Many things, therefore, which in themselves were peradventure hurtful, was this Parliament constrained to ask, lest otherwise good laws and precious rights should be without defence.

Nor did they want a great and signal example of this danger.

I need not remind you that, many years before, the two Houses had presented to the king the Petition of Right, wherein were set down all the most valuable privileges of the people of this realm.

Did not Charles accept it?
Did he not declare it to be law?
Was it not as fully enacted as ever were any of those bills of the Long Parliament concerning which you spoke?
And were those privileges therefore enjoyed more fully by the people?
No: the king did from that time redouble his oppressions as if to avenge himself for the shame of having been compelled to renounce them.

Then were our estates laid under shameful impositions, our houses ransacked, our bodies imprisoned.