258 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAP.

LV.

1642 .

qf Essex, that of Hertford, SurFey., Berks, imi-tated the example. A petition from the apprentices’was graciously received Nay, one was encou-raged froth the porters ; whose numbers amounted,as they faith, to fifteen thousand *\ The addressof that great body contained the same articleswith alf the others’;-th!e privileges of parliament,the danger of religioh, the rebellion of Ireland ,the dCday of trade. The, porters farther desired,that justice: • might be-done upon offenders, asthe atrbcT6usnest ; of their crimes had deserved.And thCy added, That if such remedies were anylong if suspended , they should he forced to extremitiesnot fit' tb'be named'; and make-good the faying , “That“ necessity has no lav^ ". "

AKrcfrriEk- petition was presented by severalpobr people, or beggars , in the name of manythousands more; in which the petitioners pro-posed as a remedy for the public miseries, Thatthose noble worthies of the house of peers , who concurwith the happy votes of the commotu , may separatethemselves from the rest., and sit and vote as oneentire body : The commons gave Hanks for thispetition “.

The very women were seized with the samerage. A brewer’s wife, followed by many thou-sands Of her sex, brought a petition to the house;in which the petitioners expressed their terror ofthe papists and prelates, and their dread of like

,s Rush worth, vol. v. p. 462. ^ ' Dugdale, p. 87.

,S Clarendon, vol. iL p. 412. ‘ Idem, ibid. p. 41 J.