evidence of his affection for him. This grant of the King's happened
in the year 1535; and yet in seven years afterwards, either thro' want
of economy, or by a boundless confidence in his friends, he reduced
his affairs to a very indifferent situation, which, perhaps, might
be the reason, why he procured himself to be chosen Member for the
Borough of Plymouth in the county of Devon,[3] in the Parliament
summoned the thirty-third year of that King's reign. During the
Sessions he had the misfortune to be arrested by an officer belonging
to the Sheriffs of London, and carried to the counter, then in
Bread-street. No sooner had the House of Commons got notice of this
insult offered to one of their Members, than they immediately enacted
a settled rule, which from that accident took place, with respect to
privilege, and ever since that time the Members of the House have
been exempt from arrests for debt. His Majesty likewise resented
the affront offered to his servant, and with the concurrence of the
Parliament proceeded very severely against the Sheriffs.

Hollinshed in his chronicle, vol 2, p. 955, gives a very full account
of it. Sir Thomas Moils, knight, then Speaker of the House, gave a
special order to the Serjeant of the Parliament to repair to
the Compter, and there demand the delivery of the prisoner. But
notwithstanding this high authority, the officers in the city refused
to obey the command, and after many altercations, they absolutely
resisted the Serjeant, upon which a fray ensued within the
Compter-gates, between Ferrars and the officers, not without mutual
hurt, so that the Serjeant was driven to defend himself with his mace
of arms, and had the crown of it broken with warding off a stroke; the
Sheriffs of London so far from appeasing, fomented the quarrel, and
with insolent language refused to deliver their prisoner: Upon which
the Serjeant, thus abused, returned to the House and related what had