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 a member of ye House 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 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 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 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)