Sir Humphrey Mildmay; Royalist Gentleman: Glimpses of the English Scene, 1633 to 1652 by Philip Lea Ralph (review)

7zt THE CANADIAN HISTORICAL REVIEW Professor Wormuth'sdiscussion of thesevariedprojects is usuallyinteresting andoftenilluminating.His bestchapters arethosein whichhedealswith the protracted debates onsuchmattersasthe separation of powers, the meritsand demerits ofthebicameral legislature, thesystem ofchecks andbalances attempted in manyof these constitutions, andthevirtuesofrepublicanism astheidealform of mixedgovernment.In hisanalysis ofthevarious writtenconstitutions, particularlytheInstrument ofGovernment andtheHumblePetition andAdvice, heison morefamiliarground;andheadds littletowhathasalready been writtenonthese subjects. He shares the viewof a numberof modernscholars onthe importance ofHarrington's theories; andinoneofhislaterchapters heprovides some interestingevidence ofthepopularity ofthatauthor's workinthecentury afterhisdeath. . That thesetheories havehadgreatinfluence onthedevelopment of constitutional orrepresentative government since theseventeenth century willhardly be questioned. Whether theyhavebeen soimportant in thecountry oftheirorigin mayperhaps bequestioned. In thelightoflaterhistory, andnotleast inthelight of the Revolution settlementof 1689, ProfessorWormuth's assumptionthat England's "medieval constitution" came toanendin 1642 would seem torequire a gooddealof qualification. Asa discussion of theories that havehadsome importance inshaping thegovernment under which welive,thisisaninteresting and usefulbook. It would be a better bookif it containedsomeaccountof the historic development of Englishgovernment before1640andof the actualcircumstances whichled to the formulationof somany of thesetheories. D. J. McDouc,AL•. The University of Toronto. SirHumphrey Mildmay;Royalist Gentleman: Glimpses oftheEnglish Scene, 1633 to1652. By Pni•.IPLEARaLPh. NewBrunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. 1947. Pp. xi, 245. ($4.50) ThE sub-title ofthisbookexplains itspurpose anditsachievement. It isa skilful piece ofhistorical reconstruction, based inthemainonanincomplete diaryleftbya wealthy butundistinguished country gentleman who,despite hisavowed sympathy fortheroyalist andAnglican cause, contrived tolivethrough theCivilWarwithout serious molestation. Asabiography it isnotverysatisfactory. Adequate material forsuch a studyclearly does notexist;andalthough Mr. Ralphhasmadethemost ofsuch materialashecould garner, theportraitofhissubject remains dim. The valueof the bookliesin the light, toooftena very fitful light,whichit throwson the wayin whichordinarymenlivedtheirlivesduringtheseyearsof war and revolution.A good dealofit iscommonplace, andtheprospect suggested by the publisher's noteofa luridtaleofdebauchery andriotous livingisnotborne outby Mr. Ralph'ssober,scholarlynarrative. The bookhasanadditionalinterestasa sketchof a familyhistorywhichmust havebeenvery likethat of manyin the period. The Mildmayswereamong the moresuccessful parvenus of the Tudor era. Throughthe acquisition of land, formerlythepossession of some ofthemonasteries, theyrosein a fewyearsfrom complete obscurity to greatwealthandprominence. Thebest-known member of the family,Sir Walter,wasa privy councillor anda member of the Houseof Commons duringthe reignof Elizabeth. His descendants showed little of his REVIEWS OF BOOKS 75 Puritan zeal and evenlessof hisconspicuous ability. Sir Humphrey, the headof the family, wascontentto managehis estates,supportthe established order, and enjoy life, sometimesin ways that were not approved by the more austereof his contemporaries.He wasnot a heroicfigure,andneitherwerehistwo brothers,who supportedthe oppositesidein the great dispute,and who, in Mr. Ralph's words, "furnish examplesof unabashedand unscrupulousself-seekingwhich one would not care to surpass." But their history is worth relating, just becauseit is not heroic,because it is probablytypical of manymembers of their classduringthese yearsof crisis. D. J. McDOUGALL The University of Toronto. Our Canada. By ARTHURG. DORLAND. Editorial consultant,A.D. LOCKHART. Toronto: CoppClark Co. 1949. Pp. xii, 541. ($3.50) THE publishers of Our Canadarecommend it as "written for everyone who is interestedin Canadianhistory." Sinceit seeks to servesobroada constituency, it is not surprisingif Mr. Dorland's book at times seemsto fall amid severalstoolsat once. Nevertheless, asa generalpopularaccountof Canadianhistory,it reflects credit on the author's abilities as a writer and a scholar. Its treatment of Canadian historyisonthewholelucidandwellbalanced.In manydescriptive passages Mr. Dorlandachieves hisexpressed desire of permittinghisCanadian readers "tofeel the highadventurethat is experienced by all who furtherand strengthen their country'snationhood." The illustrations,a seriesof washdrawingsspecially prepared for thetext, furtheraddto theinterestof the book. Finally,believing that thepractical application ofdemocratic principles istheessence of citizenship, the authorhaspaidparticularattentionto thegrowthandfunctioning of political institutions in Canada. Theseare amongthe considerablemerits of Mr. Dorland's volume. On the other hand, there are the shortcomings, perhapsinevitablein a work of thissort. In appealing to thegeneral reader,thebookdoes notreallysumup more recent specializedresearchfor the academician,nor is it organizedon a sufficiently definitepatternto beof valueto himasa newinterpretative study. But to the publisher academicians area smallgroup. Beyondthis,however, the bookappearsto be rather too thinly spread,and evenwritten down, to meet the needs of the universityundergraduate's course.Yet it is somewhat longand full for thehighschool.Andwhat of the literaryman-in-the-street, thegeneral reader himself?Hereit mightseem that,despite thepublishers' knowledge ofsuch things, they havenot servedMr. Dorland'stext too well. The cold,shinypaperand monitorial sub-headings inblack, heavy-faced type,despite theillustrations, present the appearance of the old-lineschool book. Generalreaders, presumably, have goneto school, andmaynot havetoofriendlymemories...