A new Parliament convened in November.
This one was even less pliable than the first one. The members
understood that the question of ``Government by Divine
Right'' or ``Government by Parliament'' must be fought out
for good and all. They attacked the King in his chief councillors
and executed half a dozen of them. They announced that
they would not allow themselves to be dissolved without their
own approval. Finally on December 1, 1641, they presented
to the King a ``Grand Remonstrance'' which gave a detailed
account of the many grievances of the people against their Ruler.
Charles, hoping to derive some support for his own policy
in the country districts, left London in January of 1642. Each
side organised an army and prepared for open warfare between
the absolute power of the crown and the absolute power
of Parliament. During this struggle, the most powerful religious
element of England, called the Puritans, (they were
Anglicans who had tried to purify their doctrines to the most
absolute limits), came quickly to the front. The regiments of
``Godly men,'' commanded by Oliver Cromwell, with their
iron discipline and their profound confidence in the holiness of
their aims, soon became the model for the entire army of the
opposition. Twice Charles was defeated. After the battle
of Naseby, in 1645, he fled to Scotland. The Scotch sold him
to the English.
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