This principle, once established, opened a large field for various lucrative abuses; nor could it be supposed, whilst the vacancy turned to such good account, that a necessitous or avaricious king would show any extraordinary haste to put the bishoprics and abbacies out of his power.
This passage highlights the potential for corruption and abuse of power when vacancies in church positions are exploited by the monarchy.
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More from Edmund Burke
If kings who did not owe their crown to the choice of their people had no title to make laws, what will become of the statute De tallagio non concedendo? of the Petition of Right? of the act of Habeas Corpus?
Who could flatter himself that these men, suddenly, and as it were by enchantment, snatched from the humblest rank of subordination, would not be intoxicated with their unprepared greatness?
Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.
This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.
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