 Little is known of Coke 's early career in Parliament ; he spoke relatively infrequently , and the parliamentary session was dissolved soon after his election . During that summer , however , he struck up a relationship with Charles James Fox , a soon to be famous Whig politician noted for his outspoken and flamboyant lifestyle . Coke later recounted that " When I first went into Parliament I attached myself to Fox and clung to him through life . I lived in the closest bond of friendship with him . " The period was one of economic stability and political calm under Lord North , which ended due to the American Revolution and resulting American Revolutionary War . Coke was noted for his support of the American colonists ; as a strong supporter of the 1688 Glorious Revolution and the resulting Bill of Rights 1689 , he felt that the support of the espoused principles of justice and tolerance in Britain and overseas was his duty as a British subject , and saw no conflict between his position as a supporter of the colonists and his patriotism . Following the Battles of Saratoga , it became clear that any victory in America would be long and expensive , and in an attempt to raise funds King George III asked subjects to donate . In Norwich , a meeting was held in January 1778 for this purpose ; it raised £ 4 @,@ 500 in less than an hour . Windham and Coke attended this meeting , Windham making an impassioned speech pointing out that the campaign had so far resulted only in " disappointment , shame and dishonour " , and that " peace and reconciliation with America " was the only option . Windham , Coke and their supporters then withdrew to a nearby pub , where they drafted a petition to the king from " the Nobility , Gentry , Clergy , Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County of Norfolk " . This was presented to Parliament by Coke on 17 February 1778 , signed by 5 @,@ 400 people from Norfolk . George III took this as a personal insult , and as a result disliked Coke until his death . 
