The people had become Roundheads; but the body which alone was authorised to speak in the name of the people was still a body of Cavaliers.

It is true that the King occasionally found even that House of Commons unmanageable.

From the first it had contained not a few true Englishmen; others had been introduced into it as vacancies were made by death; and even the majority, courtly as it was, could not but feel some sympathy with the nation.

A country party grew up and became formidable.
But that party constantly found its exertions frustrated by systematic corruption.

That some members of the legislature received direct bribes was with good reason suspected, but could not be proved.