the Parliament time by all the Members of the House of Commons and is required by the Law to be taken in all Parliaments otherwise they have no power nor colour to meddle with the publick Affaires This Oath being taken in Parliament that the King is the only and Supream Governour in al causes then it followes in Parliament causes over all persons then over the two Houses Let them keep this Oath and we shall bee sure of Peace in the Land and good Lawyers ought to desire peace both for the publicke good and their private and not dishonour that Noble profession as many doe in this miserable time The Gent. sayes Wee do not swear that the King is above all Law nor above the safety of his people neither do we so swear but his Majesty and we will sweare to the contrary and have sworne and have made good and will by Gods grace make good our Oath to the world that the KING is not above the Lawe nor above the safety of his people the Law and the safety of his people are his safety his Honour and his Strength AD 8. The Gent. concludes That Acts of Parliament are not formaly binding nor compleat without the Kings assent yet the Houses have a virtual power with out the Kings particular assent to doe things in order to publique justice and Safety viz. In setting up the Excise in raising and maintaining of Armes in Taxing the people at pleasure with Fifth and Twentieth part Fifty Subsidies Sequestrations Loans Compositions imprisoning the King abolishing the Common prayer Book felling the Churchs Lands c. all these are in order to the publick Justice and Safety Mr. H. P. you are of my profession I beseech you for the good of your Country for the Honour of our Science perswade your selfe and others as much as in you lies to beleeve and follow the monition and councell of that memorable reverend and profoundly Learned in the Lawes and Customes of the Land the Lord COOKI 3 par Inst pag 36. who writes as becomes a great and a learned Iudge of the Law a person much magnified by the two Houses in these words Peruse over all Books Records and Histories and you shall finde a Principle in Law a Rule in Reason and a Triall in Experience that Treason doth ever produce farall and finall destruction to the offender and never attains to the desired end two incidents inseparably thereunâ—o therefore let al men abandon it as the poysonouâ— bait of the divil follow the Precept in Holy Scripture SERVE GOD HONOUR THE KING AND HAVE NO COMPANY WITH THE SEDITIOVS Conclusion I say againe that without an Act of Oblivion a gratious Generall pardon from his Majesty the arrears of the Souldiers paid a favourable regard had to tender Consciences theâ—e will he neither Truth nor Peace in this Land nor any mansâ—cure of any thing he hath By me David Jenkins Prisoner in the Tower A DISCOURSE TOVCHING The Inconveniencies of a Long-continued PARLIAMENT A Perpetuall Parliament is repugnant to the Act made this Parliament for a Triennial Parliament for how can every three yeares a Parliament beginne if this bee perpetuall which may bee so if the two Houses please 2. An adjournment of the Parliâ—ment makes no Session 4 pars institut fol. 27. Howbeit before the adjournment the KING gives His Royall assent to some Bills Cookeibid 3. There is no Session till a Prorogation or dissolution of the Parliament 4. This Parliament as appeâ—res by the Act for not dissolving thereof set downe in the printed Statutes of this Parliament Plowd com 33.8 Bro. relation 35. Bro Parl. 86. Dâ—â— 1. Mariae 8 fol. 138. cannot be prorogâ—ed or dissolved but by Act of par liamènt There hath been as yet no Act of Parliament in that behalfe And therefore all the Acts of this Parliament are Acts of one Session 5. All Acts of one Session relate to the first day of the Parliament and all the Acts of such a Parliament are acts of one day so the Act for the Trienniall and the Act for this Perpetuall are two Acts of one day by the Law 6. 4 Ed. 3. cap. 36. Ed. 3. cap. 10. A Parliament is to be holâ—en once every yeare and more often if need shall bee those Acts are confirmed by the Act for the Trienniall Parliament How doth a perpetuall Parliament agree with a Parliament once every yeare or with the intention of those Lawes How doth a Parliament every three-years agree with a Parliament for ever which may be if the two Houses please 7. The result is this atâ—ent day in Law this Parliament two acts have passed for howbeit the one was in 16 Carol. and the other in 17 Carol. yet both in Law are Acts of one day the one saith there shall be a Trienniall Parliament after the end of the sitting of this Parliament The other this Parliament shall sit for ever if they please The one will have a Parliament with an end the other a Parliament without an end When an Act of Parliament is against common Right or Reason 1 Pars. Doct. Bon. hams case â—o 11 8. 8. E. 3 3.30.33 E. cassaâ—it 32. 27. H. G. Anuity 41. 1. Eliz. Dâ—er 113. or repugnant or impossible to be performed the Common Law shall controle it and adjudg this Act to be void they are the words of the Law An Act of Parliament that a Man shall be judg in his own Cause is a void Act. Hobbart Fol. 120. Begin with Common Right It is against Common Right that indebted men should not pay their debts That if any Member of the House of Commons doe any Subject wrong by disseising him of his land or dispossessing him of his goods or blasting of his fame or doing violence to his person that such persons during their lives should not be questioned by a Priviledg of Parliament and that extended also to many other beside themselves common right doth abhor these Enormities which a perpetuall Parliament doth beget besides the utter destruction of al mens actions real personall or mixt 21. Iac c. 16. who have to doe with Parliament-men by the statute of Limitation which confines Suites to certaine yeares For Common Reason Parliaments were ordained for remedies to redresse publique greivances it is against reason they should make publique and insufferable Grievances The Law of the Land allowes no protection for any men imployed in the service of the Kingdome but for a yeare to be free from Suites and in many Suites none at all howbeit he be in such service 39. H. 6.39 but a Parliament perpetuall may prove a protection not for a yeare but for ever which is against all manner of reason For impossibility The death of his Majesty whose life God prolong dissolves 〈◊〉 necessarily for the Writ of Summons iâ— Carolus Rex in hoc individuo and Carolus Rex is in this particular habiturus colloquium tractatum cum prelat is
