1689: 2 William & Mary s.2, c.7: Election of members for the Cinque ports

1689: 2 William & Mary, session 2, c.7: An act to declare the right and freedom of election of members to serve in parliament for the Cinque-Ports.

WHEREAS the election of members to serve in parliament ought to be free; and whereas the late lord wardens of the Cinque-Ports have pretended unto, and claimed as of right, a power of nominating and recommending to each of the said Cinque-Ports, the two ancient towns, and their respective members, one person whom they ought to elect to serve as a baron or member of parliament for such respective port, ancient town, or member, contrary to the ancient usage, right, and freedom of elections:

II. Be it therefore declared and enacted by the King’s and Queen’s most excellent Majesties, by and with the advice and of consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That all such nominations or recommendations were and are contrary to the laws and constitutions of this realm, and for the future shall be so deemed and construed, and hereby are declared to have been and are void to all intents and purposes whatsoever; any pretence to the contrary notwithstanding.

Source: Pickering, Statutes At Large, vol. 9.