The History of England - Vols. 1 to 6 (438 page)
Read The History of England - Vols. 1 to 6 Online
Authors: David Hume
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Online Library of Liberty: The History of England, vol. 5
As to the other circumstances of Charles’s character, chiefly exclaimed against, namely his arbitrary principles in government, one may venture to assert, that the greatest enemies of this prince will not find, in the long line of his predecessors, from the conquest to his time, any one king, except perhaps his father, whose administration was not more arbitrary and less legal, or whose conduct could have been recommended to him, by the popular party themselves, as a model, in this particular, for his government. Nor is it sufficient to say, that example and precedent can never authorize vices: Examples and precedents, uniform and ancient, can surely fix the nature of any constitution, and the limits of any form of government. There is indeed no other principle by which those land-marks or boundaries can be settled.
What a paradox in human affairs, that Henry VIII. should have been almost adored in his life-time and his memory be respected: While Charles I. should, by the same people, at no greater distance than a century, have been led to a public and ignominious execution, and his name be ever after pursued by falsehood and by obloquy! Even at present, an historian, who, prompted by his courageous generosity, should venture, though from the most authentic and undisputed facts, to vindicate the fame of that prince, would be sure to meet with such treatment, as would discourage even the boldest from so dangerous, however splendid an enterprize.
[p]Walker’s history of independency, part 2.
[q]The court of King’s Bench was called the court of Public Bench. So cautious on
this head were some of the republicans, that, it is pretended, in reciting the Lord’s prayer, they would not say
thy kingdom come,
but always
thy commonwealth come.
[r]See on the one hand, Toland’s Amyntor, and on the other, Wagstaffe’s vindication
of the royal martyr, with Young’s addition. We may remark, that lord Clarendon’s total silence with regard to this subject, in so full a history, composed in vindication of the king’s measures and character, forms a presumption on Toland’s side, and a presumption of which that author was ignorant; the works of the noble historian not being then published. Bishop Burnet’s testimony too must be allowed of some weight against the
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David Hume,
The History of England, vol. 6
[1778]
The Online Library Of Liberty
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Online Library of Liberty: The History of England, vol. 6
Edition Used:
The History of England from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688,
Foreword by William B. Todd, 6 vols. (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund 1983). Vol. 6.
Author:
David Hume
About This Title:
Volume 6 of “Hume’s great
History of England
the theme of which is liberty, above all English constitutional development from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Revolution of 1688. This Liberty Fund edition is based on the edition of 1778, the last to contain corrections by Hume.
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Online Library of Liberty: The History of England, vol. 6
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Online Library of Liberty: The History of England, vol. 6
Table Of Contents
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Online Library of Liberty: The History of England, vol. 6
[Back to Table of Contents]
LX
THE COMMONWEALTH
State of England – Of Scotland – Of Ireland – Levellers suppressed – Siege of Dublin
raised – Tredah stormed – Covenanters – Montrose taken prisoner – Executed –
Covenanters – Battle of Dunbar – Of Worcester – King’s escape – The
commonwealth – Dutch war – Dissolution of the parliament.
The confusions, which overspread England after the murder of 1649. State of
Charles I. proceeded as well from the spirit of refinement and England.
innovation, which agitated the ruling party, as from the dissolution of all that authority, both civil and ecclesiastical, by which the nation had ever been accustomed to be governed. Every man had framed the model of a republic; and, however new it was, or fantastical, he was eager in recommending it to his fellow citizens, or even imposing it by force upon them. Every man had adjusted a system of religion, which, being derived from no traditional authority, was peculiar to himself; and being founded on supposed inspiration, not on any principles of human reason, had no means, besides cant and low rhetoric, by which it could recommend itself to others. The levellers insisted on an equal distribution of power and property, and disclaimed all dependance and subordination.
The millenarians or fifth-monarchy-men required, that government itself should be abolished, and all human powers be laid in the dust, in order to pave the way for the dominion of Christ, whose second coming they suddenly expected. The Antinomians even insisted, that the obligations of morality and natural law were suspended, and that the elect, guided by an internal principle, more perfect and divine, were superior to the
beggarly elements
of justice and humanity. A considerable party declaimed against tythes and hireling priesthood, and were resolved, that the magistrate should not support by power or revenue any ecclesiastical establishment. Another party inveighed against the law and its professors; and on pretence of rendering more simple the distribution of justice, were desirous of abolishing the whole system of English jurisprudence, which seemed interwoven with monarchical government. Even those among the republicans, who adopted not such extravagancies, were so intoxicated with their saintly character, that they supposed themselves possessed of peculiar privileges; and all professions, oaths, laws, and engagements had, in a great measure, lost their influence over them. The bands of society were every where loosened; and the irregular passions of men were encouraged by speculative principles, still more unsocial and irregular.