,000, none of whom were allowed 
 to return to England. 
 
PITT FORMS COALITION 
 
 467 
 
 595. Bonaparte's Further Schemes. — Meantime Bonaparte 
 
 was collecting a large army at Boulogne for the invasion of Eng- 
 land and preparing a fleet to carry his army across the Channel. 
 He stirred up an attempt at rebellion in Ireland under Robert 
 Emmet, which only resulted in a riot at Dublin. Emmet was 
 taken and hanged. An attempt to injure the English power in 
 India by inciting the natives to rebellion and attack was fairly suc- 
 cessful, especially among the Mahrattas. But the English were 
 able, not only to overcome all resistance, but also to increase the 
 territory under English rule and influence. 
 
 596. Pitt again Prime Minister. 1804. — The need of a 
 strong man at the helm was clear. Addington resigned (1804), 
 and Pitt became for the second time prime minister, though his 
 health was insufficient to stand such a heavy strain. Vigor was 
 soon imparted to the cabinet, and a new coalition was formed 
 against Bonaparte, composed of Russia, Austria, and Sweden with 
 England. 
 
 597. Napoleon Emperor, 1804 ; French Victories of Ulm and 
 Austerlitz, 1805. — Napoleon, who had himself created Emperor 
 (September 2, 1804), aware of the hostile attitude of Austria and 
 Russia and of the coahtion which Pitt had formed, determined to 
 crush Austria before she had time to unite with Russia. Breaking 
 up his great camp at Boulogne, he transferred his army with 
 amazing rapidity to Germany, forced an Austrian army at Ulm 
 to capitulate (October 19, 1805), and hastened to meet another 
 army which was composed of Austrians and Russians. This he 
 did at AusterHtz, a batde which was one of his greatest victories 
 (December 2, 1805). 
 
 598. Trafalgar, 1805; French Success, 1805-1807. — Nelson, 
 who had recently returned from an expedition to the West Indies, 
 off"ered his services for an attack upon the French and Spanish 
 fleets. They were accepted, and on the 2Tst of October, 1805, 
 he met the enemy off Cape Trafalgar, not far from Gibraltar, 
 and won the sea fight of Trafalgar, perhaps the most noted naval 
 
468 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 d^^^ 
 
 victory in British annals. Nelson himself was mortally wounded 
 in the action, but lived to know of his great victory.^ This defeat 
 destroyed the French hopes of naval supremacy, and removed 
 from the English all fear of an invasion. 
 
 By his victories of Ulm and Austerlitz, Napoleon was able to 
 
 dictate terms to Austria in the 
 Treaty of Pressburg. From this 
 time the ambition of Napoleon 
 knew no limits, and he deter- 
 mined to be the dictator and 
 autocrat of Europe. He set up 
 dependent kingdoms around 
 France, putting on the thrones 
 members of his own family, or 
 uniting small states in confedera- 
 tions which would be subser- 
 vient to his will, a policy which 
 by breaking national tradition 
 tended to unite all Europe 
 against him. In various cam- 
 paigns he forced Prussia to make peace (1806), and also Russia 
 (1807). He was master of the Continent; England alone with- 
 stood him, and by her command of the seas continually menaced 
 his power. 
 
 599. Death of Pitt; "Ministry of All the Talents," 1806. 
 — England's great minister, William Pitt, worn out by ill health 
 and anxiety, died (January 23, 1806), having been in office less 
 than two years. He was succeeded by a combination ministry, 
 which on account of its character was called the " Ministry of All 
 the Talents," in which Charles James Fox was secretary of state. 
 Fox, though a former admirer of Napoleon, and favoring peace, 
 had to yield to the war spirit, but, before he could accomplish 
 
 1 It was at the beginning of this conflict that Nelson hoisted his famous signal, 
 " England expects every man to do his duty." 
 
 Lord Nelson 
 
NAPOLEON ATTACKS ENGLAND'S COMMERCE 469 
 
 much, he died in September, 1806, the last thing he did being to 
 pledge the government to pass an act abolishing the slave trade. 
 This was done in the next year (1807). 
 
 600. Catholic Relief Bill Fails; Ministry Resign, 1807. — By 
 the Act of Union the English and Irish armies had been made 
 one, and the privileges of the Irish Catholics to hold offices 
 as high as that of colonel had been granted. It was the desire 
 of the ministry to open all positions in the army and navy to 
 Catholics and Dissenters, and a bill to this effect had been 
 prepared ; but George III refused his sanction, and the ministry 
 gave way, but recorded their approval of such a bill and their 
 right to advise the king at any time in regard to it. The king 
 then demanded that they should agree not to advise him at any 
 time in the future, but they refused and then resigned. After 
 the peace between Russia and Napoleon, a naval expedition was 
 sent to Denmark, though it was a neutral state, and it was suc- 
 cessful in capturing the Danish fleet and in securing the small 
 island of Heligoland^ at the mouth of the river Elbe (1807). 
 
 601. Berlin and Milan Decrees; Orders in Council, 1806-1807. 
 — Napoleon resolved to attack England through her commerce. 
 As he controlled the greater part of Europe he could inflict great 
 damage on her commercial supremacy by shutting out her goods. 
 This policy already employed was extended by his Berlin Decree 
 (May 19, 1806), in which he declared that the British Isles were 
 in a state of blockade, and that any ship, no matter of what 
 country, which attempted to enter them would be seized. This 
 was called the Continental System. Great Britain replied to this 
 threat by her Orders in Council (January 7, 1807), in which she 
 declared the ports of France and her allies blockaded, and also 
 required vessels of neutral nations to call at an English port and 
 get leave to enter any blockaded port. 
 
 England, finding that Napoleon was putting his Decree in force, 
 
 1 This little island was held by the British until 1890, when it was transferred to 
 Germany for certain concessions in South Africa. 
 
470 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 issued a second set of Orders in Council more stringent than the 
 first. To this Napoleon replied by his Milan Decrees (Novem- 
 ber 23, December 17, 1807), threatening to seize any neutral 
 ship which should obey the Orders in Council. Severe as was the 
 injury inflicted on Great Britain by the Continental System, that 
 incurred by France was far greater, for she and her allies were 
 greatly in want of the goods which at this time only Great Britain 
 could furnish in needed quantities. By this policy Napoleon 
 alienated nearly the whole Continent, for it was not only obviously 
 selfish, but it also vastly increased the cost of living, thus affecting 
 people of every rank. 
 
 602. Portugal and Spain. 1807-1808. — In pursuance of Na- 
 poleon's policy of conquest, a French army sent to reduce Portugal 
 to submission was successful, and the royal family fled to the Portu- 
 guese colony of Brazil (1807). The king of Spain, a worthless man, 
 quarreled with his son. On an appeal to Napoleon, he drove 
 both of them away and put his own brother Joseph on the throne. 
 This was a blunder possibly worse than that of the Continental 
 System. 
 
 England sent an army into Portugal under Sir Arthur Wellesley 
 (later Duke of WeUington), recently returned from his successes in 
 India. Wellesley defeated the French, who for a few months lost 
 control of both Spain and Portugal. 
 
 603. Peninsular War, 1 809-1 814; Fall of Napoleon, 18 14. — 
 Once more Wellesley was sent to the Peninsula (1809) and for 
 five years waged a slow but sure warfare against the French in 
 Spain and Portugal. Napoleon himself came to Spain, but trouble 
 in Austria took him away. In 1810 Russia broke with him, 
 but, gathering a grand army, he set out for the conquest of that 
 country. As in Spain, national opposition was aroused, and this, 
 added to the severity of the winter, defeated him. He retired 
 with but a wreck of his grand army. In 181 3 all Germany 
 rose against Napoleon, and after a severe three days' battle at 
 Leipzig (October 1 6-1 8, 1 8 1 3) he was defeated. The allies followed 
 
THE FALL OF NAPOLEON 
 
 471 
 
 his retreat to France, and he was forced to abdicate his throne (April 
 6, 1814). He was sent to the island of Elba in the Mediterranean. 
 By the First Treaty of Paris (1814), Louis XVIII, brother of Louis 
 XVI, was put on the French throne and the Bourbons were thus 
 restored (May 3, 1814). In accordance with the treaty also, a 
 
 Europe in 1812, at the Height of Napoleon's Power 
 
 congress representing the allied powers was appointed to be held 
 at Vienna to setde the affairs of Europe. 
 
 604. English Aggressions. — Meantime England cannot be 
 held guiltless of acts of aggression. The only palliation for these 
 acts is the extraordinary state of affairs. Her questionable attack 
 upon Denmark has already been referred to (§ 600). Her treat- 
 ment of the neutral powers was unjust and overbearing, and was 
 carried out only by reason of her great naval strength. She for- 
 bade all direct trade with France or any part of the Continent 
 she claimed, and exercised the right to search any neutral vessel 
 for contraband goods and for deserters from the British navy. 
 
472 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 605. War with United States. — The British claim of the 
 right to search vessels, and to impress sailors, led to war 
 with the United States. In 1812 that country declared war 
 against Great Britain, and a conflict both by sea and land ensued, 
 the greater part of which from a military point of view was not 
 creditable to either side. At sea the few vessels of the United 
 States at first inflicted naval losses and damages such as England 
 had rarely known, but, owing to the smallness of the American 
 navy, were not able to continue their victories, or even to pro- 
 tect their coast from blockade.^ The ill fortune of the Amer- 
 icans on land was redeemed by the single victory of Andrew 
 Jackson at New Orleans (January 8, 1815); and that was after 
 peace had been declared in Europe, though news of it had not 
 reached America. While the English had done comparatively 
 little with their armies, their burning of the pubhc buildings at 
 Washington (1814) long rankled in the minds of the Americans.^ 
 Had there been a httle more wisdom on each side, and less pre- 
 cipitation on the part of the Americans, war would have been 
 avoided. In the treaty which followed (Treaty of Ghent, De- 
 cember 24, 1814) the chief occasion of the war — impressment of 
 American sailors — was not mentioned. The reason for this was 
 that owing to the close of the continental wars there would be no 
 need for impressment. There has been peace between Great Britain 
 and the United States ever since. There is no other dividing line 
 between two nations so long as that between Canada and the 
 United States, on which no hostile forts or fortifications are to be 
 found, or have been found for a century. 
 
 606. Congress of Vienna, 1814; "The Hundred Days"; Ban- 
 ishment of Napoleon, 1815. — The Congress of Vienna (§ 603) 
 
 1 The losses of the British by reason of the American privateers were also very 
 great. 
 
 2 The British claimed that the burning by the Americans of York (now Toronto), 
 Canada, justified the burning of Washington. The cases, however, were not simi- 
 lar; the former was unauthorized, the latter (Washington) was ordered by the 
 British government. (See Green, Short History, chap x, § 4.) 
 
EFFECTS OF THE WAR ON ENGLAND 
 
 473 
 
 proceeded to rearrange and settle the affairs of Europe. It 
 should be noted that in this matter the sovereigns alone were 
 considered, while the cause of the people was ignored. That this 
 contempt of popular rights caused the subsequent revolutions and 
 excesses in Europe can hardly be questioned. The lessons of the 
 French Revolution had yet to be learned by the rulers of conti- 
 nental Europe. While the Congress was in session, the delegates 
 were startled to hear that Napoleon had left Elba, had reached 
 France (March i, 1815), gathered an army, and had reached 
 Paris, from which Louis XVIII had fled, and had entered the 
 Tuilleries (March 20, 18 15). At once armies were collected to 
 put down the rash emperor. Napoleon, following his old tac- 
 tics of quick action, endeavored to crush his foes singly. He 
 advanced towards the English, Dutch, and German forces under 
 Sir Arthur Wellesley, now Duke of Wellington. The armies met 
 at Waterloo, near Brussels. Victory was almost within the grasp 
 of Napoleon, when Blucher, the Prussian general, with his troops 
 arrived on the field, and the French were defeated (June 18, 
 1815). 
 
 Napoleon had staked his all and failed ; he fell back on Paris, 
 and again abdicated (June 22, 181 5). His second reign had lasted 
 just one hundred days. Despairing of escape, he surrendered him- 
 self to an English man-of-war. By the decision of the four great 
 powers, Austria, England, Russia, and Prussia, he was sent to the 
 tropical island of St. Helena in the Atlantic, a British possession 
 off the coast of Africa, to be kept in a life captivity. There he 
 died. May 5, 1821. In 1840 his body was brought to France and 
 interred in the magnificent mausoleum under the dome of the 
 Church of the Invalides in Paris. 
 
 By the Second Treaty of Paris (November, 1815) Louis XVIII 
 was again set upon the French throne. 
 
 607. Effects of the War on England. — England now entered 
 upon a period of external peace. For more than twenty years she 
 had been almost continually engaged in an expensive war, a war 
 
474 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 which had drained her resources and involved her in a heavy debt. 
 During this war her domestic concerns had suffered severely. 
 As a result large numbers of the population were far from being 
 contented with their condition. A review of the history of the war 
 confirms the opinion that England should not have entered the 
 
 conflict. 
 
 On the other hand, England had made herself the first naval 
 power in the world ; she had acquired an influential place in the 
 affairs of Europe ; and her colonial empire had been greatly en- 
 larged. From this war dates her possession of Malta, the Ionian 
 Isles, Heligoland, Trinidad, Mauritius, Tobago, Ceylon, and the 
 Cape of Good Hope.^ 
 
 References. — Green, Short History, chap, x, §§ 3-4; Gardiner, Student's 
 History, chaps. 1-liv; Terry, History^ Part IV, chap, vi; Tout, Advanced 
 History, Book VII, chaps, iii, § 32-v; Macaulay, Essays, Warreti Hastings; 
 Traill, Social England, vol. V, chaps, xix-xx; Adams and Stephens, Select 
 Documents, §§ 256-259; Cheney, Readings, chap, xviii, §§ v-vi; Colby, 
 Selections, §§ 103-105, 107-115; Kendall, Sotirce-Book, §§ 123-127; 
 Lee, Source-Book, §§ 202-208. 
 
 1 The Ionian Isles were ceded to Greece in 1864, and Heligoland to Germany 
 in 1890. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII 
 ERA OF REFORM 
 
 608. Political and Economic Conditions in England. — England 
 had seldom needed wise men at the helm of government more 
 than in 1815. The policy of the Tories, who were in control, was 
 to let things alone as far as possible. The prime minister, Lord 
 Liverpool, was a man of considerable ability, as is shown by the 
 fact that his administration of fifteen years (i8i2-i82 7)ranks next 
 in length of service to those of Walpole and the younger Pitt. 
 
 George III had become permanently insane in 18 10, and his son 
 George had been appointed Prince Regent. AffiUating with the 
 Whigs when simply Prince of Wales, he now allied himself with 
 the Tories and became an advocate of the prerogatives of the crown. 
 But by his vicious private life he had forfeited the respect of all 
 parties. 
 
 The wealthier classes in England as a rule had little sympathy 
 with the lower classes. Owing to pressure of taxation, the heavy 
 duties on grain, and the disordered conditions of labor, partly the 
 result of the Industrial Revolution, there was widespread and genu- 
 ine distress, to relieve which little or no attempt was made by the 
 government, or by Parliament, in which the working classes were 
 unrepresented. An uprising like the French Revolution was 
 greatly feared, and it was believed that only force could prevent it. 
 It was to be expected that riots would occur. One of these, in 
 1 816 near London, was put down by troops; the Habeas Corpus 
 Act was suspended by Parliament and public discussion of the 
 political situation in meetings or in the press was forbidden. A 
 public meeting held in Manchester to protest against the action of 
 the government was dispersed by a body of cavalry (18 19), and the 
 government was so alarmed that Parliament passed a series of 
 
 475 
 
476 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 measures known as the Six Acts or " Gag Laws," greatly restricting 
 the right of public meetings. 
 
 The government was equally ill advised in regard to economic 
 questions. A striking evidence of this was the passage in 1815 of 
 a law in the interest of the great landowners, which forbade the 
 importation of grain until the price was 80 shillings a quarter 
 (480 lbs.). This made it quite impossible for the poor to buy 
 flour, for there was a great scarcity of grain in the country. 
 About the same time the income tax, a burden which fell only on 
 the well-to-do classes, was removed. 
 
 609. Death of George III ; George IV. — The poor old king, 
 deaf, bUnd, decrepit, and insane, died in 1820, and was succeeded 
 by George IV, whose character has been already indicated. 
 He had married Caroline of Brunswick in 1795, but a separation 
 had soon taken place; their only child, the Princess Charlotte, 
 had died in 181 7. When George ascended the throne Caroline 
 came back to England to claim her rights as queen, and attempting 
 to be present at the coronation (1821), she was thrust out by the 
 king's orders. The next month she died. The result of the affair 
 was to lower the king still further in public opinion. 
 
 610. Cabinet Changes ; Canning ; Huskisson ; PeeL — Even 
 among the Tories there were many men who believed in moderate 
 and gradual reform. Among them were George Canning, a dis- 
 ciple of Pitt, Sir Robert Peel, and Huskisson. Lord Liverpool, 
 the prime minister, realizing the necessity of recognizing this 
 new element, when opportunity offered, made Canning foreign 
 secretary, Huskisson president of the board of trade, an office for 
 which he was well qualified, and Sir Robert Peel home secretary. 
 
 611. Sir Robert PeeL — Sir Robert Peel, the son of a 
 Lancashire manufacturer, was a man of great ability with a clear 
 head for business. He was earnestly desirous to remedy 
 social abuses. The medieval custom of severe penalties for 
 trivial offenses still prevailed, and the penalty of death was 
 prescribed for more than two hundred offenses — among them 
 
GEORGE IV 
 
 477 
 
 were such slight things as injuring Westminster Bridge, appearing 
 with a blackened face on the public highway, and all thefts, even 
 petty larceny. Such severe penalties were so revolting to the 
 public sense of justice that, rather than find men guilty, juries 
 would acquit in the face of the clearest evidence. Through the 
 efforts of Peel the 
 death penalty was 
 abolished for more 
 than one hundred 
 crimes,^ and " before 
 he left office in 1827 
 nearly three hundred 
 acts relating to the 
 criminal law had been 
 wholly or partially re- 
 pealed, and such of 
 their provisions as 
 were still retained had 
 been consolidated in 
 eight new statutes." 
 While all the credit for 
 this revolution in the criminal law of England cannot be given 
 to Peel, yet without his support it could not have been accom- 
 plished. To Peel also is due the reform of the police force in 
 London, making it the best in the world. 
 
 612.' William Huskisson, George Canning. — To Huskisson, also, 
 great praise is due. He was the best economist of his day in public 
 life and his clearness of perception brought about important reforms. 
 He modified the navigation laws, and carried through Parliament 
 an act by which the government was authorized to make treaties 
 with foreign nations by which freedom of trade would be given in 
 
 Sir Robert Peel 
 After the portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence 
 
 1 He was not, however, the first Englishman to make such a reformation. William 
 Penn, one hundred and fifty years earlier, in his code for Pennsylvania, had 
 abolished the death penalty except for treason and murder. 
 
^yS HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 return for similar privileges. This was known as the principle of 
 reciprocity, so much followed in later years, and still of the greatest 
 importance in international affairs. He also secured the reduc- 
 tion of many customs duties, and, under certain conditions, allowed 
 the formation of trade-unions, which had before been absolutely 
 prohibited. George Canning deserves much credit for his con- 
 duct of the Foreign Office. 
 
 613. Holy Alliance, 1815. — After the settlement of European 
 affairs in 18 15 the one aim of the monarchs was to suppress 
 any popular movement towards Hberty. An agreement, called 
 the Holy AlHance, had been entered into by Austria, Prussia, 
 and Russia (18 15). The object of this was, nominally, to support 
 and carry out the principles of the Christian religion in all na- 
 tional and international affairs. The sovereigns were to consider 
 themselves the fathers of their subjects, a position to which they 
 were delegated by Providence; this implied that they knew 
 altogether what was best for their subjects. 
 
 Whatever may have been in the mind of the Emperor Alex- 
 ander of Russia, who is said to have been the author of this 
 scheme, the result was that it became on the continent of Europe 
 an instrument for crushing any steps toward liberalism. Canning 
 showed conclusively his disapproval of the principles of the Holy 
 Alliance, and declared his position to be that of non-interference 
 in the domestic concerns of other nations. At the same time 
 he recognized the new Spanish-American repubhcs in America 
 and sent out British consuls. In this matter he worked with the 
 United States, and it was certainly with his knowledge and approval 
 that the famous Monroe Doctrine of the United States was an- 
 nounced.^ 
 
 1" An undue share of credit has been assigned to Mr. Canning for the promul- 
 gation of the Monroe Doctrine. Canning's proposal went no farther than a protest 
 against the transfer of any of the colonies to other powers." Canning was not fond 
 of republican institutions, and it must be confessed that in this case it was not 
 so much to aid the cause of freedom, as to increase British trade, and from jealousy 
 of France, that Canning took the course he did. 
 
WILLIAM IV 
 
 479 
 
 614. Catholic Emancipation, 1829 ; Repeal of Test Acts, 
 1828. — The great question now before England was "Catholic 
 emancipation," or the admission of the Catholics to seats in 
 Parliament. Catholic emancipation had been brought before 
 Parliament almost every year since 1775, and had been a 
 rock of danger to almost every administration. As a prehm- 
 inary measure, on the motion of Lord John Russell, the old Test 
 and Corporation Acts (§§ 437, 451), though annulled every year 
 by indemnity acts, were finally repealed. 
 
 Just at this time Daniel O'Connell, an Irishman and a Catholic, 
 offered himself for a vacant seat in Ireland and was elected. 
 O'Connell was an active agitator in favor of emancipation, a great 
 orator, and a man of almost unbounded influence over his 
 countrymen. If he were rejected by the Commons, there would 
 be serious risk of a rebellion in Ireland. The situation was grave ; 
 George IV was as much opposed to granting emancipation as 
 George III had been ; the House of Lords was hostile, and a 
 very large proportion of the people looked upon it with no 
 favor. Through the influence of Peel a Catholic Emancipa- 
 tion Bill was passed by a large majority in the House of Com- 
 mons and by one almost equally large in the Lords (April, 1829). 
 O'Connell submitted to another election, in which he was returned 
 without opposition and took his seat in Parliament. The act, 
 however, was accompanied by another one, somewhat restricting 
 the suffrage in Ireland. The oath which members of Parliament 
 had been required to take was modified, the most important 
 alteration being that it now read "on the true faith of Christian " ; 
 this of course prevented Jews from sitting in Parliament.^ 
 
 615. Death of George IV; William IV, 1830. —George IV 
 died in June, 1830, regretted by no one except his favorites. He 
 was succeeded by his next younger brother, William, Duke of 
 Clarence. William IV was a commonplace man of whom not 
 very much was known ; he was good-natured, simple in his life, 
 
 1 This privilege was not granted to the Jews until 1858. 
 
480 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and undignified. He had chosen the sea for his profession and 
 so has been called the " Sailor King," but with little justice, for 
 he was on shore forty years. He was sixty-five years old at his ac- 
 cession, and he and his wife, Adelaide, had no children. He was 
 fond of going about unattended, and was generally so eccentric 
 that some thought he had inherited his father's insanity. He 
 was popular, and was supposed to be in favor of reform. 
 
 616. Revolutions in Europe. 1830. — William IV came to the 
 throne at a critical period. The Holy AUiance (§613), so far 
 from stemming the current of political liberty by its system of 
 repression, only strengthened the course of the stream. The 
 era of Napoleon had been followed by a period of reaction ; but 
 very soon there was a strong movement in favor of democracy, and 
 all over Europe the year 1830 was a year of unrest or revolution. 
 In France the Bourbon king, Charles X, was overthrown and the 
 ''Bourgeois king," Louis PhiHppe, Duke of Orleans, a constitu- 
 tional monarch, put in his place; the Netherlands, which had 
 been established in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna (§ 606), were 
 divided, the southern or Catholic portion revolting from the Prot- 
 estant Dutch, and so leading to the founding of the Catholic 
 kingdom of Belgium. Germany and Italy were alike in a turmoil, 
 and the agitation extended to England. 
 
 617. Parliamentary Reform. 1830. — Parliamentary reform, 
 like Catholic emancipation, was no new thing ; it had been pro- 
 posed from time to time ever since the days of Chatham. The 
 strong opposition of the great landholders of the aristocratic class, 
 the long Napoleonic wars, and the extravagant demands of the 
 radical reformers, all worked together to delay reform. Now, 
 however, affairs on the Continent and the ill-advised words and 
 speeches of the strict Tories brought the matter to an issue. 
 
 618. Need of Reform. — It needs but a few examples to show 
 the need of reform. The parliamentary districts had not been 
 changed for hundreds of years, and, while in the beginning they 
 were doubtless tolerably fair, they had become in the process of 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REFORM 48 1 
 
 time grossly unjust. Owing to natural causes population had 
 shifted greatly : places which had been populous had become 
 almost devoid of inhabitants ; while other places, mere hamlets in 
 the past, had become centers of large and growing population. 
 Old Sarum, which the elder Pitt represented (§ 542), had now no 
 inhabitants, and yet returned two members nominated and elected 
 by the owner of the land ; Bosseney sent two members chosen by 
 nine electors ; Gatton had seven voters ; Michelle had five. On 
 the other hand, such large cities as Birmingham, Leeds, Man- 
 chester, and Sheffield had no representation at all, neither had 
 the populous suburbs of London. The House of Commons was 
 made up of members from boroughs and counties, and five repre- 
 sentatives from the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. When 
 the system was devised, the bulk of the population was in the 
 southern counties, and these now had about as many representa- 
 tives as the far more thickly populated central and northern 
 counties put together. Nor was this all : the borough members 
 in particular were often not representative of the people, but were 
 nominees of the nobility, or of rich landed gentry, or of the gov- 
 ernment for the time being.^ 
 
 In the course of time something had been done ; a few " rot- 
 ten " boroughs had been disfranchised, and laws had been passed 
 against bribery and corruption, but that was all. Still other evils 
 existed ; the polls were kept open for several days, in one case for 
 six weeks, and the voting was viva voce, a system which encouraged 
 bribery and corruption. 
 
 The condition of affairs was even worse in Scotland than it was 
 in England, and Ireland was litde if any better. 
 
 619. Struggle in Parliament. 1831-1832. — Reform Unions 
 had been established all over the country, and the popular demand 
 for the reformation of Parliament was so strong that the Whig min- 
 
 1 These boroughs were divided into " pocket " boroughs, or those, as it were, car- 
 ried in the pocket of the great landowner, whose tenants voted as he directed them, 
 and " rotten " boroughs, or those where there were so few voters that they could 
 not really be considered boroughs at all. 
 
482 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 istry, which had assumed office, 1830, were compelled to offer 
 a Reform Bill. The first reform bill was brought in by Lord 
 John Russell Mn March, 1831. It failed to pass the House, 
 but, feeling sure of their position, the ministry dissolved Parlia- 
 ment and ordered a new election. Notwithstanding the condition 
 of the electorate, a large majority of reformers was returned 
 and a second reform bill was passed, but was rejected by the 
 House of Lords. At once serious riots took place in many 
 parts of the country, which so influenced the Lords that they 
 passed a third reform bill to its second reading (May, 1832). 
 The Lords now tried to evade the issue by postponing measures ; 
 but the ministry were resolved to put the matter through, and 
 called upon the king to create enough peers to pass the bill, as 
 had been done in 171 1 in the reign of Anne (§ 517). The king 
 refused and the ministry resigned. The king now called upon 
 Welhngton to form a Tory ministry, which he found impossible 
 to do. Earl Grey was recalled, and the king gave his written 
 promise to create, if needful, enough peers to pass the bill.^ On 
 this, rather than be swamped with new liberal peers, Wellington 
 persuaded enough of his fellow-lords to absent themselves from 
 the House,^ and the bill was passed in their absence by a majority 
 of eighty-four (June 4, 1832) and received the royal assent, June 
 7, 1832. 
 
 620. Importance and Results of Reform Bill of 1832. — ^The 
 history of this important measure explains how it was that England 
 escaped the terrible revolutions which took place on the Conti- 
 nent, notwithstanding her people were profoundly influenced by 
 them. The ruling classes on the Continent believed that force 
 was the only way to end popular uprisings ; but the use of armed 
 
 1 He was at this time only an Irish peer, and so was able to sit in the Commons. 
 
 2 The exact wording was, "The King grants permission to Earl Grey and his 
 Chancellor, Lord Brougham, to create such numbers of Peers as will be sufficient 
 to insure the passing of the Reform Bill, first calling up Peers' eldest sons. Signed 
 William R. 1832." The words were written by Lord Brougham (see § 693, 1911). 
 
 3 King William himself sent a circular letter to about one hundred Tory peers, 
 asking them to absent themselves from the House. 
 
REFORM BILL OF 1832 
 
 483 
 
 force resulted, as it almost always must do, in the use of more 
 force. In England, on the contrary, the rulers resisted up to a 
 certain point, but when they found that popular sentiment was 
 determined, at last, though sometimes late, they gave way, either 
 to complete reform or to a compromise which would be accepted. 
 
 George Square, Glasgow, Scotland 
 
 Showing statues of John Knox, King William III, the Duke of Wellington, 
 Queen Victoria, and many others 
 
 Reform bills were also passed for Scotland and Ireland, embody- 
 ing similar principles. The great result of the Reform Bill was to 
 give the franchise for the House of Commons to the middle 
 classes. It required a property qualification for voters and made 
 the qualifications uniform throughout the kingdom, it established 
 a system of registration, and it restricted the time of voting to two 
 days. It increased the number of voters fifty per cent. There 
 was also a complete redistribution of the seats of members. 
 "Rotten" and "pocket" boroughs were done away with, and 
 the seats given to those districts which had been without repre- 
 sentation, while other boroughs had their representation reduced. 
 
484 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 In this way the populous manufacturing and commercial districts of 
 the country acquired a rightful voice in legislation, and from this 
 time public opinion had a direct voice in the affairs of the nation 
 as it had never had before. England was no longer ruled exclu- 
 sively by the aristocratic and large landholding classes, great as 
 their influence continued to be. The bill, however, to modern 
 eyes was a very moderate measure, for though it enfranchised the 
 middle classes, it did nothing directly for the agricultural or in- 
 dustrial classes. 
 
 The new ParHament chosen under the Reform Bill was over- 
 whelmingly " Liberal," by which name the reformers began to be 
 called.^ 
 
 Parliament met in 1833 and immediately took up the question 
 of reform in other directions. In the same year (1833) ^^s passed 
 the Emancipation Act, which Hberated all slaves in the British 
 dominions, and granted the owners of them ;3^2o,ooo,ooo com- 
 pensation. The act was to come into full force in 1838, at which 
 time about 800,000 slaves were set free.^ 
 
 In 1834 a new Poor Law was passed, remedying in many ways 
 the antiquated and injurious legislation in force. Still another act 
 was passed (1833) to check the evil arising from the employment 
 of children in factories and mills. This act, while falling very far 
 short of full relief, was a step in the right direction and did much 
 to check overwork.^ 
 
 1 The majority was composed of many elements, and the actual working majority 
 is difficult to estimate. The Liberal members have been taken at 486, the Tory at 
 172; this would nominally give the Liberals a majority of 314, the largest any gov- 
 ernment has had in English history, until that of the Liberals in 1906, which was 
 358. 
 
 2 Large as was the compensation and careful as were the provisions of the act, the 
 owners probably did not receive as much as half their immediate and entailed loss. 
 
 3 In 1800 children of seven years old and upward were often compelled to work 
 twelve or fourteen hours a day. Only by persistent effort had the limit been re- 
 duced in 18 16 to twelve hours. The opposition had been mainly in the House of 
 Lords. Later also, through the efforts of Ashley, afterwards known as Lord 
 Shaftesbury, a commission was appointed to investigate the condition of women 
 and children employed in the coal mines. A horrible state of affairs was re- 
 vealed, which led to stringent restrictive legislation. 
 
THE POOR LAWS AND LABOR 485 
 
 621. Strikes and Trade-unions; Irish Affairs. 1833. —The 
 country was greatly disturbed by strikes and the demonstra- 
 tions of the trade-unions, but, as so often, Irish affairs claimed the 
 closer attention of the government. The chief Irish grievance 
 was the fact that every one had to give tithes for the support of the 
 Church of England, which by law was the established church of 
 Ireland, though less than one fourteenth of the population of Ire- 
 land at that time were Protestants. The payment of tithes was often 
 refused, and collectors were not unfrequently seriously maltreated 
 and sometimes even murdered. A coercion act was passed 
 in Parliament and the trouble was sternly and severely put 
 down. 
 
 622. More Reforms; Reaction; Change of Ministry. 1834-1835. 
 ■ — Another important act (1833) was that ending the monopoly of the 
 East India Company and throwing open the commerce of China 
 to all.^ Still another act introduced desirable changes in certain 
 law courts. All these, and other measures, were accomplished by 
 the Reform Parliament; but, as usual after radical changes of 
 party and in legislation, there came a period of reaction. No re- 
 form can be set on foot and accomplished without injuring some 
 one, and often a larger number than is expected. Again radical 
 reformers are always irritated because reforms are not carried far- 
 ther. So before a year elapsed the power of the great majority 
 began to grow less, and even in the government itself serious dif- 
 ferences of opinion manifested themselves. 
 
 In 1834 after several changes in the ministry Sir Robert Peel 
 again came into office. Among the members of his administra- 
 tion was a young man of twenty-five who had entered the Reform 
 Parliament as a Tory, William Ewart Gladstone, who thus early 
 took a prominent place in that body of which he was to become 
 one of the most distinguished members.^ 
 
 1 Trade with India had been made free in 1813. 
 
 2 Gladstone was elected for Newark in 1832, and with the exception of a few 
 months in 1846, remained a member till his death in 1898. 
 
486 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 623. Municipal Corporations Act, 1835 ; Death of William. 
 1837. — An important measure of reform passed in 1835 was the 
 Municipal Corporations Act (1835). The mayors and town coun- 
 cils of towns and cities in England had been chosen in a great 
 variety of ways, but generally the members were self-elected and 
 
 Guildhall, the Council Hall of London 
 Founded in 141 1 ; restored after the fire of 1666 
 
 often sat for Hfe. A commission appointed to investigate the 
 matter had revealed a vast amount of corruption, showing that 
 conditions were quite as bad as had been the case in the old 
 parHamentary boroughs. A new bill required that all municipal 
 corporations should be chosen in accordance with a uniform law 
 which made them representative bodies.' 
 
 King William IV died on June 20, 1837, seventy-two years old. 
 He had made a fairly successful ruler and deserves more credit 
 
 1 By the new act the governing body was a town council consisting of a mayor, 
 aldermen, and councilors. The ratepayers (taxpayers) elected the councilors, 
 who from their own number chose the aldermen and the mayor. 
 
DEATH OF WILLIAM IV 
 
 487 
 
 than he usually gets for his support of the reform movements. 
 The seven years of his reign were more fruitful in reforms than 
 all the sixty years during which George III occupied the throne 
 of England.^ 
 
 References. — Gardiner, Studenfs History^ chaps. Iv-lvii, § 9; Terry, 
 History, Part IV, chap, vii, pp. 976-999; Tout, Advanced History, Book 
 VIII, chaps, i-ii; Traill, Social England, vol. VI, chap, xxi; Adams and Ste- 
 phens, Select Documents, §§ 260-265; Cheyney, Readings, chap, xix, §§ i-iv; 
 Colby, Selections, §§ 1 1 3-1 17; Kendall, Source-Book, §§ 128-130, 139; Lee, 
 Source-Book, §§ 209-220. 
 
 1 The chief of these reforms, which, however, in part belong to the reign of 
 George IV, deserve to be summarized: Corporation Act (1661) and Test Act 
 (1673) repealed (1828) ; Catholic Relief Act (1829) ; Parliamentary Reform Act 
 (1832) ; Municipal Reform Act for Scotland (1833), and for England (1835) ; Aboli- 
 tion of Slavery ("1833) ; Regulation of Work of Women and Children in Factories 
 (1833) ; New Poor Law (1834) ; Reformation of Criminal Code (1820) ; Reformation 
 of Currency (1823) ; Grant for Public Education for Ireland (1831) , and for England 
 (1833) ; Stamp Duty on Newspapers greatly reduced (1836) ; several acts remov- 
 ing restrictions on labor. 
 
 The Mansion House, Residence of the Lord Mayor of London 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII 
 ERA OF REFORM AND GROWTH OF COLONIAL EMPIRE 
 
 624. Victoria. 1837. — As King William and Queen Adelaide 
 left no children, the crown descended to the young daughter of 
 Edward, Duke of Kent, the fourth son of George III. Her father, 
 who married late in life, had died in 1820. Victoria was his only 
 child. Born on May 24, 1810, she was just eighteen. She had been 
 carefully brought up by her mother in great privacy.^ What is 
 known as the Salic law, which excludes women from a throne, pre- 
 vailed in Hanover, hence that monarchy was separated from the 
 British crown, and the next surviving son of George III, Ernest, 
 Duke of Cumberland, succeeded to the rule of Hanover. It was 
 a most fortunate circumstance for England thus without friction 
 to be set free from what might at any time cause dangerous en- 
 tanglement with continental affairs.^ 
 
 625. Transition Period; Marriage of Victoria. 1840. — The 
 reign of Victoria, the longest in British annals, is also one of the most 
 remarkable. It was a time of transition from the rule of aristocracy 
 to that of democracy, a time of experiment in almost every field 
 of human interest, a period of unexampled advance in material 
 invention and material prosperity. During this reign England be- 
 came truly a constitutional monarchy — that is, a monarchy in 
 which the people rule, and in which the monarch exercises a re- 
 straining or regulating influence rather than a controlling one. 
 
 Up to the reign of Victoria the monarch claimed the right to 
 
 1 Sir Walter Scott, who dined with the Duchess of Kent in May, 1828, afterwards 
 wrote in his diary, " This little lady is educated with much care and watched so 
 
 closely that no busy maid has a moment to whisper, ' You are heir of England.' " 
 
 2 It was also fortunate for England that she had no Salic law, because the Duke 
 of Cumberland, the heir next to Victoria, was highly unpopular, and almost without 
 doubt would have made a bad king. Hanover became part of Prussia in 1866. 
 
 488 
 
ACCESSION OF QUEEN VICTORIA 489 
 
 choose and to dismiss the prime minister, and to influence the 
 choice of his cabinet. Early in her reign Victoria yielded this 
 claim and thenceforward selected as prime minister the man who 
 could command a majority in the House of Commons. The 
 prime minister selects his cabinet, all the members of which are 
 from the party controlling the Commons. If the ministry loses 
 the majority in the Commons, then the whole cabinet resigns. 
 The prime minister stands at the head of the ministry or cabinet, 
 which within constitutional limits governs the kingdom. The in- 
 fluence of the sovereign, however, remains great. Victoria insisted 
 that she should be informed of what was going on, and that after 
 any measure had received the royal sanction it should not be 
 altered or modified without her consent. All these precedents 
 were not adopted at once, but grew up during her reign. 
 
 In 1840 the queen married her first cousin, Albert, Prince of 
 Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. To his wise, unselfish counsel, and generally 
 tactful bearing the queen owed much of her success. He was 
 created Prince Consort in 1857.^ Until his death in 1861 he ex- 
 ercised a great though quiet influence in public matters, especially 
 in foreign affairs. As a matter of fact, though it was unofficial, 
 " Prince Albert's position gave him as good a right as the queen 
 to be regarded as the ruler of the British realm." 
 
 From the very first the young queen showed remarkable self- 
 possession, tact, prudence, good judgment, and a very strong 
 sense of the seriousness and responsibility of her position. 
 
 626. General Conditions at the Accession of Victoria. 1837. — 
 According to the custom prevailing at that period. Parliament had 
 been dissolved at the accession of the new monarch, and a new 
 one elected. The Whigs retained the majority, but the Tories,- or, 
 
 1 He was strictly speaking, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Coburg and Gotha. The 
 family name of the Georges was Guelph ; that of Prince Albert was Wettin, which 
 is now the surname of the English royal family. 
 
 2 The term Conservative had been used since about 1824, but sparingly. The 
 term Tory did not wholly go out of use, and many Liberals even yet like to call their 
 Conservative opponents " Tories." 
 
490 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 as they now began to call themselves, the " Conservatives," had 
 increased their numbers. 
 
 The condition of political and social affairs at the accession of 
 Victoria was by no means satisfactory. The Irish, under the lead 
 of Daniel O'Connell, were demanding the repeal of the Act of 
 Union (§§ 590, 591). As the votes of the Irish members of Parlia- 
 ment were valuable to the ministry, an effort was made at concili- 
 ation in the passage of a better Poor Law, and by an Irish Tithe 
 Act which changed the tithe of the produce of the land, which 
 was the tax for the support of the Established Church, into a 
 permanent rent charge in money, payable by the landlords (1838) } 
 
 There was serious trouble in India ; and in Jamaica, resulting 
 from the emancipation of the slaves ; and there was actual rebellion 
 in Canada. 
 
 627. Canada. 1 839-1 84 1 . — Canada, in accordance with a plan 
 devised by Pitt,- had been divided into two independent provinces. 
 Upper and Lower Canada. Upper Canada was almost wholly 
 peopled by British colonists, while Lower Canada was almost ex- 
 clusively French. The system of rule which had been adopted 
 opened the way for bad government. In Lower Canada the French 
 disliked extremely the ways and actions of the British settlers who 
 came among them. In each province there were grievances 
 needing redress, chiefly that the legislative assemblies had no real 
 power. 
 
 Lord Durham, one of the ablest men in the Liberal party, was 
 sent out to settle matters. Lord Durham, however, was not a 
 skilful administrator, and when the ministry rejected one of his 
 ordinances he resigned. But though he was unsuccessful in 
 administration, his report on the condition of Canada was so 
 clear and convincing that many of his ideas were embodied in 
 the new scheme of government adopted for Canada. By this the 
 
 1 A somewhat similar bill for England had been passed in 1836. An Irish Tithe 
 Act passed in 1835, and another in 1836, had been rejected by the House of 
 Lords. 2 Adopted in 1791. 
 
CHARTISM 
 
 491 
 
 two colonies were united under one government with a legislative 
 assembly having some control over the executive ( 1839- 1 841); 
 so that in local matters the colonies had practically self- 
 government.^ 
 
 628. Chartism. — The country had not yet adjusted itself to 
 the new conditions brought about by the Industrial Revolution 
 (§ 566). The 
 upper classes held 
 firmly to the prin- 
 ciple of protection, 
 and in consequence 
 of the laws restrict- 
 ing the importation 
 of grain, bread was 
 so costly that thou- 
 sands were unable 
 to buy it. Wages 
 were low, and there 
 was still among the 
 working classes 
 widespread opposi- 
 tion to the extended 
 use of machinery 
 and labor-saving 
 devices. Seldom, if 
 
 ever, had the English working classes been in a more deplorable 
 condition. 
 
 Many remedies were proposed for this state of affliirs. The 
 most attractive to the working classes was Chartism. This name 
 was taken from a document known as the *' People's Charter," 
 which was drawn up to set forth the rights and embody the 
 demands of these classes. 
 
 Queen Victoria in 1877 
 
 ' This form of government lasted with but httle alteration until superseded by the 
 Dominion of Canada in 1867. 
 
492 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The six chief points of the Charter were (i) universal manhood 
 suffrage; (2) vote by ballot ; (3) annual Parliaments ; (4) aboli- 
 tion of property qualification for a seat in Parliament; (5) pay- 
 ment of members of Parliament ; (6) equal electoral districts. 
 
 In the great Reform Bill of 1832 no attention had been paid 
 to the interests of the working man, and the *' People's Charter " 
 aimed to remedy this evil. Public meetings were held, news- 
 papers and pamphlets published, and later, petitions presented 
 to Parliament. One of these in 1839 was said to have more than 
 a million names signed to it, but ParHament refused even to 
 consider it. When this was known there was rioting in a number 
 of places. Everywhere the movement was met with strong re- 
 pressive measures, neither the government nor Parliament either 
 sympathizing with the people or apparently understanding the 
 real issues involved. The movement was repressed, but not 
 crushed, as was shown later. Most of the demands of the Chart- 
 ists have been peacefully granted, though it has taken many years 
 to accomplish it. 
 
 629. Anti-corn Law League. 1838. — Still another movement of 
 important results was the Anti -corn- Law League. This also was 
 aimed at bettering the condition of the working classes, but in 
 a way which would enlist the sympathies of the middle classes as 
 well. It was set on foot by political economists and practical 
 business men of great ability. Begun at Manchester, its leaders 
 were Richard Cobden, a manufacturer, of liberal views and wide 
 and accurate information, John Bright, a Quaker, a manufacturer 
 and an orator of the highest class, and Charles Villiers, a member 
 of ParHament. These men claimed that the high price of corn ^ 
 not only injured the working classes but was also detrimental to 
 trade. It was, therefore, the interest of the community that there 
 should be free trade, especially in corn, and that to *' buy in the 
 cheapest market and sell in the dearest " was in accord with 
 true economic principles. By means of public meetings, circula- 
 
 ^ Corn is in England the general name for grain, particularly of wheat. 
 
CORN LAWS AND PENNY POSTAGE 
 
 493 
 
 tion of pamphlets, and speeches in and out of ParHament, the 
 supporters kept the matter before the pubHc. 
 
 630. Penny Postage. 1839-1840. — In 1839, in response to 
 a strong popular demand, the postal system was reformed, and 
 cheap postage, in accord with a plan proposed in 1837 by Rowland 
 Hill, was adopted. Heretofore letters had been carried at a rate 
 varying according to the number of sheets in a letter, the distance 
 to be carried, and the means of carriage. The rates charged were 
 high, and the result was that comparatively few letters were sent. 
 By the new system a uniform and low rate was charged for letters, 
 the charge varying only with the weight, one half ounce being 
 adopted as the unit ; and the franking privileges of the members 
 of Parliament were abolished. The plan was stoutly opposed in 
 Parliament, but the bill was passed. At first there was a serious 
 loss in revenue, but very soon the advantages of the system were 
 recognized, and the number of letters sent became so large that 
 the post office became a source of revenue instead of a loss as 
 it had been. Postage stamps were introduced in 1840.-^ 
 
 631. Foreign Affairs. 1839-1840. — Lord Palmerston, the 
 foreign minister, managed to bring on a quarrel with France which 
 nearly caused a war with that nation concerning Egypt, because 
 Louis PhiHppe had encouraged its pasha to seize Syria from Turkey. 
 Alarmed at the prospect of French influence in Egypt, Palmerston 
 formed an aUiance with Austria, Prussia, and Russia which brought 
 this plan to an end, and handed Syria over to Turkey. Palmer- 
 ston cherished the belief that Turkey would reform her govern- 
 ment — a vain delusion, as subsequent events showed. The real 
 object, however, of Palmerston, which he steadily pursued for 
 many years to come, was to prevent the advance of Russia, and 
 her control and probable acquisition of the whole or a large part 
 of the Turkish Empire — a policy which led to the support of the 
 half-civilized Ottoman Empire by the western nations in order to 
 
 1 The rate under this new system was at first four pence per half ounce, which 
 was, on and after January 10, 1840, to be reduced to one penny. 
 
494 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 maintain the balance of power in Europe ; which brought on the 
 Crimean War; and which preserved the Ottoman rule in Europe. 
 Shrewdly relying on the selfish attitude of the great powers, 
 every Turkish sultan maintained a system of misgovernment 
 which was a disgrace to modern times. 
 
 632. Chinese Policy; Opium Trade. 1 839-1 842. — Another 
 small war, not creditable to England, was that with China. China 
 pursued the policy of exclusion from the outside world, and re- 
 sisted every attempt to extend the trade with western nations. 
 Mistaken as this policy seems, it was one she had a right to follow. 
 A trade had sprung up with the port of Canton, though foreign 
 vessels were not allowed to come to the city itself. Up to 1834 
 the trade had been confined to the East India Company, but when 
 their monopoly ceased (§ 622), it was open to all comers. One 
 result of this was a vast increase in the smuggling of opium, a 
 drug much used by the Chinese in smoking for its narcotic effect. 
 The evil elTects of such practice were well known to the Chinese 
 government, and the importing of opium was rigidly prohibited. 
 The Chinese, finding it was almost impossible to shut out the 
 noxious drug, closed all trade with England. The English super- 
 intendent resented this, and by arms forced a renewal of trade 
 privileges. Matters, however, went on from bad to worse until 
 actual war with China resulted. 
 
 633. Chinese War, 1839. — The Chinese were worsted, and 
 compelled to make peace (1842). Five ports were opened to 
 British trade; and a large sum was paid for British opium 
 destroyed by the Chinese during the troubles ; a heavy indem- 
 nity was paid to the British; and the island of Hong Kong 
 was ceded to them. The Chinese, however, refused to legalize 
 the opium traffic in spite of the most persistent efforts of the 
 British. But the Chinese, after their experience with the British 
 arms, were afraid to enforce their laws, and so the trade increased ; 
 and as it was a government monopoly in India, and the source of 
 large revenue, the British authorities in India not only made no 
 
TARIFF REFORMS OF PEEL 
 
 495 
 
 efforts to stop the trade, but were accustomed to defend it on 
 the ground of the revenue it produced. So this iniquitous 
 traffic has continued until the present t'ime. So clearly was the 
 real cause of the war understood that it has always been called 
 the " Opium War." ^ 
 
 634. Peel's Ministry. 1841. — Sir Robert Peel became prime 
 minister a second time in 1841 and proved himself to be one of 
 England's greatest statesmen. He was an able politician and 
 parliamentary leader ; he was, like Pitt, the soul of the cabinet, 
 and he had above all the rare characteristic of acting in accord- 
 ance with his personal convictions whether they were in accord 
 vith his party or not. 
 
 In his cabinet were the Duke of Wellington, without an office. 
 Lord Aberdeen, Foreign Minister, and, thougl? not at first in the 
 cabinet, yet one of the junior officers, William E. Gladstone. 
 The failure of the Whig movement had been in financial and 
 economic measures ; to these, from the character of the times 
 and the widespread distress. Peel was bound to give his careful 
 attention. 
 
 635. Tariff Reforms of Peel. 1842. — Peel proposed that the 
 duty on foreign corn (wheat) should vary as the price of home- 
 grown wheat varied. If the price should decline the duty should 
 increase, and should fall as the price rose. In order to offset a 
 reduction in duties on imports, he proposed an income tax and 
 the abohtion of export duties.^ 
 
 After considerable opposition from the Conservatives, because 
 they thought he was granting too much, and from the radical 
 Free Traders, because he was not granting enough. Peel's measures 
 passed Parliament (1842). The cause of the Anti-corn League 
 
 1 No English government had the courage to put an end to this trade until 
 the Liberal administration took the matter up seriously (1908). By an agreement 
 with China the amount of opium exported from India to China will be gradually 
 diminished. In 1911 a new agreement provides that the export from India shall 
 close in less than seven years, it no opium is produced in China. 
 
 2 He reduced the duties on about 750 articles, leaving about 450 untouched. 
 
496 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 had been greatly strengthened by the advent of Richard Cobden 
 into Parhament (1841) and also of John Bright (1844) (§ 629), 
 but circumstances, even more than perseverance and eloquence, 
 worked for the cause. 
 
 636. Failure of Irish Potato Crop, 1845 ; Reduction of Corn 
 Duties, 1846. — A blight fell on the potato crop in Ireland in 
 1845, resulting in a very short crop which, as potatoes formed 
 the chief food of the people, brought on a famine and widespread 
 disease. 
 
 The undoubted success of the new tariff laws had led Peel to 
 modify his views on tariff questions, and when famine came upon 
 the Irish he felt that foreign wheat must be brought in to help 
 them. This could not be done without altering the laws, but if 
 the laws were repealed, it was not likely that they could be re- 
 enacted. Peel advocated their repeal, but as a large portion of 
 his cabinet refused to support him, he resigned. The queen asked 
 Lord John Russell to form a ministry, but he was unable to do so, 
 and Peel came back. He now proposed to make a heavy reduc- 
 tion in the duties on corn and in three years to lower them to a 
 nominal amount. This action divided the Conservatives, and Peel 
 was forced to depend on the Whigs to carry his measure. He 
 generously ascribed the credit of the Repeal of the Corn Laws, as 
 the measure is called, to Cobden and his associates^ (1846). 
 
 637. Irish Coercion Act; Peel Resigns. 1846. — Owing to the 
 great number of disorders in Ireland, Peel felt it needful to ask 
 for a coercion act. The Whigs, the radical Conservatives and Pro- 
 tectionists voted against the bill and it so happened that on the 
 same night on which the Lords passed the repeal of the Corn 
 Laws, Peel was defeated in the House of Commons. He at once 
 placed his resignation in the hands of the queen.^ 
 
 1 The duty was reduced to 4 shillings per quarter (480 pounds) till 1849, when it 
 was to become one shilling. This was abolished by Gladstone in 1869, and corn 
 was admitted free of any duty. 
 
 2 Peel never again held office, but he continued to exercise a great influence. 
 He died from the effects of a fall from his horse, July 2, 1850. 
 
IRISH AND AMERICAN AFFAIRS 497 
 
 638. Settlement of Boundary Disputes in America, 1842; 
 Bank Act, 1844. — Meantime the conciliatory policy of Aber- 
 deen, the foreign minister, had arranged the long-standing diffi- 
 culty with the United States in regard to the northeast boundary 
 between the British possessions and the United States, and later 
 effected an adjustment of the northwestern boundary also.^ 
 
 Among other measures of importance passed by the Peel ad- 
 ministration was the Bank Act of 1844, which revised the charter 
 of the Bank of England and forbade any bank formed after the 
 passage of the act to issue paper currency. The Bank of England 
 has been carried on under this charter to the present day.^ 
 
 639. Lord John Russell's Ministry, 1846-185 2; Irish Affairs. 
 — Lord John Russell, who had done good service in the Re- 
 form movement (§ 619) became prime minister in 1846. The 
 first question to be handled was that of Ireland. The potato 
 crop, bad in 1845, ^^^ a failure in 1846, and terrible distress and 
 famine took place. Modifications of the Poor Laws were made 
 and relief extended — but not sufficient. Private benevolence 
 stepped in and much was done to help the suffering. The popu- 
 far remedy for the Irish was emigration, and thousands left for 
 America, many to perish on shipboard from disease, the result 
 of starvation and unsanitary conditions. Between death and emi- 
 gration the population of Ireland declined nearly two millions. 
 Such distress naturally bred discontent and finally rebellion, and 
 the Liberal government felt forced to bring in a coercion bill 
 almost identical with that of Peel. Had Russell's full plan been 
 carried out, some evils might have been remedied ; as it was, the 
 legislation probably did more harm than good. Again England 
 had missed a chance of settling affairs in Ireland on a fairly just 
 
 1 The settlement of the northeastern boundary question in 1842 was a fair com- 
 promise of the conflicting claims. Lack of accurate knowledge prevented a final 
 settlement of the Oregon question until 1872. 
 
 2 More than once in times of financial crisis the charter has been suspended for 
 a short period, but on the whole the workings of the act have been remarkably 
 successful. 
 
498 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 basis, and, as has been generally the case, the fault chiefly lay 
 with the great landholders in the House of Lords. 
 
 640. Revolutions and Social Discontent. 1 848-1 849. — Like 
 1830 the year 1848 was a year of European revolutions. Louis 
 Philippe was driven from the French throne, and in nearly every 
 state on the Continent there were revolutions more or less serious. 
 Everywhere there was the demand for constitutional government. 
 The small states, overturned or absorbed by larger ones as a result 
 of the Napoleonic wars, had been restored by the Congress of 
 Vienna (1814-1815), and now the people were restive under 
 petty exactions and arbitrary boundaries. No crowned head in 
 Europe rested easily during 1848, and nearly every monarch had 
 to make some concessions. 
 
 The effect on the people of the British Islands was not slight. 
 In Ireland there was an attempt at rebellion, which was soon put 
 down. In England there was a renewal of the Chartist movement 
 (§ 628). A great meeting was called on Kennington Common, 
 London, and a monster petition, intended to be presented to 
 Parliament, was begun. The government took active measures 
 and it is said that 1 70,000 special policemen were sworn in to pre- 
 vent violence. The meeting, however, was a failure. Numerous 
 as the Chartists were in England, the great majority of them were 
 opposed to the use of force, and so the danger passed. 
 
 In 185 1 Louis Napoleon, who had been elected (1848) Presi- 
 dent of the French Republic, by a coup d'etat, as it was called, 
 overthrew the republic, and in 1832 proclaimed himself Emperor. 
 This was afterwards confirmed by a large popular vote.^ 
 
 641. Exhibition of 1851 ; Earl of Derby Prime Minister, 
 1852 ; Disraeli. — In 1851 the first great international exhibition 
 was held in London. It owed its origin, and also, to a very great 
 extent, its success, to Prince Albert. It certainly tended to bring 
 about better feelings between the different nations of the earth; 
 
 1 Louis Napoleon was the son of Napoleon's younger brother, Louis, and Hor- 
 tense, daughter of the Empress Josephine. 
 
REVOLUTIONS AND SOCIAL DISCONTENT 
 
 499 
 
 and, more than this, it showed to the whole world what was being 
 done for the advance of civiHzation, and it stimulated many nations 
 to greater efforts to better their condition. 
 
 Lord John Russell's ministry resigned in 1852, and the Earl of 
 Derby, a protectionist, was called upon to form a government. 
 Among those who now 
 came into office for 
 the first time was 
 Benjamin Disraeli, 
 later one of the best- 
 known names in Eng- 
 lish history of the nine- 
 teenth century. Of 
 Jewish descent, a 
 novelist of some repu- 
 tation, he had only 
 after failure succeeded 
 in making for himself 
 a place in the Com- 
 mons. He had bril- 
 liant talents, bound- 
 less ambition, and 
 audacity ; he was a 
 skilled debater and keen antagonist ; he knew little of finance or 
 political economy, and had been a strong protectionist from 
 policy. He recognized, however, that free trade had come to 
 stay, and in bringing forward his budget, for he was made chan- 
 cellor of the exchequer, to the surprise of friend and foe, he 
 took his stand as a free trader. An election took place and 
 in the new House a group of men who held the views of Peel, 
 and hence called " Peelites," held the balance of power. 
 
