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Although Sidney urged popular government as against monarchy, he was no believer in the unlimited rights of Parliament. On the contrary, it was to be subordinated to the individual rights of the people. Power, he warned, inevitably corrupts and every institutional power must be guarded against. To Sidney, government rested on a contract between government and governed. When government fails to perform its role in the service of the people, it deserves to be removed. Nor can a people give up their liberties permanently or be bound to government by the dead hand of the past. In his Dying Speech, Sidney proclaimed that "God has left nations the liberty of setting up such governments as best please themselves." He thanked God that he had now become a witness to the truth and to the "Old Cause" of liberty against tyranny in "an age which makes truth pass for treason. Gilbert was sent to Ireland to quell a rebellion. He was ruthless and thorough. Over the next three years he efficiently subdued the rebels. This brought him promotion and a knighthood, but he found the duty distasteful, expensive and unproductive. Several times he left, but was always sent back because of his success. He realized that harsh subjugation of the Irish was not the way to establish a permanent peace. To his credit, he attempted to peacefully settle Ireland, convinced that English colonization would be beneficial to both nations.
Approximate Word count = 894
Approximate Pages = 3.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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