The History of England from the Accession of James II, Vol. 1 (Classic Reprint)
Description:... Excerpt from The History of England From the Accession of James II, Vol. 1 It is difficult to say whether England owes more to the Roman Catholic religion or to th Reformation. For the amalgamation of race and for the abolition of villanage, sheis chiefly indebted to the influence which the priesthood in the Middle Ages exercised over the laity. For political and intellectual freedom, and for all the blessings which political and intellectual freedom have brought in their train, she is chiefly indebted to the great rebellion of the laity against the priesthood.
The struggle between the old and the new theology in our country was long, and the event sometimes seemed doubtful. There were two extreme parties, prepared to act with violence or to suffer with stubborn resolution. Between them lay, during a considerable time, a middle party, which blended, very illogically but by no means unnaturally, lessons learned in the nursery with the sermons of the mod ern evangelists, and, while clinging with fond ness to old Observances, yet detested abuses with which those Observances were closely connected. Men ln such a frame of mind were willing to obey, almost with thankfulness, the directions of an able ruler who spared them the trouble of judging for themselves, and, raising a firm and commanding voice above the uproar of controversy, told them how to worship and what to believe. It is not strange, therefore, that the Tudors should have been able to exercise a great influence on ecclesiastical afi'airs; nor is it strange that their influence should, for the most part, have been exercised with a View to their own interest.
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