gh they had seized his whole revenue, rendered it totally
precarious, and made even their temporary supplies be paid to their own
commissioners, who were independent of him, they pretended that they
had liberally supported him in his necessities. By an insult still more
egregious, the very giving of money to the Scots for levying war against
their sovereign, they represented as an instance of their duty towards
him. And all their grievances, they said, which amounted to no less
than a total subversion of the constitution, proceeded entirely from the
formed combination of a Popish faction, who had ever swayed the king's
counsels, who had endeavored, by an uninterrupted effort, to introduce
their superstition into England and Scotland, and who had now at last
excited an open and bloody rebellion in Ireland.[*]

This remonstrance, so full of acrimony and violence, was a plain
signal for some further attacks intended on royal prerogative, and a
declaration, that the concessions already made, however important, were
not to be regarded as satisfactory. What pretensions would be advanced,
how unprecedented, how unlimited, were easily imagined; and nothing
less was foreseen, whatever ancient names might be preserved, than an
abolition, almost total, of the monarchical government of England. The
opposition, therefore, which the remonstrance met with in the house
of commons was great. For above fourteen hours the debate was warmly
managed; and from the weariness of the king's party, which probably
consisted chiefly of the elderly people, and men of cool spirits, the
vote was at last carried by a small majority of eleven.[**] Some time
after, the remonstrance was ordered to be printed and published, without
being carried up to the house of peers for their assent and concurrence.

* Rush. vol. v. p. 438. Nalson, vol. ii. p. 694.

** Whitlocke, p. 49. Dugdale, p. 71. Nalson, vol. ii. p.
668.

When this remonstrance was dispersed, it excited every where the same
violent controversy which attended it when introduced into the house of
commons. This parliament, said the partisans of that assembly, have
at length profited by the fatal example of their predecessors; and are
resolved, that the fabric which they have generously undertaken to wear
for the protection of liberty, shall not be left to future ages insecure
and imperfect. At the time when the petition of right, that requisite
vindication of a violated constituti