An Advanced History of England from the Earliest Times to the Present Day (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...persons, and the names of those who had voted for Strafford were printed and circulated as 'Straffordians.' Amidst this excitement the bill passed the House of Lords. Even Bristol withdrew his resistance, and Bedford, had he wished to be present, was dying of small pox. Strafford's fate now rested with Charles. Strafford For more than two days he hesitated. On one side was beh"dei1' honour, on the other the fear that refusal would be visited on his queen and children. Strafford himself, true even now to his own policy of 'thorough, ' wrote that 'he would willingly forgive Charles for his death if it would lead to better times, and that his consent would more acquit him therein to God than all the world could do beside.' At length, worn out with anxiety, and comforted by a distinction made by Bishop Williams between his public and private conscience, Charles gave his consent, and on May 12, in the presence of 200,000 persons, Strafford's head was stnick off on Tower Hill. Strafford died, not so much for what he had done, but for what he might do. His own maxim, that 'the safety of the state is the highest law, ' was turned against himself, and when he died, the popular leaders felt that their greatest and most dangerous opponent was gone. On the same day when the royal consent was given to Strafford's death, Charles also agreed to a bill by which it was provided that the p la ent ex'stm$? parliament should not be dissolved without its own not to be assent. This measure, the gravity of which was hardly against noticed at the time, and which was chiefly intended to its wi. induce men of money to lend with greater confidence on the credit of parliament, was in reality of the highest constitutional importance, for on it rested the legal position of the parlia...