478 ^'- Royal Families''' — Whence Came They? [October, 



For the Cincinnalufl. 

 BY PHILO BURR ITT. 



The "divine riglit of kings" is a phrase that has become historic 

 in the annals of Europe. It is a phrase long used to conjure with 

 both in cabinet cabals and popular harangues. So frequently and so 

 solemnly was this watchword employed, and so euphonious were the 

 changes rung thereon that for centuries the public mind received it, 

 on mere enunciation, as orthodox; and with unquestioning faith 

 adopted the doctrine which the phrase involves. But, as men began 

 to be enlightened in the principles of civil institutions and social or- 

 ganizations, they very naturally began to demand the charter by 

 which, in divine legislation, this "divine right" was granted to 

 those who claimed the perogatives of the grant. And it becomes 

 a curious theme to look into the history of Royal Families and learn 

 whence they come. 



And of these — First as to England: 



William, the Norman, commonly called " The Conqueror " is the 

 source whence the crowned heads and most illustrious families of 

 England have long been proud to derive their pedigree. This Wil- 

 liam was the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, and the 

 mother of this "sinless child of sin" was the fiir but frail daughter 

 of a very worthy tanner in a country town in the French province of 

 Normandy. William, the Norman Bastard, is therefore the paternal 

 stock whence come the Royal Houses of England. 



On the maternal side, various infusions of honest plebean blood 

 have from time to time served to prevent a total stagnation of the 

 bleod roval in the veins of royal indolence and impotence. 



None more remarkable in this particular could have been drawn 

 from the fables of romance than one which English history, well 

 avouched, records. Indeed, the most stra-tling events and thrilling 

 scenes which the potent " Wizard of the North " has presented for our 

 wonder and delight have been but little more than illustrated tran- 

 scripts taken from the historic records of England's and Scotland's 

 heroic age. It is everywhere manifest that Scott's genius fully com- 

 prehended the poetic axiom that "truth is stranger than fiction." — 

 He therefore aimed, most wisely, but to embodv the truths of history 



