Parliament offers the Commons a Writ to deliver their Burgess but they refuse it as being clear of opinion that all their Commandments Acts were to be done and executed by their Serjeant without Writ The Sheriffs ordered to appear and bring with them the Clerks of the Compter And accordingly they did Who are charged by the Speaker Being not admitted to any Councel The Sheriffs committed to the Tower The Clerk to Little Ease and the Serjeants to Newgate All at last delivered upon the humble suit of the Mayor and other their Friends The King takes notice of the proceedings The King in the presence of the Chancellor Judges with whom he had consulted before of this matter commends and approves the proccedings of the Commons Here the King from the mouth of the Lord Chancellor declares the ancient priviledg of the Commons even for their menial Servants and gives an instance in the Cook of the Temple The King Head and the Lords and Commons Members of the High Court of Parliament in which he stands highest in his Royal Estate The Court of Parliament Nota All Acts and Processes coming out of any inferiour Court must cease and give place to the Highest Sir Edward Mountague Chief Justice of England who we cannot believe to be misconusant of the ancient proceedings in Parliament and of the Priviledge of the House of Commons together with the rest of the Judges by Reasons which wanted not Authorities confirmed what the King had said Journal Dom. Com. 4. Ed. VI. Journ Dom. Com. 14 Eliz. 17 Maii Anno Dom. 1571. Misdemeanors of a Member of the House of Commons for sundry lewd speeches as well in the House as abroad Ordered that those who heard them to put them in writing and deliver them to the Speaker Mond 19 Febr Mr. Hall appears and is cleared Humbly confesseth his folly And is remitted by the House Journal Dom. Comm. Anno 18. Eliz. 16. Feb. A. D 1575. Breach of Priviledge Confederacy and Contempt Friday 18. Feb. Munday 27. Feb. Smalley to be brought to the House by the Mace and not by Writ Tuesday 28. Feb. Smalley brought to the Bar was presently delivered out of Execution Wednesday 7. March post Meridiem Mr. Hall Smalley's Master withdraws Smalley adjudged guilty of a Contempt against the House for fraudulently procuring himself to be arrested Kirtleton in confederacy with him Smalley to be committed to the Tower for his Misdemeanor and Contempt The like Judgment for Kirtleton Both to be brought into the House to receive their Judgements Mr. Hall's privity in the Matter to be referred to a further Debate Saturday 10 March The Speaker pronounced Judgement upon Smalley Saturd 4. Feb. An. 23. Eliz. Journ Dom. Com. Mr. Hall's Charge for writing a Book derogatory to the Authority Power and State of the Commons House of Parliament Mr. Hall ordered to be sent for by the Serjeant at Arms Two Knights Members of the House to assist the Serjeant A Commission to a Committee to send for the Printer and to examine the Matter To report to the House and to take order for Hall's Apprehension And if any Member should see him to stay him and bring him to the House Munday 6 Feb. Mr. Secretary Wilson reports the Examination of Hall's Case from the Committee Hall appears and was called to the Bar where he was charged by the Speaker with his Offence The Printer brought to the Bar. And Shirland who was examined And Wells who was also examined A Committee appointed to examine further the whole Matter M. Hall brought to the Bar again and committed to the Serjeant to attend the Committee Bynnyman Wells and Shirland ordered likewise to attend the Committee Dalton also ordered to attend Tuesd. 14 Feb. Another Report from the Committee against Hall of new Contempts and Crimes added to his former Mr. Hall chargeth the House with Injustice Nota. The Printer brought to the Bar again and re-examined Mr. Hall at the Bar and recharged by Mr. Speaker Submits refuseth to answer acknowledgeth his Error prays pardon and is sequestred Sundry motions for a proportionable punishment Resolved nemine contradicente Hall to be committed to Prison And that Prison to be the Tower There to remain for six months And from thence till he made a retractation of his Book To be fined to the Queen And that Fine to be 500 Marks To be severed and cut off from being a Member of the House And the Speaker to issue a Warrant for a new Writ His Book and slanderous Libel to be adjudged utterly false and erroneous And that to be publickly testified and affirmed by Order of the House Hall brought to the Bar to receive his Judgment which Mr. Speaker delivered accordingly The Proceedings against Hall drawn up read and agreed to by the House Rot. Pat. 48 H. 3. m. 6. dorso Forma pacis inter Regem Barones The Articles of Peace à Domino Rege Domino Edwardo Praelatis Proceribus omnibus Communitate tota regni Angliae communiter concorditer approbat were sealed by the Bishops of Lincoln and Ely Earl of Norf. Earl of Oxon. Humphrey Bohun William de Monte Canisio Major London in Parliamento London mense Junii Anno Dom. 1264. de consensu voluntate praecepto Domini Regis necnon Praelatorum Baronum ac etiam Communitatis tunc ibidem praesentium And not only so but that Record tells us Quod quaedam ordinatio facta in Parliamento London habito circa festum Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptistae prox ' praeteritum pro pace Regni conservanda Pultons Stat. 24 H. 8. c. 12. It is unanimously declared adjudged and confirmed That the King his noble Progenitors and the Nobility and Commons of the said Realm at divers and sundry Parliaments as well in the time of King E. 1. R. 2. H. 4. and other noble Kings of this Realm made sundry Ordinances Laws Statutes and Provisions for the entire and sure conservation of the Prerogative Liberties and Preheminences