was Prime Minister when the second French Revolution occurred. It destroyed his majority and Earl Grey's Reform Ministry came into power.

Lord John Russell introduced what is known as the Ist Reform Bill in 1831. When it failed the Ministers appealed to the country and the General Election gave them a large

majority.

The 2nd Reform Bill was at once introduced and was of 2nd Reform Bill, 1831 course carried in the Commons. Its rejection by the Lords caused a great outburst of indignation throughout the country. Excited political meetings, fierce riots, threats to refuse taxes, raised in many minds the fears of a Civil war.

The 3rd Reform Bill followed. When, after passing the Commons it was sent up to the Lords, the manœuvres of George III. in regard to Fox's India Bill (1783) were repeated. The Duke of Wellington announced the King's opposition to the Bill and appealed to the loyalty of the Lords to reject it.

But the plan was half a century out of date. For the moment it succeeded, and though the Bill was passed by a narrow majority a motion adverse to it was subsequently carried.

3rd Reform Bill, 1831

Wellington's appeal to "loyalty.'

Grey's assertion of supremacy in House

of Commons over
(1) Monarchy,
(2) Lords.

The time for decision had come. Lord Grey demanded that the King should agree to the creation of 50 new Peers to give him a majority in the Upper House, and when this was refused he promptly resigned. Renewed agitation in the country did not daunt the Iron Wellington's last Duke and he was quite willing to undertake an Anti-Reform Government. But Peel refused to co-operate, and Grey had to be recalled within a week and on his own terms. These were that he should have a written promise from the King to create such Peers as were necessary for the emergency.

effort.

Such a measure would have annihiliated the House of Lords as a part of the Constitution, and the threat had its desired effect. By the advice of the Duke of Wellington the irreconcileables abstained from voting and the Great Reform Bill was The Great Reform at last carried. Similar Acts were passed for Scotland and

Ireland.

a. Members.

b. Electors.

56 Boroughs were disfranchised on account

of their small size.

30 were deprived of one member each.
22 new Boroughs with 2 members each and
20 with one member each were created.
County Members were raised from 94 to 159.
The Franchise was extended and made
uniform.

c. Methods of polling and registration were simplified and im

proved.

The Bill was by no means a final or complete measure but it

Act, 1832.

was a sign of the beginning of better times. It was a steppingThe era of Reform. Stone to higher things, and the next few years saw many changes for the better. The Factory Act, the Abolition of Slavery, and the first Government Grant in aid of Education, all came in the very next year. In 1834 came a great Poor Law. In 1835 the Municipal Corporations were reformed. The publication of John Keble's Christian Year in 1827 was (Wakeman 465.) followed by the beginning of the Oxford Movement in 1833, which was to bring the Church once more in touch with the people. In all directions there was a stirring among the dry bones. There was hope for the future.

THE

KINGS AND THE

BARONAGE.

The struggle for supremacy from the Norman Conquest to 1174. 1. William I. 1074 (page 5). Roger de Breteuil (E. of Hereford) and Ralph Guader (E. of Norfolk) tried to revive the great Earldoms of pre-Norman days (page 1.) Waltheof joined them. Defeated without difficulty. 2. William II. (a) 1088 (page 11). Odo, with Roger of Montgomery (E. of Shrewsbury) and Robert of Belesme (his son), set up Robert of Normandy, as he would be less masterful. Defeated.

3. Henry I.

4. Stephen.

(b) 1095 (page 11.) Robert Mowbray (E. of Northumberland) headed a rising, being provoked by the king's order that he should do justice to some Norwegian traders he had robbed.

1102 (page 15). Robert of Belesme (E. of Shrewsbury) finally expelled.

1135-54 (pages 19-22). The reign was an example of the evil results of the unchecked power of the Baronage.

5. Henry II. (a) 1154-5. Adulterine Castles destroyed (page 24) and Roger of Hereford and Hugh Mortimer quelled (page 25).

(b) His policy was directed towards weakening the power of the baronage (page 26).

(c) 1173-4. The final effort of the baronage to assert their independence of the King (see page 30). Previous attempts had been made by individuals who were powerful mainly through their position on the northern or western borders: this was much more general and united. But quickly crushed.

GROWTH OF ROYAL COUNCIL.

1. In A. S. times a body of advisers of Crown (chosen from King's household) existed distinct from Witan.

2. After Norman Conquest there arose a Committee of National Council Curia Regis, its members being permanent officials

of Court.

