History of King Charles the Second of EnglandAbbott, Jacob
History
History of King Charles the Second of England
Abbott, Jacob
Charles II, King of England, 1630-1685
In the mean time, Cromwell, who was at the head of the republican
government of England, knowing very well that Charles's plan would be
to march into England as soon as he could mature his arrangements for
such an enterprise, determined to anticipate this design by declaring
war himself against Scotland, and marching an army there.
Charles felt comparatively little interest in what became of Scotland.
His aim was England. He knew, or supposed that there was a very large
portion of the English people who secretly favored his cause, and he
believed that if he could once cross the frontier, even with a small
army, these his secret friends would all rise at once and flock to his
standard. Still he attempted for a time to resist Cromwell in Scotland,
but without success. Cromwell penetrated to the heart of the country,
and actually passed the army of Charles. In these circumstances, Charles
resolved to leave Scotland to its fate, and boldly to cross the English
frontier, to see what he could do by raising his standard in his
southern kingdom. The army acceded to this plan with acclamations. The
king accordingly put his forces in motion, crossed the frontier, issued
his manifestoes, and sent around couriers and heralds, announcing to
the whole population that their king had come, and summoning all his
subjects to arm themselves and hasten to his aid. This was in the
summer of 1651, the year after his landing in Scotland.
It certainly was a very bold and almost desperate measure, and the
reader, whether Monarchist or Republican, can hardly help wishing the
young adventurer success. The romantic enterprise was, however, destined
to fail. The people of England were not yet prepared to return to
royalty. Some few of the ancient noble families and country gentlemen
adhered to the king's cause, but they came in to join his ranks very
slowly. Those who were in favor of the king were called _Cavaliers_.
The other party were called _Roundheads_. Queen Henrietta Maria had
given them the name, on account of their manner of wearing their hair,
cut short and close to their heads all around, while the gay Cavaliers
cultivated their locks, which hung in long curls down upon their
shoulders. The Cavaliers, it turned out, were few, while the Roundheads
filled the land.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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