of the said Imperial Crown of this Realm and of the Jurisdiction Spiritual and Temporal of the same to keep it from the annoyance as well from the See of Rome as from the Authority of other Foreign Potentates attempting the diminution and violation thereof as often and from time to time as any such annoyance and attempt might be known or espied Ex vetusto MS. Staeturorum penes Johan ' Peachy de Interior ' Templo Armig. King Edw. 2. and the whole Parliament in the 15. year of his Reign when the Ordinances which had been made before that time by certain Prelates Earls and Barons by the consent of that King la Comunante de la terre were repealed because in many things they restrained the Power Royal too much yet in the Act of Repeal there is a salvo semper jure Regni sive Parliamenti for they unanimously agree and provide Mes les choses que sont establer pur le
Miscellanea Parliamentaria CONTAINING PRESIDENTS 1. Of Freedom from Arrests 2. Of Censures 1. Upon such as have wrote Books to the dishonour of the Lords or Commons or to alter the Constitution of the Government 2. Upon Members for Misdemeanours 3. Upon persons not Members for Contempts and Misdemeanours 4. For Misdemeanours in Elections Besides other Presidents and Orders of a various Nature both of the House of Lords and Commons With an APPENDIX Containing several Instances wherein the Kings of England have consulted and advised with their Parliaments 1. In Marriages 2. Peace and War 3. Leagues And other Weighty Affairs of the Kingdom By William Petyt of the Inner-Temple Esq London Printed by N. Thompson for T. Basset at the George and J. Wickins at the White Hart in Fleetstreet 1680. TO William Williams Esq SPEAKER OF THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF Commons The AUTHOR Humbly Dedicates these his Miscellanea Parliamentaria THE CONTENTS FErrers Case Pag. 1. § 1. Some few Presidents against such as have Wrote Books to the Dishonour of the Lords and Commons and the Subversion of the Government Pa. 12. § 2. Some Presidents wherein the House of Commons have for Misdemeanours turned out and discharged their Members Pa. 90. § Some Presidents for punishing Persons that were no Members for Contempts and Misdemeanours Pa. 96. § 4. Some Presidents for punishing Misdemeanours in Elections Pa. 111. § Some Miscellaneous Presidents and Orders both of the House of Lords and Commons p. 137. An Appendix Or A Collection of some few Records and Presidents out of many other of the like Nature whereby it appears That the Kings of England were pleased to consult and advise with their Parliaments de arduis negotiis Regni of the weighty and difficult Affairs of the Kingdom p. 221 THE PREFACE I Have seen saith Stephen Gardiner who was Dr. of Laws Bishop of Winchester and after Lord Chancellour of England the Councel much astonished when the King would have done somewhat against an Act of Parliament It was made then a great matter The Lord Cromwel had once put in the Kings our late Sovereign Lords Head to take upon Him to have His Will and Pleasure regarded for a Law for that he said was to be a very King and thereupon I was call'd for at Hampton-Court and as the Lord Cromwel was very Stout come on my Lord of Winchester quoth he for that conceit he had whatsoever he talked with me he knew ever as much as I Greek or Latine and all Answer the King here quoth he but speak plainly and directly and shrink not man Is not that quoth he that pleaseth the King a Law Have ye not the Civil-Law therein quoth he Quod principi placuit and so forth quoth he I have somewhat forgotten it now I stood still and wondered in my Mind to what Conclusion this should tend The King saw me musing and with earnest gentleness said Answer him whether it be so or no I would not answer my Lord Cromwel but delivered my Speech to the King and told him I had read indeed of Kings that had their Will always received for a Law but I told him the Form of his Reign to make the Laws his Will was more sure and quiet and by this Form of Government ye be established quoth I and it is agreeable with the Nature of your People If ye begin a new manner of Policy how it will frame no man can tell and how this frameth ye can tell and would never advise your Grace to leave a certain for an uncertain The King turned his Back and left the matter after till the Lord Cromwel turn'd the Cat in the Pan afore Company when he was angry with me and charged me as though I had played his part This Tale is true and not without purpose to be remembred So far the Bishops Letter And from it and other passages in History I shall raise four Observations That it was a general Rule and Principle in most great Ministers of State or as the old Word was Minions to flatter and poison Princes minds with Absolute and Despotical Power not for the Honour or good of the Crown for that can never be but for their particular Advantages that Themselves might Reign and be Sovereigns over their Masters And indeed not only of our own Country but of others Historians are full of the sad and woful Effects thereof in most Ages which makes me frequently revolve the melancholly Contemplation of Cardan Inter fures scurras adulatores constitutus est princeps a furibus bona diripiuntur a scurris mores corrumpuntuh ut quisque melior est ex aula abigitur ab adulatoribus veritas summum inter mortales bonum ablegatur unde miseri principes propter has larvas in Cimmeriis ignorantiae tenebris perpetuo vivunt O miseram principum sortem qui nunquam norunt quali in statu res suae positae sint adeo vero aures principum emollitae sunt ut ad veritatis nomen tanquam ad Nili cataractas obsurdescant This pessima gens humani generis always abhorred a Parliament and the reason thereof is demonstrative because they well knew