473 
The return of two Puritan members in 1660 by the Council 
stirred the Royalists of the City to action, and the M. B. under 
date June 29th, 1660, records that it was “ Agreede by Generall 
Consent that the writ of restitution brought by Mr Henry 
Chapman Mr Samuel Wintle ande Mr Robert Shepparde for 
restoringe them to their severall places of Comon Counsell men 
of this Cittie be and is allowed And the saide Mr Henry 
Chapman Mr Samuel Wintle and Mr Robert Sheppard be restored 
to their places accordinglie.” (Of the others in 1647 displaced 
with Chapman, Robert Fisher probably from age did not seek 
re-admission and Philip Sherwood was dead.) Three of the then 
members, George Reeve, — Skrine and Moore senior, were forth- 
with by vote dismissed from the Council to make way for 
Chapman, Wintle and Sheppard. 
On the 17th of August in the same year Chapman was elected 
an Alderman. Re-entry to the Council gave Chapman facility 
for pressing forward his own aims and that of his friends. He 
desired to be Mayor and Sir Thomas bridges and Sir Thomas 
Berkeley wished to be returned as members for the City. 
The M. B. records September 26th, 1660, it was “ Agreed 
Alderman John fford be Mayor of this Citty for y® next yere.” 
Ford then received 22 votes, for Chapman who was a candidate 
for the position only 8 votes are recorded. On the 25th of the 
following October Chapman was again defeated, for in opposition 
to him it was “‘ Agreede that Mr. John Masters keep the Ordinary 
for the Lecturer for y® next year.” The votes cast for Ford and 
Masters evidently represent the Puritan majority on the Council, 
whose action in rejecting Chapman was perhaps inspired by 
Prynne. Early in 1661 writs were issued for a new Parliament, and 
Alderman Henry Chapman became aware that the majority of his 
then colleagues, controlled by Mayor Ford, had determined to 
re-elect Prynne and Popham. Evidently Ford was the chief 
obstacle to the realisation of the plans of Chapman and Bridges, 
and a scheme was put in action by them through which Mayor 
