POLITICAL HISTORY striking evidence of the national dissatisfaction with his methods of govern- ment. After acknowledging ' the many former and late effulgences ' of his ' Royal grace and goodness,' which should have ' erected a throne of . . . honour ... in the hearts of his loyal people higher than any of his royal predecessors,' the petitioners ' cannot now but expresse the greatnesse of their griefs fearing all those hopes to be dashed and the joy of the whole land darkened' by his withdrawal, ' in these times of imminent danger,' from his great council of Parliament ' to the raising of inexpressible feares ' in the hearts of all his loyal subjects. They therefore ' in all humilitie . . . doe implore your sacred Majesty, that out of the depth of your Princely wisdome and goodnesse the beames of your grace and favour may againe break forth upon your Kingdome, in returning and vouchsafing your Majestie's presence to the Parliament, whereby the feares of your people may be dispelled and a foundation layd of everlasting comfort to this land in the safety of your sacred person and abundant increase of honour and greatnesse upon your Royal Government.' There is no record of the answer which the king is stated to have been ' pleased graciously to promise to this request.-" The petition, however, elicited an expression of approval from the House of Commons which the Speaker was desired to convey, when returning, in conjunction with the Lord Keeper, the ' great thanks ' of both Houses of Parliament for two subsequent petitions presented to each of them on 29 March 1642, by ' the High Sheriff, Knights, Esquires, Gentlemen, Ministers and others of good Ranke within the county of Rutland,' ~^ which are interesting as indicating the different attitude of the petitioners towards the two Houses. While ex- pressing ' all possible joy and thankfulness ' to the Lords for their concurrence with the Commons in passing the Bill to take away the votes of the prelates, settling the militia, and ' many other acts of great concernment,' they point out, ' with great grieffe accompanied by feares ' that authority is not yet given for putting the kingdom ' in a posture of defence ' ; that Popish lords still retain their votes, the mass is still frequented, and Papists only 'superficially disarmed'; and that ' superstitious innovating ministers' are not punished nor censured. They therefore humbly pray a speedy removal of these grievances, and that ' your Lordships will be pleased still to joine with the House of Commons in all their pious and just proceedings.' Their more lengthy and strongly-worded petition to the same effect to the Commons is, on the other hand, prefaced by the declaration : ' That as we can never sufficiently bless Almighty God for His mercies and protection towards you, nor express our thankfulness unto you for the great works that have been done for the good both of Church and Commonwealth which will for ever rest upon Record through all posterities to your everlasting glory, so our humble desires are that you will be pleased in the feare of God with good courage to goe on to the full accomplishment of your godly and honourable intentions.' ^^ The members for Rutland in the Short and Long Parliaments were Baptist Noel, son of Viscount Campden, and Sir Guy Palmes.^" The latter was in April 1642 recommended by the House of Commons as a deputy lieutenant for the county,^* but, like Noel, he took the side of the king on " B.M. Pressmark, 669. f. 6 (l). " Ibid. ; cf. Lords' Jouty,. iv, 680a. " B.M. Press-mark, 669. f. 6 (i). " Ret. ofMemb. of Pari. " Commons' Journ. ii, 508. 187
