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martyrdom), the Justices and Bailiffs and other members of the 
Council, with the recently superseded ‘“ Minister of God's Word,” 
Mr. George Long, all bitter opponents of Chapman and many of 
them probably intending to appear as witnesses against him. 
Suddenly on this impressive procession fell complete dismay as 
through the North Gate rapidly towards the Guildhall came 
Bassett’s troop of horse, Chapman riding with them dismounted 
and under the warrant ordered the instant arrest of “Jo Parker 
(the nominee of Ford for the position of Mayor), John Bigges, 
Mathew Clift, John Boyse, Aldermen; and Anthony Colliby, 
Edward Parker, George Reeve and Henry Moore y*® younger 
Comon Counsell men” and also the late Minister. Recorder 
Prynne and Mayor Ford vigorously denounced the illegality of the 
arrest, but without effect, for the nine prisoners were promptly 
mounted on led horses and hurried away from the City before 
the consternation occasioned by the raid had subsided. Into the 
fortunes of the nine then seized and taken some two days’ journey 
to Ilchester space forbids my entering, sufficient to say that on 
arriving there the Sheriff refused to receive them as prisoners and 
that they returned to Bath on the evening of the 23rd.__ A state- 
ment reciting their abduction on the 19th, drawn up signed and 
sealed by them directly upon their return, mentions that “ On the 
Lords day following (22nd) Chapman and others of his confederates 
meeting in an ale-house (poor Sun) during the time of evening 
service and sermon, from which they absented themselves ” 
counted up the votes which probably would be given next day at 
the election of Mayor, and found that a majority for Chapman 
was not certain. The next morning, again under a warrant, 
Chapman arrested two more of the Council, “ Mr. John Reede 
and Mr. Willm Irelande,” and despatched them to Keynsham 
where they were confined in the stables of Sir T. Bridges, being 
released the following day on paying all the expenses of their escort 
and taking the “‘ Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance again.” 
On Monday, September 23rd, 1661, Mayor Ford presided 