116. The Writ of summoning the Commons is to doe and to consâ—nt to such things which shall happen to bee ordained by Common Counsell there viz. in the Parliament p. 25.26.115 The Parliament is a Corporation composed of the King the head and the Lords and Commons the Subject body p. 5. l. 22. p. 19.20.49.50.80.122.142.145.146 And it hath power over our Lives Libertyes Lawes and Goods p. 118. The Court of Parliament is onely in the House of Lords where the King sits in person p. 116.122.144 The Office of the Lords is to Counsell the King in time of Peace and to defend him in time of War p. 116.142 It belongs to the House of Lords to reforme erroneous Iudgements given in the Kings Bench to redresse the delayes of Courts of Iustice to receive all Petitions to advise his Majesty with their Counsell to have their Votes in Voting or abrogating of Laws and to propose for the Common good what they conceive meet p. 33. How Errours in Iudgement are reversed by the House of Lords p. 55. At a Conferrence the Commons are alwaies uncovered and stand when the Lords sit with their hats on which shewes that they are not Colleagues in Iudgement with the Lords p. 147. Every Member of the House of Commons takes the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy before his admission into the House p. 67.133 Briberies Extortions Monopolyes ought to bee enquired after by the House of Commons and complained of to the King and Lords p. 114. It belongs to the House of Commons to represent the Grievances of the Countrey to grant Aydes for the King upon all fit occasions extraordinary to assent to the making or abrogating Lawes p. 33.115 116 117 118. Because making of new and abrogating of old Lawes both induce Novelties and because Bils in both Houses may passe but by one or two voices or very few and perhaps of no Iudicious men who oftentimes carry it by making the Major part which involves the consent of all therefore the Law makes the King assisted therein by a great number of Grave Learned and Prudent men the Judge of those Bils whether they be necessary for the Publique Good or no. p. 32 3â— 53.57.123 And the King upon all Bills hath liberty of assenting or dissenting p. 18.28.39.111 And in case of the Kings Minority the Protector hath his liberty and negative voice in respect of the King p. 52. The styles of the Acts printed from 9. Hen. 3. to 1. Hen. 7. were either the King Ordaines at his Parliament c. Or the King Ordaineth by the advice of his Prelates and Barons and at the humble petition of the Commons c. In Hen. 7. time the style was altered and hath so continued to this day p. 24.71 No Act of Parliament bindes the Subject without the assent of the King p. 71.72 When an Act of Parliament is against common Right or Reason or repugnant or impossible to bee performed the Common Law shall controle it and adjudge it to be void And such is an Act for a perpetual Parliament p. 139. An Act of Parliament that a man shall bee Iudge in his own cause is a voyd Act. p. 139. An Adjournment of the parliament makes no Sâ—ssion p. 137. There is no Sâ—ssion till a prorogation or dissolution of the Parliament p. 137. All the Acts of one Sâ—ssion relate to the first day of the Parliament p 138. The two Houses ought to take care of the preservation of the Kings Person p. 18. The Lords and Commons cannot assent to any thing that tends to the disinherison of the King and his Crown to which they are sworn p. 11. The two Houses ought not to meddle with the Kings Revenue p. 11. Armes are not to be borne in London or Westminster in time of Parliament p. 8.39 The Priviledge of Parliament protects no man in case of Treason or â—elony p. 15.16 78. Parliaments are as the times are if a turbulent Faction prevailes the Parliament are wicked if the times be sober modest prudent and not biassed the Parliament are right good honourable and good Medicines and Salves p. 41.42 The present Parliament THis Parliament beganne 3. Novemb. 1640 and in the beginning thereof the King acquitted the Ship-Money Knighthood-Money seven Courts of Justice consented to a Triâ—niall parliament setled the Forrest bounds tooke away the Clarke of the Market of the Houshold trusted the Houses with the Navy passed an Act not to dissolve this Parliament without the Houses assent No people in the world so free if they could have been content with Lawes Oathes and Reason and nothing more could nor can bee devised to serve us neither hath been in any time before p. 3â— Notwithstanding all this Jan. 10. 1641. the King was driven away from London by frequent Tumults and 2. thirds and more of the Lords had deserted that House for the same cause and the greater put of the House of Commons left that House also for the same reason New men chosen in their places against Law by the pretended Warrant of a counterfeit Seale and in the Kings name against his consent leavying War against Him and seizing his Forts Ports Magazins and Revenue and converting them to his destruction the subversion of the Law and Land laying Taxes on the people never head of before in this Land devising new Oathes to oppose the Forces raised by the King c. p. 35. From the 3 Novem. 