they should then be called to an impartial and strict account and be punished according to their demerit as de facto it appears in the Cases of the Lord Cromwel after Earl of Essex and the Protector the Duke of Somerset mentioned in the Bishop's Letter that they were questioned in Parliament although possibly the proceedings therein against them were managed with too much Violence and artifice by the malice and policy of their Enemies And no man in all points can justifie the acts of all Councels whether Ecclesiastical or Civil The first was attainted of High-Treason in the Parliament 32. H. 8. amongst other Crimes 1. For Vsurping upon the Kingly Estate Power Authority and Office 2. For having the Nobles of the Realm in great disdain derision and detestation 3. And further also being a person of poor and low degree as few were within the Realm pretended to have so great a stroke about the King that he lett it not to say publish and declare That he was sure of the King which was detestable and to be abhorred amongst all good Subjects in a Christian Realm that any Subject should enterprize to take upon him so to speak of his Sovereign Leige Lord and King The second was in the Parliament 3 and 4 E. 6. Fined and Ransomed amongst other Offences 1. For desiring the Rule Authority and Government of the King and Realm by himself only and getting the Protectorship 2. That by his own Authority he did stay and lett Justice and subverted the Laws as well by Letters Patents as by his other Commandments 3. He rebuked checked and taunted as well privately as openly divers of the Privy Counsel for shewing and declaring their advices and opinions against his purpose in weighty Affairs
telling them they were unworthy to sit in Councel That he needed not to open matters to them and that he would be otherwise advised thereafter and if they agreed not with his Opinion he would put them out and take in others at his Pleasure 4. That he had held against the Kings Laws in his own House a Court of Requests and forced divers to answer for their Free-holds and Goods to the subversion of the Law 5. That he had without Advice of the Counsel disposed of Offices for Money 6. That he would not suffer New-haven and Blackness to be furnished with Men and Victuals although advertized of their defects whereby the French King was comforted and encouraged to invade and win them to the dishonour of the Realm 7. And whereas the Privy-Counsel had out of their Love and Zeal for the King and Realm consulted at London to come to the Duke to move him charitably to amend and reform his Doings and Mis-government he caused to be declared by Letters in divers places the Lords to be High-Traytors to the great disturbance of the Realm And further declared That the Lords endeavoured to destroy the King to the intent to make Sedition and Discord between the King and Lords 8. The Duke at Hampton-Court and Windsor declared these Speeches The Counsel at London do intend to kill me But if I die the King shall die with me and if they famish me they shall famish the King and so conveyed the King suddenly in the Night to Windsor whereby he got a Disease 9. He assembled great numbers in Arms and after minding to fly to Jersey or Wales laid Post-Horses about and Men for the same Intent All which Offences and Crimes the said Duke acknowledged and submitted himself to the King After which passed the Act That for his said Offences and Crimes he should forfeit a great many Manors which the Crown had given him To bring it to the Relation made by the Bishop not without purpose to be remembred how dangerous a thing it was to break the Law or an Act of Parliament The Bishop thus further expresseth in the same Letter Now whether the King may command against an Act of Parliament and what danger they may fall in that break a Law with the King's consent I dare say no man alive at this day hath had more experience with the Judges and Lawyers then I First I had experience in my old Master the Cardinal who ohtained his Legacy by our late Sovereign Lord's request at Rome and in his sight and knowledge occupied the same with his 2 Crosses and Maces born before him many years yet because it was against the Laws of the Realm the Judges concluded it the Offence of the premunire which conclusion I bare away and take it for a Law of the Realm because the Lawyers so said but my reason digested it not The Lawyers for confirmation of their doings brought in a Case of the Lord Tiptoft as I remember a jolly Civilian he was Chancellor to the King who because in the execution of the King's Commission he had offended the Laws of the Realm he suffered on Tower-Hill they brought in Examples of many Judges that had Fines set on their Heads in like Case for doing against the Law of the Realm by the King's Commandment and then was brought in the Judges Oath not to stay any Process or Judgment for any Commandment from the King's Majesty And one Article against my Lord Cardinal was That he had granted Injunctions to stay the Common Law and upon that occasion Magua Charta was spoken of and it was made a great matter the stay of the Common-Law and this I learned in that Case sithence that time being of the Counsel when many Proclamations were devised against the Carriers out of Corn at such time as the Transgressors should be punished the Judges would answer it might not be by the Laws whereupon ensued the Act of Proclamation in the passing of which Act many siberal Words were spoken and a plain Proviso That by Authority of the Act for Proclamation nothing should be made contrary to an Act of Parliament or Common-Law When the Bishop of Exeter and his Chancellour were by one Body brought in a praemunire which my Lord Privy-Seal cannot forget I reason'd with the Lord Audley