a Mr. Bell, “who was at once summoned before the Council.”  This council was the King’s Council, or Privy Council—­a body roughly corresponding to our United States Senate.  He was summoned before the council for objecting because coal, oil, salt, vinegar, starch, iron, glass, were the subjects of monopoly; and he “returned to the House with such an amazed countenance that it daunted all the rest.”  That is very much the fate of the tariff reformer to-day, if we may credit the tales of those returning from Washington.

After a lapse of twenty-six years the Commons ventured again.  This time the queen replied that she hoped her dutiful and loving subjects would not take away her prerogative, which is the choicest flower in her garden, but promised to examine all patents and abide the touchstone of the law.  Nevertheless, four years later the list of articles subject to monopoly was so numerous that when it was read over to the House in 1601 an indignant member exclaimed:  “Is not bread amongst them?  Nay, if no remedy is found for these, bread will be there before the next Parliament.”  The Populists openly cursed the monopolies and declared that the prerogatives should not be suffered to touch the old liberties of England.  Seeing that resistance was no longer politic, Elizabeth sent a message to the House saying that some of these monopolies should be presently repealed, some superseded, and none put in execution but such as should first have a trial according to law for the good of the people; and Robert Cecil, the secretary, added an assurance that all existing patents should be revoked and no others granted for the future.  The Commons waited upon the queen with an address of thanks, to which she replied almost affectionately that never since she had been queen “did I put my pen to any grant but upon pretence made to me that it was good and beneficial to the subjects in general, though a private profit to some of my ancient servants who had deserved well.  Never thought was cherished in my heart which tended not to my people’s good.”  Notwithstanding these fair words, the House of Commons found it necessary to enact the Great Statute against Monopolies.

(1623) In the beginning, the statute recites that “Your most excellent Majestie in your Royall Judgment ... did In the yeare ... 1610 ... publish in Print to the whole Realme and to all Posteritie, that all Graunt of Monapolyes and of the benefitt of any penall Lawes, or of power to dispence with the Lawe ... are contrary to your Majesties Lawes, which your Majesties Declaracon is truly consonant and agreeable to the auncient and fundamentall Lawes of this your Realme....  Nevertheles ... many such Graunts have bene undulie obteyned ...  For avoyding whereof and preventinge of the like in tyme to come, May it please your most excellent Majestic ... that it may be declared and enacted, and be it declared and enacted by the authoritie of this present Parliament That all Monapolies and all Commissions