There is some obscurity as to the dates; according to Willis, John Harrington sat for Bath 1658-9. The progress of these negotiations is set down in the diary of the worthy gentleman selected to serve:-- “A NOTE OF MY BATHE BUSINESS ABOUT THE PARLIAMENT. “Dec. 26.--Went to Bathe and dined with the Mayor and Citizens; conferred about my election to serve in parliament, as my father was helpless and ill able to go any more; went to the George Inn at night, met the Bailiffs, and desired to be dismissed from serving; drank strong bear and metheglin; expended about iiij_s._; went home late, but could not get excused, as they entertained a good opinion of my father. “Dec. 28.--Went to Bathe; met Sir John Horner; we were chosen by the Citizens to serve for the city. The Mayor and Citizens conferred about Parliament business. _The Mayor promised Sir John Horner and myself a horse apiece when we went to London to the Parliament_, which we accepted of.... “Thursday, Dec. 31.--Went to Bathe; Mr. Ashe preached [this was before the members, probably in state at the Abbey]. Dined at the George Inn with the Mayor and 4 citizens; spent vj_s._ in wine. “Laid out in victuals at the George Inn xj_s._ 4_d._ “Laid out in drinking vij_s._ ii_d._ “Laid out in tobacco and drinking vessels iiij_s._ 4_d._ “Jan. 1.--My father gave me £4 to bear out my expenses at Bathe.” The members were salaried at this time, being allowed from two shillings to three shillings and fourpence, and in exceptional cases five shillings, per day during the sessions of the Commons, although in many instances no more than two shillings was the recognized fee;[3] these wages were generally raised by the town, and paid in a lump sum at the close of the sessions. The writ directs two knights to be chosen out of every county, two citizens out of every city, and two burgesses out of every borough. The counties were well known, and had long been ascertained; but the sheriffs had it left to their discretion as to the cities and boroughs. They were the _dominicæ civitates_ and _burgi regis_, viz. such as had charters from the king and paid a fee-farm rent in lieu of the customs and other advantages and royalties that belonged to the Crown; but these not being named in the writ, the sheriffs took great liberties, either by summoning such as had no right, or omitting others, who ought to have been summoned: this arose from the nature of the institution.