174 



A Contribution to the History of 



muster and arm, but waited to see whether the tongue and pen 

 could not prevent the drawing- of the sword. The members of the 

 House of Commons (Long Parliament, elected October, 1640), at 

 least those who remained at Westminster, went about their daily 

 work. Sir William Waller was not amongst them. 



A vacancy for Andover was reported, as Sir Henry Ransford had 

 died. Writ issued and returned ; and on " Die veneris, ult April 

 1641 5 " we find the following on the Commons journals : — 



" Andover Election. Ordered that the petition of Sir William Waller preferred 

 to this house concerning the election of a Burgess for the Town of Andover be 

 referred to ye -consideration of the Committee for Sir Lewis Dives." 



This was the day after the House of Lords had consented to 

 Strafford's execution. 



A momentous year passed and then another entry on the journals : — 



" Andover Election. Die Martis 30 Maii 1642. Sir H. Herbert reports the 

 state of the election for Andover. ' There are in the town 24 Burgesses that 

 have right of election. That only 18 appeared, and that 9 were for Mr. Vernon 

 and 9 for Sir William Waller. That the Bailiff who challenged a casting voice 

 gave his voice to Mr. Vernon and returned him. That there was one Mr. Bourne 

 who was elected (Burgess), but not sworn, that was there at the door, but could 

 not be admitted during the time of election. The election being done, he came 

 to the Bailiff and said that he was there to give his vote to Sir John Waller. 

 The Bailiff answered him that he had no voice there, being only elected a Burgess 

 and not sworn. There were two other Burgesses Wm. Barwick and another, 

 that were at the Town Hall before the election began, but they were all generally 

 put out, as not being sworn. But they came not to give their voice during the 

 time of election, as the other did, but after the election ended then they said 

 that they were come to give their voices to Mr. Vernon.' 



" Resolved upon the question ' That Mr. Vernon's election to serve as a Bur- 

 gess in this Parliament for the Town of Andover is void.' 



" The question being proposed ' Whether Sir William Waller's election be good 

 The House divided 

 The Yeas went forth 

 Sir Philip Stapleton 



(Borough Bridge) ( Tellers for 1 n » 

 Mr. John Moore f the Yea iU/ 



(Liverpool) J 



Mr. E. Kirton ^ 



(Milborne Port) ( Tellers for ln9 



Sir Edward Alford C the No ±u * 

 (Arundel) J 



Majority 5 



