James vastly increased the number of peerages, selling many, for
example for 10,000 pounds. Since there was a tacit understanding
that members of Parliament would not accept remuneration, this
restricted eligibility for membership to the rich. The House of
Commons was composed mostly of attorneys, merchants from the large
towns, and country gentlemen. The gentry members had 600 pounds
[12,000s] annual income from land and the burgess members had 300
pounds [6,000s.] In addition to the two knights from every county
(elected by men holding at least forty-shilling freeholds), four
representatives from London, and one or two from every other
borough (generally elected by the top business families), there
was a representative from each of the two universities. For
Speaker, they always chose someone suggested to them by the Crown.
He decided who would talk and could hasten or delay bills, usually
for the benefit of the Crown. The Clerk, a lifetime appointment of
the Crown, wrote out the bills and their amendments and kept track
of proceedings. Many in the Commons were Puritan in sympathy. In
1607, the House of Commons developed a committee system to avoid
being presided over by the royally designated speaker. A committee
could consist of all the members of the House of Commons with an
elected chairman. An increasing number of issues were discussed in
committee before coming to the Commons and the Commons came to
ratify readily what had been done in committee.
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