Page 13 - Hampdens Monument Unveiled

grapple with tyranny-to rescue the country from ruin-to rescue
truth when pushed from the assembly of the judges-and to
restore the ancient and free constitution of England (cheers).
Not to grasp the authority and prerogative of the sovereign,
but to grapple with tyranny-and to snatch the liberty of the
subject from the broken vessel which contained it, and to
restore it to the rightful possession of the nation (cheers).
But the constitution had not yet been altered; the parliament
had not been violently opposed by force; a blow still remained
to be struck. Charles, in violation of the conditions upon
which Sovereignty stands-in violation of Magna Charta-had
imprisoned divers persons who had resisted his proceedings: but
at last, accompanied by his German nephew Prince Rupert, he
entered the House of Commons at the head of a band of armed
men, usurped the Speaker's chair, and demanded that five
persons, at the head of whom was John Hampden, should be
delivered upon him; true, the King retired, baffled by the
firmness of the Speaker and the House in general, but the
crisis had come -the House considered itself no longer safe;
they petitioned for the militia to protect them, but the King
would not grant their request. He sent for arms and ammunition
to Holland -the country was in commotion -Rupert was ransacking
the villages and towns supposed favourable to the parliament –
in fact, the war had begun. And now, Gentlemen, when Hampden
gave effect to the order for arming the inhabitants of
Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire in order to save their lands, I
ask you who stood up for "the free monarchy and ancient
liberties of England?" (cheers). Gentlemen, of all the
calamities with which a country can be afflicted-of all the
scourges with which mankind can be visited, excepting slavery,
civil war is the worst; and of civil war, that particular
feature is the most painful which exhibits men great and good,
and filled with zeal for the cause of justice, contending
against one another. Men, whose motives spring from the right
source, are, in civil war, from a shadow of a difference, often
seen to take opposite courses; and frequently that very shade
of difference leads them to more determined opposition, and to
more unyielding firmness. And thus was it Falkland and Hampden.

Throughout many years they had stood side by side against the
encroachments of the King's unconstitutional exercise of power;
but when the waters were in reality troubled, and when the King
was ready to make war, Falkland stood on his side!-the last man
that the people of England could think would do so. On the
other hand, when every hope of relief seemed cut off, Hampden,
the most moderate in the ends he proposed, appeared to defend
the public cause! (cheers).

One whom Sir P. Warwick had said the King declared to be a
great loss (cheers). And even after the war had begun, one
motive and one effort seemed to actuate the minds of Falkland
and Hampden. But Hampden grew more resolute in the course he
entered upon. "From that time," says Lord Clarendon, "he was