San Diego Sarah on 18 Feb 2020  •  Link

Henry Proger was involved in the assassination of Cromwell's Envoy to Spain, Anthony Ascham.

290 THE KING IN EXILE -- 1650
On the night of Asham’s arrival in Madrid, his Spanish escort left him at 'a common inn, without locks or bolts,' declaring their duty accomplished. Ascham, being aware of his danger, was perturbed, and next morning demanded a guard from the Spanish Court.

Philip IV was at Mass so the request was therefore delayed; but an answer was at last returned that the desired guard should be sent within an hour.

Reassured, Ascham sent out his secretary, George Fisher, to find lodgings, and Ascham sat down to dinner about noon with a renegade friar, who acted as his interpreter.

Presently there entered the inn six young English Cavaliers, five of whom were soldiers of the Spanish army. Two mounted guard at the inn door, two halted at the Envoy's door, and two entering bowed ceremoniously.

Ascham rose from his seat and was instantly cut down by the sword of Captain John Williams, the leader of the party. The friar, running away, was killed by mistake at the door, but the footman, who made no attempt to escape, was left unhurt.

The five soldiers then sought sanctuary in the neighboring church of St. Andra.

The sixth member of the party, Henry Progers, who belonged to the train of Charles II's envoys, was received and sheltered by the Venetian Embassy until he could escape to France.

Charles II's Envoys to Spain were out of town: Chancellor Hyde and Francis, 1st Baron Cottington were just entering their coach 'to take the air' when the news of what had occurred reached them.

Dismay seized them, not because they disapproved the deed in itself — that was, in their eyes, a mere act of justice — but because they feared the probable results of so flagrant a breach of
the peace in a foreign land.

https://books.google.com/books?pg…

San Diego Sarah on 18 Feb 2020  •  Link

One of Henry Proger's brothers, Edward, was an MP. I've lifted and edited the paragraph describing their childhood as it would apply to Henry as well:

The Proger brothers came of a family which was of some standing in Monmouthshire by the 15th century; his grandfather sat for the county in 1589. Many of the family were Roman Catholics. Edward Progers MP was baptized and buried in the Anglican communion.

Their father, Philip Progers, was a younger son, became a courtier, dying at Oxford during the Civil War.

Two of the brothers, both Roman Catholics, took part in the assassination of the Commonwealth ambassador in Madrid in 1650. [which must mean Henry was R.C.]
https://www.historyofparliamenton…

San Diego Sarah on 19 Feb 2020  •  Link

Upon the Restoration, Mr. Henry Proger was appointed one of His Majesty's equerries, and nominated one of the knights of the royal oak, which order was never instituted, it being feared that such a distinction might occasion animosities and open wounds, which were but newly healed.

Henry Proger was soon afterwards knighted, and by some letters to his brother, it appears he sometimes made Gwernvale [THE FAMILY HOME IN BRECON, WALES] his residence, although he still continued to hold his appointment at court.

When Sir Henry Proger died is not known, but his will is dated in 1686.

Sir Henry Proger's son, Charles, soon dissipated his fortune and sold Gwernvale to his uncle, Edward Proger MP, youngest brother of the late Sir Henry.

For more about this family, see
A History of the County of Brecknock ...
by Theophilus Jones
W. & G. North, for the author, 1809 - Brecon (Wales)
https://books.google.com/books?id…