government without a king, and many of the Puritans were of that opinion.
12. Charles had undoubtedly brought all his troubles upon himself, but it was now evident he must either give up his authority as a sovereign, or fight to maintain it; so he chose the latter alternative, and a war was commenced between the king and the parliament. Each party raised a large army.
13. The queen, who was sister to the French king, went to France, to raise money to pay soldiers to fight for her husband, and to bring arms for them. He was supported by most of the English nobility, while the principal commoners sided with the parliament.
14. The first general for the parliament was the Earl of Essex, who resigned in favor of general Fairfax, but the greatest general of the parliamentary army was a country gentleman named Oliver Cromwell, who was very clever, both as a military officer and a statesman; and, after the death of Charles, he became the ruler of England.
15. The war caused a great deal of unhappiness in private families; for, although it was principally the soldiers who fought, every body was interested in the question whether there should be a king, or not; and such violent quar-