1640. uâ—â—o Ian. 10 164â— they had time to persecute all evil Counsellors and Iudges p 17 4â— From that time the King was driven away the two Houses stood in opposition to the king and his power p. 66. This became no Parliament when the King with whom they should parley was driven away and it continues so whilst his Majestic is restrained as a prisoner p. 35.81 And the houses now severed from the King have no power at all no more than the body hath being severed from the head p. 80.112 The 2. Houses do not now act by the Kings Writ but contrary to it p. 121. And so their Acts are Null p. 122 141. The Act for continuing this parliament so long as both Houses please is voyd because it is 1. Against Common right for thereby the parliament men will not pay their debts And they may doe wrong to other men Impune besides the utter destruction of all mens actions who have to doe with Parliament men by the Statute of Limitation 21. Jacob. 2. Against common reason for parliaments were made to redresse publique Grievances not to make them 3. Impossible the Death of his Majesty whom God long preserve dissolving it necessarily 4. Repugnant to the Act for a Trienniall parliament and to the Act for holding a parliament once a yeare p. 139.140 The end of continuing this parliament was to raise Credit for mony for three purposes And the three ends of the Act being determined it agreeth with Law and Reason the Act should end p. 141. A perpetuall parliament
constantly in this Parliament that the King to the onely supreme Governour in all causes ever all persons at this present time For what of verball or personall commands of the King which is objected we affirme few things to be subject thereto by the Law But his Majesties Command under his Great Seale which in this warre hath been used by the Kings Command for his Commission to â—savie and array men that is no personall command which the Law in some cases disallowes but that is such a command so made as all men hold their Lands by who hold by Patents all Corporations have their Charters which hold by Charters and all Judgesa and Officers their places and callings It is Objected 〈…〉 the King cannot suppresse his Courts of Justice and that this warre tended to their suppression The answer is Sol. 7 pars The â—a le of Westmerlands Ca e. 1 Eliz. Dier 165. 7 pâ—rs Cooke the King cannot nor ought to suppresse Justice or his Courts of Justice nor ever did but Courts of Justice by abuser or non user cease to be Courts of Justice when Judges are made and proceedings in those Courts holden by others then Judges made by the King and against his command under the great Seale The case of discontinuance of Processe and his Majesty is not obeyed but the Votes of the Houses and his Judges breaking that condition in Law of trust and loyalty implyed in their Patents are no longer his Judges they obey and exercise their places by vertue of Writs and Processes under a counterfet Seale The King onely can make Judges the twenty seventh of Henry the eighth Chapter the twenty fourth Justices of the Peace c. The Kings Patent makes Judges 28 H. 8. Dâ—â—r 11. The chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench is made by the Kings Writ onely of all the Judges The Great Seale is the key of the Kingdome Artiâ—uli super chartas cap. 5. 2 pars instit 552. and meet it is that the King should have the key of his Kingdome about him which confutes their saying that the King got the Seale away surreptitiously The King Brittâ—n sol 23. and he only may remove his Courts from Westminster into some other place at Yorke the Tearmes were kept for seven yeares in Edward the first 's time but for the Court of Common Pleas the placâ— must be certaine for the Kings Bench and Chancery the King by the Law may command them to attend his person alwaies if it seeme so meet unto him but the removing of the Common Pleas must be to a place certaine and so notified to the people All the Bookes of Law in all times agree that the King may grant conusance of all Pleas at his pleasure within any County or Precinct to be holden there onely and remove the Courts from Westminster to some other place for the Common Pleas 6 H. 7.9 6 Eliz Dier 226. the place must be certaine and so notified to the people and adjourne the Tearmes as he sees cause All which the two houses have violated Some seeming objections of Master Prinn's scattered in divers books answered and the truth thereby more fully cleered THE first of Henry the fourth 1 Ob. revived the Statute of the eleventh of Richard the second and repeales the one and twentieth of Richard the second whereby certaine persons were declared Traytors to the King and kingdome being of the Kings Party by 11 Rich. 2. True but note the eleventh of Richard the second Sol. a Parliament beset with 40000. men and the King assents to it so an Act and besides the first of Henry the fourth declares that the Treasons mentioned in the Act of the eleventh of Richard the second being but against a few private men shall not be drawne into example and that no Treason should be but such as the twenty fifth of Edward the third declares 9 Ed. 4. fol. â—0 All these are Acts passed by the King and the three Estates nor to be drawne into example in a tumultuous time by a besieged Parliament with an Army and Henry the fourth being an Usurper makes that Act of the first of Henry the fourth to secure himselfe Also