"70 
HISTORY OF ENGLAND [1642-43 
position, and the bulk of the Puritans supported the Par- 
liament. “It is easier to draw a geographical line between 
parties, though both sides 
had representatives every- 
where. For the most part, 
London, the southern and 
the south-eastern shires were 
in favour of Parliament; 
the north, Wales, and the 
south-western shires inclined 
towards the king.” The 
royalists, because of their 
excellent horsemanship, were 
known as “ Cavaliers,’” and 
the supporters of Parliament 
A ROUNDHEAD wore. nicknamed “ Round- 
heads,’”” from the close-eropped hair worn by the Puritans. 
169. Progress of the war.—It was in 1642 that the first 
fighting took place; the first real battle was at Edgehill in 
1643. Neither army had had much training, but most of the 
king’s men were accustomed to riding, and therefore the royal 
cavalry was far superior to the undrilled Puritan foot soldiers. 
The contest resulted in a drawn battle. Indeed, for some 
little time the king was successful, and had it not been 
for one strong, clear-headed man among the Puritans, 
Oliver Cromwell, the ending of the war might have been 
quite different. 
Cromwell was a native of Huntingdonshire, a gentleman 
of large estate and good social position. He sat in Par- 
liament for the first time in 1628, and from the first took a 
leading part in the discussions of the House. In religion, 
he belonged to the Independents, who wished to make 
each congregation a self-governing church, independent of 
all others. At the outhreak of the war, he raised a troop of 
horse, which did good service at Edgehil. „After the 
battle, he said to Hampden, “We can never .win with 
such men as you have; old tapsters and servants, low-born 
and mean-spirited fellows can never win against gentlemen 
Wwlio have honour, courage, and resoluLion.”” He saw at once 
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