 642. Coalition Ministry, 1852; War with Russia, 1854. — As 
 the ministry was in a minority it soon fell, and was followed by 
 a " coalition " ministry of " Peelites " and Whigs. Lord Aberdeen 
 
 Benjamin Disraeli 
 Earl of Beaconsfield 
 
^OO HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 became prime minister, Gladstone, chancellor of the exchequer, 
 John Russell, foreign minister, and Palmerston, home secretary. 
 
 The new ministry soon had an important question to handle. 
 In 1850 a very trifling circumstance occurred in Palestine which 
 began a conflict leading to grave results lasting down to the 
 present. This was a dispute between the Roman Catholic and 
 Greek priests regarding the guardianship of the Church of the 
 Nativity and of some other places in Bethlehem. The Czar 
 Nicholas, the head of the Greek Church, took the side of the 
 Greek priests and demanded to be considered as the protector 
 of all the Greek Christians in the Turkish dominions. On the 
 other side the Emperor Napoleon III, solely with a view of 
 strengthening his own position, espoused the cause of the Latin 
 priests. The Turks, fearing Russia above all other powers, 
 supported the Latin or Roman CathoUc priests. Had the matter 
 stopped here it would have been of Httle importance, but Nicholas 
 proceeded to strong measures and in 1853 occupied Moldavia 
 and Wallachia (nearly the present kingdom of Roumania). 
 There seems little doubt that Nicholas believed that England 
 would not interfere, at least by arms, and so kept on. Napoleon 
 III, wishing to secure his power and distract attention at home, 
 saw his opportunity. Palmerston was an admirer of Napoleon 
 III, and, sympathizing with him, especially as he distrusted 
 Russia, managed to gain the support of the British cabinet. As 
 a result England and France declared war against Russia. 
 
 643. British Approval of the War; The "Crimean War." 
 1854-1856. — Largely from ignorance of the real conditions, 
 popular feeling in England was in favor of the war. Many now 
 think that the war was a grave mistake. As has been so often 
 the case in England, commercial reasons played an important 
 part, for it was believed that if Russia gained Constantinople, 
 the trade with India would be seriously menaced if not destroyed. 
 Aberdeen, the prime minister, among others was strongly opposed 
 to war, but was forced to yield. 
 
THE CRIMEAN WAR 
 
 501 
 
 Before the British and French troops reached Turkey the 
 Czar had withdrawn from the Turkish territory and the chief 
 ground for war was removed. But it was deemed needful to 
 humble Russia, and so an expedition, already planned to attack 
 Russia in the Crimea, was sent out. War began in earnest in 
 September, 1854, between England, France, Turkey, and later 
 Sardinia, on the one side, and Russia on the other. The battles 
 of Alma, Balaklava,^ and Inkerman were fought but were inde- 
 cisive. One feature of the war was the siege of Sevastopol, 
 a strongly fortified town of the Crimea and the Russian military 
 station in the Black Sea. The siege, one of the most celebrated 
 of the nineteenth century, lasted nearly a year, 
 
 644. Florence Nightingale (1819-1910). — During the severe 
 Russian winter the British troops suffered terribly from cold 
 and disease, and from gross mismanagement. When this be- 
 came known in England, there was great indignation, and a 
 demand was made for inquiry and redress. Among the means 
 for helping the soldiers was the provision for skilled nurses for 
 the sick in the hospitals. At head of the band of nurses went 
 out Florence Nightingale, whose noble efforts to relieve the 
 distressed made her name a synonym for efficient care of the 
 sick and wounded. Her successful efforts were the beginning 
 of the movement which resulted in the founding of the modern 
 Red Cross Society, and to her example is also due the establish- 
 ment of many schools for the thorough training of nurses. She 
 received many tokens of appreciation. A public testimonial of 
 ^50,000 which she received she gave to found a training school 
 for nurses. In 1907 King Edward conferred on her the Order 
 of Merit, the first time it had ever been bestowed on a woman ; 
 in 1908 she received the freedom of the City of London. After 
 being an invalid for many years, she died in her ninety-first year 
 (19 10). She would have been interred in Westminster Abbey, 
 
 1 At Balaklava took place the brave but useless charge of the six hundred cel- 
 ebrated in Tennyson's well-known poem. 
 
502 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 had she not expressly provided for a simple funeral and inter- 
 ment in a country churchyard.* 
 
 645. Sevastopol; Peace of 1856. — In September, 1855, the 
 French captured a fort which commanded Sevastopol ; the Rus- 
 sians, rather than surrender, sank all their ships of war, blew up 
 the defenses and stores, and evacuated the place, after destroying 
 as far as possible everything of value. 
 
 Meantime the Czar Nicholas had died (1855), and his son and 
 successor, Alexander II, by no means as warlike as he, within a 
 year was willing to consider proposals of peace. Indeed all parties 
 were ready for peace, which was made in 1856. By the terms of 
 the Treaty of Paris the Black Sea was closed to all ships of war 
 but open to all merchant vessels ; all conquests with slight excep- 
 tion were restored, but Moldavia and Wallachia were to be self- 
 governed under the suzerainty of Turkey ; and the sultan agreed 
 to give more liberty to his Christian subjects. It was also agreed 
 to recognize Turkey as a European power in good standing, and 
 the powers pledged themselves to maintain her integrity. Eng- 
 land gained from the war little or nothing except experience ; Na- 
 poleon greatly strengthened his position in European affairs ; 
 Russia lost prestige ; Sardinia was recognized as a great power ; 
 while Turkey gained a position which she had for years sought in 
 vain to acquire. Moreover, no provision was made to compel the 
 sultan to carry out his promises, a blameworthy omission on the 
 part of Great Britain. The real object of the Crimean War was to 
 preserve the " Balance of Power " in Europe. This was attained for 
 the time, but at very great cost. 
 
 646. Indian Mutiny. 1857-1858. — Again the British had to 
 wage a war and one of far greater immediate moment to England 
 than that in the Crimea, for it struck at her own power and pos- 
 sessions. This was the great Mutiny of 1857 in India. Under 
 the administration of Lord Dalhousie (1848-185 6) the Punjab 
 had been annexed (1848-1849), as also Lower Burma (1852), Oude 
 
 * See Longfellow's poem, " Santa Filomena," written in 1857. 
 
MUTINY IN INDIA 
 
 503 
 
 (1856), and other states. Besides this, Dalhousie claimed 
 that states whose rulers died without direct heirs lapsed to the 
 British, and in this way still more territory was brought under 
 British rule. 
 
 It had been the British policy to employ native troops, and they 
 had proved good and trustworthy soldiers, but Dalhousie's policy 
 
 A Native Indian Army on the March 
 
 was often irritating to the natives and had alienated many, and 
 only slight provocation was needed to stir up a revolt. Many 
 British troops had been taken away from India and sent to the 
 Crimea, leaving the British-Indian army unusually weak. The 
 occasion for revolt was the introduction of a new rifle for the 
 army ; the cartridges for this weapon, it was reported, were 
 greased with cow's or pig's fat.^ To the Mohammedan, lard 
 was unclean, and to the Hindoo the cow was a sacred animal, and 
 hence its use was sacrilege. It was believed that the British were 
 purposely attacking their religion, and a mutiny broke out among 
 the Sepoys, or native troops, beginning at Delhi and Lucknow, 
 
 1 Honestly denied at the time by government officials, it was afterwards discovered 
 to be a fact. 
 
504 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and then spreading over central and northern India. There 
 were terrible massacres at Cawnpore and elsewhere, and the 
 heroic defense of Lucknow against the mutineers has been 
 celebrated in prose and verse. At last, in 1858, the mutiny was 
 put down, but not until there had been great loss of hfe and much 
 cruelty on both sides. If the natives of the several provinces had 
 been united, British rule could hardly have been maintained. One 
 result of the mutiny was to take from the East India Company its 
 territories, possessions, and executive powers, and vest them in 
 the crown .^ 
 
 647. Colonial Expansion ; Australia ; Canada. — Meanwhile, 
 more than was appreciated at the time, England's colonial empire 
 had been growing and increasing in importance. It is strange 
 that neither Gladstone nor Disraeh, keen as they were, foresaw 
 what the colonies were to mean to Great Britain.^ The voyages 
 of Captain Cook in the latter part of the eighteenth century dis- 
 closed the possibiHties in the South Pacific, and other voyages 
 and explorations elsewhere revealed a vast amount of territory un- 
 claimed by Europeans. England's traditional policy of acquiring 
 all that she could lay hold of whether at the time it seemed useful 
 or not, and of always holding on to everything, has stood her in 
 good stead. 
 
 At first AustraUa and Tasmania were regarded only as places to 
 which to banish criminals. But in time settlements were made 
 far from the convict colonies. The real foundation of the 
 growth of Australia was the introduction of sheep farming on a 
 large scale; and when gold was discovered in 185 1, thousands 
 rushed to the goldfields as had been the case in California. Self- 
 rule was granted to the colonies in Austraha, the only strong hnks 
 
 1 The control was vested in a secretary of state who was to be assisted by a 
 council of fifteen. The secretary was to be a member of the cabinet, and in India 
 a Viceroy ruled, also assisted by a council. With some modifications this is still 
 the form of government. 
 
 2 Lord John Russell was almost the only one of the prominent statesmen up 
 to the middle of the nineteenth century who recognized what they might become. 
 
COLONIAL EXPANSION 
 
 505 
 
 being the governor appointed by the crown, and the British 
 Privy Council acting as a sort of supreme court of appeal. 
 
 The larger British colonies have been allowed not only legislative 
 but also economic independence, so that while free trade has been 
 law in Great Britain and Ireland, protection has been allowed in 
 the colonies if so they wished. As the colonies have grown in 
 importance there has been a tendency toward federation. Thus 
 in Canada the plan already described (§ 627) was in 1867 still 
 further extended, and the various North American provinces, with 
 the exception of Newfoundland, were united into the Dominion 
 of Canada.^ The connection with Great Britain is largely senti- 
 mental, but nevertheless is stronger than when the colonies were 
 ruled directly by the British crown. The building of the Canadian 
 Pacific railroad and the opening for settlement of the fertile lands 
 of Manitoba, British Columbia, and other districts in the North- 
 west has greatly benefited and strengthened the Dominion. 
 
 The march of events in Australia and in New Zealand has been 
 similar to that in Canada ; one colony after another was established, 
 until in 1901 all the colonies were united into the Commonwealth 
 of Australia, modeled after the Dominion of Canada, though dif- 
 fering in details. In New Zealand also the various settlements 
 were in 1875 united into one. 
 
 648. British West Indies. — In the West Indies, however, a 
 very different state of affairs has prevailed ; instead of advance 
 and prosperity there have been loss and backward rather than 
 forward movements. During the Napoleonic wars the French 
 and other colonies were at the mercy of England, and she took, 
 and, by the treaty of peace, retained such as she wished. Such 
 were Tobago, Trinidad, and Guiana (in South America). The 
 abolition of negro slavery, the indolence of the tropical negro, and 
 also of the whites makes labor. a difficult problem. Besides this 
 
 1 The Dominion of Canada has a federal parliament sitting at Ottawa with a 
 cabinet responsible to it ; the governor-general is appointed by the crown ; it has 
 its own laws and its own tariff. 
 
506 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the great increase in the manufacture of beet-root sugar in Europe 
 lessened the demand for tropical sugar, and when free trade was 
 adopted by England, it opened the home markets to slave-grown 
 products and still further injured the British West India planter. 
 In a climate where nature provides enough to live on with scarcely 
 any work it is exceedingly difficult to get the free negroes to labor 
 steadily. To supply the lack of labor, coolies from India were 
 imported, a system which has involved serious questions of its 
 own, and in the carrying out of which a condition closely ap- 
 proaching that of slavery itself resulted. With so large a propor- 
 tion of negroes ignorant and indolent, it is not surprising that the 
 white inhabitants of the islands prefer to be governed by the crown, 
 and, therefore, in the West Indies we see old-fashioned crown 
 colonies with almost absolute rule from England.^ 
 
 649. Cape Colony, 1814; Natal, 1835; Orange Free State, 
 1854; Transvaal, 1858. — Another of the important colonies of 
 Great Britain is that of the Cape of Good Hope, or Cape Colony, 
 often referred to as South Africa. The history of this differs in 
 many respects from that of any other of the British colonies. It was 
 acquired from the Dutch during the Napoleonic wars, held for 
 eight years, and finally confirmed to the British by the Treaty of 
 Paris (18 14) (§ 603). Settled by the Dutch, it had a large popu- 
 lation retaining decidedly Dutch characteristics. But after the 
 confirmation of the colony to the English there was a large influx 
 of British settlers, who introduced Anglo-Saxon methods and 
 enterprise, not greatly to the liking of the old Dutch settlers, or 
 Boers, and their descendants. The abolition of slavery in all the 
 British dominions was also distasteful to the Boers, and many of 
 them migrated northward to find new homes for themselves in the 
 wilderness. Thus was founded Natal (1835), the Orange Free 
 State (1854), and the Transvaal or South African Republic (1858). 
 
 1 The proportion of whites to colored in all of the islands is very small. In the 
 Leeward Islands the numbers are: whites, 5070; colored, 122,653 (1891) ; Jamaica, 
 whites, 15,605; colored and other races, 815,778 (1911). 
 
ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES 50? 
 
 These South African states were weak and had much trouble with 
 the native tribes. These difficulties affected the neighboring 
 British settlers also, and England interfered from time to time. 
 In 1843 she annexed Natal. 
 
 650. Death of Prince Albert; American Civil War. 1861^ 
 1865. — In 1861 Queen Victoria and the country also met with a 
 severe loss in the death of the Prince Consort, Prince Albert. 
 
 Windsor Castle 
 
 An event of the deepest interest to Great Britain and her Amer- 
 ican dependencies was the Civil War in the United States (1861- 
 1865). Eleven of the Southern slaveholding states soon after the 
 election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency by a non-slavery 
 party, believing that it meant the downfall of slavery and hence 
 was ruinous to their interests, passed acts of secession from the 
 Union. The British government proclaimed that Great Britain 
 would remain neutral, but the British cabinet and most of the 
 upper classes beheved that a permanent Southern Confederacy 
 would certainly be established, and did not conceal their sympathy 
 with the South.^ The working classes and nearly all the radical 
 classes were equally strong in their support of the North. 
 
 1 Even such a man as Gladstone believed in the final success of the South ; Dis- 
 raeli, his great Conservative competitor, held different views, and John Bright, 
 Cobden, the Duke of Argyll, and some others were strongly on the side of the 
 North and predicted its success. 
 
5o8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 651. The Trent Affair. 1861. — The commercial interests of 
 Great Britain in the American conflict were large. From America 
 came, with exceptions too trifling to name, the supplies for her 
 great cotton mills; and her carrying trade with America was 
 extensive. The blockade of the Southern ports by the United 
 States meant an absolute stoppage of all this. An unexpected 
 incident nearly brought the two nations to actual war. The Con- 
 federate government dispatched two commissioners. Mason and 
 Slidell, to seek aid for the South in Europe. While on their way 
 thither Captain Charles Wilkes, an American naval officer, stopped 
 the British steamer Tre7it^ upon which they were passengers, and 
 took them off. Great Britain demanded their return on the 
 ground that the act of Wilkes was contrary to international law. 
 The people of the North, irritated by the open sympathy of so 
 many in England with the South, applauded Wilkes, while in Eng- 
 land the feeling against America was strong. For a time war 
 seemed inevitable. Happily wiser counsels prevailed. A per- 
 emptory and somewhat arrogant dispatch to America prepared 
 by Lord John Russell, and sent to the queen for her approval, 
 was by the efforts of Prince Albert and herself so modified that 
 the United States government could easily get out of the dif- 
 ficulty by acknowledging that the act of Wilkes had not been 
 authorized by the government. President Lincoln recognized 
 that Wilkes had acted contrary to the whole practice of the 
 United States, and in fact was doing what she had fought against 
 in the War of 181 2. He was, therefore, more than ready to order 
 the return of the two men and to make the statement that the 
 action was wholly unauthorized by the government. So peace 
 was secured. 
 
 652. British Blockade Runners and Confederate Cruisers; 
 Cotton Famine. — The North had, however, serious complaints 
 against the British government in that it was slack in preventing 
 the equipment and departure of vessels intended to prey upon 
 American commerce and to run the blockade of the Southern 
 
GLADSTONE THE LIBERAL LEADER 
 
 509 
 
 ports which the North maintained.^ Another result which touched 
 the EngHsh more closely was the cotton famine in Lancashire. 
 Owing to the impossibility of obtaining cotton, the large factories 
 in Lancashire and elsewhere had to be closed, throwing thousands 
 out of employment and bringing upon them destitution and suf- 
 fering. The efforts of the 
 charitable to relieve this 
 suffering and the method 
 of the distribution of the 
 funds form one of the 
 most pleasing incidents in 
 social history.^ 
 
 653. Death of Palmer- 
 ston ; Gladstone the Lib- 
 eral Leader. 1865. — 
 Lord Palmerston died in 
 1865, over eighty years 
 old, having occupied a 
 prominent position in 
 English public life longer 
 than any predecessor of 
 equal rank, and only sur- 
 passed in later years by Gladstone. From this time Gladstone 
 definitely ranked himself as a Liberal. The program of each of 
 the parties was much changed from what it had been in the past. 
 The aim of the Liberals was to extend the franchise and make 
 England more democratic; while that of the Conservatives was 
 that in any extension of the suffrage the right should be so guarded 
 that the real power should still rest with the upper and wealthier 
 
 William Ewart Gladstone 
 
 1 The most celebrated of the Confederate cruisers thus built was the Alabama, 
 whose depredations, with those of other similar vessels, gave rise to the " Alabama 
 claims." 
 
 2 It is remarkable that, notwithstanding the sufferings of the operatives, they never 
 faltered in their sympathy for the cause of the Northern States, which they believed 
 to be the cause of freedom. 
 
5IO HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 classes. They believed in a large empire, a strong army and navy, 
 and a strong foreign policy. The word used more than any other 
 to express their general policy was *' imperialism." 
 
 654. Reform Bills. 1866, 1867. — Lord John Russell, now 
 Earl Russell, became prime minister. As in 1832, the reform of 
 Parliament became the issue before the country. A bill for this 
 purpose was introduced by the Liberal cabinet (1866), but by the 
 defection of some of their party, who feared so radical a measure, 
 the government was defeated, and the Conservatives, under the 
 lead of the Earl of Derby, came into power. Disraeli, the leader 
 in the Commons, introduced a new Reform Bill, which passed after 
 being amended so much oli lines recommended by Gladstone 
 that it was really more a Liberal than a Conservative measure.^ 
 Not only was the suffrage widely extended by the lowering of 
 the requirements for an elector, but there was a redistribution 
 of the seats so that the representation was somewhat fairer ; but 
 though by this act the working men of the cities were enfranchised, 
 the miners and agricultural laborers were still without the ballot. 
 
 655. Disraeli Prime Minister, 1868; Fenians; Irish Griev- 
 ances. — In 1868 the Earl of Derby resigned, owing to ill health, 
 and Disraeli attained the height of his ambition in becoming Prime 
 Minister (1868). In the meantime Irish affairs claimed the atten- 
 tion of the country. About 1863 some Irish and Irish-Americans 
 started a secret society, known as the Fenians, for the aid of their 
 countrymen. The real object was to set up an independent Irish 
 republic. To bring about this result, attempts were made to rescue 
 Fenian prisoners, risings took place in Ireland, and there were 
 other acts of violence, all of which were unsuccessful. The Liberals 
 espoused the cause of Ireland, and Gladstone in a public speech 
 stated the grievances of Ireland to be three — the established 
 Episcopal church ; the system of land tenure ; and the system of 
 education. As the Conservatives had not a real majority in the 
 
 1 The Liberals did not oppose the bill but offered amendments, many of which 
 were accepted by the House. 
 
REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES 
 
 511 
 
 Commons, Gladstone was able to carry a resolution declaring that 
 the Irish Episcopal church should be disestablished. Whereupon 
 Parliament was dissolved and a general election under the new Re- 
 form Bill took place and the Liberals gained a large majority. 
 
 656. Gladstone Prime Minister, 1869 5 Disestablishment of 
 Irish Church, 1869. — When Disraeli found his party in the 
 minority, he took the unprecedented step of resigning before the 
 new Parliament met.^ The queen sent for Gladstone, who now 
 became prime minister, and on the meeting of Parliament he at 
 once introduced a bill for the disestabhshment and disendowment 
 of the Irish Episcopal church, which, after a long debate and con- 
 test with the House of Lords, was passed (1869). "The result 
 has more than justified the supporters of the bill. The disestab- 
 lished church has been more prosperous, and also more clerical, 
 than it ever was before." On the other hand, Ireland was not as 
 much affected as might have been expected, for her greatest griev- 
 ances did not lie in church matters, but in the land laws. 
 
 657. Irish Land Act, 1870; English Education Act, 1870. — 
 A strong effort was made to remedy some of the evils of the land 
 system of Ireland by the Irish Land Act of 1870. But while 
 effecting some improvement, the act was not radical enough, for 
 it left many loopholes for evasion.^ 
 
 Another important measure of reform was that relating to edu- 
 cation.^ At this time elementary education in England was much 
 inferior to that in Prussia, the United States, or Switzerland. The 
 extension of the franchise in 1867 made the matter of educa- 
 tion a vital one.^ That the Elementary Education Act of 1870 
 
 1 The precedent set by Disraeli has been followed since, and seems a common 
 sense arrangement, 
 
 2 The main purpose of the act was to prevent landlords from turning out ten- 
 ants as long as they paid their rent, and to compel landlords to pay for improve- 
 ments that a tenant had placed upon the property, if he were evicted from the land. 
 Such a course had long been the right of the Ulster tenants and was known as the 
 Ulster Tenant Right. 
 
 3 " In 1869 out of about 4,300,000 children within the school age, 2,000,000 
 ought to have been at school and were not." 
 
512 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 was brought forward and pressed to a conclusion was chiefly due 
 to WiUiam Edward Forster, a member of Gladstone's cabinet. 
 By this act districts were allowed to choose a school board, levy 
 rates (taxes) for education, and compel children to be sent to 
 school. This act marks the beginning of a really national system 
 of education, for heretofore education had been practically de- 
 pendent on private efforts or on societies formed by private effort. 
 
 658. Repeal of University Tests, 1871 ; Other Reforms. — An- 
 other step in educational reform was the opening of the universi- 
 ties of Oxford and Cambridge to all without religious tests, thus 
 allowing Nonconformists, Catholics, Jews, and others to avail 
 themselves of the highest educational advantages (1871). 
 
 With their large majority the Liberals were able to pass other 
 reform measures. The army regulations were improved, but 
 the Lords declined to agree to a proposed abolition of the 
 purchase of commissions in the army, whereupon Gladstone 
 abolished the system by royal warrant.^ 
 
 Other reforms were the Ballot Act (1872), by which it was' 
 provided that future elections for members of Parliament should 
 be by secret ballot. Hitherto the old custom of viva voce 
 elections had prevailed, but the great enlargement of the fran- 
 chise made that method undesirable, not only on account of the 
 time it took, but still more because of the greater opportunity 
 it gave for bribing and undue influence. 
 
 659. Liberal Foreign Policy; Alabama Claims, 1872; Arbi- 
 tration. — The foreign policy of the government was based on 
 neutrahty and non-interference, and so gave offense to the im- 
 perialists. In 1870 war broke out between Prussia and France 
 in which France was disastrously defeated, resulting in the down- 
 
 1 The system of the purchase of commissions in the army had been established 
 by a royal warrant of Charles II, but was discontinued by William III; it was 
 again established by warrant. It was held that what had been established by 
 warrant could be removed by warrant. The Lords were opposed to the measure 
 because purchase was an easy way for them to secure employment for theil 
 younger sons, for whom trade was considered undignified. 
 
REFORMS AND ARBITRATION cj^ 
 
 fall of the Empire and the setting up of the Third Republic, and 
 also in the establishment of the German Empire, of which King 
 William of Prussia became emperor. Italian unity was estab- 
 lished by the destruction of the temporal power of the Pope, 
 and Rome became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Russia, 
 while these events were taking, place, announced that she would 
 no longer be bound by the Treaty of 1856 regarding the Black 
 Sea (§ 645), but would keep war vessels in those waters if she 
 wished. England did not consider the matter important enough 
 to fight about, and so one of the measures for which the expensive 
 Crimean War was waged came to naught. 
 
 Another and more important feature of the foreign policy of 
 the Liberal government was the submission of the Alabama 
 claims (§ 652) of the United States to arbitration. The tribunal 
 which was appointed awarded to the United States damages of 
 more than three million pounds sterling. Other matters at issue 
 between the two governments also referred to arbitration were 
 the Newfoundland fishery claims and the question regarding the 
 extreme northwestern boundary between Canada and the United 
 States, all of which were settled. This first instance in history 
 of two great nations settling difficult and important questions 
 peaceably and harmoniously reflects great credit on both, espe- 
 cially upon Great Britain and her government.^ It set an example 
 to other nations, and has done much to help the cause of inter- 
 national peace. 
 
 660. Other Reforms ; Liberal Defeat. 1874. — Another use- 
 ful measure was the Licensing Act, shortening the hours during 
 which drink could be sold.- 
 
 An Education Act for Scotland was also passed (1872), follow- 
 
 1 The award for the Alabama claims was felt by the English to be excessive, but 
 was paid promptly. On the other hand the award to Great Britain for the fishery 
 claims was regarded by the Americans as excessive, but it too was paid promptly, 
 and thus the two were a set-off against each other, 
 
 2 This was the first effort of a British government to regulate the sale of intoxi- 
 cating liquors in towns. 
 
514 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ing as a matter of course from the passage of the English Act 
 of 1870. A bill providing higher education for Ireland was 
 defeated, and Gladstone resigned, but as Disraeli refused to 
 form a cabinet, Gladstone resumed office. In January, 1874, 
 Parliament was dissolved. In the elections which followed, the 
 Conservatives gained a good majority, and Gladstone, following 
 Disraeli's precedent, resigned, and Disraeh became Prime Minister 
 again. 
 
 661. Purchase of Suez Canal Shares. 1875. — Not since 1832 
 had the Conservatives had so large a majority upon which they 
 could rely as now. The main interest of the Liberals had been 
 in domestic matters ; that of Disraeh and his colleagues were in 
 foreign affairs. Attention, however, was first turned to India, 
 where Disraeh beUeved he could advance the cause of imperial- 
 ism. By the opening of the Suez canal in 1869 the voyage to 
 India was shortened nearly one half and the canal became of vast 
 importance to Great Britain, and its control almost essential. 
 This canal was under the joint control of France, whose engineer 
 De Lesseps had constructed it, and the Khedive of Egypt, 
 through whose possessions it went. Disraeli suddenly bought for 
 England the shares in the canal owned by the khedive, amount- 
 ing to nearly one half, for ;£"5, 000,000, thus practically controlling 
 it. Much credit is due to Disraeli for seizing the opportunity to 
 secure a possession so valuable to the British government.^ 
 
 662. India ; Victoria Empress of India. — In order to stir up 
 an imperial feeling in India the Prince of Wales was sent out in 
 1875. He was received with demonstrations of loyalty. In 
 1876 Lord Lytton, a man in thorough sympathy with DisraeH's 
 imperiahstic views, was appointed viceroy. Since the mutiny 
 many railroads had been constructed in India, which not only 
 rendered communication easier and more rapid for commercial 
 
 1 The khedive was practically bankrupt and had almost concluded a bargain for 
 the sale of his shares in France when Disraeli heard of it and stepped in and 
 secured them. Though a heavy expense at first, in the end the investment became 
 an exceedingly profitable one. 
 
FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
 
 515 
 
 undertakings, but were invaluable for the quick transport of troops. 
 The Suez canal by shortening the time for transportation had 
 greatly increased the British trade with India and brought the 
 countries closer together. To extend still further his imperial 
 policy, Disraeli in 1876 passed the Royal Titles Bill, which gave the 
 
 The Houses of Parliament built in 1852 
 
 queen the additional title of Empress of India, and on May i, 1876, 
 she was foi^mally proclaimed by that tide in London, and on Janu- 
 ary I, 1877, with pomp and ceremony, in Delhi, India ^ (§ 684). 
 
 663. Foreign Affairs; Turkey, 1878; Egypt; Conservative 
 Defeat, 1880. — Foreign affairs now took on a serious aspect. 
 A war between Russia and Turkey broke out, and before long 
 Russia was marching on Constantinople. Again the cry of injury 
 to India and British interests was raised. Disraeli sent a fleet to 
 the East and hurried Indian troops to Malta, and war seemed 
 imminent. But Russia, having no wish to be involved in another 
 war with England, made terms with Turkey in the Treaty of San 
 Stefano (1878). 
 
 ' Though it was stated that this new title would only be used in Indian docu- 
 ments, before a year the queen used it in English documents as well, and in 1893 
 it was put upon the British coinage. 
 
5i6 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Meantime Disraeli had become the Earl of Beaconsfield; and 
 Lord Salisbury, the foreign minister, notified the Russian gov- 
 ernment that the Treaty of San Stefano would not be accepted by 
 Great Britain. A message from Austria, whose dominions bordered 
 on those of Turkey, took the same ground, and a European coun- 
 cil was called to meet at Berlin to settle the Eastern Question. 
 This congress met in 1878, and the Treaty of Berlin was framed 
 and signed. The Berlin Congress somewhat resembled the Con- 
 gress of Vienna (§ 603) in the way it settled the affairs of the 
 various countries without the slightest reference to the wishes 
 of those most nearly concerned. Meantime, England received 
 from Turkey the island of Cyprus on condition of her protecting 
 Asia Minor. Though Turkey was shorn of a good deal of her 
 territory, on the whole she came out of the struggle very well and 
 retained her place as one of the European great powers. 
 
 In 1879 Beaconsfield, in connection with France, set up a dual 
 control in Egypt, both countries being largely interested in the 
 financial concerns of that country, which was bankrupt. 
 
 The Conservatives, who had been in power five years or more, 
 had given their attention almost wholly to foreign affairs, laying 
 themselves open to the charge of neglecting home interests, a 
 position of which the Liberals, particularly Mr. Gladstone, took 
 advantage. Parliament was dissolved (1880), and in a subsequent 
 election the Liberals had a large majority. Disraeli,^ as before, 
 resigned, and Gladstone again became prime minister. 
 
 664. Home Affairs; South Africa ; Ireland; "Boycotting." — 
 The policy of Gladstone was " peace abroad, and retrenchment 
 and reform at home." Trouble with Afghanistan and with the 
 Boers in Africa (§ 649), an inheritance from the last administra- 
 tion, occupied the serious attention of the new ministers. In the 
 former case a severe blow was inflicted on Afghanistan. 
 
 The Transvaal Republic (§ 649), recognized by Great Britain 
 
 1 Lord Beaconsfield died in 1881 at the age of ']']. He was mourned by the 
 queen as a personal friend. 
 
AFFAIRS IN AFRICA AND IN IRELAND 
 
 517 
 
 in 1852, had not been prosperous, and in 1877 anarchy very 
 nearly prevailed within, while the warlike Zulus, under an able 
 chief, Cetewayo, threatened destruction from without. Claiming 
 that the disorder in the Transvaal endangered the peace of all South 
 Africa, the British annexed the repubHc, in spite of a deputation 
 from the Boers praying for their independence. The British now 
 attacked the Zulus, and conquering them with no little difficulty, 
 annexed Zululand. Freed from their native enemies, the Boers 
 planned to regain their freedom from the hated British rule. A 
 rebeUion broke out (1880), in the course of which a small body 
 of British was defeated at Majuba Hill (188 1). 
 
 Gladstone, now in office, having been satisfied that the annexa- 
 tion of 1877 had been made on the false information that it was 
 desired by the majority of the people, was already preparing to 
 grant the Transvaal practical independence. This was done 
 (March, 1881). The action of the British government was actu- 
 ated by a sense of justice, but, coming as it did soon after the 
 Boers' victory of Majuba Hill, it led the Boers to beheve that the 
 concession Was gained by the victory at Majuba instead of be- 
 stowed in spite of it. The impression was thus conveyed that 
 armed resistance would at any time be successful. 
 
 Ireland occupied the chief thoughts of the government. In 
 1 88 1 a new Land Act was passed, extending the provisions of 
 that of 1870 (§ 657), but it had little effect, for the Irish were 
 seeking Home Rule, nothing short of which would be acceptable. 
 Under the leadership of Charles Stewart ParnelV who led eighty 
 of the Irish members in Parliament,' every effort was made to 
 bring this about by the use of all possible parliamentary obstruc- 
 tive tactics. Outside of Parliament every kind of means was em- 
 ployed to further the cause. An Irish National Land League 
 was founded (1879), whose object at first was to protect tenants 
 
 1 Parnell (1846-1891) was an Irishman, son of an American mother, and a non- 
 Catholic. He was the ablest supporter of the Irish cause of his day, and a man of 
 extraordinary personal influence. 
 
5l8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 against unjust rent, but afterwards to secure peasant proprietor- 
 ship of the land.^ Among the methods used to further the objects 
 of the League was boycotting, a word which was now used for 
 the first time.^ Unfortunately peaceful means were not always 
 used ; cattle of obnoxious landlords were mutilated, barns were 
 burnt, and worse still, landlords were shot at and some were killed. 
 Agents were threatened by anonymous letters, graves were dug 
 before their houses, and any one who dared to take a farm from 
 which a former tenant had been evicted, did so at the risk of 
 his life. 
 
 665. Irish Coercion Act, 1881 ; Phoenix Park Murders, 1882. 
 — There seemed little to do but pass another Coercion Act (1881), 
 but this only made matters in Ireland worse. At last a milder 
 policy was tried. A bill favoring the smaller Irish tenants was 
 passed. Irish affairs seemed nearer settlement in May, 1882, than 
 perhaps ever before, when the brutal murder in Phoenix Park, 
 Dublin, of Lord Frederick Cavendish, the newly appointed secre- 
 tary for Ireland, and T. H. Burke, the permanent under-secretary, 
 ruined the fair prospect. This dastardly crime, disowned by the 
 Irish leaders, was the work of those called " Irreconcilables," who 
 wished to destroy any possibility of reconciliation with England. 
 A Prevention of Crimes Bill was quickly passed through Parlia- 
 ment, and in order to put an end to factious obstruction in the 
 Commons new rules giving the speaker power to close debates 
 were adopted. 
 
 666. Reform Acts; Foreign Affairs; Egypt, 1882. — The 
 government was able to carry out several measures of reform in 
 Great Britain : the game preserve regulations were slightly relaxed 
 by allowing farmers to kill hares and rabbits which injured their 
 
 1 Parnell's own definition of the Irish Land Question was, " Abolish landlordism, 
 and make the man who occupies and cultivates the soil the owner of the soil." 
 
 2 Captain Boycott was an Englishman, an agent for an English landlord, who 
 declined to receive the rent which the tenants considered " fair " ; and when he 
 proceeded to eject the tenants, his servants left him, local tradesmen would not deal 
 with him, and he was unable to harvest the crops of his principal. 
 
REFORM ACTS rig 
 
 crops; an Employers' Liability Act protected workmen against 
 negligence by their employers; the Bankruptcy laws were im- 
 proved; and Nonconformists were allowed to use churchyards of 
 the established church for burials. Before the ministry went out 
 of office it passed a Franchise Bill (1884) and a Redistribution 
 Bill (1885), enlarging the electoral franchise and giving practically 
 household suffrage.^ 
 
 The government was severely criticised for its foreign policy. 
 Afghanistan had been abandoned, and the setdement in South 
 Africa already referred to was unpopular, but the climax was 
 reached in Egypt. The dual control of France and England 
 (§ 663) was greatly disHked by many of the Egyptians, and a 
 rebellion headed by Arabi Bey was set on foot. France would 
 not interfere, and England was left to meet the troubles single- 
 handed. English residents were killed in Alexandria and this 
 brought about a bombardment by the British fleet. Troops were 
 sent from England under General Wolseley, and he defeated Arabi 
 Bey at Tel-eljKebir (1882). 
 
 667. Trouble in the Sudan, 1883 -1885; Death of General 
 Gordon, 1885. — The tribes to the south of Egypt, in the district 
 known as the Sudan, revolted and threw off the rule of the 
 khedive, under the leadership of a fanatical chief, Mohammed 
 Ahmed, known as the Mahdi or Mussulman Messiah. 
 
 The British government resolved to abandon the Sudan, and 
 early in 1884 General Charles Gordon was sent out to arrange 
 for the withdrawing of the garrisons, a plan which he approved. 
 He had been governor of the Sudan under the Egyptian govern- 
 ment and was supposed to know the country better than any 
 other Enghshman. On his arrival at Khartum in the Sudan 
 
 1 The Franchise Bill increased the number of voters from about 3,000,000 to 
 about 5,000,000, and put workingmen in the counties on the same footing as those 
 in towns. By the Redistribution Bill a much fairer representation was given to 
 towns and manufacturing districts; to London, for instance, were assigned 61 mem- 
 bers instead of 22. Though the population of Ireland had decreased, its represen- 
 tation was unchanged. 
 
520 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 he disregarded instructions and provided for the retention of 
 the Sudan. This action placed the EngHsh cabinet in an ex- 
 ceedingly difficult position, and it hesitated and delayed. The 
 Mahdi's troops besieged Khartum, the city was betrayed and 
 Gordon was killed only two days before the British troops ar- 
 rived. Few events have aroused such feeling in England. The 
 queen did not restrain her anger and never forgave Gladstone ; 
 and the government was severely blamed for its dilatoriness.^ 
 
 668. Gladstone Prime Minister the Third Time (1885) ; 
 Irish Home Rule Bill. — The Liberals were defeated on a 
 financial measure (1885) and resigned. The Conservatives, 
 with the Marquis of Salisbury at their head, held the reins till 
 a new election, under the new Reform Bill, by which the Liberals 
 were returned to power with a majority of eighty-six over the 
 Conservatives, and Gladstone became Prime Minister for the third 
 time. 
 
 The results, however, were not satisfactory to either party, for 
 the balance of power was held by eighty-six Irish Home Rulers 
 under the leadership of Parnell. Mr. Gladstone had come to 
 the conclusion that there were but two courses to be followed : 
 Home Rule for Ireland, or Coercion. He was unalterably op- 
 posed to the latter, and so declared for Home Rule.^ Early 
 in the session of the new Parliament he introduced his first Home 
 Rule Bill.^ This measure divided the Liberal party, and nearly 
 one hundred Liberal members, calling themselves Liberal-Union- 
 
 ^ Charles George Gordon has been called the Galahad of the nineteenth century. 
 He was " disinterested, highminded, saintly, noble, and pure," but like many such 
 characters, he was a law unto himself ; he must act absolutely in accord with what 
 seemed right to him at the time, regardless of others or of consequences. It is 
 impossible for such a man to act under orders, and a careful examination of the 
 facts can hardly fail to show that he brought his fate upon himself. But this fact 
 does not acquit the government of serious blame. 
 
 2 Subsequent events have justified Gladstone's opinion. 
 
 3 The provisions of the bill are too complicated to give, but in general it was 
 proposed to give Ireland an independent Parliament, a local executive, and shut 
 her out from representation in the imperial Parliament, which body, however, 
 was to have a specifiea control over the Irisn legislation and measures. 
 
IRISH HOME RULE BILL 
 
 521 
 
 ists, joined the Conservatives in voting against the measure and 
 bringing about its defeat. 
 
 669. Conservatives in Power; Victoria's Jubilee. 1887. — At 
 the new election the Conservatives and Liberal-Unionists com- 
 bined had a majority of more than one hundred over the Liberals 
 and Irish Nationalists. As Mr. Gladstone was committed to 
 Home Rule, the cabinet at once resigned, and the Marquis of 
 Salisbury became Prime Minister for the second time. 
 
 The new government, seeing the need of conciliation, passed 
 several measures of relief for Ireland, and that island became un- 
 usually quiet. This, however, was not wholly due to legislation, 
 but to divisions in the Irish party owing to grave personal charges 
 against Mr. Parnell. 
 
 Measures were passed extending to the government of the 
 counties the principle of the laws regarding local municipal cor- 
 porations and placing the choice of most county officers in the 
 local rate (tax) payers instead of the crown or aristocracy. 
 
 A most inteYesting event in which all parties united was the 
 celebration in 1887 of the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of 
 Victoria. 
 
 670. Gladstone Fourth Time Prime Minister, 1892 ; Second 
 Home Rule Bill. 1893. — In the general election of 1892 the Con- 
 servatives were defeated, but the Liberals again were dependent 
 on the Irish vote. Gladstone for the fourth time became prime 
 minister and soon introduced his second Home Rule Bill, which 
 after considerable amendment and a long debate marked by 
 such scenes of disorder as had not been before witnessed in the 
 House, was finally carried by a majority of thirty-four. The Lords 
 were bitterly opposed to any Home Rule Bill, and defeated it 
 by a vote of 419 to 41. 
 
 671. Resignation of Gladstone, 1894 ; His Death. 1898. — In 
 March, 1894, Gladstone, now eighty-four years old, and with de- 
 fective hearing and eyesight, resigned as prime minister. With all 
 his limitations he was one of England's greatest statesmen ; he had 
 
522 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 been in public life for sixty years and for nearly half that period a 
 great leader. His unblemished public and private life, his deeply 
 religious character, his sympathy with the oppressed, his complete 
 devotion to the welfare of his country, and his great abilities have 
 given him a high place in British history. Mr. Gladstone died in 
 
 Westminster Abbey 
 
 1898, was given a public funeral, and was buried in Westminster 
 Abbey, where a fine statue commemorates him.^ 
 
 672. Lord Rosebery Prime Minister, 1894; Salisbury Prime 
 Minister, 1895 ; Unionists. — After the retirement of Gladstone 
 the queen exercised her prerogative in sending for Lord Rosebery, 
 who became Prime Minister. The fact of his being in the Lords 
 was a serious objection to a party whose field of action is emphat- 
 ically in the Commons. In 1895 the government was defeated on 
 
 1 Though he had always stood up for the royal family, so deeply did the queen 
 dislike his political views, that when he came ofificially to resign his office and bid 
 farewell, she expressed no regret at the close of his long service and treated him 
 with coldness, neither did she, as was usual, consult him as to his successor. It was 
 an exhibition of pettiness which ill became her. On the occasion of his death the 
 queen sent a message of sympathy to his wife, adroitly avoiding any commendation 
 of his public services. 
 
TERRITORIAL EXPANSION 
 
 523 
 
 a minor measure, the ministry resigned, and Lord Salisbury became 
 prime minister for the third time. ParHaraent was dissolved, and 
 at the new elections the Unionist government received a majority 
 of more than one hundred and fifty. The Unionists were led in 
 the Commons by Arthur J. Balfour, a nephew of the prime min- 
 ister. Lord SaHsbury. 
 
 673. Armenian Massacres, 1896; Venezuela Boundary Dis- 
 pute. 1895-1896. — The chief attention of the cabinet was given 
 to foreign affairs. The Eastern Question was revived by the 
 atrocities wrought by the Turks against their Armenian subjects. 
 These aroused the deepest feeling in England. As no other power 
 would join her, England declined to interfere, as she did also in 
 the somewhat similar case of Crete. 
 
 Still another difficult problem confronted the Government in 
 1895, when President Cleveland of the United States sent a 
 warlike message to the xAmerican Congress in regard to a dis- 
 pute regarding the boundaries between Venezuela and British 
 Guiana, in which he made a blunt application of the Monroe Doc- 
 trine, claiming that the United States had a right to settle the dis- 
 pute. Fortunately, after long negotiations, the matter was 
 referred to arbitration, by which the British claims were prac- 
 tically affirmed.^ 
 
 674. Territorial Expansion ; Partition of Africa. — Another far 
 more threatening problem was the South African one. About 1880 
 all the European nations began to pay closer attention to coloniza- 
 tion. This was caused to a great extent by the increased facihties for 
 communication and for the transportation of commodities. Great 
 Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and Italy were each seeking to 
 extend its own " sphere of influence," as it was called. The fields 
 less occupied than any other were Africa and the huge but weak 
 empire of China, and upon these the great nations cast longing eyes. 
 
 1 The matter was referred to the arbitration of two British and two United States 
 judges, presided over by the Russian jurist, Professor de Martens. A unanimous 
 award was rendered in October, 1899. 
 
524 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 The scramble for Africa soon began, and every nation seized 
 what it could. It was a repetition of the colonial history of the 
 seventeenth century. A comparison between a map of Africa in 
 1880 and Africa in 1900 is most instructive. By the latter date 
 France not only had Algeria, her old colony, but claimed a good 
 part of western Africa north of the equator ; Germany held large 
 tracts in east and southwest Africa ; Portugal, possessions east and 
 west ; Italy, a strip south of Abyssinia ; while Great Britain, in addi- 
 tion to her older colonies, had greatly increased her sphere of con- 
 trol. Even by 1898, except Morocco, the Kingdom of Abyssinia, 
 and Liberia, there was scarcely a foot of the continent, even if it 
 were nominally called free, that was not either absolutely in the 
 possession of some European power or under its influence. 
 
 Besides the African territories, France had possessions in the 
 East, Germany had gained a foothold in the South Pacific, and 
 Russia by the construction of the Trans-Siberian railway was 
 stretching eastward with designs on China, and was also scheming 
 to gain part of Persia, and to anticipate England in the lands be- 
 yond her Indian frontier. 
 
 675. South Africa; Cecil Rhodes. 1 888-1 890. — It is evident 
 that under such conditions foreign affairs would hold no slight 
 place in British counsels. Countries were not quite so ready to 
 go to war as previously, though there is little doubt that it was 
 rather on account of the great expense of military measures and 
 the uncertainty whether the people in the different countries would 
 stand the great increase in taxation which would be needful. Be- 
 tween 1885 and 1889, during which time most of the partition of 
 Africa had taken place, no war had been waged on that account, 
 something which could hardly have happened fifty years earlier. 
 
 But soon Great Britain had to face a most serious trouble in South 
 Africa. The events which led up to the settlement of 1881 (§§ 649, 
 664) have been mentioned. Soon after this, gold was discovered 
 in the Transvaal, and at once large numbers of men set out for the 
 gold fields, introducing a new element into the country of the 
 
AFFAIRS IN SOUTH AFRICA 
 
 525 
 
 Boers, and one particularly irritating to the slow, conservative 
 Dutch nature. Though profiting by the gold fields and the attend- 
 ant increase of material wealth, the Boers carefully excluded the 
 newcomers from any share in the government. 
 
 The discovery of rich diamond fields, and the formation of a 
 
 A Boer Trek 
 
 British South African Company under the leadership of Cecil 
 Rhodes, an Englishman who had acquired an enormous fortune 
 through the diamond mines, was another grievance, for the lands 
 under its control not only prevented the Boers from extending 
 their own boundaries, but increased the number of irritating immi- 
 grants. In 1890 Cecil Rhodes used his power and influence to in- 
 crease British power in South Africa. The large territory north of 
 the Transvaal, known later as Rhodesia, was opened to settlement. 
 676. British " Uitlanders " ; Jameson's Raid. 1 895-1 896.— 
 The immigrants, called by the Boers Uitlanders (Foreigners), became 
 greatly dissatisfied with their position, claiming that, though com- 
 pelled to pay heavy taxes to the Boers, they had no voice in the 
 
526 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 government, as the period of naturalization was unjustly extended. 
 The President of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger, an able man, but 
 conservative and hard to move, was reelected in 1895, and the 
 old policy continued. The Uitlanders were provoked at this and 
 resolved to better their situation. Rhodes and his party sympa- 
 thized with them, and it was agreed to attempt to overthrow the 
 Boer government by force. One of the chief men in this plan 
 was Dr. Jameson, the administrator of Rhodesia (Mashonaland). 
 On his own responsibility he crossed the border into the Trans- 
 vaal with 600 men, avowedly to protect women and children 
 against ill-usage by the Boers. He and his men were easily over- 
 powered, taken prisoners, and finally handed over to the British 
 authorities for punishment. 
 
 The result of Jameson's raid was to make the Uitlanders' position 
 more intolerable, while the Boers believed that the British govern- 
 ment knew of the raid and approved of it. Thus a strong race 
 feeling was stirred up throughout South Africa, where the large 
 population of Dutch descent sympathized with the Boers. Rhodes 
 resigned his position as prime minister of Cape Colony, and 
 the Dutch party for the time being was in the ascendancy in 
 Cape Colony.^ Meantime much feeling was aroused in England. 
 
 677. Difficulties in South Africa. 1896-1899. — The Boers, in 
 preparation for a struggle with Great Britain, began to import arms 
 and ammunition, and entered into negotiations with the Orange 
 Free State to secure it as an ally. The British continued to extend 
 their influence, railroads were built, and the scheme of Cecil 
 Rhodes to connect Egypt and the Cape of Good Hope by a 
 " Cape to Cairo " railroad no longer seemed an absurdity. Mean- 
 time various efforts were made by the English to make some sat- 
 isfactory arrangement with the Boers, but without avail. 
 
 1 Jameson and his officers were handed over to the British and sent to England 
 for trial. They were sentenced to imprisonment. The leaders of the Uitlanders 
 who aided Jameson were sentenced to death by the Boers, but these sentences 
 were commuted to heavy fines. Rhodes was severely censured by a Parliamen- 
 tary committee, but nothing was done against him. 
 
THE BOER WAR 
 
 527 
 
 The condition was one of extreme difficulty. The Uit/anders 
 now outnumbered the Boers, and furnished a large part of the 
 revenue of the state, and yet were not only kept from the fran- 
 chise, but were also subjected to many restrictions irritating to 
 men of the Anglo-Saxon race. On the other hand, the Boers, 
 who had settled the country, and had lived there many years, 
 were surrounded by men in large groups who were uncongenial in 
 every way and who threatened by their very numbers to change the 
 whole character of the state. The Boers knew little of the outer 
 world and recognized neither how great had been the advance in 
 every way nor the practical impossibility of fixity in social and 
 political affairs. 
 
 678. British Ultimatum; Boers choose War. 1899. — ^^ 
 September, 1899, Joseph Chamberlain, the British Colonial Sec- 
 retary, sent an ultimatum to the Boers, to which President Kruger 
 of the Transvaal sent a reply demanding that the British troops 
 should be withdrawn from the boundary of the republic and that 
 all reenforcements should be sent back. On the refusal of the 
 British even to discuss such a proposition, the Boers began active 
 warlike measures and were joined by the Orange Free State, 
 which, though it had no direct quarrel with England, united with 
 the Transvaal in defense, as was beHeved, of Dutch freedom in 
 South Africa. 
 
 Like the American Revolution, the war was begun with little 
 knowledge on either side of the real conditions and of the char- 
 acter of the opposing combatant. The English believed that, like 
 so many of their colonial wars, it would soon be ended, and with 
 comparative ease ; while the Boers did not recognize the fact that 
 where national character and national reputation were at stake 
 the British were as stubborn as themselves. The Boers also 
 expected that foreign nations jealous of England would un- 
 doubtedly interfere. 
 
 679. The South African War. 1899-1902. — The war began 
 in October, 1899, with the invasion of Natal by the Boers. The 
 
C28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 British cabinet was unprepared, and the early months of the con- 
 flict were disastrous for the British arms. An army was shut up 
 in Ladysmith, forces were besieged in Kimberly and Mafeking, 
 and other bodies of British troops were defeated. The news of 
 these disasters roused an intense feehng in Great Britain, and 
 many who disapproved of the action of the government gave their 
 support on account of national pride. Great numbers of troops 
 were sent out, the inefficient generals were superseded, and Lord 
 Roberts, who had shown great skill in an Afghan war, and Sir 
 Herbert, later Lord Kitchener, who had been successful in the 
 Sudan (§ 680), took charge. Owing much to the character of 
 the country and partly to fever among the troops, the cause of 
 the British prevailed slowly, but after a heroic resistance the Boers 
 were subdued, but not without great loss of life on both sides. 
 
 There were probably not more than 60,000 fighting men in the 
 two republics, and yet it took Great Britain more than two years 
 and an army of 250,000 men to conquer. The Boers showed an 
 amount of courage, skill, and endurance that roused the admira- 
 tion of the world. Many in both Europe and America openly 
 sympathized with them, and efforts were made to get the United 
 States to mediate, but Great Britain refused, saying that the gov- 
 ernment did " not propose to accept the intervention of any power 
 in the South African War." Peace was not established until 
 June I, 1902, when the two Boer republics were formally incor- 
 porated with the British Empire.^ 
 
 680. English Occupation of Egypt; The Sudan. 1898. — 
 Meantime affairs in Egypt were progressing favorably under 
 British administration. Through the practically despotic rule of 
 
 1 In England there was a respectable minority who attacked the course of the 
 government and when war came did not hesitate to denounce it. These men were 
 called " Pro-Boers " and received from the press and from the majority much 
 harsh and abusive criticism, and on more than one occasion " Pro-Boers " were 
 hardly treated by rioters. It has been estimated that Great Britain lost 20,000 
 lives and 100,000 men disabled by wounds and disease. The money cost of the 
 war was more than ^^ 200,000,000 of which ^160,000,000 became part of the national 
 debt. 
 
ENGLAND IN EGYPT AND CHINA 
 
 529 
 
 Sir Evelyn Baring, later created Lord Cromer, order had been 
 brought out of chaos, and prosperity out of bankruptcy. So far 
 as material affairs were concerned Egypt had not ever, certainly 
 in modern times, been so prosperous and quiet. Both English 
 political parties had promised that the British occupation of Egypt 
 should be temporary, but the control of the Suez canal was so 
 valuable, that the risk of handing Egypt over even to the khedive 
 was too great to be assumed by any administration. 
 
 Under Sir Herbert Kitchener the Egyptian army had been im- 
 proved so much as to be an efficient body. From the time of 
 Gordon's death (§ 667) there had been a cry in England for the 
 reoccupation of the Sudan, and the affairs in that country, ruled 
 as it was by fanatics, gave good excuse for the attempt. Under 
 General Kitchener an army of British and Egyptian troops con- 
 quered the land and the Sudan was put under the joint control 
 of Great Britain and Egypt in 1899. 
 
 681. China; "Boxer" Insurrection. 1900. — In still another 
 field, foreign affairs claimed close attention ; this time in China. 
 A war between China and Japan (i 894-1 895) resulted in the 
 complete success of Japan, an event which caused the rest of the 
 world to recognize that a new and strong power had arisen in the 
 East which would have to be reckoned with in the future. The 
 revelation of the strength of Japan was accompanied by the dis- 
 closure of China's inherent weakness, which increased the tempta- 
 tion for the western powers to deal with her as they had dealt 
 with Africa. At once Russia, Germany, and France sought to 
 gain in China "spheres of influence" from which in the future 
 they might extend their power and possessions. England, and 
 the United States, who now began to take an active part in the 
 Far East supported the " open door" as it was called, that is, that 
 all nations alike should have freedom of intercourse. But Russia 
 entered Manchuria and both Germany and England acquired 
 ports and territory within the Chinese dominions. 
 
 The attempts to dismember the empire led to what is known as 
 
530 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the " Boxer Rising " (1900). There seems Httle doubt that the 
 Boxers were secretly encouraged by the Chinese government. For 
 a time it was a formidable movement. The foreign legations were 
 shut up in Peking and attacked by the Boxers, and for several 
 weeks were in great danger and distress. At last they were re- 
 lieved by an international army composed of British, American, 
 French, Russian, and Japanese troops under a German oflicer. 
 The Chinese government finally agreed to punish the Boxers 
 and pay a large indemnity to the foreigners. The integrity of 
 China was secured by treaty, but meanwhile Manchuria had been 
 seized by Russia, an action which was to lead to serious results for 
 her. 
 
 682. General Election, 1900; Victoria's "Diamond Jubilee," 
 1897; her Death, 1 90 1 . — In September, 1 900, when it was evident 
 that the Boers were losing ground, the cabinet shrewdly dissolved 
 Parhament and ordered a general election, making the issue the con- 
 tinuance of the Boer War to a finish. As was expected, the 
 Unionists were returned with a majority larger than would have 
 been possible six months later. 
 
 In 1897 the Diamond Jubilee, or sixtieth anniversary of the ac- 
 cession of Queen Victoria, was celebrated with great enthusiasm by 
 all parties. But the strain of many years and the great anxiety 
 about the war, in which she took the deepest interest, affected her 
 health seriously, and on January 22, 1901, after a short illness, she 
 died. Her domestic virtues, her simplicity of life, her high regard 
 for her pubhc duties, and above all, in recent years, the feeling 
 that she was the embodiment of the empire, gave her a place in the 
 hearts of her subjects which no other English monarch, with the 
 possible exception of Elizabeth, ever held. Her death closed the 
 longest reign in British annals.^ 
 
 683. A Review of the Reign of Victoria. 1837-1901. — Dur- 
 ing no reign in history had there been so great an advance in 
 
 1 She was eighty-one years and nearly eight months old ; her reign numbered 
 sixty-three years, seven months, and two days. 
 
VICTORIA'S REIGN 53 I 
 
 material prosperity or in invention. Her reign saw the practical 
 application of steam to railroad transportation, the invention of 
 the telegraph and its vast employment in commercial and social 
 matters, the submarine cable, the telephone, an enormous number 
 of inventions for facilitating every kind of manufacture, and in- 
 numerable improvements and discoveries in every field that re- 
 lates to human material interests. 
 
 In the social world, her reign saw a wonderful advance in pre- 
 ventive as well as remedial legislation, a recognition of the rights 
 of the worker such as had not been known before ; more regard 
 paid to the rights and welfare of women and children; more 
 efforts made to better the condition of the physically and morally 
 unfortunate or helpless. There had grown up a higher standard 
 of civilization, there was less coarseness and brutality, and a fuller 
 appreciation of the claims of others. Classes were less exclusive, 
 education more widely diffused, and the opportunities for acquir- 
 ing an education greatly extended. 
 
 In politics there was the change from an aristocratic govern- 
 ment to a democratic one, and an enlargement of the franchise 
 from being the privilege of a few to practically household suffrage ; 
 there was the continued development of the cabinet system of 
 government, until the cabinet had become the de facto ruler of 
 the country ; and not only this, but a literature flourished which 
 in extent and excellence is comparable only to that of the reign 
 of Elizabeth. 
 
