登陆注册
4705400000067

第67章

At the head of those who may be called the Constitutional Royalists were Falkland, Hyde, and Culpeper. All these eminent men had, during the former year, been in very decided opposition to the Court. In some of those very proceedings with which their admirers reproach Hampden, they had taken a more decided part than Hampden. They had all been concerned in the impeachment of Strafford. They had all, there is reason to believe, voted for the Bill of Attainder. Certainly none of them voted against it.

They had all agreed to the act which made the consent of the Parliament necessary to a dissolution or prorogation. Hyde had been among the most active of those who attacked the Council of York. Falkland had voted for the exclusion of the bishops from the Upper House. They were now inclined to halt in the path of reform, perhaps to retrace a few of their steps.

A direct collision soon took place between the two parties into which the House of Commons, lately at almost perfect unity with itself, was now divided. The opponents of the government moved that celebrated address to the King which is known by the name of the Grand Remonstrance. In this address all the oppressive acts of the preceding fifteen years were set forth with great energy of language; and, in conclusion, the King was entreated to employ no ministers in whom the Parliament could not confide.

The debate on the Remonstrance was long and stormy. It commenced at nine in the morning of the twenty-first of November, and lasted till after midnight. The division showed that a great change had taken place in the temper of the House. Though many members had retired from exhaustion. three hundred voted and the Remonstrance was carried by a majority of only nine. A violent debate followed, on the question whether the minority should be allowed to protest against this decision. The excitement was so great that several members were on the point of proceeding to personal violence. "We had sheathed our swords in each other's bowels," says an eye-witness, "had not the sagacity and great calmness of Mr. Hampden, by a short speech, prevented it." The House did not rise till two in the morning.

The situation of the Puritan leaders was now difficult and full of peril. The small majority which they still had might soon become a minority. Out of doors, their supporters in the higher and middle classes were beginning to fall off. There was a growing opinion that the King had been hardly used. The English are always inclined to side with a weak party which is in the wrong, rather than with a strong party which is in the right.

This may be seen in all contests, from contests of boxers to contests of faction. Thus it was that a violent reaction took place in favour of Charles the Second against the Whigs in 1681.

Thus it was that an equally violent reaction took place in favour of George the Third against the coalition in 1784. A similar action was beginning to take place during the second year of the Long Parliament. Some members of the Opposition "had resumed" says Clarendon, "their old resolution of leaving the kingdom."

Oliver Cromwell openly declared that he and many others would have emigrated if they had been left in a minority on the question of the Remonstrance.

Charles had now a last chance of regaining the affection of his people. If he could have resolved to give his confidence to the leaders of the moderate party in the House of Commons, and to regulate his proceedings by their advice, he might have been, not, indeed, as he had been, a despot, but the powerful and respected king of a free people. The nation might have enjoyed liberty and repose under a government with Falkland at its head, checked by a constitutional Opposition under the conduct of Hampden. It was not necessary that, in order to accomplish this happy end, the King should sacrifice any part of his lawful prerogative, or submit to any conditions inconsistent with his dignity. It was necessary only that he should abstain from treachery, from violence, from gross breaches of the law. This was all that the nation was then disposed to require of him. And even this was too much.

For a short time he seemed inclined to take a wise and temperate course. He resolved to make Falkland secretary of state, and Culpeper chancellor of the exchequer. He declared his intention of conferring in a short time some important office on Hyde. He assured these three persons that he would do nothing relating to the House of Commons without their joint advice, and that he would communicate all his designs to them in the most unreserved manner. This resolution, had he adhered to it, would have averted many years of blood and mourning. But "in very few days," says Clarendon, "he did fatally swerve from it."

On the third of January 1642, without giving the slightest hint of his intention to those advisers whom he had solemnly promised to consult, he sent down the attorney-general to impeach Lord Kimbolton, Hampden, Pym, Hollis, and two other members of the House of Commons, at the bar of the Lords, on a charge of High Treason. It is difficult to find in the whole history of England such an instance of tyranny, perfidy, and folly. The most precious and ancient rights of the subject were violated by this act. The only way in which Hampden and Pym could legally be tried for treason at the suit of the King, was by a petty jury on a bill found by a grand jury. The attorney-general had no right to impeach them. The House of Lords had no right to try them.

