CHAPTER II.

HISTORY OF THE PROTECTIVE SPIRIT, AND COMPARISON OF IT IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

About the eleventh century the spirit of inquiry began to weaken the church 108-110

Coinciding with this, the feudal system and an hereditary aristocracy appeared 110-112

The nobles displace the clergy, and celibacy is opposed by the principle of hereditary rank 112

In England the nobles were less powerful than in France 113-116

And were glad to ally themselves with the people against the crown 116-118

Hence a spirit of popular independence unknown in France, where the nobles were too powerful to need the help of the people 118-119

Effects of this difference between the two countries in the fourteenth century 119-122

Centralization was in France the natural successor of feudality 122-126

This state contrasted with that of England 126-127

Power of the French nobles 128-131

Illustration from the history of chivalry 131-135

Another illustration from the vanity of the French and pride of the English 135-137

Also from the practice of duelling 137

The pride of Englishmen encouraged the Reformation 138

Analogy between the Reformation and the revolutions of the seventeenth century 138-139

Both were opposed by the clergy and nobles. Natural alliance between these two classes 139-142

In the reign of Elizabeth both classes were weakened 143-146

James I. and Charles I. vainly attempted to restore their power 147