 There was, however, a darker side to the picture. Alongside 
 of the growth and development just described, there was much to 
 deplore. The condition of the unskilled worker had not greatly 
 improved ; wages were often low and the housing insufficient and 
 unsanitary. The dechne of agriculture threw many out of em- 
 ployment, who often drifted to the cities and towns to add to the 
 problems confronting municipal authorities and philanthropists. 
 Intemperance among the lower classes was of too common occur- 
 rence, resulting in the increase of poverty, ill health, and crime, 
 
532 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 Frequent disputes between capital and labor had brought hard 
 feeling, suffering, and loss. 
 
 But if there was acute distress, there was more of sensitiveness 
 to suffering and degradation. " Settlement work," or personal 
 labor in connection with residence among the needy, was entered 
 into, and organized efforts to better conditions were widespread. 
 Among other organizations should be mentioned the Salvation 
 Army, with its thousands of adherents.^ 
 
 References. — Gardiner, Studenfs History, chap. Ivii, § lo-chap. Ix (1885) ; 
 Terry, History, Part IV, chap, vii, p. 999-chap. ix (1901); Tout, Advanced 
 History^ Book VIII, chaps, iii-viii (1901); Adams and Stephens, Select 
 Documents, §§ 266-276; Traill, Social England, vol. VI, chaps, xxii-xxiv; 
 Cheyney, Readings^ chap, xix, §§ v-xx; Kendall, Source-Book^ §§ 131-151; 
 Lee, Source-Book, §§ 221-235. 
 
 Descendants of Victoria 
 
 Victoria 
 1837-1901 
 Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 
 d. 1861 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 Victoria 
 = Frederick 
 
 III 
 Emperor of 
 Germany = 
 
 William II 
 Emperor of 
 Germany 
 
 I 
 Albert Victor 
 d. 1892 
 
 ~^ I \ I I \ \ f 
 
 (Albert) Alice Alfred Helen Louise Arthur Leopold Beatrice 
 
 Edward =Grand D. = Prince = Duke D. D.Albany 
 
 VII Duke Edin- Christian of Con- = Helene 
 
 1901-1910 Hesse burgh Argyll naught 
 
 = Alexandra = Marie = Louise = Henry of 
 
 of Denmark of Prussia of Prussia Battenberg 
 
 succeeded to Duchy 
 
 Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 
 
 Charles Edward 
 
 sue. Duchy of 
 
 Saxe-Coburg-Gotha 
 
 I 
 George V 
 
 1910- 
 = Princess 
 (Victoria) Mary of Teck 
 
 Victoria Ena 
 Alphonso XIII 
 King of Spain 
 
 Edward Albert 
 b. 1894 
 
 Albert 
 b. 1895 
 
 Victoria 
 b. 1897 
 
 Henry 
 b. 1900 
 
 George 
 b. 1902 
 
 John 
 b. 1905 
 
 ^ This religious and philanthropic organization was begun (1878) by William 
 Booth, a Methodist minister, and his wife, Catharine Booth. It is, as its name im- 
 plies, organized on military lines. Its chief object is to reach those who are not 
 reached by other religious bodies, to bring reform and betterment in their spiritual 
 and physical conditions, and their surroundings. General Booth died in 1912. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX 
 LATEST YEARS 
 
 684. Edward VII, 1901. — On the death of Victoria, the Prince 
 of Wales was proclaimed as Edward VII, and in the same year 
 an act of Parliament made his legal tide " Edward VII by the 
 grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 
 and of all the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender 
 of the Faith, Emperor of India" ; the imperialism of Disraeli and 
 of Victoria became a legal fact. 
 
 Edward VII was about sixty years old, and his opportunities for 
 watching the course of public opinion had been ample, though Queen 
 Victoria, with something akin to pettiness, had allowed him to take 
 litde or no part in public affairs other than social. At the time of 
 his accession he declared that he would rule " as a constitutional 
 sovereign in the strictest sense of the word." Though many felt 
 considerable apprehension at the time of his coming to the throne, 
 his unfailing tact and evident desire to rule as a strictly consti- 
 tutional monarch soon dissipated such feeling, and a severe illness 
 which postponed his coronation aroused much sympathy and even 
 affection.^ 
 
 685. Resignation of Salisbury; Balfour, Prime Minister, 1902 ; 
 Treaty with Japan. — Lord Salisbury continued to be prime min- 
 ister until 1902, when owing to failing health he resigned and was 
 succeeded by his nephew, Arthur J. Balfour, who had been for 
 some years the Unionist leader in the House of Commons. In 
 foreign affairs all difficulties with France were settled, including 
 the Egyptian question, England continuing her occupation of 
 Egypt. An agreement was also made with Japan. In 1904 a 
 
 ' It was not until August 9. 1902, that he was crowned, and on January i, 1903, 
 he was formally proclaimed Emperor of India at Delhi. 
 
 533 
 
534 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 war broke out between Japan and Russia, caused nominally by 
 Russia encroaching upon Korea, which was under the control of 
 Japan. To the astonishment of Russia and of most nations Japan 
 was victorious, and Russia was forced to relinquish Manchuria and 
 to allow Japan to retain the strong position of Port Arthur. After 
 the war Great Britain made a treaty with Japan (1905), each gov- 
 ernment agreeing to support the other in maintaining the existing 
 conditions in the East. 
 
 686. Education Bill, 1902 ; Irish Land Act, 1903 ; Aliens Act, 
 1905. — Home measures were not the least important. A new 
 Education Act was passed (1902), which remodeled the whole 
 system of national education. The Forster Bill of 1870 (§ 657) 
 had provided for Httle beyond primary grades ; the new act re- 
 lated to higher grades as well. By the provisions of the Bill the 
 control of the schools was given to county councils, and it ex- 
 tended the benefit of the rates (taxes) to the Church of England 
 schools, and gave to the church the appointment of the teachers and 
 the control of the religious instruction. The Education Bill was bit- 
 terly opposed by the Nonconformists, who resented the application 
 of public funds to sectarian education.^ In the next year (1903) 
 was passed another Irish Land Act, which made it possible for 
 tenants to purchase their farms. Based on Gladstone's Act of 
 1870 (§ 657) and succeeding Acts, it at once justified his efforts 
 and promoted the cause of order in Ireland by striking at the 
 very root of the trouble — the land question. Another important 
 measure was the Aliens Act (1905), which regulated the admission 
 of foreigners to the country, and was designed to keep out un- 
 desirable " immigrants." 
 
 687. Weakness of the Unionists ; Resignation of Balfour, 
 1905. — The Unionists had now had a long lease of power, 
 
 1 So deeply did many Nonconformists feel regarding this measure that they re- 
 fused to pay the amount of taxes levied for this purpose, preferring to have their 
 furniture or goods distrained, or to suffer imprisonment, rather than submit to 
 what they believed to be an infringement on their rights. Such an amount of pas- 
 sive resistance had not been seen in England since the seventeenth century. 
 
REIGN OF EDWARD VII 
 
 535 
 
 the country was beginning to desire a change, the Nonconformists 
 were irritated over the Education Bill, and the Unionists were 
 themselves becoming divided upon economic questions. 
 
 In 1903 Mr. Chamberlain, who had been colonial secretary, 
 resigned from the ministry because he favored what began to be 
 called "fair trade," 
 that is, a modified 
 form of protection. 
 The cabinet tried 
 to hold a middle 
 course, while prom- 
 inent men re- 
 mained true to 
 their old principle 
 of free trade. This 
 division weakened 
 the Unionist party 
 greatly. Moreover, 
 the government 
 had allowed the in- 
 troduction of "in- 
 dentured" laborers 
 from China to work 
 
 in the mines of the Transvaal, a course which the Liberals claimed 
 was litde short of slavery.^ Above all, was the bitter opposition 
 of the Nonconformists to the Education Bill of 1902. 
 
 At length Mr. Balfour resigned, in December, 1905, and the 
 Liberal leader. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, became Prime 
 Minister. 
 
 688. General Election of 1906; Great Liberal Victory, 1906. 
 — A general election was held in January and February, 1906, and 
 the opposition gained a majority of 358, unequalled even by the great 
 
 1 The labo'-jr» were bound by an indenture or agreement to remain in the 
 country three years, at the expiration of which they were to return to China. 
 
536 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 majority in 1832 ^ (§ 620). One of the most significant features of 
 this ParHament was the group of about fifty members who repre- 
 sented the laboring class. This group is known as the Labor Party.^ 
 
 689. Reform Measures; Asquith, Prime Minister. 1908. — 
 Early in 1908 Sir Henry Campbell- Bannerman was compelled, on 
 account of ill health, to resign as prime minister (April 6).^ The 
 king summoned Mr. Henry Herbert Asquith, the chancellor of 
 the exchequer. Among the members of Mr. Asquith's cabinet 
 were David Lloyd George, Winston Churchill, Reginald McKenna, 
 and Lord Crewe. ' 
 
 Some of the greater measures undertaken by the Liberal Cabinet 
 were : an Old Age Pension Bill, an Education Bill to remedy 
 the grievances complained of by the Nonconformists (§ 686), and 
 a Licensing Bill to reform the laws relating to the sale of intoxi- 
 cating liquors. Of these the first was passed by both houses and 
 became a law (190S). The Education Bill was withdrawn, it being 
 found impossible to satisfy all parties ; and the Licensing Bill was 
 thrown out by the House of Lords. This action of the Lords, 
 who, it was charged, defeated the bill on account of their large 
 financial interests in the matter, aroused great feeling in the House 
 of Commons, and demands were made for some curtailment of 
 the powers of the hereditary House. 
 
 690. The Finance Bill and the Lords. 1909. — The question 
 between the Commons and the Lords was brought to an issue by 
 the Finance Bill or Budget '^ of 1909, introduced by David Lloyd 
 George, chancellor of the exchequer. In order to raise the large 
 amounts needed for old age pensions, and for the construction of 
 powerful battleships believed to be needful for the national 
 
 1 The Unionists numbered 156; the Liberals, 378; the Irish Nationalists, 83; 
 and the Labor Party, 53. On most questions the Liberals could command nearly 
 the whole of the great opposition majority, and had a majority of 86 over all others. 
 
 2 Their expenses were paid by contributions from the workingmen and labor 
 organizations. ' 3 gjr Henry Campbell-Bannerman died on April 22, 1908. 
 
 4 The estimates of the expenses of the government for the succeeding year, in- 
 chiding the methods by which the necessary amount is proposed to be raised, are 
 called " The Budget." 
 
CONTEST BETWEEN LORDS AND COMMONS 
 
 537 
 
 defense, in addition to the ordinary expenses of administration, 
 Mr. Lloyd George proposed a large increase in the taxation of 
 land, especially in and near cities and towns, and on mineral 
 lands. This proposition involved a new valuation of lands for the 
 basis of taxation,^ a new Domesday Book, as it were (§ 47). 
 
 This measure aroused a storm 
 of protest in the House of 
 Lords, as that House contained 
 the largest and wealthiest land- 
 holders in the kingdom. Con- 
 trary to precedent, the Lords 
 rejected^ the bill (November 
 22, 1909) by a vote of 350 to 
 75 : the reason being given 
 that this bill would lead to the 
 confiscation of landed prop- 
 erty; was in itself unjust; es- 
 tablished new principles of tax- 
 ation ; and therefore it should 
 be '^ submitted to the judgment 
 of the country." 
 
 The House of Commons, on motion of Mr. Asquith, passed a 
 resolution of protest by a majority of 215. A few days later Par- 
 liament was dissolved. 
 
 691. Contest between Lords and Commons. — At the general 
 election (January, February, 1910) the Liberals were returned 
 with a majority, but greatly reduced, and one dependent upon the 
 Nationahst and Labor votes. Under the existing law, the fran- 
 chise is to a large extent based on land, therefore a man owning 
 
 David Lloyd George 
 
 ' The last valuation of land had been made in 1692. 
 
 2 By long-established precedent the Lords do not have the right to reject money 
 bills. The Marquis of Salisbury said in 1894 that the reason why the House of Lords 
 could not reject or amend a money bill is, " That it has not the power of changing 
 the executive government, and to reject a finance bill and leave the executive ,^ov- 
 ernment in its place means to create a deadlock from which there is no escape." 
 
538 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 land in different election districts may have several votes ; this is 
 called " plural voting." As the large landholders are mostly Con- 
 servatives, the law works in their favor ; indeed, the Liberals 
 claim, and probably with justice, that were it not for " plural vot- 
 ing," their majority in the Commons would be considerably larger. 
 
 The budget was again passed by the Commons, and subse- 
 quently passed by the Lords (19 10) with great reluctance, for they 
 were convinced that the government would either order a new 
 election or ask the king to create a sufficient number of Liberal 
 peers to pass the measure. 
 
 The Liberals now proceeded to frame a bill to limit the powers 
 of the Lords, and in a few days the Parliament Bill, or " Veto 
 Act," was presented to the House. Of this very important act. 
 the essential features are: (i) The House of Lords shall not 
 have the power to amend or reject Money Bills ; ^ (2) any 
 Public Bill (other than a Money Bill or a bill extending the dura- 
 tion of Parliament longer than five years) " when passed by the 
 House of Commons in three successive sessions (whether of the 
 same Parliament or not) over a period of not less than two years 
 shall become a law notwithstanding the rejection by the House of 
 Lords ; " (3) " Five years shall be substituted for seven years as 
 the time fixed for the maximum of Parliament under the Septen- 
 nial Act of 1 715 " (§ 526). The Liberals justly claimed that as a 
 large majority of the Lords was always Conservative, important 
 bills passed by a Liberal House of Commons were either turned 
 down or radically amended, the practical result being that the 
 hereditary House controlled legislation. In other words that Parlia- 
 ment was virtually a single house when the Conservatives were in 
 power, and a bicameral one only when the Liberals had a majority 
 in the Commons. 
 
 692. Death of Edward VII ; Conference ; Second General 
 Election. 19 10. — The debate on the Parliament Bill had hardly 
 
 1 The speaker of the House of Commons is to decide what is a Money Bill in 
 accordance with a definition of a Money Bill as given in the Parliament Bill itself 
 
PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS c^q 
 
 begun when King Edward died after a very brief illness (§ 697). 
 By common consent discussion was suspended until after the new 
 king was fairly settled on his throne. 
 
 During the summer and autumn of 19 10 an informal conference 
 of the leading members of both the great parties held many ses- 
 sions in hopes of reaching some agreement upon the matter of 
 restricting the power of the House of Lords, but without avail. 
 
 The Lords, fearing serious curtailment of their powers, consid- 
 ered several schemes of reform, the most notable being that of 
 Lord Lansdowne, the Conservative leader. But all this came to 
 naught through the dissolution of Parliament (November 28). 
 
 693. Liberal Success ; Parliament Bill ; Payment of Members. 
 191T. — At the general election, which took place in a few weeks, 
 the Liberals were again returned to power with almost exactly the 
 same majority. They had thus been successful in three consecutive 
 general elections, an unprecedented occurrence in British history 
 
 As soon asj}racticable the Parliament Bill was again introduced, 
 and after much discussion passed ^ (May 15, 19 11). In the House 
 of Lords the bill was debated and, with amendments attached, re- 
 turned to the Commons. Meanwhile Mr. Asquith let it be known 
 that King George had agreed to exercise his prerogative and create 
 enough new peers to pass the bill substantially in the form it had 
 left the Commons. Thus the situation of 1832 was repeated, and 
 the Lords had to face the alternative of the creation of five hundred 
 new peers or pass the bill. When the amendments of the Lords 
 came up for discussion in the Commons, such a scene of con- 
 fusion followed that the speaker was compelled to adjourn the 
 House. The bill was returned to the Lords who were now 
 compelled to meet the issue. So strong was the feeling that 
 it was for some time doubtful whether the Lords would yield. 
 Finally the Government leader. Lord Morley, stated that enough 
 peers would be created to carry the measure. Upon tnis the bill 
 was passed by a vote of 131 to 114, or a majority of seventeen, 
 iThe vote was 362 to 241, or nearly the full government majority. 
 
540 
 
 HISTORY OF EN(];LAXD 
 
 August lo, 191 1. Thus was passed one of the most far-reaching 
 constitutional measures in EngHsh political history.^ 
 
 The same day (August 10) the House of Commons agreed to a 
 provision for the payment of members of Parliament, the amount 
 fixed upon being ^£"400 per annum. 
 
 694. National Insurance Bill; Woman Suffrage; ''Suffra- 
 gettes." — The next important measure brought before Parliament 
 was a National Insurance Bill against unemployment and ill-health. 
 This was accepted in principle by all parties — but there was a 
 great difference of opinion as to details. The bill, an exceedingly 
 complicated one, bristling with details, raised great opposition, but 
 Mr. Lloyd George was successful in carrying the bill, and it was 
 also passed by the Lords ^ (December 14, 191 1). 
 
 The cause of woman suffrage had been growing in importance 
 for some time anei various bills proposing to grant the suffrage to 
 women had been introduced into Parliament. The most im- 
 portant of these was a bill introduced in May, 191 1. It was made 
 a non-party measure, and was debated and voted upon regardless 
 of party lines;^ 
 
 A division of the women suffragists held radical opinions and 
 were known, colloquially, as " Suffragettes." These women insisted 
 that the matter should be made a government measure, and to 
 secure this resorted to all kinds of forcible measures : attempting 
 to thrust themselves into the Parliament chamber, assaulting 
 
 1 Most of the Opposition peers abstained from voting ; thirty-seven Unionists 
 voted with the government, believing that only by passing the bill could they avoid 
 "the intrusion of 500 ' mushroom ' peers." The vote justified their action. Lord 
 Morley read his carefully prepared statement, " If the Bill should be defeated to- 
 night, his majesty would assent to the creation of peers sufficient in numbers to 
 guard against any combination of the different parties in the Opposition by which 
 the Government Bill might again be exposed to defeat." 
 
 2 The provisions relate to the working classes, and the purpose is to insure them 
 against ill health and unemployment. The expense is to be borne partly by regular 
 contributions by the workers themselves, partly by employers, and partly by the 
 nation. 
 
 3 The bill was read a second time by a vote of 255 to 88, but was then dropped. 
 The great object of the suffragists is to gain the right to vote for Members of Parlia- 
 ment; they already have a limited local suffrage. 
 
STRIKES 
 
 541 
 
 members of the cabinet, particularly the Prime Minister, break- 
 ing windows in the official residences, and other acts of violence. 
 Not content with these demonstrations, organized bands of 
 women, in 19 12 and 19 13, broke the windows of shops and resi- 
 dences regardless of who owned them, poured acid into letter- 
 boxes, and set fire to buildings. Numbers were arrested, con- 
 
 Interior of the House of Commons 
 
 victed of conspiracy, and sentenced to imprisonment.^ The 
 agitation continued, however, till the outbreak of the war in 
 1 9 14, when the militant suffragists abandoned their destructive 
 activities and gave their vigorous support to the government. 
 695. Strikes. 1910-1913. — The years 1910-1913 were 
 marked by extensive labor troubles and strikes, causing great 
 apprehension, some loss of life, and severe money losses. The 
 questions at issue were principally matters relating to agree- 
 
 1 The defense made by these militant suffragists was, that only in this way could 
 the matter be forced upon the government. By far the greater number of women 
 in favor of the suffrage for women disavowed these lawless proceedings. 
 
542 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 ments. The great railway strike of 191 1 was one of the most 
 serious strikes on record, involving as it did the food supplies of 
 the towns and great cities and, indeed, of the nation. The 
 strike began with the dock laborers in London on a question of 
 wages, and spread to the railway employees. The government, 
 in order to insure supplies of food, used force, and managed by 
 the aid of non-union men to keep some railway service in opera- 
 tion.^ That the men had grievances was not denied, but the 
 methods employed by them were severely criticized. 
 
 Another strike, scarcely less grave than that of the railway 
 men, was that of the coal miners (19 12). Beginning with a 
 comparatively trifling occurrence, it spread until nearly every 
 coal-mining company in the kingdom was affected, and the 
 mining of coal ceased. Ocean steamers were held up, railway 
 and steam traffic suspended, factories stopped, and household 
 supplies cut off. Efforts at conciliation were fruitless, and 
 finally Parliament in great haste passed a '' Minimum Wage Bill " 
 (191 2), by the terms of which boards or committees were 
 provided which should determine a " minimum wage " or the 
 lowest limit to which wages should fall. Soon after this, 
 work in the mines was resumed. Later another strike of dock 
 laborers took place. 
 
 In 1913 a threatened strike of transport workers in Dublin, 
 Ireland, led to a lockout which lasted four months and put 30,000 
 men out of employment. 
 
 A significant feature of these strikes was the propaganda 
 spread by the Syndicalists, a group of ultra-radicals whose aim 
 is the common ownership of property and who advocate " sabo- 
 tage," the destruction of privately owned machinery and 
 property, as a means to the attainment of their ends. The or- 
 ganization of this group is international and is known as the 
 
 ^This strike was chiefly what is known as a "sympathetic strike," as well as one 
 to compel the "recognition" of the unions by the companies involved. 
 
REIGN OF GEORGE V 
 
 543 
 
 Industrial Workers of the World (I. W. W.). While the agita- 
 tion of these extremists was not successful, and was repudiated 
 by the Labor Party, its influence was noticeable in the spread 
 of radical ideas among the working classes. 
 
 696. Union of South Africa. 1910. — By the South African 
 Act of 1909 practical self-government was granted to the colo- 
 nies of Cape of Good Hope, Natal, the Transvaal, and Orange 
 River Colony, -under the title of the Union of South Africa. 
 Under this act the governor is appointed by the crown and the 
 legislature is elective, and there is a system of cabinet responsi- 
 bility as in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The new 
 Union was begun in 1910 (May 31). Lord Gladstone^ was 
 appointed governor, and Louis Botha, perhaps the most prom- 
 inent Boer general in the South African war, was chosen prime 
 minister. Such confidence reposed in late enemies has rarely 
 been seen, and so far events have justified it. 
 
 697. George V; Queen Mary; Accession Declaration. 
 1910-1912. — At the death of Edward VII (May 6, 1910), his 
 second son, George ,2 succeeded and was proclaimed King George 
 V (May 9). He was born on June 3, 1865. He was educated 
 as a naval officer, spending a number of years at sea. In his 
 extensive travels the prince made a good impression. In 1893 
 he married Princess Mary of Teck {" Princess May ") a grand- 
 daughter of Queen Victoria's uncle, the Duke of Cambridge, sixth 
 son of George III. ^ 
 
 After much discussion both in and out of Parliament, the 
 Accession Declaration Act was passed (August 3, 191 o) which 
 very considerably modifies the declaration as stated in the Bill 
 
 iLord Gladstone (Herbert John Gladstone) is a son of the late William E. Glad- 
 stone. One of the great problems in South Africa is the race question. By the 
 laws of the Act of Union only persons of European descent can sit in the legislative 
 assemblies. 
 
 2 His elder brother, Albert, Duke of Clarence, died unmarried in 1892. 
 
 5 As Queen Mary she is the first British-born royal consort since Katherine Parr, 
 wife of Henry VIII. 
 
544 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 of Rights (§ 485). By the terms of this Act, a new monarch 
 is simply required to declare that he is a Protestant and 
 that he will maintain Protestantism, without insisting upon a 
 
 definition. 
 
 King George and 
 Queen Mary were 
 crowned in West- 
 minster Abbey, 
 June 22, 1911, with 
 great display. On 
 December 12, 1911, 
 their majesties were 
 also crowned at 
 Delhi, India. The 
 celebration at 
 Delhi, called the 
 Durbar, was ob- 
 served with great 
 magnificence. 
 
 698. General Un- 
 rest. 1911-1913. 
 — The years 
 1911-1913 were 
 years of great unrest 
 almost everywhere. In 191 1 a revolt in Morocco led the sultan 
 of that country to appeal for aid to France. A military force 
 was sent in response, and as a result the interests of Spain, 
 Germany, and England were believed to be involved, and war 
 seemed to be imminent. Largely through the firmness of the 
 British government war was averted. By agreement (1911) 
 a virtual French protectorate of Morocco was assented to, 
 Germany receiving certain privileges in Morocco, and large 
 territory in French Congo from France in return for her ac- 
 quiescence in the plan. 
 
 George V 
 
IRISH HOME RULE 
 
 545 
 
 Almost immediately after the Moroccan difficulty, Italy be- 
 gan a war against Turkey, nominally over matters connected 
 with troubles in Tripoli, but really for the extension of Italian 
 control in North Africa. With the nations of Europe calmly 
 looking on the Italians were able to secure possession of the 
 African province of Tripoli together with some islands in the 
 Aegean. 
 
 In 191 2 four Balkan nations, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and 
 Montenegro, united in a war upon Turkey. The allied nations 
 were successful in their military campaign, but the interven- 
 tion of the larger European powers determined the conditions 
 of peace. Turkey surrendered the greater part of her territory 
 in Europe, Bulgaria receiving the largest share. 
 
 The following year war broke out anew. Incensed that Bul- 
 garia had received the lion's share of the spoils, Greece, Serbia, 
 Montenegro, and Roumania attacked Bulgaria and in a few 
 weeks redivided among themselves a large portion of her lands. 
 
 In China an open rebellion against the Manchu Dynasty 
 broke out, and in 191 2 a Chinese republic was set up. Through 
 all this, including troubles in Persia, the English government 
 was able to keep out of war. 
 
 Negotiations with the United States led to the signing of a 
 Treaty of Peace and Arbitration providing for the submission 
 to arbitration of almost all differences that might arise. This 
 treaty failed of confirmation in the United States Senate by a 
 small vote.^ 
 
 699. Ireland; Welsh Disestablishment; Scottish Temper- 
 ance. — An Irish Home Rule bill was under discussion in the 
 House of Commons during the sessions of 191 2, and was passed 
 on January 16, 191 3, by a majority of no. The Bill was sent 
 at once to the Lords, who rejected it by a majority of 257 
 Under the Veto Act (§ 691) the Commons had power to make 
 
 1 The reason given was that the terms of the treaty infringed upon the constitu- 
 tional rights of the Senate, but it was generally thought that political feeling was 
 responsible for the failure of this e£fort after peaceful means of settling differences. 
 
546 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the Bill law by repassing it in three successive sessions in not i 
 less than two years, and this power Mr. Asquith now proposed] 
 to use. The Bill was accordingly reintroduced and, in spite of: 
 vigorous opposition under the leadership of Sir Edward Carson, | 
 became law in September, 19 14. ; 
 
 No measure in recent times has called forth more bitter feel- 1 
 ing than the Home Rule Bill. The law provided for a bicameral ! 
 Irish legislature which was to impose taxes and care for the' 
 affairs of Ireland ; only in such things as foreign relations and 
 commerce did England retain control. But the opposition I 
 came from the Irish people themselves. The Protestant popu- ; 
 lation of Ulster, fearing Catholic domination, threatened armed 
 resistance if the law should be enforced. Thousands of volun- 
 teers were armed and drilled ; ofhcers of the British army took ■ 
 sides and resigned their commands rather than enforce the law ; 
 civil war loomed on the Irish horizon. In the midst of this 
 crisis England became involved in the great European War. 
 The Irish problem was postponed but not solved. A measure 1 
 was passed by Parliament delaying the date on which the law | 
 should become operative, and the forces marshaled for re- 
 sistance returned to their homes. 
 
 Another important Act which gave rise to a long debate in 1 
 the Commons was that providing for the disestablishment of the 
 Church in Wales. This Bill passed the House in February, 
 1913, was rejected by the Lords, but became law under the Veto ' 
 Act in 1 9 14. With the outbreak of war the enforcement of 
 this measure was also postponed. 
 
 The Scottish Temperance Act, a law which applied the prin- 
 ciple of local option 1 control of the sale of intoxicating Hquors, 
 was passed in 19 13. An amendment to the Act provided thati 
 it should not become operative till June i, 1920. j 
 
 1 Under Local Option the countries or boroughs have the right to decide whether j 
 or not intoxicating liquors shall be sold within their own districts. 
 
CONCLUSION 
 
 547 
 
 700. Conclusion. — By the census of 191 1 Great Britain 
 rules, or rather controls, a population of about 420,000,000. 
 No other government in history has controlled so many or so 
 diverse peoples.^ The logical result has been the granting of 
 more and more power to the over-seas possessions until almost 
 all British colonies, with the exception of India and some of 
 the islands, are self-ruled or nearly so, the tie binding them to 
 Great Britain being very much of a sentimental one. Within 
 the United Kingdom there has been a steady growth toward a 
 more complete democracy. Under the leadership of Mr. As- 
 quith and Mr. Lloyd George social and political reforms have 
 been enacted that would have been looked upon with serious 
 apprehension fifty years ago. Old Age Pensions, National 
 Insurance, Minimum Wage, Reform of the Lords, while in 
 keeping with a similar tendency in other parts of the world, 
 have secured for Britain a leading place in legislation for the 
 common welfare. But into this remarkable era of social prog- 
 ress there came the hideous nightmare of war. Domestic 
 problems had to be laid aside until Autocracy should be over- 
 thrown. We have now to see how democratic England sum- 
 moned her resources to wage a war that shook the nation to its 
 very foundation. 
 
 * China has, according to Chinese estimates, a population of 433>5S3,ooo, but 
 careful authorities believe this to be much beyond the actual numbers, which some 
 place as less than 300,000,000. 
 
CHAPTER XXX 
 THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 
 
 701. The Seeds of War ; Conditions in Europe ; Responsi- 
 bility. — On June 28, 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir 
 to the throne of Austria, and his wife died at the hand of a Ser- 
 bian assassin while traveling in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This inci- 
 dent was but the germinating of some of the seeds of war which 
 had been sown in the continent of Europe during the previous 
 twenty years. In the fertile soil of Balkan antagonisms (§ 698) 
 these seeds had been dropped. Watered and cultivated by the 
 larger nations of Europe, they grew to bear disastrous fruit. 
 
 The Balkan wars of 191 2 and 1913 created the opportunity 
 for Austria to extend her control over the peoples of that region. 
 
 In 1908 she had annexed Bosnia, which had been under her 
 protection since 1878. This act was a violation of Austria's 
 solemn agreement under the Treaty of Berlin (§ 663), but in ac- 
 cord with that nation's policy of preventing the rise of a power- 
 ful state on her eastern border. Since that annexation Austria 
 had played a leading part in Balkan affairs, seeking to increase 
 her own power and thereby incurring the intense hatred of the 
 Serbs. The assassination of the Austrian heir apparent was, 
 therefore, a not unnatural sequel. 
 
 In following this policy Austria had been vigorously sup- 
 ported by Germany. Leading German statesmen had for years 
 set their minds on the extension of German influence through 
 southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. Following a program 
 of " Pan-Germanism," they aimed to crystallize a feeling of 
 German nationality wherever their subjects might be. Ger- 
 
 548 
 
EUROPE AT WAR 549 
 
 man people everywhere believed it their mission to spread 
 German culture throughout the world. Politically, Germany 
 had met success in her policy of eastern penetration. The work 
 of the Congress of Berlin (§ 663) did not have the full approval 
 of the British people. When Gladstone came into power after 
 1880 (§ 664) England greatly modified the support she had given 
 Turkey in Europe. This was Germany's opportunit}^ From 
 about 1900 on the German Imperialists cultivated the friend- 
 ship of Turkey. They secured valuable business concessions, 
 including the right to connect Berlin with Bagdad by railroad. 
 In conjunction with Italy and Austria in 19 12 they prevented 
 the Balkan nations from driving the Turk completely out of 
 Europe (§ 698) . Austrian policies were now dominated by German 
 statesmen, and Berlin was the political capital of the Continent. 
 
 In fixing the responsibility for the war this leadership of 
 Germany in European affairs must not be lost sight of. For 
 nearly a month no action was taken in the matter of the Arch- 
 duke's murder. The time was being spent in Germany and 
 Austria by secretly making ready for war. Then, on July 23, 
 a note was delivered to the Serbian government demanding, 
 among other things, that anti-Austrian agitation in Serbia be 
 suppressed, and that Austrian officials be allowed to assist in 
 enforcing this demand and in investigating and punishing cer- 
 tain persons suspected of complicity in the murder. A reply 
 was demanded in 48 hours. The note was an ultimatum, and 
 when known in the capitals of Europe filled statesmen with con- 
 sternation. England and Russia at once counseled moderation, 
 but without success. Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign 
 Secretary, appealed to Germany to secure a delay and confer- 
 ence of the powers. But Germany did nothing. The Austrian 
 note had German approval; and Germany, who alone could 
 preserve peace, chose war. 
 
 702. Europe at War ; England's Cause ; Italy. — It was 
 evident that Serbia could not comply with the Austrian de- 
 
550 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 mands. To such as were reasonable Serbia agreed. Full com- I 
 pliance would have made the little Balkan nation a mere vassal ! 
 of Austria ; this was refused. On July 28 Austria declared ; 
 war on Serbia. Russia, always the protector of the Slavs, had \ 
 notified Austria that she would not remain indifferent to an j 
 attack upon Serbia and now mobilized. It was becoming ap- ! 
 parent that a general European war must ensue. The " Bal- j 
 ance of Power " had been preserved by two formidable com- ; 
 binations : the Triple Alliance of Germany, Austria, and Italy; , 
 the Triple Entente comprising England, France, and Russia, j 
 When it became clear that Russia intended to enter the conflict 
 against Austria, Germany declared war on Russia. Two days ■ 
 later, on August 3, came the German declaration of war against ; 
 France. j 
 
 The English diplomats had refused to inform Germany what ; 
 action their government would take in the event of a war in- : 
 volving France and Russia. The attitude of Sir Edward Grey . 
 had been that Britain must keep her hands free in the interests i 
 of peace. ^ It was for a somewhat different cause that England | 
 threw her forces into the war. When, on the last day of July, ; 
 war seemed unavoidable Sir Edward Grey inquired of France I 
 and Germany whether they intended to respect the neutrality | 
 of Belgium. Both these powers, together with Britain and 1 
 Russia, had signed a treaty in 183 1 mutually guaranteeing the 1 
 neutrality of the Kingdom of Belgium. To England's inquiry 
 France replied affirmatively. Germany refused to give any 1 
 guarantee. 
 
 On August 2, using as a pretext supposed informa- j 
 tion that France was planning to march an army through | 
 
 I 
 
 Belgian territory, Germany announced her intention *' for the ! 
 
 1 Every student of this phase of the war should read Prince Lichnowsky's My 
 Mission to London. Acting as German ambassador to England he adopted a most 
 generous and broad-minded attitude in all the negotiations. He returned to Ger- 
 many in disgrace and wrote the pamphlet in his own justification. 
 
RESOURCES OF THE COMBATANTS 
 
 551 
 
 preservation of Germany to forestall this attack," and at the 
 same time requested that Belgium permit the passage of 
 German troops. Belgium immediately refused and forthwith 
 appealed to England, France, and Russia to carry out their 
 guarantees of protection. On August 4, Great Britain de- 
 clared war on Germany. 
 
 The position of Italy during the early days of the war was 
 curious and difficult. Her alliance with Germany and Austria 
 was a purely defensive one. On the ground that her allies had 
 been the aggressors Italy dechned to enter the conflict with them. 
 Other considerations, however, better explain Italy's stand. 
 Since the Italians had achieved national unity in 1870 they had 
 become an aggressive people with imperialistic ideas (§698). 
 More than all else they desired to secure possession of '' Italia 
 Irredenta," the unredeemed Italian- speaking provinces of 
 Trieste and Trentino, then held by Austria. Italy therefore 
 remained neutral till May, 191 5, when she entered the struggle 
 and waged war on Austria for the possession of these prov- 
 inces. 
 
 703. Resources of the Combatants; Germany's Plan; 
 Blow at France. — Of the nations engaged in the war, Germany 
 alone was prepared for immediate action. Austria's mobiliza- 
 tion was rapid. The French armies were concentrated from 
 Belfort to the Belgian frontier. England had no large standing 
 army, but collected an expeditionary force of some 100,000 men 
 and transported them to Belgium. After the first clash of oppos- 
 ing forces it became apparent that resources and reserves were 
 to count more than highly trained armies. If the war could 
 have been decided by a series of quick, decisive blows, Germany 
 held the advantage. But the struggle rapidly became one in 
 which each side sought to wear down the strength of the other. 
 To meet this situation the Teutonic Alliance could draw from a 
 population aggregating about 141,000,000 composed as follows : 
 Germany 65,000,000; Austria-Hungary 50,000,000; Turkey 
 
552 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 and Bulgaria ^ together 26,000,000. Opposed to this the Entente 
 nations had a total population of 252,000,000 Europeans, and 
 could draw in addition from 20,000,000 Russians in Siberia, 
 from their colonial possessions, and later from the 110,000,000 
 Americans. 
 
 In the production of munitions and materials of war German 
 efficiency counted heavily. Her great industrial organization 
 was at once directed to supplying the needs of a nation at war. 
 The great Krupp works at Essen turned out huge guns and how- 
 itzers of II to 16 inches caliber, capable of throwing nearly a 
 ton of high explosive a distance of 15 miles. None of the other 
 combatants, at least in the early days of the war, could rival 
 Germany in the production of such equipment. 
 
 Germany planned a short war. With abounding faith in 
 their great military machine, her generals believed they could 
 advance through Belgium, strike a crushing blow at France, 
 and capture the Channel ports. Then turning eastward they 
 hoped, with the aid of Austria, to reduce Russia, whose vast 
 armies must need time to organize. With Europe thus sub- 
 dued they could use the fleet in an attack upon England if that 
 nation were not already willing to submit. 
 
 But in this planning Germany had counted upon a measure 
 of success that was not forthcoming. When the advance into 
 Belgium began, the heroic little Belgian army withstood the 
 Germans at Liege in a valiant defense of that city. With assist- 
 ance from France, and the meager force from England, Belgium 
 succeeded in delaying for nearly three weeks what was to have 
 been a matter of a few days. On August 24 the Germans 
 crossed the frontier from Belgium into France. Other German 
 
 1 Turkey entered the war in October, 1914, Bulgaria in October, 1915. The En- 
 tente was subsequently supported by the following powers, all of which declared 
 war though not all participated in the fighting: 1914, Montenegro, Japan; 1915, 
 Italy, San Marino; 1916, Portugal, Roumania; 1917, United States, Panama, 
 Cuba, Greece, Siam, Liberia, China, Brazil; 1918, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nica- 
 ragua, Haiti, Honduras. 
 
RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN; GALLIPOLI 
 
 553 
 
 invasions through Luxemburg and Lorraine brought their ar- 
 mies, by September 6, within striking distance of Paris. For 
 a while the situation of the defenders seemed precarious. Paris 
 made ready for a siege. The French government removed to 
 Bordeaux. But Joffre, the French commander-in-chief, had 
 halted the retreat and resolved to take the offensive. On Sep- 
 tember 6 began the Battle of the Marne. In the north the 
 French and British attack rolled back the German right com- 
 manded by von Kluck, the invader of Belgium. Six days later 
 the whole German line had retreated to the River Aisne where 
 both sides remained for a while in trenches. 
 
 704. Russian Campaign ; Gallipoli. — In the East the Rus- 
 sians marshaled their forces for a twofold attack upon Germany 
 and Austria. They rapidly overran East Prussia until out- 
 witted by Hindenburg, a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War. 
 In the battle and retreat from Tannenberg the Russians lost 
 30,000 in killed and wounded and 90,000 prisoners. Against 
 the Austrians Russia was more successful, though only tempo- 
 rarily. The Russian armies drove into Galicia, captured Lem- 
 burg, and reached the Carpathians. Germany was compelled 
 to go to the assistance of Austria with troops drawn from the 
 western front. In the spring of 1915 an Austro-Ge;man drive 
 under Mackensen forced the Russians completely out of Aus- 
 trian territory. Hindenburg then began an invasion of Russian 
 Poland. He succeeded in capturing Warsaw, Brest-Litovsk, 
 and Vilna, and by the close of 191 5 had halted his victorious 
 march before the swamps and marshes of western Russia. 
 
 After these defeats the Allies were forced to render what aid 
 they could to Russ'a, for that nation stood in danger of a total 
 collapse. They devised a plan of capturing the Dardanelles from 
 Turkey and opening up communication by way of the Black 
 Sea. This scheme, if successful, would not only serve to reha- 
 bihtate Russia ; it would make possible an invasion of Austria 
 from the south. In February, 191 5, British and French ships 
 
554 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 attacked and destroyed the outer forts of the stronghold, but 
 were unable to force a passage of the strait. It was therefore 
 decided to await the arrival of troops. By the time all was 
 ready for a concerted land and sea attack the Turkish position 
 had been strengthened. A force of English and Australian 
 troops landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in face of a murderous 
 fire. Combined attacks of land and sea forces were made but 
 without result. The fortress proved impregnable, and at the 
 close of the year 191 5 the undertaking was abandoned. 
 
 705. Conditions in England; Submarines and Zeppelins. — 
 In England, as in other nations, it was soon found that close 
 government supervision of such things as industry, agriculture, 
 and public opinion was necessary for the successful prosecution 
 of the war. There followed a measure of regulation of daily 
 affairs the equal of which had never been known in Britain. 
 Three problems confronted the Cabinet in 191 5 : financing the 
 war ; securing an adequate supply of munitions ; recruiting as 
 large a number of men as possible. The intricacies of the finan- 
 cial problem can only be suggested. London, as the commer- 
 cial center of the world, had to face the total collapse of its 
 system for handling international exchanges. The Bank of 
 England, custodian of the country's resources, had to keep a 
 steadying hand on the nation's credit. The government itself 
 had to devise means to finance a war that was costing between 
 30 and 40 millions of dollars a day. 
 
 The production of sufficient arms and munitions was ham- 
 pered by strikes and labor troubles, with the result that the 
 ministry incurred severe criticism. A Coalition Cabinet was 
 formed in May, 19 15, to include" 12 Liberals, 8 Unionists, and i 
 Labor member. This change came about partly in response to 
 the charge that the war was being made a party undertaking. 
 A new cabinet office was created, the Ministry of Munitions, 
 with Lloyd George at the head. A great increase in the 
 output of war material followed. Under the Defense of the 
 
CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND 
 
 555 
 
 Realm Act, passed in March, 1915, the government took over 
 whatever factories it needed for war purposes. Other acts 
 restricted many privileges 
 which the labor unions and 
 their members had exercised ; 
 reduced the number of causes 
 for which workers might 
 strike; provided for govern- 
 ment intervention in dis- 
 putes ; and for the employ- 
 ment of women and children 
 under certain conditions. 
 These measures would have 
 been intolerable in times of 
 peace ; they were accepted 
 now only because of the life 
 and death struggle the nation 
 was waging. 
 
 Englishmen have always been averse to conscription. Vol- 
 unteer enlistment was a tradition of their national history. 
 But although Kitchener's Army ^ of three quarters of a million 
 men had been sent to the front by April, 19 15, Great Britain was 
 still not getting enough men for active service. Accordingly 
 in October of that year Lord Derby was placed in charge of a 
 great recruiting " drive." Moral suasion to " join up " was 
 exerted on every eligible man. At the end of the year the cam- 
 paign had resulted in more than 800,000 additional enlistments. 
 These were the last of the volunteers. The following spring a 
 Military Service Bill was passed providing that all bachelors, 
 and widowers having no dependent children, between the ages 
 of 18 and 41, might be called upon for military service. 
 
 ^ Lord Kitchener was at this time a member of the CoaHtion Cabinet. He was 
 lost at sea June 5, 1915, when the cruiser Hampshire was sunk, probably by a German 
 mine or submarine. 
 
 Lord Kitchener 
 
556 
 
 HISTORY OF iNGLAND 
 
 Of all the mistakes made by Germany in the war, probably 
 none did her more harm than the policy of '' frightfulness." 
 This was part of the German theory of warfare. It had been 
 practiced in the march through Belgium ; it was nov/ put into 
 effect through the agency of the submarine and the Zeppelin. 
 In the opening months of the war the British fleet drove Ger- 
 man shipping from the seas and instituted a long range but effec- 
 tive blockade of her coast. The submarine alone remained as a 
 means of egress to the high seas. With these elusive craft 
 Germany tried to isolate Britain and began a kind of warfare 
 that recognized neither rules of international law nor considera- 
 tion for human lives. Practically all vessels at sea were en- 
 gaged in trade with the Allied Nations ^ or neutrals. The sub- 
 marine torpedoed them irrespective of their mission. Hospital, 
 passenger, or trading ships were sunk frequently without warn- 
 ing and without regard to nationality. Crews were left to drift 
 in open boats, or sometimes wantonly fired upon as they sought 
 to escape. It was this brutal conduct that arrayed the nations 
 of the world against Germany. 
 
 Similarly from the air Germany waged a war that necessa- 
 rily involved non-combatants. Count Zeppelin, had developed a 
 dirigible balloon-type airship remarkable for its flying efficiency. 
 Numbers of these were built and were used as the only means 
 by which Germany could strike at England. Numerous raids 
 were made. The North Sea and Channel ports, naval stations, 
 industrial centers, and London itself were the objectives. The 
 height at which these vessels had to fly, however, made their 
 aim in dropping bombs a mere matter of chance. As a conse- 
 quence they frequently missed their target and explosive shells 
 fell on hospitals or dwellings, often in thickly populated centers. 
 To meet this type of invasion anti-aircraft guns were developed 
 and fast airplanes were sent up to give battle in the air. Grad- 
 
 1 The Entente and associated powers were generally spoken of as the "Allies." 
 
DEADLOCK IN THE WEST ccy 
 
 ually, as the airplane became more and more effective as a 
 weapon of offense, the usefulness of the Zeppelin diminished. 
 
 706. Deadlock in the West ; Battle of Jutland. — After the 
 defeat of the Germans at the Marne in 1914 the opposing forces 
 remained practically at a deadlock for nearly four years. Both 
 armies " dug in " and Hved a more or less underground existence 
 in elaborate systems of trenches. Before these trenches, and 
 facing the enemy, were placed thick barbed wire entangle- 
 ments, necessitating the use of much artillery fire before an 
 attack could be made. Reconnoitering by airplane kept the 
 opposing staffs well informed of the concentration of enemy 
 forces. Preparations for an attack were usually known. Un- 
 der these circumstances it is not surprising that attempts to 
 break through in either direction met with small success. Nu- 
 merous such efforts were made by the Germans. In October and 
 November, 1914, they tried to pierce the AUied line in Flanders ; 
 in the spring of 191 5 at Ypres ; later in the Argonne ; and for 
 the first six months of 19 16 delivered desperate attacks around 
 Verdun. The story of the gallant defense of this fortress by 
 the French army will live forever in the annals of military his- 
 tory. These German assaults were countered by the Alhed 
 forces at Neuve Chapelle, Arras, in the Champagne, in Artois, 
 the valley of the Somme, on the Aisne, and in Flanders. But 
 insignificant changes in the battle-line resulted. Neither side 
 was as yet powerful enough to dislodge the other. Critics were 
 predicting that both groups of contestants would soon be ex- 
 hausted and that the war must end in a draw. 
 
 The naval operations of the war, while picturesque, are only 
 of secondary importance. Germany chose to keep her fleet 
 behind the protection of her forts for the greater part of the 
 time and real encounters were few. Occasionally swift battle 
 cruisers were sent to raid the British coast. They bombarded 
 towns for a brief space, than scurried back to port through 
 their own extensive mine-fields. On the last day of May, 1916, 
 
558 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the British battle squadron of 7 battle cruisers and 4 battleships 
 encountered the German High Seas Fleet off Jutland. The 
 Germans were superior in numbers, having 5 battle cruisers 
 and 24 battleships. The British opened fire but were compelled 
 to retire in face of the larger force, losing 3 battle cruisers and 
 3 armored cruisers. Toward evening the British Grand Fleet 
 came upon the scene and the Germans began to withdraw with 
 the British in pursuit. In this running battle i German battle- 
 ship, I battle cruiser, 4 fast cruisers, and 5 destroyers were lost. 
 Favored by misty weather and darkness the rest gained the 
 shelter of their own coast. Both sides claimed to have won a 
 victory. True, heavy losses had been suffered by both sides, 
 and in not unequal proportion. But in view of the fact that 
 Great Britain maintained her control of the sea, and that Ger- 
 many seemed unwilling to risk a decisive combat, it is difficult 
 to say how much credit should be given the German navy. 
 
 Other engagements occurred in the Bight of Heligoland 
 (August, i9i4),off Coronel (November, 1914), near the Dogger 
 Bank (January, 1915), and in the Gulf of Riga (October, 191 7) ; 
 these, however, were not of great magnitude, nor important as 
 to results. 
 
 707. America Enters the War ; Collapse of Russia. — When 
 hostihties began in 19 14 there were many people all over the 
 world who thought Germany would quickly win. During the 
 first month their predictions seemed well founded. After the 
 Battle of the Marne (§ 702) events favored the Allied cause, but 
 for more than three long years the outcome of the war was se- 
 riously in doubt. The entry of the United States in 1917, and 
 the active participation of American troops in 19 18, contributed 
 in no small measure to the final defeat of the Central European 
 powers. 
 
 America's case against Germany was threefold. The Im- 
 perial Government had vigorously resented the export of war 
 materials from the United States to her enemies, a definitely 
 
AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR ccg 
 
 legal practice for a neutral nation. To thwart American manu- 
 facturers in the production of arms and munitions German 
 diplomats in the United States had fomented labor disturbances 
 and tried to embroil the nation in difficulties with Mexico and 
 Japan. In the submarine war on neutral shipping the United 
 States was a heavy loser, and the lives of her citizens v/ere con- 
 stantly in peril. This last matter had been the subject of many 
 warnings to Germany since the sinking of the liner Liisitania 
 May 7, 1915, in which 114 American lives were lost. At first 
 the German government affected to heed these remonstrances. 
 But when, early in 191 7, it resumed the indiscriminate sinking 
 of transatlantic vessels the Congress of the United States de- 
 clared the nation at war, April 6, 191 7. 
 
 The entry of America was almost coincident with the elimina- 
 tion of Russia as a factor in the fighting. The industrial system 
 of the great Slav nation, never very well developed, broke down 
 completely under the stress of war. This, coupled with treach- 
 ery on the part of high officials at court and in the army, soon 
 crippled the effectiveness of Russia's military efforts. An 
 attempt was made in 19 16 to retrieve some of the losses of the 
 previous year, but its success was short lived. In March, 191^, 
 the people, aided by the army, rose against the hopelessly in- 
 competent government and overthrew it. Czar Nicholas was 
 compelled to abdicate. Progressive members of the Duma set 
 up a provisional government with Miliukov at the head. This 
 in turn was displaced by a more radical element led by Keren- 
 sky, an ardent but not over-capable social reformer. Kerensky 
 made an attempt to continue the war, but the disorganized 
 condition of affairs robbed the government of any authority it 
 might have used ; the morale of the army was broken. In 
 November the Kerensky government gave way to the Bolshe- 
 viki, a group of extremists with communistic ideals. The ad- 
 vent of Lenin and Trotsky, Bolshevik leaders, marked the total 
 collapse of Russia. Unable to care for the needs of their own 
 
560 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 people, incapable of waging a foreign war, the Bolsheviki con- 
 sented to a humiliating peace with Germany. By the treaty of 
 Brest-Litovsk Russia surrendered to Germany vast tracts of 
 land lying between the Baltic and Black Seas. This the Allies 
 would not countenance. A force was sent into Siberia in an effort 
 to save Russia from both friends and enemies. Little was accom- 
 plished, however, and Allied troops were still fighting the Bol- 
 sheviki long after an armistice had been concluded with Germany. 
 708. Other Campaigns ; Decision in the West. — The lesser 
 campaigns of the war cannot well be detailed here. They are 
 of interest, however, in suggesting the magnitude of the conflict. 
 The Italian forces, waging a picturesque contest in the almost 
 inaccessible mountains of southern Europe, experienced the 
 extremes of victory and defeat. Serbia had been conquered by 
 combined Austro-German-Bulgar armies in 191 5. Montenegro 
 and Albania succumbed before Austro-Bulgarian attacks early 
 in 1916. But in 191 7 and 191 8 the Allied armies struck in a 
 series of attacks from their base at Saloniki, compelling Bul- 
 garia to accept an armistice amounting to an unconditional 
 surrender. Turkish forces made several assaults upon the Suez 
 Canal, but without success. The British then sent expeditions 
 against Turkey in Mesopotamia and the Holy Land, resulting 
 in the capture of Kut-el-Amara, Bagdad, and Jerusalem. The 
 wresting of Palestine from Turkish control occasioned much 
 rejoicing among Christian nations, suggesting as it did the 
 great Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries. These and other 
 Allied successes against Turkey caused that power to ask for 
 an armistice, which was granted in October, 19 18. The German 
 colonies in remote parts also fell into the hands of her enemies : 
 Kiauchow in China to the Japanese, and possessions in South 
 West Africa and German East Africa to the British. Thus the 
 war had involved all the great and many of the lesser powers of 
 the world and had extended to some region of nearly every con- 
 tinent. ' 
 
OTHER CAMPAIGNS 
 
 561 
 
 The foregoing activities were, of course, subordinated to the 
 
 fighting that was going on in France. More and more it was 
 
 realized that the dead- 
 lock must be broken and 
 
 the contest fought to a 
 
 finish on the Western 
 
 Front. On this long 
 
 battle line, reaching 
 
 from the North Sea to 
 
 the Swiss border, both 
 
 sides prepared for a 
 
 gigantic effort. Germany 
 
 was able to reinforce 
 
 her positions witk men 
 
 released from the Russian 
 
 campaigns. Between 
 
 March and July, 1918, 
 
 five desperate attempts 
 
 were made to pierce the Allied lines. Some ground was 
 
 gained and at one time Paris appeared in danger. But the 
 
 stubborn resistance of the Brit- 
 ish under Sir Douglas Haig in 
 Picardy and Flanders, and of 
 the French in the region of the 
 Aisne and Marne prevented a 
 successful breach of the line. 
 The Allies meanwhile had 
 been making ready to assume 
 the offensive. Ferdinand Foch, 
 who had achieved fame in the 
 Battle of the Marne in 19 14, was 
 given supreme command of all 
 , ^^ ,.^„ the forces in France. American 
 
 FERDmAND Foch troops in excess of 1,000,000 
 
 Sir Douglas Haig 
 
THE ARMISTICE 
 
 563 
 
 men had arrived by the summer of 191 8, and others were still 
 being transported across the Atlantic by thousands, adding new 
 vigor to the war wearied Allied armies. The offensive began 
 in July. It did not aim to pierce the enemy's defense at any 
 one point, but a series of blows first at one position, then another, 
 set the whole German Hne rocking. By September the Ger- 
 mans were in retreat from Rheims to Ypres. A month later 
 the " Hindenburg Line," a supposedly impregnable defensive 
 system, was smashed. The Belgian coast was now cleared. 
 Advancing along the Meuse River, Allied forces threatened the 
 communications of the whole German army. The way was 
 laid open for an invasion of Germany ; the great military ma- 
 chine of the Kaiser and his war lords was broken beyond re- 
 pair. 
 
 To add to the discomfort of the Imperial German Govern- 
 ment a revolution threatened. Sailors of the fleet had mutinied 
 rather than go out to sea to engage the British. States of the 
 Teutonic Empire were dethroning their petty monarchs and 
 becoming republics. In dire extremity Germany asked for an 
 armistice, which was granted on November 11, 1918. The 
 fighting of the World War was ended. 
 
 , 709. The Armistice ; Peace ; League of Nations. — Since 
 191 6 the belligerent governments had found it necessary from 
 time to time to define their aims in the war. Suggestions for 
 peace had come from the Pope and from the United States be- 
 fore that nation entered the conflict. On January 8, 1918, 
 President Wilson sent to Congress a message containing, in 
 '' fourteen points," a program by which peace might be secured 
 and maintained among the nations. It provided in the main 
 for open diplomacy, freedom of the seas, equality of economic 
 opportunity, reduction of armaments, restoration and repara- 
 tions for wrong done, independence of subject peoples, and the 
 formation of an association of nations to guarantee the political 
 independence and territorial integrity of all states. 
 
5^4 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 When the German government intimated to the United States 
 its desire for peace it accepted these fourteen points. President 
 Wilson replied that Germany must vacate all occupied territory 
 and that the terms of the armistice would be arranged by the 
 military commanders. Accordingly the AlHed War Council 
 imposed terms which precluded the possibility of a renewal of 
 war by Germany. Her troops were withdrawn across the 
 Rhine ; her navy, aircraft, artillery, and much other equipment 
 surrendered. With Germany thus rendered harmless the way 
 was now open for a discussion of the terms of peace. 
 
 On January i8, 191 9, there assembled in Paris the most dis- 
 tinguished company of diplomats Europe had ever brought 
 together. In addition to the " big four " representatives (Lloyd 
 George, Clemenceau, Orlando, Wilson) there was a veritable 
 host of leading statesmen from the twenty-one nations and 
 colonies represented. Each power or colony was allowed from 
 one to five delegates.^ The vital discussions of the conference 
 were in secret, but open sessions were held from time to time for 
 the ratification of decisions arrived at in committee. 
 
 From the first it became evident that there was a conflict of 
 principles among the delegates. President Wilson, supported 
 to some extent by Lloyd George, stood for the abolition of 
 the old order of diplomacy with its secret treaties and intrigues, 
 and sought a settlement based upon a league of nations and 
 the fourteen points. The other faction, following the time 
 honored practice of Old World imperialism, regarded the con- 
 ference as an opportunity for territorial aggrandizement at the 
 expense of the vanquished. France hoped to secure possession 
 of German lands west of the Rhine ; Italy aspired to the exten- 
 sion of her boundaries in the region of the Adriatic. Conse- 
 quently Mr. Wilson stood almost alone as the exponent of a 
 forward-looking policy. The ultimate result was in the nature 
 
 ^ All nations associated with the Allies in the war sent delegates. Germany and 
 her allies were not allowed to participate. 
 
