Petitioners and Abhorrers

Two political parties in the reign of Charles II. When that monarch was first restored he used to grant everything he was asked for; but after a time this became a great evil, and Charles enjoined his loving subjects to discontinue their practice of “petitioning.” Those who agreed with the king, and disapproved of petitioning, were called Abhorrers; those who were favourable to the objectionable practice were nicknamed Petitioners.