into the wilderness; but their numbers melted away, and their settlements were reduced from eighty to eight. King James, also about this time, dissolved the company, and vacated their charter. He issued a new commission for the government of Virginia. The governor and council were appointed during the king's pleasure. No assembly was allowed. At this time, about nine thousand colonists had settled in the colony, and only about one thousand eight hundred survived.

5. In 1625, James I. died, and he was succeeded by Charles I., who was then in the twenty-fifth year of his age. It was the misfortune of Charles to inherit despotic principles from his ancestors, and to be educated in a servile and profligate court. Public opinion had been undergoing a great change, and many of his subjects were extremely jealous of their civil and religious liberties. He was slow to learn the important lesson, that the influence of authority must ultimately bend to the influence of opinion. England was soon after involved in war with. Spain. Parliament refused to grant him sufficient supplies in carrying on the war. He dissolved the parliament, and claimed the right to act independent of their authority. This claim struck at the vital principles of a free government, and the people became fully sensible of the danger to which their liberties were exposed. The Earl of Stafford became the chief counsellor of the king, who was the most formidable enemy of the liberties of the people. Archbishop Laud had the principal influence in ecclesiastical affairs. The current of public sentiment was now running strongly in favor of a more simple form

hour? What followed this massacre? What action did King James take about this time? What was the number who had settled in the colony up to this time? How many survived?

5. When did James I. die? By whom was he succeeded? What was the misfortune of Charles I.? What change had taken place in public opinion? What lesson was Charles slow to learn? With what nation was England soon after involved in war? What action did parliament take? What action did the king take? At what did this claim strike? Who became the chief counsellor of the king? Who had the principal

of worship. Laud overloaded the Church with new cere monies, which he enforced with the most intolerant zeal.

6. In 1640, after eleven years' intermission, the king found it necessary to convoke a parliament. The House of Commons, instead of listening to his demands for supplies, presented the public grievances, under three heads: 1. The broken privileges of parliament; 2. Illegal taxation; 3. The violence done to the cause of religion. Charles, perceiving that nothing favorable to him would result from their deliberations, dissolved this parliament, and soon after convoked another. Parliament then ordered the arrest of Stafford and Laud, for treason, in attempting to subvert the constitution and introduce arbitrary power. They were both condemned and beheaded.

7. The king procured the impeachment of one member of the House of Lords and five members of the House of Commons, and proceeded, in person, to the House, to arrest them, accompanied by two hundred armed men, whom he left at the door. He entered the House, and ordered the speaker to point them out. The speaker declined to comply with his majesty's command. The king withdrew without effecting his object. This abortive attempt completed his degradation. He afterwards apologized to parliament for his conduct; but the day of reconciliation had passed. They were now prepared, not only to confine his power within legal bounds, but also to strip him of his constitutional authority.

8. Both parties now resolved to stake the issue of the contest on the sword. In 1642, the standard of civil war

influence in ecclesiastical affairs? How was the current of public opinion running? What action did Laud take?

6. When did the king convoke a new parliament? What action did the House of Commons take? What action did Charles then take? What arrests did the next parliament order? Under what charge? What was the result?

7. What impeachments did the king procure? How did he attempt to arrest them? What demand did he make of the speaker? Did the speaker comply? What apology did he afterwards make? What were parliament now prepared to do?

8. What did both parties resolve to do? When was the standard of

was raised. The cause of the king was supported by three-fourths of the nobility, and many of the gentry, with the bishops and advocates of Episcopacy, and by most of the Catholics. The cause of parliament was supported by the yeomanry, merchants, and tradesmen, and by the Puritans and other dissenters. The supporters of the king were called Cavaliers, and the supporters of parliament were called Roundheads. After a fierce and bloody civil war had raged for nearly five years, the king fell into the hands of his enemies. He was tried for treason, and sentenced to be executed by having his head severed from his body. Having laid his head upon the block, one of the masked executioners severed it from his body by a single blow; the other, holding it up, exclaimed: "Behold the head of a traitor!"