what is this to the Votes of the two Houses onely at this time The Court of Parliament is above the King 2. Ob. for it may avoyd his Charters Commissions c. granted against the Law And the Law is above the King By the same reason you may say that the Courts of Chancery Sol. or any of the Courts of Law at Westminster are above the King for they make of no effect the Kings Charters which are passed against the Law and the King is subject to Law and sworne to maintaine it Againe it is no Parliament without the King and the King is the head thereof he is principium capus finis of a Parliament as Modus tenendi Parliament hath it and two houses onely want principiwn caput finis of a Parliament and it is a sorry Parliament that wants all these And therefore to say that Parliaments are above the King is to say the King is above himselfe The Parliament can enlarge the Kings Prerogative 3. Ob. therefore it is above him If the King assent Sol. otherwise not and then it is an Act of Parliament and otherwise no Act. Bracton saith God the Law 4 Ob. and the Kings Court viz. his Earles and Barons are above the King viz. in Parliament as Mr. Prynne expounds it Where is then the House of Commons Indeed take God the Law Sol. and Earles and Barons together it is true but to affirme that the Earles and Barons in Parliament are above the King the King being the head of the Parliament and they one of the members how an inferiour member is above the head is hard to conceive besides that position destroyes all Mr. Prynnes discourse who attributes much to the House of Commons The King is but one of the three Estates of Parliament 5 Ob. and two are greater then one therefore above The Legs Armes Sol. and Trunke of the body are greater then the Head and yet not above nor with life without it the argument holds for quantity but not for quality and in truth the King is none of the three Estates but above them all the three Estates are the Lords Spirituall the Lords Temporall and the Commons Cake their Oracle in his Chap. of Parl. f. 1 In Corporations the greater number of voyces make all the Acts of the Corporation valid 6 Ob. therefore so in Parliament By this reason the Kings assent is needlesse Sol. and to no end and all the Acts of Parliament formerly mentioned and Law-bookes have quite mistaken the matter which with unanimous voyce requires the Kings assent as necessary besides the Corporations are so constituted by the Kings Charters and the greater number of votes shall make their Acts valid The King
England and having many adherents And that Statute to that end affirmes no such power in the two Houses which is the question but in Queene Elizabeth and the two Houses which makes against the pretence of this time Master Prynne fol. 104 of his booke intituled the Parliaments supreme power c. Objecting the Statute of the first of Queens Elizabeth and his owne Oath that the King is the onely supreame Goverhour of this Realme Answers The Parliament is the supreme power and the King supreme Governour And yet there he allowes him a Negaâ—ive Voyce and fol. 107. confesseth that Acts of Parliament translated the Crowne from the right Heires at Common-Law to others who had no good Title then the Parlimentary Title makes not the King so powerfull in truth that it escapes from a man unawares To make a distinction betweene supreame Governour and supreame power is very strange for who can governe without power The King assembles the Parliament by his Writ adjournes Vide Speep 645.4 par Instit 27. 2. prorogues and dissolves the Parliament by the Law at his pleasure as is evident by constant practise the House of Commons never sate after an adjournement of the Parliament by the Kings Command Where is the supreame power The King by his Oath is bound to deny no man right 18 Ob. much lesse the Parliament to agree to all just and necessary Lawes proposed by them to the King This is the substance of the discourse against the Kings Negative Voyce The King is so hound as is set downe in the Objection Sol. but who shall judge whether the Bill proposed be just and necessary For all that they do propose are so pretended and carried in either House sometimes by one or two Voyces or some sew as aforesaid and certainly it hath been shewen the King his Counsell of State his Judges Sergeants Attorney Sollicitor and twelve Masters of the Chancery can better judge of them then two or three or few more Mr. Prynne fol. 45. In his Booke of the Parliaments interest to nominate Prnvy Councellors calleth the opinion of the Spencers to divide the Person of the King from his Crowne Calvins case 7 pars fol. â—1 a stringe opinion and cites Calvins Case but leaves out the conclusions therein mentioned fol. 11. Master Prynne saith there But let this opinion be what it will without the Kings Grace and Pardon it will goe very farre and two Acts of Parliament there mentioned are beyond an opinion And in his Book of the opening of the Great Seale fol. 17. The Parliament hath no jurisdiction to use the Grear Seale for Pardons Generall or Particular Where is the supreme power then Mr. 19. Ob. Prynnes opening of the Seale pag. 19. saith the Noblemen and State the day after the Funerall of King Henry the third King Edward the first his Sonne being in the Holy Land made a new Great Seale and Keepers of the same And in Henry the sixts time in the first yeare of his Reigne the like was done in Parliament A facto all jus Sol. is no good Argument for than in Edward the firsts time it was no Parliament for King Henry the third was dead which dissolyed the Parliament if called in his time and it could be no Parliament of Edward the firsts time for no Writ issued to summon a Parliament in his