THE ARMISTICE 
 
 565 
 
 of a compromise. The League of Nations was adopted and a 
 constitution drawn up, but little if anything else of the princi- 
 ples for which the American delegates stood was incorporated 
 into the treaty. Germany ceded Alsace-Lorraine to France, 
 and other portions of her territory to Denmark and Belgium, 
 losing in all some 35,000 square miles. France also acquired 
 ownership of the German coal mines in the Saar Valley for 15 
 years, after which period permanent ownership is to be decided 
 by a plebiscite. Reparations were to be made to France, Bel- 
 gium, and other nations for damage done by invasion or by 
 submarines or aircraft. Germany was to recognize the inde- 
 pendence of Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Russia. 
 The Brest-Litovsk treaty was abrogated, while the boundaries 
 of the states mentioned were to be drawn with some regard 
 to racial characteristics. Severe restrictions were placed on 
 Germany in the matter of armaments, requiring among other 
 things the destruction of all fortifications at Heligoland. The 
 execution of many provisions of the treaty was vested in the 
 League of Nations. Germany's colonies, for instance, were 
 taken from her and placed under the " mandate " of certain 
 Allied powers which the League was to designate. 
 
 The most objectionable parts of the treaty from the critics' 
 viewpoint are the economic restrictions placed on Germany. 
 Not only is that nation required to pay some 30 billion marks as 
 reparations, but is hampered by these clauses in such a way as 
 to make payment naxt to impossible. When the Treaty was 
 completed it was presented to the German delegates and signed, 
 though not without protest, on June 28, 1919. It was duly 
 ratified by the nations concerned, with the exception of the 
 United States, and became effective January 10, 1920. Sepa- 
 rate treaties were drawn for Austria and Poland. 
 
 In the minds of many people the provision constituting the 
 League of Nations is the most important part of the Tre-aty. 
 The Covenant provides for a voluntary organization of the na- 
 
566 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 tions of the world binding themselves to follow a certain defined 
 course in international relations and in the settlement of any 
 difficulties which arise. The " original members " do not in- 
 clude the enemy nations, but provision is made for the subse- 
 quent admission of these and of any other governments not 
 already members. There is an Assembly composed of represent- 
 atives from the member nations ; an Executive Council con- 
 sisting of representatives of the United States, British Empire, 
 France, Italy, and Japan, and of four other member nations 
 which may vary from time to time ; and permanent secretaries. 
 The principles for which the League stands and which it will 
 seek to carry out are : reduction of armaments, preservation of 
 territorial integrity and political independence of all its mem- 
 bers, safeguarding international peace by compulsory arbitra- 
 tion of disputes and a delay of three months before com- 
 mencing hostilities, establishment of a permanent court of 
 international justice, abolition of secret treaties. The question 
 whether the League should be given a " police force " adequate 
 to the enforcement of its decisions was hotly debated. No such 
 force was provided. The weapon to be used by the League 
 against any power disregarding its decisions is an economic 
 boycott, though member nations of the League may contribute 
 armed forces when necessary for use in protecting the covenant. 
 Strangely enough the greatest opposition to the League came 
 from the United States, where the Senate refused to ratify it. 
 This opposition led to certain minor changes in some articles 
 of the Covenant, and made necessary the signing of a separate 
 peace with hostile nations. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 WAR PROBLEMS ; PROGRESS IN ENGLAND ; HOME RULE 
 
 710. The Task of Governing ; War's Aftermath. — Prob- 
 lems of government in England, numerous enough in times of 
 peace, were increased many fold by the war. The submarine 
 campaign made heavy inroads on British shipping and re- 
 duced the nation's food supply almost to the vanishing point. 
 Food prices doubled during the first three years of the war. 
 The government was forced to adopt a system of rationing, 
 limiting the amount of food that each person might purchase. 
 Strenuous efforts were made to increase the home production 
 of foodstuffs and the building of new ships. The execution of 
 laws relating to the conduct of the war called for much detailed 
 work. Labor arbitration boards were constantly busy. Pro- 
 tection against spies, several of whom were caught and shot, 
 necessitated a constant vigil. The administration of the Mili- 
 tary Service Act, one clause of which exempted from active 
 service persons having conscientious religious objections to 
 fighting, required the establishment of special tribunals where 
 the sincerity of objectors could be tested. 
 
 During the war also Parliament found time to discuss Brit- 
 ish trade with a view to preventing its complete breakdown 
 after hostiUties ceased. In these matters, as in the prosecution 
 of the war, representatives of the colonies rendered valuable aid 
 to the government. A conference of colonial premiers was 
 held in 191 7, and an Imperial War Cabinet was formed. This 
 body served as an executive cabinet for the whole Empire. 
 The colonial representatives held as much power as the English 
 ministers. Together they decided the main policies of war and 
 
 567 
 
568 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 the terms of settlement, and discussed matters calculated to 
 bind the Empire closer. 
 
 After the war domestic problems were no less difficult. The 
 readjustment incident to a transition from wartime to peace 
 called for the highest kind of statesmanship. A depression in 
 trade at the time troops were being demobilized resulted in 
 much unemployment. In January, 1921, there were said to be 
 1,000,000 men out of work and by December the number had 
 risen to 2,000,000. Twenty thousand men paraded in London 
 bearing a banner with the words, '* Bread or Revolution." Dis- 
 content was general and several ominous riots occurred. Strikes 
 among the railroad workers and coal miners led the government 
 to announce a program of labor legislation favoring, among 
 other things : a national maximum 48 hour week, provision 
 for unemployment, a living wage, reform of conditions in min- 
 ing areas and participation of workers in naming conditions of 
 labor, state purchase of mineral rights, free imports, and pro- 
 tection for essential industries. 
 
 711. Political Changes; Electoral Reform; Woman Suf- 
 frage. — The success with which the difficulties of the war 
 period were met was due in measure to the increased power of 
 the government. In December, 1916, as the result of a disa- 
 greement with Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Asquith resigned the 
 premiership. Mr. Bonar Law was invited to form a new min- 
 istry, but declined, and the task fell to Lloyd George. His 
 new Cabinet included Earl Curzon and Mr. Bonar Law, leaders 
 respectively of the Lords and Commons, together with mem- 
 bers of the War Council, which was also reorganized. In this 
 way the Cabinet secured control of Parliament and centralized 
 the civil and military administrations in the hands of a small 
 group. Probably no other ministry in the nation's history has 
 wielded so much power. 
 
 In December, 1918, a general election was held. The gov- 
 ernment had hesitated to plunge the country into an election 
 
REVOLUTION IN IRELAND 569 
 
 during the war crisis, and had extended its life by Act of Par- 
 liament five different times. The passing of an Electoral Re- 
 form Act, however, had increased the number of voters by 
 about seven million, and a new expression of sentiment was 
 necessary. Traditional party lines were obscured by CoaUtion 
 groupings, but the election was a great victory for the govern- 
 ment.^ 
 
 Two important matters, Electoral Reform and Woman 
 Suffrage, were decided by Parliament in 191 8. These were in- 
 corporated into one measure known as the Electoral Reform 
 Bill. The question of plural voting (§ 691) had been long await- 
 ing the attention of the Commons ; the extension of the suffrage 
 to women, while not at first approved by Parliament, was more 
 than warranted by services the women had rendered the na- 
 tion during the war (§ 694). The new law extends the franchise 
 to all males 21 years of age, and to women 31 years of age, who 
 have occupied or owned a residence or place of business for 
 six months. Male voters who served in the war may qualify 
 at 19 years. No person may vote in more than one constitu- 
 ency, and the voting must take place everywhere on the same 
 day. The difference between the ages for qualification of men 
 and women is a temporary provision designed to offset the 
 preponderance of women's votes which would result from the 
 loss of so many men in the war. The great increase in the 
 number of voters resulting from this measure made the basis of 
 representation i for every 70,000 in Great Britain. 
 
 712. Revolution in Ireland; Home Rule. — Nothing would 
 have suited the government better than to have let the Irish 
 question rest during the period of the war. The matter was 
 forced upon their attention, however, by the action of a con- 
 siderable number of Irishmen. On Easter Monday, April 24, 
 
 iThe results were: Coalition Unionists 334, Coalition Liberals 127, Coalition 
 Laborites 10, Unionists 46, Asquith Liberals 37, Laborites 65, Sinn Feiners 73^ 
 Nationalists 7, Independents, etc., 8. 
 
570 
 
 HISTORY OF ENGLAND 
 
 1916, a revolution broke out in Dublin led by the Sinn Fein. 
 This group of extremists, asserting their right to complete 
 independence, announced the founding of a new Republic of 
 Ireland and hoisted their flag of green and gold. A provisional 
 government was set up with Padraic Pearse as president. 
 The revolt had apparently been arranged through the 
 treacherous dealings of Sir Roger Casement with Germany. 
 Coincident with the uprising Casement attempted to land on 
 the Irish coast from a German submarine, but was captured. 
 Another German vessel bearing munitions for the revolution- 
 ists was sunk and its crew made prisoners. Government 
 troops were sent to Dublin, and after some slaughter and 
 damage to buildings, forced the surrender of the rebels. 
 Severe punishment was imposed. Pearse and 14 others were 
 courtmartialed and shot. Casement was tried for treason, 
 found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. 
 
 The government then endeavored to placate the Irish Na- 
 tionalists by proposing that the Home Rule Act of 1914 (§ 699) 
 go into effect immediately, except for Ulster, which was to be 
 temporarily excluded. This plan the Nationalists were willing 
 to accept. But its adoption was prevented by the opposition 
 of Sinn Fein and the Unionists, and by the objection raised by 
 the CathoHc Bishops of Ireland to what they termed the parti- 
 tion of Ireland. The failure of this and other proposals led to 
 a new move. The government proposed that the people of 
 Ireland themselves draw up a scheme for Home Rule and gave 
 its pledge that any plan acceptable to Ireland would be ratified. 
 During 191 7 a convention was at work on the subject and the 
 following spring submitted its report to Parliament. The plan 
 proposed an independent parliament for Ireland in which all 
 sections of the country should be represented, while 42 Irish 
 members were to retain seats in the British Parliament. This 
 did not secure the support of Irish factions, however, and was 
 abandoned. 
 
REVOLUTION IN IRELAND 
 
 571 
 
 Meanwhile disorder reigned in Ireland. Murder and pillage 
 were almost daily occurrences. Excesses by the Republicans 
 led to reprisals by the military forces. The " Black and Tans," 
 English recruits to the Irish Constabulary, were engaged in what 
 amounted to a guerrilla warfare. The sacrifice of life and prop- 
 erty was as futile as it was extensive. Yet in this darkest hour 
 there appeared a ray of hope. Late in 191 9 the government 
 came forward with a measure which offered prospects of a 
 settlement. It provided separate parliaments for North and 
 South Ireland, each consisting of a single house, and a central 
 parliament for all Ireland to consist of representatives from the 
 whole country. The Government of Ireland Act incorporating 
 these principles was introduced on February 25, and became 
 law December 23, 1920. The jurisdiction of the separate cham- 
 bers was carefully designed so as to avoid a conflict of interests. 
 Elections were duly held and the separate parliaments opened ; 
 that of Ulster in June, and the Irish Parliament or Dail Eireann 
 in August, 1 92 1. Thus far a partial victory had been won; 
 Ireland had made a start in the matter of self-government. 
 But the extremists were not content. Led by Mr. de Valera 
 they demanded complete autonomy. Then came a long series 
 of discussions and a conference during the latter part of 192 1. 
 After much hesitation a treaty was drawn up and signed by 
 Great Britain and the Irish Free State, giving Ireland the status 
 of a Dominion within the Empire on the same basis as Canada 
 or Australia. By the opening months of 1922 it became appar- 
 ent that the vast majority of Irish people were satisfied ; only 
 the irreconcilables nurtured their discontent. To say that the 
 Irish problem is solved would betoken an optimism wholly un- 
 justified. In the keen antipathies of the different religious and 
 poUtical groups remain the possibilities of serious confhct. But 
 it can be truly said that England has sought to do justice to all 
 the people of Ireland in this too long delayed endeavor to solve 
 a problem centuries old. 
 
APPENDIX I 
 
 BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE TO 1648 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 1. The Roman Empire in the Fourth Century. — The Roman 
 Empire ^ reached its greatest extent in the fourth century. Its 
 expanse of territory was populated by a great variety of races. 
 All these peoples had essentially the same law, were taxed by the 
 same power, and recognized the same head. That this great em- 
 pire should have held together as long as it did is due to several 
 causes, among them, (i) the admirable system of organization 
 which extended to every part of the realm ; (2) the excellent roads 
 which made communication easy and rapid ; (3) the system of 
 Roman law ; (4) the deification of the Roman emperor, making 
 him the personal embodiment of the state ; (5) the uniform coin- 
 age ; (6) the well-drilled and, in the earlier days, efficient army, 
 which enforced respect and obedience.^ 
 
 2. The Barbarians. — Outside the bounds of the Empire, north 
 and east, there lived many peoples whom the Romans called by 
 the name of Barbarians.^ Little is known of the history or the 
 condition of these, for they had no literature or records. Tliey 
 had no cities, and their chief occupations were warlike and pas- 
 
 1 It comprised all Europe south of the Rhine and the Danube, Asia Minor 
 and Asia eastward to a line drawn nearly south from the Caspian Sea to the des- 
 ert of Arabia, Syria, Egypt, and the southern coast of the Mediterranean, extend- 
 ing considerable distance inland. 
 
 2 The very extent of the empire led to its division (A.D. 293) into the East- 
 ern and Western Empires, divided by the Adriatic Sea. Theoretically it was 
 still the Roman Empire, and was, now and then, united under a strong emperor. 
 The division became permanent at the death of Theodosius, A.D. 395. 
 
 3 The chief Teutonic nations were : the Goths, divided into Ostrogoths (East 
 Goths), and Visigoths (West Goths) ; Franks; Saxons; Vandals; Burgundians; 
 Alemanni; Langobards ; Normans. Of the Tartars or Mongols, th- Huns were 
 the great representatives, and later the Ottoman Turks. 
 
 573 
 
574 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 toral. Every man was a warrior, always armed and ready to fight. 
 They were divided into tribes, often fighting with each other.^ 
 
 As the population increased more land was needed.^ A tribe 
 or a whole nation would emigrate ; those living near the bounds 
 of the Empire would cross the line and demand, or attempt to 
 seize, territory. Many of the barbarians living along the boundary 
 would become well acquainted with Roman ways, visit Roman 
 cities, enter the service of the Roman state, and later carry back 
 to their old homes information of Roman civiHzation. 
 
 Besides these attractions, a great force was impelling these 
 barbarians from behind. North and east of the Teutonic tribes 
 were hordes of Slavs, and Mongols or Tartars, who were pushing 
 forward and striving to obtain lands and plunder. 
 
 3. Invasions of the Barbarians. — In 3 75 a.d. the Visigoths, a 
 Teutonic tribe, fleeing before the savage Huns, a Tartar tribe, 
 asked permission to cross the Danube and reside within the 
 bounds of the empire. These Goths were already Christians 
 and it did not seem an unreasonable request, or a dangerous 
 experiment. After considerable negotiation they were admitted. 
 But, chiefly through the acts of untrustworthy Roman officials, 
 they were angered. War broke out, and at Adrianople (378) 
 Valens, the emperor of the Eastern Empire, was defeated and 
 slain. The importance of this battle Hes in the fact that it 
 showed that the imperial armies were not invincible. The bar- 
 barians had got well within the empire, and never went out. 
 
 Under the able Theodosius (379-395) the empire was united 
 under one head and regained somewhat of its ancient prestige, 
 but the tendencies toward decay were scarcely checked ; they 
 were too deeply seated to be removed. 
 
 4. Causes of the Decay of the Roman Empire. — Some of the 
 causes of this decay and weakness were : (i) The great increase 
 of slavery and a class resembling serfs {Co/oni),^ and the conse- 
 
 1 The Gerniania of Tacitus is our chief authority for the history and customs 
 of the Teutonic tribes. 
 
 2 A people that lives by hunting and grazing needs many times more land than 
 one which lives by agriculture. 
 
 3 Coloni, or serfs, somewhat resembled the Russian serf. They paid rent but 
 could not be separated from the land. In theory freemen, practically they could 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 571- 
 
 quent decline of free labor and the extinction of the middle class 
 — the mainstay of a state; (2) Heavy taxation, and the farming 
 out of the collection of taxes to the highest bidder ; (3) The 
 steady decrease in population, owing partly to the destruction of 
 the free laboring class, partly to the low birth-rate ; (4) The re- 
 cruiting of the armies from the barbarians made necessary by the 
 low birth-rate and decrease in the free population, with a conse- 
 quent loss in patriotism and civic excellence ; (5) The very peace 
 and good order in the empire which led men to forget that there 
 must be something more than mere organization and officials to 
 make and preserve a government ; (6) Armies inadequate to 
 protect the long boundaries, and no system of mihtia, so that, 
 when once the barbarians broke through the lines, there was 
 nothing to resist them, but they could go where they pleased ; 
 (7) In addition to all the above, ease of living had led to luxury, 
 lack of energy, and loss of originality in almost all fields of human 
 enterprise. Art, literature, philosophy, science — all showed a 
 decadence ; even in government there was a falling away, and it 
 was with codification and commentaries rather than with origi- 
 nality and progress, that law arjd political science were occupied. 
 Such was the condition of affairs at the opening of the fifth century 
 (401). From this time there was a succession of invasions and 
 marchings to and fro by Teutonic tribes. Sometimes they were 
 nominally allies, or *' guests " as they would call themselves, and 
 did not interfere with the laws and customs except so far as these 
 interfered with their wishes. Thus there would be two sets of 
 laws side by side — one for the Roman and one for the invader. 
 
 5. Alaric the Goth; Fall of Rome. 410. — It soon came to 
 pass that not only large portions of the Roman armies, but 
 the generals also were barbarians. Thus the Vandal, Stilicho, a 
 Roman general, was the great opponent of the Visigoth, Alaric. 
 This Visigothic leader, who had been marching through Greece, 
 Illyricum, and northern Italy, on the assassination of Stilicho 
 through the jealousy of the Roman emperor, turned toward Rome 
 
 not leave the estates, for they could not take away property with them. In time it 
 came about that the status of colonus descended from father to son, and once a 
 colonus always a colonus. 
 
576 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 and appeared before the city in the autumn of 408. Rome was 
 spared on the payment of a heavy ransom. He came also in 409, 
 and again in 410. This last time he took the city and gave it 
 over to pillage. It was six hundred years since Rome had even 
 seen an enemy from her walls, and eight hundred since an enemy 
 had been within them.^ 
 
 6, Barbarian Control ; Fall of the Western Empire (476) ; Rise 
 of New Kingdoms (375-500). — The world was startled ; Rome lost 
 much of her prestige ; the Barbarians felt that the empire be- 
 longed to them, and they set up and put down emperors who 
 often were mere puppets in their hands. So great, even yet, was 
 the force of the Roman name that the nominal Western Empire 
 lasted about sixty years longer. At last, in 476, the Emperor 
 Romulus Augustulus was forced by Odoacer, a Teuton chief, to 
 abdicate, and the Western Roman Empire came to an end, though 
 the .authority of the emperor at Constantinople was at least nomi- 
 nally recognized. 
 
 Even before the fall of Rome (410), the empire had begun to 
 give place to new kingdoms or states which claimed to be king- 
 doms. There were many depopulated districts. The Barbarians 
 were eager for land and secured it sometimes by force, sometimes 
 by treaty in return for assistance as allies of the Roman armies. 
 Beginning about 375 the movement lasted for about two hun- 
 dred years. The character of these invaders varied. Many were 
 more than ready to adopt Roman customs and Christianity ; others 
 seemed bent on havoc, like the Vandals, who have given the 
 name of vandalism to unreasoning and wanton destruction. 
 
 By the close of the fifth century the whole of the old Western 
 Roman Empire, except the Italian peninsula, was in the hands of 
 Teutonic tribes,^ of which the chief were the Goths and Franks. 
 
 7. Invasion of the Huns; Attila, the Hun (445-451). — Dur- 
 ing the fifth century a great danger threatened Europe, from the 
 
 1 Hannibal in B.C. 211 ; and the Gauls in B.C. 390. 
 
 2 About 500 the Visigoths occupied parts of Gaul and Spain ; the Suevi, north- 
 west Spain and a good part of modern Portugal ; the Franks, northwest Gaul and 
 the country north of it; the Burgundians, the lands along the Rhone; the AUe- 
 manni, Switzerland ; the Ostrogoths, eastern Hungary and Bosnia ; Angles, Saxons, 
 and Jutes, England; and the Vandals, the northern coast of Africa. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE ^^y 
 
 invasion of the Huns, an x\siatic people of the Mongolian race. 
 Why they left their Asiatic home is not known. Possibly they in 
 turn were pressed upon by natives east of them. They were a 
 savage people who spared no foe. About the time of the battle 
 of Adrianople (378) they had setded nearly where modern Hun- 
 gary is. The Eastern Emperor had bought security from attack, 
 but, as is almost always the case, larger tribute was soon demanded. 
 Under Attila, who became king in 445, the Huns controlled 
 nearly the whole of Europe north of the Danube and east of the 
 Rhine as far as the shores of the Baltic. It was not strange that 
 Attila turned his attention to the rich countries south of those rivers. 
 First he raided the Eastern Empire to the very walls of Con- 
 stantinople. The city was saved by a disgraceful treaty yielding 
 considerable territory and agreeing to a large annual tribute. 
 
 8. Battle of Chalons, 451. — Then Attila turned to the west. He 
 invaded Gaul with a large army, but was defeated near Chalons 
 (451) by a combined force of Visigoths, Burgundians, Franks, 
 and others under ^'Etius. This has been reckoned as one of the 
 great battles of the world. It was a conflict between the Aryan 
 and Tartar tribes, between civilization and barbarism, Christian- 
 ity and heathenism. The next year Attila advanced again and 
 destroyed the city of Aquileia at the head of the Adriatic. Fugi- 
 tives from this city and the neighboring plains founded Venice on 
 the islands of the shallow sea. Attila established himself at Milan, 
 but later retired beyond the Danube and died (453). 
 
 9. The Vandals; Gaiseric. 406-534. — The Vandals, origi- 
 nally living near the Baltic, after various wanderings, crossed the 
 Rhine (406) near Mainz (Mayence) and found their way to 
 Spain (409). Some years later (429) they crossed into Africa^ 
 under the leadership of Gaiseric (or Genseric). Northern Africa, 
 known as the " granary of Rome," offered an easy prey to these 
 rapacious invaders, and by the capture of the flourishing city of 
 Carthage (439) Gaiseric gained complete control. Africa was 
 lost to the Western Empire, and Roman civilization, to a great 
 extent, destroyed. Rome and Italy suffered much from the loss 
 of supplies. North Africa had been a stronghold of orthodox 
 
 1 Some authorities say they were invited by the Roman governor Boniface. 
 
578 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 Christianity, the home of Augustine ^ and other Church Fathers. 
 The Vandals, though Christian in name, were Arians and hostile 
 to the orthodox faith, so all the bishops and clergy of North 
 Africa that were able fled to Europe and greatly influenced 
 European thought and practice. The Vandals became seafaring 
 men and seized the islands of the western Mediterranean. After 
 the death of Attila, Gaiseric thought it opportune to attack Rome. 
 This he did in 455. Not a blow was struck in defense, and for a 
 fortnight the city was sacked, and hundreds of citizens were carried 
 into slavery. Gaiseric died in 477. In time the Vandals became 
 more civilized and adopted the orthodox faith. Their dominion 
 lasted about eighty years, when their power was overthrown by 
 Behsarius (534), a great general of the Eastern Empire. 
 
 10. Europe during the Sixth Century. — The sixth century was 
 on the Continent, as it was in England, a time of flux. Peoples 
 were moving to and fro, petty kingdoms were set up and pulled 
 down, all Europe was striving to accommodate itself to the changing 
 conditions. It was needful, if there was to be peace and progress, 
 that the newcomers and the old inhabitants should be fused into 
 one people, and that in some way Roman and Teutonic laws and 
 customs should be adjusted. The Teutonic law, which was un- 
 written, was based on the rights of the individual ; the Roman law 
 was founded on duty to the state or community. Roman law, 
 moreover, had been carefully codified and was a mass of rules 
 applicable to a highly civihzed community. The process of ad- 
 justment was long, and centuries were needed to complete it ; but 
 in the end Roman law was the conqueror on the continent, while 
 in Great Britain Teutonic law prevailed.^ 
 
 11. Odoacer (476-493); Theodoric. — In no country were 
 conditions worse than in Italy. After Odoacer had compelled 
 Romulus Augustulus to abdicate (§ 6) in 476, he sent the insignia 
 of office to the Eastern Emperor, asking that he might rule at 
 Rome as his representative. Odoacer ruled nearly all Italy and 
 
 1 St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, died (431) during the siege of that city by 
 Gaiseric. 
 
 2 This did not take place until late in the Middle Ages. Roman law was, how- 
 ever, considerably modified, as was Teutonic law in England. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 57 g 
 
 ruled it well. But he ruled by force and depended upon merce- 
 nary troops; he had no real support from the people of Italy. 
 
 The Ostrogoths, who held the lands south of the Danube, alter- 
 nately threatened and aided the Eastern Empire. Under their 
 able king, Theodoric, they were a strong power. Theodoric, from 
 a residence in Constantinople, was familiar with conditions in the 
 empire and well fitted to lead an invasion. The Ostrogoths were 
 warlike, but as Constantinople was almost impregnable to such 
 warriors, it was natural that their attention should be attracted to 
 Italy. It was easy to pick a quarrel. Then Theodoric led his 
 armies westward against Odoacer, who held out bravely for four 
 years. He was forced to surrender at Ravenna (495), and a few 
 days later was treacherously slain. 
 
 12. Theodoric. 493-526. — Theodoric set up a new kingdom 
 with Ravenna for its capital. He was an admirer of Roman cus- 
 toms. The buildings erected by him at Ravenna still stand to tes- 
 tify to his love of architecture and civilized life, while the works 
 of Boethius, Cassiodorus, and Symmachus show his love of learn- 
 ing and encouragement of Hterature. 
 
 Theodoric had a clear conception of what a great ruler ought to 
 be. He was poHtic and generally far-sighted. His wife was the 
 sister of Clovis, king of the Franks, one of his daughters was wife 
 of the king of the Burgundians, another of the king of the Visi- 
 goths. A sister was wife of the king of the Vandals. It is said 
 that, except in Britain, there was no place within the whole of the 
 Western Empire where his influence was not felt. He was, how- 
 ever, on occasion, suspicious, cruel, and vindictive. He is said to 
 have slain Odoacer with his own hand, cast Pope John into prison 
 where he died, and, near the close of his reign, had Boethius, the 
 philosopher, and. Symmachus put to death. 
 
 He was nominally subject to the Eastern Emperor, but was 
 really independent, and his well-organized kingdom included Italy, 
 Sicily, and the lands north and east of the upper Adriatic. He 
 made little or no change in the administration of Italy, and though 
 he and his people were Arians, he was tolerant, and is reported to 
 have said, " No man's conscience should be forced contrary to his 
 judgment." He died in 526. 
 
58o. 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 13. Justinian; Belisarius. — Justinian, one of the few great 
 Eastern Emperors (527-565), tried to bring back Italy and Africa 
 to the empire. His success in Africa through Belisarius (534) 
 has already been mentioned. But though the same able general 
 was sent to Italy (535) it was not for a number of years that the 
 imperial armies, then under Narses, were successful (553). So 
 complete was the defeat that the Goths were compelled to leave 
 Italy and, losing e\en their name, disappeared from history. 
 
 14. The Franks; Clovis. 481-5 ti. — Of all the barbarian 
 tribes the one on whom our attention is centered for several cen- 
 turies is that of the Franks. Late in the fifth century (481) undet 
 Clovis,^ they became a great power. They never cut themselves 
 aloof from their former surroundings, as did the other tribes, but 
 moved forward gradually, always able to bring up reserves. In 
 this way they held the territory they gained and kept increasing 
 their possessions. They turned their arms against their fellow 
 Teutonic tribes and overcame first one and then another. 
 Clovis and his people were heathen, but he married an orthodox 
 Christian princess, and in time adopted Christianity. Thus he be- 
 came a champion of the orthodox faith in Gaul against the Goths 
 and other Teutonic natives who were Arians. The successes of 
 Clovis were of great importance. They meant that the Franks 
 were to rule Gaul, later to be called, after them, France, and that 
 the Catholic faith, not Arianism, was to be the religion of the land. 
 More than this, it meant that the Bishop of Rome, now known as 
 the Pope, had gained a strong ally, and that there would be an 
 alliance between the Frankish kingdom and the Popes which would 
 greatly influence all European history. The dominions of Clovis 
 comprised nearly all modern France, Belgium, and lands north and 
 south of the Rhine. 
 
 15. Merovingians; Mayors of the Palace. 511-687. — At the 
 death of Clovis, according to Teutonic custom, his kingdom was 
 divided among his four sons. For the next hundred years the 
 Frankish kingdoms were the scene of confusion, havoc, and cruel 
 murders, but there was, nevertheless, growth and development. 
 
 1 He is known also as Chlodwig, which later became Ludwig, and in French 
 Louis. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 58 1 
 
 The height of the sway of the Merovingians/ as the descendants 
 ofClovis were called, was under Dagobert (628-638). Even 
 before him the nobles had begun to acquire great power. The 
 chieftains became great proprietors, and their followers lost more 
 and more of their privileges and became soldiers or peasants. 
 Great lords warred against other lords, the weaker losing and the 
 more powerful gaining. It was important for the king that these 
 nobles should be friendly, for their support was essential to him. 
 Therefore privileges and authority were bestowed upon them. 
 Those nearest the king's person were most favored — among 
 them none more so than the major-domus, or " mayor of the pal- 
 ace," who was the chief official of the king's household. This 
 office became hereditary, and in time the " mayor of the palace " 
 had more power than the king, and for about sixty years the 
 Merovingian kings reigned, but did not rule. 
 
 16. Pippin (687-714); Charles Martel (714-741); Battle 
 of Tours. 732. — Among the great families one had " by alliances, 
 by wealth, by prowess, by military skill, and by policy gradually 
 attained a power with which no other family, chief, or combina- 
 tion of chiefs could any longer contend." This was the family of 
 Pippin of Heristal (d. 714). His son, Charles Martel (the Ham- 
 mer), " mayor of the palace," not only put down domestic anarchy, 
 but at the battle of Tours, near Poitiers in central France (732), 
 drove back the hitherto irresistible Moorish foe (§ 21). At the 
 request of the Pope he interfered in Italian affairs, and from this 
 time the Franks and their successors were looked upon as the 
 protectors of the Papacy, and, with little exception, acted as such 
 down to the latter part of the nineteenth century. Charles Mar- 
 tel, king except in name, died 741. 
 
 17. Pippin the Short (752-768). — Pippin the Short, the son 
 and able successor of Charles Martel, resolved to be king in name 
 as well as in fact. He appealed to the Pope, Zacharias, asking 
 him whether it was a good thing for the one to be king who did 
 not have the power. The Pope replied, " It seems better that he 
 who has the power in the state should be and be called king rather 
 
 iThe name is possibly derived from Meroveus or Merwig (448-458), grand- 
 father of Clovis. 
 
582 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 than he who is falsely called king." Whereupon Pippin de- 
 throned the Merovingian Childeric III and called himself king. 
 This was the beginning of the Carlovingian dynasty.^ It should 
 be noted, however, that the Pope did not make Pippin king, but 
 only sanctioned the adoption of the title. 
 
 18. Langobards ; Pippin's Gift to the Pope. 756. — Among the 
 rudest of the Teutonic tribes was that of the Langobards, later 
 softened into Lombards. These took possession (568) of the 
 plains north of the river Po, ever since called Lombardy, and later 
 extended their boundary southward, and in 751 captured Ravenna 
 and threatened Rome. As the Lombards were Arians the outlook 
 for the Catholic Pope was serious in every way. He vainly ap- 
 pealed for aid to the Eastern Emperor, and then turned to Pippin, 
 the Frank. This he did personally, visiting Gaul for the purpose. 
 He was successful in his mission, and Pippin entered Italy with an 
 army and reheved Rome. But as soon as Pippin returned to Gaul, 
 Aistulf, the Lombard king, again besieged Rome. Again Pope 
 Stephen appealed to Pippin, who entered Italy a second time. 
 Pippin made thorough work. Aistulf was forced to give up all 
 the territory he had wrested from the empire, and then, instead 
 of keeping it himself. Pippin turned the territory over to the Pope 
 (756), who governed the country as the Empire had done.^ 
 Possibly this was the beginning of the temporal power of the 
 church, which, though greatly restricted in later times, lasted until 
 1870, when Napoleon III withdrew the French troops from Rome, 
 and Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy, took possession.^ 
 
 19. Mohammedanism. 622. — Since the eighth century one of 
 the great religious and political forces in the world has been that 
 of Mohammedanism, or, as it is sometimes called, Islam.'* Moham- 
 med (or Mahommed, or Mahomet), the founder, was born in 
 Arabia about 571. Until he was forty he lived an obscure hfe, 
 
 1 So called from Pippin's son, Charles the Great, or Charlemagne. 
 
 2 The Papacy already held much land in Italy, acquired mainly by gifts or be- 
 quest, but it was as owner, not as political ruler. 
 
 3 The document known as " Donation of Constantine " (324) conferred upon 
 the Pope the city of Rome, land and power. It was used as a basis for extensive 
 claims. 
 
 4 The word is also written Mahommedanism and Muhammedanism. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 583 
 
 but then (610 or 611), according to the legend, he had a vision 
 which turned him into a prophet and the founder of a new rehgion. 
 Beginning to teach his doctrines, he aroused great opposition, 
 and fled for safety from Mecca, his place of residence, to Medina 
 (622).^ The inhabitants of Medina were enemies of those of 
 Mecca and took up the cause of Mohammed. In the guerilla 
 warfare which followed the Meccans were defeated. Gradually 
 the influence and power of Mohammed increased until all Arabia 
 accepted the new faith. 
 
 20. Character of Mohammedanism; Its Conquests. 571-718. 
 — Mohammed claimed no miraculous power, and regarded him- 
 self only as an inspired prophet and reformer. Judaism and 
 Christianity, he said, are perverted forms of the true religion 
 which he proclaimed, whose watchword is, "There is but one 
 God, and Mohammed is his prophet." ^ 
 
 The religion founded by him is called Islam, that is, resignation, 
 and its followers Mussulmans.^ To spread the religion by force 
 was regarded as commendable. " War against the infidels," said 
 the prophet, " is a sacred war ; God is with the combatants, and 
 those who fall in battle will pass straight to Paradise." This doc- 
 trine was faithfully believed by Mohammed's followers and suc- 
 cessors. The armies were fanatical in their faith and devotion. 
 They offered their enemies the choice between the Koran — that 
 is, acceptance of the religion ; tribute ; or the sword. The third 
 of these meant death ; the second, heavy tribute and harsh treat- 
 ment ; the first, admission to equality with the faithful. For years 
 these fanatical armies carried everything before them. By 718 
 the new religion extended from the Indus to the Adantic, and its 
 votaries held Syria, Palestine, the old Persian Empire, Armenia, 
 Turkestan, part of India, Egypt, northern Africa, and Spain. The 
 greater part of the conquered peoples embraced Islam, and re- 
 
 1 The year, 622, of this flight, known as the Hegira, is the beginning of the Mo- 
 hammedan era. The Christian year 1912 nearly corresponds to the Mohammedan 
 year 1330. The difference in reckoning is owing to the fact that the Mohamme- 
 dan year is based on lunar time, while the Christian is based on sidereal time. 
 2 Often given as, " There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet." 
 « Many of the real or supposed sayings of Mohammed were written down, and 
 the collection is known as the Koran. 
 
S84 
 
 APPENDIX 1 
 
 tained it even when the poHtical power fell into other hands. 
 With perhaps the single exception of Spain the followers of Mo- 
 hammed 'lost little territory, and the religion claims to-day about 
 200,000,000 followers.^ That Islam is well adapted to the Ori- 
 ental mind is shown by its rapid growth, and by its hold upon the 
 world. 
 
 21. The Moors in Spain. 711-732. — The Saracens, or Moors, 
 entered Spain in 711, completely subdued the Visigothic king 
 known as "Roderick, the last of the Goths," and in seven years 
 (718) had gained all Spain and were making raids into Gaul. It 
 was not, however, until 731 that, under a skillful general, Abder- 
 rahman, the Moors were able to enter Gaul with a large army. 
 As has been seen (§16) this army was routed at Poitiers (or 
 Tours) in 732, and the Moorish leader slain. Whether the danger 
 to Europe was quite so great as is often claimed is doubtful. 
 It is hardly likely that the Moors would have advanced beyond 
 Gaul, and it is probable that the Teutons would have united 
 against the common foe as in the case of Attila the Hun (451). 
 Besides this, Islam was not attractive to Teutonic minds. 
 
 22. Culture and Achievements of the Saracens. — For a hun- 
 dred years or more the Mohammedans were unlettered and un- 
 progressive, but in the ninth century, under the dynasty of the 
 Abassides, a great change took place. The literature of the 
 Greeks, Egyptians, and Eastern nations was sought for and studied, 
 and the Saracens became the most learned people of their day. 
 This was particularly true of the sciences. Mathematics, astronomy, 
 and chemistry were pursued with great success. Indeed "alge- 
 bra" and "chemistry" are Arabic words, and the" Saracens are 
 really the founders of the latter science. Through them we get 
 our Arabic numerals which have been of such inestimable value. 
 They were great botanists, the best physicians and surgeons of the 
 time, the best farmers, the best architects, the best artisans, the 
 best sailors, the clearest thinkers. The height of their intellectual 
 progress was reached in Spain during the tenth century. Cordova 
 was the center of learning. Its university is said to have had 
 thousands of students, and among them were many Christians. 
 
 1 The number of Christians is estimated at 494,000,000. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE rg^ 
 
 The Moors in Spain excelled in architecture, as the cathedral at 
 Cordova, once a mosque, and the wonderfully beautiful ruins of 
 the Alhambra in Grenada bear testimony. From these Saracens 
 also come many of the Eastern influences, which are often wholly 
 ascribed to the Crusades. 
 
 23. The Prankish Empire; Charles the Great. 768-814.— 
 Pippin (§ 17) died in 768, and was succeeded .by his two sons, 
 Charles and Carloman ; the latter died in 771, and Charles be- 
 came sole ruler. Charles, born about 742, is one of the greatest 
 men in history, and despite his faults well deserves the name of 
 Great.^ He was over six feet in height, of dignified presence, 
 rather stout in person, but well proportioned, his eyes were large 
 and lively, his expression bright and cheerful. He was temperate 
 in his food and drink, especially in the latter, and it is said he 
 hated drunkenness. Except on great occasions he dressed 
 simply, always following the Prankish fashion, and differing little 
 from the common dress of the people. He was skilled in reading 
 aloud and in singing to the harp. He was fond of literature, of 
 the Hberal arts and the science of the day, and of architecture. 
 Though we know that he could sign his name, it is not likely that 
 he ever learned to write with any ease. He was familiar with 
 Latin, and understood, if he did not speak, Greek. He was a 
 great churchgoer. As a general and as a statesman he ranks as 
 one of the foremost in history. His personal morality and that 
 of his court was low. At the same time he must be judged by 
 the standards of the day. Like other Teutonic monarchs, he was 
 occasionally cruel and even inhuman.^ 
 
 24. Conquests of Charles. — Some of the more important fea- 
 tures of Charles's reign may be grouped under four heads: (i) 
 His conquests. These comprised the Lombard kingdom in Italy, 
 Saxony, Aquitaine, Bavaria, Bohemia, the Slavic lands along the 
 Elbe and Drave, and portions of northern Spain. Thus he united 
 the whole of central and a large part of western Europe under one 
 rule — an empire unequaled since Roman days. 
 
 1 By his Teutonic subjects he was called Karl ; by his Latin ones, Carolus ; and 
 by the French he is known as Charlemagne, a name which is still often used. 
 '^ At Verden (782) he ordered 4500 prisoners of war to be beheaded. 
 
586 APPENDIX I 
 
 25. Relations of Charles with the Church. — (2) Charles re- 
 garded the church as an inherent part of his empire. He saw to 
 it that the Frankish church was carefully organized, and considered 
 himself as the head of it. He presided at church councils, and 
 kept constant oversight of the bishops. He believed it to be 
 part of his religious duty to conquer the heathen and convert 
 them to Christianity.^ 
 
 26. Organization of Charles's Empire. — (3) Charles divided 
 his empire into districts or counties, over each of which he placed 
 an administrative officer known as a count. The counts repre- 
 sented the emperor and presided at all assemblies of the people. 
 Along the borders of his empire he established " marches " or 
 " marks," over which he placed counts of the marks, or Margraves. 
 These officers had intrusted to them great powers ; they com- 
 manded armies and could act almost independently. Their 
 special duties were to repel invasions.^ 
 
 In order to keep himself informed of what was going on, as well 
 as to exercise supervision over the counts, and to correct abuses, 
 he created officers known as missi dominici (the lord's messengers). 
 They usually went in pairs, a bishop and a count, and they were 
 expected to bring back full reports of the state of the empire. 
 Charles traveled frequently and acquainted himself personally 
 with the condition of affairs. He issued directions or instructions, 
 called capitularies, which related to his estates, to matters of 
 public interest, and to the church. There does not seem to 
 have been any regular system of taxation, and the personal re- 
 sources of Charles came from large estates which were carefully 
 managed. 
 
 27. Education, Literature, and the Arts under Charles. — (4) 
 Charles was a lover of literature ; he sought out learned men and 
 invited them to his court. Among these were Alcuin from York, 
 and Paul the Deacon (Paulus Diaconus). He found that even 
 bishops wrote incorrectly, and determined to have schools estab- 
 lished at every monastery, not only for the monks, but for the 
 
 1 Among the heathen tribes that he conquered were those of Saxony. 
 
 2 William the Conqueror under similar conditions pursued a similar policy 
 (History, § 46). 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE rgy 
 
 youth of the vicinity. He did not, however, encourage the study 
 of Teutonic languages, and it is largely due to him that for about 
 five hundred years Latin was the literary language of Europe. 
 This result was a natural one, because the teachers of religion were 
 of the Latin church, whose services were in that language. They 
 were the learned men, and they themselves having been educated 
 in that tongue, Latin literature was their standard of excellence.^ 
 
 Charles was fond of architecture and had many buildings erected. 
 The most famous of these is the cathedral at Aachen (Aix-la- 
 Chapelle), which he is said to have planned himself and in which 
 he was buried. 
 
 28. Coronation of Charles. 800. — The event which stands out 
 above all others in the history of this great man was his coronation 
 as Emperor at Rome on Christmas Day, 800,^ by Pope Leo III. 
 
 It has been said that " the coronation of Charles is not only 
 the central event of the Middle Ages, it is also one of the very few 
 events of which, taking them singly, it may be said if they had not 
 happened, the history of the world would have been different." ^ 
 There is every reason to believe that if the Roman Empire had 
 not been restored just then, it would not have been restored at all. 
 There can be little doubt that Charles had some such end in view, 
 but, according to best authorities, he had not expected it to come 
 about just when and as it did. 
 
 The occasion of Charles's visit to Rome was the ill treatment 
 of the newly chosen Pope by Roman factions. Like his predeces- 
 sor, Stephen, who appealed to Pippin with so much success, Leo 
 personally appealed to Charles (799). The king was too busy to 
 go to Rome then, but went in the following year, and acquitted 
 Leo of charges against him. Two days later, Christmas Day, as 
 Charles was attending service in St. Peter's,^ while kneeling, the 
 Pope placed upon his head a golden crown, anointed him with oil, 
 
 1 There can be little doubt that to this movement, set on foot by Charles, we owe 
 the preservation of many of the classics of antiquity, the manuscript copies of which 
 might otherwise have perished. 
 
 2 It wa3 the custom then to begin the year on Christmas Day, hence the date of 
 the coronation is sometimes given as 8oi. 
 
 3 Bryce, " Holy Roman Empire, " chap, v, p. 50, ed. 1904. 
 
 4 The old basilica of that name. 
 
588 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 and gave him the kiss of peace, while the people cried out, " Long 
 life and victory to the mighty Charles, the great and pacific Em- 
 peror of the Romans, crowned of God." 
 
 29. Meaning of the Coronation ; " The Holy Roman Empire." — 
 Exactly what this act meant has been much discussed. It is, 
 however, clear that the Pope had no legal right to crown ; that 
 Charles had not claimed the crown by right of conquest ; neither 
 was he the nominee of the people of RomCo The most that can 
 be said, is, that Charles was so eminently the man, that the Pope 
 gave expression to what was indicated by circumstances and ap- 
 proved by the popular mind. It was, in fact, an insurrection 
 against the Eastern Empire, which was, nominally, the Roman 
 Empire. Henceforth the Roman Empire was transferred to the 
 West and Charles was its emperor. But the act meant more 
 than the separation of the West from the East. It meant a close 
 union of church and state ; it was the beginning of that idea 
 which, though not developed until later, so deeply affected the whole 
 life of medieval Europe : the idea that the state should be at once 
 political and ecclesiastical — that the " Holy Roman Church and 
 the Holy Roman Empire are one and the same thing, in two as- 
 pects." On the spiritual side its head was the Pope, on the human 
 and political, the Emperor. Charles, however, made little difference 
 in his administration. He still named the bishops and abbots, 
 he did not hesitate to speak strongly to the Pope, and unhesitatingly 
 took the place of the protector and overseer of the church. 
 
 30. Relations of Charles with England. — With England the 
 relations of Charles were close. He asked for one of his sons the 
 hand of Offa's daughter in marriage (790?) ; he sent gifts to the 
 bishoprics of Mercia and Northumberland, and wrote letters to 
 Offa (795); and it was the EngHshman Alcuin who was at the 
 head of his literary and educational plans. Charles maintained re- 
 lations with the whole English church, and English exiles found his 
 court a safe refuge. Egbert of Wessex in his youth probably saw 
 the coronation at Rome, and from Charles doubtless learned some- 
 thing of that statesmanship which afterwards served him so well. 
 
 31. Charles's Reign an Epoch. — With the reign of Charles a new 
 epoch began. The age of barbarism and of brute force had ended. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE egg 
 
 Rude and rough as the following, ages were, there was a vast 
 difference between them and the period of the inroads of the 
 barbarians. It was the beginning of Medieval Times or the Middle 
 Ages. Charles died in 814 and was succeeded by his son Louis 
 the Pious, also known as Le Debonnaire. 
 
 32. Disintegration of Charles's Empire. Louis the Pious and 
 his Successors. 814-888. — Charles had left his empire in good 
 order, and for some years the strength of the organizadon and of 
 custom held it together; but the forces of disruption were too 
 strong for his successors to cope with. Charles, however, had given 
 an ideal after which to strive. 
 
 Among other disintegrating forces two may be mentioned here : 
 i) the Teutonic custom of dividing an inheritance among the 
 sons of a ruler, not unfrequently begun during the lifetime of the 
 father ; (2) the growth and development of different languages. 
 
 Louis the Pious soon after his succession (817) associated three 
 of his sons with him in the government, giving them more or less 
 authority; and at his death (840) the three surviving sons con- 
 tinued the strife for mastery which had begun before their father's 
 death.^ This strife was brought to a close by the Treaty of Verdun 
 (843). By the terms of this treaty Lothaire, the eldest, received 
 the territory stretching from modern Belgium to Rome, with the 
 title of Emperor ; Louis the German (or Ludwig) received Bavaria 
 and part of what is now known as Germany ; while Charles the 
 Bald, the youngest son, received what is nearly modern France. 
 This is the first official recognition of the fact that Europe was 
 being divided into nations speaking different languages. It was 
 the beginning of France and Germany. In the kingdom of 
 Charles the Bald the language spoken was already called Lingua 
 Romafia, the Roman tongue, a language founded on the old Latin 
 spoken in Gaul ; while the language spoken in the dominions of 
 Louis was called Lingua Teudesca, or German tongue.^ The do- 
 
 1 Even Charles the Great had divided his empire among his three sons (806), 
 but the death of two of them before their father left Louis an undivided inheritance. 
 
 2 This fact is shown by what is known as the Oaths of Strassburg (842). These 
 were taken by Charles and Louis, pledging themselves to support each other as 
 against Lothaire. Each king took the oath before his army, using the language the 
 respective armies could understand. The text of these oaths has come down to us, 
 
590 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 minion of Lothaire, composed of many nationalities, was broken 
 up by mountains, and had neither geographical, nor racial, nor 
 lingual reasons for its existence, and was, almost from the first, the 
 scene of many conflicts.^ 
 
 33. Europe during the Ninth Century ; Rise of National Feel- 
 ing. — The history of Europe for the next century is one of 
 intrigue and unstable governments. New kingdoms were set up, 
 some to exist only a short time. What took place in Great 
 Britain happened also on the Continent on a larger scale. 
 
 The underlying cause of the disintegration of the empire of 
 Charles was the rise and development of new nationalities, shaped 
 and modified largely by local conditions. In Gaul and in Italy 
 the Teutons had become amalgamated with the old inhabitants 
 and lost their original characteristics. They could no longer 
 understand the speech of their forefathers. The inhabitants of 
 the German lands, into which Roman life and civilization had 
 never penetrated, inevitably tended to form nationalities Teutonic 
 in race and language. Furthermore, the Teutonic idea that a king- 
 dom was a private possession to be divided among the sons, led 
 to great subdivision. Besides these a social and political insti- 
 tution, known as feudahsm, at once an effect and cause of the con- 
 dition of affairs, exercised a powerful influence. 
 
 34. Rise of Feudalism. — The origin of feudalism is obscure 
 and was due to many causes, chiefly the military and economic 
 conditions which surrounded the Teutonic peoples of western 
 Europe. Its development was gradual, differing in different 
 countries, and at different periods. In Gaul or France, the 
 Christian portion of Spain, Italy, and Germany, it appeared 
 during the latter part of the eighth century. In England, though 
 it already existed in some of its features, it was introduced in a 
 developed form by William the Conqueror. In the other Euro- 
 pean countries and in the Christian states of the East it appeared 
 still later. It was most fully developed in France. It was at 
 its height in the thirteenth century, and then its influence began 
 
 1 It may be noted that Louis was called King of the Germans, Charles, King of 
 the Franks, but the middle kingdom had to be called the Kingdom of Lothaire. 
 The title of Emperor carried with it no power. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE cgi 
 
 slowly to lessen as new conditions came into being. It cannot 
 be said, however, that its influence has ever wholly disappeared. 
 
 35. Elements of Feudalism. — At its height there were three 
 definite elements apparent: (i) The personal, or the personal 
 relation between lord and vassal.^ (2) The territorial, or where 
 land was granted by a lord to a vassal on certain conditions, 
 which varied greatly, the actual title to the fief remaining in the 
 lord. The typical fief was land, but privileges of many kinds, of- 
 fices, etc. , also constituted fiefs. At first the relation was not neces- 
 sarily an hereditary one, but in time it became so almost univer- 
 sally.2 (^^^ -pi^g governmental, where political jurisdiction was 
 granted by a lord to a vassal. 
 
 36. Effects of Feudalism. — It is easy to see that all holders of 
 land or of power would be influenced by feudahsm. Churches, 
 monasteries, abbeys, bishops, abbots, and even cities would be 
 sometimes lords and sometimes vassals. Thus feudalism affected 
 every relation of life. The most obvious effect was the creation 
 of petty domains, more or less independent. Every owner of 
 land was a petty sovereign, every domain was a petty state. In 
 such a condition of affairs a king would be often unable to per- 
 form the duties belonging to his office, and the protection, which 
 could not be obtained from king or emperor, would be sought for 
 from those who were able to give it. The result was the impossi- 
 bihty of a strong national government, hence national disorder 
 and petty warfare. 
 
 Feudalism pressed most hardly on the poor, for litde right was 
 recognized by the upper classes but that of might. The sword 
 was the arbiter, and society was perhaps generally in a state of 
 
 1 " The vassal promised his lord fidelity, aid, and counsel. Fidelity, that is not 
 to injure him, nor fight against him, not to attack his wife or children. Aid, that is 
 to aid him by fighting for him or by lending him his fortified house, or even by 
 lending him money, and by money payments under certain conditions. Counsel, 
 that is to come to him for the purpose of giving him counsel and especially to aid 
 him in pronouncing judgment." The vassal also gave homage, that is, an oath 
 binding him to the lord for life — in other words becoming his man. The lord on 
 his part promised protection to the vassal. 
 
 2 Some curious illustrations of hereditary rights and privileges were shown at 
 the coronation of Edward VII (1902), and of George V (1911). In the case of 
 land, if tliere were no legitimate heirs, it reverted to the lord or to the king. 
 
592 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 war. That this was so is shown by the estabHshment (1041), by 
 the church, of the "Truce of God," which forbade private war 
 from Wednesday evening till Monday morning, and upon certain 
 specific holy days and seasons.^ Though the truce was often vio- 
 lated, there can be no doubt that the effect was good. 
 
 Wherever feudalism prevailed it was modified to suit existing 
 conditions. It was helpful in that, besides affording some kind 
 of order in an unruly age, it fostered the spirit of personal inde- 
 pendence, and it tended to increase home Hfe, improve the con- 
 dition of woman, and bring about a closer relation between the 
 lord and his vassals.^ 
 
 37. The Northmen in Europe. 700-1000. — The invasion of 
 England by the Danes (History, §§ 19-21) was part of a great 
 movement which, beginning in the eighth century, extended far 
 and wide. The early inhabitants of Sweden, Norway, and Den- 
 mark belonged to the Teutonic race and were heathen. They 
 are known as Scandinavians, Norsemen, or Northmen.^ Exactly 
 what was the reason for the migrations is not certainly known, but 
 it was probably due to several causes, among them love of adven- 
 ture, overpopulation, dissatisfaction with home conditions, rise of 
 great rulers who put down private warfare, and possibly the pres- 
 sure from behind and fear of the Huns. 
 
 38. Expeditions of the Northmen. — Late in the eighth cen- 
 tury, or early in the ninth, the Northmen began the conquest of 
 the Orkneys, Shedands, and Hebrides ; about 874 they settled 
 Iceland, and a century later Greenland was colonized ; and about 
 the first of the eleventh century they visited North America, 
 which they called Vinland, but it is not known whether they made 
 any settlements there. 
 
 1 The existence of such an arrangement shows the necessity for it. The num- 
 ber of days in a year upon which private war was admissible was finally reduced to 
 eighty. The penalty of violation was excommunication. 
 
 2 The lord lived on an estate, his castle was his headquarters and place of resi- 
 dence. Thus he was thrown into close and continued contact with his family and 
 retainers, as neighbors were few and distant. In his absence, his wife was the 
 head, and the possession of authority gave her position. 
 
 3 As the invaders of England appear to have come chieily from Denmark, they 
 are called Danes. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE ^03 
 
 Meantime, Northmen from what is now Sweden were crossing 
 the Baltic and pushing eastward. By 862, Ruric, one of their 
 great chiefs who had gained posssession of Kiev and Novgorod, 
 set up a kingdom which was to develop into the Empire of 
 Russia.^ From Russia traders made their way to Constantinople ; 
 and later, attracted by the wealth of the country, armed bands 
 penetrated even to the walls of Constantinople. About the year 
 1000 Vladimir, the Grand Prince of Russia, married a sister of 
 the Eastern Emperor and became a Christian. Thus the Eastern 
 or Greek church, became the church of Russia, and in later times 
 the emperor became the head of the Greek church of Russia. 
 
 39. Northmen in France (814-987) ; The Normans. — During 
 the confusion following the death of Charles the Great there was 
 scarcely a harbor or river mouth from the Elbe round to the 
 Garonne that had not been the scene of incursions by the north- 
 ern vikings. Like those who attacked England, they came, not 
 only to plunder, but to settle. With a single exception their 
 settlements were small ; and receiving no reenforcements from 
 outside, the settlers at length became merged into the surrounding 
 population and their identity and language were lost. 
 
 The exception was in northern Gaul or France. The invaders 
 in large numbers entered the mouth of the Seine, and after fifty 
 years or more of warfare were strong enough to make serious raids 
 into the surrounding territory. In 876 RoUo (or Rolf), the 
 Northman, landed in France. He was an extraordinarily able 
 man, and for thirty-six years, it was said, he ravaged northern 
 France. In 8SS he besieged Paris, but the city was successfully 
 defended for about a year by Odo (or Eudes), Count of Paris. 
 The power of the Northmen became so great that Charles the 
 Simple finally bought Rollo off" by granting him territory which he 
 already held. He also gave him his daughter in marriage, and 
 Rollo ultimately became a Christian.^ Rollo's successors increased 
 the territory and thus was founded Normandy. The Northmen 
 
 1 In 1862 Russia celebrated the millennial of her foundation. 
 
 2 There is so much of legend connected with Rollo's history, that it is impossible 
 to separate the truth. Indeed it is by no means certain that there was not more 
 than one Rollo. 
 
594 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 speedily adapted themselves to their new conditions, dropped 
 most of their old customs, adopted the language of the country, 
 somewhat modifying it, and so forming Norman-French, they 
 themselves becoming Normans (History, § 21.) 
 
 The influence of the Normans in France was great. During 
 the long struggle between the Carolings (descendants of Charles) 
 and the Dukes of Paris, the Northmen at first gave allegiance to 
 the Teutonic Carolings, but when they became Norman-French 
 they naturally turned to the French Dukes of Paris. So it came 
 about that the powerful Dukes of Normandy supported the Dukes 
 of Paris, and as a result Hugh Capet became king of France 
 (987), and his descendants sat on the French throne for eight 
 hundred years. 
 
 40. Normans in England, 1066; In Italy. 1029-1135. — 
 Normandy was well established and prosperous by the eleventh 
 century, and became itself a starting point for expeditions, of 
 which the most conspicuous was that led by Duke William to 
 England (1066). Earlier than this, Normans from France settled 
 in southern Italy, in time gained Sicily from the Saracens, who 
 had made it one of their conquests, and early in the twelfth cen- 
 tury set up the Norman kingdom of Naples, and by 1135 they 
 controlled Sicily and all Italy south of Rome. 
 
