您的位置 : 首页 > 英文著作
Past and Present
Book 2. The Ancient Monk   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 13. In Parliament
Thomas Carlyle
下载:Past and Present.txt
本书全文检索:
       _ BOOK II. THE ANCIENT MONK
       CHAPTER XIII. IN PARLIAMENT
       Of Abbot Samson's public business we say little, though that also was great. He had to judge the people as Justice Errant, to decide in weighty arbitrations and public controversies; to equip his milites, send them duly in war-time to the King;--strive every way that the Commonweal, in his quarter of it, take no damage.
       Once, in the confused days of Lackland's usurpation, while Coeur-de-Lion was away, our brave Abbot took helmet himself, having first excommunicated all that should favour Lackland; and led his men in person to the siege of Windleshora, what we now call Windsor; where Lackland had entrenched himself, the centre of infinite confusions; some Reform Bill, then as now, being greatly needed. There did Abbot Samson 'fight the battle of reform,'--with other ammunition, one hopes, than 'tremendous cheering' and suchlike! For these things he was called 'the magnanimous Abbot.'
       He also attended duly in his place in Parliament de arduis regni; attended especially, as in arduissimo, when 'the news reached London that King Richard was a captive in Germany.' Here 'while all the barons sat to consult,' and many of them looked blank enough, 'the Abbot started forth, prosiliit coram omnibus, in his place in Parliament, and said, That he was ready to go and seek his Lord the King, either clandestinely by subterfuge (in tapinagio), or by any other method; and search till he found him, and got certain notice of him; he for one! By which word,' says Jocelin, he acquired great praise for himself,'--unfeigned commendation from the Able Editors of that age.
       By which word;--and also by which deed: for the Abbot actually went 'with rich gifts to the King in Germany;'[17] Usurper Lackland being first rooted out from Windsor, and the King's peace somewhat settled.
       * * * * *
       As to these 'rich gifts,' however, we have to note one thing: In all England, as appeared to the Collective Wisdom, there was not like to be treasure enough for ransoming King Richard; in which extremity certain Lords of the Treasury, Justiciarii ad Scaccarium, suggested that St. Edmund's Shrine, covered with thick gold, was still untouched. Could not it, in this extremity, be peeled off, at least in part; under condition, of course, of its being replaced when times mended? The Abbot, starting plumb up, se erigens, answered: "Know ye for certain, that I will in nowise do this thing; nor is there any man who could force me to consent thereto. But I will open the doors of the Church: Let him that likes enter; let him that dares come forward!" Emphatic words, which created a sensation round the woolsack. For the Justiciaries of the Scaccarium answered, 'with oaths, each for himself: "I won't come forward, for my share; nor will I, nor I! The distant and absent who offended him, Saint Edmund has been known to punish fearfully; much more will he those close by, who lay violent hands on his coat, and would strip it off!" These things being said, the Shrine was not meddled with, nor any ransom levied for it.'[18]
       For Lords of the Treasury have in all times their impassable limits, be it by 'force of public opinion' or otherwise; and in those days a heavenly Awe overshadowed and encompassed, as it still ought and must, all earthly Business whatsoever.
       FOOTNOTES:
       [17] Jocelini Chronica, pp. 39, 40.
       [18] Ibid. p. 71. _
用户中心

本站图书检索

本书目录

Book 1. Proem
   Book 1. Proem - Chapter 1. Midas
   Book 1. Proem - Chapter 2. The Sphinx
   Book 1. Proem - Chapter 3. Manchester Insurrection
   Book 1. Proem - Chapter 4. Morrison's Pill
   Book 1. Proem - Chapter 5. Aristocracy Of Talent
   Book 1. Proem - Chapter 6. Hero-Worship
Book 2. The Ancient Monk
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 1. Jocelin Of Brakelond
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 2. St. Edmundsbury
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 3. Landlord Edmund
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 4. Abbot Hugo
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 5. Twelfth Century
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 6. Monk Samson
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 7. The Canvassing
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 8. The Election
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 9. Abbot Samson
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 10. Government
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 11. The Abbot's Ways
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 12. The Abbot's Troubles
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 13. In Parliament
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 14. Henry Of Essex
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 15. Practical-Devotional
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 16. St. Edmund
   Book 2. The Ancient Monk - Chapter 17. The Beginnings
Book 3. The Modern Worker
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 1. Phenomena
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 2. Gospel Of Mammonism
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 3. Gospel Of Dilettantism
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 4. Happy
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 5. The English
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 6. Two Centuries
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 7. Over-Production
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 8. Unworking Aristocracy
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 9. Working Aristocracy
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 10. Plugson Of Undershot
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 11. Labour
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 12. Reward
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 13. Democracy
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 14. Sir Jabesh Windbag
   Book 3. The Modern Worker - Chapter 15. Morrison Again
Book 4. Horoscope
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 1. Aristocracies
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 2. Bribery Committee
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 3. The One Institution
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 4. Captains Of Industry
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 5. Permanence
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 6. The Landed
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 7. The Gifted
   Book 4. Horoscope - Chapter 8. The Didactic
Summary