BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

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Naseby took place the first great encounter between the chap.Royalists and the remodelled army of the Houses. The vic(ory o(victory of the Roundheads was complete and decisive. Itwas followed by other triumphs in rapid succession. In a fewmonths the authority of the Parliament was fully establishedover the whole kingdom. Charles fled to the Scots, and wasby them, in a manner which did not much exalt their nationalcharacter, delivered up to his English subjects.

While the event of the war was still doubtful, the Houseshad put the Primate to death, had interdicted, within thesphere of their authority, the use of the Liturgy, and had re-quired all men to subscribe that renowned instrument knownby the name of the Solemn League and Covenant. When thestruggle was over, the work of innovation and revenge waspushed on with still greater ardour. The ecclesiastical polityof the kingdom was remodelled. Most of the old clergy wereejected from their benefices. Fines, often of ruinous amount,were laid on the Royalists, already impoverished by large aidsfurnished to the King. Many estates were confiscated. Manyproscribed Cavaliers found it expedient to purchase, at anenormous cost, the protection of eminent members of thevictorious party. Large domains belonging to the crown, tothe bishops, and to the chapters were seized, and eithergranted away or put up to auction. In consequence of thesespoliations, a great part of the soil of England was at onceoffered for sale. As money was scarce, as the market wasglutted, as the title was insecure, and as the awe inspired bypowerful bidders prevented free competition, the prices wereoften merely nominal. Thus many old and honourable fa-milies disappeared and were heard of no more; and many newmen rose rapidly to affluence.

But, while the Houses were employing their authoritythus, it suddenly passed out of their hands. It had been *obtained by calling into existence a power which could not be