ſolution of the government, “if he employs the force, treaſure, and offices of the ſociety to corrupt the repreſentatives, or openly to preingage the electors, and preſcribe what manner of perſons ſhall be choſen. For thus to regulate candidates and electors, and new model the ways of election, what is it, ſays he, but to cut up the government by the roots, and poiſon the very fountain of public ſecurity?” As ſoon therefore as the time and place of election, either in counties or boroughs, are fixed, all ſoldiers quartered in the place are to remove, at leaſt one day before the election, to the diſtance of two miles or more; and not return till one day after the poll is ended. Riots likewiſe have been frequently determined to make an election void. By vote alſo of the houſe of commons, to whom alone belongs the power of determining conteſted elections, no lord of parliament, or lord lieutenant of a county, hath any right to interfere in the election of commoners; and, by ſtatute, the lord warden of the cinque ports ſhall not recommend any members there. If any officer of the exciſe, cuſtoms, ſtamps, or certain other branches of the revenue, preſumes to intermeddle in elections, by perſuading any voter or diſſuading him, he forfeits 100l, and is diſabled to hold any office.
Thus are the electors of one branch of the legiſlature ſecured from any undue influence from either of the other two, and from all external violence and compulſion. But the greateſt danger is that in which themſelves co-operate, by the infamous practice of bribery and corruption. To prevent which it is enacted that no candidate ſhall, after the date (uſually called the teſte) of the writs, or after the vacancy, give any money or entertainment to his electors, or promiſe to give any, either to particular perſons, or to the place in general, in order to his being elected; on pain of being incapable to ſerve for that place in parliament. And if any money, gift, office, employment, or reward be given or promiſed to be given to any voter, at any time, in order to influence him to give or withhold his vote, as well he that takes as he that offers ſuch bribe forfeits 500l, and is for ever diſabled
