z?> HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN

chap. populace. The duke of Monmeuth likewiselxviii. cane over without leave, and made a triumphantprocession through many parts of the kingdom ,exiremely caressed and admired by the people.All these arts seemed requisite to support the' general prejudices, during the long interval ofparliament. Great endeavours were also used toobtain the king’s consent for the meeting of thati«8o. assembly. Seventeen peers presented a petition toth.s purpose. IVlany of the corporations imitatedthe example. Notwithstanding several marks ofdispleasure, and even a menacing proclamationfrem the king , petitions came from all parts ,earnestly insisting on a session of parliament. Thedanger of popery , and the terrors of the plotwere never forgotten in any of these addresses.

Tumultuous petitioning was one of the chiefartifices by which the malecontents in the lastreign had attacked the crown: And though themanner of subscribing and delivering petitionswas now somewhat regulated by act of parliament,the thing itself still remained; and was an ad-mirable expedient for infesting the court , forspreading discontent, and for uniting the nationin any popular clamor. As the king found nolaw, by which he could punish those importunate,and , as he deemed them , undutiful solicitations,he was obliged to encounter them by popularapplications of a contrary tendence. Whereverthe church and court party prevailed , addresseswere framed, containing expressions of the highestregard to his majesty, the most entire acquiescence