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classes of society which are most deeply interested in the pre-servation of order, which in troubled times are generallymost ready to strengthen the hands of government, and whichhave a natural antipathy to agitators, followed, without scru-ple, the guidance of a venerable man, the first peer of therealm, the first minister of the Church, a Tory in politics,a saint in manners, whom tyranny had in his own despiteturned into a demagogue. Those, on the other hand, whohad always abhorred episcopacy, as a relic of Popery, and asan instrument of arbitrary power, now asked on bendedknees the blessing of a prelate who was ready to wear fettersand to lay his aged limbs on bare stones rather than betray theinterests of the Protestant religion and set the prerogativeabove the laws. With love of the Church and with love offreedom was mingled, at this great crisis, a third feelingwhich is among the most honourable peculiarities of our na-tional character. An individual oppressed by power, evenwhen destitute of all claim to public respect and gratitude,generally finds strong sympathy among us. Thus, in thetime of our grandfathers, society was thrown into confusionby the persecution of Wilkes. We have ourselves seen thenation roused almost to madness by the wrongs of QueenCaroline. It is probable, therefore, that, even if no greatpolitical and religious interests had been staked on the eventof the proceeding against the Bishops, England would nothave seen, without strong emotions of pity and anger, old menof stainless virtue pursued by the vengeance of a harsh andinexorable prince who owed to their fidelity the crown whichhe wore.

Actuated by these sentiments our ancestors arrayed them-selves against the government in one huge and compact mass.All ranks, all parties, all Protestant sects, made up that vastphalanx. In the van were the Lords Spiritual and Temporal.Then came the landed gentry and the clergy, both the Uni-versities, all the Inns of Court, merchants, shopkeepers,farmers, the porters who plied in the streets of the greattowns, the peasants who ploughed the fields. The leagueagainst the King included the very foremast men who manned

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