deracy; and having laid a
regular plan for the new elections, had distributed their interest all
over England, and had undertaken to secure a majority for the court. So
ignorant were the commons, that they knew not this incident to be the
first infallible symptom of any regular or established liberty. Had they
been contented to follow the maxims of their predecessors, who, as the
earl of Salisbury said to the last parliament, never, but thrice in
six hundred years, refused a supply,[v*] they needed not dread that the
crown should ever interest itself in their elections. Formerly the kings
even insisted, that none of their household should be elected members;
and though the charter was afterwards declared void, Henry VI., from his
great favor to the city of York, conferred a peculiar privilege on its
citizens, that they should be exempted from this trouble.[v**]

* 14th of May, 1612.

** Franklyn, p. 11, 33.

*** Franklyn, p. 10.

**** Franklyn, p. 49.

v Parliament. Hist. vol. v. p. 286. Kennet, p. 696. Journ.
12th April; 2d May, 1614, etc. Franklyn, p. 48.

v* Journ. 17th Feb. 1609. It appears, however, that
Salisbury was somewhat mistaken in this fact; and if the
kings were not oftener refused supply by the parliament, it
was only because they would not often expose themselves to
the hazard of being refused: but it in certain that English
parliaments did anciently carry their frugality to an
extreme, and seldom could be prevailed upon to give the
necessary support to government.

v** Coke's Institutes, part iv. chap. I, of Charters of
Exemption.

It is well known, that, in ancient times, a seat in the house being
considered as a burden, attended neither with honor nor profit, it
was requisite for the counties and boroughs to pay fees to their
representatives. About this time, a seat began to be regarded as an
honor, and the country gentlemen contended for it; though the practice
of levying wages for the parliament men was not altogether discontinued.
It was not till long after, when liberty was thoroughly established, and
popular assemblies entered into every branch of public business, that
the members began to join profit to honor, and the crown found it
necessary to distribute among them all the considerable offices of the
kingdom.

So little skill, or so small means, had the courtiers in James's reign
for managing electi