Thus far, the Long Parliament had acted along the line of
reformation rather than revolution. Had Charles been content to accept the new
arrangements, there would have been little more trouble. But the proud and
imperious king was only watching his chance to strike a blow at Parliament.
Taking advantage of some differences in opinion among its members, Charles
summoned his soldiers, marched to Westminister, and demanded the surrender of
five leaders, including Pym and Hampden. Warned in time, they made their escape,
and Charles did not find them in the chamber of the Commons. "Well, I see
all the birds are flown," he exclaimed, and walked out baffled. The king's
attempt to intimidate the Commons was a great blunder. It showed beyond doubt
that he would resort to force, rather than bend his neck to Parliament. Both
Charles and Parliament now began to gather troops and prepare for the
inevitable conflict.
"CAVALIERS" AND "ROUND-HEADS"
The opposing parties seemed to be very evenly matched.
Around the king rallied nearly all of the nobles, the Anglican clergy, the
Roman Catholics, a majority of the "squires," or country gentry, and
the members of the universities. The royalists received the name of
"Cavaliers." The parliamentarians, or "Roundheads," [22]
were mostly recruited from the trading classes in the towns and the small
landowners in the country. The working people remained as a rule indifferent
and took little part in the struggle.
[22] So called, because some of them wore closely cropped
hair, in contrast to the flowing locks of the "Cavaliers."
