i«6 HISTORY Ob GREAT BRITAIN.

c h'a f. their privileges; and nothing could be more re-i.xv. quisite than this precaution , in order to prevent16 ?3- the clandestine issuing of writs, and to ensure afair and free election. No one but so desperate aminister as Shaftesbury, who had entered into a.regular plan for reducing the people to subjection,could have entertained thoughts of breaking inupon a practice so reasonable and so well established,or could have hoped to succeed in so bold anenterprise. Several members had taken their featsupon irregular writs issued by the chancellor; butthe house was no sooner assembled , and thespeaker placed in the chair, than a motion wasmade against them ; and the members themselveshad the modesty to withdraw. Their election wasdeclared null; and new writs, in the usual form ,were issued by the speaker.

The next step taken by the commons had theappearance of some more complaisance; but inreality proceeded from the same spirit of libertyand independence. They entered a resolution ,that, in order to supply his majesty’s extraordinaryoccasions, for that was the expression employed,they would grant eighteen months assessment, atthe rate of 70,000 pounds a month, amountingin the whole to 1,260,000 pounds. Though un-willing to come to a violent breach with the king,they would not express the least approbation ofthe war; and they gave him the prospect of thissupply, only that they might have permission toproceed peaceably in the redress of the othergrievances, of which they had such meason tocomplain.