then Chancellor so far as he bad me hold my peace for fear of entring into a praemunire my self whereupon I stayed but concluded it seemed to me strange that a man authorized by the King as since the King's Majesty hath taken upon Him the Supremacy every Bishop is such a one could fall in a praemunire after I had reason'd the matter once in the Parliament-House where was free Speech without danger and there the Lord Audley to satisfie me familiarly because I was in some secret estimation as he then knew Thou art a good fellow Bishop quoth he which was the manner of his familiar Speech look the Act of Supremacy and there the King's doings be restrained to spiritual Jurisdictions And in another Act it is provided That no spiritual Law shall have place contrary to a common Law or Act of Parliament And if this were not quoth he you Bishops would enter in with the King and by means of his Supremacy order the Laity as ye listed but we will provide quoth he that praemunire shall ever hang over your Heads and so we Lay-men shall be sure to enjoy our Inheritance by the Common Laws and Acts of Parliament My fourth Observation is this It had been well for the Protector to have remembred the good and wholsom Advice the Bishop gave him that great Man had not lost his Head for being indicted in Michaelmas-Term 5. E. 6. upon a Statute made 3 and 4 of that King For the punishment of unlawful Assemblies and raising of the Kings Subjects And one of the main points in the indictment was that Felonice he designed to take and imprision John Earl of Warwick being one of the Privy-Council of which he was found guilty by his Peers and after suffered Death thereupon To conclude whose sad Fate I shall add the Preamble of an Act of Parliament more memorable because in a Subsidy Act yet common in that and former and succeeding Ages as may appear For instances Rot. Parl. 4. H. 8. and by Rastals Statutes 35. H. 8. cap. 12 27. 2 and 3. E. 6. cap. 26. 5. Eliz. cap. 27. 8. Eliz. cap. 18. 23. Eliz. cap. 15. 29. Eliz. cap. 8. 31. Eliz. cap. 15. 35. Eliz. cap. 13. 39. Eliz. cap. 27. 43. Eliz. cap. 18. and 3. Jacobi cap. 26. wherein the State of the Kingdom both Ecclesiastical and Civil and the Transactions of Foreign Affairs are Historically set down and taken notice of by the Parliament and inserted into the Preambles of those Acts. An ACT for the Grant of a Subsidy and two Fifteens and Tenths granted to the King's Majesty by the Temporality WE the Kings
said Burgess without any Writ or Warrant had for the same but only as afore Albeit the Lord Chancellor offered there to grant a Writ which they of the Common House refused being in a clear opinion that all Commandments and other Acts proceeding from the Nether House were to be done and executed by their Serjeant without Writ only by shew of his Mace which was his warrant But before the Serjeants return into London the Sheriffs having intelligence how heinously the matter was taken became somewhat more mild so as upon the said second demand they delivered the Prisoner without any denial But the Serjeant having then further in commandment from those of the Nether House charged the said Sheriffs to appear personally on the morrow by eight of the Clock before the Speaker in the Nether House and to bring thither the Clerks of the Compter and such other of their Officers as were parties to the said affray and in like manner to take into his custody the said White which wittingly procured the said Arrest in contempt of the Priviledge of the Parliament Which Commandment being done by the said Serjeant accordingly on the morrow the two Sheriffs with one of the Clerks of the Compter which was the chief occasion of the said affray together with the said White appeared in the Common House where the Speaker charging them with their Contempt and misdemeanour aforesaid they were compelled to make immediate Answer without being admitted to any Councel albeit Sir Ro. Cholmley then Recorder of London and other the Councel of the City there present offered to speak in the Cause which were all put to silence and none suffered to speak but the parties themselves Whereupon in conclusion the said Sheriffs and the same White were committed to the Tower of London and the said Clerk which was the occasion of the Fray to a place there called Little Ease and the Officer of London which did the Arrest called Tailor with four Officers to Newgate where they remained from the 28. until the 31. of March and then they were delivered not without humble suit made by the Mayor of London and other their Friends And forasmuch as the said Ferrers being in Execution upon a Condemnation of Debt and set at large by Priviledge of Parliament was not by Law to be brought again into Execution and so the party without remedy for his Debt as well against him as his principal debtor after long debate of the same by the space of nine or ten days together at last they resolved upon an Act of Parliament to be made and to revive the Execution of the said Debt against the said Welden which was principal debtor and to discharge the said Ferrers But before this came to pass the Common House was divided upon the Question but in the conclusion the Act passed for the said Ferrers who won by 14. Voices The King then being advertized of all this proceeding called immediately before him the Lord Chancellor of England and his Judges with the Speaker of the Parliament and other the gravest persons of the Nether House to whom he declared his opinion to this effect First commending their wisdom in maintaining the Priviledges of their House which he would not have to be infringed in any point alledged that he being Head of the Parliament and attending in his own person upon the Business thereof ought in reason to have