3) To first determine how people chose sides, the sides needs to be distinguished.

The Royalists were for the King and for tradition of religion and the monarchy. The Royalist held the tradition of the sacred inheritance of monarchy dear and believed in bishops and divine right. Their essential principle was loyalty and disloyalty was unacceptable. The Parliamentarians were Parliament and fought for the true religion of Puritanism and liberty. Their fundamental principle was consent; a partnership between the subjects and the monarchy that preserved the balance between privilege and liberties. Initially, in the counties there was a halt to choosing a side and a need for neutrality. Many gentry did not want to choose sides and formed formal neutrality pacts to disengage themselves from choosing a side. For example, the county of Cheshire drew a neutrality pact to keep their county and the port of Chester neutral yet after the arrival of royalist commanders the county went from neutral to acquiescent royalists. These conversions were prominent in gentries after the appearance and force of either Royalists or Parliamentarian activist groups. While the gentry were attempting to be neutral, others chose their side without hesitation. The North and West of England were Royalists and this included many of the Lords, a great sort of the House of Commons, many knights and gentlemen of England, the tenants of these gentlemen and the rabble which were the poorest of the poor. In addition, the anti-Puritans and subjects who were not so strict regarding recreation and drinking were part of the Royalists. The Parliamentarians comprised of the Parliament that were not Royalists, some of the gentry in most of the counties, many tradesmen and freeholders who can be considered middle class and the Puritans. In addition, Parliament had Scotland and Ireland on their side due to both countries disdain for the King. What determined the split between Parliamentarians and Royalists was religion and class. Puritans flocked to Parliamentarians and anti-Puritans were Royalists. The high classes such as the gentlemen, citizens/burgesses and yeomen were Royalists because they had liberties and privileges which resolved any issues they could have had with the Kings rule. These men knew where their continued prominence lay and that was with the King. Sir Edmund Verney who was a gentlemen and appointed knight marshal for life supposedly said, my conscience is only concerned in honor and gratitude to follow my master. I have eaten his bread and served him near thirty years, and will not do so base a thing as forsake him. The lowest of the low class such as the rabble or tenants whose masters were the gentle men were Royalists because in reality they had no choice. The tenants had to follow their gentlemen landlords or they would become homeless. The rabble would continue to be poor regardless of which side they chose yet with the Royalists there was a chance of being taken care of financially if they were loyal. The Parliamentarians had working class men such as the day laborers and merchants who had no rule over anyone and anything therefore did not have any liberties or privileges. Parliament was fighting for liberty and consent which is exactly what these men wanted. These men wanted to have a voice and authority and by standing by Parliament this goal could be attained.