We will, however, not dwell upon the drinking habits of the middle and lower classes prior to the Commonwealth. What change there was in their condition was due to the action of the Puritans, who, both before and during the civil war, presented a marked contrast to the Cavaliers or Royalists. The character and conduct of the two parties may be studied in the writings of historians of the time, as well as in those of modern authors, and notably in the pages of Macaulay and Walter Scott.[267] The Puritans were grave in their demeanour, sober in their habits, modest and plain in their speech and attire. By these characteristics they desired to be known. The Cavaliers swore, drank, affected an air of gallantry towards the female sex, with whom their relations were of the loosest, and in everything they sought to avoid what they called the prudery and hypocrisy of the Roundheads. When the latter obtained the ascendancy, they set about executing the most drastic reforms throughout the land. Maypoles were cut down in various parts of the country, and all the amusements of the period, such as theatrical performances, entertainments on the village green and at fairs, bowls, horseracing, and bearbaiting, were either absolutely forbidden or strongly denounced and discountenanced. But what gave greater dissatisfaction than any other of their proceedings was the suppression of Christmas festivities; and when, in 1644, the Long Parliament gave orders that the 25th December should be observed as a day of prayer and fasting, that act was considered such an infringement of the public liberties, that it was almost universally resisted, and in many places collisions took place between the populace and the local authorities.