Roundheads and Cavaliers

By 1640, there was a clear division within the House of Commons and across England.

On one side were the Puritans, led by Oliver Cromwell, which included not only clergy that favored Calvinist religion for England but all those who feared that the king, with the help of bishops, would accumulate too much power and become a tyrant; this group included members of the social group known as the gentry and many artisans from the city of London. This group became known as the Roundheads for their short haircuts, worn in the style of monks, which symbolized their concern for morality, simple living, and seriousness as they believed God had commanded them to live.

On the other side were those loyal to the king and his government; they tended to fear that limiting the power of the king by Parliament would violate the natural, God-given order of things. This group included those, especially in the upper levels of the Anglican clergy (bishops and archbishops), who wanted England to avoid becoming Calvinist. It also included many of the landowning lords, who stood to benefit from Stuart policies of taxing the cities. Finally, it included many members of the gentry whom Charles had appointed to office in government, the army, or the Anglican Church.