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XXII. FRANCIS LORD AUNGIER TO THE EARL OF ESSEX.

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7    The scene being much altered in ye difference between both
8Houses since my last, I presume to give yr Ex^cy this short narrative
9of it. On Tuesday last the House of Commons ordered their
10Sergeant to take into Custodye Sir Jo: Churchill, Mr Serg^t Pemberton,
11Mr Serg^t Pecke and Mr Charles Porter, as persons who had
12infringed the Previledges of ye House by appearing at the Lords'
13Barre in a case wherein Mr. Dalmahoy (a member of ye House)
14was concerned. And to the intent that they might be ye easier had,
15Mr Speaker invited them to dinner and after they had made good
16cheere gave them very good advice to obviate and prevent any
17further disputes between both Houses, wch they then seemed to
18complye withe, But our Serg^t letting them have their liberty upon
19parroll they were the next day sent for by ye Lords and att their
20barre interrogated in all particulars concerning their committment,
21and had thereafter given them the protection of ye House. The
22same day ye Lords sent a message to us bye my Lord
23Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and my Lo: Chiefe Baron
24for a present Conference upon matters of high importance wherein
25his Ma^ties honour and ye safety of ye Kingdom was concerned, and
26the Houses agreeing to ye present Conference the inclosed paper
27was read with a very audible voice by my Lord Privy Seale. On
28Thursday the House sent their Sergeant to ye tower for neglect

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29of his duty in suffering his prisoners to escape and ordered Mr
30Secretary in their name to beseech his Ma^tie that wee might have
31another Sergeant appointed to attend them, and accordingly my
32Lord Chamberlaine appoynted one Topham a very stout fellow
33to attend ye House.
34    Yesterday morning as Mr Speaker was coming through Westminster
35Hall to ye House he mett Mr Serg^t Pemberton whom he
36commanded his officers then attending to apprehend and secure
37in ye Speaker's Chamber, of wch he gave ye House an acc^t as soone
38as they sate, and receaved the thanks of ye House for his zeale
39and care in thus asserting their previledges, and the House being
40then alsoe informed that Sir John Churchill Mr Serg^t Peeke and
41Mr. Charley Porter were belowe in ye Hall, they commanded instantly
42their Serg^t to carry his men with him downe into ye Hall and to
43apprehend ye sayd persons though they were pleading at ye Barres
44of any of ye Courtes, and to goe well attended that he might not
45receave an affront from ye Black-Rodde whom sic they understood
46was in ye Court of Requests armed with an order from ye House
47of Lords to rescue the Prisoners. This order of the House of
48Commons was very briskly executed the said persons being taken
49from ye severall Barrs of ye Chancery, King's bench and Common
50Pleas, and brought safe into ye Speakers Chamber without opposition.
51But ye House of Lords being informed of these proceedings
52they immediately order their Black Rodde to fetch out ye sayd
53prisoners wherever they should find them committed; they likewise
54order their black Rod to apprehend ye Sergeant of ye House
55of Commons, and addresse to his Ma^tie by word of ye white-staves
56that another Sergeant might be appoynted to attend ye House of Com^ns.
57    The House of Com^ns after a long debate vote the said persons
58to be sent to ye Tower and Sir John Robinson Ser^t of ye Tower
59being then in ye House had directions not to sett them at liberty
60without an order from ye House.
61    By this time it was twoe of ye clock and ye House of Lords

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62had adjourned for an hour or two whose example in yt particular
63ye House of Commons thought fitt to follow, And while ye Speaker
64was at dinner the Sergeant hired three coaches at Westminster
65Hall Gate pretending to carrye his prisoners through ye Citty to
66ye tower, being then informed that ye black rod lay in waite for
67him in a house neare ye Pallace Yard gate, But he went discreetlyer
68to worke, for he carryed his prisoners through Sir John Cotton's
69house and tooke bote at his garden stairs and by water delivered
70them safe into Sir John Robinson's hands, to whom in three minutes
71the black-rod came to demand the Prisoners, but the Lieut. positively
72refused to deliver them. As soone as the House mett they
73agreed upon the enclosed Reasons in answere to ye Paper delivered
74ye day before by ye Lords at a Conference and sent up a message
75for a Conference on ye subject matter of ye late Conference, to
76wch ye Lords replyed that they would send up an answere by
77messengers of their owne. But their black rodd being returned
78from ye tower and giving them an acct that ye Lieu^t of ye tower
79refused to deliver ye Prisoners, they voted a second addresse to
80his Ma^tie by ye white-staves that ye Lieu^tnt of ye tower should be
81removed and a new one appoynted in his stead; to wch his Ma^tie
82then answered that he would consider of it and give them an answere
83this day by 5 in ye afternoone. When the House of Commons met
84this morning, they found their Sergent was changed, and while
85they were debating on it with some warmth Mr Secretary Coventry
86came in and from his Ma^tie told us that it was his Ma^ties pleasure
87wee should immediately adjourne till 4 of ye clock in ye afternoon,
88when it was his pleasure we should attend him in ye bankquetting
89House, and that his Ma^tie had sent the same message to ye Lords.
90    Accordingly we mett when his Mat^ie made us ye enclosed gracious
91speech after wch the Speaker returning to ye House we voted ye
92enclosed votes and adjourned ye debate of our Sergeant till Munday
93morning.
94    The Lords after mett and the white-staves reporting to their
95lordships that his Mat^ie had considered of their addresse concerning
96ye removal of ye Lieu^t of ye tower, bur sawe no reason for it.
97Upon wch their Lord^sps adjourned till Munday. My paper only now

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98allowes mee roome to beg your Exc^eyes pardon for this tedious narrative
99wch is ye true state of matters of fact betweene both Houses.
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