content throughout the nation was the levy of ShipThis was a tax raised by the order

money.

1637

of the King alone. Its object was said to A.D. be to increase the navy, but in reality it was

meant to support a 'standing army in time of peace. John Hampden, one of the leaders of the Parliament men, refused to pay it, and was tried; and the judges decided against him.

6. This decision helped to bring matters to a 'head. The Long Parliament met in 1640. In its first *session Strafford was charged with treason and Four years later, Laud also The Roman Catholics of Ire

was beheaded.

was beheaded.

1641

A. D.

1645

A.D.

land rose in rebellion, and a massacre of the Protestants followed. Forty thousand men, women, and children are said to have been slaughtered.

7. There were now two great parties in the State -the Cavaliers and the Roundheads. The former sided with the King; the latter opposed him. The Parliament was chiefly composed of Roundheads; and the breach between them and Charles grew wider and wider, until one day he sent orders for five of the members to be seized for high treason.

8. The Commons refused to give them up. Next day he went to the House with armed soldiers to seize them; but before he entered, the five members had escaped. All London was aroused, and the streets were filled with crowds of people stirred with anger against the King. Charles in fear fled to York. The Commons demanded that he should give up the command of the army. Charles said, "No; not for an hour."

9. The Civil War then began. Most of the nobility, gentry, and clergy were in favour of the King, who set up his standard at Nottingham 1642 with an army of 10,000 men. The inhabitants of London and the large towns, chiefly

A.D.

merchants, tradesmen, and shopkeepers, were for the Parliament. They raised an army, under the Earl of Essex, to oppose the King.

1644

A.D.

10. During this terrible war, which lasted three years, ten battles were fought. Charles was at first victorious; but at Marston Moor1 his army was totally defeated, chiefly by Oliver Cromwell's stubborn troopers called 1645 Ironsides." Again at Naseby the King's troops were utterly routed, and his hopes destroyed.

A.D.

11. He then fled to Oxford, and afterwards to the Scottish army at Newark. The Scots offered to take his part if he would sign the Covenant, and promise to uphold the Presbyterian religion. This, however, he refused to do; and the Scots, before returning to their own country, handed him over to the Parliament.

as-sas-sin, murderer.

civil war, war between two parties of

the same nation.

head, point when affairs must be
settled one way or another.
lev-y-ing, collecting.

1 Rochelle' (Ro-shel'), an island near the coast of France. There was a castle on it.

2 Petition of Right.-This was a Petition from the Commons setting forth their Rights.

3 Long Parliament. So called from the time during which it lasted. It was not finally dissolved till 1660.

re-buke', find fault with.

1647

A. D.

7. THE EMIGRANTS IN THE BERMUDAS.

[In the time of Archbishop Laud, clergymen who were unwilling to conform to the discipline and ceremonies of the Church were in the habit of emigrating to the Bermudas. In consequence of this, a proclamation was issued in 1635, against departing out of the realm without licence." The following hymn is supposed to be sung by Puritan refugees or emigrants.]

1. Where the remote Bermudas1 ride
In the ocean's bosom unespied,

From a small boat that rowed along,
The listening winds received this song:-

2." What should we do but sing His praise
That led us through the watery maze
Unto an isle so long unknown,
And yet far kinder than our own?

3." Where He the huge sea-monsters racks,
That lift the deep upon their backs,
He lands us on a grassy stage,

Safe from the storms and prelates' rage.

4." He gave us this eternal spring
Which here enamels everything;2
And sends the fowls to us in care,
On daily visits through the air.

5." He hangs in shades the orange bright,
Like golden lamps in a green night;
And does in the pomegranates close
Jewels more rich than Ormus 3 shows.

6." He makes the figs our mouths to meet,
And throws the melons at our feet;
But apples plants of such a price,

No tree could ever bear them twice.

7.“ With cedars, chosen by His hand

From Lebanon, He stores the land;
And makes the hollow seas that roar,
Proclaim the ambergris on shore.

8." He cast-of which we rather boast— The gospel's pearl upon our coast; And in these rocks for us did frame

A temple where to sound His name.

9." O let our voice His praise exalt,
Till it arrive at Heaven's vault;
Which then, perhaps, rebounding, may
Echo beyond the Mexique bay."5

10. Thus sang they, in the English boat,
A holy and a cheerful note;

And all the way, to guide their chime,
With falling oars they kept the time.