75o The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. X. R. Charles L was fo apparent and manifeft to the whole world, would not appear ; the 4 moll active members declaring among their friends with a fort of defpair, that they would be concerned no further againft the hilltops, for they now law it was in vain to attack a number of men, whom the court and the houle of lords were refolved to protelt. Petitions of When this was rumoured in the city, it alarmed the people, whofe xhe dlord- fears were already fufficiently awakened with the apprehenfions of a po- and ifh maffacre and infurreltion within their own walls. The aldermen áenren a- R gainfi biilhops and common-council immediately a'fhembled, and drew up a petition to and popish fupport the courage of the commons, and went with it to Pr minjter lords' in fixty coaches, attended by a great number of the lower people. The Nation, petition prays, " that the houfe of commons would Rill be a means p. 733. " to the king and houfe of peers, to concur with them [the commons] " in redreffing the grievances of church and Rate, and for the better ef- " felting hereof, that the popith lords and.bifhops may be removed out " of the houfe of peers." The fpeaker returned them thanks in the name of the houfe, and promifed to take their addrefs into confideration Of the ton- in due time. A few days after, great numbers of people affembled at dn appreso- Black-heath, fign a petition to the famepurpofe; andwithin afortnight the apprentices of London went up with a petition figned with a multi- tude of names, complaining of the decay of trade occafioned by papifìa and prelates, and by a malignant party that adhered to them; and pray- ing that the popifh lords and other eminent perlons of that religion might be fecured, and that prelacy might be rooted. out according to their former petition commonly called theROOT AND BRANCH. The commons received their petition favourably; but the king infteadof calming the citizens en- created their jealoufies and fufpicions, by removing at this very time Sir U illiam Befour from the lieutenancy of the Tower, and putting colónel Lunsford into his place, a fafpelted papift of no fortune, who had been once outlawed and was fit for any delperate attempt. This unfeafonable promotion occafioned petitions to his majefly for his removal, whichwith much difficulty after fotne time was obtained, but the jealoufies of the people full remained. Petitions for The petitions abovernentioned againft the bithops, were confronted with the bifhápe. others out of the country in their favour. Nov. 18. the humble petition N ik' of the knights, efquires, gentlemen, parfons, vicars, curates, &c. of 3'' 656. Rutland Aire, was prefented to the houle figned by about eight hundred and forty hands, praying for the continuance of epfcopacy as the only government of apoftolical inftitution fealed with the blood of martyrs, admirably fuited to the civil government of this kingdom, and affirming that noprefbyter ever laid on hands without a bihhop. Dec. 8. a petition of the like nature was prefented from Huntingdonfbire, and two 'days after
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