both his nominees. The stranger, however, assured
them that he would send them presents all round,
and on a certain day the carrier arrived with a
large chest addressed to the free and independent
electors of Mitchell. On opening it, the chest was
found to be full of stones, and to have thirteen
halters on the top properly addressed to the several
electors, among whom, by the way, were three
parsons.
The unfortunate borough during the later years of its existence was a battleground of many combatants. It was never certain who had the right to vote. This question was left in ambiguity till 1700, and every successive election gave rise to a petition and Parliamentary inquiry.
In 1639, when Courtenay and Chadwell were elected, a petition was sent up to the House appealing against it, and the plea set up was that the members had got in by the aid of voters who were not qualified.
Between this date and 1705 the borough came before the Election Committee no less than fifteen times, and the right of voting was altered from time to time.
In 1660 the question arose whether the right of voting lay in the commonalty at large or in two functionaries called Eligers, nominated by the lord of the manor, and in twenty-two free men of their appointment. The Comm.ittee of the House considered that it rested with these nominees, and that the householders of Mitchell had no electoral rights whatever. But in 1689 the Committee decided that