Priviledge for Him and all his Servants attending there upon Him so that if the said Ferrers had been no Burgess but only his Servant that in respect thereof he was to have the Priviledge as well as any other For I understand quoth he that you not only for your own persons but also for your necessary Servants even to your Cooks and Horse-keepers enjoy the said Priviledge in as much as my Lord Chancellor here present hath informed us that he being Speaker of the Parliament the Cook of the Temple was Arrested in London and in Execution upon a Statute of the Staple And forasmuch as the said Cook during the Parliament served the Speaker in that Office he was taken out of Execution by the Priviledge of the Parliament And further we be informed by our Judges that we at no time stand so highly in our Estate Royal as in the time of Parliament wherein We as Head and You as Members are conjoyned and knittogether into one Body politick so as whatsoever offence or injury during that time is offered to the meanest Members of the House it is to be judged as done against Our Person and the whole Court of Parliament which Prerogative of the Court is so great as our learned Councel informeth us as all Acts and Processes coming out of any other Inferiour Courts must for the time cease and give place to the Highest And touching the party it was a great presumption in him knowing our Servant to be one of this House and being warned thereof before would nevertheless prosecute this matter out of time and therefore was well worthy to have lost his Debt which I would not wish and therefore do commend your Equity that having lost the same by Law have restored him to the same against him who was his Debtor and this may be a good example to others not to attempt any thing against the Priviledge of this Court but to take the time better Whereupon Sir Edward Mountague then Lord Ch. Justice very gravely declar'd his opinion confirming by divers reasons all the King had said which was assented unto by all the residue none speaking to the contrary The Act indeed passed not the Higher House for the Lords had not time to consider of it by reason of the Dissolution of the Parliament Because this Case hath been diversly reported as is commonly alledged as a President for the Priviledge of the Parliament I have endeavoured my self to learn the truth thereof and to set it forth with the whole circumstances at large according to their instructions who ought best both to know and remember it 4. Ed. VI. Eight years after the Case of Ferrers Withrington having made an Assault upon Brandling Burgess for Newcastle the Parl. being near an end the Com. sent Withring to the Councel Die Jov. 7. Apr. an praedict The Bill for Mr. Brandling's Complaint sent from the Lords of the Privy Councel again to be ordered by this House according to the Antient Custom of this House Whereupon the Bill was read in the presence of Henry Witherington who was sent to the Lords from this place who confest that he began the Fray upon Mr. Brandling whereupon the said Henry is committed to the Tower of London Some few Presidents against such as have wrote Books to the dishonour of the Lords and Commons and Subversion of the Government The Case of Arthur Hall Esq UPon sundry Motions made by divers of this House It was Order'd that Arthur
state nostre Seigneur le Roy ses heirs pur le state du Roialme du Peuple soient tretez accordez establez en Parlement par nostre dit Seigneur le Roy par l'assent des Prelatz Comtz Barons tout le Commune du Roialme auxi come ad estre accustumer ceo en arrear That those things which are for establishing the Estate of the King and his Heirs and for the Estate of the Realm and the People thereof shall be treated of accorded and established in Parliament by the King and by the assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and all the Commons of the Realm as it had been accustomed in times past Rastals Stat. Anno 38 E. 3. f. 124. the Statute of Provisors from Rome And to the intent that the said Ordinances and every of the same for the ease quietness and wealth of the Commons be the better sustained executed and kept and that all those which have offended or shall offend against these Ordinances by prosecutions accusations denunciations citations or other Process made or to be made out of the said Realm or within or otherwise against any manner of person of the said Realm be the more covenable and speedily brought in answer to receive right according to their desert The King the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons Nobles and other Commons Clerks and Lay-people be bound by this present Ordinance to aid comfort and to counsel the one and the other and as often as shall need and by all the best means that may be made of word and of deed to impeach such offenders and resist their deeds and enterprizes and without suffering them to inhabit abide or pass by the Seignories Possessions Lands Jurisdictions or Places and be bound to keep and defend the one and the other from all damage villainy and reproof as they should do their own persons and for their deed and business and by such manner and as far forth as such Prosecutions or Process were made or attempted against them in especial general or in common Rot Parl. 21 R. 2. n. 27. Pur le Pape s'accorderent touts les Prelats Seigneurs Communes en le Parlement That Pope Urban was true lawful Pope and that the Livings of all Cardinals Rebels to Holy Father and all others their coadjutors fautors and adherents and all other Enemies of the King and his Realm shall be seized into the hands of the King and the King to be answered of the profits thereof and whosoever shall procure or obtain any Provision or other Instrument from any other Pope then