<P_24,P>

<heading:edcomment:XXII_FRANCIS_LORD_AUNGIER_TO_THE_EARL_OF_ESSEX>

Lond (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.3)

June 5 1675 (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.4)

My Lord , The scene being much altered in ye difference between both
Houses since my last , I presume to give yr Ex=cy= this short narrative
of it . (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.5)

On Tuesday last the House of Commons ordered their Sergeant to take
into Custodye Sir Jo: Churchill , Mr Serg=t= Pemberton , Mr Serg=t=
Pecke and Mr Charles Porter , as persons who had infringed the
Previledges of ye House by appearing at the Lords' Barre in a case
wherein Mr. Dalmahoy <paren> a member of ye House </paren> was
concerned . (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.6)

And to the intent that they might be ye easier had , Mr Speaker invited
them to dinner (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.7)

and after they had made good cheere gave them very good advice to
obviate and prevent any further disputes between both Houses , wch they
then seemed to complye withe , (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.8)

But our Serg=t= letting them have their liberty upon parroll they were
the next day sent for by ye Lords and att their barre interrogated in
all particulars concerning their committment , (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.9)

and had thereafter given them the protection of ye House .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.10)

The same day ye Lords sent a message to us bye my Lord Chief Justice of
the Common Pleas and my Lo: Chiefe Baron for a present Conference upon
matters of high importance wherein his Ma=ties= honour and ye safety of
ye Kingdom was concerned , (AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.11)

and the Houses agreeing to ye present Conference the inclosed paper was
read with a very audible voice by my Lord Privy Seale .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,24,P.12)

On Thursday the House sent their Sergeant to ye tower for neglect
<P_25,P> of his duty in suffering his prisoners to escape
(AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.13)

and ordered Mr Secretary in their name to beseech his Ma=tie= that wee
might have another Sergeant appointed to attend them ,
(AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.14)

and accordingly my Lord Chamberlaine appoynted one Topham a very stout
fellow to attend ye House . (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.15)

Yesterday morning as Mr Speaker was coming through Westminster Hall to
ye House he mett Mr Serg=t= Pemberton whom he commanded his officers
then attending to apprehend and secure in ye Speaker's Chamber , of wch
he gave ye House an acc=t= as soone as they sate ,
(AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.16)

and receaved the thanks of ye House for his zeale and care in thus
asserting their previledges , (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.17)

and the House being then alsoe informed that Sir John Churchill Mr
Serg=t= Peeke and Mr. Charley Porter were belowe in ye Hall , they
commanded instantly their Serg=t= to carry his men with him downe into
ye Hall and to apprehend ye sayd persons though they were pleading at
ye Barres of any of ye Courtes , and to goe well attended that he might
not receave an affront from ye Black-Rodde whom they understood was in
ye Court of Requests armed with an order from ye House of Lords to
rescue the Prisoners . (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.18)

This order of the House of Commons was very briskly executed the said
persons being taken from ye severall Barrs of ye Chancery , King's
bench and Common Pleas , and brought safe into ye Speakers Chamber
without opposition . (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.19)

But ye House of Lords being informed of these proceedings they
immediately order their Black Rodde to fetch out ye sayd prisoners
wherever they should find them committed ; (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.20)

they likewise order their black Rod to apprehend ye Sergeant of ye
House of Commons , (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.21)

and addresse to his Ma=tie= by word of ye white-staves that another
Sergeant might be appoynted to attend ye House of Com=ns= .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.22)

The House of Com=ns= after a long debate vote the said persons to be
sent to ye Tower (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.23)

and Sir John Robinson Ser=t= of ye Tower being then in ye House had
directions not to sett them at liberty without an order from ye House .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.24)

By this time it was twoe of ye clock (AUNGIER-E3-H,25,P.25)

and ye House of Lords <P_26,P> had adjourned for an hour or two whose
example in yt particular ye House of Commons thought fitt to follow ,
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.26)

And while ye Speaker was at dinner the Sergeant hired three coaches at
Westminster Hall Gate pretending to carrye his prisoners through ye
Citty to ye tower , being then informed that ye black rod lay in waite
for him in a house neare ye Pallace Yard gate , (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.27)

But he went discreetlyer to worke , (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.28)

for he carryed his prisoners through Sir John Cotton's house
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.29)

and tooke bote at his garden stairs (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.30)

and by water delivered them safe into Sir John Robinson's hands , to
whom in three minutes the black-rod came to demand the Prisoners ,
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.31)

but the Lieut. positively refused to deliver them .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.32)

As soone as the House mett they agreed upon the enclosed Reasons in
answere to ye Paper delivered ye day before by ye Lords at a Conference
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.33)

and sent up a message for a Conference on ye subject matter of ye late
Conference , to wch ye Lords replyed that they would send up an answere
by messengers of their owne . (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.34)

But their black rodd being returned from ye tower and giving them an
acct that ye Lieu=t= of ye tower refused to deliver ye Prisoners , they
voted a second addresse to his Ma=tie= by ye white-staves that ye
Lieu=tnt= of ye tower should be removed and a new one appoynted in his
stead ; to wch his Ma=tie= then answered that he would consider of it
and give them an answere this day by 5 in ye afternoone .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.35)

When the House of Commons met this morning , they found their Sergent
was changed , (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.36)

and while they were debating on it with some warmth Mr Secretary
Coventry came in (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.37)

and from his Ma=tie= told us that it was his Ma=ties= pleasure wee
should immediately adjourne till 4 of ye clock in ye afternoon , when
it was his pleasure we should attend him in ye bankquetting House , and
that his Ma=tie= had sent the same message to ye Lords .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.38)

Accordingly we mett when his Mat=ie= made us ye enclosed gracious
speech after wch the Speaker returning to ye House we voted ye enclosed
votes and adjourned ye debate of our Sergeant till Munday morning .
(AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.39)

The Lords after mett (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.40)

and the white-staves reporting to their lordships that his Mat=ie= had
considered of their addresse concerning ye removal of ye Lieu=t= of ye
tower , but sawe no reason for it . Upon wch their Lord=sps= adjourned
till Munday . (AUNGIER-E3-H,26,P.41)

My paper only-2 now <P_27,P> allowes mee roome to beg your Exc=eyes=
pardon for this tedious narrative wch is ye true state of matters of
fact betweene both Houses . (AUNGIER-E3-H,27,P.42)

I am my Lord Yr Excy=s= most humble servant Fran Aungier
(AUNGIER-E3-H,27,P.43)

