Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 3.djvu/326

296 causes were in active operation for four or five centuries, and they were in themselves productive of vast political and moral effects. It would be unfair to conceal the results of such a system; its defects were apparent in the popular insurrections that from time to time broke out and marked a progressive extension of liberty, in the gradual emancipation of the human mind, and in the naturally inherent right of following up private conviction by private judgment; it is needless to do more than barely allude to what followed. Yet in concluding the explanation I have offered it would be incomplete if I did not add that the spirit of the age was both warlike and devotional at the same time, and whilst a love of military glory inflamed the mind and aroused the fiercest passions, it was the influence of the religious orders that served to soften and lull them again to rest.

A conquering aristocracy took possession of all things, feudalism was the only form society would accept. Both Church and State were alike under its influence; the clergy alone sought to claim, on behalf of the community, a little reason and humanity. He who held no place in the feudal hierarchy, or who had not won his territory by the Sword, had no other asylum open to him than the sanctuary of the church, nor any other protector than its priests. It was a feeble protection, but the best that an enslaved people could obtain, and to a certain extent it became powerful, inasmuch as here some food was offered to the moral nature of man, and such abilities as he possessed had also the usual chance that profession offers for temporal advancement.

The sight of those sacred buildings which still rear their hoary pinnacles in silent praise to heaven, inspired our countrymen of old, as they should us, with a veneration for holy places. And we discharge no superstitious debt of gratitude by separating the exalted deeds of our forefathers from the lawless confusion that was mixed up with many of their actions, and giving them praise for executing the buildings we must all admire, and but vainly hope to excel.

It was no selfish or sordid spirit that was then so actively at work, no mercenary desire to aggrandise themselves by nicely balanced calculations, no speculative visions of worldly profit, from sharing in which others were excluded, but the motive power impelling them onwards through their earthly journey,