Name nor could issue but under that New Seale it was so suddainely done afterâ— Henry the thirds death King Edward the first being then in the Holy Land it was the first yeare of his Reigne and no Parliament was held that yeare nor the second yeare of his Reigne The first Parliament that was in his Reigne was in the third yeare of his Reigne as appeares by the printed Acts Also the making of that Seale was by some Lords then present What hand had the Commons in it Concerning the Seale made in Henry the sixths time the Protector was vice-Roy according to the course of Law and so the making of that Seale was by the Protector in the Kings name and that Protector Humphrey Duke of Gloucester as Protectour in the Kings Name summoned that Parliament and was Protector made by the Lords and not in Parliament as appeareth plainely for that Parliament was in the first of Henry the sixth and the first holden in his time and power given by Commission to the said Duke then Protector to summon that Parliament Prynne ibid. fol. 19. But the new counterfeit Seale was made when the King was at Oxford in his owne Kingdome and not in the holy Land Mr. 20 Ob. Prynne in his Booke of the two Houses power to impose Taxes restraines Malignants against any Habeaâ— Corpus c. saith that the Parliament is above Magna Charta and fol. 15. ibid. The Parliament hath power over Magna Charta to repeale the same when there is cause This Argument supposeth that they have the Kings power Sol. which hath appeared formerly they have not But suppose they had Magna Charta containes many Morall Lawes which by the Law of the Land a Parliament cannot alter 21 H. 7.2 D. and Student 2 Dialogue For example it saith cap. 11. Justice shall not be sold delayed nor denyed to any man but by this Argument the Parliament may make Law to delay deny and to sell Justice which surely is a very ill position to maintaine What they would have doth now by the Propositions sent to Newcastie to his Majesty appeare whereby they would have him divest himselfe and settle in them all his Kingly power by Sea and Land and of themselves to have power without him to lay upon the people of this Land what taxes they thinke meet to abolish the Common prayer-booke to abolish Episcopacie and to introduce a Church Government not yet agreed but such as they shall agree on His Majesty finding a prevailing party in both Houses to steere this course and being chased away with Tumults from London leaves the Houses for these Reasons viz. First because to alter the Government for Religion is against the Kings Oath Secondly against their Oaths For every of them hath sworne in this Parliament That His Majesty is the onely supreme Governour in all Causes Ecclesiasticall and over all persons Thirdly this course is against Magna Charta the 1. Chap. and the last Salve sint Episcopis omnes liber tales sue Confirmed by thirty two Acts of Parliament and in the two and fortieth of Edward the third the first Chapter enacts if any Statute be made to the contrary it shall be holden for none and so it is for judgements at Law in the 25 of Edward the 1. chap. 1.2 The great Charter is declared to be the Common Law of the Land Fourthly they endeavout to take away by their Propositions the Government of Bishops which is as ancient as Christianity in this Land and the Books of Common prayet settled by five Acts of Parliament and compiled by
proceribus c. King charles being to have conforence and Treaty with his Prelates and Peeres carolus Rex cannot have colloquium et tractatum Conference and Treaty when he is deceased 2 H. 5. Cook title Parl. 3. pars and therefore it is as impossible for any Parliament to continue as long as they please as for a Parliament to make a dead man alive For Repugnancy That which is but for a time cannot be affirmed to have continuance for even it is repugnant The end of the Act 17 Caroli Regis which is to continue at pleasure is in the said act expressed to be to raise credit for Mony for these three purposes First for relief of his Majesties Army and People in the North. Secondly for preventing the imminent danger of the Kingdome Thirdly for supply of other his Majesties present and urgent occasions These ends are ended the relief of that Army the imminent danger supposed was six yeares agoâ— the supply of his Majesty hath been a supply against Him take away the end the meanes thereto are to no purpose Sir Anthony Maines case 5. pars 1. H. 4.6 Littl. cap. Villen take away the cause the effect ceaseth and therefore the three ends of this Act being determined it agreeth with Law and reason the Act should end the Law rejects things unprofitable and uselesse A perpetuall Parliament besides that it incites men to selfe-ends destructive of the publique of which the whole Kingdom hath had sufficient experience will be a constant charge to the Kingdom for that every County and Borough who send Members to the Parliament are by the Law to pay Wages to their Parliament-men which to many Counties will amount above some Subsidies yearly there are many poor Borough-Towns in each County of this Kingdom who being to maintain two Burgesses in Parliament will be quickly beggered if the Parliament have no end for all which reasons it is clear that such long continuance of Parliaments will instead of a remedy which is and ought to be the proper and true ends of Parliament become an insufferable Grievance and Oppression to all the People of the Land The Writ of Summons this Parliament is the Basis and Foundation of the Parliament If the foundation be destroyed the Parliament falls The Assembly of Parliament is for three purposes Rex est habiturus colloquium tractatum cum Praelatis magnatibus et proceribus super arduis negotijs concernentibus 1. nos 2. Defensionem regninostri 3. defensionem Ecclesiâ—â—-Anglica nae This parliament hath overthrown this foundation in all three parts 1. Nos The King they have Chased him away and imprisoned him they have voted no prelates and that a number of other Lords about fourty in the City must not come to the House and about fourty more are out of Town the colloquium tractatus are made void thereby For the King cannot consult and treat there with men removed from thence 2. Defensionem regmâ—nostri that is gone they have made it their Kingdom not His for they have usurped all his Soveraignty 3. Defensionem Ecclesiae Anglicanâ— that is gone that Ecclesia Anglicana must be understood necessarily that Church that at the test of the Writ was Ecclesia Anglicana they have destroyed that too So now these men would be called a Parliament having abated quashed and made nothing of the Writ whereby they were summoned and assembled If the Writ be made void All the Processe is void also that House must needs fal where the Foundation is overthrown Sublaâ—o fundamentâ— opus cadit the foundation being taken away the work fals is both a Maxime in Law and reason For some years past there is no crime from treason to trespass but they are guilty of all treasons Felonies Robberies Tresspasses are câ—ntra pacem coronam dignitatem Regis against the Peace Crown and Dignity of the King as appeares by all Indictments in all Ages Pax Regis the Kings peace Corona Regis the Kings crown Dignitas Regis the Kings dignity are all trod under foot and made nothing Pax Regis the peace of the King is become a Warre against the King his Dignity put into Prison and the Crown put upon their owne heads All the Judges of England have resolved that Noble Men committing Treason have forfeited their office and Dignity Nevils case 7. part 34.2 Iac. their office is to councell the King in time of Peace to defend him in time of Warre and therefore those men against the duty and end of their Dignity taking not only councell but Armes also to destroy him and being thereof attaint by due course of Law By a tacit condition annexed to the estate of their dignity have forfited the same they are the words of the law and therefore they have made themselves incapable to be Members of the upper House The Oppressions of the People Briberies Extortions Monopolies ought to be inquired after by the House of Commons and complained of to the King and Lords What have they done The House of Commons cannot by the Law commit any man to prison who is not of the said House for Treason Murder or Fellony oâ— any thing but for the disturbance of the publique peace by the priviledge of the whole Body They have no power by the Writ which the King issueth to elect and returne Members of that house so to do For the Writ for them is onely ad faciendum consentiendum to those things where of his Majesty shal consult and treat with his Prelates and Nobles dâ— communi consilio regni shall be there ordained as appears by the Writ Here is no separate power given over the Kings people to them but only ad faciendum â—onsentiendum and in all times this â—â—th beene expounded and restrained to that which concerned their own Members in relation to the publique Service 4. pars inst 23 24 25. as they are Members of the corporate Body of the Parliament where of the King is the Head But that the House of Commons have commited any man for Treason Murder or Felony or for any offence that had no relation to a Member of the House of Commons as it is against Law and reason so no instance can be given till this Parliament All Questions and Tryalls where witnesse are examined 19. H. 6.43.22 E 4.22.5 H. 4. c. 8.3 H. 6.46 the Examination is upon Oath by the Law by all our Books Statutes every dayes practice Examination without an Oath is but a loose discourse therefore the House of Commons not claiming power to give Oath have no power to examine any man No man shall be imprisoned by the King or his Councell 25. E. 3. c 4. Petition of Right 3 Car. unles it be by indictment presentment of his good and lawfull Neighbours where such deeds be done in due manner or by process made by Writ original at the Common Law this Statute rehearses Magna Charta p. 29. expounds
non licet testari this Pubertas begins at 14. it is Plena pubertas at 18 yeares of age The question is whether this jus testandi is in pubertate plena or pubertate inceptâ Pigots Case 5. part of Cookes Reports the Doctors affirmed that 17 years of age was a full age as to an infant Executor to dispose of Goods this opinion hath been by others sithence denyed Sir Edward Cook 11 part Inst sect 123. saith He must be 10. which is the time of plena pubertas 2. Hen. 4.12 an infant of 18. years of age may be a deisseissour Sir Jo. Doderigge in his booke called The Office and Duty of Executors which they say is his and it is a learned and laborious Treatise fol. 347. delivers that this opinion of 17. yeares for that ability in an infant hath been reported otherwise This latter opinion comes nearer the Common Law and the Statute Law of the Land which Common Law and Statue Law gives infants no power by Deed or Will to make any disposition of any thing they have before they be 21 yeares of of age It seems also more reasonable because infants at 18 yeares have by the intendment of Law as they grow in yeares more use of reason to discern what is fit for them to doe and act And for a meere stranger to sue in a Court of Conscience who pretends by such Wills of infants the infant Husband being ravished against the will of the Kindred of the deceased who dyed six yeares sithence without issue being 17 yeares of age and that any part of his part of