9. The death of the king was soon followed by the abolition both of the monarchy and the House of Lords, by the House of Commons, and a Republican government established. It was publicly proclaimed that the supreme authority of the nation resided in the representatives of the people, and that it should be accounted treason to give any person the title of king without the authority of parliament. Oliver Cromwell was at the head of the army. The power which the parliament had wrested from the king was, by Cromwell's management, transferred to the army. This parliament had been in session for twelve years, and had lost the confidence of the people. It had been subservient to the views of Cromwell; but becoming jealous of him, had formed the design of reducing the army, intending, by that means, to diminish his power. Cromwell, perceiving their object, and being secure of the attachment of the army, resolved on seizing

civil war raised? By whom was the cause of the king supported? By whom the cause of parliament? What names were given to these par ties? How long did this civil war continue? Which party became victorious? What became of Charles I. What were the circumstances of his execution?

9. What followed the death of the king? What public proclamation was made? Who was at the head of the army? Why did parliament

the sovereign power. Taking with him three hundred soldiers, whom he left at the door, he entered the House, and listened awhile to the debates. He then started up, stamped on the floor, gave a signal for his soldiers to enter, and addressing himself to the members, he said: "Get you gone. Give place to honester men. I tell you, you are no longer a parliament; the Lord has done with you." Having turned out all the members, he ordered the doors to be locked.

10. Cromwell having seized the reins of government, gave his subjects a new parliament. The congregational ministers in the several counties took the sense of their churches, and made returns of the names of such persons as were deemed qualified. From these, the council, in the presence of Cromwell, selected one hundred and sixtythree representatives, who were summoned to attend. This parliament is sometimes called Barebone's parlia ment, from a leading member, a leather-dresser, whose name was Praise-God Barebone. This parliament assembled on the 4th of July, 1653, and was dissolved in the following December. At the time of the dissolution, a new constitution was published, and Cromwell assumed the title of Protector. He was assisted by a council of twenty-one members.

11. He administered the government with great energy and ability, and became the most able and powerful potentate of his time in Europe. After having usurped the government for nine years, he died, in the sixtieth year of his age. Richard Cromwell, after the death of his father, was proclaimed Protector; but after a few months, he resigned the office, and retired to private life. In 1660, attempt to reduce the army? What did Cromwell then resolve upon? How did he effect his object? What did he say to parliament?

10. What did Cromwell do after he had seized the reins of government? How did he select the members of this parliament? What is this parliament sometimes called? Why? When did this parliament assemble? When was it dissolved? What was published at the time of its dissolution? What title did Cromwell assume ?

11. How did Cromwell administer the government? For what time? Who was proclaimed Protector after Oliver Cromwell's death? How long

1

Charles II., now thirty years of age, was restored to the throne of his father.

12. Charles I., when he ascended the throne, placed the government of Virginia under the immediate direction of the crown. He appointed a governor and council, and ordered that all process should issue in his own name. In 1639, the Colonial Assembly was restored, and allowed to enact a body of laws for the colony. For this favor, the colonists manifested a strong attachment to their king. During the civil war, they professed great sympathy for him. Parliament became irritated by their adherence to the royal cause, and sent a squadron to reduce them to obedience. They capitulated on the most favorable terms. Under the articles of capitulation, the colony was left to govern themselves. The assembly elected their governor and councillors, and all other officers. From this period, the history of this colony is, to a greater or less extent, the history of all the colonies.

CHAPTER V.

SETTLEMENT OF NORTH VIRGINIA, OR NEW ENGLAND.

1. THE first permanent settlement in New England was commenced in 1620, by a company of men, women, and children from England, called Puritans. They landed on the 22d day of December, at Plymouth. They were destitute of any right to the soil on which they landed. They

did Richard Cromwell hold this office? When was Charles II. restored to the throne of his father?

12. What action did Charles I. take in reference to Virginia when he ascended the throne? When did he restore the Colonial Assembly? What effect did this have upon the colonists? What action did parlia ment take? What were the terms of their capitulation?

1. By whom was the first permanent settlement in New England commenced? When? When did they land? Where? Had they any right in the soil? Had they any powers of government? What did they form? By how many was it signed? How did this constitution com