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HISTORY OF ENGLAND,

cnAp. predominant. For this end he gave the rein to the fierce—-— enthusiasm of his followers, waged war resembling that whichIsrael waged on the Canaanites, smote the idolaters with theedge of the sword, so that great cities were left without in-habitants, drove many thousands to the Continent, shippedoff many thousands to the West Indies, and supplied the voidthus made by pouring in numerous colonists, of Saxon blood,and of Calvinistic faith. Strange to say, under that ironrule, the conquered country began to wear an outward faceof prosperity. Districts which had recently been as wild asthose where the first white settlers of Connecticut were con-tending with the red men were in a few years transformedinto the likeness of Kent and Norfolk. New buildings, roads,and plantations were everywhere seen. The rent of estatesrose fast; and soon theEnglish land-owners began to complainthat they were met in every market by the products of Ireland,and to clamour for protecting laws.

From Ireland the victorious chief, who was now in name,as he had long been in reality, Lord General of the armies ofthe Commonwealth, turned to Scotland. The young Kingwas there. He had consented to profess himself a Pres-byterian, and to subscribe the Covenant; and, in return forthese concessions, the austere Puritans who bore sway atEdinburgh had permitted him to assume the crown, and tohold, under their inspection and control, a solemn andmelancholy court. This mock loyalty was of short duration.In two great battles Cromwell annihilated the military force ofScotland. Charles fled for his life, and, with extreme diffi-culty, escaped the fate of his father. The ancient kingdomof the Stuarts was reduced, for the first time, to profoundsubmission. Of that independence, so manfully defendedagainst the mightiest and ablest of the Plantagenets, novestige was left. The English Parliament made laws forScotland. English judges held assizes in Scotland. Even