The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part E.: From Charles I. to Cromwell
David Hume · en
enemy, seemed to have sufficiently repaired the honor which they had
lost at Newbury; and Charles, having the satisfaction to excite between
Manchester and Cromwell equal animosities with those which formerly
took place between Essex and Waller,[*] distributed his army into winter
quarters.
* Rush. vol. vi. p, 721, etc.
** Rush. vol. vii. p. 1.
Those contests among the parliamentary generals, which had disturbed
their military operations, were renewed in London during the winter
season; and each being supported by his own faction, their mutual
reproaches and accusations agitated the whole city and parliament. There
had long prevailed in that party a secret distinction, which, though the
dread of the king's power had hitherto suppressed it, yet, in proportion
as the hopes of success became nearer and more immediate, began to
discover itself with high contest and animosity. The Independents, who
had at first taken shelter and concealed themselves under the wings of
the Presbyterians, now evidently appeared a distinct party, and betrayed
very different views and pretensions. We must here endeavor to explain
the genius of this party, and of its leaders, who henceforth occupy the
scene of action.
During those times, when the enthusiastic spirit met with such honor
and encouragement, and was the immediate means of distinction and
preferment, it was impossible to set bounds to these holy fervors, or
confine within any natural limits what was directed towards an infinite
and a supernatural object. Every man, as prompted by the warmth of his
temper, excited by emulation, or supported by his habits of hypocrisy,
endeavored to distinguish himself beyond his fellows, and to arrive at a
higher pitch of saintship and perfection. In proportion to its degree
of fanaticism, each sect became dangerous and destructive; and as the
Independents went a note higher than the Presbyterians, they could less
be restrained within any bounds of temper and moderation. From this
distinction, as from a first principle, were derived, by a necessary
consequence, all the other differences of these two sects.