BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

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peculiarity equally important, though less noticed, was the chap.relation in which the nobility stood here to the commonalty. —There was a strong hereditary aristocracy: but it was of allhereditary aristocracies the least insolent and exclusive. Ithad none of the invidious character of a caste. It was con-stantly receiving members from the people and constantlysending down members to mingle with the people. Anygentleman might become a peer. The younger son of a peerwas but a gentleman. Grandsons of peers yielded prece-dence to newly made knights. The dignity of knighthoodwas not beyond the reach of any man who could by diligenceand thrift realise a good estate, or who could attract noticeby his valour in a battle or a siege. It was regarded as nodisparagement for the daughter of a Duke, nay of a royalDuke, to espouse a distinguished commoner. Thus, SirJohn Howard married the daughter of Thomas MowbrayDuke of Norfolk. Sir Richard Pole married the Countessof Salisbury, daughter of George Duke of Clarence. Goodblood was indeed held in high respect: but between goodblood and the privileges of peerage there was, most for-tunately for our country, no necessary connection. Pedigreesas long, and scutcheons as old, were to be found out of theHouse of Lords as in it. There were new men who borethe highest titles. There were untitled men well known tobe descended from knights who had broken the Saxon ranksat Hastings, and scaled the walls of Jerusalem. There wereBohuns, Mowbrays, De Veres, nay kinsmen of the House ofPlantagenet, with no higher addition than that of esquire,and with no civil privileges beyond those enjoyed by everyfarmer and shopkeeper. There was therefore here no linelike that which in some other countries divided the patricianfrom the plebeian. The yeoman was not inclined to mur-mur at dignities to which his own children might rise. The