 41. Teutonic Empire ; Germany. 897-1125. — The CaroHngian 
 line came to an end in 911. By this time, owing partly to the 
 weakness of the emperors ; partly to the attacks of the Northmen 
 on the north and west, and the Slavs and Hungarians or Magyars 
 on the east ; partly to the Teutonic love of independence — strong 
 dukes had arisen, kings all but in name.^ In the choice of a king 
 recourse was now had to election, and the German nobles chose 
 Conrad of Franconia (91 1-9 18). He had litde power, and his 
 troubled reign was followed by that of Henry of Saxony, known 
 as Henry the Fowler, who was chosen by the nobles (919). 
 
 42. Henry the Fowler; 919-936. — Henry was one of the 
 great men of the Middle Ages. He followed as far as he could 
 the policy of Charles the Great and did not attempt the impossible. 
 He successfully repelled the invasions of the Northmen and 
 
 1 The chief of these duchies were Saxony, Franconia, Svvabia, and Bavaria. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 595 
 
 Magyars, and recovered for Germany Lotharingia (Lorraine), 
 which remained German till the eighteenth century. He built 
 cities and fortresses and left a strong kingdom. In that he es- 
 tablished the margravate of Brandenburg, which afterwards de- 
 veloped into the kingdom of Prussia, he may in a sense be called 
 the founder of that kingdom. 
 
 43. Otto the Great. 936-973. — Henry was succeeded by his 
 son. Otto I, the Great. Otto's first wife was Edith, daughter of 
 Edward the Elder of England^ (901-925). Otto acquired by 
 pohcy what he could not acquire by force. He managed to 
 gain control of the great duchies and greatly increased the power 
 of the crown. ^ It was natural that he should wish to restore 
 the empire. The condition of Italy, now in a state of anarchy, 
 was favorable for carrying out such a scheme. He was ap- 
 pealed to by the Pope for aid, and in 962 was crowned by him 
 Emperor at Rome.^ Otto had been crowned at Aachen (936) 
 with the silver crown of Germany; at Pa via (962) with the iron 
 crown of Lombardy ; and now with the golden crown of the 
 Empire. 
 
 The results of this coronation were far-reaching. It brought 
 Italy and Germany, two incongruous elements, together politically, 
 and in consequence the emperors were led into numerous Italian 
 campaigns ; into struggles with the Papacy ; and too often to 
 neglect or undervalue what should have been their chief work — 
 the unification of Germany. The outcome was a divided Ger- 
 many even to our own day. The coronation of Otto, moreover, 
 was the real beginning of the so-called Holy Roman Empire, the 
 ideal of which was "a world monarchy and a world religion," or. 
 
 1 Edward's four daughters married, respectively, Charles the Simple, King of the 
 West Franks; Louis, King of Lower Burgundy; Hugh the Great, Duke of 
 France ; and Otto. Edward's successor, Athelstane (925-940), also had close rela- 
 tions with the continent. 
 
 2 He seized lands where there were no direct heirs, or he claimed that by re- 
 bellion lands were forfeited ; he succeeded by various means in getting the great 
 duchies into the hands of relatives who would support him. 
 
 3 No German had received the title since Arnulf (896). From this time until 
 the end, in 1806, no one but a German did receive it, for Charles V was of German 
 descent. 
 
596 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 that the Pope should be the spiritual head of an empire of which 
 the temporal head was the emperor^ (§ 29). 
 
 44. Conrad II (1024-1039) ; Henry III (1039-1056). Under 
 Conrad II (1024-1039) and Henry III (1039-1056), both 
 able men, the Medieval Empire reached its height. More 
 than others they strengthened their power in Germany. One 
 of Henry's great interests was the reform of the church. 
 Rome, and indeed Italy, was given over to the selfish rule 
 of men and factions. At one time (1046) there were three 
 rival Popes, each claiming to be the true one. Henry caused all 
 these to be deposed, and his own nominee to be chosen, and dur- 
 ing the rest of his reign nominated the Popes himself. 
 
 Henry was succeeded by his son Henry IV, a boy six years old, 
 whose long reign of fifty years (105 6-1 106) was marked by disaster. 
 Henry, by no means a weak man, was the victim of circumstances. 
 At Canossa, North Italy (1077), he suffered a great humiliation in 
 begging forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII, and in 1106 was 
 compelled to abdicate. He was succeeded by his son Henry V 
 (1106-1125), who married Matilda, daughter of Henry I of 
 England. 
 
 45. Frederick Barbarossa (i 15 2-1 190). — Frederick Barbarossa 
 (Red Beard) is a most interesting character. He had a great de- 
 sire to restore the Roman Empire and claimed to have received 
 the crown by divine right. He attempted an impossible task, but 
 his efforts were marked by courage and well-directed, well-sustained 
 plans. He was " the most imposing, the most heroic, and the 
 most brilliant of the long line of German princes who strove to 
 realize the impracticable but glorious political ideal of the Middle 
 Ages." He is one of the great heroes of Germany, and after his 
 death it was said that he was only waiting to reappear and establish 
 a great empire. His contest with the Italian cities, and his death 
 on a crusade are noticed elsewhere. 
 
 46. The Emperors and the Popes ; Growth of the Papal Power. — 
 Owing to the character of the Popes and the condition of Rome 
 and Italy, the emperors had the upper hand. But during the 
 
 1 This name gave rise to Voltaire's famous saying, that the empire was 
 '' neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire." 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE c-gy 
 
 eleventh century strong men occupied th^ papal chair, the power 
 of the church increased, and a long struggle between the empire 
 and the church for the supremacy was the result — a struggle which 
 caused much suffering, misery, and bloodshed. 
 
 The growth of the influence and power of the Bishop of Rome 
 was gradual. It was greatly helped by Rome ceasing to be the 
 poHtical capital, for as a result the Bishop, later to be called 
 Pope,^ became the chief official in the city. Moreover, it was 
 universally believed that the Apostle Peter had been the first 
 Bishop of Rome, and hence had conferred upon that church 
 special distinction. It was not till the fifth century that the Pope, 
 Leo the Great (440-461), took a commanding position. It is true 
 that before his time Rome was recognized as the head of the 
 Western church, but, in what the headship consisted is not easy 
 to define. The Pope had three functions : (i) Bishop of Rome; 
 (2) head of the Western church ; (3) temporal ruler over ter- 
 ritory. It was certain that occasions would arise v/hen these 
 functions would conflict. It is contrary to human experience 
 that one man should possess the qualifications needful for each 
 one of these positions. It takes but a cursory review of history to 
 show that many, if not most, of the difficulties of the church arose 
 from this threefold position of the Pope.- It was, again, from 
 the often honest but mistaken attempt to carry out these functions 
 that many of the deplorable occurrences which mark the history 
 of the medieval church took place. 
 
 Gregory I (590-604) perhaps first set forth what the Papacy 
 might become, and a succession of able pontiffs did much to 
 carry out his ideas. He governed Rome and protected it from 
 the Lombards, and thus began the active temporal power of the 
 Pope. Gregory was greatly interested in extending the bounds 
 
 1 The word Pope is from the Italian papa, father. It was originally applied to 
 all priests, and was not applied especially to the Bishop of Rome until some time in 
 the sixth century, and was not confined to him until the eleventh century, 
 
 2 A deeply religious man is not a character to cope with an unruly and factious 
 population, or with the subtle policy of a trained and unprincipled diplomat. 
 Neither is he one to plan a military campaign, or to face some of the problems of 
 political government. Yet during medieval times in particular Popes were forced 
 to meet such conditions. 
 
598 
 
 APPENDIX 1 
 
 of Christianity, especially by means of missions. To him the 
 conversion of England is largely due (History, § 14). Strong as 
 was the empire at times, it never had any effective power beyond 
 its own limits, but the church from its very nature influenced all 
 nations where Christianity prevailed. The practice of appeahng 
 to Rome for advice or setdement of difficulties, not only religious, 
 but also political, naturally grew up. All this tended to increase 
 the influence of the church. This influence was strengthened 
 by the publication of Pope Nicholas I (858-867) of documents 
 called " Decretals," which ascribed extensive powers to the 
 Pope. These powers were easily extended to a vast number of 
 cases, as the line between temporal and spiritual was not easy to 
 draw. 
 
 47. Rise of Monasticism. — Another institution which exercised 
 a great and far-reaching influence was monasticism (History, 
 § 100). This system, already spoken of in some of its phases, 
 took its rise in the East. The fundamental idea is that seclusion 
 from the world and its temptations is the only way to attain the 
 purest and highest spiritual life. The rough and turbulent condi- 
 tions which followed the advent of the Barbarians intensified the 
 feehng. Within the walls of the monastery or convent alone 
 could the weak, the gentle, the pious, the studious hope to find 
 rest and safety, for even the rude warriors, as a general thing, 
 respected a convent. To establish and to enrich such institutions 
 was believed to be commendable, and monarchs, as well as indi- 
 viduals, bestowed upon them money, land, and privileges. 
 
 48. Rule of St. Benedict. 528. — By the sixth century the 
 number of monks had increased so much in Europe that a system 
 of regulations to govern them was greatly needed. This was fur- 
 nished by St. Benedict, who about 528 drew up a series of rules 
 for the great establishment of Monte Cassino near Naples. This 
 system was so well devised and practical that the "Rule of 
 St. Benedict " rapidly spread and became the prevailing law for 
 monastic communities in Europe. The chief requirements under 
 this system were poverty, chastity, obedience, piety, and labor.^ 
 
 1 Poverty applied only to the individual ; the community could acquire property 
 without restriction, and many monasteries became very wealthy. Labor was an 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 59Q 
 
 49. Benefits of Monasticism. — Europe owes an immense debt 
 to these monks. By copying manuscripts they preserved much 
 classical and ecclesiastical literature, which else would have been 
 lost ; they afforded scholars a place in which to work in safety ; 
 they set a good example of intelligent labor by their personal 
 share in it ; they were hospitable ; they cared for the poor ; they 
 taught the youth of the neighborhood ; in many other ways also 
 they helped to civilize and to soften the rudeness of the age. In 
 later times, partly from the changed conditions of social life, 
 partly from the influence of great acquired wealth, they often fell 
 from their high estate, and no longer exercised the beneficial in- 
 fluence of earlier days.^ 
 
 The monks were naturally supporters of the Papacy, and had it 
 not been for their presence in every Christian country the papal 
 influences would have been very much less strong. In addition 
 to their other duties the monks were great missionaries, and to 
 them the conversion of the Teutonic tribes is due.- 
 
 50. Cluniac Rule. — By the ninth century the Benedictine Rule 
 had lost very much of its force. Often the abbots were worldly 
 men, and the accumulated wealth was largely used for the enjoy- 
 ment of the monks ; instead of working themselves, they employed 
 others ; and the spiritual life was often at a very low ebb. A 
 reform or revival moment began in the latter part of the tenth 
 century at the abbey of Cluny in Burgundy,^ which was founded 
 in 910. From this monastery a wave of reform passed over 
 Europe. Old monasteries were reformed and new ones set up. 
 The Cluniac system differed from the Benedictine in some essential 
 features, one of which was that every Cluniac establishment was 
 part of a great system known as the "Congregation of Cluny." 
 
 essential part of the Benedictine system. Every one was to work according to his 
 mental and physical capacity. As compared with eastern systems, the Benedictine 
 was full of common sense. 
 
 • The Benedictine Rule was carried into England by St. Augustine (597), and 
 among the earliest foundations were Canterbury, St. Albans, Westminster, Glaston- 
 bury, and Jarrow, 
 
 2 The monks were called the " regular " clergy, because they lived according to 
 a rule {regula), to distinguish them from "secular" clergy, who continued to live 
 in the world {sceculum) and took no monastic vows. 
 
 3 About thirty miles southwest of Dijon, Prance. 
 
600 APPENDIX I 
 
 In the eleventh and twelfth centuries other orders were formed, 
 in some respects stricter than the Cluniac. Such were the 
 Carthusians (1084); the Cistercians (1098); and the CarmeUtes 
 (1156). In the thirteenth century arose the Franciscans and 
 Dominicans who are spoken of elsewhere (§§ 70, 71). The Cluniac 
 Rule not only called for a distinct separation of the church from 
 any secular control, but also made the church supreme. 
 
 51. Hildebrand (Gregory VII) (1020 ? -1085). —The church 
 found an extraordinarily able champion of this position in Hilde- 
 brand (i02o?-io85), afterwards Pope Gregory VII. Hilde- 
 brand was the son of a Tuscan peasant and was educated in a 
 Roman monastery. He became the chaplain of Gregory VI ; the 
 advisor of Nicholas II ; and then Pope himself as Gregory VII 
 (1073-1085). Hildebrand, though not the originator of the new 
 doctrines, dared to carry them further than any one else toward 
 their logical conclusion. Having directed the poHcy of the 
 Papacy for years before he came to the throne, he understood the 
 condition of affairs far more clearly than most men, and saw that 
 in order to make the church supreme it must choose its own head 
 — the Pope — independently of Roman emperor or Roman 
 populace. This point was gained under Nicholas II by a decree 
 of the Lateran Council or Synod (1059), ^Y which the choice of a 
 Pope was intrusted to the College of Cardinals.^ 
 
 52. Celibacy of the Clergy. — In order to bind the interests of 
 the clergy more closely to the church, he resolved to enforce the 
 cehbacy of the clergy, so that no family ties might divide their 
 attention. There had been from comparatively early days a 
 strong but by no means universal feeling in the church that it was 
 better that the clergy should be unmarried. At various times 
 efforts had been made to enforce celibacy, but in vain. Not- 
 withstanding great opposition Gregory persisted, and before he 
 died success was practically assured. 
 
 1 Previous to this time the cardinals were the principal clergy of the Roman 
 diocese who, when called upon by the Pope, acted as his advisors. It was a title, 
 not an office. This action of 1059 was only the beginning ; the system was not 
 fully developed for a century. It is a curious fact that Hildebrand himself was 
 chosen Pope (1073), not by the cardinals, but by the Roman populace after the old 
 fashion. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 60 1 
 
 53. The Church and the Civil Power. — Another and more im- 
 portant matter was the effort to gain for the church absolute 
 freedom from the control of the civil government everywhere. 
 Gregory claimed that the Pope, as God's representative upon 
 earth, was the master of emperors, kings, and rulers. To 
 resist the Pope was to resist God.^ The great weapons to 
 enforce this position were excommunication or expulsion from 
 the church, making the excommunicated one an outlaw; and 
 the interdict, by which all religious services in a country ex- 
 cept baptism and extreme unction were suspended. This effort 
 involved the extinction of simony, for there would be no oppor- 
 tunity of buying or selling benefices if the matter of appoint- 
 ment or investiture was taken out of lay hands. 
 
 54. Gregory's Claims ; Investitures. — It was inevitable that 
 these claims of Gregory should precipitate a conflict. Many 
 bishoprics, monasteries, abbeys, and other religious foundations held 
 lands as fiefs under conditions .similar to those of a duke, baron, 
 or ordinary lay feudal lord. The church, indeed, was the largest 
 landholder in Christendom. If Gregory's plan should be carried 
 out, all feudal ties which had hitherto bound ecclesiastical fiefs to 
 temporal lords would be loosed. Besides this, Gregory forbade 
 any cleric to accept any spiritual fief from a layman, and also for- 
 bade, under pain of excommunication, any layman, whatever 
 his rank, from investing a bishop or abbot with his ecclesiastical 
 office. 
 
 This edict (1075) was revolutionary, and could not be accepted 
 by the temporal rulers, for it would mean the downftiU of their 
 civil power. The result everywhere was struggle. It was not 
 until the Concordat of Worms (1122) that a compromise was 
 reached, practically on the same basis as that agreed upon (1106) 
 by Henry I of England and Anselm (History, § 53). But this 
 applied only to Germany.^ The great conflict between the 
 
 1 Gregory claimed homage from William the Conqueror and from the rulers of 
 Bohemia, Hungary. Denmark, Spain, and even Russia. 
 
 2 The agreement between Pope Calixtus II and the Emperor Henry V was that 
 the emperor gave up his claim to invest with the insignia of the spiritual office, and 
 the Pope his claim to invest with the temporal power. This, however, left many 
 questions unsettled. 
 
5o2 APPENDIX I 
 
 church and temporal powers is known as the " Struggle of the 
 Investitures." 
 
 Gregory made a practice of sending legates to the different 
 European courts to represent the papacy, to supervise the clergy, 
 to gain information of the church in various countries, and to ex- 
 ercise an influence in favor of the church in all lands. Thus the 
 Pope was kept in touch with the clerics everywhere. 
 
 55. Reverses of Gregory. — Notwithstanding Gregory's great 
 success, he experienced a bitter reverse at the hands of his old 
 foe, Henry IV, whom he had humiliated at Canossa (§ 44), 
 and had twice excommunicated. Henry set up an antipope, 
 gained Rome after a two years' siege, and Gregory in the end 
 took refuge at Salerno, where he relaxed no effort to regain his 
 position. He died in 1085 and is reported to have said, " I have 
 loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore I die an exile." ^ 
 
 56. The Eastern Empire a Bulwark ; its Culture. — The Eastern 
 Empire, weak as it was, served as a bulwark between Europe and 
 the eastern and northeastern Barbarians. Though it had lost 
 most of its territory and several times had seemed on the point 
 of extinction, it survived, and, now and then, under able em- 
 perors, possessed considerable power. Moreover the empire not 
 only served as a bulwark, but, at Constaniinople, had preserved 
 during the early Middle Ages civilization, general refinement of 
 life, the arts, and literature in a far greater degree than else- 
 where. 
 
 57. The Seljuk Turks, 1071 ; their Conquests. — A period of 
 anarchy prevailed during the middle of the eleventh century, of- 
 fering a good opportunity to the enemies of the Eastern Empire 
 for attacking her. In 107 1 the Seljuk Turks^ conquered Asia 
 Minor and threatened Constantinople. The Emperor Alexius I, a 
 shrewd and crafty man, who had seized the throne in 1081, did 
 
 1 Gregory was one of the great men of history. He was, however, a statesman 
 rather than a prelate, and would have been more in place as emperor than as Pope. 
 His honesty of motive can scarcely be questioned, and he can hardly be blamed 
 for attempting the impossible. As it is, his influence on the church and on the 
 world has been lasting. 
 
 2 The Seljuk Turks were a rude and rough people from central Asia. They are 
 to be distinguished from the Ottoman Turks of a later day. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 603 
 
 his best to drive the Turks from Asia Minor, but without suc- 
 cess. In 1095 Alexius sent ambassadors to Pope Urban II, beg- 
 ging him to rouse Christendom to save the Eastern Empire and 
 church.^ 
 
 For centuries Jerusalem and its holy places had been the object 
 of pilgrimages by thousands from Europe. Under the rule of the 
 Arabs these pilgrims had for the most part been welcomed. But 
 the Seljuk Turks, who gained Jerusalem in 1076, though Moham- 
 medans, cared ngthing for civilization or holy places, and looked 
 upon the pilgrims as intruders to be plundered, tortured, and 
 killed. So pilgrimages were roughly brought to an end, much to 
 the grief and dismay of Europeans. 
 
 58. Council of Clermont. 1095. — The appeal of Alexius was 
 welcomed by Urban, and at the conclusion of a council at Cler- 
 mont, France, November, 1095, ^ crusade was proclaimed by a 
 speech from the Pope himself. As this speech was delivered in 
 French it was understood by all, and certainly, as has been said, 
 " No other oration has ever been able to boast of as wonderful, 
 results." The people shouted, "God wills it," and rushed to 
 assume the cross, the symbol of the vow.^ Thus began one of the 
 greatest movements in the history — the Crusades.^ x-Mthough the 
 safety of the Eastern Empire and the church had been the plea 
 of the emperor, the Pope and the crusaders ignored that and made 
 the recovery of the holy places from the infidels the first object of 
 their efforts. 
 
 59. The Crusades, 1096-1290; Reasons for Them. — It has 
 been customary to speak of several crusades, and even as many as 
 eight are named. But this is scarcely correct, for there was for 
 about two hundred years (1096-1 290) a constant movement from 
 west to east, and in fact a crusade was always in progress. 
 
 This great movement was begun and carried on from various 
 
 1 The Eastern Empire had already called upon Gregory VII (1074), who had 
 actually raised an army, but was prevented by the German troubles from doing any- 
 thing. 
 
 2 " Crusade," from the Latin crux, a cross. Each crusader bore a cross worked 
 or sewn upon his coat. 
 
 3 It is often stated that Peter the Hermit started the movement, but records show 
 that it was Urban who roused Peter, not the reverse. 
 
6o4 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 motives. While many men were inspired with religious zeal, others 
 saw opportunities for satisfying their love of warfare and adventure, 
 some saw an escape from financial or other difficulties at home, 
 others an escape from the consequences of crime, many others a 
 field for commercial gain, and others went simply from a feeling 
 of restlessness. The Pope and church officials hoped for an ex- 
 tension of the church, and perhaps a union of the eastern and 
 western churches ; the kings and the greater barons encouraged 
 the movement, because thereby many of the smaller barons would 
 be taken out of the country, their possessions would be pledged to 
 raise money, and would ultimately come under the control, if not 
 ownership, of the monarch or great barons. The church relieved 
 the crusader from penance for sins, excused him while absent 
 from interest on his debts, took his wife and children and property 
 under its protection, and granted many other privileges. 
 
 Along with the penitent, the knight, and adventurer, particularly 
 after the earlier years, went the merchants. These were chiefly 
 •from Genoa, Pisa, and Venice. They furnished the crusader with 
 arms and supplies ; for these they not only exacted very full prices, 
 but also great privileges and rewards in case of conquests. The 
 commercial features of the Crusades have been too much over- 
 looked. 
 
 60. First Expeditions. 1096. — The first expeditions, which 
 consisted of extraordinary armies of untrained, undisciplined men 
 of all kinds and descriptions, ^ started from Germany in the spring 
 of 1096, marched to Constantinople, and having been aided by 
 the wily Alexius, who wished to be rid of them, crossed over into 
 Asia Minor, where most of them perished from exposure and dis- 
 ease, or at the hands of the Turks. Later in the year (1096) 
 several military expeditions left Europe under different leaders, 
 the chief of whom were Godfrey of Boulogne, ^ and Bohemond, 
 son of Robert Guiscard, the Norman, of southern Italy. Robert 
 of Normandy, son of William the Conqueror, was also one of them. 
 Indeed, the majority of the knights were French and Normans. 
 These expeditions went overland, and met near Nicsea, Asia Minor, 
 
 1 Even women and children helped to swell the ranks. 
 
 2 Often, but incorrectly, called Bouillon. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 605 
 
 in 1097. After gaining control of that city, the expedition marched 
 to Antioch, which was taken in July, 1098, and Jerusalem itself in 
 1099. Thus the ostensible object was gained. 
 
 61. Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1187) ; its Extent and Char- 
 acter. — A kingdom of Jerusalem was set up, and other lands were 
 acquired until there was under control of the Franks a strip of ter- 
 ritory in Syria along the Mediterranean a little over five hundred 
 miles long and about fifty miles wide.^ The Europeans were, with 
 the exception of the Italian merchants, almost wholly French. 
 Altogether they were few in number compared with the Syrians. 
 The territory was occupied rather than owned. As time went on 
 the relations with the Moslems grew more friendly, commerce 
 with Europe increased, and the carrying to and fro of the numer- 
 ous pilgrims became a profitable business for the merchants whose 
 interests made them averse to war. 
 
 All this time it was the divisions among the Moslems rather 
 than the strength of the Franks that allowed the continuance of 
 the Frankish rule. The crusaders were imbued with the spirit of 
 feudahsm, so that, where if ever a strong central goverment was 
 needed, a well-developed feudal system was estabhshed with all 
 its disintegrating influences. 
 
 For the help of the pilgrims and for the defence of the Holy 
 Sepulcher at Jerusalem, military religious orders were founded — • 
 the Templars, the Hospitallers, and the Teutonic Knights.^ These 
 orders were intended to combine the monk and soldier. For 
 many years the first two of these orders exercised great influence, 
 and acquired great power and wealth. 
 
 For fifty years the Frankish principalities continued with com- 
 paratively little change. Then Edessa, a great stronghold of the 
 Franks, fell (1144) before a Moslem leader who had united the 
 
 1 All Europeans were called Franks by the Orientals. Besides the small king- 
 dom of Jerusalem, going northward, there were the principalities of Tripolis, An- 
 tioch, and Edessa, each under a crusading noble. 
 
 2 The Templars (1119), so called from the temple of Solomon near the site of 
 which was their dwelling-place m Jerusalem ; Hospitallers, from the Hospital of 
 St. John in Jerusalem, where the brotherhood originally nursed the sick ; this broth- 
 erhood afterwards bore the titles Knights of St. John, and Knights of Malta. It is 
 still in existence. The Teutonic Knights were a German order. 
 
6o6 APPENDIX I 
 
 Turks. This disaster led to the so-called second crusade urged by 
 St. Bernard. The expedition however, was a dismal failure. 
 
 62. Saladin (i 13 7-1 192). — The relation of the Franks with the 
 Moslems in Egypt had been for the most part friendly. There 
 had, however, arisen in Egypt an able leader, who, though nom- 
 inally under the Turks, was practically independent. This was 
 Saladin, the most upright, the ablest, the most enlightened, and 
 most generous of the foes whom the crusaders had met. He 
 wished to live on good terms with the Franks, but they often vio- 
 lated their pledges.^ At length Saladin attacked them, and in 
 1 187 took Jerusalem. This led to the third crusade, in which 
 Richard I of England, Philip Augustus of France, and Frederick 
 Barbarossa all took part. Frederick went by land,^ Richard and 
 Philip by sea. The early expeditions had all been overland by 
 way of Asia Minor ; the later ones went by sea — a much safer as 
 well as shorter journey. Many vessels were needed for transpor- 
 tation ; this led to the building of many ships, to improvements in 
 their construction, to the increase of skilled mariners, and to the 
 growth of commerce. Richard and Philip Augustus quarreled 
 after the capture of Acre (11 91), PhiHp returned to France, and 
 Richard in 1192 arranged a truce with Saladin by which pilgrims 
 could visit Jerusalem in safety. 
 
 63. End of Christian Rule in Syria. 1191. — The Chris- 
 tians continued to hold territory in Syria for nearly a century 
 longer ; by negotiation, possession was gained even of Jerusalem 
 and a few other sacred sites, but in 1244 Jerusalem was captured 
 by the Turks, and has ever since remained in their hands. In 
 1 29 1 Acre, the last stronghold of the Christians, fell, and with it 
 all Christian possessions in Syria and Palestine were lost. 
 
 64. Latin Empire of the East, (i 204-1 261). — What is known 
 as the fourth crusade (i 202-1 204) differs from the others in that 
 it not only never reached its nominal destination, but was, by the 
 skill of the Venetians, who had agreed to transport the forces, 
 
 1 It was a common doctrine of the day that no pledge with an infidel was binding. 
 
 2 Frederick naturally took the overland route. In attempting to cross the river 
 Selef (Cydnus) in Asia Minor he was drowned (1190), and of his demoralized 
 army many returned to Germany by sea, and a remnant only reached Syria. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 607 
 
 changed into an attack upon Constantinople, with the result of 
 setting up a Latin Empire in that capital, which lasted for more 
 than fifty years (i 204-1 261), and also of vastly increasing the 
 possessions and commercial influence of Venice, which she re- 
 tained until the fifteenth century. 
 
 65. Results of the Crusades. — It is not easy to measure the 
 extent of the influence of the crusades upon Europe. They 
 certainly aided and hastened many inevitable social and political 
 changes. Great numbers of men from all countries of Europe 
 visited the East ; they had gone both by land and by water ; they 
 saw a great variety of life and conditions and came back with 
 minds broadened by their experiences and observation. They 
 met people far more civilized than themselves, having comforts 
 and luxuries of which they had been ignorant; they met men 
 of education and refinement, and, returning full of new ideas, they 
 could not rest satisfied with their old conditions. They brought 
 back many articles of use and luxury. Commerce was greatly 
 increased, the communication between various countries became 
 more frequent, and definite and regular lines of travel and trade 
 were, established. 
 
 The crusades greatly enriched Venice, Genoa, and Pisa, and 
 indeed all Italy, giving it that preeminence in commerce, Htera- 
 ture, and art which so profoundly affected all Europe. 
 
 The crusades weakened feudalism, and brought into existence, 
 or strengthened, elements which led to its steady decline and 
 permanent decay. Men became enamored of city life, turning 
 more and more to trade and manufacturing, the tendency of 
 which is to destroy feudahsm. 
 
 We may also trace modern systems of banking and finance to 
 the crusades. Under feudalism there was little need of money or 
 banks, but for the crusader money or its equivalent was a necessity. 
 He must buy his outfit and he must pay for his supplies on the 
 journey with money of some kind. Hence arose money lenders 
 and banks. 
 
 One remarkable feature of the crusades was the absence of con- 
 certed effort. Each king or leader looked out first and always 
 for his own interests, a practice which led to constant quarreling. 
 
5o8 APPENDIX I 
 
 Bad as this was for the crusade, it intensified national feeling, and 
 greatly aided the growth of nationahties. 
 
 The crusades ceased for several reasons. One of the most in- 
 fluential was the general advance in civilization and in the comforts 
 of life, which made men reluctant to leave their homes. Other 
 reasons were the growth in tolerance, the recognition that God 
 could be served in better ways than by making pilgrimages, the 
 increase in commercial enterprises, and the much greater attrac- 
 tion of national and international affairs. 
 
 66. Origin of Towns ; Rise of Cities and Towns. — The gen- 
 eral confusion which resulted from the inroads of the barbarians 
 was not conducive to town life, and until after the close of the 
 first crusade (1099) European towns were of little importance.^ 
 From the twelfth century, however, the rise and development of 
 town life is a most important feature in European history. The 
 origin of some towns, as was the case even in England, went back 
 to Greek or Roman times, but the majority were founded after 
 the eleventh century. These owe their existence either to trade 
 or manufacturing. Sometimes a village, built near a castle for 
 protection, if well situated for trade, would grow up into a town 
 walled round for greater safety ; others, established with special 
 privileges by the lord of the manor, or because of some river or 
 harbor or overland route, would grow and for safety would be pro- 
 tected by walls and fortresses. The needs of the crusaders greatly 
 hastened the growth of towns, as only in such centers could sup- 
 plies be procured. 
 
 The trade and manufacture which inevitably followed increased 
 the wealth and power of the citizens, brought them into contact 
 with the outside world, and not only increased their desires, but 
 enabled them successfully to demand, not only reUef from feudal 
 burdens, but also extensive privileges, which in many cases led to 
 practical, if not actual, independence. Not only that, but the 
 great commercial cities Hke Venice, Genoa, and Florence gained 
 large possessions elsewhere and became political states. Other 
 city communities for the same reasons acquired political rights 
 and privileges by charters. 
 
 1 The character of the country life has already been touched upon. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 609 
 
 67. Overland Trade; Money. —There also sprang up an ex- 
 tensive overland trade with the East, and also with various parts 
 of Europe, on the lines of which there grew up great distributing 
 towns such as Ulm, Augsburg, Nuremburg, and many other cen- 
 ters where not only trade but manufacturing flourished. 
 
 The influence of these cities on social and economic conditions 
 can hardly be overestimated. Their ships and merchants visiting 
 various countries brought many nations into close communication. 
 The use of money and bills of exchange in mercantile transactions 
 led to a great increase in money payment for all kinds of service 
 and for rents, and also to definite contracts instead of the vague 
 and easily violated rules based upon feudal tenure or custom. 
 
 68. Political Results of Municipal Life. — Though cities them- 
 selves became feudal lords, the spirit of city life was against feudal- 
 ism, and monarchs and rulers often found in cities their strongest 
 support against powerful barons. Besides this the cities formed 
 leagues for mutual defence and to preserve and to increase their 
 trade and commerce.^ They became free and independent. 
 One of the most notable examples of the power of the medieval 
 cities is the struggle of Frederick I (Barbarossa), for the control 
 of the North Italian or Lombard cities. In the end the cities 
 were successful in gaining practical independence (1183). 
 
 The close of the twelfth century found all Europe greatly ad- 
 vanced in civilization and refinement, and with new political, social, 
 and economic conditions. The tendency was toward the forma- 
 tion of nationalities with greater centralization of power. This 
 very tendency, however, increased the struggle for control be- 
 tween the civil and ecclesiastical powers, a conflict which reached 
 its height early in the thirteenth century. 
 
 iThe most noted of these are the Hanseatic League (Liibeck, Hamburg, 
 Bremen, etc.) begun in the thirteenth century, which later numbered eighty-five 
 cities and controlled the commerce of northern Europe; the Swabian League 
 (1244) ; and the Lfeague of the Rhine (1254), which at one time comprised about 
 sixty towns. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 CONTINENTAL EUROPE — 1200-1481 
 
 69. Coming of the Friars. 12 20-1 2 24. — There had long been 
 in the church men and women who gave themselves, as they 
 beheved, to the service of God by retiring into monasteries or 
 convents, and spending their lives in religious occupations 
 (§ 47). The principle upon which their Hfe was based was 
 retirement from the world. Early in the thirteenth century, how- 
 ever, a movement arose resulting in the establishment of new reli- 
 gious orders known as friars. Their primary object was exactly 
 the reverse of that of the monks. As has been well said, " The 
 monks had made it their object to save their own souls; the 
 friars made it their object to save the bodies and souls of others." 
 The monks withdrew from the world ; the friars threw themselves 
 into the midst of the world. 
 
 The rise of the friars was due to two men far separated from 
 each other, who, at about the same time, were moved by similar 
 impulses — Francis of Assisi, Italy (i 182-1226), and Dominic of 
 Spain (11 70-1 221). 
 
 70. The Franciscans. — Francis, the son of a wealthy man, after 
 a serious illness, had wholly changed the character of his life. 
 He gave up wealth and all its possibilities, and devoted himself to 
 a life of poverty and of devotion to the sick and afflicted among 
 the poor, living entirely on the bounty of others. A band of 
 followers like-minded with himself soon gathered around him. 
 The movement spread, and in 1209 the Pope, Innocent III, 
 constituted them into an order of brethren, in Latin, fratres, 
 from which our word " friars " comes. Later they were called 
 Franciscans after their founder, or Minorites, or Mendicant Friars.^ 
 
 1 " Minorites," from the Latin Fratres Minores, or lesser brethren ; Francis said 
 they were to be less than the least of Christ's servants. " Mendicant " from the 
 Latin word to beg. 
 
 610 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 6ll 
 
 The friars took the vow of poverty, and were to beg their bread 
 from day to day. As they had nothing of their own they could 
 appeal to the poorest. Their dress was a coarse robe tied round 
 the waist with a rope. 
 
 71. The Dominicans. — Dominic, unhke Francis, was a church- 
 man and student of theology. His heart was stirred by the 
 amount of heresy he found, particularly in southern France, 
 and he determined to devote his life to the extirpation of heresy 
 and the spread of orthodox teaching. Like Francis, his earnest- 
 ness aroused a sympathetic feeling in the hearts of others, and he 
 was joined by a band of followers, and in time Pope Innocent III 
 sanctioned the formation of an order. This rapidly grew, and by 
 1 22 1 the movement had attained large proportions and had 
 sixty monasteries in western Europe. Like the Franciscans, the 
 Preaching Friars or Dominicans were to be brothers, and like 
 them also they were to be mendicants, because in this way those 
 to whom they carried their message would know that they had no 
 selfish motives, and that their only desire was to win men to Christ. 
 
 72. Mission of the Friars. — Going about from place to place, 
 the friars were the carriers of news, they came into the closest 
 contact with the people, and understood the popular needs and 
 aspirations as no others did. The lives of the clergy were too 
 often marked by selfishness, worldliness, neglect of the poor 
 and needy, and by political rather than spiritual interests. These 
 things had alienated very many from the church. To such, the un- 
 selfishness, the devotion, the tireless energy, and the practical 
 sympathy of these friars made a powerful appeal. 
 
 The Franciscans, while in no way neglecting the country, de- 
 voted themselves particularly to the slums of the cities and towns, 
 the condition of which was beyond description. The Dominicans, 
 whose chief mission was the extirpation of heresy, never were as 
 influential in England as on the Continent, because in England 
 heresy had not attained great headway. To these mendicant 
 orders is chiefly due the revival of religious life in the thirteenth 
 century. 
 
 Though Francis had condemned learning as hurtful to spirit- 
 uality, the contact with ignorance, and the fact that educated men 
 
6l2 . APPENDIX I 
 
 were drawn into the order, changed -this, and the Franciscans be- 
 came teachers as well as preachers and missionaries. 
 
 73. Rise of Universities. — The thirteenth century was a time 
 of great intellectual activity. During the troublous reign of Henry 
 III, Oxford was one of the great intellectual centers of Europe. 
 Cambridge also, though to a less extent, was an abode of learning 
 (History, § loi). But the higher education was almost wholly for 
 the training of priests and clergy. 
 
 The course of instruction was divided into seven main subjects, 
 called " the seven liberal arts," which were subdivided into the 
 Trivium and the Quadrivium. The Trivium embraced Grammar, 
 or the use of words ; Rhetoric, or the form of words ; and Logic, 
 or reasoning. The Quadrivium embraced Arithmetic, Geometry, 
 Astronomy, and Music.^ - 
 
 After the seven hberal arts were mastered, further instruction 
 was given in Divinity, Law, Medicine, etc. It was natural that 
 the teachers of these different subjects should associate together, 
 and from such association sprung the university, and later the 
 separate college.^ 
 
 The student body included men of all ages from fifteen and 
 even younger, to forty and over. Special privileges were granted 
 them, and the lives they led were often full of rioting and disorder. 
 The universal use of Latin by scholars for writing and speaking 
 made it easy for a student to change his universityo There is no 
 doubt that this fashion of wandering from university to university 
 had a good educational effect in widening the knowledge of persons 
 and places. 
 
 74. Pope Innocent III. 1198-1216. — Emperor Frederick Bar- 
 barossa, by the marriage of his son Henry, afterwards Henry VI, 
 with Constance, heiress of the kingdom of Sicily, in time gained 
 Sicily and south Italy for the empire. It was a blow for the 
 Papacy to lose its Norman alhes. But Henry VI died in iig8> 
 leaving an infant son, afterwards the renowned Frederick II. 
 
 The election of Innocent III to the papal chair (1198) gave the 
 
 1 These subjects covered a wider field than their names denote at present, 
 
 2 The word i/niversitas (university) at first meant a union, or corporation, and 
 the union or association of teachers came to be called a university. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 613 
 
 Papacy perhaps its ablest head in all history. He was a member 
 of a noble Roman family, and had been highly educated, studying 
 at both Paris and Bologna. He was only about thirty-seven 
 when chosen Pope, and reluctantly accepted his elevation, but 
 when once seated on the throne, no Pope surpassed him in his 
 claims for the office. " As the moon," he declared, " receiveth 
 her light from the sun, so do kings receive their authority from the 
 Holy See." That this was no idle boast is shown by what he 
 accompUshed. He secured from Constance, the widow of Henry 
 VI, guardian of Frederick II, the vassalage of the kingdom of 
 Sicily; in opposition to Philip of Swabia, who, elected by the 
 nobles, claimed to be emperor, he set up Otto of Brunswick,^ and 
 crowned him emperor (1209); he forced Philip Augustus of 
 France to take back Ingeborg of Denmark, whom he had divorced ; 
 he deposed John of England and only restored him on his abject 
 submission (History, § 86); he interfered with the internal affairs 
 of Portugal, and of the Spanish states of Leon, Castile, and Aragon, 
 and also in Bohemia, Bulgaria, Dalmatia, and Hungary. In these 
 cases Innocent did what he believed to be best for the interests 
 of the Papacy, not for the interests of the peoples concerned, or 
 on moral or religious grounds. Thus, though Philip Augustus was 
 severely handled for his divorce of Ingeborg and his immoral life, 
 not a word relating to morals was said to John of England, who 
 was notoriously immoral. Innocent was the arbiter of Europe. 
 
 75. Results of Innocent's Policy. — The logical result of such 
 a policy as that of Innocent is the destruction of national life and 
 the right of the people to choose their own rulers. As soon as 
 this fact was recognized, resistance, monarchical and popular, was 
 inevitable. Hence the steady opposition to the Pope in medieval 
 times. It was based on political, not on religious, grounds. Even 
 Otto of Brunswick himself, whom Innocent set up and crowned, 
 deserted him and entered the anti-papal ranks.^ 
 
 1 Otto was the son of Matilda, daughter of Henry II of England, and so a nephew 
 of Richard I and John. His brother William was the Brunswick ancestor of George 
 I of England, 
 
 2 Frederick II at a later period, when one of his supporters was raised to the 
 papal chair as Innocent IV (1243), is reported to have said, " I have lost a friend; 
 no Pope can be a Ghibelline " (a name given to the supporters of the empire). 
 
6i4 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 The great weapons of the Papacy — excommunication and the 
 interdict — at first had enormous influence both on nations and 
 individuals ; but later, when it was found that men could live 
 notwithstanding them, their use often injured rather than aided 
 the Popes who employed them.^ These papal claims were a great 
 force in Europe for about a century, for not till the death of Boni- 
 face VIII ( 1 294-1 303) did they suffer a permanent decHne. 
 
 76. Heresy and Heretics. — Owing to the general behef that 
 religion was inextricably connected with the state and social order, 
 heresy was regarded with feehngs very different from those of the 
 present day.^ A heretic was a rebel against the social order as 
 well as the church. This accounts for the curious fact that mem- 
 bers of the clergy could be accused of all sorts of lapses from vir- 
 tue and morals with little effect upon the estimation of the church 
 in general ; but to accuse a man of heresy was like accusing him 
 of treason. Indeed heresy was by many regarded as treason of 
 the worst kind, for it was treason both to God and the state. 
 
 Independent minds have existed in all ages, and the medieval 
 theory of the church was sure to stir up dissent and opposition. 
 Heretics were of two kinds : (i) unbelievers in the main doctrines 
 of Christianity ; (2) dissenters from some of the practices and the 
 doctrines of the church. 
 
 77. The Albigenses; Simon de Montfort the Elder; The In- 
 quisition. — Representatives of the first class were the Cathari 
 (pure ones), better known as the Albigenses. These were numer- 
 ous in southern France. Innocent was strong against heresy and 
 strove by every means in his power to extirpate it. He tried send- 
 ing missionaries, but these failing, he organized (1203) a crusade 
 against them. This, led by Simon de Montfort the Elder (History, 
 § III, Note), was carried out relentlessly, and the Albigenses were 
 extirpated. In connection with this crusade was established the 
 
 1 This was true even with Innocent. Thus the interdict was so keenly felt in 
 France that, after less than a year, Philip Augustus gave way. But in England 
 the almost contemporary interdict in John's reign had much less effect. John was 
 able to brave it and excommunication for four years, and only yielded when 
 threatened with a French invasion, 
 
 2 This fact should always be taken into consideration in forming judgments oi 
 the men of the Middle Ages. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 6iS 
 
 Inquisition for the trial of the heretics. There is no reason to 
 suppose that at first the methods of this court differed much from 
 the ordinary courts of the day, but the fact that the court was not 
 only to try heretics, but to search for heresy, made it a weapon 
 easily misused and Hable to become the instrument of severe 
 persecution. 
 
 78. TheWaldenses. — TheWaldenses are examples of the second 
 class of so-called heretics. They were followers of Peter Waldo, 
 who lived in the twelfth century. They were dissenters from the 
 church chiefly in the matter of practice. They taught that the 
 Bible was sufficient for guidance, that the simple organization 
 of early Apostolic days was enough. In furtherance of their 
 views they translated portions of the Bible and circulated them. 
 They attacked the luxury and worldliness in the church. They 
 consisted chiefly of country people and mountaineers in Piedmont. 
 In spite of severe persecution they survived, and now form a 
 branch of the Protestant church in Italy. 
 
 79. The Emperor Frederick II, 1210-1250. — Frederick JI, 
 left by his mother Constance to the guardianship of Innocent III 
 (§ 74), is one of the most remarkable men in European history. 
 Brought up in Sicily under the influence of Arabian, Norman, 
 and Greek culture, he was highly educated, and became imbued 
 with such a feeling of intellectual independence that he was 
 charged with being a heretic and an unbeliever. Though an 
 Italian by training, he had dreams of restoring the empire, and when 
 invited in his eighteenth year by some discontented German nobles 
 to come to Germany, he went thither to secure the imperial crown 
 (121 2). He gained the support of the Pope by acknowledging 
 the papal suzerainty over Sicily and Naples, and secured the ad- 
 herence of a number of the German nobles. He also made an 
 alliance with Philip Augustus of France (§ 90). 
 
 80. Battle of Bouvines. 12 14. — Otto IV, recognizing that his 
 crown was in great danger, sought foreign alliances. Here we see, 
 perhaps for the first time, real international alliances. Otto, the 
 Count of Flanders, and King John of England uniting against 
 Frederick, PhiHp Augustus, and the Pope. Two of the armies 
 met at Bouvines in Flanders (12 14), resulting in the complete 
 
6i6 APPENDIX I 
 
 victory of the French. On both sides the foot soldiers from the 
 towns played an important part. It was a battle of nations rather 
 than of individual monarchs. The results were far-reaching. 
 The cause of Frederick was greatly strengthened, and Philip was 
 more firmly established in France. On the other side, Otto was 
 ruined and John lost his French possessions (History, § 87). 
 
 81. Frederick's Last Years. 1220-1250. — The subsequent 
 history of Frederick is full of romantic incident. He was crowned 
 in Rome in 1220, but, like Otto, his personal interests were at 
 variance with those of the Papacy, and like him he broke with the 
 Pope and was excommunicated. He was continually striving to 
 retain both his German and Italian possessions. Though ex- 
 communicated by the Pope, he made a crusade and in 1229 
 actually secured Jerusalem and other holy places by treaty with 
 the Turks. He established a strong centralized government in 
 Sicily, but in Germany, doubtless recognizing the condition of 
 affairs, he made many concessions to the nobles, increasing the 
 tendency to the formation of small states. He died in 1250, and 
 with him the Medieval Empire really ceased, for none of the suc- 
 ceeding bearers of the imperial title held sway outside of Germany.^ 
 
 82. End of the Hohenstaufens (1254); "Fist Law." 1254- 
 1273. — The dynasty of the Hohenstaufens, to which Frederick 
 belonged, came to an end with Conrad IV (1254), and there fol- 
 lowed a period which the Germans called Faiistreclit or " Fist 
 Law," during which there was no central power, and Germany was 
 in confusion, each prince, baron, archbishop, and city claiming 
 independence. This period is also commonly known as the In- 
 terregnum (1254-1273).^ 
 
 83. Rudolf of Hapsburg. 1273. — At length Pope Gregory X, 
 finding that his revenues were decreasing, sent word to the elec- 
 
 1 Frederick was " a warrior and a politician ; a profound lawgiver and an im- 
 passioned poet " ; a naturalist, a scientist, and an astrologer, charged with being an 
 unbeliever and yet persecuting heretics. His third wife was Isabella, daughter of 
 John of England. 
 
 2 Richard of Cornwall, a brother of Henry HI of England, was chosen by part 
 of the electors (1256). He came to Germany and was crowned at Aachen (1257). 
 He never exercised any authority ; neither did Alfonso of Castile, who, chosen by 
 the othev electors, never came to Germany at all. Richard died 1271. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 617 
 
 tors that if they did not choose an emperor, he would. On this 
 the electors chose Rudolf of Hapsburg (1273). Though he was 
 supposed to be a weak man, he managed to conquer Austria 
 (1278) and establish his rule, and the Hapsburgs have sat on 
 the Austrian throne ever since. Rudolf gained the support of the 
 Pope by resigning any claims upon Sicily and Italy.^ 
 
 At the time of Rudolf's accession there were, it is said, more 
 than four hundred territorial divisions in Germany, each claiming 
 sovereignty.2 The policy of the succeeding emperors was to in- 
 crease their personal power regardless of the general welfare. 
 The consequence was that Germany remained divided for nearly 
 five centuries.^ 
 
 84. Italy ; Rise of Italian Republics. — Italy, freed from the 
 real or attempted rule of the German emperors, was the scene of 
 local quarrels, resulting in the rise of the so-called Italian republics, 
 Genoa, Milan, Pisa, Florence, Venice, and others. The Papacy 
 controlled the center of the peninsula, while Naples was under the 
 House of Anjou, and Sicily under that of Aragon, a condition of affairs 
 in essentials lasting till the latter part of the nineteenth century. 
 
 85. Switzerland. 1 291-1386. — One result of the reign of 
 " Fist Law " was the rise of Switzerland. Among the towns which 
 claimed independence of all rule except the overlordship of the 
 emperor were Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden on Lake Lucerne. 
 Rudolf of Hapsburg, before he was elected emperor, had vainly 
 tried to bring them into subjection, but after his election matters 
 of greater importance engrossed his attention. His successors, 
 however, roused by the increasing power and influence of the 
 
 1 The electors at this time were the Archbishops of Mainz, Treves, and Cologne, 
 the Duke of Saxony, King of Bohemia, Margrave of Brandenburg, and the Elector 
 Palatine of the Rhine. 
 
 2 This great number was partly due to the Teutonic custom of dividing lands, 
 among the sons instead of leaving all or nearly all to the eldest son as in England 
 and France, It was also partly due to the policy of the Hohenstaufens, who, in 
 order to further their plans in Sicily and Italy, gave great privileges to the German 
 nobles, and did not attempt to centralize their power — an error from which Ger- 
 many long suffered. 
 
 3 It was not till the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 that the real unification of Ger- 
 many began. This was immensely furthered by the Franco-Prussian War, 1870- 
 1871. The temporary unification under Napoleon I can hardly be counted. 
 
6i8 APPENDIX I 
 
 Swiss cantons, made great efforts to subdue them. Aided by the 
 character of their country and inspired by their love of independ- 
 ence, the Swiss made a brave resistance, and at the battle of 
 Morgarten (1315) defeated the Hapsburg Leopold of Austria. 
 Already, in 1291, three cantons had made a league for mutual 
 help and protection, and by 1353 five other cantons had joined 
 them. The Swiss were again called upon to defend their liberties 
 at Sempach (1386) and gained another great victory. This led to 
 their independence and in time to modern Switzerland.^ 
 
 These victories of the Swiss were a severe blow to the already 
 declining chivalry and feudalism, for they proved again that 
 trained foot soldiers were more than a match for the noble knights. 
 
 86. Spain ; Portugal. — The Moors in Spain reached the height of 
 their power in the eighth century. From that time the Christians 
 gradually increased their territory, which they were able to do 
 chiefly because of dissensions and divisions among the Moors. 
 
 Portugal was estabhshed as an hereditary kingdom in 1139, 
 while still earUer the kingdoms of Leon, Castile, and Aragon had 
 come into existence. Under Ferdinand I (1214-1252), who in- 
 herited Leon from his father and Castile from his mother, the 
 Christian rule was extended all over Spain except the small king- 
 dom of Grenada, which was to remain Moorish for nearly two and 
 a half centuries (1492). 
 
 87. Alfonso X of Castile. 1252-1284. — The greatest of all 
 Spaniards of this period was Alfonso X of Castile (1252-1284), 
 known as "Alfonso the Wise." He was the rival of Richard of 
 Cornwall for the imperial crown, though he understood the situa- 
 tion too well to take any active steps to secure the honor. One 
 of the best educated men of his day, he was a patron of famous 
 learning, and a lawgiver like his contemporaries Edward I of 
 England, Louis IX of France, and Frederick II in Sicily. 
 
 88. The People in Spain. — The people obtained recognition 
 of their rights earlier in Spain than elsewhere. In Aragon the 
 
 1 The five cantons were Luzern (1320) ; Zurich (1351) ; Glarusand Zug (1352) ; 
 Bern (1353). The League was formed (1291) and Morgarten fought (1315) in the 
 canton of Schwyz, and from that canton the repubhc takes its name. The confed- 
 eration was not formally recognized until 1648. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF COxNTINENTAL EUROPE 6lQ 
 
 Cortes, a representative body, was established in 1133, and in 
 Castile in 1166. Indeed feudalism never prevailed in the Spanish 
 i^eninsula as elsewhere in Europe. The Spanish aristocracy was 
 military rather than territorial. This condition was a result of the 
 constant wars against the Moors. The Cortes, composed as a rule 
 of nobles, clergy, and representatives from the towns, had very 
 considerable power over taxation, legislation, etc. There were also 
 other safeguards over Hberty, making Spain in the thirteenth cen- 
 tury, next to England, the freest country in Europe. In the later 
 years of the century, owing to factions and jealousies, a period of 
 turbulence began, which was of long continuance. Not until 
 Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, heirs of their respec- 
 tive kingdoms, united those kingdoms by their marriage (1469) 
 were peace and unification brought about. 
 
 89. Ferdinand and Isabella. — The policy of both of these 
 monarchs was absolute rule. They were able to take away the 
 liberties of their subjects because there was no sympathy between 
 the people and the nobles. Their patronage of Columbus and the 
 expulsion of the Moors have cast a glamour over their history which 
 hides the fact that to them more than to any others is due the 
 destruction of the liberties of the Spanish people, and the ultimate 
 fall of the Spanish Empire. Charles V and Philip II simply carried 
 out the policy begun by Ferdinand and Isabella. 
 
 90. Medieval France. — The close of the fourteenth century, 
 which saw Germany with slight exceptions cut up into numerous 
 petty states, found France a large, compact state, ruled by a 
 strongly centralized government. The numerous fiefs of the 
 eleventh century had been consolidated. The process, though 
 slow and with many setbacks, had been aided by many things. As 
 a rule the Capetian monarchs (descendants of Hugh Capet, the 
 first king of France, 987-996) were able men; moreover, they 
 had the singular good fortune for three hundred years always to 
 have sons to succeed, and, with but few exceptions, able regents 
 when the heir was under age. For two hundred years it was their 
 custom to have the heir crowned during the lifetime of the reigning 
 monarch. This action lessened the risk of a disputed succes- 
 sion. Again, while the law of France recognized only male sue- 
 
620 APPENDIX I 
 
 cessors to the crown, female succession was common in the fiefs. 
 This custom afforded many opportunities for acquiring possessions 
 by marriage with an heiress.^ 
 
 For no inconsiderable part of the period the royal domain was 
 smaller than some of the fiefs/ but the kings were wary and always 
 on the watch for opportunities to increase their power and domain. 
 
 The rise of cities and the increase in number and importance 
 of the commercial classes also aided the kings, for the abohtion of 
 petty feudal dues and private warfare, and the preservation of 
 peace and order, all of which are essential to commercial success, 
 were far more likely to be obtained under a strong king of a large 
 territory. It must not be supposed that the monarchy was patri- 
 otic or specially far-sighted in its policies — far from it. Probably 
 most that was done was due to selfish motives, but it often hap- 
 pened, as was not unfrequently the case in England, that the selfish 
 interests of the kings and the cause of progress coincided. 
 
 91. Philip Augustus, 1 1 80-1 223. — The actual change in France 
 from a duchy to a kingdom was the work of Philip Augustus 
 (i 180-1223), one of the most unscrupulous and able of French 
 monarchs. As has been seen, Henry II of England had through 
 inheritance and marriage (History, §§60,61) far greater domains 
 in France than his liege lord, the king of France. It was Philip's 
 chief object to secure these territories for his own. The history 
 of England shows what incessant warfare Philip kept up against the 
 English during his long reign ; how he stirred up Henry's sons 
 against their father, now supporting one, now another. After 
 Henry's death the conflict was continued on one pretext or another, 
 until by the battle of Bouvines (12 14) the English received such a 
 blow that at the death of Philip (1223) the possessions of the 
 Angevins in northern France had been permanently joined to the 
 French crown (History, § 87). Philip also, though taking no part 
 
 1 This rule, however worked both ways. Thus Louis VII married Eleanor of 
 Aquitaine, and through her acquired large possessions ; but by divorcing her he 
 lost them, as she was childless. Her subsequent marriage the same year (1152) 
 with Henry, soon to be Henry II of England, transferred them to the English crown 
 (History, § 60), resulting in great loss and trouble to France. 
 
 2 Thus the French possessions of Henry II of England were about six times 
 larger than the domains of Louis VII, his feudal liege lord. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 521 
 
 in the crusade against the Albigenses (§ 77), managed so to profit 
 by it that Toulouse ultimately came under French rule. 
 
 92. Louis IX. 1 226-1 2 70. — The protracted reign of Louis IX 
 (1226-12 70), in spite of a long minority, was one which saw the 
 monarchy steadily growing in power. He came to a successful 
 agreement with the Enghsh (1258) ; made the royal coinage a 
 legal tender throughout the kingdom, and greatly improved the 
 administration of justice ; made the king a final court of appeal ; 
 and in other ways increased the royal power.^ 
 
 93. Philip IV, the Fair; Charles VII; Louis XI. — Under 
 Philip the Fair (1285-13 14) France became the leading power in 
 Europe. An able administrator, he carried on the work begun 
 by Philip Augustus and Louis IX, developing the royal power in 
 almost every direction. To PhiHp also is due the establishment 
 of the States General (1302). There had been assemblies of 
 the two estates of the nation, — the nobles and the higher clergy, 
 — but to these Philip added representatives from the cities. 
 The latter were called the Tiers Etat (Third Estate). The 
 States General, however, must be carefully distinguished from 
 bodies hke the English Parliament. The body was called only 
 when the king wished to gain approval of taxation or of some 
 measure desired by him. The body could originate nothing, 
 passed no laws, and so was not a true representative assembly.^ 
 
 Philip opposed or supported the church according as he thought 
 his interests would be served. His practical control of the Papacy 
 (1305-1314), spoken of elsewhere (§ 95), indicates the strength 
 of his position in France and in Europe at large. Philip's perse- 
 cution and destruction of the Templars closely resembles the sup- 
 pression by Henry VIII of the monasteries in England with, 
 perhaps, even less to justify it.^ 
 
 1 For his purity of life and character, he was canonized by Boniface VIII (1297), 
 and is known as St. Louis. 
 
 2 France had no real representative assembly m the modern sense until the 
 nineteenth century. 
 
 3 This military order, by its devotion to the Papacy, its close connection with the 
 nobles from whose ranks its recruits chiefly came, and its wealth, was a continual 
 menace to Philip's power and ambition. He charged the Templars with impiety 
 and immorality. Many were arrested, some tortured to obtain evidence, some were 
 condemned to death, and the property of the order was seized (1307). 
 
