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PREFACE.

THE aim of this work is to give a concise but comprehensive history of the origin and development of the English Constitution. It is intended, primarily, as a Text-book for students, but I trust that it may also prove not unacceptable to the general reader. In its composition, while necessarily making ample use of Hallam's masterpieces, I have availed myself largely of the writings of Professor Stubbs and Mr. Freeman, which have thrown so much new light upon the earlier phases of our Constitution. In the most recent period, the Constitutional History of Sir Erskine May has been my chief guide. But numerous other authorities have been consulted, and to all of them references are given in the notes, both as vouchers for the facts stated, and as indications to the student where to seek for further and fuller information.

The arrangement adopted is mainly chronological, but with occasional deviations from the strict order, where I have thought it most convenient to treat of some particular topic in a continuous manner.

Ecclesiastical matters have been considered, throughout, under a purely political aspect, and in tracing the growth of our Institutions, I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to keep aloof from all party spirit.

Though adding somewhat to the bulk of the work, I have deemed it advisable to give in full the texts of Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and the Bill of Rights, the three great landmarks of English Constitutional History.

THE TEMPLE, March, 1875.

CONTENTS.

Claimants to the Crown on death of Eadward the Confessor-Earl Harold
-Elected and crowned King-William Duke of Normandy-English
Kingship Elective-The Conquest-William is elected and crowned
'King of the English-Theoretically a constitutional king-Continuity
of the Constitution-The Norman race-Effects of the Conquest—
Feudalism-Its gradual establishment-The English redeem their
lands-Insurrections, followed by extensive confiscations-Continental
Feudalism-Sub-infeudation-Commendation-Growth of Feudalism
in England-Difference between English and Continental Feudalism—
Feudal tenure of land without feudal principles of government-Gemôt
of Salisbury-Domesday Book-Checks to the power of the Feuda-
tories-Great Earldoms abolished-Counties Palatine-Feudal tenures
-Their services and incidents-The Conqueror's policy national rather
than feudal-National Witan continued-William's Laws-He renews
the Law of Eadward the Confessor-Wager of Battle-Englishry-
The Forest Laws--The Church-Separation of Spiritual from Temporal

、 Ecclesiastical matters have been considered, through-
out, under a purely political aspect, and in tracing the
growth of our Institutions, I have endeavoured, as far as
possible, to keep aloof from all party spirit.

Though adding somewhat to the bulk of the work,
I have deemed it advisable to give in full the texts of
Magna Charta, the Petition of Right, and the Bill of
Rights, the three great landmarks of English Con-
stitutional History.

THE TEMPLE, March, 1875.

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