nrestricted;
the crown has no power to limit their debates or to controul the votes of
the members. They determine everything for themselves, as the interests of
the commonwealth require."[217] But so long as confidence existed between
the crown and the people, these rights were in great measure surrendered.
The ministers prepared the business which was to be transacted; and the
temper of the Houses was usually so well understood, that, except when
there was a demand for money, it was rare that a measure was proposed the
acceptance of which was doubtful, or the nature of which would provoke
debate. So little jealousy, indeed, was in quiet times entertained of the
power of the crown, and so little was a residence in London to the taste of
the burgesses and the country gentlemen, that not only were their expenses
defrayed by a considerable salary, but it was found necessary to forbid
them absenting themselves from their duties by a positive enactment.[218]

In the composition of the House of Commons, however, which had now
assembled, no symptoms appeared of such indifference. The election had
taken place in the midst of great and general excitement; and the members
chosen, if we may judge from their acts and their petitions, were men of
that broad resolved temper, who only in times of popular effervescence are
called forward into prominence. It would have probably been unsafe for the
crown to attempt dictation or repression at such a time, if it had desired
to do so. Under the actual circumstances, its interest was to encourage the
fullest expression of public feeling.

The proceedings were commenced with a formal "act of accusation" against
the clergy, which was submitted to the king in the name of the Commons of
England, and contained a summary of the wrongs of which the people
complained. This remarkable document must have been drawn up before the
opening of parliament, and must have been presented in the first week of
the session,--probably on the first day on which the House met to transact
business.[219] There is appearance of haste in the composition, little
order being observed in the catalogue of grievances; but inasmuch as it
contains the germ of all the acts which were framed in the following years
for the reform of the church, and is in fact the most complete exhibition
which we possess of the working of the church system at the time when it
ceased to be any more tolerable, I have thought it well to insert it