nment of the state? At the end of these questions, says Sir Simon
D'Ewes, I found set down this short memorial ensuing; by which it may be
perceived both what Serjeant Puckering, the speaker, did with the said
questions after he had received them, and what became also of this
business, viz.: "These questions Mr. Puckering pocketed up, and showed
Sir Thomas Henage, who so handled the matter, that Mr. Wentworth went
to the Tower, and the questions not at all moved. Mr. Buckler of Essex
herein brake his faith in forsaking the matter, etc., and no more was
done." After setting down, continues Sir Simon D'Ewes, the said business
of Mr. Wentworth in the original journal book, there follows only this
short conclusion of the day itself, viz.: "This day, Mr. Speaker being
sent for to the queen's majesty, the house departed." On Thursday, the
2d of March, Mr. Cope, Mr. Lewkenor, Mr. Hurleston, and Mr. Bainbrigg
were sent for to my lord chancellor and by divers of the privy council,
and from thence were sent to the Tower. On Saturday the 4th day of
March, Sir John Higham made a motion to this house, for that divers good
and necessary members thereof were taken from them, that it would please
them to be humble petitioners to her majesty for the restitution of them
again to this house. To which speeches Mr. Vice-chamberlain answered,
that if the gentlemen were committed for matter within the compass of
the privilege of the house, then there might be a petition; but if not,
then we should give occasion to her majesty's further displeasure; and
therefore advised to stay until they heard more, which could not be
long. And further, he said, touching the book and the petition, her
majesty had, for divers good causes best known to herself, thought fit
to suppress the same, without any further examination thereof; and yet
thought it very unfit for her majesty to give any account of her doings.
But whatsoever Mr. Vice-chamberlain pretended, it is most probable
these members were committed for intermeddling with matters touching the
church, which her majesty had often inhibited, and which had caused so
much disputation and so many meetings between the two houses the last
parliament.

This is all we find of the matter in Sir Simon D'Ewes and Townshend; and
it appears that those members who had been committed, were detained in
custody till the queen thought proper to release them. These questions
of Mr. Wentworth are curious; because they conta