The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part E.: From Charles I. to Cromwell — David Hume — John Shaqi
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol. I., Part E.: From Charles I. to Cromwell
David Hume · en
Another petition was presented by several poor people, or beggars, in
the name of many thousands more; in which the petitioners proposed as a
remedy for the public miseries "That those noble worthies of the house
of peers, who concur with the happy votes of the commons, may separate
themselves from the rest, and sit and vote as one entire body." The
commons gave thanks for this petition.[v]
* Rush. vol. v. p. 487.
** Rush. vol. v. p. 462.
*** Dugdale, p. 87.
**** Clarendon, vol. ii. p. 412.
v Clarendon, vol. li. p. 413.
The very women were seized with the same rage. A brewer's wife, followed
by many thousands of her sex, brought a petition to the house, in which
the petitioners expressed their terror of the Papists and prelates, and
their dread of like massacres, rapes, and outrages, with those which had
been committed upon their sex in Ireland. They had been necessitated,
they said, to imitate the example of the women of Tekoah: and they
claimed equal right with the men, of declaring by petition their sense
of the public cause; because Christ had purchased them at as dear a
rate, and in the free enjoyment of Christ consists equally the happiness
of both sexes. Pym came to the door of the house; and having told the
female zealots that their petition was thankfully accepted and was
presented in a seasonable time, he begged that their prayers for the
success of the commons might follow their petition. Such low arts of
popularity were affected, and by such illiberal cant were the unhappy
people incited to civil discord and convulsions.
In the mean time, not only all petitions which favored the church
or monarchy, from whatever hand they came, were discouraged, but the
petitioners were sent for, imprisoned, and prosecuted as delinquents;
and this unequal conduct was openly avowed and justified. Whoever desire
a change, it was said, must express their sentiments; for how otherwise
shall they be known? But those who favor the established government in
church or state, should not petition; because they already enjoy what
they wish for.[*]