the said Urban shall be out of the Kings Protection Certaine Priests en Angleterre avoient offend en diverse points en temps R. 2. durant le division de la Papacy les fueront per Act del Parlement deprives de leur Benefices 21 H. 7. fo 34. Rot. Parl. 2 H. 5. par 2. num 10. An Act of Parliament made 2 H. 5. agrees and confirms that it was ever the liberty and freedom of the Commons of England that no Statute or Law could be made unless they gave thereto their assent and the Reason was convincing and certain which the King and his Councel the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls and Barons in Parliament agreed to and never in the least questioned or doubted of that the Commons of the Land have ever been a Member of Parliament and were as well Assenters as Petitioners The Record is thus That so as it hath ever be their liberte and freedom that ther should no Statute ne Law be made of less then they yaffe thereto there assent considering that the Common of your Lond the which that is and ever hath be a Membre of your Parliament ben as well Assenters as Petitioners Rot. Parl. 3 H. 5. n. 11. Nostre Seigneur le Roy per avys assent des Seigneurs Communes Enact That during the Schism at Rome all Bishops and other persons of Holy Church shall be consecrated by the Metropolitan upon the Kings Writ without further excuse or delay Pultons Stat 24 H 8. c. 12. It was enacted by Authority of Parliament That all Archbishops and Bishops of this Realm or of any the Kings Dominions consecrated and at this present time taken and reputed for Archbishops and Bishops may by Authority of this present Parliament and not by vertue of any provision or other foreign Authority License Faculty or Dispensation keep enjoy and retain their Archbishopricks and Bishopricks in as large and ample manner as if they had been promoted elected confirmed and consecrated according to the due course of the Laws of this Realm and that every Archbishop and Bishop of this Realm and of other the King's Dominions may minister use and exercise all and every thing and things pertaining to the Office or Order of an Archbishop and Bishop with all tokens in Signs and Ceremonies thereunto lawfully belonging Rastals Stat 25 H. 8. c. 12. It is declared both by the Lords Commons That your Royal Majesty and your Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons representing the whole state of your Realm in this your most High Court of Parliament have full power and authority not only to dispence but also authorize some elect person or persons to dispence with those and all other Humane Laws of this your Realm and with every one of them as the quality of the persons and matter shall require and also the said Laws and every of them to abrogate adnul amplifie or diminish as shall be seen unto your Majesty and the Nobles and Commons of your Realm present in your Parliament meet and convenient for the wealth of your Realm as by divers good and wholesom Acts of Parliament made and established as well in your time as in the time of your most noble Progenitors it may plainly and evidently appear Pultons Stat. An. 2 3 E. 6. cap. 21. All Laws prohibiting Spiritual persons to marry who by Gods Law may marry shall be void Be it therefore enacted by our Soveraign Lord the King with the assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same that all and every Law and Laws positive Canons Constitutions and Ordinances heretofore made by Authority of Man only which do prohibit or forbid marriage to any Ecctesiastical or Spiritual person or persons of what estate condition or degree they be or by what name or names soever they be called which by Gods Law may lawfully marry in all and every Article Branch and Sentence concerning only the prohibition for the marriage of the persons aforesaid shall be utterly void and of none effect and that all manner of forfeitures pains and penalties crimes or actions which were in the said Laws contained and of the same did follow concerning the prohibition for the marriage of the persons aforesaid be clearly and utterly void frustrate and of none effect to all intents
the Polity and Laws in the time of those Emperors as also to make the Laws and Customs of Rome and Constantinople to be binding and obligatory to the Cities of London and York IV. In the same Parliament Mr. Hoskins a Member of the Commons produced several other Treatises containing as much as Dr. Cowell's Book all sold impune amongst the rest there was one Blackwood's Book which concluded That we are all Slaves by reason of the Conquest Upon these pernicious and false principles our more modern Authors have without controul published to the World these and many more dangerous positions against the very being and honour of Parliaments and destructive to the ancient fundamental Laws Priviledges and Customs of this Realm POSITIONS 1. That originally the Parliament consisted only of such as it pleased the King to call none having Right to come else 2. That all the Subject hath is the Kings and he may lawfully at his pleasure take it from us in regard he hath as much Right to all our Lands and Goods as to any Revenue of the Crown 3. That the Saxon Kings made Laws by the advice of the Bishops and Wise men which were no other then the Privy-Councel 4. That the Laws Ordinances Letters Patents Priviledges and Grants of Princes have no force but during their life if they be not ratified by the express consent or at least by the sufferance of the Prince following who had knowledge thereof What then becomes of the Peerage of England what of the Bishops Deans Prebends and other dignified Clergy what of the Charters of all Corporations what of hereditary Offices and what of Offices and Places for life and lastly what becomes of the