The spirit of fanaticism, by which that assembly had at first been strongly supported, was now turned, in a great measure, against them.

The pulpits, being chiefly filled with Presbyterians or disguised royalists, and having long been the scene of news and politics, could by no penalties be restrained from declarations unfavorable to the established government.

Numberless were the extravagancies which broke out among the people.

Everard, a disbanded soldier, having preached that the time was now come when the community of goods would be renewed among Christians, led out his followers to take possession of the land; and being carried before the general, he refused to salute him, because he was but his fellow-creature.[*] What seemed more dangerous, the army itself was infected with like humors.[**] [21] * Whitlocke.
** See note U, at the end of the volume.
Though the levellers had for a time been suppressed by the audacious spirit of Cromwell, they still continued to propagate their doctrines among the private men and inferior officers, who pretended a right to be consulted, as before, in the administration of the commonwealth.

They now practised against their officers the same lesson which they had been taught against the parliament.