finest of all the German tribes
Fourth post prompted by ‘England and the English: from an American point of view” a more than cheeky little book by Price Collier.
Price cites the Italian Tacitus on English characteristics that play a significant role in government:
“They are the finest of all the German tribes, and strive more than the rest to found their greatness on equity… …A passionless, firm and quiet people, they lead a solitary life, and do not stir up wars or harass the country by plunder and theft… …and yet they are always ready to a man to take up arms and even to form an army if the case demands it” p45
According to Price the English (actually Germans) are well behaved, focussed on being productive, with a strong sense of fairness based on common sense. English government had its origins in Witenagemot, a ‘gathering of wise men’.
“The present House of Lords itself is the direct result of the Saxon’s unwillingness to bother with government, and his willingness to leave such matters to those of most leisure and most wealth” p47
The Witenagemot chooses a ruler (monarch) from appropriate families, the role does not automatically go to the next in an hereditary line. Price provides several examples of English government choosing a preferred monarch over the direct hereditary line. Price is keen to illustrate that handing down of power in non elected institutions is not a strictly hereditary affair. He provides some interesting examples to illustrate that the House of Lords has a high turn-over of family-line peers, then asserts
“The present House of Lords is conspicuously and predominantly a democratic body, chosen from the successful of the land” p56
Price trusts in competency being moderated by social processes and effectiveness:
“God and nature turn out the incompetents” p60
Interesting perspective. The house of Lords could represent a form of natural democracy when considered as a situated social process across Centuries rather than decades. He appears to approve of the British governmental processes. Can you guess what perspective Price will take in his chapter on English ‘home life’? I’m riveted…..
Other posts prompted by earlier book chapters:
