that minister, and consequently the prince, an unlimited
power of modelling at pleasure the representatives of the nation; yet so
little jealousy had it created, that the commons of themselves, without
any court influence or intrigue, and contrary to some former votes of
their own, confirmed it in the twenty-third of Elizabeth.[***]

* King James's Works, p. 484, 485, etc. Journ. 22d March,
1603. Kennet, p. 668.

** King James's Works, p. 495, 496.

*** Journ. January 19th, 1580.

At that time, though some members, whose places had been supplied on
account of sickness, having now recovered their health, appeared in the
house and claimed their seat, such was the authority of the chancellor,
that, merely out of respect to him, his sentence was adhered to, and
the new members were continued in their places. Here a most dangerous
prerogative was conferred on the crown: but to show the genius of that
age, or rather the channels in which power then ran, the crown put very
little value on this authority; insomuch that two days afterwards the
chancellor of himself resigned it back to the commons, and gave them
power to judge of a particular vacancy in their house. And when the
question concerning the chancellor's new writs was again brought on
the carpet towards the end of the session, the commons were so little
alarmed at the precedent, that though they readmitted some old members,
whose seats had been vacated on account of slight indispositions,
yet they confirmed the chancellor's sentence, in instances where the
distemper appeared to have been dangerous and incurable.[*]

* Journ. March 18th, 1580. See further, D'Ewes, p 430.

Nor did they proceed any further in vindication of their privileges than
to vote, "That during the sitting of parliament, there do not, at any
time, any writ go out for choosing or returning any member without the
warrant of the house." In Elizabeth's reign, we may remark, and the
reigns preceding, sessions of parliament were not usually the twelfth
part so long as the vacations; and during the latter, the chancellor's
power, if he pleased to exert it, was confirmed, at least left, by this
vote, as unlimited and unrestrained as ever.

In a subsequent parliament, the absolute authority of the queen was
exerted in a manner still more open; and began for the first time
to give alarm to the commons. New writs having been issued by the
chancellor when there was no vacancy, a