Lordships the things they took into their Consideration in respect of the matter and merits of the Cause They are comprehended within these six heads 1. That there is a treason within the Statute of 25. E. 3. by Levying of warre upon the matter of the fifteenth Article 2. If not by actuall levying of war yet by advising and declaring his intention of war and that by Savils warrant and the advice of bringing over the Irish army upon the matter in the 23 Article The intending of a Warre if not within the Clause of Levying Warre in the statute of 25. E. 3. yet within the first treason of compassing the death of the King 3. If neither of these two single Acts be within the Statute of 25. E. 3. yet upon putting all together which hath been proved against him That ther 's a Treason within the first clause of compassing the death of the King Et si non prosunt singula juncta juvant 4. That he hath sessed and laid Souldiers upon the Subjects of Ireland against their will and at their Charge within the Irish Statute of the eighteenth yeare of Henry the sixt That both person and thing are within the Statute That the statute remaines in force to this day That the Parliament here hath Cognizance of it And that even in the ordinary way of Judicature that if there be a Treason and a Traitor that the want of jurisdiction in the Judicall way may justly be supplied by Bill 5. That his endeavouring to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and Governement of the Realmes of England and Ireland and instead thereof to introduce a tyrannicall Government against Law is Treason by the Common law That Treasons at the Common Law are not taken away by the Statutes of 25. E. 3. 1. H. 4. c. 10. 1. Mar. c. 1. nor any of them 6. That as this Case stands It 's just and necessary to resort to the Supreame power in Parliament in case all the rest should faile Of these six five of them are Treason within the Compasse of the Lawes already established Three within the Statute of 25. E. 3. One within the Irish Statute the other by the Common Law of England If but any one of these six Considerations hold The Commons conceive that upon the whole matter they had good cause to passe the Bill My Lords for the first of levying Warre I shall make bold to read the Case to your Lordships before I speak to it it 's thus The Earle did by warrant under his hand and Seale give authority to Robert Savill a Serjeant at Arms and his Deputies to sesse such number of Souldiers horse and foot of the Army in Ireland together with an officer as the Serjeant should think fit upon his Majesties Subjects of Ireland against their will This warrant was granted by the Earle to the end to compell the Subjects of Ireland to submit to the unlawfull Summons and orders made by the Earle upon paper Petitions exhibited unto him in case of private Interest betweene party and party This warrant was executed by Savill and his Deputies by sessing of Souldiers both horse and foot upon divers of the Subjects of Ireland against their will in warlike manner and at divers times the Souldiers continued upon the parties upon whom they were sessed and wasted their goods until such time as they had submitted themselves unto those Summons and orders My Lords This is a levying of warre within the statute of 250. E. 3. The words of the Statute are If any man doe levy warre against our Lord the King in his Realm this is declared to be Treason I shall indeavour in this to make it appeare to your Lordships 1 What shall be a levying of Warre in respect of the motive or cause of it 2 What shall be said a levying of warre in respect of the Action orthing done 3 And in the third place I shall apply them to the present Case It will be granted in this of levying of warre That forces may be raised and likewise used in a war-like manner and yet no levying of warre within the Statute that is when the forces are raised and imployed upon private ends either of revenge or interest Before this Statute in E. 1. time The Title of a Castle was in difference between the Earles of Hereford and Gloster for the mainetaining of the possession on the one side and gayning of it on the other Forces were raised on either side of many hundred men they marched with Banners displayed one against the other In the Parliament in the 20. yeere of Edw. 1. this adjudged onely trespasse and either of the Earles fined 1000. markes a peece After the Statute in Hillary Terme the fiftieth yeere of Edward the third in the Kings Bench Rot. 3. Nicholas Huntercome in a war-like manner with 40 men armed amongst other weapons with Gunnes so ancient as appeares by that Record they were did much spoyle in the Mannour of the Abbee of Dorchester in the County of Oxford This no Treason So it hath beene held by the Judges that if one or more Townships upon pretence of saving their Commons doe in a forcible and war-like manner throw in Inclosures This is only a Riot no Treason The words of the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. cleare this Point that if any man ride armed openly or secretly with men at Armes against any other to kill and robbe or to detaine him untill he hath made fine and ransome for his deliverance this is declared not to be Treason but Fellony or Trespasse as the case shall require all the printed Statuts which have it covertly or secretly are mis printed for the words in the Parliament Roll as appeares n. 17. are Discovertment ou secreretment openly or secretly So that my Lords in this of levying warre the Act is not so much to be considered but as in all other Treasons and Fellonies quo animo with what intent and purpose Obj. My Lords If the end be considerable in levying warre it may be said that it cannot be a Treason warre unlesse against the King For the words of the statute are If any man levy warre against the King Ans That these words extend further then to the Person of the King appears by the words of the Statute which in the begining declares it to be Treason to compasse imagine the Kings death and after other Treasons this is to be declared to be Treason to levy war against the King If the levying of war extend no further then to the person of the King these words of the Statute are to no purpose for then the first Treason of compassing the Kings death had fully included it before because that he which levies war against the person of the King doth necessarily compasse his death It s a warre against the King when intended for alteration of the Lawes or Government in any part of them or to destroy any of the great Officers of the Kingdome This is
twentieth yeare of Henry the sixt against the Acts of the Commissioners against Proclamations in pursuance of the Law against that himselfe took notice of Narrow hearted Commissioners 2 In this that here was an Army the Souldiers Souldiers by profession Acts of hostility from them of greater Terror than from free-holders of the same County My Lords I have now done with the first of levying warre 2 The second is the machination the advising of a warre The case in this rests upon the warrant to Savill and the advice in the 23 Article The Warrant shewes a resolution of employing the old Army of Ireland to the oppression of his Majesties Subjects and the Lawes In the 23 Article having told his Majesty that hee was loosed and absolved from rules of Government and might doe every thing which power might admit he proceeded further in speech to his Majesty in these words You have an Army in Ireland you may employ to reduce this Kingdome My Lords both being put together there 's a machination a practise an advise to levie warre and by force to oppresse and destroy his Majesties Subjects Obj. It hath beene said the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. is a penall Law and cannot bee taken by equity and construction there must be an actuall warre the Statute makes it Treason to counterfeit the Kings Coyne the conspiring the raising of furnaces is no Treason unlesse he doth nummum percutere actually coyne Answ My Lords this is onely said not proved the Law is otherwise â— 9. of Henry the sixt fol. 47. there adjudged that the conspiring and ayding to counterfeit coyne was Treason and Justice Stamford fol. 3. 44. is of opinion That this or conspiring to counterfeit the great Seale is Treason The Statute is If any shall counterfeit the great Seale conspiring to doe it by the book is Treason if a man take the broad Seale from one Pattent and put it to another here is no counterfeiting it 's tuntamount and therefore Treason as is adjudged in 2. Henry 4. fo 25. and by the opinion of Stamford If machination or plotting a warre be not within that clause of the Statute of levying warre yet it 's within the first of compassing the death of the King as that which necessarily tends to the destruction both of the King and of the people upon whose safety and protection hee is to engage himselfe That this is Treason hath beene adjugded both after the Statutes of the first of Henry the fourth chapter the tenth and the first of Queene Mary the first chapter so much insisted upon on the other side In the third yeare of King Henry the fourth one Balshall comming from London found one Bernard at plough in the parish of Ofley in the Connty of Hertford Bernard asked Balshall what news hee told him the newes was That King Richard the second was alive in Scotland which was false for hee was then dead and that by Midsomer next he would come into England Bernard asked him what was best to be done Balshall answered get men and goe to King Richard In Michaelmas Terme in the third yeare of Henry the fourth in the Kings Bench rot 4. this advise of warre adjudged Treason In Queene Maries time Sir Nicholas Thrâ—gmorton conspired with Sir Thomas Wyat to levie warre within this Realme for alteration in Religion he joyned not with him in the execution This Conspiracy alone declared to bee Treason by the Judges This was after the Statute of the first of Queene Mary so much insisted upon That Parliament ended in October this opinion was delivered the Easter-Terme after and is reported by Justice Dyer fo 98. It 's true Sir Thomas Wyat afterwards did levie warre Sir Nicholas Throgmorton hee onely conspired this adjudged Treason Storie in Queene Elizabeths time practised with Forreiners to levy warre within the Kingdome nothing done in pursuance of the practise The intent without any adhering to Enemies of the Queene or other cause adjudged to bee Treason and hee executed thereupon It 's truemy Lords that yeare 13. Elizabeth by Act of Parliament it 's made Treason to intend the levying of warre this case was adjudged before the Parliament The case was adjudged in Hillary Terme the Parliament began not untill the April following This my Lords is a case adjudged in point That the practising to levy warre though nothing be done in execution of it is Treason Obj. It may be objected that in these Cases the conspiring being against the whole Kingdome included the Queene and was a compassing her destruction as well as of the Kingdomes here the advice was to the King Ans 1. The answer is first that the warrant was unknowne to his Majesty that was a machination of warre against the people and Laws wherein his Majesties person was engaged for protection 2. That the advice was to his Majesty aggravates the offence it was an Attempt not only upon the Kingdome but upon the Sacred person and his office too himselfe was hostes patriae hee would have made the Father of it so too nothing more unnaturall more dangerous To offer the King poyson to drink telling him that it is a Cordiall is a compassing of his death The poyson was repelled there was an antidote within the malice of the giver beyond expression The perswading of Forreiners to invade the kingdome holds no proportion with this Machination of warre against the Lawes or kingdome is against the King they cannot be severed My Lords if no actuall warre within the Statute if the counselling The third generall Head of a war if neither of these single Acts be Treason within the Statute The Commons in the next place have taken it into their consideration what the addition of his other words Counsells and Actions do operate in the case and have conceived That with this addition all being put together that he is brought within the Statute of 25. Edward 3. The words of the Statute are if any man shall compasse or imagine the death of the King the words are not if my man shall plot or consult the death of the King no my Lords they go further than to such things as are intended immediately directly and determinatively against the life and person of the King they are of a larger extent to compasse is to doe by circuit to consult or practice another thing directly which being done may necessarily produce this effect However it be in the other Treasons within this Statute yet in this by the very words there is roome left for constructions for necessary Inferences and Consequences What hath beene the judgement and practice of former times concerning these words of compassing the Kings death will appeare to your Lordships by some cases of attainders upon these words One Owen in King Iames his time in the 13. yeere of his raigne at Sandwich in Kent spake these words That King Iames being excommunicated by the Pope may bee killed by any man which killing is no murther
away by the Statute of 25. E. 3. 1. H. 4. or 1. Q. M. or any of them My Lord to say they be taken away by the Stat. of 25. E. 3. is to speak against the direct words and scope of that Statute In it there 's this clause That because many other like cases of treason might fall out which are not there declared therefore it is enacted That if any such case come before the Judges they shall not proceed to Judgement till the case be declared in Parliament whether it ought to be adjudged treason or not These words and the whole scope of that Statute shewes that it was not the meaning to take away any treasons that were so before but only to regulate the jurisdiction and manner of triall Those that were single and certaine Acts as conspiring the Kings death levying war counterfeiting the money or great Seale killing a Judge these are left to the ordinary Courts of justice the others not depending upon single Acts but upon constructions and necessary inferences they thought it unfit to give inferiour Courts so great a latitude here as too dangerous to the subject those they strained to Parliaments This statute was the security of the subject made with such wisedome as all the succeeding ages have approved it It hath often passed through the furnace but like gold hath lost little or nothing The statute of 1. H. 4 cap. 10. is in these words Whereas in the Parliament held the 21 yeere of Richard the 2. divers pains of treasons were ordained insomuch that no man did know how to behave himselfe to doe say or speake It is accorded that in no time to come any treason be adjudged otherwise then it was ordained by the Statute of 25. E. 3. It hath been said to what end is this statute made if it takes not away the common Law treasons remaining after the statute of 25. Edward 3. There be two maine things which this statute doth First it takes away for the future all the treasons made by any statute since 25. E. 3. to 1. H. 4. even to that time For in respect that by another Act in that Parliament the statute of 21. R. 2. was repealed it will not be denied but that this statute repeals more treasons then these of 21. R. 2. it repeals all statute treasons but those in 25. E. 3. Secondly It not only takes away the statute treasons but likewise the declared treasons in Parliament after 25. E. 3. as to the future After declaration in Parliament the inferior Courts might judge these treasons for the declaration of a treason in Parliament after it was made was sent to the inferior Courts that toties quoties the like case fell out they might proceed therein the subject for the future was secured against these so that this statute was of great use By the very words of it it still refers all treasons to the provision of 25. E. 3. it leaves that entire and upon his old bottome The statute of 1. Q. M. cap. 1. saith That no offences made treason by any Act of Parliament shall thenceforth be taken or adjudged to be treason but onely as be declared and expressed to be treason by the statute of 25. E. 3. concerning treason or the declaration of treason and no others And further provides that no pains of death penalty or forfeiture in any wise shall ensue for committing any treason other then such as be in the statute of 25. E. 3. ordained and provided any Acts of Parliament or any declaration or matter to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding By the first part of this statute onely offences made treason by Act of Parliament are taken away the Common Law treasons are no way touched The words and no others referre still to offences made treason by Act of Parliament they restrain not to the treasons onely particularly mentioned in the statute of 25. E. 3. but leaue that statute entire as to the Common-law treason as appears by the words immediatly foregoing By the second part for the pains and forfeitures of treasons if it intend onely the punishment of treason or if it intend both treason and punishment yet all is referred to the provision and ordinance of 25. E. 3. any Act of Parliament or other declaration or thing notwithstanding It saith not other then such penalties or treasons as are expressed and declared in the statute of 25. E. 3. that might perhaps have restrained it to those that are particularly mentioned No it refers all treasons to the general ordination and provision of that statute wherein the Common law-treasons are expresly kept on foot If it be askt what good this statute doth if it take not away the the Common-law treasons 1. It takes away all the treasons made by Act of Parliament not only since the first of H. 4. which were many but all before 1. H. 4. even untill 25. E. 3. by expresse words 2. By expresse words it takes away all declared treasons if any such had been made in Parliament these for the future are likewise taken away so that whereas it might have been doubted whether the statute of 1. H. 4. took away any treasons but those of 21. and 22. R. 2. this clears it both for treasons made by Parliament or declared in Parliament even to the time of taking the statute This is of great use of great security to the subject so that as to to what shall be treason and what not the statute of 25. E. 3. remains entire and so by consequence the treasons at the Common Law Only my Lords it may be doubted whether the manner of the manner of the Parliamentary proteedings be not altered by the statute of 1. Hen. 4. the 17. cap. and more fully in the Parliament roll num 144. that is whether since that statute the Parliamentary power of declaration of treasons whereby the inferiour Courts received jurisdiction be not taken away and restrained only to Bill that so it might operate no further than to that particular contained in the Bill that so the Parliamentary declarations for after times should be kept within the Parliament it selfe and be extended no further Since 1. H. 4. we have not found any such declarations made but all Attainders of treason have been by Bill If this be so yet the common-Law-treasons still remaining there is one and the same ground of reason and equity since 1. H. 4. for passing of a Bill of treason as was before for declaring it without Bill Herein the Legislative power is not used against my Lord of Strafford in the Bill it is only the jurisdiction of the Parliament But my Lords because that either through my mistaking of the true grounds and reasons of the Commons or my not pressing of them with apt arguments and presidents of former times or that perchance your Lordships from some other reasons and authorities more swaying with your Lordships judgements then these from them may possible be
Parliament binds untill it be repealed It hath been therefore said that this Statute is repealed by the Statutes of the eighth yeere of Edward the fourth the first Chapter and of the tenth yeere of Henry the seventh the two and twentieth Chapter because by these two Satutes the English Statutes are brought into Ireland The Argument if I mistook it not stood thus That the Statute of the first of Henry the fourth the 10. Chapter saith that in no time to come Treason shall be adjuged otherwise then it was ordained by the Statute of the 25. yeere of Edward the third That the Treason mentioned in the 18 yeere of Henry the sixth in the Irish Satute is not contained in the Statute of the 25 yeere of Edward the 3. and therefore being contrary to the statute of the first of Henry the fourth it must needs be void My Lords the difference of the times wherein the statute of the first yeere of Henry the fourth and that of the 18 yeere of Henry the sixth were made cleare the Point as is humbly conceived that of Henry the sixth was made fourty yeeres after the other The statute of the eighth yeere of Edward the fourth and the tenth of Henry the seventh bringing in the English statutes in order and series of time as they were made one after another as afterwards is proved they did it cannot be that the statute of the first yeere of Henry the fourth made fourty yeere before should repeale or make void the statute of the 18. Henry 6. made so long after The rule of Law is that Leges posteriores priores abrogant that latter lawes repeale former But by this construction a former Law should repeale and make void a Non ens a statute then was not If this were Law then all the statutes that made any new Treason after the first yeere of Henry the fourth were void in the very fabricke and at the time when they were made hence likewise it would follow that the Parliament now upon what occasion soever hath no power to make any thing Treason not declared to be so in the statute of the five and twentieth yeere of Edward the third This your Lordships easily see would make much for my Lord of Straffords advantage but why the Law should be so your Lordships as yet have onely heard an affirmation of it no reason But some touch was given that this statute of the tenth yeer of H. the seventh in words makes all the Irish statutes void which are contrary to the English The Answer to this is a deniall that there are any such words in the statute This statute declares that the English statutes shall be effectuall and confirmed in Ireland and that all statutes before time made to the contrary shall be revoked this repeales onely the Irish statutes of the tenth yeere of Henry the fourth and the nine and twentieth yeere of Honry the sixth which say that the English statutes shall not be in force in Ireland unlesse particularly received in Parliament It makes all the Irish statutes void which say that the English statutes shall not be in force there It is usuall when a Statute saith that such a thing shall be done or not done to adde further that all statutes to the contrary shall be voide No likeli-hood that this statute intended to take away any statute of Treason When but in the Chapter next before this Murder there is made Treason as if done upon the Kings Person That this statute of the eighteenth yeer of Henry the sixth remains on foot and not repealed either by the Statute of the eighth yeere of Edward the fourth or this of the tenth yeere of Henry the seventh appeares expressely by two severall Acts of Parliament made at the same Parliament of the tenth yeere of Henry the seventh By an Act of Parliament in H. the sixth's time in Ireland it was made Treason for any man to procure a privie Seale or any other Command whatsoever for apprehending any person in Ireland for Treason done without that Kingdome and to put any such Command in execution Divers had been attainted of Treason for executing such Commands Heere is a Treason so made by Act of Parliament in Henry the sixth's time In the third Chapter of this Parliament of the tenth of Henry the seventh an Act is passed for no other end then to repeale this statute of Henry the sixth of Treason If this statute of Henry the sixth of Treason had been formerly repealed by the statute of 8. Edward 4. or then by the two and twentieth Chapter of this Parliament of 10. Henry 7. by bringing in the English statutes the Law-makers were much mistaken now to make a particular Act of Parliament to repeale it it being likewise so unreasonable an Act as it was In the eighth Chapter of this Parliament of the tenth of Henry the seventh It is enacted That the statutes of Kilkenny and all other statutes made in Ireland two onely excepted whereof this of the eighteenth of Henry the sixth is none for the Common-weale shall be enquired off and executed My Lord of Strafford saith that the bringing in of the English statutes hath repealed this statute of the eighteenth yeere of Henry the sixth the Act of Parliament made the same time saith no it saith that all the Irish statutes excepting two whereof this is none shall still be in force Object Oh! But how ever it was in 10. H. 7. yet it appeares by Judgement in Parliament afterwards That this statute of the eighteenth yeere of Henry the sixth is repealed and that is by the Parliament of the eleventh yeere of Queene Elizabeth the seventh Chapter That by this Parliament it is enacted that if any man without license from the Lord Deputie lay any Souldiers upon the Kings Subjects if he be a Peere of the Realme he shall forfeit one hundred pounds if under the degree of a Peere 100 markes This statute as is alleadged declares the penalty of laying Souldiers upon the Subjects to bee onely a hundred pounds and therefore it s not Treason Answer My Lords if the offence for which this penalty of one hundred pounds is laid upon the offender be for laying Souldiers or leading them to doe any acts oftensive or invasive upon the Kings people The Argument hath some force but that the offence is not for laying Souldiers upon the true Subjects that this is not the offence intended in the statute will appeare to your Lordships Ex absurdo from the words of it The words are That if any man shall assemble the people of the County together to conclude of peace or warre or shall carry those people to doe any Acts offensive or invasive then he shall forfeit one hundred pounds If concluding of warre and carrying the people to Acts invasive be against the Kings Subjects this is high Treason within the words of the statute of the five and twentieth yeere of Edward the third For if any
M R. S T. JOHN ' S Argument My Lords THE Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament have passed a Bill for the attainting of Thomas Earle of Strafford of High-Treason The Bill hath beene transmitted from them to your Lordships It concernes not him alone but your Lordships and the Commons too though in different Respects It is to make him as miserable a man as man or Law can make him Not losse of life alone but with that of honour name posterity and estate Of all that 's deare to all To use his owne expression an eradication of him both root and branch as an Achan a troubler of the State as an execrable as an accursed thing This Bill as it concernes his Lordship the highest that can be in the penall part so doth it on the other side as highly concerne your Lordships and the Commons in that which ought to be the tendrest the Judicatory within that that judge not them who judge him And in that which is most sacred amongst men the publick Justice of the Kingdome The Kingdome is to be accounted unto for the losse of the meanest member much more for one so neare the head The Commons are concerned in their Account for what is done your Lordships in that which is to be done The businesse therefore of the present Conference is to acquaint your Lordships with those things that satisfied the Commons in passing of this Bill such of them as have come within my capacity and that I can remember I am commanded from the Commons at this time to present unto your Lordships My Lords in Judgements of greatest moment there are but two wayes for satisfying those that are to give them Either the Lex lata the Law already established Or else the use of the same power for making new Lawes whereby the old at first received life In the first consideration of the setled Lawes In the degrees of punishment the positive Law received by generall consent and for the common good is sufficient to satisfie the conscience of the Judge in giving judgement according to them In severall Countreys there is not the same measure of punishment for one and the same offence Wilfull murder in Ireland is Treason and so is the wilfull burning of a house or stack of Corne. In the Isle of Man it 's felony to steale a Hen but not to steale a Horse and yet the Judge in Ireland hath as just a ground to give judgement of high Treason in those Cases there as here to give judgement only of felony and in the Isle of Man of felony for the Hen as here of petty Larceny My Lords in the other consideration of using the Supreame power the same Law gives power to the Parliament to make new Lawes that enables the inferiour Court to judge according to the old The rule that guides the conscience of the Inferiour Court is from without the prescripts of the Parliament and of the Common Law in the other the rule is from within That salus populi be concerned That there be no wilfull oppression of any the fellow members that no more blood be taken than what is necessary for the Cure the Laws and Customes of the Realme as well enable the exercise of this as of the ordinary and judiciall power My Lords what hath beene said is because that this proceeding of the Commons by way of Bill implyes the use of the meere Legislative power in respect new Lawes are for the most part past by Bill This my Lords though just and Legall and therefore not wholly excluded yet it was not the only ground that put the Commons upon the Bill they did not intend to make a new Treason and to condemne my Lord of Strafford for it they had in it other Considerations likewise which were to this effect 1 First the Commons knew that in all former ages if doubts of Law arose upon cases of great and generall Concernment the Parliament was usually consulted withall for resolution which is the reason that many Acts of Parliament are only declarative of the Old Law not introductive of a new as the great Charter of our Liberties the Statute of the five and twentieth yeere of Edward the third of Treasons the Statute of the Prerogative and of late the petition of Right If the Law were doubtfull in this Case they conceived the Parliament where the old may bee altered and new Lawes made the fittest Judge to cleare this doubt 2 Secondly my Lords they proceeded this way to out those scruples and delayes which through dis-use of proceedings of this nature might have risen in the manner and way of proceeding since the Statute of the first of Henry the fourth the seventeenth chapter and more fully in the Roll number 144. The proceedings in Parliament have usually beene upon an Inditement first found though in Cases of Treason particularly mentioned in the Statute of the five and twentieth yeare of Edward the third which had not beene done in this Case Doubts likewise might rise for Treasons not particularly mentioned in the Statute of 25. Edw. 3. whether the declaratory power of Parliament be taken away and if not taken away in what manner they were to be made and by whom They finde not any Attainders of Treason in Parliament for neere this 200 yeeres but by this way of Bill And againe they knew that whatsoever could be done any other way it might be done by this 3 Thirdly in respect of the proofes and depositions that have beene made against him for first although they knew not but that the whole Evidence which hath beene given at the Barre in every part of it is sufficiently comprehended within the Charge yet if therein they should be mistaken if it should prove otherwise use may justly be made of such Evidence in this way of Bill wherein so as Evidence be given in it 's no way requisite that there should have beene any Articles or Charge at all And so in the Case of double Testimony upon the Statute of the first of Edward the sixt whether one direct witnesse with others to Circumstances had beene single or double Testimony and although single Testimony might be sufficient to satisfie private Consciences yet how farre it would have been satisfactory in a judiciall way where forms of Law are more to be stood upon was not so cleare whereas in this way of Bill private satisfaction to each mans Conscience is sufficient although no evidence had been given in at al. My Lords the proceeding by way of Bill it was not to decline your Lordships Justice in the judiciall way In these Exegencies of the State and Kingdome it was to husband time by silencing those doubts they conceived it the speediest and the surest way My Lords These are in effect the things the Commons took into their Consideration in respect of the manner and way of proceeding against the Earle In the next place I am to declare unto your
a levying of War against the King 1 Because the King doth protect and maintaine the Laws in every part of them and the great Officers to whose care he hath in his own steed delegated the Execution of them 2 Because they are the Kings Lawes He is the Fountaine from whence in their severall Channels they are derived to the Subject all our inditements run thus Trespasses laied to be done Contra pacem Domini Regis the Kings peace for exorbitant offences though not intended against the Kings Person against the King his Crowne and Dignity My Lords this construction is made good by diverse Authorities of great weight ever since the statute of 25. E. 3. downwards In R. the 2 ds time Sir Thomas Talbot conspired the death of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster some other of the Peeres for the effecting of it he had caused diverse people in the County of Chester to be armed in warre-like manner in Assemblies In the Parliament held the seventeenth yeere of Richard the second number the 20. Sir Thomas Talbot accused of high Treason for this It s there declared that insomuch as one of them was Lord high Steward of England and the other high Constable of England that this was done in destruction of the estates of the Realme and of the Lawes of the Kingdome and therefore adjudged Treason and the judgement sent downe into the Kings Bench as appeares in Easter-Tearme in the seventh yeer of Richard the second in the Kings Bench Rott 16. These two Lords had appeared in the eleventh yeere of Richard the second in mainetenance of the Act of Parliament made the yeere before one of them was of the Commissioners appointed by Parliament and one of the Appellours of those that would have overthrowne it The Duke of Lancaster likewise was one of the Lords that was to have beene indicted of Treason for endeavouring the maintenance of it and therefore conspiring of their deaths is said to be in destruction of the lawes This there declared to be a Treson that concerned the Person of the King and the Common-wealth In that great insurrection of the Villains and meaner people in Richard the seconds time they tooke an oath Quod Regi Comunibus fidelitatem servarent to be true to the King and Commons that they would take nothing but what they paid for punished all theft with death here 's no intendment against the person of the King The intent was to abolish the Law of villainage and servitude to burne all the Records to kill the Judges this in the Parliament of the fifth yeere of Richard the second number the one and thirtieth and two and thirtieth the first part is declared to be Treason against the King and against the Law In the eleventh yeere of Richard the second in Parliament the raising of forces against the Commissioners appointed by act of Parliament the yeere before adjudged Treason by all the Judges The Statute of 1. Mar. cap. 12. enacts that if twelve or more shall indeavour by force to alter any of the Lawes or Statutes of the Kingdome hee shall from such a time there limited be adjudged onely as a fellon This act was to continue but to the next Parliament it is expired it shewes by the words onely that the offence was higher before the making of it My Lords In Queene Elizabeths time Grant and divers Prentices of London to the number of 200. rose and assembled at Tower-hill carried a Cloake upon a Pole instead of a banner their intent was to deliver divers Prentices out of prison that had beene committed upon a sentence in Star Chamber for ryots To kill the Lord Major of London and for setting prizes on victuals In Trinity Tearme 37. Eliz. divers of the Judges consulted withall and resolved that this was a levying of warre against the Queene being intended against the government and officers of the Queene and thereupon Grant and others executed as Traitors Afterwards in that Queenes time divers of the County of Oxford consulted together to goe from house to house in that County and thence to London other parts to excite them to take Armes for the throwing in of all inclosures throughout England nothing was done nor no Assembly The Statute of 13. Eliz. cap. 1. during the Queenes life made it Treason to intend or advise to levy war against the Queene In Easter Tearme 39. Eliz. All the Iudges of England met about the case it was resolved by them that this was a warre intended against the Queen they agreed that if it had beene of one Towneship or more upon private interest and claime of right of Common it had not bin Treason But this was to throw in all inclosures thorough the Kingdome wherto these parties could pretend no claime that it was against the Law in regard that the Statute of Merton gave power of Inclosures in many Cases Upon this Resolution Bradshaw and Burton were executed at Aynestowe hill in Oxford-shire the place where they intended their first meeting So that my Lords if the end of it be to overthrow any of the Statutes any part of the Law and setled Governement or any of the great Officers intrusted with the execution of them this is a warre against the King My Lords it will be further considerable what shall be accounted a leavying of warre in respect of the Actions things done There 's a designe to alter some part of the Lawes and present Governement for the effecting thereof people be provided of Armes gathered together into troopes but afterwards match not with Banners displayed nor doe Bellum percutere Whether the arming themselves and gathering together upon this Designe whether this be a warre or such prosecution of the Designe with force as makes it Treason within the Statute First If this be not a Warre in respect that it necessarily occasions hostile preparations on the otherside 2. From the words of the Statute shall levy warre be thereof probably attainted of open Deed by people of their Condition although the bare conspiring be not an open Deed yet whether the arming and drawing men together be not an open Declaration of Warre In Sir Thomas Talbots case before cited in the seventeenth yeere of Richard the second The Acts of force are expressed in the Parliament Roll That he caused divers of the people of the County of Chester to be armed in a war like manner in assemblies heere is no marching no banners displayed In the eighth yeer of Henry the 8th William Bell and Thomas Lacy in Com' Kanc. conspired with Thomas Cheney called the Hermite of the Queene of Fairies to overthrow the Lawes and customes of the Realme and for the effecting of it they with two hundred more met together and concluded upon a course of raising greater forces in the county of Kent and the adjacent Shires this adjudged Treason these were open Actes My Lords for the application of both these to the Case in question
same Parliament of the five and thirtieth yeere of Edward the first where the writs went to the Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer Sometimes they gave judgement here in Parliament and commanded the Judges there in Ireland to doe execution as in the great case of Partition betweene the copartners of the Earle Marshall in the Parliament of the 33. yeere of Edward the first where the writ was awarded to the Treasurer of Ireland My Lords The Lawes of Ireland were introduced by the Parliaments of England as appeares by three Acts of Parliament before cited It is of higher jurisdiction dare Leges then to judge by them The Parliaments of England doe binde in Ireland if Ireland be particularly mentioned as is resolved in the Book case of the first yeere of Henry the seventh Cokes seventh Report Calvins case and by the Judges in Trinity Terme in the three and thirtieth yeere of Queene Elizabeth The Statute of the eighth yeere of Edward the fourth the first Chapter in Ireland recites that it was doubted amongst the judges whether all the English Statutes though not naming Ireland were in force there if named no doubt From King Henry the third his time downward to the eighth yeere of Queene Elizabeth by which statute it is made felony to carry sheepe from Ireland beyond seas in almost all these Kings reignes there be statutes made concerning Ireland The exercising of the Legislative power there over their lives and estates is higher then of the Judiciall in question Vntill the nine and twentieth yeere of Edward the third erroneous judgements given in Ireland were determinable no where but in England no not in the Parliaments of Ireland as it appeares in the close rolls in the Tower In the nine and twentieth yeere of Ed. the third mem 12. Power to examine and reverse erroneous judgements in the Parliaments of Ireland is granted from hence Writs of errour lie in the Parliament here upon erroneous judgements after that time given in the Parliaments of Ireland as appeares in the Parliament rolls of the eighth yeere of Henry the sixth membra 70. in the case of the Prior of Lenthan It is true the case is not determined there for it 's the last thing that came into the Parliament and could not be determined for want of time but no exception at all is taken to the jurisdiction The Acts of Parliament made in Ireland have been confirmed in the Parliaments of England as appeares by the close rolls in the Tower in the 42. yeere of Edward the 3. membra 20. dorso where the Parliament in Ireland for the preservation of the Countrey from the Irish who had almost destroyed it made an Act that all the land-owners that were English should reside upon their lands or else they were to be forfeited this was here confirmed In the Parliament of the 4. yeere of H. the 5. chap. 6. Acts of Parliament in Ireland are confirmed and some privileges of the Peeres in the Parliaments there are regulated Power to repeale Irish Statutes power to confirme them cannot be by the Parliament here if it hath not cognizance of their Parliaments unlesse it besaid That the Parliament may doe it knowes not what Garnesey and Jersey are under the Kings subjection but are not parcels of the Crown of England but of the dutchy of Normandy they are not governed by the lawes of England as Ireland is and yet Parliaments in England have usually held plea of and determined all causes concerning land or goods In the Parliament of 33. E. 1. there be placita de Insula Iernesey and so in the Parliament 14. E. 2. and so for Normandy and Gascoyne and alwayes as long as any part of France was in subjection to the Crown of England there were at the beginning of Parliaments receivers and tryers of petitions for those parts appointed I beleeve your Lordships will have no cases shewed of any plea to the jurisdiction of the Parliaments of England in any thing done in any parts wheresoever in subjection to the Crown of England The last thing I shall offer to your Lordships is the case of 19. El. in my Lord Dyer 306. and Judge Comptons book of the jurisdiction of Courts fol. 23. The opinion of both these books is that an Irish Peere is not triable here It 's true a Scotish or French Nobleman is triable here as a common person the Law takes no notice of their Nobility because those Countryes are not governed by the Lawes of England but Ireland being governed by the same Lawes the Peeres there are triable according to the Law of England onely per pares By the same reason the Earle of Strafford not being a peere of Ireland is not triable by the Peeres of Ireland so that if he be not triable here he is triable no where My Lords In case there be a Treason and a Traitor within the statute and that he be not triable here for it in the ordinary way of judicatory if that jurisdiction failes this by way of Bill doth not Attainders of Treason in Parliament are as legall as usuall by Act of Parliament as by Judgement I have now done with the statutes of 25. E. 3 and 18. H. 6. My Lord of Strafford hath offended against both the Kingdomes and is guilty of high Treason by the Lawes of both 5 My Lords In the fifth place I am come to the Treasons at the common Law the endevouring to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and government of the Kingdome and to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannycall government In this I shall not at all labour to prove that the endevouring by words counsells and actions to subvert the Lawes is treason at the common Law if there be any common-Law-treasons at all left nothing treason if this not to make a Kingdome no Kingdome take the politie and government away England's but a peece of earth wherein so many men have their commorancy and abode without rancks or distinction of men without property in any thing further then possession no Law to punish the murdering or robbing one another That of 33 H. 8. of introducing the Imperiall Law sticks not with your Lordships It was in case of an appeal to Rome These appeals in cases of marriages and other causes counted Ecclesiasticall had been frequent had in most Kings reignes been tollerated some in times of popery put a conscience upon them the statutes had limitted the penally to a Premunire only Neither was that a totall subversion only an appeal from the Ecclesiasticall Court here in a single cause to the Court at Rome and if treason or not that case proves not a treason may be punished as a felony a felony as a trespasse if his Majesty so please the greater includes the lesser In the case of Premunire in the Irish reports that which is there declared to be treason proceeded upon onely as a Premunire The thing most considerable in this is whether the treasons at common Law be taken
If every felony be losse of life lands and goods what is misuser of the Legislative power by addition of Ignominie in the death and disposall of the lands to the Crowne the publick patrimony of the Kingdome But it was hoped that your Lordships had no more skill in the Art of killing of men than your worthy Ancesters My Lords this appeale from your selves to your Ancesters we admit of although we doe not admit of that from your Lordships to the Peeres of Ireland He hath appealed unto them your Lordships will bee pleased to hear what judgement they have already given in the case that is the severall attenders of treason in Parliament after the Statute of 25. E. 3. for treasons not mentioned without nor within that Statute and those upon the first offenders warning given By the Statute of 25. E. 3. its treason to levie war against the King Gomines and Weston afterwards in Parliament in 1. R. 2. Num. 38 39. adjudged traytors for surrendring two severall Castles in France only out of feare without any compliance with the Enimy this not within the Statute of 25. E. 3. My Lords in 3. R. 2. Iohn Imperiall that came into England upon letters of safe conduct as an Agent for the state of Genoa sitting in the Evening before his door in Breadstreet as the words of the Records are paulo ante ignit egium Iohn Kirby and another Citizen comming that way casually Kirby trode upon his Toe it being twilight this grew to a quarrell and the Ambassador was slaine Kirby was indicted of high treason the indictment findes all this and that it was only done se defendendo and without malice The Iudges it being out of the statute of 25. E. 3. could not proceede the Parliament declared it treason and judgement afterwards of high treason ther 's nothing can bring this within the statute of 25. E. 3. but it concerns the honour of the Nation that the publick faith should be strictly kept It might endanger the traffick of the kingdome they made not a Law first they made the first man an example This is in the Parliament Roll 3. R. 2. num 18. and Hilary Terme 3. R. 2. Rot. 31. in the Kings Bench where judgement is given against him In 11. R. 2. Tresiltan and some others attainted of treason for delivering opinions in the subversion of the Law and some others for plotting the like My Lords the case hath upon another occasion been opened to your Lordship only this is observable That in the Parliament of the 1. yeere of Henry the third where all treasons are againe reduced to the Statute of 25. Edward 3. these Attainders were by a particular Act confirmed and made good that the memory thereof might be transmitted to succeeding ages They stand good to this day the offences there as here were the endeavouring the subversion of the lawes My Lords after â— Henry the fourth Sir John Mortimer being committed to the Tower upon suspition of treason brake prison and made an escape This no way within any Statute or any former Judgement at common Law for this that is for breaking the prison onely and no other cause in the Parliament held the second yeere of Henry the sixth he was attainted of high treason by Bill My Lords poysoning is onely murder yet one Richard Coke having put poyson into a pot of potage in the kitchin of the Bishop of Rochester whereof two persons dyed hee 's attainted of Treason and it was enacted that he should be boyled to death by the statute of 22. H. 8. cap. 9. By the statute of 25. H. 8. Elizabeth Barton the holy maid of Kent for pretending revelations from God that God was highly displeased with the King for being divorced from the Lady Katherina and that in case he persisted in the separation and should marry another that he would not continue King above one month after because this tended to the depriving of the lawfull succession to the Crown she is attainted of Treason In the Parliament 2. and 3. H. 6. cap. 16. the Lord Admirall of England was attainted of Treason for procuring the Kings Letters to both Houses of Parliament to be good to the said Earle in such matters as he should declare unto them for saying that he would make the Parliament the blackest Parliament that ever was in England endevouring to marry the Lady Elizabeth the Kings sister taking a bribe of Sherrington accused of Treason and thereupon consulting with Counsell for him and some other crimes none of them Treason so cleerely within the statute of 25. E. 3. or any other statute as is the case in question My Lords All these Attainders for ought I know are in force at this day the statutes of the 1. H. 4. and the 1. Queene Mary although they were willing to make the statute of the 25. yeere of E. 3. the Rule of the inferiour Courts yet they left the Attainders in Parliament precedent to themselves untoucht wherein the Legislative power had been exercised There 's nothing in them whence it can bee gathered but that they intended to leave it as free for the future My Lords in all these Attainders there were crimes and offences against the Law they thought it not unjust circumstances considered to heighten and adde to the degrees of punishment and that upon the first offender My Lords We receive as just the other Lawes and statutes made by these our Ancesters They are the rules we go by in other cases why should wee differ from them in this alone These my Lords are in part those things which have satisfied the Commons in passing the Bill but it is now left to the Judgement and Justice of your Lordships FINIS
wherein this Statute was made So that my Lords immediately before and at the time of the making of this Statute there being Warre betweene those of the Shire grounds mentioned in this statute and the Irish the concluding of Warre and Acts offensive and invasive there mentioned can be intended against no others but the Irish enemies Againe the words of the statute are no captaine shall assemble the people of the Shire grounds to conclude of peace or warre Is it to bee presumed that those of the Shire grounds will conclude of Warre against themselves nor saith the statute shall carry those of the Shire grounds to doe any Acts invasive by the construction which is made on the other side they must be carried to fight against themselves Lastly the words are As captaine none shall assume the name or authority of a captaine or as a captaine shall gather the people together or as a captaine lead them The offence is not in the matter but in the manner If the acts offensive were against the Kings good Subjects those that went under command were punishable as well as the Commanders but in respect the Souldiers knew the service to bee good in it selfe being against the enemies and that it was not for them to dispute the authority of their commanders the penalty of a 100. pounds is laid onely upon him that as Captaine shall assume this power without warrant The people commanded are not within the Statute My Lords the logicke whereupon this argument hath been framed stands thus Because the statute of the eleventh yeere of Queene Elizabeth inflicts a penalty of a 100. pound and no more upon any man that as a captaine without warrant and upon his owne head shall conclude of or make Warre against the Kings enemies therefore the statute of the 18. yeere of Henry the sixth is repealed which makes it Treason to lay souldiers upon or to levie war against the Kings good people But my Lords observation hath been made upon other words of this statute that is that without licence of the Deputy these things cannot be done This shewes that the Deputy is within none of the statutes My Lords this Argument stands upon the same reason with the former because hee hath the ordering of the Army of Ireland for the defence of the people and may give warrant to the Officers of the Army upon eminent occasions of invasion to resist or prosecute the enimy because of the danger that else might ensue forthwith by staying for a warrant from his Majesty out of England Therefore it is no Treason in the Deputy to imploy the Army in Ireland whensoever hee pleaseth for the subversion of the Kings good people and of the Lawes My Lords the statute of the tenth yeere of Henry the seventh the 17. Chapter touched upon for this purpose cleares the businesse in both points for there it is declared that none ought to make warre upon the Irish rebels and enimies without warrant from the Lieutenant the forfeiture a 100 pounds as here the statute is the same with this and might as well have beene cited for repealing the statute of the eighteenth yeere of Henry the 6. as this of the 11. yeere of Queene Elizabeth but if this had been insisted upon it would have expounded the other two cleare against him Object My Lords it hath been further said although the statute be in force and there be a Treason within it yet the Parliament hath no jurisdiction the Treasons are committed in Ireland therefore not triable here Answ My Lords Sir Iohn Perrot his predecessors in the 24. yeere of Queene Elizabeth was tried in the Kings bench for Treason done in Ireland when he was Deputy Orucke in the 33. yeere of Queene Elizabeth judged heere for Treason done Ireland Object But it will be said these trials were after the statute of the 34. yeere of Henry the eight which enacts that treasons beyond sea may be tried in England Answ My Lords his predecessor my Lord Gray was tried and adjudged here in the Kings bench that was in Trinity terme in the 33. yeere of Henry the eighth this was before the making of that statute Object To this againe will be said that it was for Treason by the Lawes and statutes of England but this is not for any thing that 's Treason by the Law of England but by an Irish statute So that the question is onely whether your Lordships in Parliament here have cognisance of an offence made treason by an Irish statute in the ordinary way of judicature without bill for so is the present question For the clearing of this I shall propound two things to your Lordships consideration 1. Whether the rule for expounding the Irish Statutes and customes bee one and the same in England as in Ireland 2. That being admitted whether the Parliaments in England have cognizance or jurisdiction of things there done in respect of the place because the Kings writ runnes not there For the first if in respect of the place the Parliament here hath cognizance there And secondly if the rules for expounding the Irish statutes and Customes bee the same here as there this exception as I humbly conceive must fall away