Charters and Priviledges of the two most famous Vniversities of England Cambridge and Oxford 5. That Taxes and Subsidies were raised and paid without any gift of the Commons or of any Parliament in the Saxon times for instance Danegelt 6. For it was matter of Grace for the King to call the Commons to Parliament Yet afterwards the Commons were called and made a House by the Bishops in the times of the Barons War the better to curb them yet were they never called to consult but only to consent 7. Yet others deny that and affirm that the Commons had their first birth and beginning by Rebellion Anno 49 H. 3. and that too after the Battel of Lewes when the Barons had the King and Prince Edward in their power as prisoners and exercised Regal Authority in his Name He reigned 57. years 8. But this is not agreed by some for they say ab ingressu of William the First ad excessum H. 3. they cannot find one word of the Plebs or Commons being any part of Parliament hence another infers that the opinion is most like who think That the Commons giving their assent to making of Laws began about the time of E. 1. 9. The Legislative power is wholly in the King for the Statutes of most antiquity according to the phrase of penning may seem to be the meer will and pleasure of the King assisted with his Councel neither Lords nor Commons being named witness inter al. the Statute of Magna Charta 9 H. 3. c. 10. Nor did the Commons take into consideration matters of Religion which was only the place and function of the Lords Spiritual and Divines to determine and not at all appertaing to the Laity semper exclusis Dominis Temporalibus Communitate Regni 11. As for the Priviledges of the House of Commons pretended to there 's none to be found full and firm but only their being freed from Arrests and that hardly 12. They are not called to be any part of the Common Councel by the Writ of Summons 13. Nor to consult de arduis Regni negotiis of the difficult business of the Kingdom 14. For the Writ saith That the King would have conference and treat with the Great men and Peers but not a word of treaty and conference with the Commons 15. Their duty being only ad faciend consentiend to perform and consent to such things as should be Ordained by the Common Councel of the Kingdom 16. Nor is there so much mention in the Writ as a power in the Commons to dissent No more is there in the Lords Writ what then 17. Until H. 7's time the Commons were often petitioning but never petitioned to and then directed to the Right Worshipful Commons 18. That until the time of E. 6. who was an Infant for that I suppose was the pretended foundation of the notion it was punctually expressed in every Kings Laws that the Statutes were made by the King alone and then there began a dangerous alteration in the phrasing and wording of Acts of Parliament to the disadvantage of the Crown and invading the Prerogative 19. Lastly for it would be tedious to trouble the Reader with all their absurdities Chimaera's and false Inferences and Notions with which they have stuffed their Books and imbroiled the Kingdom by imposing upon the understanding of many of the Clergy and Gentry in the Nation They boldly assert that the Kings Prerogative is a preheminence in cases of necessity of which he is the proper and sole Judge above and before the Law of property and inheritance And so farewell all Parliaments and by consequence farewell all Laws It is God alone who subsists by himself the Right of Crowns and Kingdoms and all other things exist in mutual dependance and relation The Soveraignty Honours Lives Liberties and Estates of all are under the guard of the Law which when invaded by fraud or wit or destroyed by force a dismal confusion quickly veils the face of Heaven and brings with it horrid darkness misery and desolation Rapine plunder and cheating both private and publick will be allowed and protected continual Rebellions unjust Proscriptions villanous Accusations and Whippings illegal and lasting Imprisonments and Confiscations dismal Dungeons tormenting Racks and Questions Arbitrary and Martial Law Murthers inhumane Assassinations and base and servile Flatteries multiplied by Revenge Ambition and insatiable Avarice will become the Common Law of the Land All these and myriads more will be enacted for Law by force or fraud All which that wise King James well understood who saith That not only the Royal Prerogative but the Peoples security of Lands Livings and Priviledges were preserved and maintained by the ancient fundamental Laws Priviledges and Customs of this Realm and that by the abolishing or altering of them it was impossible but that present confusion will fall upon the whole state nnd frame of this Kingdom And his late Majesty of ever blessed memory was of the same mind and opinion when he said The Law is the Inheritance of every Subject and the only security he can have for his Life or Estate and the which being neglected or dis-esteemed under what specious shew soever a great measure of infelicity if not an irreparable confusion
