give such an account of it to the Commons as might merit favour; and
that they now thought a stricter confinement necessary than to his
own house. "Here," says he, "Boscawen played the moralist, and
Coningsby the Christian, but both very awkwardly." The messenger,
in whose custody he was to be placed, was then called, and very
indecently asked by Coningsby "if his house was secured by bars and
bolts." The messenger answered, "No," with astonishment. At which
Coningsby very angrily said, "Sir, you must secure this prisoner; it
is for the safety of the nation: if he escape, you shall answer for
it."

They had already printed their report; and in this examination were
endeavouring to find proofs.

He continued thus confined for some time; and Mr. Walpole (June 10,
1715) moved for an impeachment against him. What made him so
acrimonious does not appear; he was by nature no thirster for blood.
Prior was a week after committed to close custody, with orders that
"no person should be admitted to see him without leave from the
Speaker." When, two years after, an Act of Grace was passed, he was
excepted, and continued still in custody, which he had made less
tedious by writing his "Alma." He was, however, soon after
discharged. He had now his liberty, but he had nothing else.
Whatever the profit of his employments might have been, he had
always spent it; and at the age of fifty-three was, with all his
abilities, in danger of penury, having yet no solid revenue but from
the fellowship of his college, which, when in his exaltation he was
censured for retaining it, he said he could live upon at last.
Being, however, generally known and esteemed, he was encouraged to
add other poems to those which he had printed, and to publish them