The History of England (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1818. Excerpt: ... CHAP. LVI. Commencement of the Civil War.--State of Parties.--Battle of Edgehill.--Negotiation at Oxford.--Victories of the Royalists in the West.--Battle of Stratton--of Lansdown--of Roundway Down.--Death of Hambden.--Bristol taken.--Siege of Gloucester.--Battle of Newbury.--Actions in the North of England.--Solemn League and Covenant.--Arming of the Scots.--State of Ireland. Chap. VXHEN two names, so sacred in the English conLVI- stitution as those of King and Parliament, 1642. were placed in opposition, no wonder the people Com-were divided in their choice, and were agitated with me"t tf tne most violent animosities and factions, the civil The nobility, and more considerable gentry, dreadwar. ing a total confusion of rank from the fury of the populace, inlisted themselves in defence of the monarch, from whom they received, and to whom they State of communicated, their lustre. Animated with the parties. Spirit of loyalty, derived from their ancestors, they. adhered to the ancient principles of the constitution, and valued themselves on exerting the maxims, as well as inheriting the possessions, of the old English families. And while they passed their time mostly at their country-seats, they were surprised to hear of opinions prevailing, with which they had ever been unacquainted, and which implied not a limitation, but an abolition, almost total, of monarchical authority. The city of London, on the other hand, and most of the great corporations, took part with the 11 parliament, parliament, and adopted wfth zeal those democra-Chap. tical principles on which the pretensions of that LVJassembly were founded. The government of cities, lg42 which even under absolute monarchies is commonly republican, inclined them to this party: The small hereditary influ...