Pope and in the same manner it was charged the Knights of the Shire and the Commons to assemble in the Chamber depeint to treat conclude and assent amongst them upon the same business and to give their Answer lour assent en dit Parlement 20. In the Parliament 18. E. 3. The King by his Chancellor prayed and charged the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons that they would consider touching the Articles of Truce between the King and France and that they would mettre leid le Conseil give their Aid and Counsel for the Salvation of the Rights and Honour of the King de eux meismes and of themselves 21. Sir Bartholomew Burghurst the Kings Chamberlain declared in Parliament That there was a Treaty of Peace between the King and the French and good hope of a final Accord but the King would not conclude sanz assent des Grantz ses Communs Whereupon the Chamberlain required and demanded on the behalf of the King whether they would assenter accorder to the intended Peace To which the Commons d'unassent d'unaccord Answered that what Issue the King and Grantz should take in the said Treaty should be agreeable to them Upon which Answer the Chamberlain said to the Commons Then you will assent to the Treaty of Peace perpetual if it may be had to which the Commons Answered Entierment unement oil oil yes yes And thereupon it was commanded that Master Michel de Northburgh Gardeyne of the Privy-Seal and Sire John de Swinley Notair Papal should make an Instrument publick thereof 22. Anno 43 E. 3. The Chancellor in his Oration before the King Lords and Commons thus expresseth himself Sires the King in all his great business which concerned himself and his Kingdom de tout temps hath acted and done by the counsel and advice of his Grandz and Commons of his Realm which he hath found in all his Affairs Bons Loyalz good and faithful for which he thanketh them de grant euer volunte and that it was not unknown to them that the King had taken upon him the Claim and Right to the Realm of France per lavis conseil de ses Grantz Communes by the advice and counsel of his great Men and Commons 23. 7 R. 2. The King called a Parliament to consider of a Peace between him his Kingdom Lands Dominions and Subjects ex una parte magnificum principem Robert of Scotland and his Lands Dominions and Subjects of the other part mediante consilio assensu Praelatorum procerum magnatum Communitatis Regni Angliae by the counsel and assent of the Prelates Peers and great Men and Commons of the Kingdom of England I will pass over the rest of the several Authorities in this King's Reign and so of H. 4. except this one 24. In the Parliament 9. H. 4. in that great Record called Indompnitié des Seigneurs Commune◠the King by the advice and assent of the Lords willed granted and declared that in that and all future Parliaments it should be lawful for the Lords to debate and commune amongst themselves de Lestate du Roiaume la remedie a ce busoignable of the state of the Kingdom and the necessary Remedies and it should be lawful likewise for the Commons on their part to commune in the same manner 25. Anno 3 H. 5. The Chancellor at the Re-assembly of the Parliament declares the King being present the causes of their calling which was that Peace had been offered him by his adversary of France the which without the assent and good Counsel of the Estates of his Realm he would not conclude And that the King of the Romans desiring Peace and Vnity in the Church Vniversal and also between the Christian Realms was come over hither with Propositions which he had not yet declared to the King but in a short time would shew them Upon the which the King would take the Advice de son tressage Conseil of his most wise Counsel 26. Anno 4 H. 5. The League and Alliance between the King and Sigismund the Emperour and King of the Romans was ratified and confirmed upon due and solemn Treaty thereof by the common consent and assent of all the Archbishops Bishops Dukes Earls Barons toute autres Estates Espiritualz Temporalz and other Estates Spiritual and Temporal and also of the Commons of this Realm in the said Parliament assembled 27. Anno 9. H. 5. A Peace being concluded between Henry King of England and Charles the French King it was mutually agreed that the Articles thereof be ratified and confirmed per tres Status of both Kingdoms which being approved concluded accepted and allowed of by the three Estates in France videlicet Praelator cleri necnon Procerum Nobilium ac etiam civium Burgensium civitatuum villarum Communitatum dicti Regni The Articles was after mature deliberation confirmed per tres Status Regni Angliae vid per Praelatos clerum nobiles magnates necnon Communitates Regni ad Parliamentum apud West qui quantum ad eos singulos eum pertinet obsequituros impleturos promiserunt 28. Anno 9 H. 6. It was ordained by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons That the Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester and my Lord Cardinal and others of the Kings Bloud and of his Counsel may treat of Peace with the Dauphin of France notwithstanding the Act formerly made to the contrary which was That the King of England H. 5. or the French King should not enter or make any Treaty of Peace or of Accord with Charles the Dauphin without the assent of the three Estates of both Realms 29 Anno 23. H. 6. Whereas by the Articles of Peace made between H. 5. and Charles the 6 th of France it was agreed there should be no Treaty or Accord made with the Dauphin of France without the assent of the three Estates of both Realms which Articles were afterwards Enacted and Authorized here by Parliament It was Enacted by the assent of the Lords and Commons that that Article should be void eryt cassed adnulled and of none Force and none to be impeacht for advising and acting in the said Peace 30. The Archbishop of Canterbury Chancellor of England declared the causes of the Summons of the Parliament the King present and amongst others that between the Ambassadors of King H. and the French King There was an appointment de personali conventione of a personal meeting between the two Kings in partibus transmarinis which if it should happen ut speratur to provide not only for the safe and secure preservation of the person of the King as well in his Conduct ad dict as partes transmarinas as in his being there but also for the safe and sure conservation of the Peace within the Kingdom and other his Dominions during his absence out of the Realm and