Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	king_n	parliament_n	void_a	3,949	5	9.2539	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A28308	Some remarks upon government, and particularly upon the establishment of the English monarchy relating to this present juncture in two letters / written by and to a member of the great convention, holden at Westminster the 22nd of January, 1689.	A. B.; N. T.	1689 (1689)	Wing B31; ESTC R2761	23,032	29

over_o all_o the_o kingdom_n i_o be_o persuade_v it_o will_v abundant_o answer_v expectation_n in_o the_o many_o advantage_n which_o will_v attend_v it_o and_o perhaps_o it_o will_v be_v of_o equal_a benefit_n in_o all_o other_o election_n as_o well_o as_o in_o those_o for_o member_n of_o parliament_n if_o the_o government_n be_v so_o dispose_v as_o to_o fill_v up_o all_o vacancy_n whether_o in_o church_n or_o state_n by_o the_o plurality_n of_o vote_n appoint_v to_o elect_v and_o i_o be_o apt_a to_o believe_v that_o succeed_a age_n may_v reduce_v it_o into_o a_o law_n that_o privy_a councillor_n shall_v be_v choose_v by_o the_o lord_n judge_n by_o the_o gentleman_n at_o the_o bar_n bishop_n by_o their_o dean_n and_o chapter_n minister_n by_o their_o parishioner_n fellow_n and_o master_n of_o college_n by_o the_o graduate_n of_o the_o same_o college_n sheriff_n by_o the_o gentry_n of_o the_o country_n officer_n of_o trust_v in_o the_o state_n and_o in_o the_o army_n by_o the_o parliament_n the_o parliament_n by_o freeholder_n of_o 40_o l._n per_fw-la annum_fw-la and_o all_o by_o the_o ballott_n it_o be_v much_o easy_a i_o know_v to_o find_v fault_n than_o to_o mend_v they_o and_o i_o can_v mention_v many_o other_o thing_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n the_o redress_n whereof_o i_o hope_v will_v be_v think_v of_o in_o this_o great_a convention_n before_o they_o proceed_v to_o dispose_v of_o the_o crown_n it_o be_v a_o easy_a matter_n for_o a_o people_n to_o make_v ten_o king_n than_o to_o unmake_v one_o and_o to_o deck_v a_o crown_n with_o the_o high_a prerogative_n than_o to_o deprive_v it_o when_o they_o be_v confer_v of_o the_o least_o of_o they_o if_o the_o crown_n be_v give_v again_o with_o the_o same_o qualification_n that_o other_o head_n wear_v it_o it_o will_v then_o be_v exalt_v above_o the_o people_n reach_n without_o some_o such_o assist_a miracle_n as_o be_v late_o show_v in_o favour_n of_o they_o now_o to_o reform_v its_o redundancy_n be_v natural_a easy_a and_o prudent_a the_o government_n be_v escheat_v to_o the_o people_n by_o the_o king_n desert_v it_o but_o to_o offer_v at_o any_o such_o attempt_v afterward_o will_v be_v both_o unkind_a and_o imprudent_a and_o will_v signify_v no_o more_o than_o the_o chattering_n of_o a_o parcel_n of_o magpie_n about_o a_o owl_n in_o her_o majesty_n some_o man_n have_v espouse_v a_o odd_a and_o unwarrantable_a notion_n that_o the_o king_n desertion_n of_o the_o government_n amount_v to_o a_o demise_n or_o civil_a death_n if_o this_o be_v so_o the_o next_o heir_n ought_v immediate_o to_o be_v proclaim_v and_o must_v inherit_v the_o crown_n with_o the_o same_o inseparable_a prerogative_n that_o heretofore_o belong_v to_o it_o and_o all_o law_n or_o act_n of_o parliament_n make_v to_o limit_n and_o abridge_v they_o if_o lawyer_n speak_v truth_n be_v void_a and_o null_a but_o if_o the_o departure_n of_o the_o king_n amount_v to_o such_o a_o desertion_n as_o dissolve_v the_o government_n than_o the_o power_n