vol.v.p.

248, 1279.
v Whitlocke, ut supra.
Some principal officers, Piercy, Jermyn, O'Neale, Goring, Wilmot, Pollard, Ashburnham, partly attached to the court, partly disgusted with the parliament, had formed a plan of engaging into the king's service the English army, whom they observed to be displeased at some marks of preference given by the commons to the Scots.

For this purpose, they entered into an association, took an oath of secrecy, and kept a close correspondence with some of the king's servants.

The form of a petition to the king and parliament was concerted; and it was intended to get this petition subscribed by the army.

The petitioners there represent the great and unexampled concessions made by the king for the security of public peace and liberty; the endless demands of certain insatiable and turbulent spirits, whom nothing less will content than a total subversion of the ancient constitution; the frequent tumults which these factious malecontents had excited, and which endangered the liberty of parliament.