Note 5 — Chapter II · PARLIAMENTARY LIFE UNDER THE STUARTS; PAID MEMBERS.

Andrew Marvell, who was made assistant-secretary to Milton, when he served the Protector, was, by Cromwell’s death, thrown out of employment. The burgesses of Hull, with whom he was deservedly popular, elected Marvell their representative to Parliament. The payment, of which so much has been made, for these services did not amount to a munificent retainer, the salary being fixed at two shillings a day for borough members; kindly remembrances in the form of acceptable gifts were, however, sent by constituents to those representatives who won their good wishes. Thus Marvell writes to the friends who sent him to parliament: “We must first give you thanks for the kind present you have pleased to send us, which will give occasion to us to remember you often; but the quantity is so great, that it might make sober men forgetful.”