Thus did the consequence of the Order, notwithstanding the diminution of its power, continue to be maintained;--rich Commoners and Royal Favourites being introduced to supply the places of extinguished Families, or those whose wealth had fallen into decay.

This prerogative grew without immoderate exercise till the close of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.

The first of the Stuarts employed it lavishly, not considering the changes that had taken place.

His predecessors of the House of Tudor, by breaking down the feudal strength of the Lords, and by transfer (through the Reformation) of the Spiritual supremacy to themselves as temporal Sovereigns, had come into possession of a superfluity of power which enabled the Crown to supply what was wanted in the Peers for their own support.

But through remote operation of the same causes, the Commons were rising fast into consequence, with a puritanical spirit of republicanism spreading rapidly amongst them.