Chapter V: On the CIVIL Government of Elizabeth

General Remarks--Defective Security of the Subject's
Liberty--Trials for Treason and other Political Offences
unjustly conducted--Illegal Commitments--Remonstrance of
Judges against them--Proclamations unwarranted by
Law--Restrictions on Printing--Martial Law--Loans of Money
not quite voluntary--Character of Lord Burleigh's
Administration--Disposition of the House of Commons
--Addresses concerning the Succession--Difference on this
between the Queen and Commons in 1566--Session of
1571--Influence of the Puritans in Parliament--Speech of Mr.
Wentworth in 1576--The Commons continue to seek Redress of
ecclesiastical Grievances--Also of Monopolies, especially in
the Session of 1601--Influence of the Crown in Parliament
--Debate on Election of non-resident Burgesses--Assertion of
Privileges by Commons--Case of Ferrers, under Henry
VIII.--Other Cases of Privilege--Privilege of determining
Contested Elections claimed by the House--The English
Constitution not admitted to be an absolute
Monarchy--Pretensions of the Crown Page 215