=

But the term Curia Regis also signified National Council or Commune
Concilium

3. Henry III's Minority first brought Council into real importance and made it permanent.

Most of the quarrels of King and Barons turned on the appointment of the Council, e.g. Lords Ordainers in Edw. II., Council of Eleven in Rich. II.

4. Edward I., being a strong king, it lost in power, though gained in definiteness.

Often used in opposition to Parliament.

Its functions:

1. Received petitions which Chancellor (the judicial President of the Council) often decided. This originated Court of Chancery.

2. A Court of Justice (called Star Chamber sometimes in later years).

3. A standing Council of Advice.

4. King in Council' often issued Ordinances, which had force of statutes (generally of temporary or unimportant nature).

5. The "New Monarchy" (Yorkists and Tudors) perferred the Council (and Committees) to Parliament.

EARLY GROWTH OF PARLIAMENT.

I. After N. Conquest Anglo-Saxon Witan became the Curia Regis, i.e., the Court of Tenants in Chief.

2. Gradually lesser barons ceased to attend, and the Court became confined to greater barons only (= House of Lords). Exercised considerable power, both direct and indirect, especially during minority of Henry III.

3. Introduction of Elective Element (= House of Commons) arose from necessity of obtaining popular support.

(a) Montfort needed support in contest with King, and therefore called representatives from towns and counties, 1265.

(b) Edward I. made various experiments in representation, as necessity required, before he finally

(c) 1295 established a regular and complete Parliament (Bishops, Barons, Commons).

1. Money required for French War, Scottish War, Welsh

Rebellion.

2. Commons raised to counter-balance Barons.

3. It was Edward's desire as well as interest that "what concerns all should be approved by all."

4. The Commons grew powerful.

(a) Their financial value, which increased as they grew richer cf. especially Edw. I. Henry IV. (1407) Commons establish right to originate money bills.

(b) Barons sought their help in contests with the king.

1311. Ordinances transferred power from King to Parliament 1327, 1399. Deposition of Ed. II. and R. II. effected in full Parliament.

(c) King also continued to seek support of Commons against
Barons.

1322. Ed. II. induced Parliament to revoke ordinances.
1397. R. II. made absolute by Parlt. of Shrewsbury.

(d) Lancastrians and Tudors favoured power of Commons.
(e) Stuart struggles, especially with Commons.

THE STAR CHAMBER.

(cf Prothero's Documents: Intro. ciii.)

i. Much obscurity as to its origin. The Tudors were fond of governing by means of the Privy Council as this was more dependent on the Crown than Parliament. The Tudor period has been called the Period of Government by Council.' The powers of the Privy Council were often exercised by smaller Committees e.g. the Council of the North (1537), the Council of Wales (1542). Under Wolsey an old Court appears to have been revived, which was called, from its place of meeting, 'The Star Chamber'; and this Court gradually absorbed the power of other Courts or Committees, especially those of a. A Committee of the Royal Council which Henry VII. had appointed to administer justice where the ordinary Courts were ineffectual by reason of the power or influence of offenders; and

b. A Court appointed by Henry VIII. to enforce the Act of Parliament which gave Royal Proclamations the force of law.

ii. Constitution-King; Lord Chancellor, Privy Councillors, Nobles, Bishops, and others. King often sat in person, and others only sat as summoned by him, so that the Court was altogether amenable to his influence.

iii. Jurisdiction-theoretically existed to supplement the law where this was defective; but in practice its jurisdiction was unlimited. Under the Stuarts especially, it interfered in small matters as well as great, and even in private affairs. Its claim to control the ordinary Law Courts, and even to punish Juries for their verdicts, made it dangerous. Its indefinite constitution and undefined powers made it particularly open to bribery.

The penalties inflicted included fines, imprisonment, pillory, in fact most current forms of punishment except death.

iv. It had once been popular because useful, but when used to support Stuart absolutism it made itself obnoxious, especially during "Eleven Years Tyranny," and was abolished by Long Parliament 1641.

COURT OF HIGH COMMISSION. Originated by Statute in Elizabeth's reign to administer ecclesiastical laws Revived by Charles I. and Laud. Being nominated by the King it became, like the Star Chamber, merely an instrument for enforcing his and Laud's objects. Abolished by the Long Parliament 1641 but revived for a short time by James II.