62 2 APPENDIX I 
 
 The close of the Hundred Years' War found France under 
 Charles VII. When he was hard pushed in order to secure his 
 throne, Charles had made an agreement (1435) with Philip, Duke 
 of Burgundy, his most powerful vassal, which practically made 
 Phihp an independent sovereign. Charles VII died in 146 1, leav- 
 ing Louis XI his heir. Philip of Burgundy died in 1467 and was 
 succeeded by his son Charles the Bold. Charles's ambition was to 
 have his domain erected into a kingdom, while Louis wished to 
 extend his own dominions. 
 
 Charles was defeated by the Swiss and killed at Nancy (1477). 
 His daughter and heiress, Mary of Burgundy, soon after his death, 
 at the age of twenty, married Maximilian, son of the German 
 Emperor Frederick III. Their son, Phihp, married Juana, eldest 
 daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, and she became the mother 
 of Charles V.^ Louis XI gained Burgundy for France, and later, 
 by the death of Ren^ of Anjou, that country and Maine fell to the 
 French crown. The close of the fifteenth century saw France 
 with a centralized government and compact territory. 
 
 The relations of England with France and Burgundy were close. 
 As a rule the Lancastrians favored France, while the Yorkists favored 
 Burgundy. Edward IV of England, though usually on the side of 
 Burgundy, did not hesitate to treat with France if he thought it 
 would be to his own advantage.^ 
 
 94. Boniface VIII. 1 294-1 303. — The Papacy put forth its 
 most extensive temporal claims under Boniface VIII (1294-1303). 
 The character of these claims is shown by two celebrated Bulls : (i) 
 that known as Clei-icis Laicos (1296), forbidding all laymen, in- 
 cluding rulers, to lay any taxes or levies on the clergy without papal 
 consent, and prohibiting the clergy from paying any such taxes or 
 levies; (2) the Bull Unain Sanctam (1302), in which the spiritual 
 power is claimed to be superior to all temporal power.^ 
 
 ■I It was through this marriage that the Netherlands and some adjacent territory 
 came under the Austrian and Spanish rule. 
 
 2 Margaret, sister of Edward IV, married Charles, Duke of Burgundy (1468), 
 being his second wife ; Elizabeth Woodville, Edward's wife, was niece of Count of 
 Pol, Charles's brother-in-law. 
 
 3 " For the truth itself declares that the spiritual power must establish the tem- 
 poral power and pass judgment on it if it is not good." Bull Unam Sanctafu, 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 623 
 
 Edward I of England had shrewdly evaded the Bull Clericis 
 Laicos (History, § 134), and Philip IV, the Fair, of France did 
 the same. The Bull Unam Sarictam was issued primarily against 
 Philip. These claims inevitably provoked hostility from temporal 
 monarchs, for to admit them would destroy the authority of the 
 monarch over his own subjects. 
 
 Boniface was preparing to excommunicate Philip, when he was 
 captured by Philip's agents, at Anagni, Italy, and though rescued 
 by his own adherents, did not long survive the outrage. His suc- 
 cessor lived only a few months. 
 
 95. The Popes at Avignon. 1309. — For nearly a year the 
 cardinals were unable to choose a Pope, and then Philip's influence 
 was strong enough to secure the election of a Pope who would be 
 favorable to his interests. Accordingly the Archbishop of Bordeaux 
 was elected (1305) as Clement V. The papal court was moved to 
 France and came wholly under French influence. In 1309 Clement 
 moved his residence to Avignon, just outside of France. This 
 place continued to be the residence of the Popes for about seventy 
 years, and as French influence was supreme, the period (1305-13 77) 
 has been called the "Babylonish Captivity."^ The effect was 
 visibly to lessen the power of the Papacy, to injure its prestige, 
 and seriously to impair the respect in which it had been held. 
 
 96. The Great Schism. 1378-141 7. — Following this period 
 came what is known as the "Great Schism." Gregory XI, who 
 had moved to Rome (1377), died, and his successor. Urban VI 
 (1378), attempted a reformation of the college of cardinals and 
 clergy. The cardinals who had expected Urban to return to 
 Avignon were angry, went out of Rome and elected (1378) a new 
 Pope (Clement VII), who took up his residence at Avignon. Thus 
 there were the two Popes, each claiming to be the true one.^ Each 
 rival Pope was recognized according to the inclinations of the vari- 
 ous European monarchs, — Italy and England recognizing Urban; 
 France and Scotland, Clement. As Urban had created new cardi- 
 
 1 So called from the seventy years' captivity of the Jews in Babylonia. The date 
 of beginning is bv some given as 1305, by others 1309. 
 
 2 Clement's supporters claimed that Urban had been forced on the cardmals by 
 the Roman populace, and hence his choice was void. 
 
624 APPENDIX I 
 
 nals, there were two colleges of cardinals. It followed that the 
 Schism extended all over Christendom, as each Pope claimed the 
 power to appoint prelates. This deplorable division lasted about 
 forty years (1378-1417), and injured the church more than any- 
 thing that had happened to it. At length the idea of a general 
 council, like those held in the early ages of the church, gained 
 prominence. In 1409 a council called by members of both col- 
 leges of cardinals met at Pisa. This council deposed both Popes 
 and chose a new one, Alexander V (1409-1410). Neither of the 
 deposed Popes would yield ; and so there were three Popes in- 
 stead of two. John XXIII, a notoriously unfit man, was chosen 
 as Alexander's successor (1410). This state of affairs led to the 
 calling of the Council of Constance (1414-1418), one of the most 
 noted gatherings in history.^ 
 
 97. Council of Constance. 1414-1418. — Owing to the great 
 difficulties of the situation, the Council did not achieve as much as 
 was hoped, or might have been expected. It did heal the Schism 
 by deposing the three Popes ^ and choosing a new one, Martin V 
 (141 7-1425). Martin was a strong man and impatient of control. 
 His chief object was to regain papal power and church authority, 
 and he was remarkably successful. Had the Council, as it should 
 have done, first taken active measures for reform, the whole course 
 of European history might have been very different. 
 
 Of the three great questions before the Council — healing of 
 the Schism, reformation in the church, and the suppression of 
 heresy — the last was by no means regarded as the least im- 
 portant. Toleration, as has been seen, was something incompre- 
 hensible to most persons in that age, and to hold opinions differ- 
 ing from those commonly accepted was believed to be a menace 
 to church and state alike. It is only this fact which can explain 
 or palliate actions which seem to men of our day treacherous and 
 cruel. 
 
 1 There were present the Pisa Pope, and John XXIII; twenty-five cardinals, 
 thirty- three archbishops and bishops, one hundred and fifty abbots, the German 
 emperor, one hundred dukes and earls, and many of lesser rank. It was the last 
 church council which was recognized by practically all Europe, 
 
 =2 John XXIII was deposed, Gregory XII submitted and was deposed, Benedict 
 was deposed, but refused to obey and retired to Spain. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 625 
 
 98. John Hus (1373-1415). — The doctrines promulgated by 
 Wycliffe and his followers had been carried to Bohemia by stu- 
 dents and others, notably by Jerome of Prague, and though hardly 
 the cause of the rise of a. reform party, undoubtedly stimulated 
 that movement. Among those influenced was John Hus, a man 
 connected with the University at Prague. Hus claimed that no 
 church official need be obeyed unless he were an exemplary man. 
 He also upheld most of Wycliffe's teachings, though he did not go 
 to the extreme of that reformer's views. So sure was Hus that he 
 was right and could convince the Council, that he willingly appeared 
 before it to defend his position, especially as the Emperor Sigis- 
 mund had granted him a safe-conduct.^ Hus, however, was 
 arrested and imprisoned. When the Emperor Sigismund made a 
 weak protest, he was told that the law did not recognize suspected 
 heretics. Later, Sigismund basely deserted Hus. Hus was 
 brought to trial, refused to retract, and was condemned as a here- 
 tic. He was handed over to the civil authority, and was forth- 
 with burned at the stake (July 6, 14 15). Lest his ashes might 
 become an object of veneration, they were thrown into the Rhine. 
 Jerome of Prague, who had followed him to Constance, was like- 
 wise apprehended and burned. ^ 
 
 The treatment of Hus and Jerome greatly excited the indig- 
 nation of their followers. The result was the Hussite War in 
 Bohemia (141 9-1 431), a struggle which for cruelty can only be 
 compared with the Thirty Years' War (16 18-1648). Had Bo- 
 hemia possessed a native ruler, and had the reformers been 
 united, the end would probably have been different; as it was, 
 the compromise party won, and a reconciliation was made with 
 the church (1433). 
 
 99. Reform. — In the matter of reform the Council accomplished 
 nothing of importance. This was due not only to Martin V, but 
 also to changed pohtical conditions. " It was impossible to make 
 arrangements for the whole of Christendom when the church in 
 
 1 The " safe-conduct " was a document ordering that no one should do him any 
 harm, and allowing him to leave Constance whenever he might wish. 
 
 2 One of the acts of the Council (1414) was to pass a decree that Wycliffe's ashes 
 should be disinterred and thrown into a stream (History, § 177). 
 
626 APPENDIX I 
 
 England, in France, and in Germany each had its own ideas as to 
 what was best, and each wished to maintain its own rights and 
 independence." The Council closed in 141 8. 
 
 100. Council of Basel (1431-1449); The Papacy. — Another 
 Council at Basel (1431-1449), though much prolonged, was equally 
 unsuccessful in settling affairs. From this time the papacy lost 
 much political influence in Europe, but in spite of great short- 
 comings, retained much of spiritual influence. The Popes gave 
 their chief attention to the preservation and extension of their 
 political power in Italy, and, for fifty years or more, were rather 
 temporal than spiritual rulers. 
 
 101. The "Renaissance Popes." — Some of the Popes, from 
 their support of the new movement, are known as the " Renaissance 
 Popes." Their courts were large and extravagant, they delighted 
 in paintings, statuary, books, architecture, and all kinds of artistic 
 work. To fulfil these expensive desires, and legitimate sources of 
 expenditure also vast sums of money were required, and they were 
 drawn from other parts of Europe by various means. A strong 
 feeling existed in almost all countries against the large revenues 
 demanded. There can be no question that at the close of the 
 fifteenth century, from one cause or another, there was against 
 the papacy a strong feeling of which the Protestant Reformation 
 was a natural outcome. 
 
 102. The Ottoman Turks ; Fall of the Eastern Empire. 1453. 
 — The Seljuk Turks (§ 57) continued to hold a large part of west- 
 ern Asia and Asia Minor, but about the middle of the fourteenth 
 century the Ottoman ^ Turks, advancing from central Asia, reduced 
 the Seljuks to submission and continued to extend their dominion. 
 They first crossed into Europe in 1353 and gradually secured 
 nearly all the territory of the Balkan peninsula and of the Eastern 
 Empire. These invaders menaced all Europe and many efforts 
 were made to drive them back. A great army gathered to meet 
 them met with a crushing defeat at Nicopolis on the Danube 
 (1396), and had it not been that Bajazet, the Turkish leader, was 
 attacked in Asia Minor by Tamerlane the Tartar, it might have 
 
 1 So called from Othman or Osman (1288-1326). From the latter the Turks get 
 their name Osmanlis. Othman was the first leader who was independent. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 627 
 
 gone hard with Christian Europe. At Angora, in central Asia 
 Minor, Bajazet was himself defeated and taken prisoner (1402). 
 But this was only a temporary setback, for the Turks recovered 
 their position and besieged Constantinople. The emperor vainly 
 appealed for aid to western Europe. After a heroic defense of 
 about two months, the city fell (1453), and for three days was 
 given up to pillage. The great cathedral of St. Sophia was turned 
 into a Mohammedan mosque, and ever since Constantinople has 
 been in Turkish hands. 
 
 103. Results of the Fall of the Eastern Empire. — Europe 
 was shocked at the great catastrophe, which she might by united 
 effort have prevented. Still some good resulted, for the Greek 
 scholars escaping from Moslem rule took with them their learning, 
 their language and literature, besides manuscripts of Greek authors, 
 and thus gave a new impetus to the development of thought and 
 culture already under way in the West.^ 
 
 The conquest of Constantinople made the Turks less of a 
 nomadic race, and gave them possessions in Europe which they 
 held for nearly five hundred years, to the great detriment of 
 southeastern Europe, besides being for a large part of that period 
 a menace to Christian civilization and development. 
 
 104. Turks in Europe. 1453-1481. — The Sultan Mohammed II 
 (1451-1481), an able man and shrewd ruler, was the real founder 
 of the Ottoman Empire. He gave his Christian subjects a district 
 of Constantinople to dwell in, and allowed them to preserve their 
 ecclesiastical organization under a Patriarch. Though he levied 
 a special tax on Christians, from a purely material point of view 
 they were not very much worse off than before the conquest. 
 The greatest cause of suffering was the tribute, at least as often as 
 every five years, of Christian boys who were seized by the Turks 
 to be educated as Moslems and trained as Turkish soldiers.- 
 
 1 It has too often been said that the fall of Constantinople introduced Greek 
 learning to the West, but this is very far from being the case; Greek learning was 
 already in Europe. 
 
 2 These men were called Janizaries. They were not allowed to marry and in 
 some ways resembled the military religious orders of the Christians. They usually 
 became fanatical Moslems and were the mainstay of the Turkish military. In 
 later times Turks joined the Janizaries. They were done away with in 1826. 
 
628 APPENDIX I 
 
 Mohammed II continued his conquests until at his death (1481) 
 the empire included all Asia Minor to the Euphrates, the Balkan 
 Peninsula as far as the Danube, and also Greece and most of the 
 islands of the ^gean Sea, and controlled the Black Sea. Under 
 some of his successors the Turks advanced still farther into Europe. 
 Not until late in the seventeenth century did the Ottoman power 
 begin steadily though very slowly to decHne. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE — 1500-1648 
 
 105. Extent of Christendom. 1500. — The change from 
 medieval thought and action to modern was gradual and was the 
 result of many influences, some of the principal of which have 
 already been mentioned. A brief review of Christendom at the 
 close of the fifteenth century (1500) is instructive. In the first 
 place the geographical extent was greatly less than it was at the 
 close of the seventh century (700). Palestine, Syria, Egypt, 
 northern Africa, the Balkan Peninsula, and Greece were all lost to 
 Christendom. The Turks were still triumphant, and all Europe 
 was in fear of a further advance. 
 
 The poHtical conditions showed a tendency toward consolida- 
 tion ; England, France, and Spain, after a long period of unrest, 
 domestic wars, and turbulence, had become strong nations, of which 
 England was the freest. The growth of commerce, trade, manu- 
 facturing, and wool raising in England testified to internal quiet, 
 and the foreign alliances of Henry VII indicated the international 
 position of the kingdom. 
 
 106. France. — France had the most centralized government, 
 and her monarch was almost absolute. But France was not a 
 compact nation in the sense that England was. The English 
 custom of treating the younger sons as commoners tended to do 
 away with, or at least very much to modify, feelings of caste, and 
 to promote the growth of an intelligent middle class — the most 
 valuable asset of a nation. In France all the children of nobles 
 were noble, and this created " a caste, numerous, poor in many 
 instances, and too proud to belitde themselves by entering any of 
 the professions or engaging in commerce." The exemption from 
 taxation which they enjoyed in earlier times on account of personal 
 feudal service was continued long after feudal service had come 
 to an end. The result was that practically all taxation was borne 
 
 629 
 
630 APPENDIX I 
 
 by the middle and lower classes and had become a grievous bur- 
 den. The church in France was more independent of Rome than 
 elsewhere, and its administration was based on plans suggested by 
 the Council of Basel (1438) which gave the king great power in 
 influencing the appointment of church officials. 
 
 107. Spain. — Spain had grown to be an almost absolute mon- 
 archy under Ferdinand and Isabella. Here, also, the monarchs 
 had great power in church affairs, and notwithstanding they were 
 called their "Most Catholic Majesties," they held the church in 
 Spain almost as much under their control as did the French mon- 
 arch. The Inquisition, established (1478) at their request by 
 Pope Sixtus IV, was perhaps used as often for strengthening the 
 civil despotism as for rooting out heresy, the avowed reason for 
 its estabhshment. 
 
 108. Germany. — •Notwithstanding the great number of states 
 into which Germany was divided,^ there was a popular desire 
 for German unity. While this was recognized and various 
 attempts were made to further it, they all ended in practical failure 
 because the princes, on the one hand, were unwilling to give up 
 any part of their independence ; and the emperor, on the other, 
 would not accept any plan which would involve control of the 
 emperor by the princes. 
 
 The emperors were nominally elective, but since 1438 had been 
 chosen from the house of Hapsburg, and, not unnaturally, regard- 
 ing their family possessions as the most important, lost no oppor- 
 tunity of securing and enlarging them. Over them they could and 
 did rule — over the empire their power was only nominal. 
 
 There was an Imperial Diet or assembly of three houses : one 
 composed of the electors, except the king of Bohemia ; one of 
 the princes, spiritual and lay ; and one of the imperial cities. But 
 owing to the rivalry and dissensions between these three and 
 between the Diet and the emperor little or no effective legislation 
 was enacted, and what was enacted could not be enforced. 
 
 1 As has been said, there were probably four hundred in all, and what added to 
 the difficulties of the situation, the possessions, even of a petty prince, often were 
 not contiguous, and the ruler was compelled to cross the domains of some other 
 ruler in order to visit all his own. This opened the way for endless quarrels. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTLNENTAL EUROPE 6^1 
 
 Neither was the Diet a true representative body, for neither the 
 lesser nobihty nor the people were represented (the few deputies 
 from the cities hardly made an exception). The system of 
 imperial justice was hopelessly ineffective. 
 
 109. Italy. — Italy was almost as badly cut up into petty states 
 as was Germany. The important states were Milan, Venice, and 
 Florence in the north, States of the Church in the center, and 
 Naples in the south. Sicily and the island of Sardinia were in the 
 hands of the king of Aragon. The jealousy and rivalry of the five 
 principal states were destructive of any unity, while the petty 
 states only increased the evil. Moreover, these divisions and 
 rivalries encouraged invasions from outside. 
 
 110. The Papacy. — The '' Captivity " of the Papacy at Avignon 
 (1309-1377), and the Great Schism (1378-1417), had seriously 
 weakened the power of the Popes over the States of the Church, 
 and there was every prospect of loss of territory. Loss of territory 
 meant loss of prestige, and, perhaps, coming under the dominion 
 of one of the other Italian states. The result was a series of Popes 
 (1471-1503) who sought constantly to regain their temporal 
 power. 
 
 Such was the political condition of Europe at the close of the 
 fifteenth century. But important movements had been in progress, 
 most of which have been already mentioned or referred to in the 
 history of England and in previous sections. 
 
 111. Inventions. — Two inventions introduced into Europe 
 during the crusades, and one in the fifteenth century, had an 
 enormous influence, and without them the Modern Age would have 
 been delayed we know not how long. These were gunpowder, 
 the mariner's compass, and the printing press. The origin and 
 date of the first two are uncertain ; the printing press, or printing 
 with movable types, is attributed both to Lourens Janszoon Coster 
 of Haarlem, Holland, and Johann Guttenberg of Mainz, Germany, 
 though to Guttenberg seems to belong the honor of making the in- 
 vention a practical one. The so-called Mazarin Bible, printed by 
 Guttenberg about 1456, remains one of the finest specimens of 
 typography. The first of these inventions, gunpowder, rendered 
 armor and fortified castles of litde use, and made a knight, as a 
 
632 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 fighter, no better than a common soldier, thus dealing a fatal blow 
 at the essentials of feudalism ; the second, the mariner's compass, 
 gave the explorer courage to strike out into the open sea on voyages 
 of discovery ; and the third, printing, was the means of diffusing 
 knowledge quickly and at slight expense, to which the earlier 
 invention of paper made from rags, a substitute for the expensive 
 parchment or vellum, greatly contributed.^ 
 
 112. Discovery. — The fifteenth century was an age of discovery. 
 The trade with the East, during and after the crusades, had been 
 monopolized by Italian cities. The nations farther west, particu- 
 larly Spain and Portugal, wished to have a share in this profitable 
 business,^ and sought for other routes. Moreover, the conquest of 
 Constantinople by the Turks threatened all Eastern trade. 
 
 The Portuguese were early in the search. This was due to the 
 influence of a Portuguese, Prince Henry the Navigator (1394- 
 1460). Though he does not seem to have undertaken any long 
 voyage himself, he took an active interest in explorations, begin- 
 ning when he was about thirty and continuing his efforts for thirty 
 years. Before his death (1460) the Portuguese had reached Cape 
 de Verde, and in i486, Bartholomew Diaz rounded the Cape of 
 Good Hope,^ and in 1498 Vasco da Gama not only rounded the 
 Cape, but crossed the Indian Ocean to India. Before this Colum- 
 bus, in the service of Spain, had discovered America (1492), and 
 fired the souls of the sailors of all Europe to discover new lands, 
 forever abolishing the fear of those dangers which had filled the 
 minds of earher mariners. The discovery of the all-sea route 
 to India not only made the Portuguese rich, but in time gave 
 them possessions in the far East.' Moreover, the trade of the 
 Italian cities was most seriously injured, and they lost the suprem- 
 acy they formerly possessed. The subsequent expeditions of 
 Cortez in Mexico (15 19) and Pizarro in Peru (1524) and others 
 brought vast wealth to Spain. The circumnavigation of the globe 
 
 1 It is said that forty-five copyists working for nearly two years produced only 
 about two hundred volumes of manuscripts for Cosmo de' Medici. 
 
 2 The articles chiefly desired were spices, which were much more used than 
 now, silks, ivory, gold, pearls, camphor, dyewoods, etc. 
 
 3 Diaz named it the Cape of Storms and Torments, but the king changed the 
 name to that by which it has ever since been called. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 633 
 
 by Magellan's ship (1519-1522) proved the rotundity of the earth 
 without question. The result of these voyages of discovery was 
 to broaden the minds of men, and to make them far more ready to 
 receive and adopt new views in every field of human endeavor.^ 
 
 113. Intellectual Activity. — The fifteenth century was an age 
 of great widening of all kinds of intellectual activity. This, be- 
 ginning in Italy, extended through Europe. The Italian Petrarch 
 (1304-13 74) was the great pioneer whose efforts led to the revival 
 of the study of the Greek and Roman classics, and to a revolution 
 in the methods of education. The old system with its emphasis 
 upon dialectic and logic was overturned, and the stress was laid 
 upon the literary side of education and that which pertained to 
 real life. The men who advocated this system have been called 
 " Humanists." The invention of the printing press allowed their 
 views and works to become widespread, while the clearness and 
 freshness of their teaching had greater and greater influence. 
 The study of Greek and Roman sculpture and architecture and 
 the influence of humanism led to that revival in painting and 
 sculpture the like of which has never been seen since. 
 
 The geographical discoveries, the humanistic influence, the rise 
 of a wealthy and independent burgher class, had their effect upon 
 the students of the realm of nature, which was studied in what is 
 now called a scientific spirit — that is, nature herself was investi- 
 gated, and observations made the basis of reasoning. Thus, not 
 only was the earth discovered to be round, but Copernicus (1473- 
 1543) demonstrated that the sun, not the earth, as had been held, 
 is the center of our system of planets.^ 
 
 114. Religious Unrest. — It was inevitable that along with the 
 changes and revolution in other fields that the realm of religious 
 thought and practice should be" included. Among the first fruits 
 in this field was Erasmus's edition of the Greek New Testament 
 (15 16), with a new Latin translation, thus bringing the book 
 freshly before the men in its original tongue, and with a fresh 
 
 1 England, as has been seen (History, § 224), sent out John Cabot (1497) but 
 did nothing more for a century. France did nothing till 1589. 
 
 2 He did not dare to publish this till near his death. His discovery had no in- 
 fluence on his own age, but is notable as an example of tlie intellectual workings 
 oi tlie times. 
 
634 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 translation into the literary language of the day.^ This work passed 
 through several editions and was widely read, exercising a great 
 influence in stimulating men to examine the claims of the church. 
 
 But there was already existing a strong hostility to the church 
 which had long been growing in strength. Among the causes of 
 this was the heavy ecclesiastical taxation of various kinds. Very 
 many persons believed that the funds so raised were used for the 
 personal advancement and pleasure of officials at Rome rather than 
 for the benefit of the church ; another was the manners and prac- 
 tices of many of the monks and clergy. The need of reform was 
 urgent ; the only question was should it be from within or without, 
 by reformation or revolution. Still another cause was that which 
 hascome down from earlier times — the clashing, especially in the 
 matter of revenue, between the temporal and the ecclesiastical 
 powers. To this the rise of strong national feeling contributed, 
 while the growth of personal independence so manifest in the 
 towns and commercial center^ added force. Indeed it may be 
 doubted whether the pohtical, social, and economic reasons did not 
 contribute more toward a revolution than the strictly religious.^ 
 
 115. The Protestant Revolution and Reformation. — The 
 social, political, and religious unrest and some of the causes which 
 might bring on a revolution have been mentioned. It was natural 
 that the beginnings of revolt against existing conditions should 
 come in Germany, for in that country society was less organized, 
 there was no strong central government, political power was more 
 widely distributed, and the population, as a whole, was worse off 
 than elsewhere. The first signs were the risings of the downtrod- 
 den peasants in the lands bordering upon Switzerland, the freedom 
 of whose inhabitants was a spur to action. These risings were 
 put down with suff'ering and bloodshed. 
 
 1 Hitherto the only accessible edition was that of the Vulgate — an early Latin 
 translation. 
 
 2 When it is remembered that marriage was celebrated exclusively by the church, 
 that clerics took charge of the dying, that they alone gave Christian burial, that wills 
 had to be proved in church courts, that clerics took charge of the goods of the dead 
 and distributed them, that they regulated many other matters of personal interest, 
 and that they tried alleged heretics and fixed their punishment, some idea of the 
 power of tb^e church may be gained. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 635 
 
 116. Indulgences. — The next movement, though connected 
 with the church, was closely associated with economic conditions. 
 The Roman court was in serious need of funds and large sums of 
 money for its benefit were collected in all countries. Leo X, 
 when chosen to the Papal chair, finding the treasury almost empty, 
 determined to raise funds by disposing of indulgences upon a 
 large scale.^ 
 
 117. Tetzel's Mission (15 17); Martin Luther; the Ninety-five 
 Theses. 15 1 7. — The chief agent appointed by Leo for disposing of 
 indulgences in Germany was a Dominican monk, John Tetzel, an 
 able man, and an eloquent speaker, but devoid of tact. Many 
 people, and especially the rulers, purely on economic grounds, were 
 opposed to this method of raising funds, because it took so much 
 money out of their dominions, making it increasingly difficult to 
 collect the needful civil taxes. Others continuing the earlier 
 objections to the use of indulgences, notably that of the Council 
 of Constance, protested on religious grounds. Among these was 
 the monk Martin Luther (1483-1546), a professor in the University 
 of Wittenberg. When Tetzel came to the neighborhood of Witten- 
 berg, Luther, on All Saints' Day (November i), 151 7, after the 
 fashion in those days, tacked upon the Church door ninety-five 
 theses or propositions attacking the whole system of indulgences, 
 and offering to defend these propositions against all comers. 
 Luther's theses were written in Latin, but were immediately trans- 
 lated into German, printed, and scattered over all Germany, 
 creating such an impression that the disposing of indulgences in 
 that country almost ceased. 
 
 118. Frederick the Wise and Luther. — Luther's action would 
 not have meant so much had he not been supported by his ruler, 
 the Elector of Saxony, known as Frederick the Wise, who had al- 
 ready forbidden Tetzel to come into his territory. Luther, more- 
 over, was the most celefcted professor at Wittenberg and its great- 
 est ornament. Frederick was the most respected ruler in Germany ; 
 he was one of the seven electors, and his influence was great. 
 
 119. The Pope and Luther. — The authorities at Rome did not 
 for some time appreciate the gravity of the situation. Even 
 
 1 These were in part to help in erecting the present church of St. Peter's at Rome. 
 
636 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 Luther himself did not for some time perceive where his course 
 was leading him. Luther held a public disputation (June, 15 19) 
 with John Eck, the ablest German defender of the papacy, the 
 chief result of which was to strengthen Luther in the position he 
 had taken, and to show him that he was no longer in harmony 
 with the church. He soon published two stirring tracts on the 
 religious and social conditions in Germany. In 1520 the Pope, 
 finding all efforts useless, issued a bull condemning Luther's theses 
 and books, and excommunicating him if he did not recant in sixty 
 days. This bull Luther publicly burnt outside the walls of 
 Wittenberg, December 10, 1520. This was open defiance. On 
 January 3, 15 21, another bull excommunicated him. 
 
 120. Election of an Emperor; Charles V. 15 19. — Meantime 
 the Emperor Maximilian had died (15 19). The three candidates 
 for the imperial crown were Charles of Spain, grandson of Maxi- 
 milian, and also grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain ; 
 Francis I of France ; and Henry VIII of England. The last two 
 had small chance, but though Charles was a Hapsburg, the electors 
 had serious objections to him on account of his great dominions, 
 and offered the crown to Frederick of Saxony, who declined the 
 honor. This action practically elected Charles, who was chosen. 
 He " united dominions vaster than any Europe had seen since the 
 days of his great namesake (Charlemagne). Spain and Naples, 
 Flanders, and other parts of the Burgundian lands, as well as large 
 regions in eastern Germany, obeyed Charles ; he drew vast rev- 
 enues from a new empire beyond the Atlantic ; " he thus became 
 the greatest monarch in Europe. 
 
 121 . Diet of Worms. 1 5 2 1 . — The first Diet of Charles V met 
 at Worms, Germany, in January, 15 21. Pope Leo appealed to 
 the emperor, asking him to send Luther to Rome for trial, but 
 Charles was persuaded to let Luther be heard in Germany, and 
 summoned him to Worms, promising him a safe-conduct. Luther 
 came, but refused to recant unless what he had said and done was 
 shown to be contrary to Scripture. He was permitted to depart, 
 but for the rest of his life he was under the ban of the empire, 
 that is, legally, he was an outlaw. To insure Luther's safety he 
 was seized on his return journey by his friends and taken to the 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 6^7 
 
 Castle of Wartburg, where he remained about a year, occupying 
 his time in translating the Bible from the original languages into 
 German.! -pj^g people paid little attention to the edict, and Luther 
 gained in popularity rather than lost. 
 
 122. Peasants' Rising. 15 24-1 5 25. —While Luther was in the 
 Wartburg the radical and wilder spirits came to the front and in 
 time brought about the Peasants' Rising (1524-15 25). The lot of 
 the German peasants was a hard one ; they were practically serfs. 
 It is Httle to be wondered at that, hopeless of betterment and in- 
 cited by wild leaders, they should rise in rebellion against all au- 
 thority, secular or clerical. Terrible deeds of violence were 
 committed, and not until about one hundred thousand lives had 
 been sacrificed was the rebellion put down.^ 
 
 123. Francis I and Charles V ; Henry VIII. — The whole course 
 of events during the following years was influenced by the personal 
 ambition of the great rulers. Francis I of France had conquered 
 Milan, which gave him an important point of advantage for any 
 designs he had upon Italy, where he claimed Naples. Charles 
 claimed that Milan belonged to the empire and resolved to expel 
 Francis. War began between the two, and the imperial troops 
 entered Milan (November, 152 1). Pope Leo X suddenly died ; 
 and instead of Wolsey, as he himself and Henry VIII hoped, 
 the emperor's old tutor was chosen Pope as Adrian VP (1522). 
 Adrian was a man of irreproachable character, and desirous of putting 
 an end to abuses, but he was not able to cope with the great diffi- 
 culties surrounding him. Perhaps for him it was just as well that 
 he lived only a few months. Again Henry and Wolsey were disap- 
 
 1 This is universally acknowledged as one of the best translations. It is in racy, 
 simple, forcible words, and has been the foundation of modern German. Before 
 its appearance the German language was made up of many dialects. 
 
 2 It might have been expected that Luther, himself a peasant's son, would have 
 actively sympathized with the peasants, but he did not. He clearly saw the hope- 
 lessness of the struggle, and the danger of mixing up the religious question with the 
 extreme demands of the peasants. He recommended arbitration, which was re- 
 fused, and, later, urged severe measures against the peasants. There can be little 
 doubt that his judgment was good, but one must regret the severity of his lan- 
 guage, and wish that he had shown more sympathy with the downtrodden. The 
 real authors of the troubles were those who had oppressed the peasants. 
 
 3 He kept his own name, which was unusual. 
 
638 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 pointed, for Giulio de' Medici was chosen, taking the name of 
 Clement VII. Francis I was defeated at Pavia (1525), and taken 
 prisoner and sent to Madrid. In 1526 Francis concluded a treaty 
 with Charles and was released. The Pope, who had made friends 
 with Francis, absolved him from his obligations, and an alliance 
 between Francis and the Pope followed. 
 
 124. Diet of Spires (1526); Charles V Crowned. 1530. — 
 Meanwhile the Diet of Spires was sitting. Charles was too busy to 
 take active measures against the supporters of Luther, neither did 
 he care to help the Pope, who had alHed himself with Francis, so the 
 Diet unanimously passed a decree (1526) that " Each prince should, 
 as regards the Edict of Worms, so live, rule, and bear himself as 
 he thought he could answer it to God and the emperor." This 
 left each ruler to do as he thought best, and was really the begin- 
 ning of states independent so far as religion was concerned, and 
 marks the division of Germany into Catholic and Protestant. 
 Peace was made between Francis and Charles in 1529, and in 
 1530 Charles was crowned emperor by the Pope, at Bologna, the 
 last emperor so crowned. 
 
 125. Second Diet of Spires (1529). "Protestants." Augsburg 
 Confession. 1530. — Meantime the Diet of the Empire met again 
 at Spires in 1529, and passed a decree practically reenacting the 
 Edict of Worms, and forbidding all further reform until a regular 
 council was summoned. Against this the Lutheran princes and 
 delegates made a protest, and were therefore called " Protestants." 
 
 The next year (1530) the Diet met at Augsburg, and Charles 
 himself, after nearly ten years' absence from Germany, was present. 
 To this Diet the Lutherans presented a statement of their belief, 
 drawn up by Melanchthon, known as the Augsburg Confession. 
 It was studiously moderate in tone and statement, but Charles was 
 unwilling to agree to anything except absolute submission. In 
 order to protect themselves the Protestants formed the " League of 
 ichmalkalden." ^ This was the actual beginning of the division 
 of Germany into two hostile camps. The result of the action of 
 Charles was ultimately the Thirty Years' War (1 618-1648). 
 
 1 So named from a small town in southern Saxony where the leaders met for 
 consultation. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 639 
 
 126. State of Germany. 1530. — There were three courses 
 other than force open to Charles, (i) compromise, (2) letting the 
 Protestants alone, (3) holding a general Council like that of Con- 
 stance. He inclined to the last, but the Pope, for some reason or 
 other, put off action. Compromise was attempted, but was found 
 to be impossible. The Schmalkalden League was too strong to 
 oppose at present, so matters were left and Protestantism made 
 rapid growth. Meantime an attack on Europe by the Turks di- 
 verted Charles's attention. Luther's great influence was thrown 
 against any appeal to arms, for he had a horror of war and a high 
 regard for civil order. Luther died in 1546. 
 
 127. Charles makes War on Protestants (1546) ; Peace of Augs- 
 burg. 1555. — Charles brought in Spanish troops and proceeded 
 to break up the Schmalkalden League by force. This action and 
 others roused the Germans, and the war continued until 1552. 
 In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg was concluded. The treaty con- 
 tained the famous words, cujus regio, ejus religio} This meant 
 that a prince might choose his religion and that all his subjects 
 must profess the same on pain of banishment. This was neither 
 religious liberty nor toleration, but it did recognize Lutheranism 
 as a legal religion in the empire, an important victory for the 
 Protestants as far as it went, for after this to excommunicate a 
 man for being a Lutheran would be to attack the emi)ire.- It 
 was faulty in that it was made wholly in the interests of the rulers ; 
 the people were left out of consideration. Neither was any pro- 
 vision made for any future change in conditions. Other matters 
 were disposed of ambiguously, opening the way for future trouble. 
 
 128. Abdication of Charles V (1555); Philip II. — Disappointed 
 at the failure of his plans, broken in health, perhaps for other 
 reasons also, Charles V abdicated in 1555, and retired to a mon- 
 astery in Spain. He did not, however, become a monk or sever 
 himself wholly from the world. He divided his vast dominions 
 between his son, Philip II of Spain, and his brother Ferdinand. 
 To the latter he gave the German possessions of the Hapsburgs ; 
 to his son he gave Spain, its American colonies, Milan, the king- 
 
 1 Literally, " whose the region, liis tlie relii,Mon." 
 
 2 It did not recognize the Swiss Reformers (Zwingliuns), or the Calvinists. 
 
640 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 dom of the Two Sicilies, and the Netherlands. Charles died in 
 
 1558. 
 
 129. Protestantism in France; " St. Bartholomew." 1572. — 
 Meantime France, under Francis I, was at first tolerant to the 
 new religious ideas, which spread rapidly — the French Protes- 
 tants being called Huguenots.^ But it was the theology of John 
 Calvin of Geneva which attracted the French. For poHtical rea- 
 sons Francis aUied himself with the Pope, and part of the agreement 
 was the suppression of heresy. Then came the persecution of 
 the Waldenses and others. His successor, Henry II, continued 
 the persecutions, but notwithstanding this the adherents of the 
 new faith increased, particularly in the south. Francis H (1559- 
 1560), the weak son of Henry It, and husband of Mary Stuart, 
 Queen of Scots, died within a year of his accession. He was suc- 
 ceeded by his brother Charles IX, a boy of ten years, whose 
 mother, Catherine de' Medici, was the real ruler. Her policy was 
 to set one party against the other, and therefore she tolerated the 
 Huguenots. The Catholic party, led by the family of the Guises, 
 resented this, and before long civil war broke out. In this Philip II 
 aided the Guises, and Elizabeth of England the Huguenots. For 
 over thirty years there was almost continual war carried on quite 
 as much from political rivalry as from religious conviction. Dur- 
 ing this period occurred at Paris the " massacre of Huguenots, on 
 St. Bartholomew's Day " (August 24, 1572). In other places simi- 
 lar scenes were enacted. Charles IX was succeeded by his brother 
 Henry III (15 74-1589), whose reign was a period of turmoil and 
 political intrigues. 
 
 130. Henry of Navarre. 1589-1610. — At the death of Henry HI 
 by assassination, the crown fell to Henry Bourbon, King of Navarre, 
 a Huguenot. The great majority of the French people were Catho- 
 lic, and that they should be ruled by a Protestant king was cer- 
 tainly in that day an anomaly, and scarcely to be endured. After 
 four years of conflict Henry, primarily for political motives, abjured 
 Protestantism and became a Catholic. 
 
 131. Edict of Nantes (1598) ; Work of Henry IV. — It was not 
 to be expected that Henry would ill-treat his former friends, the 
 
 1 The origin of the name is uncertain. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 641 
 
 Huguenots. Nor did he, for by the celebrated Edict of Nantes 
 (April 13, 1598) the Huguenots were given absolute freedom of 
 conscience with a somewhat qualified freedom of worship, and all 
 public positions were opened to them the same as to Catholics. 
 This was the first formal national act of religious toleration since 
 the days of Constantine.^ 
 
 Henry, with the aid of his great minister. Sully, strove to benefit 
 his people ; and under his beneficent rule France began to prosper 
 as she had not done for many years. Unfortunately for his coun- 
 try, Henry was assassinated by a fanatic (16 10). 
 
 132. Louis XIII (1610-1643); Richelieu. — Henry was suc- 
 ceeded by his son, Louis XIII, a boy of nine years (1610-1643). 
 For seven years France was misgoverned by his mother, Maria de' 
 Medici. Then Louis himself assumed the power (161 7), and in 
 1624 made Cardinal Richelieu his prime minister. Richelieu was 
 an extraordinarily able man, and for about eighteen years was not 
 only the real ruler of France, but exercised a vast influence over 
 all Europe. His objects were to make the crown absolute, and to 
 raise France to the position of the first power in Europe. In both 
 of these he was ultimately successful. The first step was to de- 
 stroy the political power of the Huguenots. These latter, since 
 the death of Henry IV, were doubtless a disturbing element. 
 Richelieu watched his opportunity and besieged La Rochelle. 
 Charles I of England sent a fleet to assist the Huguenots (His- 
 tory, § s^s)> t)ut it was unsuccessful, and in 1628 the city sur- 
 rendered. Richelieu confirmed the civil and religious privileges 
 given the Huguenots under the Edict of Nantes, but withdrew all 
 the special political ones. He also by various means put down 
 the restless and independent nobility, and in every way strength- 
 ened the royal power, so that France became the most centralized 
 government in Europe. 
 
 133. Richelieu's Foreign Policy. — The settlement of domestic 
 affairs left him at hberty to pursue his other object, that of making 
 
 1 In Paris and some other places Protestant worship was forbidden. Henry, 
 perhaps from necessity, gave the Huguenots certain fortified towns, among them 
 La Rochelle and Nimes. This introduced a political element, which later caused 
 Richelieu to attack the Huguenots on political grounds. 
 
642 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 France the chief power in Europe. His great rival was Spain. 
 To attack the Hapsburgs was to weaken Spain, and so he sup- 
 ported the German Protestants, both with money and troops. The 
 result was, though Richelieu did not live ^ to see the completion 
 of his plans, that France not only attained the first place in Europe 
 but gained as well territory (Alsace) which she held for more than 
 two hundred years (1871). 
 
 134. The Netherlands. — The Netherlands, comprising nearly 
 what is now Belgium and Holland, passed with Mary of Burgundy 
 to the Hapsburgs on her marriage with Maximilian (§ 93), 
 and was inherited by Charles of Spain (the Emperor Charles V). 
 The seventeen provinces were inhabited by peoples of different 
 race and language, and were simply a collection of small states. 
 In the southern portions the government was oligarchical, in the 
 northern more nearly democratic. Each province had its own 
 government and its own social and political institutions. That 
 these provinces were grouped together was due to the fact that 
 the Dukes of Burgundy had gained them singly. Efforts had been 
 made from time to time to establish a definite union, a policy 
 which Charles V steadily followed. 
 
 135. Protestantism in the Netherlands. — Where there was so 
 much independence, as was the case in the northern provinces, it 
 was natural that Protestantism should have made great headway. 
 Charles, from political rather than rehgious motives, tried to crush 
 out heresy. When Charles abdicated (1555), he gave the Nether- 
 lands to his son, Philip H. 
 
 Philip resolved to reduce the turbulent provinces to obedience 
 and to extirpate heresy. To carry out this plan he sent (1567) as 
 his agent the Duke of Alva, an able general and " remorseless " 
 man, investing him with supreme control in both political and re- 
 hgious affairs. The very reputation of Alva was enough to send 
 thousands to England, where their looms manufactured such cloth 
 as had given Flemish weavers a European reputation. 
 
 Alva's rule justified his reputation. He himself boasted later 
 that he had put more than eighteen thousand to death. Probably 
 the annals of no other country can reveal greater or more refined 
 
 i Richelieu died 1642. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 643 
 
 re- 
 in 
 
 cruelty. His action was based on political quite as much as on 
 ligious grounds, but it is for his cruelty and vindictiveness 
 rehgious persecution that he is chiefly remembered. 
 
 The people endured Phihp's rule for ten years. Catholics as well 
 as Protestants had protested against the Spanish exactions, but in 
 vain, Alva was the answer. Already a league had been formed to 
 make resistance. It needed but little more to make a revolt. 
 Alva's plan was to put the leaders out of the way, and so he con- 
 stituted, by his own authority, a special tribunal to try suspicious 
 cases. This soon came to be known as the " Council of Blood." 
 
 136. William of Orange. — Wilham of Orange, Count of Nas- 
 sau, had been a faithful servant of Charles V, but the oppressive 
 Spanish rule drove him to the other side. He became a Protes- 
 tant and the leader of the revolt. Known as William the Silent, 
 he holds a high place in history as one who, against almost hope- 
 less odds, undertook to deliv^er his people from tyranny. Natu- 
 rally, his strongest support was found in the northern provinces, 
 whose inhabitants were mostly Protestant. Gathering a small 
 army, he began the struggle in 1568. 
 
 137. Alva ; Elizabeth ; Dutch Republic. 1572. — Alva determined 
 to support the war by taxes levied in the country itself This 
 almost destroyed trade and manufacturing, and drove the Catho- 
 lics of the south to join with the Protestants of the north. About 
 1569, WilHam gave letters of marque to some corsairs, part Dutch 
 and part Enghsh, who roved the North Sea. As the Spanish access 
 to the Netherlands was by sea, these rovers, or " Sea Beggars," as 
 they were called, inflicted lasting injury on Spanish commerce. 
 Elizabeth of England, so long as there was reason to fear Spain, 
 allowed these freebooters to take shelter and sell their spoils in 
 England ; but as Spain became more closely occupied with the 
 revolt, and France more engrossed with her religious wars, she 
 had Htde to fear from either, and not wishing to get into war, de- 
 chned to continue the privileges. Upon this the leader of the 
 freebooters seized Brille, a seaport of the Netherlands, in the name 
 of William the Stadtholder. This is regarded as the real begin- 
 ning of the Dutch Republic, April i, 1572. 
 
 At last, after six years of tyranny, Alva was recalled. Moderate 
 
644 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 men were sent, who were able to detach the southern provinces 
 from the northern.^ But the northern held out, and in 1579 seven 
 provinces formed the Union of Utrecht, and two years later (1581) 
 declared themselves independent. In 1584, while in his own 
 house at Delft, William was assassinated by a fanatic. 
 
 138. Elizabeth's Policy ; Spanish Armada (1588) ; Dutch Inde- 
 pendence. 1609. — Elizabeth, in her relations with the Dutch, fol- 
 lowed her usual policy of playing fast and loose as suited her plans. 
 At last she decided to assist them, and sent her favorite, the Earl 
 of Leicester, with troops to Holland (1585). The states needing 
 a governor-general had already offered the position to Elizabeth, 
 but she had declined ; now they offered it to Leicester, who ac- 
 cepted it without consulting EHzabeth. Angry that he should have 
 taken this step without her approval, she refused for some time to 
 recognize the appointment. Leicester was unfitted for the posi- 
 tion, and EHzabeth finally recalled him (1587). Incapable as 
 Leicester was, his failure was in no small degree due to the vacil- 
 lating and underhand measures of Elizabeth herself, who used the 
 Netherlands to further her own ends.^ 
 
 Philip, weary of the course of Elizabeth, beHeved that if he 
 could conquer her, most of his difficulties would be solved, and so 
 set about the preparation of the Armada, of which an account is 
 given elsewhere (History, §§ 322-324). The disaster which be- 
 fell the expedition decisively influenced the course of events in the 
 Netherlands, for Philip was so much weakened that it was impos- 
 sible for him to carry on the contest with vigor. In 1609, a 
 twelve years' truce was agreed upon between Spain and the 
 United Provinces, by the terms of which the independence of the 
 latter was acknowledged and freedom of trade granted. In 1648, 
 by the Treaty of Westphalia, their independence was confirmed. 
 
 139. Reformation within the Church. — The need of reform in 
 the church was obvious to all thinking men in the fifteenth and 
 sixteenth centuries, but it was not till about the middle of the 
 
 1 It should be remembered that the southern provinces were different from the 
 northern in race, language, and religion. It was Alva's tyranny which had united 
 them. 
 
 2 It was during this campaign that Sir Philip Sidney, the flower of the English 
 nation, lost his life near Zutphen. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 645 
 
 sixteenth century that active steps were taken to better conditions. 
 That which came to pass, often called, though not accurately, the 
 "Counter Reformation," was due to several causes. Three of 
 the most important are : (i) the formation of the Society of 
 Jesus, whose members are known as Jesuits; (2) the Council 
 of Trent; (3) the Inquisition. 
 
 140. Loyola; Society of Jesus. — (i) The founder of the So- 
 ciety of Jesus was Ignatius Loyola (born 1491), a Spanish noble- 
 man. He was a soldier who, through a severe wound, liad been 
 rendered incapable of military service. Deeply impressed by read- 
 ing certain " Lives of the Saints," he resolved to establish a religious 
 army to fight the enemies of religion and to enter upon missionary 
 service to convert the heathen. 
 
 He prepared himself carefully for his work, and in 1534 founded 
 his society. The Pope, Paul III, at first held aloof, but afterward 
 gave the enterprise his approval. The society was organized like 
 a military army, absolute obedience to the superior being required 
 from the members. The head was a general. All the members 
 were required to take a vow of obedience to the Pope. The order 
 soon became a great power. Not only were its members mis- 
 sionaries and preachers, but they established some of the best 
 schools in Europe. They became able diplomats, and shrewd in 
 political craft; they were skillful propagandists, and, through their 
 efforts, many prominent men were brought back to Catholicism, 
 and lukewarm advocates made strong supporters of it. So suc- 
 cessful were they that nearly all southern Germany, and France, 
 and all Italy, Spain, and Poland became definitely Catholic, and 
 not a few in northern Germany gave in their adherence to the 
 old church. The faithfulness and zeal of the Jesuit missionaries 
 in America, Asia, and elsewhere is worthy of admiration. 
 
 141. Council of Trent. 1545-1563. — (2) The Popes had hesi- 
 tated, as has been seen, to call a general council of the church, 
 possibly fearing that their power might in some way be curtailed. 
 But at last Pope Paul III gave way to the wishes of the emperor, 
 and after two or three delays a council met December 13, 1545, 
 at Trent, in Italy, but near the bounds of Germany. The council 
 was under Italian and papal control from the beginning. 
 
646 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 There was much discussion and debating; in 1547 the council 
 was removed to Bologna, and was suspended in 1549. It was 
 summoned again to Trent in 155 1, but was suspended the next 
 year. It was not called together again until 1562, and closed 
 finally in 1563. No Protestants shared in its deliberations, and 
 so it was not representative of the whole Christian church in 
 Europe, as the emperor had hoped would be the case.^ 
 
 The results of the council were far reaching : Catholic doctrine 
 was, for the first time, carefully formulated in statements which 
 had to be accepted by church members. The authority of the 
 Pope was greatly strengthened, the value of tradition emphasized, 
 and tradition itself placed on an equality with Scripture. A genu- 
 ine reform in the life and v^ork of the clergy was instituted ; and 
 the Pope was authorized to draw up a list of books to be pro- 
 hibited on account of their heretical teachings.^ Much other im- 
 portant action was taken, and the Church of Rome to-day is in 
 many respects largely what the Council of Trent made it. 
 
 142. Inquisition. — (3) Among other things, the Council of 
 Trent extended the Inquisition to other countries than Spain, and 
 it became a great instrument in discovering and uprooting heresy. 
 In Spain and parts of Italy it was successful, but it failed in the 
 Netherlands. 
 
 143. State of Germany. 1618. — Perhaps no period in history 
 is more difficult to describe with clearness than that known as the 
 Thirty Years' War. In it religious and political motives, national 
 rivalry, personal selfishness and personal ambition, and greed for 
 plunder are so mingled that it is impossible to separate them. 
 The one man who stands out worthy of commendation — the only 
 real hero — is Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. 
 
 Germany in 16 18 consisted of about four hundred states united 
 in a very loose confederation, and the Holy Roman Empire — 
 whose head was elected for life. In addition to the natural fric- 
 tion resulting from the political situation, there was the friction 
 
 1 From this time the title Roman Catholic Church has been frequently used to 
 designate the Church of Rome. No other council was held until the Vatican 
 Council in 1869-1870. 
 
 2 This is known as the Index Expurgatorius. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 647 
 
 arising from differences of religion, not only between Catholic and 
 Protestant, but also between Protestant sects. The religious peace 
 of Augsburg (1555) had been both a postponement of trouble and 
 a cause of irritation. The Protestants were most numerous in the 
 north, the Catholics in the south. 
 
 144. Bohemia ; Beginning of the War. 16 18. — After 1438 the 
 head of the empire had always been a member of the house of 
 Hapsburg, who ruled Austria. He also ruled Hungary, and at 
 this time was king of Bohemia as well. The Emperor Matthias 
 (1612-1617) was childless, and wished a cousin, Ferdinand of 
 Styria, to succeed him. In the negotiations relating to this plan 
 Bohemia and Hungary, both elective monarchies, were promised 
 to Ferdinand, who was a strong Catholic. The Bohemian nobles, 
 who were Protestants, fearful of injury to the Protestant cause and 
 themselves, after appealing in vain to Matthias, sent an armed 
 deputation to Prague. Charging the two unpopular regents with 
 being the cause of the emperor's position, they threw them out 
 of the window of the castle.^ This act (May 23, 16 18) is usually 
 taken as the beginning of the Thirty Years' War. The revolution 
 was ill-advised. The Bohemian nobles were not united, the peo- 
 ple had no wish to bear the cost of war, and the effort would have 
 amounted to little had not Christian of Anhalt, an able man, but 
 destitute of foresight and political judgment, determined to aid 
 the Bohemian rebels. He was joined by Frederick V,^ Elector 
 Palatine, the young son-in-law of James I of England. There are 
 four distinct periods of the war: (i) the Bohemian; (2) the 
 Danish; (3) the Swedish ; (4) the French. 
 
 145. (i) Frederick, King of Bohemia. 1619. — The Emperor 
 Matthias died in 1691, and pending the election of his successor, 
 the Bohemian nobles, claiming the right of election, chose F>ed- 
 erick, the Elector Palatine, as king of Bohemia.'^ Frederick 
 
 1 Though the fall was about seventy feet into the fosse, or ditch, the men were 
 not seriously injured. 
 
 2 Frederick had married (1613) when only seventeen the Princess Elizabeth 
 of England. The capital of the Palatinate was Heidelberg; its castle, now one of 
 the most beautiful ruins in Europe, was the electoral residence. Elizabeth was 
 the mother of Prince Rupert of Civil War fame, and George I of England was her 
 grandson. ^ Frederick was only twenty-three. 
 
648 APPENDIX I 
 
 most unwisely accepted before ascertaining whether the Protestant 
 powers — England, Netherlands, and the Protestant rulers in Ger- 
 many — would support him. As a matter of fact, they held aloof. 
 Ferdinand was chosen emperor (16 19). Pie was a strong man, 
 but narrow-minded, and determined to restore the empire to its 
 former limits, and make it wholly Catholic. 
 
 The English people were strongly in favor of aiding Frederick, 
 both as a Protestant and as the husband of an Enghsh princess. 
 James I, timid by nature, dilatory, and having an exalted opinion 
 of his power as a diplomat, would take no active measures, and 
 so, with the exception of allowing some volunteers to go to the 
 Continent (History, § 351), nothing was done. 
 
 146. Defeat of Frederick. 1620. — The Catholic rulers in Ger- 
 many naturally supported Ferdinand in his campaign to defeat 
 Frederick. A short but decisive battle was fought near Prague 
 (November 8, 1620), in which Frederick's forces were routed in 
 about an hour, and he was forced to fly. This was bad enough, 
 but in 1 62 1 the Duke of Bavaria invaded and seized the Upper 
 Palatinate, and a Spanish army conquered the Lower Palatinate 
 (1622), so Frederick lost not only the crown of Bohemia, but all 
 his hereditary possessions as well, and became an exile for the rest 
 of his life. Owing to the shortness of his reign he is often called 
 the "Winter King." 
 
 147. (2) The War; Wallenstein. — From this time Northern 
 Germany was little more than a battle ground. The invasion of 
 the imperial troops at length frightened the Protestants, and Chris- 
 tian of Denmark, who, as Duke of Holstein, had great interest in 
 the affairs of northern Germany, resolved to intervene. The em- 
 peror was without an army for North Germany, but Wallenstein,^ 
 a Bohemian soldier of fortune, who had managed to secure large 
 estates in Bohemia, offered to raise an army for the emperor at his 
 own expense, and promising that if he were allowed to levy contri- 
 butions on the countries occupied, the maintenance of the army 
 would not cost the emperor anything. Mansfield, the general of 
 the Protestant forces, had supported his army by plunder ; Tilly, 
 the commander of the Catholic League, had not been much better, 
 
 1 His real name was Albert of Waldstein. 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 
 
 649 
 
 and Wallenstein's plan, though more plausible, was practically the 
 same. Ferdinand, who had to choose between Wallenstein and 
 doing nothing, chose Wallenstein. Christian was defeated, and 
 northern Germany became a prey to Wallenstein and his army. 
 The emperor issued what is known as the Edict of Restitution 
 (1629), which restored all ecclesiastical possessions to the Catho- 
 lics. This was the political turning point of the war for its sever- 
 ity stirred up opposition. 
 
 148. (3) GustavusAdolphus. 1630. — But in 1630 another ele- 
 ment was introduced. Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, a 
 strong Protestant, the ablest general of his time, entered Germany 
 with an army restrained by severe discipline. Two motives, per- 
 haps with equal force, impelled Gustavus — the one, to defend the 
 cause of Protestantism; the other to extend the domains of 
 Sweden. 
 
 He was almost uniformly successful, and he marched through a 
 large part of Germany. Wallenstein, who had been dismissed by 
 the emperor, was recalled, and the two greatest generals of the 
 whole war met at Liitzen, Saxony (November 16, 1632). The 
 battle was long and bloody. Wallenstein was defeated, but the 
 Swedish hero, Gustavus, was slain. 
 
 149. War Continues; England. — The war, however, was not 
 ended. The Protestant princes, notwithstanding all that Germany 
 had suffered, were still divided, and the emperor was too weak 
 to accomplish much. The war became a guerrilla conflict, and 
 soldiers pillaged the land and committed terrible atrocities. 
 Wallenstein, who had extensive plans for a united Germany, 
 entered into negotiations, now with Richelieu, now with the Prot- 
 estants, and in consequence became distrusted by the emperor 
 and by the Catholics. In 1634 he was assassinated. 
 
