THE DERBYSHIRE PETITION OF 164I. 21 



and Sir Francis Rhodes, who were knighted on the 8th July 

 and 9th August, give a nearer indication of the time when it was 

 presented.''' On the nth of that month the King was at Derby, 

 on his return from Scotland ; but the general tenour of the peti- 

 tion (had it not been for the circumstances I have mentioned) 

 would appear to agree better with the date of August, 1642, when 

 Charles (I believe) passed through Derby on his way to set up 

 the Royal standard at Nottingham. However that may be, there 

 can be no doubt that this was the last united effort made by the 

 gentlemen of Derbyshire, before events broke them off into the 

 opposing parties of Cavaliers and Roundheads, to press for a 

 reconciliation between King and Parliament, and thus to avert 

 the dangers which threatened the whole kingdom. On the 

 13th September, Charles with the Royal army returned to Derby 

 for a single day on his way to Shrewsbury ; and he is said to 

 have borrowed the sum of ;(^30o and all the small arms the 

 Corporation could furnish, on a promise of repayment when the 

 rebellion was suppressed. In August, 1645, he was again in the 

 county, and the following particulars of his marches are given in 

 the Iter Carolinum, published in 1660 : — 



"Tuesday the 12 to Tutbtiry cix%i\ei pr. in camp., Nights. Miles. 

 and lying at the Lord Loughbrows - - - i. xij. 



Wednesday the 1 3 /45-^Z'(?^« i'th Peake, Mrs. Ca/&a/>z^i' i. xiv. 



Thursday the 14 to Chatiisford^ near BakeweU, E. 



of Devonsliires ------ i. xiv. 



Friday the 15 to Welbeck Marquess oi Neiv castles - ij. xij." 



The petition is as follows : — 



To the Kings most excellent Majesty. 

 Yo' Maties Loyall «& peacefull subj'^ the Barronetts, Kn'^, 

 Esq'", Gent., ffreeholders, & others, Inhahts of the County & 



* See also a letter from Sir Francis Rhodes, Gilbert Clarke, Lionel Fan- 

 shawe, Henry Wigfall, George Silwell, and Edward Revell, six '' Noble 

 Lords," urging that the King be petitioned to return from the North and meet 

 his Parliament. This is dated 21st March, 1641.— Hist. MSS. Comm., 1883-4, 

 39. a. 



