Francis Rous

Francis Rous or Rouse (1579 – January 1659) was an English politician and a prominent Puritan. He wrote several theological and devotional works and was also Provost of Eton.

He was born at Dittisham in Devon in 1579, the fourth son of Sir Anthony Rous (c.1555-1620), MP, of Halton, St. Dominick, Cornwall, by his first wife, Elizabeth Southcote, daughter of Thomas Southcote.John Pym was his stepbrother, his mother being Sir Anthony's second wife, Philipa Colles, daughter of Michael Colles and Mary Graunt.

He was educated at Broadgates Hall, Oxford and the University of Leiden, graduating at the former in January 1596–97, and at the latter thirteen months afterwards. In 1601 he entered the Middle Temple, but soon afterwards retired to Landrake. For some years he lived in seclusion in Cornwall and occupied himself with theological studies.

He took a leading part in Parliament: he was elected to Parliament for Cornwall in 1604 and 1656; for Truro 1626, 1640 (twice) and 1654; for Tregony 1628; and for Devon 1653. In the 1628 parliament he took part in the ferocious criticisms of Roger Mainwaring.

In the Long Parliament Rous opened the debate on the legality of William Laud's new canons on 9 December 1640, and presented the articles of impeachment against John Cosin on 15 March 1641. When the Westminster Assembly was formed on 12 June 1643, he was nominated one of its lay assessors, and on 23 September 1643 he took the Solemn League and Covenant. He was chairman of the committee for ordination of ministers constituted on 2 October 1643 following, and a member of the committee of appeals appointed for the visitation of the University of Oxford on 1 May 1647. On 16 July 1648 he was sworn of the Derby House Committee.

...
Wikipedia