Page 12 - Hampdens Monument Unveiled

but though often invaded never surrendered, or if partially
surrendered, never lost sight of (cheers). Gentlemen, I shall
now proceed to disprove the charge of rebellion against
Hampden. Charles I. misled by the example of a bad father, and
in spite of the solemn condition of his coronation, endeavoured
rashly to systemize those principles of absolute monarchy which
his father had propounded, but which he feebly endeavoured to
enforce upon the liberties of the nation. In the estimation of
Charles I. parliaments were only invasions of his divine right-
a hindrance to the exercise of his power; he lavished his money
upon any project that he was pleased to adopt, and then he had
recourse to illegal measures to raise money to supply his want
parliament refusing him a levy, he dismissed it in wrath; he
called parliaments and dismissed them at his pleasure when they
refused to do his bidding; he governed 12 years without a
parliament; and here, for the first time were the principles of
free monarchy brought into peril; and during these twelve years
he sent forth warrants for the collection of the impost called
"ship money." Here then again was the free monarchy of England
brought into peril. When all was doubt and dismay, and when
those not tamed by oppression were still heard to complain, one
man was found to stem the torrent of injustice, and to stem it
out (cheers), not by rebellion, not at first by force of arms,
but by those measures which the constitution of the country
allowed, and that man was John Hampden! (cheering) The first
assessment made upon his estate under the ship money tax was
31s 6d, which he refused to pay, and but for this would have
been paid away the liberties of Englishmen. John Hampden
resisted this unjust tax by appeal to law, but the stream of
justice was tainted at its fountain head; the Lord Chief
Justice of England, unlike the spirit which actuates my truly
noble friend-unlike the character of my Lord Denman, who, to
his honour, allowed his name to be affixed upon the stone which
celebrates the memory of Hampden (hear, hear) and, reared in a
different school, Sir John Finch flinched on the judge seat,
and gave judgement against the law and for the King. Alas, for
the principles which could thus corrupt the legal dispensers of
justice, and thus put in jeopardy the liberties of the people,
for the unjust demands of the crown! (cheers) From that time,
says Lord Clarendon-and be it remembered Lord Clarendon was no
friend to the cause for which Hampden fought-the eyes of all
men were turned on Hampden, as the pilot who was to conduct
them through the storm, the champion who was to contend for the
legal rights of all ( cheers).

Public discontent and an exhausted revenue obliged Charles I.
to call a parliament; it met, petitioned the King against the
grievances of the people, and protested against further
supplies; this enraged him so, that in a few weeks he dismissed
that parliament, as he did others before. But the struggle was
advancing-writs were issued again, and that famous body the
'long parliament,' were assembled (cheers). A set of men fit to