Page 11 - Hampdens Monument Unveiled

his glorious death he bequeathed to the love and honour of all
who can cherish in their breasts a love for English liberty,
and who can venerate the memory of those who have lived and
died for their country (cheers). And what was that cause in
which Hampden spent his life and met his death? for we live in
times when it is not considered an offence to the authorities
which rule over us for a person to speak freely of the tyranny
from which our forefathers by their valour and patriotism have
redeemed us. We live in a time when the great problem of free
monarchy has been solved-that problem, which Tacitus says-"have
drawn together things which a fore time were disunited,
sovereignty and liberty" (cheers and hear, hear). A throne
built upon the rock of public liberty; a sceptre guarded by the
hands which gave it power (cheers)! A principle under which
every Englishman desires to live-and whatever may be the
differences of opinion which are entertained on all other
subjects beside-yet all

Englishmen may meet upon this sacred field of Chalgrove to do
honour to the cause for which Hampden died (cheers).Gentlemen,
on the stone which we have seen this day are engraved the
words- "in defence of the free monarchy and ancient liberties
of England ;" and I wish, with your permission, to justify to
you the use of these words. Gentlemen, there is in the
Ashmolean collection at Oxford, a locket still preserved, which
it is said, on good authority, Hampden wore upon his breast,
and upon which are inscribed these quaint lines:-

“Not against my King I fight,
But for my King and England's right."
.
The monarchy of England is bound up with public liberty, for
public liberty is an essential element in the safety and
prosperity of the monarchy of England (cheers); for those
institutions which can alone be considered sure are such as are
built upon the sound principles of public liberty (cheers).
Gentlemen, he must have studied the constitution of England to
little purpose and read her history with little advantage, who
sees in the cause for which Hampden first took up arms in this
field, and for which he contended till he immortalised this
field by his blood-I say, Gentlemen, he must have studied these
things to no use who sees in this cause a factious opposition
to authority or an outbreak of rebellion against the person and
just prerogatives of his sovereign (cheers). From the Saxon
times the monarchy of England was limited: the common law had
so limited it that no man could be punished by the mere dicta
of his sovereign, no man dare be punished except he were first
tried by a jury of his equals; also the common law no levies or
supplies of money for the crown could be exacted of the nation
except through the representatives of the people (great
cheering). Here then is the tenure of free monarchy. True, it
was often invaded by the craft and force of our early kings: