Thus, whereas, for the last two Protectoral Parliaments, some of the larger English counties had returned as many as six, eight, nine, or twelve members each, all were now reduced alike to two, the large number of seats so set free, together with the extra hundred, going back among the burghs, and reincluding those that had been disfranchised.

London also was reduced from six seats to four.

It seems amazing now that this vast retrogression should have been so quietly accepted.

It seems even to have been popular; and, at all events, it roused no commotion.

It had been recommended by the lawyers, and it was expected to turn out favourable to the Government.[1] [Footnote 1: Ludlow, 615-619; and compare the List of Members of this Parliament of Richard (_Part.