同类推荐
  • 桐花阁词钞

    桐花阁词钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寄续尊师

    寄续尊师

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜀轺纪程

    蜀轺纪程

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 将发循州社日于所居

    将发循州社日于所居

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冷庐医话

    冷庐医话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 末日求生:女王大战僵尸

    末日求生:女王大战僵尸

    前一刻充满欢声笑语的学校,下一秒钟立刻变成了沉闷的丧尸乐园,本以为难逃一劫却被英雄系统选定为宿主。一大波丧尸正在来袭,一大波变异兽来袭,一大波美男来袭。瑞萌萌疲于应付。群号414136473群名称清歌夜舞。。。感谢大家的支持哦
  • 城市有狼

    城市有狼

    窗外传来狼嗥声咦!大天白日的,哪来的狼叫声?老伴自言自语地嘟囔着。书里的情节黏着我的注意力,既无法分身,也无法分心。老伴经常是这样的,一边干着活,一边不停地嘟嘟囔囔的,像是在自言自语。其实呢,我老伴有个被野狼吓着的病根,几乎到了精神崩溃的边缘,所以,我也不敢掉以轻心。我正陷在一大本厚书里,陷在那书里描写的深雪窝里,正气憋胸闷地在消受姜戎的《狼图腾》。我不禁感慨,狼!嘿!好精灵的尤物啊!哎!老湃,哎老湃,哎——老——湃!你真的聋了吗?老伴的一声吼,总算将我从书中唤回,看着她手中明晃晃的菜刀,也不知是为了啥,我不免有些莫名地慌乱。
  • 弃妇好逑

    弃妇好逑

    爹爹蒙冤过世,大哥莫名失踪,亲戚无良,孤苦弱女带半路捡来的包子一枚千里求助未婚夫家门前,却被无情拒婚。 不怕商战头破血流,不怕良田太少,不怕包子难养,就怕桃花片片飞,直叹道:难道这个时代弃妇也好逑? (楠竹后来犯了一次不可饶恕的错误,不喜的妹纸慎入,可以直接转入新坑《农门春色》)===============新坑《农门春色》已挖好,坑内有软垫,欢喜、斗气、冤家、妖孽型!
  • 万界黑科技聊天群

    万界黑科技聊天群

    卢子信有个万界黑科技聊天群,群员是诸天万界的科技大佬。托尼·史塔克:“群主女装,我就把这架马克二钢铁战衣发给你!”红后:“群主,要不要试验一下最新的T病毒?”终结者:“群主你的世界在哪里?我顺道毁灭一遍。”贝加庞克:“最近又合成了一种新的恶魔果实,群主要当实验体吗?”小蜘蛛:“我不管,我不管,不发红包我就退群!”……卢子信:“一群无法无天的群员,小心我权限你们!”
  • 梨城叛徒

    梨城叛徒

    1941年重阳节,我家乡梨城发生了两件大事,其一是一架美国飞机坠毁在城外的稻田里,其二是我二叔李牧被日军秘密逮捕。对于这两件事,《梨城党史》有如下记载:“1941年重阳,梨城举办游傩庙会,百姓云集。是日,一架援华美机被日军击落,飞行员泰勒上尉身负重伤,与飞机一起坠毁在城外的新庙塅,爆炸声震屋宇,烈焰腾空,浓烟蔽日,全城恐慌。同日,新四军清源山军分区派往梨城的交通特派员李牧被日军秘密逮捕,后变节投敌。”我的家乡梨城是省城通往内陆的重要交通枢纽,自古就是兵家必争之地。
  • 灵珠传奇

    灵珠传奇

    碧宇万万没有想到,家传的灵珠会给碧家带来灭顶之灾,死里逃生的他承蒙好心人收留,学得一身绝世武功,奈何人外有人,武功再高也不敌老丈人……鬼门关游走之间,来到世外桃源,是休整?是崛起?还是最后挣扎?……且看碧宇如何改天命,斩恩仇,谱写灵珠传奇……
  • 刑事诉讼与辩护代理

    刑事诉讼与辩护代理

    本书是中华人民共和国重要基本法律知识宣讲系列丛书之一,具体内容是宣讲和普及我国刑事诉讼辩护与代理中对广大群众最为重要的相关制度和规范,涉及的法律主要包括《中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法》、最高人民法院《关于适用<中华人民共和国刑事诉讼法>的解释》、《人民检察院刑事诉讼规则(试行)》和《中华人民共和国刑法》。
  • 我和邻家姐姐

    我和邻家姐姐

    根据自己的生活经历,以第一人称的口吻讲述正在发生的或者已经发生的婚姻感情家庭困惑和事实.
  • 重生之八零年代

    重生之八零年代

    一个万众瞩目的歌坛新天王,意外重生到25年前的一个普通家庭,自此开始了全新的生活……校园、社会,生活、情感,少男、少女,赚钱,手段……展示80后生活的方方面面……让你大呼过瘾的YY情结,让你缅怀过去的淡淡味道……让你在心潮澎湃之余找到那份逝去的感动……一部旧式题材的重生小说,一曲新颖情节的重生小调……
  • 爱上他这件事

    爱上他这件事

    他是娱乐圈大咖,年纪轻轻便已获得影帝奖,凭借精湛的演技和出色的外貌俘获万千少女芳心。冷淡,不近女色只是因为那人不是她。“顾先生,你这是告白吗?”“嗯。”“……”“所以,你的答案是什么?”练手文章,技术不到家,还在继续锻炼。