to Ireland to obtain a vote of supply from the Irish Parliament. In March 1640 the Irish Parliament granted 180,000l. with enthusiasm, and promised to give more if needed. The native Irish were if anything more demonstrative of their loyalty than their English fellow-members. In April the English Parliament, called the Short Parliament, met. Although Charles was able to give proof that the Scotch rebels were negotiating with the French, and although the majority of the peers were anxious to grant supply for the defence of England, the Lower House, led by Pym, began the discussion of grievances. Encouraged by the example of Scotland, the Commons sought practically to abolish the royal power in England as it had been practically abolished in the northern kingdom. After three weeks Charles and his councillors despaired of obtaining supply and the Parliament was dissolved. In the King's Council Northumberland and Holland were alone in wishing to avert a dissolution. As both these Lords ultimately joined the English rebels, it seems probable that this dissolution did not create, though it may have precipitated, the outbreak of civil war. [NOTE.-At this point the work was interrupted by the death of the author. The two following extracts from his notebook are thought to be of sufficient interest to be added here. It is believed they have not been published among his other writings, and that he intended to use them in this book.] Historians admit that the wars of the eighteenth century were due to commercial causes, but speak of earlier wars as wars of religion. The distinction is somewhat misleading. When religion was closely associated with politics and economy, it was natural that it should have occasioned contests between nations. The time has passed when Popes could claim a temporal suzerainty over nations and their rulers. No Pope would now dream of granting lands to a king as Pope Alexander VI. gave the Americas and the East to the kings of Castile and Portugal; nor would any Pope think of issuing an indulgence which, whilst absolving men from mortal sins, failed to absolve from the sin of buying alum from any other source than the mines in papal territory. Religion confines itself within its proper province. Its teachers recognise that its kingdom is not of this world, and thus the economic motive for which men fought, or changed their religion, no longer exists. An attempt has been made in the following pages to trace the economic motive which prompted the wars of religion and the great changes of faith. Underlying motive for war, the same at all times. To assert this is not to express any opinion on the character of religion; e.g. to say Mahomedanism spread because it relieved Christian provinces from tribute to Byzantium merely gives a reason for the spread of a creed which Protestant Christians believe to be false; whereas showing that the Reformation derived much of its strength from economic causes gives a reason for the spread of a faith which they believe to be superior to the one it superseded. ENVOI TO BRITISH FREE TRADERS Brothers, I come, a spirit from the dead, J. W. W. LIST OF WORKS CONSULTED Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Rolls Series, 1861. Translation). Ashley's Economic History, vol. i. part I, 1888; part II, 1893. Bacon (Francis, Works of). Edited by Spedding, Ellis, and Heath. Bagwell's Ireland under the Tudors. Bancroft's History of the United States of America. Barker's (Ellis) Rise and Decline of the Netherlands. Biographie Universelle. Birch's Cartularium Saxonicum, A.D. 948-975. Brewer's Letters and Papers of Henry VIII. (Rolls Series). Bridges' France under Richelieu and Colbert. Bryce's Holy Roman Empire. Burke's History of Spain. Caillet's Ministère du Cardinal Richelieu. Cambridge Modern History. Carlyle's Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches. Charlton's History of Whitby. Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond (King's Classics). Chronicles of Stephen, Henry II. and Richard I. (vol. iii. Rolls Series). Clowes's Royal Navy. Collings's Land Reform. Cunningham's (T.) History of Taxes. (1773.) Cunningham's (W.) Growth of English Industry and Commerce, Early and Middle Ages. (1905.) Cunningham's (W.) Growth of English Industry and Commerce, Modern Times. De Witt's True Interest and Political Maxims of the Republic of Holland and West Friesland. (Translation, 1702.) A A |