 England had not been simply a spectator, James I had tried 
 to support Mansfield. In 1624 he sent ambassadors to the king 
 of Denmark and to Gustavus Adolphus, urging them to help the 
 course of Protestantism in Germany, and restore Germany to its 
 former state. The kings had litde confidence in James, and the 
 negotiations amounted to litde. In 1625 James died, and Charles I 
 agreed to help the King of Denmark by sending funds. Some 
 
650 
 
 APPENDIX I 
 
 money was sent, but Parliament, distrusting Charles and not liking 
 to send money to Germany, refused to make appropriations, and 
 Charles was helpless. 
 
 150. (4) France and Richelieu. — The part Richelieu played in 
 the conflict has already been referred to. That Germany should 
 be united into one strong power menacing France could not be 
 endured. Spain ruled by Hapsburgs, aided the emperor, so Spain 
 was an enemy of France. Therefore Richelieu helped the Prot- 
 estants. The Spanish Netherlands were invaded (1635), ^^^ ^^^^^ 
 the death of Gustavus Adolphus the Swedish army in time came 
 under the control of France. RicheHeu died in 1642, but his suc- 
 cessor, the astute Mazarin, continued his policy. The war went 
 on, the emperor and his allies steadily losing. Long before this 
 the conflict had become a strife for mastery between France, and 
 Spain and the emperor. 
 
 151 . Peace of Westphalia. 1 648. — At last all parties were weary, 
 and negotiations began in 1644. So difficult were the problems to 
 be settled that it was not until 1648 that the Treaty of Westphalia 
 was agreed upon and signed. Under the terms of this treaty 
 Europe was administered till the French Revolution (1789). As 
 in previous negotiations, all was done in the interests of princes, 
 and the people received little or no consideration. The principal 
 of cujus regio ejus religio (§ 125) was observed, except that 
 Calvinism was recognized. A prince, whether Catholic or 
 Protestant, if he chose, could force his subjects to adopt his religion 
 or be banished from their homes. It must be said, however, that 
 conditions were far different from those in 1555 (Peace of Augs- 
 burg) ; now, practically every one was sick of disputes and fight- 
 ings, the desire of gaining proselytes was driven out by the stern 
 and awful lessons of war, and peace was longed for above all else. 
 
 152. Results of the War. — The accounts of the ravages of the 
 war are too dreadful to repeat. Even the soldiers fared hardly. 
 " No careful surgeon passed over the battle field to save Hfe or 
 Hmb. No hospitals received the wounded to the tender nursing of 
 loving gentle hands. Recruits were to be bought cheaply, and it 
 cost less to enrol a new soldier than to cure an old one." 
 
 The extent of the devastation is almost past belief; lands lay 
 
BRIEF HISTORY OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE 65 1 
 
 uncultivated where there had been thousands of happy laborers ; 
 cities and towns were more than decimated ; the prosperous city of 
 Augsburg, which in 16 18 had eighty thousand inhabitants, in 1648 
 had but sixteen thousand ; indeed, above two thirds of the popu- 
 lation of Germany are said to have disappeared. Hundreds of 
 villages were completely wiped out. But even worse than all this, 
 was the moral decline of the community. It took Germany a 
 century or more to recover from the effects of this awful period of 
 brutal warfare. 
 
 Politically, Germany remained a collection of about four hun- 
 dred independent states. The empire was a name rather than a 
 reality, and the Diet had little or no authority. Germany contin- 
 ued to be " a geographical expression " for two centuries. France, 
 under Louis XIV, was the chief power in Europe, one with which 
 all the rest of Europe had to reckon. 
 
 From this time, the affairs of northern and central Europe and 
 of Italy are too much in detail to follow in a brief general sketch, 
 while those of Austria, France, and Spain are, so far as they re- 
 late to England, discussed elsewhere. 
 
APPENDIX II 
 
 The following list contains all the works referred to in the text, 
 with a few others. For more extended bibliographies teachers 
 and readers are referred to Andrews, Gambrill, and Tall, A Bibli- 
 ography of History for Schools and Libraries, Longman's, N. Y., 
 191 o. 60 cents. 
 
 LIST OF BOOKS FOR COLLATERAL READING AND 
 REFERENCES 
 
 I. SOURCE BOOKS 
 
 Cheyney, E. p. : Readings in English History. Ginn, Boston. ^1.80. 
 Colby, C. W. : Selections from the Sources of Efiglish History, B C. ^^-A.D. 
 
 1832. Longmans, N. Y. ^1.50. 
 Kendall, E. K. : Source-Book of English History. Macmillan, N. Y. 80 
 
 cents. 
 Lee, G. C. : Source-Book of English History. Holt, N. Y. ^2.00. 
 
 Cannon, H. L. : Beading References for English History. Ginn, Boston. 
 
 $ 2.50. 
 
 (This work contains a vast store of references, but can only be used to 
 advantage where a large library is available.) 
 Robinson, J. H. : Readings in European History. 2 vols. Vol. i. From 
 
 the Breaking tp of the Roman Empire to the Frotestant Revolt ; vol. 2, 
 
 From the Opening of the Protestant Revolt to the Present Day. Ginn, 
 
 Boston. $ 1.50 each. 
 Ogg, F. a. : A Source-Book of Mediccval History. Amer. Book Co., N.Y. 
 
 $1.50. 
 
 2. GENERAL HISTORIES 
 
 Cheyney, E. P. : Industrial ana Social History of England. Macmillan, 
 
 N.Y. ^1.40. 
 Gardiner, S. R. : Student's History of England from the Earliest Times to 
 
 188^. Illustrated. 3 vols. I3.60, or bound in one volume, $3.00. 
 
 Longmans, N. Y. 
 Green, J. R. : A Short History of the English People. American Book Co., 
 
 N.Y. $ 1.20, and other editions. 
 
 652 
 
LIST OF BOOKS 653 
 
 Terry, Benjamin : History of England from the Earliest Times to the Death 
 of Queen Victoria. Scott, Foresman Co., Chicago, 1901. $2.00. 
 
 Tout, T. F. : An Advanced History of Great Britain. Longmans, N. V. 
 $ 1.50. 
 
 Traill, H. D. : Social England to iSSj. 6 vols. Puinams, N. V. $21.00. 
 
 ACLAND AND Ransome: English Political History in Outline, gth ed. Long- 
 mans, N. Y. 1906. $2.00. 
 
 (Strictly chronological, with brief references to foreign affairs. Fully 
 indexed. A valuable book of reference fur the teacher.) 
 
 ^0^\^^Q)^,].Yi.: History of Western Europe. Ginn, Boston. 2 vols. $2.00. 
 
 Hazen, C. D. : Europe since 18 ij. Holt, N. Y. $3 co. 
 (A well-written and interesting book.) 
 
 3. SPECIAL BERIODS 
 
 Early Britain Series, S. P. C. K. or E. S. Gorham, N. Y. $ i.oo to $ 1.25 each. 
 Rhys, J. : Celtic Britain ; Scarth: Roman Britain ; Allen, G : Anglo- 
 Saxon Britain; CoLLiNGWOOi) : Scandinavian Britain; Hint, W. : 
 Norman Britain. 
 
 Epoch Series. Longmans, N. Y. $1.00 each. Johnson, A. H. : The Nor- 
 mans in Europe ; Stubbs, W. : The Early Plantagenets ; Gairdner, J. : 
 Lancaster and York ; Seebohm, F. : Era of the Protestant Revolution ; 
 Creighton, M. : Age of Elizabeth; Gardiner, S. R. : The Puritan 
 Revolution. 
 
 Green, J. R. : The Making of England. Harpers, N. Y. $2.50. 
 
 Jessop, A. : The Coming of the Friars, and Other F.ssays. Putnams, N. Y. 
 j^l.25. 
 
 Macaulay, T. B. : History of England, Chapter III. Many editions, 
 
 Macaulay, T. B. : Essays. Lord Clive ; William Pitt, Earl of Chatham ; 
 Warren Hastings. Many editions. 
 
 4. ATLASES 
 Shepherd, W. R. : ///V(7;'?V<7/ .-///rt'j. Holt, 1912. $2.50. 
 
 The best handy atlas; unusually clear maps and full index. 
 Gardiner, S. R. : Atlas of English History. Longmans, N. Y. $ 1.50. 
 MuiR, R.: New School Atlas of Modern History, Holt, X. Y., 191 1. 31.25. 
 
 The best cheap atlas of the kind. 
 
 5. HISTORICAL FICTION 
 Baker, E. A.: IListory in Fiction, etc. English Fiction. (Routledge.) 
 
 E. P. Button & Co., N. Y. 75 cents. 
 Baker, K. A. : Guide to Historical Fiction, Macmillan, N. Y. 191 3. $6.co. 
 Buckley and Williams : Guide to British Historical Fiction. 1 larrap & Co. 
 
 London, 1902, 
 
APPENDIX III 
 
 IMPORTANT DATES IN ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 BRITAIN BEFORE THE COMING OF THE ENGLISH 
 
 Caesar's first expedition to Britain. 
 
 Caesar's second expedition to Britain. 
 
 Beginning of Roman conquest of Britain. 
 
 Agricola's government of Britain. 
 
 Hadrian's wall built between the Solway and Tyne. 
 
 Severus restored wall of Hadrian. 
 
 Roman troops withdrawn from Britain. 
 
 ENGLAND BEFORE THE NORMAN CONQUEST 
 
 55 B.C. 
 
 
 54 . 
 
 
 41 A.D. 
 
 
 78-81 
 
 
 121 
 
 
 209 . 
 
 
 410 . . 
 
 
 449-586 . . . 
 
 First English Settlement of Britain. 
 
 597 . . . . 
 
 Landing of St. Augustine. 
 
 827 . . . . 
 
 Egbert becomes king of all England. 
 
 787 (about) 
 
 The Danish invasions begin. 
 
 871-901 . . . 
 
 Alfred's reign. 
 
 991 . . . . 
 
 Danegeld first paid. 
 
 1016-1035 . . 
 
 Cnut (Canute) first Danish king. 
 
 1016 . . . . 
 
 Edmund Ironside. 
 
 I 042-1 066 . . 
 
 Edward the Confessor. 
 
 1066 . . . . 
 
 Harold II. 
 
 1966, October . 
 
 Battle of Hastings. 
 
 EN( 
 
 iLAND UNDER NORMAN KINGS 
 
 1066-1087 . 
 
 William the Conqueror. 
 
 1085-1086 . 
 
 Domesday Book. 
 
 1087-1100 . 
 
 William II. 
 
 1093 . . . 
 
 Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 1100-1135 . 
 
 Henry I. 
 
 1 100 ... 
 
 First charter. 
 
 1135-1154 . 
 
 Stephen of Blois. 
 
 1153 . . . 
 
 . Treaty of Wallingford. 
 
 
 654 
 
IMPORTANT DATES IX ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 655 
 
 ENGLAND UNDER PLANTAGENET KINGS 
 
 I I 54-1 189 
 
 . . Henry II, of Anjou. 
 
 II54 . . 
 
 . . Becket chancellor. 
 
 1 162 . . 
 
 . . Becket Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 1 164 . . 
 
 . . Constitutions of Clarendon. 
 
 1170, Deceml 
 
 Der Bucket murdered. 
 
 1171 . . 
 
 . English rule in Ireland begins. 
 
 1176 . . 
 
 . . Circuit judges established. 
 
 1189-1199 
 
 . Richard I. 
 
 1 199-1 216 
 
 . John. 
 
 1206 . . 
 
 . . Stephen Langton Archbishop. 
 
 1213 . . 
 
 . John's homage to Pope Innocent III. 
 
 1215 . . 
 
 . Magna Charta. 
 
 1216-1272 
 
 . Henry m. 
 
 1258 . . 
 
 . Provisions of Oxford. 
 
 1264 . . 
 
 . Battle of Lewes. 
 
 1265 . . 
 
 . Battle of Evesham. 
 
 1265 . . 
 
 . Beginning of the House of Commons. 
 
 I 272-1 307 
 
 . Edward I. 
 
 1276-1284 
 
 . Conquest of Wales. 
 
 1290 . . . 
 
 . Jews ordered to leave England. 
 
 1295 . . . 
 
 . Edward invades Scotland. First Complete Parliament. 
 
 1297 . . 
 
 . Confirmation of the charters. 
 
 1307-1327 . 
 
 . Edward II. 
 
 1314 . . . 
 
 . Battle of Bannockburn. 
 
 1327-1377 • 
 
 . Edward in. 
 
 1338 . • . 
 
 . Hundred Years' \Yar begins. 
 
 1340 . . . 
 
 . Battle of Sluys. 
 
 1346 . . . 
 
 . Battle of Crecy. 
 
 1347 . • • 
 
 . Capture of Calais. 
 
 1 348- 1 349 . 
 
 . The Black Death. 
 
 1349 . • . 
 
 . First Statute of Laborers. 
 
 1356 . . . 
 
 . Battle of Poitiers. 
 
 1362 . . . 
 
 English language used in law courts. 
 
 I 377-1 399 • 
 
 . Richard II. 
 
 1381 . . . 
 
 . The Peasant's revolt. Wycliffe's Bible. 
 
 ENGLAND UNDER HOUSES OF LANCASTER AND YORK 
 
 1399-1413 
 1403 . . 
 1413-1422 
 1414 . . 
 
 Henry IV. 
 
 Battle of Shrewsbury. 
 Henry V. 
 
 Lollard rising. 
 
656 
 
 APPENDIX III 
 
 1415, October 
 1422-1461 
 1429 . , 
 1431 . 
 
 1449 . . 
 
 1450 . , 
 1453 • ■ 
 
 [483 
 
 1455 
 1461- 
 
 1466 . . 
 
 1471 . . 
 
 1477 . • 
 
 1483 . . 
 I 483- I 485 
 
 1485 . . 
 
 Battle of Agincourt. 
 
 Henry VI. 
 
 English defeated at Orleans. Joan of Arc. 
 
 " Joan of Arc " burned at Rouen. 
 
 Normandy lost by English. 
 
 Jack Cade's (Yorkist) rising. 
 
 Hundred Years' War ends. Loss of all French territory, 
 
 except Calais. 
 Wars of the Roses begin. 
 Edward IV. 
 
 Henry VI prisoner in Tower. 
 
 Edward IV wins battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury. 
 Caxton introduces printing. 
 Edward V, king, and murdered. 
 Richard III. 
 Battle of Bosworth; end of the Wars of the Roses. 
 
 ENGLAND UNDER THE TUDORS 
 
 I485-I509 
 
 . Henry VII. 
 
 i486 . . 
 
 . Star Chamber. 
 
 1492 . . 
 
 Perkin Warbeck's revolt. 
 
 1492 . . 
 
 . America discovered. 
 
 1502 . . 
 
 . Princess Margaret marries James IV of Scotland. 
 
 I 509-1 547 
 
 . Henry Vm. 
 
 1513-1529 
 
 . Wolsey in power. 
 
 1513 . • 
 
 . Battle of Flodden Field. 
 
 1529 . . 
 
 . Fall of Wolsey. 
 
 I 533-1 540 
 
 . Thomas Cromwell in power. 
 
 1534 . • 
 
 . Act of Supremacy. 
 
 1536 . . 
 
 . Suppression of monasteries begins. Pilgrimage of 
 
 
 Grace. 
 
 1536 . . 
 
 . Wales united with England. 
 
 1536 . . 
 
 . Anne Boleyn executed. 
 
 1547-1553 
 
 . Edward VI. 
 
 1548 . . 
 
 . First Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 1553-1558 
 
 . Mary. 
 
 1554 » . 
 
 . Wyatt's insurrection. 
 
 1554 . . 
 
 . Lady Jane Grey executed. 
 
 1554 • . 
 
 . Mary I marries Philip IL 
 
 155^1558 
 
 . The persecution. 
 
 1558 . . 
 
 . Loss of Calais. 
 
IMPORTANT DATES IN ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 6S7 
 
 1558- 
 
 1603 . 
 
 1559 
 
 . . . 
 
 15^3 
 
 . . . 
 
 1568 
 
 
 1577- 
 
 1580 ; 
 
 1587 
 
 . . . 
 
 1588 
 
 . . . 
 
 1600 
 
 
 1 601 
 
 . 
 
 Elizabeth. 
 
 Court of High Commission founded. 
 
 English Reformation completed. 
 
 Mary Stuart flees to England. 
 
 Sir Francis Drake sails round world. 
 
 Mary Stuart executed. 
 
 Spanish Armada. 
 
 East India Company's Charter. 
 
 Poor Law passed. 
 
 ENGLAND UNDER THE STUARTS 
 
 1603-1625 
 
 
 
 James I. 
 
 1603 . . 
 
 
 Union of the crowns of England and 5- 
 
 1605 
 
 
 
 Gunpowder Plot. 
 
 I6II 
 
 
 
 Authorized Version of Bible. 
 
 1620 
 
 
 
 Pilgrim Fathers. 
 
 I 625-1 649 
 
 
 
 Charles I. 
 
 1628 . . 
 
 
 
 Petition of Right. 
 
 1633 • 
 
 
 
 Wentworth lord-deputy in Ireland. 
 
 1633 • 
 
 
 
 Laud made Archbishop of Canterbury. 
 
 1635 . 
 
 
 
 Ship-money resisted by Hampden. 
 
 1638 . 
 
 
 
 The National Covenant. 
 
 1640 
 
 
 
 Long Parliament met. 
 
 I64I . 
 
 
 
 Strafford executed. 
 
 I64I . 
 
 
 
 Court of High Commission aliolished. 
 
 I64I 
 
 
 
 Court of Star Chamber abolished. 
 
 I64I 
 
 
 
 The Grand Remonstrance. 
 
 1642 . 
 
 
 
 Attempted arrest of Five Members. 
 
 1642 . 
 
 
 
 Civil War begins. 
 
 1643 . 
 
 
 
 . Solemn League and Covenant. 
 
 1644 . 
 
 
 
 Battle of Marston Moor. 
 
 1645 . 
 
 
 
 Self-denying Ordinance. 
 
 1645 • 
 
 
 
 Laud executed. 
 
 1645 . 
 
 
 
 Battle of Naseby. 
 
 1647 . 
 
 
 
 Charles I given up to Parliament. 
 
 1648 . 
 
 
 
 " Pride's Purge." 
 
 1649 . 
 
 
 
 . Charles I executed. 
 
 I 649-1 660 
 
 
 The Commonwealth. 
 
 I 649-1 650 
 
 
 Cromwell in Ireland. 
 
 1650 . . 
 
 
 . Battle of Dunbar. 
 
 165 1 . . 
 
 
 Battle of Worcester. 
 
 1653 • 
 
 
 
 Cromwell expels Long Parliament. 
 
658 
 
 APPENDIX III 
 
 1653 
 
 , , 
 
 . Cromwell Lord Protector. " Barebones 
 
 1658 . . 
 
 . Cromwell's death. 
 
 I 660-1 685 
 
 . Charles II. 
 
 I 660-1 667 
 
 . Earl of Clarendon chief minister. 
 
 I66I-I665 
 
 . The Clarendon Code. 
 
 I 664-1 667 
 
 . Second Dutch War. 
 
 1665 . . . 
 
 . tlague of London. 
 
 1666 . . 
 
 . Fire of London. 
 
 1667 . . 
 
 . Dutch fleet in Medway and Thames. 
 
 I672-I674 
 
 . Third Dutch War. 
 
 1673 . . • 
 
 . Test Act passed. 
 
 I673-I676 
 
 . Earl of Danby chief minister. 
 
 1677 . . 
 
 . Princess Mary marries Prince of Orange. 
 
 1679 . . 
 
 . Habeas Corpus Act. 
 
 I 685- I 689 
 
 . James II. 
 
 1685 . . 
 
 . Monmouth's rebellion. 
 
 1688 . . 
 
 . Second Declaration of Indulgence. 
 
 1688 . . 
 
 . Seven bishops tried. 
 
 1688, Noveml 
 
 3er William of Orange lands at Torbay. 
 
 
 1 William III, 
 
 1 and Mary II, to 1694. 
 
 1 689- 1 702 
 
 1689 . . 
 
 . Toleration Act. 
 
 1689 
 
 
 . Bill of Rights. 
 
 1689 
 
 
 . Siege of Londonderry. 
 
 1690 
 
 
 . . Battle of Boyne. 
 
 1692 
 
 
 . . Battle of La Hogue. 
 
 1692 
 
 
 . Battle of Steenkerke. 
 
 1692 
 
 
 . National debt begun. 
 
 1694 
 
 
 . . Bank of England founded. 
 
 1695 
 
 
 . . Freedom of press established. 
 
 1701 
 
 
 . Act of Settlement. 
 
 I 702-1 7 14 
 
 . . Anne. 
 
 1702-1713 
 
 . . War of Spanish Succession. 
 
 1704 . . 
 
 . . Battle of Blenheim. 
 
 1704 . . 
 
 . . Capture of Gibraltar. 
 
 1707 
 
 
 . . Act of union of England and Scotland. 
 
 ENGLAND UNDER HANOVERIAN SOVEREIGNS 
 
 1 7 14-1727 . . George I. 
 
 1 715 . . . . First Jacobite rebelHon, the " Old Pretender.' 
 
 1711-1720 . . South Sea Scheme. 
 
 1721-1742 . . Walpole prime minister; the Cabinet. 
 
IMPORTANT DATES IN ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 659 
 
 I 727-1 760 
 
 . George II. 
 
 I74I-I748 
 
 . War of Austrian Succession. 
 
 1743 . • 
 
 . Battle of Dettingen. 
 
 1745 • • 
 
 . Battle of Fontenoy. 
 
 I 745-1 746 
 
 . Young Pretender's rebellion. 
 
 1746 . . 
 
 . Battle of CuUoden. 
 
 1752 . . . 
 
 . New style (calendar) adopted. 
 
 1 756-1 763 
 
 . Seven Years' War. 
 
 1757-1761 
 
 . William Pitt (the elder) in power. 
 
 1760 . . 
 
 . Concjuest of Canada. 
 
 1 760- 1 8 20 
 
 . George III. 
 
 1763 . . 
 
 . Peace of Paris. 
 
 1764 . . 
 
 . Hargreave's Spinning Jenny. 
 
 1765 . . 
 
 . Grenville's Stamp Act. 
 
 1773 . . 
 
 . " Boston Tea Party." 
 
 1774 . . 
 
 . American Declaration of Rights. Quebec Act. 
 
 1775 . . 
 
 . War of American colonists. 
 
 1775 • • 
 
 . Battle of Bunker Hill. 
 
 1776, July 4th 
 
 . American Declaration of Independence. 
 
 1777 . . 
 
 . Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga. 
 
 1778 . . 
 
 . Death of Chatham. 
 
 1781 . . 
 
 . British surrender at Yorktown. 
 
 1783 . . 
 
 England acknowledges independence of America 
 
 1 783-1801 
 
 . William Pitt minister. 
 
 1788-1795 
 
 . Trial of Warren Hastings. 
 
 1789 . . 
 
 . French Revolution. 
 
 1793 • • 
 
 . . War with French Republic. 
 
 1795 • • 
 
 . . Cape Colony occupied. 
 
 1798 . . 
 
 . Irish rebellion. 
 
 1801 . . 
 
 . . Legislative Union of Great Britain and Ireland^ 
 
 1802 . . 
 
 . . Peace of Amiens. 
 
 1805, Octobei 
 
 - . Battle of Trafalgar. Austerlitz. 
 
 1806, Februai 
 
 7 . Death of Pitt. 
 
 1807 . . 
 
 . . Abolition of British slave trade. 
 
 1812-1814 
 
 . . War with United States. 
 
 1 8 14, Deceml 
 
 jer Treaty of Ghent. 
 
 1815, June 18 
 
 . Battle of Waterloo. 
 
 181 5, Novem 
 
 jer Peace of Paris. 
 
 1816 . . 
 
 . . Second Congress of Vienna. 
 
 I 820- I 830 
 
 . . George IV. 
 
 1828 . . 
 
 . . Corporation and Test Acts repealed. 
 
 1829 . . 
 
 . . Catholic Emancipation Act passed. 
 
 1830 . . 
 
 . Manchester and Liverpool railway. 
 
66o 
 
 APPENDIX III 
 
 I830-I837 
 
 . . William IV. 
 
 1832 . 
 
 . . . First Reform Bill. 
 
 1833 . 
 
 . . . Abolition of Slavery in British dominions. 
 
 1834 . 
 
 . . New Poor Law. 
 
 1835 . 
 
 . . . Municipal Reform Act. 
 
 I837-I90I 
 
 . . Victoria. 
 
 I837-I848 
 
 . . Chartists give trouble. 
 
 1838 . 
 
 . . Anti-Corn Law League formed. *' People's Charter." 
 
 1846 . 
 
 . . . Repeal of Corn Laws. 
 
 1850 . 
 
 . . . Sir Robert Peel died. 
 
 I85I . 
 
 . . Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. 
 
 I854-I856 
 
 . . Crimean War. 
 
 1856, Marc 
 
 ;h . . Treaty of Paris. 
 
 1857 . 
 
 . . Sepoy revolt in India. 
 
 1858 
 
 
 . . Government of India transferred to the Crown. 
 
 1867 
 
 
 . . Second Reform Bill. 
 
 1869 
 
 
 . . Irish Church Act (Disestablishment). 
 
 1870 
 
 
 . . Irish Land Act. 
 
 1870 
 
 
 . . Elementary Education Act. 
 
 1872 
 
 
 . . Alabama Claims Arbitration. 
 
 1872 
 
 
 . . Ballot Act. 
 
 1874 
 
 
 . . Ashantee War. 
 
 1875 
 
 
 . . Purchase of Suez Canal shares. 
 
 1877 
 
 
 . . Victoria proclaimed empress of India. 
 
 1878 
 
 
 . . The Berlin Congress and Treaty. 
 
 1879 
 
 
 . . Zulu and Afghan Wars. 
 
 1881 
 
 
 . . Boer War. 
 
 1882 
 
 
 . . Egyptian War. 
 
 I 884- I 885 
 
 . . Soudan War. 
 
 I 884- I 885 
 
 . . Third Reform Act. 
 
 1886 . 
 
 . . Gladstone's Irish Home Rule Bill rejected. 
 
 1887, June 
 
 . . Queen's Jubilee celebrated. 
 
 1888 . 
 
 . . Local Government Act. 
 
 1893 . 
 
 . . Second Irish Home Rule Bill rejected by the Lords. 
 
 1896 . 
 
 . . Jameson's Raid on the Transvaal. 
 
 I 899- I 902 
 
 . . Boer War. 
 
 1901-1910 
 
 . . Edward VIL 
 
 1902 
 
 . . Education Act. 
 
 1902 
 
 
 . . Boer Republics incorporated with British Empire. 
 
 1908 
 
 
 . . Old Age Pensions. 
 
 1909 
 
 
 . . Union of South Africa. 
 
 1910 
 
 
 . . George V. 
 
 1911 
 
 
 . . Veto Bill; Salary of Members of Parhament. 
 
IMPORTAXr DATES IN ENGLISH HISTORY 
 
 66l 
 
 1912 
 
 1913 
 1914 
 1918 
 1919 
 1922 
 1922 
 
 Insurance Act. 
 
 Third Irish Home Rule Bill rejected by the Lords. 
 
 Welsh Disestablishment Act rejected by the Lords. 
 
 Beginning of World War. 
 
 Armistice. 
 
 Treaty of Versailles and League of Nations. 
 
 Settlement with Egypt 
 
 Irish Free State established. 
 
 The Victoria Cross 
 Established in 1857 for acts of bravery in battle 
 
INDEX 
 
 Aberdeen, Lord, 495, 499, 500. 
 
 "Abhorrers," 369. 
 
 Act, Accession Declaration (1910), 543. 
 
 Aliens (1905), 534. 
 
 Attainder, The Great (1689), 392. 
 
 Ballot (1872), 512. 
 
 Bank (1844), 497 and note. 
 
 Conventicle (1664), 356. 
 
 Corporation (1661), 356, 479. 
 
 Education (1870), 511, 512. 
 
 Emancipation (1833), 484 and note. 
 
 Employers' Liability (1880), 519. 
 
 Exclusion (1680). 369. 
 
 E.xplanation (1665), 359. 
 
 Factory (1833), 484 and note. 
 
 Five-Mile (1665), 356 note, 357. 
 
 Grace (1690), 392. 
 
 Indemnity (1660), 354 and note. 
 
 Irish Land (1870), 511; (1881), 517; 
 (1903), 534. 
 
 Irish Tithe (1838), 490. 
 
 Licensing (1874), 513 and note. 
 
 Licensing printing (1695), 400 and note. 
 
 Municipal Corporations (1835), 486 and 
 note. 
 
 Mutiny (1689), 391 and note. 
 
 Navigation (1651-1660), 338, 339, 348, 
 354. 
 
 Occasional Conformity (1711), 415, 421. 
 
 Of Attainder (1641), 315, 316 and note. 
 
 Of Settlement (1661), 359. 
 
 Quebec (1774), 442. 
 
 Recoinage (1696), 401. 
 
 Riot (1715), 419. 
 
 Schism (1714). 415, 421. 
 
 Septennial (1716), 421. 
 
 Settlement (1701), 406. 
 
 South African (1909), 542. 
 
 Stamp, American (1765), 441, 443. 
 
 Supremacy (1559), 254. 
 
 Test (1673), 366, 479. 
 
 Toleration (1869), 390. 
 
 Townshend (1767), 441. 
 
 Uniformity (1549), 230; (1552), 231; 
 (1559). 254; (1062). 356. 
 
 Union (1800), 463, 490. 
 
 Veto (1911), 538, 544. 
 Acts of Parliament^ see also Statutes and 
 
 Bills. 
 Addled Parliament, 290. 
 •Afghanistan, war in, 516. 
 Africa, partition of. 523, 524. 
 Africa, South, see South Africa. 
 Agincourt, Battle of, 169. 
 Agriculture, Roman period, 8; before 
 1066, 17, 47; Norman, 95, 06; 15th 
 and 16th centuries, 244, 246, 258; 
 17th century, 380; 18th century, 452. 
 Alabama, Claims. The. 509 note. 513. 
 Albert, Prince, 489 and note, 498, 507, 508. 
 Alcuin, 22. 
 
 Alfred the Great, 26; Peace with Guth- 
 rum, 26, 27; peaceful reforms, 28; 
 service to literature and education, 
 29; to religion, 31. 
 
 Aidan, 20. 
 
 Aix-la-Chapelle (1748), Peace of, 431, 433. 
 
 America, discovery of by Cabots, 194, 
 195; colonies in. 293, 294, 347. 348; 
 war in (1754-1763), 436; Stamp Act 
 (1765), 441, 443; Revolution in, 
 443-447; Independence acknowl- 
 edged, 447; War of 1812, 472; Civil 
 War in, and England's attitude, 507- 
 509. 
 
 Amiens, Misc of (1264), 107. 
 
 Amiens, Treaty of (1802), 465. 
 
 .\ngevin, the first in England, 60. 
 
 .\ngle-land, 13. 
 
 Angles, on the Continent, 12; give name 
 to England, 13; .settle in England, 
 13; boy slaves in Rome, 18. 
 
 Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 31. 
 
 Anglo-Saxons, 31 ; come to Britain, 12-14; 
 early kingdoms, in Britain, 14-16; 
 civilization of, 16-17. 
 
 "Annates" (1532), 207. 
 
 Anne Boleyn, see Bolcyn, .\nne. 
 
 Anne Hyde, daughter of Duke of York 
 (James II), 367 note. 
 
 Anne of Cleves, 217. 
 
 Anne, Queen, appearance and character, 
 408; relations with the Marlboroughs, 
 408-412; War of the Spanish Succes- 
 sion, 410-412; Union of Scotland 
 and England (1707), 41.3-414. 
 
 Anselm. Archbishop. 59, 61. 
 
 Anti-corn League (1838), 492, 495, 490. 
 
 .\rbitration, 513. 
 
 Architecture, early, 46; Norman, 98, 99; 
 under Elizabeth, 283; 17th century, 
 386, 387. 
 
 Argyll, Marquis of (1661), 358 and note; 
 uprising in Scotland under (1685), 
 373. 374, 420. 
 
 Arkwright. Richard. 450. 
 
 "Armada. The Invincible." 274-270. 
 
 Armenian Ma.s.sacres. 523. 
 
 Arms. Assize of (1181), 78. 
 
 Army, nucleus of standing, 36; under 
 "Henry II, 69; "New Model," 326, 
 327. 
 
 Arthur, King, 14 ; Prince, 85. 86. 
 
 Articles of Faith (or Religion), 217, 228, 
 232, 234. 
 
 Asquith, Henry Herbert. 536. 537, 539. 
 
 Assiento. The (1713). 413. 
 
 Assize of Arms (1181), 78; "The Bloody" 
 (168.")), 374. 
 
 Association, Bond of, 268, 270. 
 
 Athling. 48. 
 
 Attainder, Bill of, 316 note. 
 
 663 
 
664 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Augustine introduces Christianity into 
 Britain, 18, 19; made Archbishop, 
 19. 
 
 Australia, 504. 
 
 Austrian Succession, War of, 429. 
 
 Babington Plot, 269. 
 
 Bacon, Francis, impeachment of, 296, 297. 
 Bacon, Roger, 112. 
 Balaklava, Battle of, 501 note. 
 "Balance of Power," 502. 
 Balfour, Arthur J., 523, 533, 535. 
 Ball, John, 152. 
 Balliol, John, 121, 134. 
 Bank Act (1844), 497 and note. 
 Bank of England, established, 398 ; 497. 
 Bannerman, see Campbell-Bannerman. 
 Bannockburn, Battle of, 130. 
 Baptists, 356 note. 
 "Barebones" Parliament, 340, 341. 
 Barnet, Battle of, 179. 
 Barons, Norman, under William I, 54, 
 56; do homage to William I, 56, 57; 
 revolt under William II, 59; Henry 
 I grants charter to, 60; Stephen's 
 trouble with, 64; Henry II and, 69, 
 75, 76; revolt under John, 88, 90, 
 91 ; get Magna Carta, 89 ; wars under 
 Henry III, 106, 107, 108. 
 Bayeux Tapestry, 41 note. 
 Beachy Head, Battle of, 396. 
 Beaufort, Lady Margaret, 180. 
 Becket, Thomas, 68, 70-73: murder of, 
 
 74 ; shrine destroyed, 212. 
 Bede, Venerable, 22. 
 "Benevolences," 180, 181, 296, 300. 
 Berlin Congress (1878), 516. 
 Berlin Decree, 469. 
 Berwick, Treaty of (1639), 313. 
 Bible, Wycliffe's, 156, 157; Coverdale's, 
 215; Tyndale's, 215, 216; James I, 
 "Authorized Version," 290, 388. 
 Bill, Boston Port (1774), 442. 
 
 Catholic Emancipation (1829), 479. 
 
 Defined, 316 note. 
 
 Education (1902), 534 and note, 536. 
 
 Excise (1733), 425. 
 
 Finance (1909), 536-537. 
 
 Franchise (1884), 519 and note. 
 
 Internal Revenue (1733), 425. 
 
 Irish Home Rule (1885, 1893), 520, 521 ; 
 
 (1912-1913), 544. 
 Licensing (1872), 513. 
 Militia (1642), 320. 
 Minimum Wage (1912), 542. 
 Money, 538 and note. 
 National Insurance (1912), 539. 
 Of Attainder (1641), 315. 
 Old Age Pension (1908), 536. 
 Parliament (1910), 538 and note, 539. 
 Redistribution (1885), 519 and note. 
 Reform (1832), 482 and note, 484, 492; 
 
 (1867), 510. 
 Rights (1689), 390. 
 "Root and Branch" (1641), 317. 
 Royal Titles (1876), 515. 
 Triennial (1641), 316; (1664), 355; 
 (1694), 398. 
 Bills of Parliament, see also Statutes and 
 
 Black Death. 141. 
 
 "Black Hole of Calcutta, The," 436. 
 
 Black Prince, 139 and note, 142-146. 
 
 Blake, Robert. 339, 347. 
 
 Blenheim, Battle of. 411. 
 
 "Bloody Assize" (1685), 374, 
 
 Boers, 506, 516, 517, 525-528. 
 
 Boer War, 527, 528, 530. 
 
 Boleyn, Anne, 207, 214. 
 
 Bolingbroke, Viscount, 414, 415, 419 and 
 note, 420 and note, 427. 
 
 Bonaparte, see Napoleon Bonaparte. 
 
 Bookland, 47, 48. 
 
 "Book of Sports," 309. 
 
 Boroughs, "pocket," 481 note, 483; 
 "rotten," 481 note, 483. 
 
 " Boston Massacre," 441. 
 
 Boston Port Bill (1774), 442. 
 
 Bosworth Field. Battle of, 182, 183. 
 
 Bouvines, Battle of, 88. 
 
 Boxer Insurrection, China, 529, 530. 
 
 Boycotting, 518 and note. 
 
 Boyne, Battle of the, 393. 
 
 Braddock's defeat, 436. 
 
 Breda, Declaration of (1660), 351, 353. 
 
 Bretigny, Treaty of (1360), 143. 
 
 Bright, John, 492, 496, 507 note. 
 
 Britain, early inhabitants, 2 ; Roman con- 
 quest of, 5; Roman occupation, 6, 
 7, 8, 10; Roman rule in, 6, 7, 8, 10; 
 withdrawal of Romans, 10; Teutonic 
 conquest of, 12-17; Introduction 
 of Christianity, 17, 18. 19. 20. 
 
 British Isles, area, 1 ; physical charac- 
 teristics, 1. 
 
 Britons, ancient, 2, 3, 4. 
 
 Brownists, 277. 
 
 Bruce, Robert, 128, 130, 134. 
 
 Buckingham, Duke of (George Villiers), 
 295, 298. 300. 302. 
 
 "Budget," meaning of, 536 note; (1909), 
 536-538. 
 
 Bunyan, John, 356. 357. 
 
 Burghley, Lord, Sir William Cecil, 253, 
 256, 258. 
 
 Burgoyne's defeat, 444. 
 
 Burke, Edmund, 442, 446, 457-459. 
 
 Bute, Earl of, 439. 
 
 Cabal Ministry (1667), 363, 364. 
 Cabinet, beginnings of, 363. 364; under 
 
 George I, 418; the real power, 488, 
 
 489. 
 Cabots, the, discover America, 194, 195. 
 Cade's Rebellion (1450), 174, 175. 
 Csesar. Julius, invades Britain, 5. 
 Calais taken by England, 139; lost, 240, 
 
 241, 258. 
 Calendar, reform in, 482. 
 Cambridge, 101, 102, 194. 512. 
 Campbell-Bannerman. Sir Henry, 535, 
 
 536 and note. 
 Camperdown. Battle of. 460. 
 Canada, 490, 491, 505 and note. 
 Canals, 451. 
 
 Canning, George, 476-478 and note. 
 Cannon first used, 140 note. 
 Canterbury, mother of the English church, 
 
 19. 
 Canute, see Cnut. 
 Cape of Good Hope taken from the Dutch, 
 
 460, 474. 
 
INDEX 
 
 665 
 
 Cape St. Vincent, Battle of, 460. 
 
 Caroline, Queen, not crowned, 476. 
 
 Cartwright, John, 450. 
 
 Cartwright, Thomas, 276. 
 
 "Casket Letters," 263 note. 
 
 Castles, Tower of London, 54; built in 
 Norman Britain, 98; of Edward I, 
 in Wales, 120. 
 
 Catherine of Aragon, 193, 195, 202-204, 
 207. 
 
 Catherine Howard, 218. 
 
 Catherine Parr, 218. 
 
 Catholic Emancipation Bill (1829), 479. 
 
 Catholic Relief Bill (1793), 462, 469. 
 
 Catholics, see Church, Catholic. 
 
 Cavalier Parliament, 354. 
 
 Cavaliers and Roundheads, 324. 
 
 Cavendish, Lord Frederick, 518. 
 
 Caxton's Pres.s, 185. 
 
 Cecil, Sir Robert, 280, 289, 294. 
 
 Cecil, Sir William (Lord Burghley), 253, 
 256, 258. 
 
 Celtic Christianity, 19. 
 
 Celts, 2, 3, 4. 
 
 Ceylon, taken from the Dutch, 460, 474. 
 
 Chad, St., 20. 
 
 Chamberlain, Joseph, 527, 535. 
 
 Charlemagne, see Charles the Great. 
 
 Charles I, character of, 299; belief in 
 divine right of kings, 299 ; marries 
 Henrietta Maria, 299; struggle of, 
 WMth Parliament, 299-305; grants 
 "Petition of Right," 301, 302; per- 
 sonal rule of, 305 ; angers Scottish 
 church, 312; summons Parliament, 
 313; summons "Long Parliament," 
 314; trial of Strafford, 314-316; 
 Grand Remonstrance, 317; attempts 
 arrest of five members, 318; Militia 
 Bill, 320; civil war begins, 321; 
 turns to the Scots, 327; taken pris- 
 oner, 329; trial and execution of, 
 331, 332. 
 
 Charles II, proclaimed in Ireland, 334; 
 defeated at Worcester, 336, 337; 
 lands at Dover, 352; character of, 
 353; War with Holland, 360, 361; 
 Cabal ministrv, 363, 364; Treaty of 
 Dover, 364, 365; "Popish Plot," 
 368, 369; personal rule, 371. 
 
 Charles Edward, The Young Pretender, 
 429-431 and note. 
 
 Charles the Great, 22. 
 
 Charlotte, Princess, 476. 
 
 Charters, Henrv I, to the barons (1100), 
 60; Stephen (1136), 63, 64; John 
 and the Great Charter (1215), 89, 90; 
 Great Charter revised, 92; con- 
 firmed, 104, 105; Provisions of Ox- 
 ford (12.58). 107; Edward I. Confir- 
 matio Cartarum (1297). 124, 125; 
 "People's Charter" (1838), 491, 492. 
 
 Chartism, 491, 492. 
 
 Chartists, 492, 498. 
 
 Chatham, P^arl of, see Pitt. 
 
 Chaucer, Geoffrev, 148, 149, 150, 155. 
 
 Child Labor, 250. 456, 484, note. 
 
 China, war with (opium war), 494, 495; 
 Boxer Insurrection, 529; "open 
 door," 529; "Boxer Rising," 530. 
 
 Chivalry, 94, 140. 
 
 Christianity introduced into Roman 
 Britain, 17-19; coming of Augu.stine, 
 18; Celtic. 19. 20; council of Whitby. 
 20; influence of church, 20; church 
 organized, 21. 
 
 Chronicle, Anylo-Saxon, 31. 
 
 Church, Catholic, Augu-stine founds, 18, 
 19; council of Whitby, 20; growth 
 into national, 20, 56; mona.sticisni 
 and monasteries, 50, 51, 100, 209-213; 
 Williain I establishes church courts, 
 56; William II quarrel.s with, 59; 
 Henry I and, 61; Henry II and, 70; 
 Constitutions of Clarendon, 71, 72; 
 the Cru.sades, 79, 82; John and the 
 church, 86, 87; Magna Carta and, 
 90; Wycliffe and, 155-157; the 
 Lollards and, 157, 163, 167, 168; 
 Henry VIII breaks with Rome, 208; 
 Henry VIII head of the church, 206; 
 Henry VIII destrovs mona.stcrics, 
 210-213; Edward VI prayer books, 
 230, 231; Mary reestablishes Catho- 
 lic, 239; persecution under Alary, 
 239-241. 
 
 Church, English, Act of Uniformity (1559), 
 254; Elizabeth breaks with lionie, 
 254, 255; Puritans, 255; Elizabeth 
 persecutes Catholics, 266; "Author- 
 ized Version" of the Bible, 290; 
 Presbyterianism in England, 326; 
 Act of Uniformity (1662). 356 ; James 
 II and, 372, 376; Revolution of, 
 1688, 389, 390; Toleration Act 
 (1689), 390; Irish, disestablished, 511 ; 
 Welsh Disestablishment Bill rejected 
 by Lords, 545. 
 
 Circulation of the blood discovered, 388. 
 
 Cities and towns, 46, 97, 247, 371, 380, 
 381. 
 
 Civil War (1642-1049), 321-333. 
 
 Clarendon, Constitutions of (1164), 71, 72. 
 
 Clarendon Code (1661-1665), 355-358, 
 371. 
 
 Clarendon. Earl of. 362, 363. 
 
 Clarkson, Thomas, 454. 
 
 Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee, 395. 
 
 Clive, Robert, 434 and note, 436. 
 
 Cnut. 34-37. 
 
 Cobden. Richard, 492. 496. 507 note. 
 
 Cofreehou.><es. 3S2, 3S5 and note. 
 
 Coinage, deba.sed by Henry VIII. 222, 
 246-247 ; reformed under Elizabeth, 
 258; Recoinage Act (1696), 401. 
 
 Colet, John, 194. 
 
 Colonies, in Ireland (1611). 293 : in Amer- 
 ica. 293. 294; Cromwell's policy 
 towards. 347; established by Charles 
 II, 361; Colonial expansion, 504; 
 legislative and economic independ- 
 ence. 505; general policy towards, 
 504, 505; West Indian, 505. 
 
 Columba, 20. 
 
 Commerce, see Trade and Commerce. 
 
 Commonwealth, the, 333-351. 
 
 Compurgation, 50. 
 
 Confirmatio Cartarum (1297). 124. 125. 
 
 Conservative Party. 489 note. 509, 514, 
 516. 
 
 Constitutions of Clarendon (1164), 71, 72. 
 
 Continental System, 469. 
 
666 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Convention Parliament, 351, 352. 
 
 Copenhagen, Battle of, 461. 
 
 Corn Laws, 452 ; Anti-corn Law League, 
 492; laws repealed, 496 and note. 
 
 Coronation chair, 126; oath, see Acces- 
 sion Declaration Act. 
 
 Council, The Great, 103; of the North, 
 307 ; of Wales, 307 note. 
 
 Counter-Reformation, 266. 
 
 County councils (Local Government Bill) 
 521. 
 
 Courts, Ecclesiastical, 56, 70; Curia 
 Regis, 68 note; Henry II, 78; Mano- 
 rial, 95 : under Normans, 103 ; 
 Edward I, 115; of High Commission, 
 307; of Star Chamber, 307, 308. 
 
 Covenant, the Scottish, 312, 336. 
 
 Covenant, The Solemn League and, 325, 
 326. 
 
 Covenanters, 359, 370. 
 
 Coverdale's Bible, 215. 
 
 Craft gilds, 247. 
 
 Cranmer, Archbishop, 204, 207, 223, 234, 
 239, 240. 
 
 Cr^cy, Battle of, 139. 
 
 Crimean War, 494, 500-502, 513. 
 
 Criminal laws revised, 477. 
 
 Cromer, Lord, 529. 
 
 Crompton, Samuel, 450. 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, 314, 324 ; appearance 
 and character of, 342, 343 ; organized 
 army, 326, 327 ; rises to be leader, 326 ; 
 in Ireland, 334, 335; in Scotland, 336; 
 dissolves "The Rump," 340; made 
 Protector, 342 ; religious policy, 345 ; 
 foreign policy, 346; colonization 
 schemes, 348 ; death of, 349. 
 
 Cromwell, Richard, 350. 
 
 Cromwell, Thomas, 204, 206, 209-211, 
 217; fall of, 218; work of, 218. 
 
 Crosses, Queen Eleanor's, 122. 
 
 Crusades, 79, 82. 
 
 Culloden Moor, Battle of, 430. 
 
 Curia Regis, 68 note. 
 
 Cuthbert, 20. 
 
 Cyprus, 516. 
 
 Danby, Thomas Osborne, Earl of, 367- 
 
 369, 372. 
 Danegeld, 34. 
 Danelaw, 28. 
 Danes, invade England, 24, 25; Alfred 
 
 and, 26, 28 ; Danelaw, 28 ; Treaty of 
 
 Wedmore, 28; Swegen conquers 
 
 England, 35; Cnut, 35-37. 
 Darien Scheme, 401, 402. 
 Darnley, Lord, 262, 263. 
 Debt, beginning of National, 398. 
 Declaration of Breda (1660), 351, 353; 
 
 of Indulgence (1672), 366; (1687- 
 
 1688), 375, 376; of Rights (1689), 
 
 379 and note. 
 Deists, 453. 
 
 Despensers, father and son, 130-132. 
 Dictum of Kenilworth (1266), 111. 
 Disraeli, Benjamin (Lord Beaconsfield), 
 
 499, 504, 507 note, 510, 511, 514-516 
 
 and note. 
 Dissenters, 356, 366, 371, 375, 376, 391 
 
 and note, 421 and note, 424, 453, 519, 
 
 534 note ; see also Non-conformists. 
 
 Divine right of kings, 290, 299, 406. 
 
 Domesday Book, 57. 
 
 Dover, Treaty of (1670), 364. 
 
 Drake, Francis, 271-276. 
 
 Dress, styles of, 45, 46, 94, 282, 384, 454, 
 455. 
 
 Drogheda, Battle of, 335 and note. 
 
 Druids, 3, 4, 10. 
 
 Dudley, Earl of Leicester, 279. 
 
 Dueling, 455. 
 
 Dunbar, Battle of, 336. 
 
 Dunkirk, 347, 360. 
 
 Dunstan, 33, 51. 
 
 Duquesne, Fort, 436, 438. 
 
 Durbar at Delhi (1912), 543. 
 
 Durham, Lord, 490. 
 
 Dutch, control carrying trade, 338; Navi- 
 gation Act (1651), against 338, 339; 
 war with (1652-1654), 339; New 
 Netherland captured, 300, 361 ; war 
 with (1664-1667), 360, 361; London 
 blockaded, 361 ; plot against, 364, 
 365; war with (1672), 365; Wil- 
 liam • of Orange becomes King of 
 England, 379. 
 
 Duties, Walpole reduces, 425; reforms 
 in (1842), 495, 496; reduction in, 
 478; see Corn Laws. 
 
 Earl, 48 note, 49, 50. 
 
 East India Company, 293, 294, 360, 433, 
 447, 485, 494, 504. 
 
 Edgar the Peaceful, 33. 
 
 Edgehill, Battle of, 325. 
 
 Edinburgh (Edwinsburgh), 22. 
 
 Edington, Battle of, 28. 
 
 Edmund Ironside, 35. 
 
 Education, Anglo-Saxon, 21-23, 30, 31; 
 Norman, 101, 102; universities 
 founded, 101, 102; Renaissance in 
 England, 193, 194; Henry VIII 
 Grammar Schools, 212; Edward VI 
 Grammar Schools, 228 note; in 15th 
 and 16th centuries, 251 ; under Eliza- 
 beth, 284, 285 ; in 17th century, 385, 
 386; Elementary Education Act 
 (1870), 511, 512, 534; religious tests 
 abolished at universities, 512; Edu- 
 cation Bill (1902), 534 and note, 536. 
 
 Edward, son of Alfred, 33; son of Edgar, 
 34; the Confessor, 37; The Black 
 Prince, 139, 142-146. 
 
 Edward I, character of, 114; important 
 laws, 114-117; and the Jews, 117, 
 118; conquers Wales, 119, 120; and 
 Scotland, 120, 125-128; confirms 
 the charters, 124, 125 and note; 
 death of, 128. 
 
 Edward II, character of, 128, 129; his fa- 
 vorites, 129, 130; defeated at Ban- 
 nockburn, 130; abdicates and is 
 murdered, 132. 
 
 Edward III, 133; character of, 134; 
 Scottish war, 134, 140; and the 
 Flemings, 136; Hundred Years' 
 War begins, 137 ; Battle of Crecy, 139 ; 
 takes Calais, 139, 140; the "Black 
 Prince," 139 and note, 142-146; The 
 Black Death, 141 ; Battle of Poitiers, 
 142; Treaty of Br6tigny, 143; last 
 years of and death, 146, 147 ; growth 
 
INDEX 
 
 667 
 
 of English language and literature 
 under, 148-150. 
 
 Edward IV, character of, 181 ; Wars of the 
 Roses, 178-181; system of "benevo- 
 lences," 180, 181 ; printing intro- 
 duced, 185. 
 
 Edward V, 181 ; Gloucester Protector, 
 182; murdered in the Tower, 182. 
 
 Edward VI, character of, 227; Grammar 
 Schools founded, 228 note, First 
 Praver Book, 230; Second Prayer 
 Book, 231. 
 
 Edward VII, character of, 533; Educa- 
 tion Bill (1902), 534; Labor Party, 
 536 and note, Budget (1909), 530- 
 538; "New Dome.sday Book," 537; 
 woman suffrage, 540, 541 ; strikes 
 (1912), 541, 542. 
 
 Egbert, Union under, 23; dies, 26. 
 
 EgvTJt, 519, 520, 533. 
 
 Eleanor, wife of Edward I, HI, 122. 
 
 Eliot, Sir John, 300, 304, 305. 
 
 Elizabeth, Princess, daughter of Henry 
 VIII, 208; imprisoned by Mary I, 
 237, 238. 
 
 Elizabeth, Queen, 252; appearance and 
 character of, 252, 253; Act of Su- 
 premacy (1559), 254 ; Act of Uniform- 
 ity (1559), 254; domestic problems 
 confronting, 254; foreign relations, 
 255, 256; and the Marriage Ques- 
 tion, 256, 257; general policv of, 
 258; Poor Laws, 258, 259; Scotland 
 and, 259, 260; excommunicated, 
 265, 266; plots again.st, 265-270; 
 Bond of Association, 268, 270; and 
 Mary Queen of Scots, 269, 270; de- 
 struction of the Armada, 274-276; 
 and Ireland, 277, 278; literature 
 under, 279, 280; abolishes "mo- 
 nopolies," 281 ; prosperity of England 
 under, 282 ; Royal Progresses, 284 ; 
 death of, 281. 
 
 Emancipation Act (1833), 484 and note. 
 
 Emma, mother of Edward the Confessor, 
 35, 37. 
 
 Emmet, Robert, 467. 
 
 Enclosures, 174; sec o?so Land. 
 
 England, origin of name, 13 ; introduc- 
 tion of Christianity, 17-20; con- 
 quered by the Normans, 40-42. 
 
 English or Angles come to Britain, 12, 13. 
 
 Eorl or Eoldorman, 48. 
 
 Erasmus, 194, 216. 
 
 Essex, Earl of, 279; 3d Earl, 324. 
 
 Ethelbert, King of Kent, 17. 
 
 Ethelfla3d, Ladv of Mercia, 33. 
 
 Ethelred the Unready, 34, 35. 
 
 Eugene, Prince of Savoy, 411 and note. 
 
 Evesham, Battle of, 110, 111. 
 
 Excise Bill, 425. 
 
 Fairfax, 329, 336, 350, 351. 
 Falaise, Treatv of (1174), 77. 78. 
 Falkirk, Battle of, 126. 
 Famine, Irish (1845-1846), 496, 497. 
 Famous Parliament of 1265, 110. 
 Farms and farming, see Agriculture. 
 Fawkes, Guy, 291, 292. 
 Fenians, 510. 
 Fenwick's Plot, 400. 
 
 Feudalism, William I and, 56, 57; under 
 Henry II. 69; in the Great Charter, 
 90; and statute of Quia Emptores, 
 117; disappearing, 187. 
 
 Field of the Cloth of Gold, 198, 199. 
 
 Fire, The Great. 362. 
 
 Fi-shcr. Bishop, exfcution of. 208. 
 
 Flandrrs and wool trade. 136. 
 
 Flodderi Field. Battle of, 196. 
 
 Folkland, 47, 48. 
 
 Forests, 47, 58; under Charles I, 311, 312. 
 
 Forster, William Edward, 512. 
 
 Fosse Way, 7. 
 
 Fox,CharlesJames,446,447, 457. 458, 468. 
 
 France, Henry IPs po.ssessions in, 68; and 
 Edward I, 122; alliance, with Scot- 
 land, 125, 134; Edward III claims 
 crown of, 136; and Hundred Years* 
 War, 137, 144; Calais taken by Eng- 
 land, 139; Treatv of Brr'tiunv. 143; 
 and Henry V, 168-170; .loan of Arc. 
 171,'172; Hundred Yeans' War. end of. 
 173; and Henry VIII. 222; Calais 
 lost. 240. 24 i, 258; Cromwell 
 gets Dunkirk, 347; Charles II. 
 secret treaty with, 364, 365; Peace 
 of Ry.swick. 397; Alliance with 
 America, 444; The Revolution, 458, 
 4.59; war with England (1793). 
 459 ; Battle of Waterloo, 473. 
 
 French, Revolution. The, 458, 459. 
 
 Friars Mendicant, 112. 
 
 Gaels, 2. 
 
 "Gag Laws." 476. 
 
 Gardiner, Bi.shop, 223, 234, 238, 239, 241. 
 
 Gaunt, John of. 147. 153, 161. 
 
 Gave.ston, Piers, 129. 
 
 George, Prince of Denmark, 408. 
 
 George I, character, 415, 416, 417; and the 
 Whigs, 417^19; Scottish Rising, 
 (171.5), 419. 420; Septennial Act 
 (1716), 421; South Sea Scheme, 
 421-423; Walpole, prime minister. 
 423. 
 
 George II, character of, 426; war of 
 Jenkins's Ear, 428 and note; War 
 of the Austrian Succession, 429; 
 Young Pretender, 429-431 and note; 
 change in Calendar, 432; war in 
 India, and "Black Hole." 436; war 
 in America, 436; Seven Years' War, 
 437. 
 
 George III, character of. 438; war with 
 American Colonies, 443-447; "In- 
 dustrial Revolution," 4.50, 4.55. 4.5(). 
 475; impeachment of Warren Hast- 
 ings. 457; Union of Ireland and 
 Great Britain (1800), 463-465; slave 
 trade abolished. 4()9; war with 
 America (1812) . 472 ; Battle of Water- 
 loo (1815). 473; becomes perma- 
 nently insane, 475. 
 
 George IV, regencv of. 475, coronation of, 
 476; Manchester Meeting (1819), 
 475; Queen Caroline, 47(5; "Six 
 Acts," 47() ; police force reformed. 477 ; 
 repeal of Corpf)ration Act (1828). 
 479: repeal of Test Act (1828), 479; 
 Catholics, admitted to Parliament, 
 479. 
 
668 
 
 INDEX 
 
 George V, 539, 543; marries Princess 
 Mary of Teck, 543 and note ; woman 
 suffrage, 540, 541; strikes (1910- 
 1912), 541, 542; the Durbar, 543. 
 
