s
refused to give up his undoubted constitutional right in the matter,
and raised the royal flag at Nottingham, August, 1642. Parliament
then organized an army of its own, and the war began.

442. Cavaliers and Roundheads.

It opened in the autumn of that year (1642) with the battle of
Edgehill, Warwickshire, and was at first favorable to the King. On
his side were a majority of the nobility, the clergy and the country
gentlemen. They were mainly members of the Church of England and were
known collectively as Cavaliers, from their dashing and daring
horsemanship. Their leader was Prince Rupert, a nephew of Charles.[1]

[1] See "A charge with Prince Rupert," _Atlantic Monthly_, III, 725.

On the side of Parliament were the shopkeepers, small farmers and
landowners, with a considerable number of men of high rank; as a rule
they were Puritans (S378). The King's party nicknamed them
"Roundheads," because, despising the long locks and effeminate
ringlets worn by the Cavaliers, they cut their hair short so that it
showed the shape of the head.[2] Essex and Fairfax were the first
leaders of the "Roundheads"; later, Cromwell became their commander.

[2] "Those roundheaded dogs that bawled against bishops," said the
Cavaliers.

443. How the Country was divided; Rise of Political Newspapers.

Taking England as a whole, we may say that the southeastern half, that
is, what was then the richest part of England, with London and most of
the other large towns, was against the King, and that the southwestern
half, with most of the North, was for him. (See map opposite.) Each
side made great sacrifices in carrying on the war. The Queen sold her
crown jewels, and the Cavaliers melted down their silver plate to
provide money to pay the King's troops.

On behalf of the People's army Parliament imposed heavy taxes, and
levied now for the first time a duty on domestic products, especially
on ales and liquors, known as the "Excise Tax." Furthermore, it
required each household to fast once a week, and to give the price of
a dinner to support the soldiers who were fighting against the King.

Parliament also passed what was called the "Self-denying Ordinance"
(1644) (repeated in 1645). It required all members who had any civil
or military office to resign, and, as Cromwell seaid, "deny themselves
and their private interests for the public good." The real object of
this measure was to get rid of incompetent commanders, and gi