THE KING’S EMPIRE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12297, 10 April 1937, Page 2

THE KING’S EMPIRE

ENGLAND —2000 YEARS IN 700

AVOKDS

Yet all this time the -teed of Christianity was bearing fruit, and now came Wycliffe with his Poor Preachers. Chaucer with his Pilgrims, Caxton with his types, Henry the Seventh with his love of art and learning, Sir Thomas Moore with his Utopia, Tyndale with his Bible, Cranraer with his Prayer Book. The English language and the English people were secure. In the proud reign of Eliza'beth the nation reached its summit. Her seamen opened the gates of the world and .swept tyranny off the seas. Shakespeare set the crown on the world’s literature. Drake rounded the world in the Golden Hind. Raleigh founded the British Empire. Philip Sidney immortalised the English type of gentlemen. The ridiculous James drove from England the founders of America. Charles Stuart, mistaking his place in the universe, paid for his error with his head and brought into being the greatest movement ever seen; Puritanism, with Cromwell and Milton and Hampden, and the most astonishing fighting atmy ever known. Back into the depths with the death of Cromwell and the dissipations and antics of the last Stuart kings, the country recovered its strength under a Dutch prince invited to the throne, and settled down to ,the coining of the Georges and the founding of the modern State. The king’s power was defined, Parliament and the Cabinet system seen reel, and free speech established. Scotland and England were united. Trade spread overseas, and the nation turned from an agricultural to an industrial future. The only setback was the obstinate stupidity which threw away the American colonies. YVesley led a religious revival, preparing men for social and moral reforms which made the nineteqpth century illustrious. English men and money heat Napoleon; and, set free front this oppressive war, the country kept America safe with the Monroe doctrine, freed the slaves, and set Liberty marching on.

So we started the Victorian Era. the most famous time in history, with votes for every house, education for all.’ railways, ships, and telegraphs, and the way made easy for Democracy. The Great War threw its shadow over all, but we held fast, providing an enduring armv and an unfailing treasury tor the Allies; and give man Peace as well as Dibertv,