The form of government has not changed; but the power has, during these periods, past into the hands of the Aristocracy [Fo-hi]. In the time of the Queen, who sent the humble petition to our Illustrious, the English Sovereign was Master--being Pope and Ruler; that is, High Priest and Sovereign. But the people, increasing and growing richer in ships and merchandize, began to feel the intermeddling of the Ruler. Previously, the people had been too poor and too few to be accounted anything; and grew up into an improved condition without notice. They now disliked to be taxed, and began a struggle with the Sovereign to limit his power in this thing--for they said, "If he can take a _penny_ (a small coin), at his own goodwill and pleasure, he can take all." Now this is an absurdity--yet, it looked sound; and, at any rate, became the ground of the fight between the well-to-do people (the Middle-Caste), and the Ruler. _This_ would make his will absolute; the _other_ would make its will absolute! The Sovereign who first had this opposition seems to have been a fool, and the next, a knave--but neither had sufficient sense to arm soldiers enough to compel obedience, as was done on the Main Land--consequently, after a good deal of wretched fighting between the Sovereign helped by nearly all the High-Caste, and the _next_ Caste in the Aristocracy and well-to-do people, these last succeeded, and put the Sovereign to death. As is always the case, during a civil war, _fanaticism_ arose. It based itself upon two points--the right of the people to rule, and the right of the gods of the Superstition, _without any Pope_, to be worshipped. This was a departure from the original dispute only in part; because some had vehemently denied the whole notion of Pope-worshipping; and as the Sovereign was English Pope, this pretension embittered the strife. Now, the Aristocracy (High-Caste) upheld the Pope; but the Second-Caste and the people, opposed; and these, at length, for the time, carried all before them; destroyed the King, overthrew his worship as Pope; and established the gods of the Superstition, with such severity of worship (especially as to the _rites_ and as to the _Seventh-day_), that, _Society_ completely changed. Even the name of the State was changed! The point, of the _Rule of the people_, was in this vindicated; for the name of the State was--_Commonwealth_; and of the Ruler--_Protector_. Now, this so _radical_ change was not real. It was the expression of that extreme agony into which Civil War hurries. The strong passions sway--the strongest rule. And the very able military man who organized the troops into the ways of an invincible army, though of the Aristocratic, High-Caste connection, happened to have adopted the most severe notions of the great Superstition; looked upon Christ-god merely as the _Jah_ of the Jews; wished to make the _Sacred Writings_ the law of the Land; and to get himself proclaimed to be the _High Priest_ and ruler of this new Jewish State! This remarkable man, with his invincible troops, could not absolutely do this--but he did completely overawe and rule the State, causing himself to be declared _Protector of the Commonwealth_!