As some have attempted to throw doubts on the authenticity of these cases, quoted as they were by the Lord Chief-Justice from the Bench in 1739, it may be well to note here that “William Hakewell was a great student of legal antiquities, and a Master of Precedents” (“Dictionary of National Biography”). He left parliamentary life in 1629, the year after he had, in the Committee of Parliamentary Privileges, helped to decide on the Gatton case. He was one of the six lawyers appointed to revise the Laws, and was thereafter created Master of Chancery. So one might be tempted to consider him rather an exceptionally good and trustworthy witness. He helped to decide other points in connection with the Franchise, which it is important for us to remember. He not only decided that inhabitant suffrage must supersede freeholding, that taxation gave the right to representation, but that, from its very nature, no desuetude could take away the right of voting. “On 9th April, 1614, it was pleaded, Sithence Durham last drawn in to charge to join in petition to the King that Durham may have writs for Knights and Burgesses. Said to be dumb men because no voices. Mr. Ashley said, They of Durham had held it a privilege not to be bound to attendance to Parliament. On 31st May was read An Act for Knights and Burgesses to have places in Parliament, for the County Palatine, City of Durham and the Borough of Castle Barnard.” “On 14th March, 1620, members were allowed for the Palatinate of Durham, which had hitherto sat free from taxation, and consequently sent no members to the House of Commons. It was allowed without discussion by the House,” taxation and representation being constitutionally inseparable. (_See_ _Commons Journal_, 14th March, 1620.) “Regarding towns that had discontinued long sending of any burgesses, and yet were allowed.” Hakewell had discovered this of “Millborne Port, County Somerset, and Webly, County Hereford, that, either from poverty or ignorance of their right, or neglect of the Sheriff, had ceased voting. After 321 years they elected again.” “In 21 Jac. I. also, Amersham, Wendover, Great Marlowe, in Buckinghamshire, were in the same condition, but received writs for return upon application.” (_See_ Addit. MS., Brit. Mus. 8980.) Thus the doctrine that the right to the Franchise never lapses, and that _non-user_ never deprives an Elector of this privilege, was affirmed by the Committee of Privileges in the Parliament of which Coke and Hakewell were members. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CHAPTER VII. THE LONG EBB. “Ye have made the law of none effect by your tradition.”