1904.] on Wcstmimfer Abbey in the Seventeenth Century. 529 



and most comfortably, every morning to be seen at the Sermons. O our God! 

 what a rich and rare alterati(»n ! what a strange change is this indeed ! * 



We are now at the close of our period, when, by order of the 

 Long Parliament — ' the pretended Parliament,' as the Royalists 

 called it — a serious outrage against both Church and State was per- 

 petrated in the Abbey cloisters. The following documents tell the 

 story : — 



I. Journal of the House of Commons. 



June 2, 1643. Resolved, That the Dean, .^ubde:in and Prebends, be enjoined 

 and required to deliver to Sir Hen. Mildmay, and :Mr. Marten, the Keys of the 

 Treasury where the Regalia are kept ; tliat they may search that Place, and 

 report to the House what they find there. 



The Question being put, whether, upon the Refusal to deliver the Keys, the 

 Door of tliat Place where the Regalia are kept shall be opened; 

 The House was divided : 

 The Yeas went forth. 



Sir H. Ludlow / Tellers for the Yea : \ 07 



Mr. Strode \ With the Yea, / 



Mr. Pierrepont / Tellers for the_Noe: \ ^g 



Mr. Selden \ With the Noe 



June 3, 1643. The Question being put, whether the Locks of the Doors 

 where the Regalia are kept, in Westminster Abbey, shall be opened, notwith- 

 standing any former Order made, and Search made there ; and an Inventory 

 taken, of what things are there, and presented to the House ; and new Locks 

 set upon the Door; and nothing removed till the House take further Order. 

 The House was divided. 

 The Yeas went forth. 



Sir Peter AVentworth / Tellers for the Yea : \ . ^ 



Sir Christ Yelverton \ With the Yea, / 



Mr. Holies f Tellers for the Noe : ( ^^ 



Sir Jo. Holland \ With the Noe 



Resolved, etc., That the Locks of the Doors where the Regalia are kept, in 

 Westminster Abbey, shall be opened, notwithstanding any former Order made, 

 and Search made there ; and an Inventory taken of what Things are . . . ; and 

 presented to the House ; and new Locks set upon the Doors, and nothing removed 

 till the House take further Order; and that Sir Rob. Pye be there present, with 

 that Inventory of the Regalia, that is kept in the Chamberlain's OflSce of the 

 Exchequer, whether all Things be there, mentioned in that Inventory. 



Sir Jo. Holland, Mr. Gurdon, Sir H. Mildmay, :\rr. Marten are to take the 

 Inventory, and to execute this Order accordingly. 



From these records it appears that the keys were demanded from 

 the Dean and Chapter by the resolution of June 2, but the proposi- 

 tion that in case of refusal the locks should be forced was lost by 58 

 votes to 37. When the first resolution proved nugatory, it was on 

 the next day agreed by a majority of one to break open the doors. 



II. Heylin's ' Aerius Redivivus ' (ed. 1670, p. 461 ; ed. 1672, p. 452). 



And for a further evidence of their good intentions, a view is to be taken of 

 the old Regalia, and none so fit as Martin to perform that Service. Who having 



* ' God's Ark over-topping the World's Waves' (John Vicars, 1646, p. 184). 



