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[II. PARLIAMENTARY COLBERTISM. 
XI. THE ENGLISH REVOLUTION. 
209. THE withdrawal of allegiance from James II. and AD 
accession of William III. were the outcome of the blows Fy 
which had been struck at the authority of hereditary Revolution 
Monarchy during the Civil War. They mark a veritable ho biament 
revolution in the political life of England, since the changes 7*™ 
at this juncture were no mere reform, when improvements i 
were introduced into the machinery of government. The 
basis on which the whole polity rested was completely 
altered. The personal rule of the Crown gave place to the 
power of the people; for it was by popular invitation and 
Parliamentary approval that William attained the throne. 
Many constitutional questions were left for subsequent 
settlement; there was room for much dispute, both as to 
the precise relation of the king and his ministers to the 
popular voice, and in regard to the adequacy of the repre- 
sentation of the people of England in the House of 
Commons. Still, the main result was achieved, since 
Parliament, in which the House of Commons was a very 
important element, had attained supreme control over the 
affairs of the nation. The personal action of the Crown 
had been of the first importance in economic matters of 
every kind under Charles I; the Court had swayed the 
course of affairs, especially as regards commercial and 
colonial concessions, under Charles II. From the Revo- 
lution onwards, however, it hardly counted as a separate 
factor, since the influence of the King was exerted through 
the aid of royal partisans in the Lords, or the Commons. 
The new accession of power, which the House of Commons but the 
shus attained, involved a tremendous responsibility; the arouse of 
Lower House, containing as it did representatives both of 
anded men and traders, became the chief authority for 
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