Comment by pjc50

"The Tories in England long imagined that they were enthusiastic about monarchy, the church, and the beauties of the old English Constitution, until the day of danger wrung from them the confession that they are enthusiastic only about ground rent."

-- Karl Marx

> Landowners were expected to take on government roles, also for free

This was just the dying embers of feudalism. Which is still theoretically present in England, having been abolished in Scotland in the year 2000.