must_v necessary_o revert_v and_o vest_n in_o the_o people_n who_o may_v erect_v a_o new_a one_o either_o according_a to_o the_o old_a model_n if_o they_o like_v it_o so_o well_o or_o any_o other_o that_o they_o like_v and_o approve_v of_o better_a be_v such_o a_o mighty_a thing_n to_o be_v determine_v by_o my_o single_a vote_n the_o government_n shall_v be_v monarchy_n and_o this_o monarchy_n shall_v be_v absolute_a and_o arbitrary_a and_o the_o prince_n shall_v be_v my_o king._n it_o be_v he_o alone_o who_o be_v the_o man_n in_o christendom_n in_o respect_n of_o courage_n and_o a_o innate_a disposition_n to_o delight_v in_o the_o happiness_n of_o his_o people_n with_o who_o i_o can_v free_o and_o secure_o intrust_v my_o all_o but_o the_o honour_n i_o have_v for_o he_o run_v not_o to_o his_o posterity_n for_o as_o a_o good_a man_n may_v notwithstanding_o get_v a_o profligate_v son_n so_o i_o shall_v be_v loath_a to_o repose_v such_o a_o trust_n at_o a_o venture_n in_o the_o hand_n of_o any_o one_o who_o i_o do_v not_o know_v you_o have_v a_o great_a work_n to_o do_v and_o it_o be_v from_o your_o counsel_n that_o after_o age_n must_v date_n their_o happiness_n or_o misery_n and_o it_o therefore_o oblige_v your_o most_o serious_a thought_n i_o hope_v sir_n you_o will_v excuse_v the_o liberty_n i_o have_v take_v in_o give_v you_o so_o large_a a_o diversion_n from_o better_a notion_n of_o your_o own_o which_o i_o know_v be_v of_o a_o high_a flight_n and_o swift_a wing_n than_o what_o i_o can_v pretend_v to_o mine_n i_o do_v not_o impose_v but_o submit_v as_o become_v sir_n your_o oblige_a humble_a servant_n n._n t._n

misery_n and_o as_o it_o have_v deliver_v we_o from_o the_o evil_a administration_n of_o law_n so_o in_o some_o thing_n i_o wish_v it_o will_v rescue_v we_o from_o the_o law_n itself_o and_o so_o far_o change_v it_o that_o for_o the_o future_a it_o may_v be_v no_o more_o subject_a to_o such_o sham_n and_o delusion_n nor_o in_o a_o capacity_n thus_o to_o become_v a_o accessary_a to_o its_o own_o death_n it_o seem_v far_a very_o incongruous_a that_o where_o government_n be_v make_v up_o of_o two_o different_a interest_n as_o here_o it_o be_v the_o absolute_a power_n of_o peace_n and_o war_n shall_v be_v only_o in_o the_o king_n whilst_o the_o power_n of_o maintain_v it_o continues_z in_o the_o people_n for_o if_o the_o king_n shall_v be_v lead_v aside_o by_o a_o private_a interest_n and_o shall_v refuse_v to_o make_v war_n in_o a_o time_n when_o perhaps_o the_o safety_n and_o honour_n of_o the_o nation_n do_v whole_o depend_v upon_o it_o what_o a_o condition_n must_v the_o people_n then_o be_v in_o put_v the_o case_n that_o before_o this_o our_o late_a but_o seasonable_a deliverance_n the_o king_n in_o who_o this_o power_n do_v reside_v shall_v have_v open_v the_o gate_n of_o the_o kingdom_n our_o harbour_n and_o strength_n which_o be_v to_o protect_v we_o from_o foreign_a invader_n to_o a_o french_a or_o irish_a army_n who_o dare_v lift_v a_o hand_n to_o stop_v this_o inundation_n of_o tyranny_n without_o incur_v the_o penalty_n of_o a_o traitor_n nay_o they_o must_v far_o be_v call_v friend_n and_o ally_n even_o whilst_o they_o pillage_v our_o house_n and_o hold_v their_o knife_n to_o our_o throat_n this_o branch_n of_o our_o law_n serve_v to_o cover_v the_o land_n of_o a_o foreign_a power_n and_o so_o long_o to_o cherish_v and_o keep_v it_o warm_v till_o like_o the_o serpent_n in_o the_o fable_n it_o at_o last_o sting_v