that what was equivalent to twelve pounds in his days is equivalent to twenty at preſent. The other leſs important qualifications of the electors for counties in England and Wales may be collected from the ſtatutes cited in the margin[1]; which direct, 2. That no perſon under twenty one years of age ſhall be capable of voting for any member. This extends to all ſorts of members, as well for boroughs as counties; as does alſo the next, viz. 3. That no perſon convicted of perjury, or ſubornation of perjury, ſhall be capable of voting in any election. 4. That no perſon ſhall vote in right of any freehold, granted to him fraudulently to qualify him to vote. Fraudulent grants are ſuch as contain an agreement to reconvey, or to defeat the eſtate granted; which agreements are made void, and the eſtate is abſolutely veſted in the perſon to whom it is ſo granted. And, to guard the better againſt ſuch frauds, it is farther provided, 5. That every voter ſhall have been in the actual poſſeſſion, or receipt of the profits, of his freehold to his own uſe for twelve calendar months before; except it came to him by deſcent, marriage, marriage ſettlement, will, or promotion to a benefice or office. 6. That no perſon ſhall vote in reſpect of an annuity or rentcharge, unleſs regiſtered with the clerk of the peace twelve calendar months before. 7. That in mortgaged or truſt-eſtates, the perſon in poſſeſſion, under the above-mentioned reſtrictions, ſhall have the vote. 8. That only one perſon ſhall be admitted to vote for any one houſe or tenement, to prevent the ſplitting of freeholds. 9. That no eſtate ſhall qualify a voter, unleſs the eſtate has been aſſeſſed to ſome land tax aid, at leaſt twelve months before the election. 10. That no tenant by copy of court roll ſhall be permitted to vote as a freeholder. Thus much for the electors in counties.
As for the electors of citizens and burgeſſes, theſe are ſuppoſed to be the mercantile part or trading intereſt of this kingdom. But as trade is of a fluctuating nature, and ſeldom long fixed in a place, it was formerly left to the crown to ſummon, pro re nata,
- ↑ 7 & 8 W. III. c. 25. 10 Ann. c. 23. 2 Geo. II. c. 21. 18 Geo. II. c. 18. 31 Geo. II. c. 14. 3 Geo. III. c. 24.
