Struggle in England between King and Parliamejtt 66g doing away with the English Church. The parliamentary party was popularly known as the Roundheads^ since some gf them cropped their hair close because of their dislike for the long locks of their more aristocratic and worldly opponents. The Roundheads soon found a distinguished leader in Oliver Oliver Cromwell (b. 1599), a country gentleman and member of Parlia- ment, who was later to become the most powerful ruler of his time. Cromwell organized a compact army of God-fearing men, who were not permitted to indulge in profane words or light talk, as is the wont of soldiers, but advanced upon their enemies singing psalms. The king enjoyed the support of northern England, and also looked for help from Ireland, where the royal and Catholic causes were popular. The war continued for several years, and a number of Battles of battles were fought which, after the first year, went in general Moor and against the Cavaliers. The most important of these were the ^^^^^y battle of Marston Moor in 1644, ^i^d that of Naseby the next year, in which the king was disastrously defeated. The enemy came into possession of his correspondence, which showed The losing them how their king had been endeavoring to bring armies the king from France and Ireland into England. This encouraged Par-, liament to prosecute the war with more energy than ever. The king, defeated on every hand, put himself in the hands of the Scotch army which had come to the aid of Parliament (1646), and the Scotch soon turned him over to Parliament. JDuring the next two years Charles was held in captivity. There were, however, many in the House of Commons who Pride's still sided with the king, and in December, 1648, that body de- ^^^^ clared for a reconciliation with the monarch, whom they had safely imprisoned in the Isle of Wight. The next day Colonel Pride, representing the army, — which constituted a party in it- self and was opposed to all negotiations between the king and the Commons, — stood at the door of the House with a body of . soldiers and excluded all the members who took the side of the king. This outrageous act is known in history as " Pride's Purge."