the_o improvident_a benefactor_n to_o death_n another_o thing_n which_o high_o require_v your_o regulation_n be_v the_o election_n for_o parliament_n it_o be_v a_o great_a blemish_n to_o our_o government_n that_o such_o who_o place_n give_v they_o the_o title_n of_o founder_n of_o our_o law_n and_o preserver_n of_o our_o liberty_n and_o who_o reputation_n for_o principle_n of_o honour_n honesty_n &_o prudence_n shall_v be_v beyond_o assault_n or_o censure_n must_v yet_o be_v expose_v to_o a_o necessity_n of_o do_v such_o thing_n as_o be_v real_o mean_a and_o scandalous_a as_o well_o as_o expensive_a before_o they_o can_v get_v into_o a_o capacity_n of_o do_v their_o country_n service_n for_o if_o such_o thing_n be_v not_o do_v some_o pensioner_n from_o court_n bid_v high_a jostle_v he_o our_o and_z get_v thereby_o into_o a_o power_n to_o put_v to_o sale_n both_o the_o law_n and_o liberty_n of_o his_o country_n which_o he_o be_v willing_a to_o barter_n for_o the_o hope_n of_o some_o court_n preferment_n and_o the_o euge_fw-la of_o his_o great_a master_n in_o old_a time_n no_o person_n have_v a_o elect_v vote_n in_o the_o shire_n who_o have_v not_o a_o freehold_a of_o 40_o s._n per_fw-la ann._n but_o i_o can_v easy_o demonstrate_v 40_o s._n then_o to_o be_v equivolent_a in_o value_n to_o 40_o l._n now_o for_o by_o the_o discovery_n of_o the_o western_a world_n gold_n and_o silver_n be_v to_o that_o degree_n increase_v now_o if_o the_o number_n of_o elector_n be_v reduce_v to_o those_o only_o have_v freehold_n of_o 40_o l._n per_fw-la an._n these_o lavish_a expense_n will_v certain_o cease_v and_o the_o elector_n though_o few_o in_o number_n will_v be_v less_o apt_a to_o be_v lead_v aside_o by_o such_o low_a and_o indirect_a mean_n there_o be_v also_o great_a irregularity_n in_o the_o corporation_n and_o burrough_n elect_v as_o well_o as_o in_o the_o elector_n i_o can_v see_v no_o reason_n why_o cornwall_n a_o poor_a and_o barren_a county_n shall_v return_v 43_o member_n for_o parliament_n and_o yet_o cheshire_n together_o with_o the_o city_n of_o chester_n shall_v return_v in_o all_o but_o 3_o and_o why_o old_a sarum_n which_o have_v but_o 2_o house_n and_o those_o under_o the_o command_v of_o one_o landlord_n shall_v send_v 2_o representative_n to_o parliament_n whilst_o many_o other_o town_n which_o may_v deserve_v the_o title_n and_o privilege_n of_o city_n send_v no_o representative_n at_o all_o i_o can_v scarce_o think_v a_o parliament_n thus_o constitute_v can_v true_o and_o fair_o represent_v the_o people_n the_o majority_n and_o rich_a of_o they_o be_v by_o such_o inequallity_n exclude_v from_o a_o elect_v vote_n the_o same_o inconvenience_n spring_v from_o the_o constitution_n of_o the_o borough_n which_o elect_v not_o by_o virtue_n of_o their_o wealth_n dignity_n or_o number_n of_o inhabitant_n but_o by_o the_o burrow_n house_n in_o which_o they_o live_v these_o only_a which_o perhaps_o be_v the_o most_o inconsiderable_a part_n of_o the_o burrow_n have_v in_o they_o the_o elect_v power_n exclusive_a of_o the_o rest_n this_o qualification_n make_v such_o house_n sell_v better_a to_o a_o purchaser_n then_o any_o other_o in_o the_o town_n and_o it_o be_v customary_a for_o gentleman_n who_o be_v desirous_a of_o a_o seat_n in_o parliament_n to_o lay_v out_o their_o money_n in_o such_o bargain_n and_o though_o it_o cost_v they_o dear_a yet_o if_o it_o be_v possible_a they_o will_v be_v landlord_n of_o a_o sufficient_a number_n