ions; and these containing the royal assent and
the whole form of a law, it became, though not quite immediately,[205] a
constant principle that the king must admit or reject them without
qualification. This alteration, which wrought an extraordinary effect on
the character of our constitution, was gradually introduced in Henry
VI.'s reign.[206]

From the first years of Henry V., though not, I think, earlier, the
commons began to concern themselves with the petitions of individuals to
the lords or council. The nature of the jurisdiction exercised by the
latter will be treated more fully hereafter; it is only necessary to
mention in this place that many of the requests preferred to them were
such as could not be granted without transcending the boundaries of law.
A just inquietude as to the encroachments of the king's council had long
been manifested by the commons; and finding remonstrances ineffectual,
they took measures for preventing such usurpations of legislative power
by introducing their own consent to private petitions. These were now
presented by the hands of the commons, and in very many instances
passed in the form of statutes with the express assent of all parts of
the legislature. Such was the origin of private bills, which occupy the
greater part of the rolls in Henry V. and VI.'s parliament. The commons
once made an ineffectual endeavour to have their consent to all
petitions presented to the council in parliament rendered necessary by
law; if I rightly apprehend the meaning of the roll in this place, which
seems obscure or corrupt.[207]

[Sidenote: Interference of parliament with the royal expenditure.]

5. If the strength of the commons had lain merely in the weakness of the
crown, it might be inferred that such harassing interference with the
administration of affairs as the youthful and frivolous Richard was
compelled to endure would have been sternly repelled by his experienced
successor. But, on the contrary, the spirit of Richard might have
rejoiced to see that his mortal enemy suffered as hard usage at the
hands of parliament as himself. After a few years the government of
Henry became extremely unpopular. Perhaps his dissension with the great
family of Percy, which had placed him on the throne, and was regarded
with partiality by the people,[208] chiefly contributed to this
alienation of their attachment. The commons requested, in the fifth of
his reign, that certain persons might be removed fr