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‘surging at its entrance and around the old Guildhall, and Prynne 
states that so deep were the potations on that historic occasion at the 
‘Tavern, that many of the Freemen were scarcely able to return to 
their homes, and that some of them died (?) from excessive 
indulgence then. 
Strangely enough despite the antagonism then existing between 
Chapman and the majority in the Chamber, the Ch. Ac. for 1661 
notes :— 
“Ttm paid Captn Henry Chapman for 
wine Beare att the Coronation & 
Birthday & for the use of some 
Roomes for the Grand Jury att the 
Two last Assizes per bill 07 — 11 — 00” 
The Coronation was celebrated in Bath on the 23rd of April, 
1661, and the Grand Jury were undoubtedly accommodated at 
“the Sunne,” only a very narrow way lying between the Tavern 
cand the Guildhall. 
Roused by Chapman’s action in opposing his return, Prynne 
with his partisans made a deliberate attempt to ruin his prospects 
of becoming Mayor in 1661. They resolved to institute proceed- 
ings against him for “grosse Misdemeanors” at the Quarter 
Sessions in September before the new Recorder (Prynne). 
Chapman becoming aware of their laudable (?) intention took 
decided and energetic steps to frustrate it. He obtained from Sir 
Thomas Bridges and another Deputy-Lieutenant an order of 
commitment ; based upon this a warrant of arrest was sent to Sir 
William Bassett of Claverton, Captain of a troop of horse, and as 
.a friend of Chapman possibly aware of what was going forward 
and quite willing as an old Cavalier to aid in spoiling the plans of 
the Puritans. 
Early morning on Thursday, September roth, saw Prynne in 
full dignity as Recorder walking to open the Sessions, attended 
by Mayor Ford, John Bigges, the late Mayor (then suffering from 
gout which must have made his subsequent misadventure a 