of_o these_o borough_n house_n in_o the_o purchase_n whereof_o some_o friend_n name_n be_v most_o make_v use_n of_o in_o trust_n that_o thereby_o they_o may_v command_v a_o election_n either_o for_o themselves_o or_o their_o assign_v at_o pleasure_n what_o be_v this_o less_o than_o buy_v of_o vote_n with_o money_n a_o crime_n which_o have_v be_v always_o look_v upon_o with_o a_o severe_a brow_n and_o yet_o license_v by_o this_o old_a usage_n nor_o can_v i_o discern_v why_o this_o elect_v power_n shall_v be_v thus_o fix_v to_o the_o freehold_a in_o be_v restrain_v to_o a_o small_a and_o inconsiderable_a number_n of_o house_n as_o if_o wood_n and_o stone_n have_v a_o rational_a faculty_n and_o must_v be_v make_v use_n of_o to_o build_v and_o repair_v the_o government_n the_o method_n of_o elect_v in_o these_o borough_n be_v various_a title_n to_o elect_n be_v also_o different_a and_o very_o often_o dubious_a and_o uncertain_a this_o necessitate_v double_a election_n and_o countenance_n false_a return_v which_o be_v often_o make_v ill_a use_n of_o for_o the_o king_n have_v a_o power_n to_o nominate_v the_o sheriff_n and_o he_o to_o make_v a_o return_n it_o may_v happen_v that_o the_o true_a and_o rightful_a member_n shall_v continue_v petitioner_n only_o whilst_o such_o as_o come_v in_o by_o unjust_a return_v pass_v a_o act_n to_o give_v the_o king_n money_n for_o the_o maintenance_n of_o a_o strand_a army_n this_o artifice_n be_v of_o much_o use_n in_o the_o last_o parliament_n at_o westminster_n and_o become_v so_o notorious_a from_o the_o great_a number_n of_o petitioner_n that_o a_o gentleman_n be_v ask_v whether_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o sit_v that_o day_n in_o the_o parliament_n no_o reply_v he_o it_o stand_v in_o the_o lobby_n it_o be_v customary_a in_o the_o borough_n of_o limmington_n in_o hampshire_n to_o elect_a by_o the_o ballot_n the_o manner_n be_v to_o give_v to_o every_o elect_v burgess_n their_o number_n be_v limit_v and_o know_v a_o different_a colour_a ball_n for_o every_o competitor_n each_o colour_n be_v respective_o appropriate_v to_o the_o several_a competitor_n as_o suppose_v there_o shall_v be_v three_o candidate_n each_o elector_n have_v three_o several_a ball_n give_v he_o which_o he_o so_o manage_n as_o to_o keep_v only_o that_o in_o his_o hand_n which_o by_o its_o colour_n belong_v to_o the_o person_n he_o intend_v to_o choose_v this_o be_v enclose_v in_o his_o hand_n he_o put_v it_o into_o a_o close_a box_n make_v for_o that_o purpose_n leave_v no_o possibility_n to_o any_o one_o to_o detect_v what_o colour_a ball_n he_o put_v into_o it_o thus_o each_o have_v put_v in_o his_o ball_n according_a to_o his_o vote_n the_o ball_n of_o one_o colour_n be_v separate_v from_o those_o of_o another_o colour_n and_o so_o according_a to_o the_o majority_n of_o ball_n of_o one_o colour_n the_o return_n be_v make_v this_o method_n i_o know_v to_o be_v of_o great_a advantage_n where_o it_o be_v make_v use_n of_o it_o prevent_v animosity_n and_o distaste_v and_o very_o much_o assist_v that_o freedom_n which_o ought_v to_o be_v in_o election_n no_o man_n in_o this_o way_n need_v fear_v the_o disoblige_v of_o his_o landlord_n customer_n or_o benefactor_n for_o it_o can_v by_o no_o mean_n be_v discover_v how_o he_o give_v his_o vote_n if_o he_o will_v but_o keep_v his_o own_o counsel_n if_o this_o or_o some_o such_o device_n be_v appoint_v to_o be_v make_v use_n of_o in_o every_o borough_n