In England there is the common law the statutes the acts of Parliament and customes peculiar to certaine places differing from the common Law if any question arise concerning either a custome or an act of Parliament the common Law of England the first the primitive and the generall Law that 's the rule and expositour of of them and of their severall extents it is so here it is so in Ireland the common Law of England is the common Law of Ireland likewise the same here and there in all the parts of it It was introduced into Ireland by King Iohn and afterwards by King Henry the third by act of Parliament held in England as appeares by the pattent Rolls of the 30 yeere of King Henry the third the first membranâ The words are Quia pro communi utilitate terrae Hiberaniae unitate terrarum Regis Rex vult de commune consilio Regis provisum est quòd omnes leges consuetudines quae in regno Angliae tenentur in Hibernia teneantur eadem terra eisdem legibus subjaceat per easdem regatur sicut Dominus Johannes Rex cum ultimò esset in Hibernia statuit fieri mandavit Quia c. Kex vult quod omnia brevia de communi Jure quae currunt in Angliae similitèr currant in Hibernia sub novo sigillo Regis mandatum est Archiepiscopis c. quod pro pace tranquillitate ejusdem terrae per easdem leges eos regi deduci permittant eas in omnibus sequantur In cujus c. Teste Rege apud Woodstock decimo nono die Septembris Here 's an union of both Kingdomes and that by act of Parliament and the same Lawes to be used heere as there in omnibus My
Lords That nothing might be left here for an exception that is that in treasons felonies and other capitall offences concerning life the Irish lawes are not the same as here Therefore it is enacted in a Parliament held in England in the 14. yeere of Edward the second it is not in print neither but is in the Parliament booke That the Lawes concerning life and member shall be the same in Ireland as in England And that no exception might yet remaine in a Parliament held in England the fifth yeere of Edward the third It is enacted quod una eadem Lex fiat tam Hibernicis quam Anglicis This act is enrolled in the Patent rolls of the fifth yeere of Ed. the 3. part 1. membr 25. The Irish therefore receiving their Lawes from hence they send their Students at Law to the Innes of Courts in England where they receive their degree and of them and of the common Lawyers of this kingdome are the Judges made The petitions have been many from Ireland to send from hence some Judges more learned in the Lawes then those they had there It hath been frequent in cases of difficulty there to send some times to the Parliament here sometimes to the King by advice from the Judges here to send them resolutions of their doubts Amongst many I 'll cite your Lordships onely one because it is in a case of treason upon an Irish statute and therefore full to this point By a Statute there made in the fifth yeere of Edward the fourth there is provision made for such as upon suggestions are committed to prison for Treason that the party committed if he can procure 24. Compurgators shall be bailed and let out of prison Two Citizens of Dublin were by a grand Jury presented to have committed Treason They desired the benefit of this statute that they might be let out of prison upon tender of their Compurgators The words of the Statute of the 5. yeere of Ed. the fourth in Ireland being obscure the Judges there not being satisfied what to doe sent the case over to the Queene desired the opinion of the Judges here which was done accordingly The Judges here sent over their opinion which I have out of the Book of Justice Anderson one of the Judges consulted withall The Judges here delivered opinion upon an Irish Statute in case of Treason If it be objected That in this case the Judges here did not judge upon the party their opinions were only ad informandam conscientiam of the Judges in Ireland that the judgement belonged to the Judges there My Lords with submission this and the other Authorities prove that for which they were cited that is That no absurdity no failer of justice would ensue if this great Judicatory should judge of Treason so made by an Irish Statute The common Law the rule of judging upon an Irish Statute the Pleas of the Crowne for things of life and death are the same here and there This is all that hath yet beene offered For the second point That England hath no power of Judicature for things done in Ireland My Lords the constant practice of ages proves the contrary Writs of errour in Pleas of the Crowne as well as in civill causes have in all Kings reignes been brought here even in the inferiour Courts of Westminster Hall upon judgements given in the courts of Ireland The practice is so frequent and so well known as that I shall cite none of them to your Lordships no president will I beleeve bee produced to your Lordships that ever the case was remanded back againe into Ireland because the question rose upon an Irish Statute or custome Object But it will bee said That writs of errour are onely upon a failer of justice in Ireland and that suits cannot originally bee commenced here for things done in Ireland because the Kings writ runs not in Ireland Answ This might be a good plea in the Kings Bench and inferiour Courts at Westminster Hall the question is whether it bee so in Parliament The Kings writ runs not within the County Palatine of Chester and Durham nor within the five Ports neither did it in Wales before the union in Henry the eighth's time after the Lawes of England were brought into Wales in King Edward the first 's time suits were not originally commenced in Westminster Hall for things done in them yet this never excluded the Parliament suits for life lands and goods within those jurisdictions are determinable in Parliament as well as in any other parts of the Realme Ireland as appeares by the statute of the thirtieth yeere of Henry the third before mentioned is united to the Crowne of England By the Statute of the eight and twenty yeere of Henry the sixth in Ireland it is declared in these words That Ireland is the proper Dominion of England and united to the Crown of England which Crowne of England is of it selfe and by it self fully wholly and entirely endowed with all power and authority sufficient to yeeld to the subjects of the same full and plenary remedy in all debates and suits whatsoever By the Statute of the 33. yeere of Henry the eighth the first Chapter when the Kings of England first assumed the title of King of Ireland it is there enacted That Ireland still is to bee held as a Crowne annexed and united to the Crowne of England So that by the same reason from this that the Kings writ runs not in Ireland it might aswell be held that the Parliament cannot originally hold plea of things done within the County Palatine of Chester and Durham nor within the five Ports and Wales Ireland is part of the Realme of England as appeares by those statutes as well as any of them This is made good by constant practice In all the Parment rolls from the first to the last there are receivers and tryers of petitions appointed for Ireland For the Irish to come so farre with their petitions for justice and the Parliament not to have cognizance when from time to time they had in the beginning of the Parliament appointed receivers and tryers of them is a thing not to be presumed An appeale in Ireland brought by William Lord Vescye against Iohn Fitz Thomas for treasonable words there spoken before any Judgement given in the case there was removed into the Parliament in England and there the defendant acquitted as appeares in the Parliament pleas of the two and twentieth yeere of Edward the first The suits for lands offices and goods originally begun here are many and if question grew upon matter in fact a Jury usually ordered to try it and the verdict returned into Parliament as in the case of one Balliben in the Parliament of the five and thirtieth yeere of Edward the first If doubt arose upon a matter tryable by Record a writ went to the Officers in whose custody the Record remained to certifie the Record as was in the case of Robert Bagot the