=A believer in Coke’s views= and methods of perpetuating them was Sir Simon d’Ewes, High Sheriff of Suffolk. At the elections of 1640, Oct. 19th and 22nd, Sir Roger North and his Royalist friends had charged him with partiality towards the Puritan candidates. He cleared himself eagerly and then added, “It is true that by the ignorance of some of the Clarkes at the other two tables, the =oaths of some single women that were freeholders= were taken without the knowledge of the said High Sheriff, who as soone as he had notice thereof instantly sent to forbidd the same, conceiving it a matter verie unworthie of any gentleman, and most dishonorable in such an election, to make use of their voices, _although in law they might have been allowed_. Nor did the High Sheriff allow of the said votes, upon his numbering of the said Poll, but with the allowance and consent of the said two Knights themselves, discount them and cast them out” (Sir Simon d’Ewes’ Papers; Harl. MS., 158). Thus in a second illustrative case, personal opinion and prejudice were allowed to counteract law and privilege. And the law-abiding women yielded to what they were told was law, and, being kept in ignorance, they knew no better. But in the very next year women showed that they took a strong interest in public affairs. In vol. ii., p. 1673, Parliamentary History, is preserved the Petition to the Commons for Redress of Grievances, Feb. 4th, 1641. On the last day of sitting many women had been observed to crowd much about the door of the Commons, and Sergeant-Major Skippon applied to the House to know what to do with them, they telling him that where there was one now there would be 500 next day. The House bade him speak them fair. Next day they presented their petition (printed by John Wright at King’s Head in Old Bailey). “To the Honourable Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the House of Commons assembled in Parliament, the Humble Petition of the Gentlewomen, Tradesmen’s Wives, and many others of the Female Sex, all inhabitants of London and the Suburbs thereof, with the lowest submission showing, etc.” They acknowledge the care of the House in the affairs of State. They have cheerfully joined in petitions which have been exhibited “in behalf of the purity of religion and the liberty of our husband’s persons and estates.” “We counting ourselves to have an interest in the common privileges with them.”