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.[*]

The king had possessed a great party in the lower house, as appeared in
the vote for the remonstrance; and this party, had every new cause of
disgust been carefully avoided, would soon have become the majority,
from the odium attending the violent measures embraced by the popular
leaders. A great majority he always possessed in the house of peers,
even after the bishops were confined or chased away; and this majority
could not have been overcome but by outrages which, in the end, would
have drawn disgrace and ruin on those who incited them. By the present
fury of the people, as by an inundation, were all these obstacles swept
away, and every rampart of royal authority laid level with the ground.
The victory was pursued with impetuosity by the sagacious commons, who
knew the importance of a favorable moment in all popular commotions. The
terror of their authority they extended over the whole nation; and all
opposition, and even all blame vented in private conversation, were
treated as the most atrocious crimes by these severe inquisitors.
Scarcely was it permitted to find fault with the conduct of any
particular member, if he made a figure in the house; and reflections
thrown out on Pym were at this time treated as breaches of privilege.
The populace without doors were ready to execute, from the least hint,
the will of their leaders; nor was it safe for any member to approach
either house, who pretended to control or oppose the general torrent.
After so undisguised a manner was this violence conducted, that Hollis,
in a speech to the peers, desired to know the names o