1716 the Septennial Act increased the limit of three years to seven.
This act is still in force.
[1] The press soon became, for the first time, a most active agent of
political agitation, both for and against the King (S443).

About a month later (1642) the King, at the head of an armed force,
undertook to seize Hampden, Pym, and three other of the most active
members of the Commons on a charge of treason (S449). The attempt
failed. Soon afterwards the Commons passed the Militia Bill, and thus
took the command of the national militia and of the chief fortresses
of the realm, "to hold," as they said, "for King and Parliament." The
act was unconstitutional; but, after the attempted seizure of the five
members, the Commons felt certain that if they left the command of the
militia in the King's hands, they would simply sign their own death
warrant.

In resentment of this action, Charles now (1642) began the great Civil
War. It resulted in the execution of the King, and in the temporary
overthrow of the monarchy, the House of Lords, and the Established
Episcopal Church (SS450, 451). In place of the monarchy, the party in
power set up a short-lived Puritan Republic. This was followed by the
Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell (which claimed to be republican in
spirit) and by that of his son Richard (SS455, 463).

20. Charles II; Abolition of Feudal Tenure; Establishment of a
Standing Army.

In 1660 the people, weary of the Protectorate form of government,
welcomed the return of Charles II. His coming marks the restoration
of the monarchy, of the House of Lords, and of the National Episcopal
Church.

A great change was now effected in the source of the King's revenue.
Hitherto it had sprung largely from feudal dues. These had long been
difficult to collect, because the Feudal System had practically died
out. The feudal land tenure with its dues was now abolished,--a
reform, says Blackstone, greater even than that of Magna Carta,--and
in their place a tax was levied for a fixed sum (S482). This tax
should in justice have fallen on the landowners, who profited by the
change; but they managed to evade it in great measure, and by getting
it levied on beer and some other liquors, they forced the working
classes to shoulder the chief part of the burden, which they carried
until very recently.[2]

[2] See S34 of this Summary.

Parliament now restored the command of the militia to the Kign;[3]
and, for the first tim