On June 23, Mr. Bradlaugh again presented himself at the table of the House. The Speaker called on him to withdraw, in accordance with the vote of the night before. Mr. Labouchere then moved that "Mr. Bradlaugh be now heard at the Bar of the House," following which motion Mr. Bradlaugh made an eloquent and dignified defence of his position. A confused debate followed, and Mr. Labouchere moved that "Yesterday's decision be rescinded," withdrawing his motion, however, on an appeal from Mr. Gladstone. The Speaker then recalled Bradlaugh to the table, {152} and informed him that the House had nothing to say to him beyond once more calling upon him to withdraw. Bradlaugh replied: "I beg respectfully to insist on my right as a duly elected member for Northampton. I ask you to have the oath administered to me in order that I may take my seat, and I respectfully refuse to withdraw." After a second admonition from the Speaker, to which Bradlaugh replied, "With respect I do refuse to obey the orders of the House, which are against the law," the House was appealed to "to give authority to the Chair to compel execution of its orders." Mr. Gladstone, although called upon, did not rise. He appeared to be absorbed in deep thought, and, with his gaze fixed on a vague distance, just above the heads of the belligerent theologians, he meditatively twirled his thumbs. Northcote hesitatingly moved, "though I am not quite sure what the terms of the motion should be, that Mr. Speaker do take the necessary steps for requiring and enforcing the withdrawal of the honourable member for Northampton." The Speaker explained that the motion should simply be "that the honourable member do now withdraw." On a division being taken, 326 voted in favour of the motion and only 38 against. On the Speaker renewing his order, Mr. Bradlaugh answered: "With submission to you, Sir, the order of the House is against the law, and I respectfully refuse to obey it." The Sergeant-at-Arms was now called, and touching him on the shoulder, requested him to withdraw. Mr. Bradlaugh said: "I will submit to the Sergeant-at-Arms removing me below the Bar, but I shall immediately return to the table," and did so, saying as he returned toward the table, "I claim my right as a member of this House." This little ceremony was repeated twice, the House being in an uproar. High above the din, Mr. Bradlaugh's voice could be heard shouting: "I claim my right as a member of this House. I admit the right of the House to imprison me, but I admit no right on the part of the House to exclude me, and I refuse to be excluded." He was again led to {153} the Bar by the Sergeant-at-Arms to await the House's action.