obedience to authority, regardless of who wielded it. In early 1652, he served on the Committee for Propagation of the Gospel; led by Congregationalist minister John Owen, Parliament was dissolved before any of its suggested reforms were enacted. He was appointed Speaker of the House of Commons in 1653, although he proved incapable of managing the violent factionalism of Barebone's Parliament. Along with Charles Worsley and John Lambert, Rous was increasingly disturbed by the radicalism of many MPs. In a pre-planned move, on the morning of 12 December 1653, he led moderate members to Cromwell's office, where they resigned 'their powers unto his Excellency', effectively dissolving Parliament. He was MP for Cornwall in 1656, along with Pym's nephew, Anthony Nicholl, but rejected a seat in the newly created Upper House. His wife Philippa was terminally ill, and died in December 1657; Rous followed in January 1659. His will left £50 to his grandson, 'so long as he shall be in preparation towards a profession', and funded three scholarships for Etonians to attend Pembroke College. He was buried in Eton College Chapel. Bibliography; significant works 1616; Meditations of Instruction, of Exhortation, of Reprofe: indeavouring the Edification and Reparation of the House of God 1619; The Arte of Happines, consisting of three Parts, whereof the first searcheth out the Happinesse of Man, the second particularly discovers and approves it, the third sheweth the Meanes to attayne and increase it; 1622; Diseases of the Time attended by their Remedies; 1623; Oyl of Scorpions; 1626; Testis Veritatis; a reply to Richard Montagu's Appello Caesarem; 1641; Catholicke Charity; originally written in response to a 1630 work of the Catholic Tobie Matthew, but could not be printed in the Laudian 1630s. 1643; The Psalmes of David in English Meeter; used by the Church of Scotland until mid 19th century; 1649; The Lawfulness of Obeying the Present Government; References Sources External links 1580s births 1659 deaths Year of birth uncertain Speakers of the House of Commons of England People from South Hams (district) Members of the Parliament of England (pre-1707) for Devon Roundheads English subscribers to the Solemn League and Covenant 1643 Lay members of the Westminster Assembly Members of the pre-1707 English Parliament for constituencies in Cornwall Alumni of Broadgates Hall, Oxford Leiden University alumni Members of the Middle Temple Provosts of Eton College English MPs 1626 English MPs 1628–1629 English MPs 1640 (April) English MPs