448 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



be traced, if less clearly, the working of kindred tendencies. 

 During the 15th century, &quot; clergymen were secretaries of 

 government, the privy seals, cabinet councillors, treasurers 

 of the crown, ambassadors, commissioners to open parlia 

 ment, and to Scotland; presidents of the king s council, 

 supervisors of the royal works, chancellors, keepers of the 

 records, the masters of the rolls, &c. ;&quot; but with antagonism to 

 the Church came partial, and in later days complete, disappear 

 ance of the clerical element from the administration. Under 

 Henry VIII. the King s secretary, and afterwards the chan 

 cellor, ceased to be ecclesiastics ; while of the council of six 

 teen executors appointed to govern during the minority of 

 his son, three only were in holy orders. And though, during 

 a subsequent temporary revival of papal influence, there was 

 a re-acquirement of ministerial position by priests, they after 

 wards again ceased to be chosen. 



Whether a ruler is able to prevent high offices of Stute 

 from being held by men whose ambitions and interests he 

 fears, depends, however, upon his acquirement of adequate 

 predominance. A class which, being powerful, is excluded 

 as therefore dangerous, being still more powerful, cannot be 

 excluded; and is apt either to monopolize administrative 

 functions or practically to dictate the choice of ministers. In 

 ancient Egypt, where the priesthood was pre-eminent in 

 influence, the administration was chiefly officered by its 

 members, with the result that at one time there was usurpa 

 tion of the kingship by priests ; and the days during which 

 the Catholic church was most powerful throughout Europe, 

 were the days during which high political posts were very 

 generally held by prelates. In other cases supremacy of 

 the military class is shown ; as in Japan, where soldiers have 

 habitually been the ministers and practically usurpers ; as in 

 feudal England, when Henry III. was obliged by the barons 

 to accept Hugh Le Despenser as chief justiciary, and other 

 nominees as officers of his household ; or as when, in the 

 East, down to our own time, changes of ministry are insisted 