his estate should go that way by a course of Equity unlesse the Law be for Mr. Erneley who heyd not a penny with his Daughter and who would have the Husband of his daughter bring him a portion by his pretended title of an Executor of an Executor of an Execueor viz. of an infant the Executor of another infant the Executor of a third person seems very strange The said Licensed Historiographer of theirs hath published the 16 of this present Moneth of February 1647. that I out of a desire to keep the Estate have in a suite in the Court of wards in my Cousins life time pleaded to the Iurisdiction of that Court. It is true I did so for I conceived that the Estate would be unsafe in Mr. Ernley's hands and I was willing to preserve it titl my young Cousin came to be of age to dispose of it himselfe according as I was trusted The Law being 32. H. 8. c. 46.4 pars inst fol. 201.202 that the Court of Wards had no jurisdiction over the personall estate for then the Marriage was paid for to the King and all due to the King ascertained It is true that that was insisted upon as was just for to preserve the Estate from Mr. Erneley who would have made what account he pleased to my Cousin at his full age And this is the truth of that businesse That I declined not the Jurisdiction of the Chancery to keepe an Estate in my hand appeares by my declining long sithence the power of the House of Commons to examine me and the Reformers have all my Estate What would Mr. Ernley have when they the Reformers have all already or can have from me if he had any colour J desire the good people of this City to observe what notorious Vntruths their Licensed Historigraphers publish to delude the people In this particular case they publish First That the Suit against me is in the behalfe of an Orphan M. Earnely who is Plaintiffe in their Court is a Wiltshire Gentleman at the least of 50. years of age there is their Orphan Secondly That I made a speech to the people at the Hall door that the questioning of me for what I had done for the KING was illegall and that the Iudges had no power to tâ—y me the KING being absent Another notorious untruth For I protest to God all that I said was onely this God preserve the KING and the Lawes Thirdly it is said that comming to the Barre I stirred not my Hat All the Lawyers then at the Barre were uncovered wherefore I held it a civility to be also uncovered and so I was as they all know Fourthly That the E. of Manchester should say I received a great estate in money of the Orphans estate As there is no truth in it so it is most untrue that the said Lord so said as all men present can testifie The truth is they care not what they do what they say what they swear nor what they write Witnes the Declaration of a prevailing party of the H. of CoÌ„mons of the 11 of this instant February who contrary to the Oath of Allegiance the Oath of Supremacy the Protestation their solmne League and Covenant their Declarations to make His Majesty a glorious King fearfull to his enemies and beloved of his Subjects and yet now after 22. yeares they would insinuate to the people that this King whom they have so much magnified hath poysoned his own Father Fiftly it is a publike notorious untruth That the Parliament hath published a Declaration against the King of the 11. of this instant Feb. whereas it is well known to be the Declaration of the prevailing party of the House of Commons only without the Lords and so they would make that prevailing partie only to be the * Their licensed Historiographer who published this is called their Kingdoms weekly post from Wednesday Feb. 7 to Wednesday the 16 of Feb. 1647 Par. liament Let the people of England beleeve their five sences how it was with them seven yeares agoe and before during his Majesties Reign how this Kingdom abounded then with Peace Plenty and Glory to the admiration envy of other Nations now let them consider and judge by their Senses sithence those men whom nothing would satisfie but all Power both by Sea and Land which in truth is the regality kingship which they call the Militia have usurped the said Power Regal whether they have not by Impostures and Delusions diffused among the people by themselves and their Agents brought a flourishing Kingdom to the most deplorable condition it now is in To the end that this Kingdome may not utterly be ruined God incline their hearts to restore his Majesty and for their own and their Posterities sake to receive from his Majesty an Act of Oblivion a generall Pardon assurance for the Arrears of the Souldierie and meet satisfaction for tender Consciences DAVID JENKINS Iudge Ienkin's Remonstrance TO THE LORDS AND COMMONS OF The two HOVSES of PARLIAMENT at WESTMINSTER the 21. of February 1647. By DAVID JENKINS Prisoner in Newgate Printed in the Yeare 1648. Judge Jenkin's REMONSTRANCE TO THE LORDS and COMMONS AT WESTMINSTER I Desire that the Lords and Commons of the two Houses would be pleased to remember and that all the good people of England do take notice of an Order of the House of Commons this
7 Ob. as King is present in his Parliament as well as in all other his Courts of Justice howbeit he is not there In his other Courts of Justice he hath no voyce Sol. he is none of the Judges in the Parliament he hath if his presence be not necessary his voyce is not nor his assent The originall prime legislative power of making Lawes 8 Ob. Soveraigne power of Parliaments 4â— 44 Sol. to binde the Subjects and their posterity rests not in the King but in the Kingdome and Parliament which represents it Master Prinne in the same lease affirmes and truly that the Kings assent is generally requisite to passe Lawes and ratifie them the King is the Head of the Kingdome and Parliament how then can a Body act without a Head A major part of a Corporation bindes 9 Ob. therefore the major part in Parliament and so of by Lawes The Corporation is so bound Sol. either by the Kings Charters or by prescription which sometimes had the Kings concession but prescription and Law and practise alwaies left the King a negative voyce The King cannot alter the Bills presented to him by both Houses 10 Ob. go. True Sol. but the King may refuse them Acts of Parliament and Lawes ministred in the Reignes of Usurpers 11 Ob. binde rightfull Kings g o What is this to prove the two Houses power only which is the question Sol. A King de facto must be obeyed by them who submitted to him and they are his Subjects by their submission and not Subjects de facto to the true King 9 Ed. 4. and such being Traytours and Rebells to the Regent King having renounced the true King when the lawfull King is restored may be punished by him for their Treason against the Usurper But here is a King still in both cases and the proceedings at Law holds the Judges having their Patents from the being Kings in the Reignes of Kings de facto or de jure for all Kings are bound and sworne to observe the Lawes A King dyes without Heire 12 Ob. is an Infant non compos mentis c. the two Houses may establish Lawes g o There is no Inter-regnum in England Sol. as appeares by all our Bookes of Law and therefore the dying without Heire is a vaine supposition and by their principle he is considerable in his politick capacity which cannot dye at all The Protectour assisted by the Councell of the King at Law his twelve Judges the Councell of State his Attorney Solicitor and two Sergeants at Law his twelve Masters of the Chancery hath in the Kings behalfe and ever had a Negative Voyce but what is this to the present question We have a King of full age of grear wisdome and judgement the power of the two Houses in such a case to be over the King cannot be showne The King cannot disâ—assent to publique and necessary Bills for the common good 13 Ob. g o Nor ever did good King Sol. but who shall be judge whether they be publique and necessary The major part in either of the Houses for passing of Bills so pretended may be but one or two voyces or very few and perhaps of no judicious men is it not then fitter or more agreeable to reason that his Majesty and Councell of State his twelve Judges his Sergeants Attorney and Solicitor twelve Masters of the Chancery should judge of the conveniency and benefit of such Bills for the publick good rather then a minor of which sort there may be in the Houses or a weake man or a few who oftentimes carry it by making the major part which involves the consent of all Let reason determine The Kings of England have been elective 14 Ob. and the King by his Coronation Oath is bound to maintaine justas leges consuetudines quas vulgas elegerit g o Popery hath been in the Kingdome Sol. and therefore to continue it still will not be taken for a good argument when things are setled for many ages to looke back to times of confusion is to destroy all repose The Act of Parliament of the first of K. James Chapter the first and all our extant Lawes say that the Kings Office is an heritage inherent in the bloud of our Kings and their Birth-right And Usurpers that come in by the consent of the people â— Ed. 4. c. 1 are Kings de facto but not de jure as appeares by the Acts of Parliament declaring them so and by all our Law-bookes and the fundamentall constitution of the Land Regall power is hereditary and not elective For the words vulgus elegerit if vulgus be applyed to the House of Commons 1 Hen 7. they of themselves can make no Lawes The Peeres were never yet termed vulgus but allowing they be so called the Lawes to be made be just and who is fit to judge thereof is before made evident Customes cannot referre to future time 15 Ob. and both are coupled Lawes and Customes Princes have been deposed and may be by the two Houses g o The deposers were Traytours Sol. as appeares by the resolution of all the Judges of England Coke Chap. Treason in the second part of the Institutes And never was King deposed but in tumultuous and mad times and by the power of Armies and they who were to be the succeeding Kings in the head of them as Edward the third and Henry the fourth The appeale to the Parliament for errours in Judgements in all Courts is frepuent 16 Ob. g o This is onely to the House of Lords Sol. and that is not the Parliament the House of Commons have nothing to doe therewith and in the House of Peeres if a Writ of Errour be brought to reverse any judgement there is first a Petition to the King for the allowance thereof and the reason of the Law in this case is for that the Judges of the Land all of them the Kings Councell and twelve Masters of the Chancery assist there by whose advice erronious judgements are redressed The Parliaments have determined of the rights of Kings 17 Ob. as in Henry the sixts time and others and Parliaments have bound the succession of Kings as appeares by the Statute of the thirteenth of Queene Elizabeth Chapter the first And the discent of the Crowne is guided rather by a Parliamentary Title then by common Law g o If this objection be true Sol. that the Title to the Crowne is by Parliament then we had no Usurpers for they all had Parliaments to backe them yea Richard the third that Monster All our Bookes of Law say they have the Crowne by discent and the Statutes of the Land declare that they have the same by inherent birth-right And the Statute of the thirteenth of Elizabeth the first Chapter was made to secure Queene Elizabeth against the Queene of Scots then in the Kingdome clayming the Crowne of