a supplication made by an inferior to a superior, and especially to one having jurisdiction. It is used for that remedy which the subject hath to help a wrong done by the king, who hath a prerogative not to be sued by writ: In which sense it is either general, That the king do him right; whereupon follows a general indorsement upon the same, Let right be done the party: Or it is special, when the conclusion and indorsement are special, for this or that to be done, &c.

By statute, the soliciting, labouring, or procuring the putting the hands or consent of above twenty persons to any petition to the king or either house of parliament, for alteration in church or state, unless by assent of three or more justices of the peace of the county, or a majority of the grand jury at the assizes or sessions, &c. and repairing to the king or parliament to deliver such petition with above the number of ten persons, is subject to a fine of 100l. and three months imprisonment, being proved by two witnesses within six months, in the court of B.R. or at the assizes, &c. And if what is required by this statute be observed, care must be taken that petitions to the king contain nothing which may be interpreted to reflect on the administration; for if they do, it may come under the denomination of a libel: and it is remarkable, that the petition of the city of London for the sitting of a parliament was deemed libellous, because it suggested that the king's dissolving a late parliament was an obstruction of justice; also the petition of the seven bishops, sent to the Tower by James II. was called a libel, &c. To subscribe a petition to the king, to frighten him into a change of his measures, intimating, that if it be denied many thousands of his subjects will be discontented, &c. is included among the contempts against the king's person and government, tending to weaken the same, and is punishable by fine and imprisonment.