 George, David Lloyd, 536, 537, 540. 
 
 Ghent, Treaty of (1814), 472. 
 
 Gibraltar, 411, 447. 
 
 Gilbert, Sir Humphrey, 285. 
 
 Gilds, 98, 247. 
 
 Gladstone, W. E!, 485 and note, 495, 500, 
 504, 507 note, 509-511, 514, 516, 
 520-522 and note. 
 
 Glencoe, Massacre of, 395, 396. 
 
 Glendower, Owen, revolt of under Henry 
 IV, 164. 
 
 Godwin, 37. 
 
 Goidels, 2. 
 
 Good Parliament, 146, 147. 
 
 Gordon, General Charles, 519, 520 and 
 note. 
 
 Gordon, Lord George, Riots, 454. 
 
 Grand Alliance (1702), 407. 
 
 Grand Remonstrance, the (1641), 317. 
 
 Grattan, Henry, 445, 462. 
 
 Gregory and the English slaves, 17, 18. 
 
 Grenviile, George, 440. 
 
 Grey, Earl, 482 and note. 
 
 Grey, Lady Jane, 232, 233, 237. 
 
 Grosseteste, Adam Robert, 112. 
 
 Gunpowder Plot, The, 291, 292. 
 
 Guthrum, 26. 
 
 Habeas Corpus, 301 and note, suspended, 
 475; Act (1679), 369 and note, 375. 
 
 Halidon Hill, Battle of, 134. 
 
 Hampden, John, and "Ship Money," 311. 
 
 Hampton Court Conference (1604), 290. 
 
 Hargreaves, James, 450. 
 
 Harold, son of Cnut, 37. 
 
 Harold II, last Saxon king, 38; killed 
 at Battle of Hastings, 40. 
 
 Harthacnut, 37. 
 
 Hastings, Battle of (1066), 40. 
 
 Hastings, Warren, 457 and note. 
 
 "Heads of Proposals" (1647), 329. 
 
 Heligoland, 469 and note, 474 and note. 
 
 Hengist and Horsa, 12. 
 
 Henrietta Maria, 299, 303, 319. 
 
 Henry I, 60; character of, 63; grants 
 charter to barons, 60; and Robert, 
 61; "The White Ship," 61, 62; and 
 France, 61, 62; achievements, 63. 
 
 Henry II, character of, 66; castles de- 
 molished, 66, 69; reforms of, 69, 78; 
 and the church, 70; quarrel with 
 Becket, 70-74; Constitutions of 
 Clarendon, 71, 72; murder of Becket, 
 74; and Ireland, 74, 75; and the 
 Barons, 75 ; achievements, 80. 
 
 Henry III, character of, 104; confirms 
 Great Charter, 104; trouble with 
 barons, 106-111; Provisions of Ox- 
 ford, 107; Barons' War, 107; and 
 de Montfort, 108-111. 
 
 Henry IV, accession of, 161, 162; charac- 
 ter of, 163; tries to suppress the 
 Lollards, 163; revolt under Glen- 
 dower, 164 ; revolt of the Percys, 164 ; 
 Battle of Shrewsbury, 164. 
 Henry V, character of, 166; and the Lol- 
 lards, 167, 168; war with France, 
 
 168-170; Battle of Agincourt, 169; 
 Treaty of Troyes, 169. 
 
 Henry VI, 170; character of, 173; Joan 
 of Arc saves France, 171; Cade's 
 Rebellion, 174, 175; Wars of the 
 Roses, 176-184; deposed, 178. 
 
 Henry VII, 183 ; character of, 187 ; union 
 of York and Lancaster, 183 ; methods 
 of raising money, 192; and Foreign 
 Affairs, 193 ; Renaissance in England, 
 193, 194; America discovered, 195. 
 
 Henry VIII, character of, 195, 224, 225; 
 marries Catharine of Aragon, 195; 
 and Wolsey, 196-204 ; victory at 
 Flodden Field, 196; The Field of the 
 Cloth of Gold, 198, 199 ; tries to di- 
 vorce Catharine, 202-207; marries 
 Anne Boleyn, 207 ; breaks with Rome, 
 205, 208; Act of Supremacy (1534), 
 208; destroys monasteries, 210-213; 
 beheads Anne Boleyn, 214; marries 
 Jane Seymour, 214; marries Anne of 
 Cleves, 217; later marriages, 218; 
 relations with Ireland, 219, 220; re- * 
 lations with Scotland, 221 ; debases 
 coinage, 222 ; relations with France, 
 222. 
 
 Hereward the Wake, 53. 
 
 High Church Party, Rise of, 370. 
 
 High Commission, Court of, 307. 
 
 Hill, Rowland, 493. 
 
 Holland, war with (1652), 339. 
 
 Holland, see also Dutch. 
 
 Holy Alliance (1815), 478, 480. 
 
 Holyrood Palace, 262. 
 
 Hooper, Bishop, 240. 
 
 Hotham, Sir John, 321. 
 
 Hotspur, 164. 
 
 House of Commons, gains share in legis- 
 lation (1322), 131; first case of im- 
 peachment, 146; grows in impor- 
 tance, 148; see Parliament. 
 
 House of Lords, Abbots, removed from, 
 213; abolished (1649), 333; restored 
 (1660), 351; no power to reject 
 money bills, 537 note; Parliament 
 Bill, (1911) (Veto), 539; see Parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 Howard, John, 454. 
 
 Howard, Lord, Admiral, 275. 
 
 Hubert de Burgh, 105. 
 
 "Humble Petition and Advice" (1657), 
 349. 
 
 Hundreds, 50. 
 
 Hundred Years' War, 133, 173. 
 
 Huskisson, William, 476-478. 
 
 Hyde, Edward, see Clarendon, Earl of. 
 
 Impeachment, 146; defined, 316 note, 
 318 note; of Lord Bacon, 296; of 
 Strafford, 314-316 ; of Warren Hast- 
 ings, 457. 
 
 Impressment of American sailors, 472. 
 
 Independents, 277, 328, 332, 336, 356 note. 
 
 India, Clive in, 4.34-436; Fox's Bill, 447, 
 448; Pitt's Bill, 457; Warren Hast- 
 ings and, 457; Mutiny (1857-1858), 
 502-504; Victoria, Empress of, 515 
 and note. 
 
 India, East, Company, see East India 
 Company. 
 
INDEX 
 
 669 
 
 Indulgence, Declarations of, see Declara- 
 tions of Indulgence. 
 
 Industrial Revolution, 450; effects of, 
 455, 456, 475. 
 
 Industry, see Manufacture. 
 
 "Instrument of Government" (1653), 342 
 
 Interdict (defined), 83 note; of 1208, 87. 
 
 Inventions, great, 450, 531. 
 
 Ionian Isles, 474 and note. 
 
 Ireland, account of early, 74, 75; at- 
 tempted conquest by Henry II, 74, 
 75; Statute of Kilkenny (1367), 150; 
 the Pale, 150, 190; Irish Parliament, 
 190; Poynings' Act (1494), 190, 446; 
 under Henry VIII, 219-221 ; rebellion 
 under Fitzgerald (1533), 220; Queen 
 Elizabeth and, 277-278; colonized by 
 James I, 293; Wentworth in, 309, 
 310 ; Cromwell in, 335, 336 ; Restora- 
 tion in, 359; independence of, pro- 
 claimed, 392; James II, lands in, 
 (1689), 392; "The Great Act of 
 Attainder" (1689), 392; Siege of 
 Londonderry, 392; intolerance to- 
 wards Catholics, 393, 394; exports 
 of cloth, prohibited, 394; Land 
 Grants (1699, 1700), 402, 403; trade 
 crushed (1706), 414; Irish Parlia- 
 ment (1782), 445, 462; "United 
 Irishmen," 462; Orangemen, 462; 
 rebellion (1798), 463; union with 
 Great Britain (1800), 463-465; 
 Irish Parliament abolished (1801), 
 464; rebellion under Emmet, 467; 
 Reform Bill (1832), 483; Coercion 
 Act (1833), 485; demands repeal of 
 Act of Union, 490; famine (1845- 
 1846), 496, 497; disestablishment of 
 Episcopal church in, 511; Land 
 League (1879), 517; Land Act (1881), 
 517; Home Rule (1885, 1893), 520, 
 521; Irish Land Act (1903), 534; 
 Irish Home Rule (1912), passed 
 House of Commons, 544. 
 Ireton, 329. 
 
 Irish church disestablished, 511. 
 Irish Tithe Act (1838), 490 and note. 
 
 Jacobites, meaning of name, 397 note, 
 419, 430. 
 
 James I of Scotland, 164. 
 
 James I, born, 262; character of, 288, 289; 
 accession of, 289; Millenarv Petition 
 (1603), 289, 290; Hampton Court 
 Conference (1604), 290; proclaims 
 divine right of kings, 290; attitude 
 towards religion, 290, 291; foreign 
 policJ^ 292; colonizes America, 293, 
 294 ; colonizes Ireland, 293 ; and fa- 
 vorites, 294, 295; attitude towards 
 Catholics, 295; proposes Spanish 
 marriages, 295, 298; conflict with 
 Parliament, 297, 298. 
 
 James II, character of, 372, 373; Efforts 
 to restore Catholicism, 373, 375, 376; 
 "Bloody Assize" (1685), 374, 375; 
 Monmouth's Rebellion, 374, 375; 
 Declarations of Indulgence, 375, 376 ; 
 birth of a son, 376; "The Seven 
 Bishops," 376; William of Orange 
 invited to England, 377; flight of. 
 
 378; Revolution of 1688, 379; in 
 Ireland, 392; siege of Londonderry, 
 392 ; Battle of the Boyne, 393 ; flees 
 to France, 393. 
 
 James, Duke of York, 366 ; marries Mary 
 of Modena, 367; and Exclusion Act, 
 369. 
 
 James, The Old Pretender, 407, 419, 420. 
 
 Jameson's Raid, 526 and note. 
 
 Jane Grey, Lady, 232, 233, 237. 
 
 Jane Seymour, 214, 215. 
 
 Japan, 529; treaty with, 533, 544. 
 
 Jeffreys, Judge, 372 and note, 374. 
 
 Jenkins's Ear, War of. 428. 
 
 Jennings, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, 
 408,409,414. 
 
 Jesuits come to England, 267. 
 
 Jewries, 117. 
 
 Jews, 117-119; expulsion of, by Edward 
 I, 118-119; CromwoH's policy to- 
 wards, 345; admitted to Parliament, 
 479 note. 
 
 Joan of Arc, 171, 172. 
 
 John, character, 85; murder of Prince 
 Arthur, 85, 86; loses French posses- 
 sions, 86; quarrels with church, 8fi, 
 87; Pope deposes him, 87; does 
 homage to the Pope, 87; and the 
 Barons, 88-91 ; The Great Charter 
 (1215), 89, 90. 
 
 John of Gaunt, see Gaunt. 
 
 Junto, 401 and note. 
 
 Justiciars, 69, 103. 
 
 Jutes, 12. 
 
 Kent, Duchess of, 488 and note. 
 
 Ket's Rebellion (1549), 230. 246. 
 
 Killiekrankie, Battle of, 395. 
 
 King, Anglo-Saxon, how chosen and de- 
 posed, 49 ; hereditary succession 
 acknowledged, 112; choice of, resta 
 with Parliament, 379 ; must be Prot- 
 estant, 406 ; accession oath altered, 
 543. 
 
 Kitchener, Lord, 528, 529. 
 
 Knight, 94 ; become landowners, 69. 
 
 Knighthood, Compulsorv, 116, 316. 
 
 Knox, John, 259. 2(50. 
 
 Kruger, Paul, 526, 527. 
 
 Labor, Anglo-Saxon, 48; Norman, 95-97; 
 effect of Black Death, 141; Statute 
 of Laborers (1351). 142; Peasants' 
 Revolt (1381). 151-154; inorea.xe of 
 pauperism, 245; Statute of Appren- 
 tices (1563), 258; Poor Laws (15(i3, 
 1601), 258; in 17th century, .383; dis- 
 ordered conditions (1819), 475. 476; 
 Poor Law (1834). 484; Strikes and 
 Trade Unions. 485 ; under Victoria, 
 531. 532; Party, 536. 
 
 Ladvsmith, 528. 
 
 La Hogue, battle of. 397. 
 
 Lancaster, the Red Rose of, 176. 
 
 Lancaster, Wars of the Roses, 176-184', 
 union of. and York. 183. 
 
 Land, at time of Norman conquest, 47, 48 ; 
 Bookland, 47; Folkland, 47; I>oan- 
 land. 48; systems of holding. 47, 174, 
 244, 246; under Feudalism, 56; and 
 Domesday Book, 57, 58; manorial 
 
670 
 
 INDEX 
 
 system, 94-97, 244 ; open field sys- 
 tem, 95-97 ; three field system, 97 
 note ; Enclosures, 174 ; monastic, 
 seizure by Henry VIII, 212,213; En- 
 closure Acts (George III), 452; new 
 valuation of (1909), (New Domesday 
 Book), 537. 
 
 Lanfranc, Archbishop, 56, 59. 
 
 Langland, William, 148, 149. 
 
 Langton, Stephen, 86-89, 91. 
 
 Language, English, becomes that of the 
 people, 102 ; English, increased use 
 of, 148. 
 
 Lansdowne, Lord, 539. 
 
 Latimer, Bishop, 240 and note. 
 
 Laud, Archbishop, 306, 308, 309, 312, 317 ; 
 executed, 326. 
 
 Laws, see Acts, Bills, Statutes. 
 
 Layamon, 102. 
 
 "League and Covenant, Solemn" (1643), 
 325, 326. 
 
 Learning, advancement of, under Henry 
 VII, 193, 194. 
 
 Leicester, Earl of, 279. 
 
 Leighton, Alexander, 307, 308. 
 
 Levellers, 330. 
 
 Lewes, Battle of, 108. 
 
 Lexington, Battle of, 443. 
 
 Liberal Party, rise of, 484 and note, 509, 
 510, 512, 514, 516, 521, 535, 537, 539. 
 
 Liberal-Unionists, 520. 
 
 Limerick, Treaty of (1691), 393. 
 
 Literature, Alfred's service to, 29-31 ; 
 Early, 51, 792: in 15th and 16th 
 centuries, 251 ; under Elizabeth, 279, 
 280, 284; 17th century, 387, 388; 
 in Norman Britain, 42. 
 
 Liverpool, 451. 
 
 Liverpool, Lord, 475, 476. 
 
 Lloyd George, David, see George, Lloyd. 
 
 Loanland, 48. 
 
 Lollards, meaning of name, 157 note, rise 
 of, 157 ; suppression of, 157 ; under 
 Henry IV, 163 ; Henry V, 167, 168. 
 
 London, Roman times, 7 ; Tower of, 54 ; 
 Plague in, 361 ; Great Fire of, 362. 
 
 Londonderry, Siege of, 392. 
 
 Long Parliament, 314. 
 
 Lords Ordainers, 129 ; Appellant, 158. 
 
 Louis XIV of France, Charles II and, 360, 
 364, 365, 368, 370 ; William of Orange 
 (afterwards William III), and, 365, 
 389, 396, 397, 404, 405; James II 
 and, 396, 397; "Old Pretender" and, 
 407, 419, 420 ; Anne and, 409-412. 
 
 Low Church Party, Rise of, 370. 
 
 Loyal Association, The, 401 and note. 
 
 Lucknow, 504. 
 
 Mad Parliament, 107. 
 
 Magna Carta (1215), 89, 90; provisions 
 
 of, 90 ; John absolved from oath, 91 ; 
 
 confirmed by Henry III, 104, 105. 
 Mahdi, 519. 
 Maid of Norway, 120. 
 Major Generals, 344, 345. 
 Majuba Hill, Battle of, 517. 
 Malplaquet, 412. 
 Malta, 465, 466, 474. 
 Manchester meeting (1819), 475. 
 Manorial System, 95-97, 244. 
 
 Manufacture, 245, 247, 250 ; under Eliza 
 beth, 258. 
 
 Manufactures in 17th century, 382, 383 
 Industrial Revolution, 450, 455, 456 
 475. 
 
 Mar, Earl of, 420. 
 
 Margaret of Anjou, 174, 176-179. 
 
 Marlborough, Duchess of, 408, 409, 414. 
 
 Marlborough, Duke of, 409-414. 
 
 Marsh, Adam, 112. 
 
 Marston Moor, Battle of, 326. 
 
 Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, 202. 
 
 Mary I, character of, 234; Catholic re- 
 action under, 234, 235 ; Spanish mar- 
 riage, 235-238; Wyatt's Rebellion 
 236 ; England restored to Rome, 238 
 Persecution of Protestants, 239, 241 
 loses Calais, 241. 
 
 Mary, daughter of Duke of York (James 
 II), 367 note, 368. 
 
 Mary, Queen, see George V. 
 
 Mary, Queen, see William and Mary. 
 
 Mary, Queen of Scots, 256, 259 ; charac- 
 ter of, 260, 261 ; marries Darnlev, 
 261, 262; marries Bothwell, 262, 
 263 ; abdicates, 264 ; imprisoned by 
 Elizabeth, 264, 265; trial and exe- 
 cution of, 269, 270. 
 
 Masham, Mrs., 414. 
 
 Mason and Slidell, 508. 
 
 Matilda, daughter of Henry I, 62, 63, 64, 65. 
 
 Matilda, wife of Henry I, 60. 
 
 Merchant Adventures, 184. 
 
 Merchant Gilds, 98. 
 
 Mercia, 14, 22. 
 
 Merciless Parliament, 158. 
 
 Methodists, 453, 454. 
 
 Middle Class, rise of, 243. 
 
 Milan Decree (1807), 470. 
 
 Militant suffragists, 541 note. 
 
 Militia, made National, 78 ; Charles I 
 and, 320; Militia Bill (1642), 320. 
 
 Millenary Petition (1603), 289, 290. 
 
 Milton, John, 388. 
 
 Minimum Wage Bill (1912), 542. 
 
 Mise of Amiens (1264), 107; of Lewes 
 (1264), 109. 
 
 Model Parliament, 123. 
 
 Monasteries, dissolution of, 209-213 ; see 
 also Monasticism. 
 
 Monasticism, benefits of, 51 ; Dunstan, 
 51 ; growth of, 100 ; evils of, 210, 211. 
 
 Money, see Coinage. 
 
 Monk, General, 337, 339. 
 
 Monks, see Monasticism. 
 
 Monmouth, Duke of, 370 and note, 373, 
 374. 
 
 Monopolies, under Elizabeth, 281 ; under 
 James I, 296. 
 
 Montfort, Simon de, 108-111, 119. 
 
 More, Sir Thomas, 194, 209; author of 
 "Utopia," 209; execution of, 208. 
 
 Morley, Lord, 539. 
 
 Mortimer, Roger, 131, 133. 
 
 Mortmain, 116 and note. 
 
 "Morton's Fork," 192. 
 
 Mount Badon, 13. 
 
 Municipal Corporations Act (1835), 486 
 and note. 
 
 Mutiny Act (1689), 391 and note. 
 
 Mutiny, Indian, 502-504. 
 
INDEX 
 
 671 
 
 Napoleon Bonaparte, 460, 461, 465-468, 
 470-473 ; at Waterloo, 473. 
 
 Napoleon III (Louis), 498 and note, 500, 
 502. 
 
 Naseby, Battle of, 327. 
 
 Navigation Acts, see Acts. 
 
 Navy, beginning of, 28. 
 
 Nelson, Lord, 460, 461, 467, 468 and note. 
 
 Netherlands, see Dutch. 
 
 Nevil's Cross, Battle of, 140. 
 
 New Forest, 58. 
 
 "New Model Armv," 326, 327. 
 
 Newport, Treaty of (1648), 330. 
 
 News Letter, 382. 
 
 Newspaper, early, 381. 
 
 New York, 360; origin of name, 361. 
 
 Nightingale, Florence, 501, 502 and note. 
 
 Nile, Battle of the, 461. 
 
 Nonconformists, Brownists, 277 ; Con- 
 gregationalists, 277 ; Independents, 
 277, 328, 332, 336 ; Separatists, 277 ; 
 Presbyterians, 326, 328, 332, 334, 
 336 ; Quakers, 353, 356 note, 357. 
 
 Nonconformists, see also Dissenter. 
 
 Non-jurors, 390. 
 
 Norman Conquest, 40; results of, 93. 
 
 Normandy, origin of, 26 ; bequest of, to 
 Robert, 59'; conquered bv Henry I, 
 61 ; loss of, by John, 86, 92 ; " all 
 claims to French land given up by 
 Edward III, 143. 
 
 Normans, influence of, 41, 42. 
 
 North, Lord, 442, 445, 447. 
 
 Northampton, Treaty of (1328), 133. 
 
 Northmen, 25, 26. 
 
 Northumberland (John Dudley), Duke 
 of, assumes leadership, 231 ; policy of, 
 232 ; and Ladv Jane Grey conspiracy, 
 232, 233 ; execution of, 233. 
 
 Northumbria, 14, 22. 
 
 Gates, Titus, 368, 369. 
 
 OccasionalConformityAct (1711), 415, 421. 
 
 O'Connell, Daniel, 479, 490. 
 
 Oflfa, 22. 
 
 Old Age Pension Bill (1908), 536. 
 
 Oldcastle, Sir John, 167. 
 
 Old Sarum, 432 and note, 481. 
 
 Opium trade, 494, 495 and note ; war, 495. 
 
 Orange Free State, 506, 527. 
 
 Orangemen, 462 and note, 463. 
 
 Ordeal trial bv, 50 and note. 
 
 Orders in Council (1806-1S07), 469, 470. 
 
 "Ordinances," 129, 131, 326. 
 
 Orleans, Siege of, 170-172. 
 
 Oudenarde, Battle of, 411. 
 
 Oxford, 101, 194, 200, 512. 
 
 Oxford, Provisions of, 107. 
 
 Pale, English, 150, 190. 
 
 Palmerston, Lord, 493, 500, 509. 
 
 Paris, Peace of (1763), 439. 
 
 Parliament, first use of name, 106 ; the 
 "Mad," 107 ; of 1265, "The Famous," 
 110; all classes represented in, 110; 
 the "Model" (129.5), 123; gains 
 control of taxes and revenue, 125, 
 148; "The Good" of Edward III, 
 146, 147; growth of, under Edward 
 III, 147, 148: the "Merciless" of 
 Richard II, 158 ; of Shrewsbury, 160 ; 
 
 privileges gained, Henry V, 167 ; rec- 
 ognizes Henry VII, 183; the Irish, 
 190 ; Wolsey and, 200 ; under Henrv 
 VIII, 200, 201, 204, 205; Abbots 
 removed from House of Lords, 213; 
 and Gunpowder Plot, 291, 292; 
 James I, conflict with, 292, 297-298; 
 Addled Parliament, 296; James I 
 tears record, 298; First of Charles I, 
 299-300; Second of Charles I. 300; 
 Third of Charles I, 301 ; of 1629, 303, 
 304; The Petition of Right (1628), 
 301; "Short," 313; "Long," 314; 
 Triennial Act (1041), 316; "The 
 Grand Remonstrance" (1641), 317; 
 arrest of five members, 318; gov- 
 ernment by, 320 and note, "Self- 
 denying Ordinance," 326; "Heads of 
 Proposals," 329, 330 ; " Pride's Purge," 
 331; "The Rump," 331; House of 
 Lords (1649), abolished, 333; Hou.se 
 of Lords restored (1660), 351 ; Crom- 
 well expels "The Rump," 340; 
 "Barebones," 340, 341; First Pro- 
 tectorate, 344 ; Second Protectorate, 
 348, 349; "Humble Petition and 
 Advice'^ (1657), 349; Convention, 
 351, 352; Cavalier, or "Second 
 Long," 354, 355; "Drunken," 35S ; 
 Catholics excluded from, 369 ; Ox- 
 ford, 370; Triennial Bill (1094), 398; 
 Act of Settlement (1701), 406; Un- 
 equal representation in, 418; Sep- 
 tennial Act (1716), 421; debates of, 
 published, 441 note ; Catholics read- 
 mitted to (1829), 479 ; Jews admitted 
 to (1829), 479 note; reforms in (1830- 
 1832), 480-485; many cities not rep- 
 resented in, 481; reform of (1S67), 
 510; Ballot Act (1872), 512; Fran- 
 chise Bill (1884), 519; Redistribu- 
 tion Bill (1885), 519; Parliament or 
 Veto Bill (1911), 538, 539; payment 
 of members, 540 ; see House of Com- 
 mons, House of Lords. 
 
 Parnell, Charles Stewart, 517 and note, 
 518 note, 521. 
 
 Parties, rise of political, 369 ; party min- 
 istry, 400. 
 
 Parties, see also Conservative, Liberal, 
 Tory, Whig. 
 
 Partition Treaties (1698, 1700), 404, 405. 
 
 "Passive resistance," 5.34 note. 
 
 Pauperism in 15th and 16th centuries, 213, 
 245; under Elizabeth, 258, 259; 
 under Victoria, 531, 532. 
 
 Peace, see Treaties. 
 
 Peasants' Revolt (1381), 151. 152. 
 
 Peel, Sir Robert, 476. 477, 479. 485, 495, 
 496 and note. 
 
 Peninsular War, 470. 
 
 Penn. Sir William. 347, 348. 
 
 Penny Postage, 493. 
 
 Pension, Old Age Bill. 536. 
 
 "People's Charter" (18.38). 491. 492. 
 
 Pcrcvs, revolt of (Henry IV), 164. 
 
 Petition, Millenarv (1603), 289. 290; of 
 Right fir.L'S). 301, 302 and note. 
 
 " Petitioners," 369. 
 
 Pevcn.sev, William the Conqueror, lands 
 at. 40. 
 
672 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Philip Augustus, 85-88. 
 
 Philip II of Spain, marries Mary I, 235- 
 238 ; wishes to marry Elizabeth, 256 ; 
 plans to invade England, 273, 274; 
 and the Armada, 274-276. 
 
 Philippa, Queen, and Calais, 140. 
 
 Picts and Scots, 12. 
 
 Piers Plowman, 149. 
 
 Pilgrim Fathers, 293. 
 
 Pilgrimage of Grace (1536), 213, 214. 
 
 Pinkie Cleugh, Battle of, 229, 259. 
 
 Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 432 ; re- 
 stored to power, 437 ; resigns, 439 ; 
 Prime Minister, 441. 
 
 Pitt, William, the younger, 447-469; 
 Prime Minister, 448 ; character, 449 ; 
 India Bill, 457; and Finances, 4.58. 
 
 Plague, The (1665), 361. 
 
 Plague, "The Black Death," 141. 
 
 Plan{agenet, meaning of name, 66 ; the 
 first in England, 66. 
 
 Plassey, Battle of, 436. 
 
 "Plural voting," 537, 538. 
 
 Plymouth, Massachusetts, 293. 
 
 "Pocket boroughs," 481 note, 483. 
 
 Poitiers, Battle of (1356), 142. 
 
 Pole, Cardinal, 217 and note, 238, 239, 241. 
 
 Police force, reformed by Peel, 477. 
 
 Poll Tax, 151 and note. 
 
 Poor Laws, of Elizabeth, 258, 259; of 
 18th century, 452, of 1834, 484. 
 
 "Popish Plot," 368, 369. 
 
 Postage, penny, 493. 
 
 Poynings Acts (1494), 190, 446. 
 
 Prsemunire, Statute of (1353), 149, 206. 
 
 Prayer Book, English, 230, 231, 254. 
 
 Presbyterianism, 255 ; in Scotland (Cal- 
 vinists), 2.59 ; Charles I and, 312, 313, 
 327 ; in England, 326, 328, 329, 332, 
 334, 336, 356 note, 358. 
 
 Press, freedom of the, 400 and note. 
 
 Prestonpans, Battle of, 429. 
 
 "Pretender, The Old," 407, 419, 420. 
 
 "Pretender, The Young," 429-431 and 
 note. 
 
 "Pride's Purge," 331. 
 
 Prime minister, his power, 489. 
 
 Prince Albert, see Albert. 
 
 Prince Eugene of Savoy, 411 and note. 
 
 Prince of Wales, the first, 120. 
 
 "Princes, Little, in the Tower," 182. 
 
 Printing introduced into England, 185. 
 
 Prison reform, 454. 
 
 "Pro-Boers," 528 note. 
 
 Progresses, Royal, 284. 
 
 Protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 
 182; Somerset, Duke of, 227-231; 
 Cromwell, Oliver, 342 ; Cromwell, 
 Richard, 350. 
 
 Provisions of Oxford (1258), 107, 109; 
 of Westminster (1259), 111. 
 
 Prynne, William, 308. 
 
 Puritans, rise of, 255, 276; "Millenary Pe- 
 tition" (1603), 290; Hampton Court 
 Conference (1604), 290; many emi- 
 grate, 307; Revolution, Chap. XX, 
 reaction against, 357, 358. 
 
 Purveyance, 354 and note. 
 
 Pym, John, 301, 313, 314, 325. 
 
 Quakers, 353, 356 note, 357. 
 
 Quebec, Fall of, 438. 
 
 Quia Emptores (1290), 117. 
 
 Raleigh, Walter, Sir, 280, 281, 286, 290, 
 294. 
 
 Ramilies, Battle of, 411. 
 
 Recoinage Act (1696), 401. 
 
 Red Cross Society, 501. 
 
 Reformation, the English, 226, 228, 230, 
 231, 234 ; established, 2.54, 255. 
 
 Reform Bill (1832), 482 and note, 484, 
 492 (1867), 510. 
 
 Regency Bill (1788), 458. 
 
 Regent, Prince of Wales acts as (1810- 
 1820), 475. 
 
 Regicides punished by Charles II, 354. 
 
 Remonstrance, The Grand (1641), 317. 
 
 Renaissance in England, 193, 194. 
 
 Revolution (1688), 376-379. 
 
 Revolution, American, 443-447. 
 
 Rhodes, Cecil, 525. 
 
 Richard I, "Coeur de Lion," 81; how 
 he raised funds, 81, 84; goes on Cru- 
 sade, 82 ; captured, 83 ; ransomed, 
 83 ; death, 84. 
 
 Richard II, 151; poll tax, 151; Wat 
 Tyler rebellion, 152-154; Wycliffe 
 and the Lollards, 155^158; the "Mer- 
 ciless Parliament," 158; deposed, 
 161 ; death of, 162 ; character of, 
 162. 
 
 Richard III, revolts against, 182, 183; 
 killed at Bosworth Field, 183. 
 
 Richard, Duke of Gloucester, 182. 
 
 Ridley, Bishop, 240. 
 
 Ridolii Plot, 267. 
 
 Riot Act (1715), 419. 
 
 Rizzio, David, 262. 
 
 Roads, 381, 451. 
 
 Robert, son of William I, 59, 60, 61. 
 
 Roberts, Lord, 528. 
 
 Roebuck, John, 451. 
 
 Rogers, John, 240. 
 
 Romans, first in Britain, 4, 5 ; invade 
 Britain, 5, 6 ; their occupation of 
 Britain, 6-10 ; withdraw from Britain, 
 10,11. 
 
 "Root and Branch" Bill (1641), 317. 
 
 Rose, the Red, Lancaster, 176; the 
 White, York, 176. 
 
 Rosebery, Lord, 522. 
 
 Roses, Wars of the, 176-184. 
 
 "Rotten boroughs," 481 and note, 483. 
 
 Roundheads and Cavaliers, 324. 
 
 Roval Societv founded (1662), 388. 
 
 "Rump, TheV 331, 334, 340, 350. 
 
 Runnymede, 89. 
 
 Rupert, Prince, 324, 325, 326, 3.34. 
 
 Russell, Lord John, 479, 482 and note, 
 496, 497-500, 504 note, 508, 510. 
 
 Russell, Lord William, executed, 372. 
 
 Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), 515. 
 
 Rye House Plot, 372. 
 
 Ryswick, Peace of (1697), 397, 403, 407. 
 
 Saint Albans, Battle of, 176. 
 Saint Paul's Cathedral, 386. 
 Saladin Tax, 79. 
 Salisburv, Lord, 520-523, 533. 
 Salisbury, Oath of (1086), 57. 
 Salvation Army, 532 and note. 
 
INDEX 
 
 67 
 
 Saratoga, Battle of, 444. 
 
 Sarum, Old, 432 and note, 481. 
 
 Sawtre, William, 166. 
 
 Saxons, on the continent, 12 ; character 
 of, 12; come to Britain, 13; settle- 
 ments of, 14-16. 
 
 Schism Act (1714), 415, 421. 
 
 Schools, see Education. 
 
 Scotland, William the Lion does homage 
 to Henry II, 77, 78, 80; the succes- 
 sion and Edward I, 120-122; rebel- 
 lion under Wallace, 126, 127 ; Robert 
 Bruce, 127, 128, 130; wins independ- 
 ence at Bannockburn, 130 ; regains 
 independence, 133 ; war with Eng- 
 land, 134; Reformation in, 259, 260; 
 the Church and Charles I, 312, 313; 
 revolt again.st Charles I, 313 ; union 
 with England (1652), 337; given 30 
 members in Parliament, 337; Res- 
 toration in, 358 ; persecution of 
 Covenanters, 359; uprising in (1685), 
 374, 375; Revolution in (1689), 
 394-396; Claverhouse, 395; Mas- 
 sacre of Glencoe, 395; the Old Pre- 
 tender, 407, 420; union with England 
 (1707), 414; rising under Mar, 420; 
 the Young Pretender, 429-431 and 
 note; Reform Bill (1832), 483. 
 
 Scots and Picts, 12. 
 
 "Second Civil War," 330. 
 
 Sedgemoor, Battle of, 374. 
 
 Self-denying Ordinance (1645), 326. 
 
 Senlac, Battle of, 40. 
 
 Separatists, 277. 
 
 Sepoy rebellion, 502, 504. 
 
 Septennial Act (1716), 421. 
 
 Serfs, 95. 
 
 Settlement, Act of (1661), 359, of (1701), 
 406. 
 
 Sevastopol, siege of, 501, 502. 
 
 Seven Bishops, the, and James II, 376. 
 
 Seven Years' War, 437, 439. 
 
 Seymour, Jane, 214, 215. 
 
 Shaftesbury, Lord, 484 note. 
 
 Shakespeare, 280, 284. 
 
 Sheriff (shirereeve) , 50 and note. 
 
 "Ship money," 310, 316. 
 
 Shires or Counties, 49. 
 
 Short Parliament, 313. 
 
 Shrewsbury, Battle of, 164. 
 
 Sidney, Algernon, executed, 372. 
 
 Simnel and Warbeck Rebellions, 188, 
 
 '\ 
 
 Montfort. 
 
 413, 454, 
 
 Simon de Montfort, 
 
 Six Acts, 476. 
 
 Six Articles of Faith, 217. 
 
 Slave trade, "The Assiento, 
 457, 469. 
 
 Slavery abolished in British dominions, 
 469. 
 
 Slaves, earlv English, 48. 
 
 Sluys, Battle of, 137. 
 
 Smith, Adam, 452, 458. 
 
 Social Life, Anglo-Saxon, 43-51 ; Norman- 
 English, 93-103; 15th and 16th cen- 
 turies, 246-251 ; 17th century, 383- 
 386; 18th century, 4.54-4.56. 
 
 Solemn League and Covenant (1643), 
 325, 326. 
 
 Solway Moss, Battle of, 221. 
 
 Somerset (Edward Seymour), Duke of, 
 
 chosen Protector, 227; character 
 
 and policy of, 228-231; executed, 
 
 231. 
 
 Sophia, Electress of Hanover, 406 and 
 
 note, 415. 
 South Africa, 506, 523; Boer War, 524- 
 
 528 ; Union of, 542. 
 South Sea Scheme, 421-423 and note. 
 Spain, James I and, 295, 298; war with, 
 under Charles I, 299, 300; see Philip 
 II. 
 Spanish Armada, 274-276; Spanish suc- 
 cession, 403-407 ; War of, 410. 
 "Sports, Book of," 309. 
 Stamford Bridge, Battle of, 38. 
 Stamp Act, American (176.5), 441, 443. 
 Star Chamber, 191 and note. 
 Star Chamber, The Court of. 307, 308. 
 Statutes, Apprentices (1563), 258. 
 De Religiosi (1279), 116. 
 Gloucester (1278), 115. 
 Kilkenny (1367), 150. 
 Laborers (1351), 142. 
 Mortmain (1279), 116. 
 Of Parliament, see also acts and bills. 
 Praemunire (1353), 149, 200. 
 Provisors (1351), 149. 
 Quia Emptores (1290), 117. 
 Supremacv (1534), 208; (1559), 254. 
 Uniformitv (1559), 254. 
 Wales (1283), 120. 
 Westminster (1275), 115. 
 Westmin.ster II (1285), 117. 
 Winchester (1285), 116. 
 Steam engine. Watt's, 450. 
 Stephen and the barons, 64 ; civil war. 
 
 64, 65. 
 Stephen of Blois, 63. 
 Stonehenge, 4. 
 
 Strafford, Earl of (Thomas Wentworth), 
 306-316 ; policy of "Thorough." 308; 
 impeachment and execution of, 314- 
 316. 
 Strikes, (1833) 485; (1910-1912) dock, 
 541; railway. 542; coal miners, 542. 
 Stuart, Charles (the " Young Pretender"), 
 
 429-431 and note. 
 Stuart, James (the "Old Pretender"), 
 
 407, 419, 420. 
 "Submission of the Clergy," 207. 
 Succession, Roval, 406. 
 Sudan. 519. 528. 529. 
 Suez Canal. 514 and note. 529. 
 Suffrage, see Bills, Reform ; woman, 540, 
 
 .541. 
 "Suffragettes," 540, 541. 
 Surrey, Earl of, 223. 
 Swegen, the Danish king, 35. 
 
 Tariff Reforms (1842). 495, 496. 
 
 Taxes, Roman, 8 ; Danegeld, 34 ; under 
 Normans, 57, 58 ; Domesday Book 
 and, 57, 58; under Henry II. 69; 
 Saladin. 79 ; restricted by Confir- 
 matio Cartarum. 124. 125; Poll. 
 (1379), 151 and note. Henry VII'.s 
 policy. 192; illegal imder James I, 
 292, "296; and Petition of Right 
 (16S9), .301 ; Ship Money, 310; under 
 Long Parliament, 316; Cromwell 
 
674 
 
 INDEX 
 
 taxes Cavaliers, 344 ; on American 
 
 colonies, 441, 442; Budget (1909), 
 
 536-538. 
 Tea introduced into England, 385 and 
 
 note. 
 Telegraph, 531. 
 Telephone, 531. 
 Tenchbrai, Battle of, 61. 
 Test Act (1673), 366, 367, 375, 479. 
 Teutonic tribes come to Britain, 12-14 ; 
 
 Conquest, 12-14, 16 ; early kingdoms 
 
 in Britain, 14-16 ; civilization, 16-17. 
 Tewkesbury, Battle of, 179. 
 Thegn, 48. 
 
 Theodore of Tarsus, 21. 
 Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, 232. 
 Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), 296, 
 
 310 325 
 "Thorough," Policy of, 308. 
 Toleration, religious, not understood, 
 
 239, 303 ; under Cromwell, 345 ; Act 
 
 (1689), 390, 394. 
 "Tonnage and poundage," 299, 303, 304. 
 Tory, origin of name, 369 and note. 
 Tory Party, under William III, 392, 400, 
 
 402, 406; under Anne, 414; under 
 George II, 427 ; under George III, 
 "New Toryism," 460; called Con- 
 servatives, 489 note, 490. 
 
 Tower of London, 54. 
 
 Town Charters, attacked, 371. 
 
 Towns, Roman, 8 ; Norman, 46. 
 
 Towns and Town Life, 46, 81, 97, 247, 
 371, 380, 381. 
 
 Townshend Acts (1767), 441. 
 
 Townships, 50. 
 
 Towton, Battle of, 178. 
 
 Trade and Commerce, 184, 224, 248, 286, 
 293, 294, 382, 413, 433, 494. 
 
 Trade Unions forbidden, 456; allowed, 
 478. 
 
 Trafalgar, Battle of, 467. 
 
 Transvaal Republic, 506, 516, 517, 526- 
 528. 
 
 Travel, in 17th century, 381 ; in ISth 
 century, 451. 
 
 Treaty, of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748), 431, 433 ; 
 Amiens (1802), 465; Berwick (1639), 
 313; Br^tigny (1360), 143; Dover 
 (1670), 364, 365; Limerick (1691), 
 393; Northampton (1328), 133; Paris 
 (1763), 4.39; Paris (1814), 471, 506; 
 Paris (1856), 502; Partition (1698, 
 1700), 404, 405; Rvswick (1697), 397, 
 
 403, 407; Troyes (1420), 169; with 
 United States (1783), 447; Utrecht 
 (1713), 412, 413, 419, 422, 428; Wal- 
 lingford (1153), 66; Wedmore (878), 
 28 
 
 Trent, affair, the, 508. 
 
 Triennial Bill (1641), 316; (1664), 355; 
 (1694), 398. 
 
 Trinidad, 474, 505. 
 
 Triple Alliance (1716), 421; (1788), 458. 
 
 Troyes, Treaty of (1420), 169. 
 
 Tudor, Genealogy of family, 160; Ed- 
 mund, 180 ; Henry, 180 ; gains the 
 crown, 182 ; marries Elizabeth of 
 York, 183. 
 Turkey, "a- great power," 502, 515, 516, 
 523. 
 
 Tyler, Wat, 152, 154. 
 
 Tyndale, William, 215, 216; his Bible. 
 215, 216. 
 
 Uitlanders, 525-527. 
 
 Ulster, colonization of, by Scotch and 
 English, 293; siege of Londonderry, 
 392; Tenant Right, 511 note. 
 
 Union, Act of (1800), 463, 490. 
 
 Unionists, 523. 
 
 Union Jack, flag, 413, 465. 
 
 Union of South Africa, 542. 
 
 "United Irishmen," 462. 
 
 United States, see America. 
 
 Universities, founded, 101, 102; "Oxford 
 Reformers," 194; religious tests, abol- 
 ished, 512. 
 
 "Utopia," Sir Thomas More's, 209. 
 
 Utrecht, Peace of (1713), 412, 413, 419, 
 422, 428. 
 
 Van Tromp, 339. 
 
 Venables, Robert, 347, 348. 
 
 Venezuela boundary dispute, 523. 
 
 Veto Act or Parliament Bill (1911), 538, 
 539. 
 
 Victoria, character of reign, 488 ; mar- 
 ries Prince Albert, 489 ; Chartism, 
 491, 493 ; Chinese War (Opium War), 
 494, 495; Crimean War, 494, 500- 
 502, 513; Irish famine, 496, 497; 
 Indian Mutiny, 502-504; death of 
 Prince Albert, 507 ; American Civil 
 War, 507-509 ; Trent affair, the, 508 ; 
 Alabama, Claims, the, 509 note, 513; 
 Reform Bills (1866, 1867), 510; Irish 
 Land Act (1870), 511; Elementary 
 Education Act (1870), 511 ; Empress 
 of India, 515; Sudan, the, 519, 528, 
 529; South Africa, 506, 517; Boer 
 War, 527, 528, 530; Territorial Ex- 
 pansion, 523-524 ; Diamond Jubilee, 
 530 ; her death, 530 ; character of, 
 530 ; review of reign, 530-532. 
 
 Vienna, Congress of (1814-1815), 471- 
 473. 
 
 Villeins, 95. 
 
 Villiers, Charles, see Buckingham. 
 
 Virginia, colonization of, 293. 
 
 Wages, effect of "Black Death " on (1349), 
 141, 142; effect of Poll Tax (1380), 
 151 ; in 15th and 16th centuries, 247, 
 250, under Elizabeth, 258 ; minimum 
 (1912), 542. 
 
 Wakefield, Battle of, 177. 
 
 Wales, and Henry II, 80; conquered by 
 Edward I, 119, 120; first Prince of, 
 120; Statute of (1283), 120; and 
 Henry IV, 164; disestablishment of 
 the English church in (1913), 545. 
 
 Wallace, William, 126-128. 
 
 Wallingford, Treaty of (1153), 66. 
 
 Walpole, Sir Robert, 423-425; prime 
 minister, 423; policy of, 424, 427, 
 428. 
 
 Walsingham, Sir Francis, 253. 
 
 Wapentakes, 50. 
 
 Warbeck and Simnel Rebellions, 188, 
 191. 
 
 Wars, see names of as "Civil," etc. 
 
INDEX 
 
 675 
 
 Wars of the Roses, 176-184. 
 
 Warwick, Earl of (15th century), 178, 
 "kingmaker," 179. 
 
 Washington, George, 436, 444. 
 
 Waterloo, Battle of (1815), 473. 
 
 Watling street, Roman road, 7. 
 
 Wat Tyler, 152, 154. 
 
 Watt, James,,450. 
 
 Wedmore, Treaty of (878), 28. 
 
 Wellesley, Sir Arthur, see Wellington. 
 
 Wellington, Duke of, 470, 473. 482. 
 
 Wentworth, Thomas, Earl of Strafford, 
 see Strafford. 
 
 Wesley, John and Charles, 453. 
 
 Wesleyans, 453, 454. 
 
 Wessex, or AVest Saxons, 26. 
 
 West Indies, 505, 506 and note. 
 
 Westminster Abbey built by Edward the 
 Confessor, 46 and note; Henry VII's 
 chapel, 187. 
 
 Wexford, Battle of, 335 and note. 
 
 Whig, origin of name, 369 and note. Party, 
 under William III, 392, 400, 401, 406 ; 
 under Anne, 410, 412, 414; under 
 George I, 417-423; under George II, 
 427; under George III, 446; under 
 William IV, 481 ; call themselves 
 Liberal, 484. 
 
 Whitby, Council of, 30. 
 
 Whitefield, George, 453. 
 
 "White Ship, The," 62. 
 
 "White Tower," 54. 
 
 Wilberforce, William, 454, 457. 
 
 Wilkes, John, 440 and note. 
 
 William I, quells rebellions, 53, 54, 56 ; 
 and the church, 56; and feudalism, 
 56, 57 ; holds great meeting at Salis- 
 bury, 57 ; Domesday Book, 57, 58 ; 
 death of, 58. 
 
 William II, Rufus, 59 ; trouble with 
 barons, 59 ; trouble with church, 59 ; 
 and Anselm, 59-61 ; charter to the 
 barons, 60 ; death of, 60. 
 
 William and Marv, characters of, 389 ; 
 Convention Parliament, 378, 389; 
 Declaration of Right (1688), 379; 
 
 Non-jurors, 390; Battle of the 
 Boyne, 393; Treaty of Limerick, 
 393; and Scotland, 394-396; Mas- 
 sacre of Glencoe, 395, 396 ; war with 
 France, 396; Peace of Ryswick 
 (1697), 397; National Debt, 398; 
 Bank of England established, 398; 
 Partition Treaties (1698-1700), 404, 
 405; William's death, 407, 408. 
 
 William IV, character of, 479-480. 486; 
 abolition of slavery, 484 ; factory 
 reform, 484 and note ; need of par- 
 liamentary reform, 480, 481 ; Re- 
 form Bill (1832), 482 and note, 484, 
 492. 
 
 William the Norman, 39 ; claims to Eng- 
 lish crown, 39 ; invades England, 40 ; 
 fights Battle of Hastings (1006), 40; 
 crowned, 41. 
 
 William of Orange, 365, 368; invited to 
 take English crown, 370 ; lands in 
 England, 377. 
 
 Winchester College, founded, 149. 
 
 Witenagemote, 35, 49. 
 
 Wolfe, General, captures Quebec, 438. 
 
 Wolsey, Thomas, Cardinal, 196-204 ; rise 
 of, 190; policy of, 197, 201 ; and the 
 divorce of Catherine, 203 ; full and 
 death of, 203, 204. 
 
 Woman suffrage, 540, 541. 
 
 Women and children, employment of, 
 16th century, 248-250 ; 18th century, 
 456, 484 note. 
 
 Woolen trade, 245. 
 
 Worcester, Battle of, 336. 
 
 Wren, Sir Christopher. 386. 
 
 Wyatt's Rebellion (1554), 236. 
 
 Wycliffe, John, 155-157; his Bible, 156, 
 157. 
 
 Yeomen, 383. 
 
 York, Parliament of, 131. 
 
 York, Wars of the Ro.ses, 176-184; union 
 
 of, with Lancaster, 183. 
 York, the White Rose. 176. 
 Yorktown. Battle of. 445. 
 
INDEX TO APPENDIX I 
 
 Adrian VI, 611 and note. 
 
 Africa, Northern, 551. 
 
 Alaric, the Goth, 549, 550. 
 
 Albigenses, 588. 
 
 Alfonso X, 592. 
 
 Alva, Duke of, 616, 617. 
 
 Attila, the Hun, 550, 551. 
 
 Augsburg, Confession, 612 ; Diet of, 612 ; 
 
 Peace of, 613, 621. 
 Avignon, Popes at, 597, 605. 
 
 "Babylonish Captivity," 597. 
 
 Barbarians, 547-548. 
 
 Basel, Council of, 600. 
 
 Belisarius, 552, 554. 
 
 Boniface VIII, 596. 
 
 Bouvines, Battle of, 589. 
 
 Bulls, Papal, Clericis laicos, 596, 597 ; 
 
 Unam Sanctam, 596, 597 ; against 
 
 Luther, 610. 
 
 Calvin, John, 614. 
 
 Capet, Hugh, 568, 593. 
 
 Celibacy of the Clergy, 574. 
 
 Chalons, Battle of, 551. 
 
 Charlemagne, see Charles the Great. 
 
 Charles I of England and Thirty Years' 
 
 War, 623, 624. 
 Charles the Bald, 563. 
 Charles the Bold of Burgundy, 596. 
 Charles the Great, 559-563 ; coronation 
 
 of, 561, 562 ; relations with England, 
 
 562. 
 Charles Martel, 555. 
 Charles V, 610-613. 
 Charles VII of France, 596. 
 Charles IX of France, 614. 
 Christendom (1500), Extent of, 603. 
 Cities and towns, 582, 583. 
 Clermont, Council of, 577. 
 Clovis, 554. 
 Cluniac Rule, 573. 
 Columbus, discovers America, 606. 
 Compass, mariner's invented, 605, 606. 
 Conrad II, 570. 
 
 Constance, Council of, 598 and note, 600. 
 Constantinople, fall of, 601. 
 Copernicus, 607. 
 Cortez, 606. 
 
 "Counter Reformation," 619. 
 Crusades, 577 and note; first, 578; 
 
 second, 580 ; third, 580 ; fourth, 580 ; 
 
 results of, 581, 582. 
 
 Danes, 566 and note. 
 
 Diaz, Bartholomew, 606. 
 
 Diet, The Imperial, 604. 
 
 Diets, Worms (1521), 610; Spires (1526), 
 
 612; (1529), 612; Augsburg (1530), 
 
 612. 
 
 Discovery, age of, 606. 
 
 Dominicans, 585. 
 
 Dutch Republic (1572), 617. 
 
 Eastern Empire, 576, 601. 
 
 Eck, John, 610. 
 
 Electors of German Emperor, 591 note. 
 
 Elizabeth (of England), and the Dutch, 
 
 617,618. 
 Erasmus's Greek New Testament, 607. 
 Excommunication, 575, 588. 
 
 Ferdinand and Isabella, 593, 604. 
 
 Feudalism, rise of, 564 ; elements of, 565 
 and note ; effects of, 565. 
 
 "First Law," 590, 591. 
 
 France, Medieval, 593, 594; (1503), 603. 
 
 Francis I, 611, 612, 614. 
 
 Francis II, 614. 
 
 Francis, Saint, 584. 
 
 Franciscans, 584 and note, 585. 
 
 Franks, 547 note ; and the Church, 554. 
 
 Frederick Barbarossa, 570, 586. 
 
 Frederick II, 586, 589, 590. 
 
 Frederick, Elector Palatine, King of Bo- 
 hemia (Winter King), 621 and note, 
 622. 
 
 Frederick the Wise, 609. 
 
 Friars, coming of, 584, mission of, 585. 
 
 Gaiseric (Genseric), 551, 552. 
 Genseric, see Gaiseric. 
 Germany, rise of, 563 
 
 tions with Italy, 
 
 570, 589-591, 604; 
 
 (1500), 604. 
 Gregory VII (Hildebrand) 
 
 note. 
 Guises, family of, 614. 
 Gunpowder, invented, 605, 606. 
 Gustavus Adolphus, 623, 624. 
 
 Hanseatic League, 583 note. 
 
 Hegira, the, 557 note. 
 
 Henry III, 570; of France, 614. 
 
 Henry IV, 570. 
 
 Henry VIII (of England), 611. 
 
 Henry the Fowler, 568, 569. 
 
 Henry IV of Navarre, 614, 615. 
 
 Heresy and Heretics, 588. 
 
 Hildebrand (Gregory VII), 574-576 and 
 
 note. 
 Hohenstaufens, 590. 
 "Holy Roman Empire," 562, 569. 570 
 
 note, 570. 
 Hugh Capet, 568, 593. 
 Huguenots, 614, 615. 
 "Humanists," 607. 
 Huns, 547 note, 548, 550, 551. 
 Hus, John, 599. 
 
 564, 568; Rela- 
 569 ; Medieval, 
 (1618), 620, 625; 
 
 574-576 and 
 
 676 
 
INDEX TO APPENDIX I 
 
 677 
 
 Indulgences, 609. 
 Innocent III, 586, 587, 588. 
 Inquisition, 619, 620. 
 Interdict, 575, 588. 
 Inventions, 605. 
 Investitures, 575, 576. 
 Italy, relations with Germany, 569; ic 
 13th century, 591 ; about 1500, 605. 
 
 James I of England and Thirty Years' 
 
 War, 622, 623. 
 Jerome of Prague, 599. 
 Jerusalem, 577 ; Kingdom of, 579. 
 Jesuits, 619. 
 Justinian, 554. 
 
 Koran, 557 note. 
 
 Langobards, .see Lombards. 
 Languages, growth of, 563. 
 Latin Empire of the East, 580. 
 Leicester, Earl of, and Holland, 618. 
 Lombards, invade Italy, 556. 
 Lothaire, 563. 
 
 Louis IX (Saint), 595 and note. 
 Louis XI, 596. 
 Louis XIII, 615. 
 Louis XIV, 625. 
 
 Louis the German (Ludwig), 563. 
 Louis the Pious, 563. 
 Loyola, Ignatius, 619. 
 
 Luther, Martin, 609; burns papal bull, 
 610, 611-613. 
 
 Magellan, 607. 
 
 Mansfield, 622, 623. 
 
 Martel, Charles, 555. 
 
 Mary of Burgundj% 596. 
 
 "Mayor of the palace," 555. 
 
 Mazarin Bible, 605. 
 
 Mecca, 557. 
 
 Medici, Catherine de, 614. 
 
 Medici, Maria de, 615. 
 
 Medieval Times, beginning of, 563. 
 
 Medina, 557. 
 
 Melanchthon, 612. 
 
 Merovingians, 555 and note. 
 
 Mohammedanism, 556-558. 
 
 Monasticism, 572 ; benefits of, 573. 
 
 Money, use of, 583. 
 
 Montfort, Simon de, 588. 
 
 Moors in Spain, 558, 592. 
 
 Nantes, Edict of (1.598), 615. 
 Netherlands. 616-618. 
 Northmen in Europe, 566, 567 ; in Enj 
 land, 568 ; in France, 567, 568. 
 
 Odoacer, 552, 553. 
 Ostrogoths, 547 note, 553. 
 Otto the Great, 569. 
 
 Peasants' rising, 611. 
 Petrarch, 607. 
 Philip Augustus, 594. 
 Philip II, 613. 614, 616. 
 
 Philip IV (the Fair), 595. 
 
 Pippin. 5.55. 
 
 Pippin the Short. 555, 556. 559. 
 
 Pizarro. 606. 
 
 Pope, Growth of Papal Power, 570-572. 
 
 Portuguese, discoverers, 606. 
 
 Printing press invented. 605. 606. 
 
 Protestants, 612. 
 
 Reformation, Protestant, 608. 
 
 Religious Unrest (1500), 607. 608. 
 
 "Renaissance Popes," 600. 
 
 Rhine, League of. 583 note. 
 
 Richelieu, 615, 616, 624. 
 
 Rollo. 567 and note. 
 
 Roman Empire, 547 and note; causes of 
 
 decay of, 548. 549 ; fall of, 549, 550. 
 Roman law, 552. 
 Rome (City), taken by Attila, 550; 
 
 Gaiseric, 552. 
 Rudolf of Hapsburg, 591. 
 
 "Saint Bartholomew's Day," 614. 
 Saint Benedict, rule of, 572, 573. 
 Saladin. 580. 
 
 Saracens, culture and achievements, 558 
 "Schism, The Great," 597. 
 "Schmalkalden, League of," 612 and note. 
 
 613. 
 Society of Jesus, 619. 
 Spain, Moors in, 5.58, 592; the people in. 
 
 592, 593; (1500). 
 Spanish Armada, 618. 
 Spires, Diet of, 612. 
 Sully, 615. 
 
 Swabian League, 583 note. 
 Switzerland, 591. 592. 
 
 Tetzel, John, 609. 
 
 Teutonic tribes, 547 note, 550 note ; law. 
 
 552. 
 Theodoric, 552, 553. 
 Third Estate. The, 595. 
 Thirtv Years' War, 612, 620-625. 
 Tiers Etats, 595. 
 Tillv, 622. 
 
 Tours, Battle of, 555. 
 Towns and cities, rise of, 582. 583. 
 Trade, 582, 583. 
 Trent, Council of, 619, 620. 
 Turks, in Europe. 601, 602; Ottoman, 
 600; Seljuk, 576, 577, 600, 601. 
 
 Universities, rise of. 586. 
 
 Vandals. 550 note. 551. 552. 
 Visigoths, 547 note. 548. 
 
 Waldenses, 589. 614. 
 Wallenstein. 622 and note. 623. 
 Western Empire falls, .5.50. 
 Westphalia. Peace of (1648). 624. 
 William pf Orange (the Silent), 617, 618. 
 Wolsev, Cardinal. 611. 
 Worms, Diet of, 610.