Selected quad for the lemma: act_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
act_n	law_n	parliament_n	repeal_v	2,928	5	12.0628	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54229	A third letter from a gentleman in the country, to his friends in London, upon the subject of the penal laws and tests	Penn, William, 1644-1718.	1687 (1687)	Wing P1381; ESTC R5099	11,475	20

of_o conscience_n when_o he_o tell_v we_o of_o his_o religion_n there_o have_v be_v no_o rebellion_n in_o the_o west_n but_o the_o misguide_v duke_n of_o monmouth_n may_v have_v have_v his_o share_n at_o buda_n and_o the_o unhappy_a people_n of_o his_o train_n be_v alive_a at_o their_o vocation_n and_o if_o this_o delay_n be_v not_o for_o want_v of_o a_o opinion_n that_o liberty_n of_o conscience_n be_v a_o just_a necessary_a and_o popular_a thing_n but_o his_o regard_n to_o the_o church_n of_o england_n that_o have_v serve_v he_o well_o and_o may_v not_o present_o take_v it_o the_o right_a way_n or_o be_v prepare_v to_o fall_v in_o with_o he_o upon_o that_o interest_n it_o be_v certain_o the_o high_a proof_n how_o great_o he_o value_v her_o concurrence_n and_o desire_v to_o rely_v upon_o her_o duty_n service_n and_o friendship_n and_o consequent_o how_o much_o she_o be_v oblige_v to_o his_o goodness_n and_o those_o of_o her_o son_n be_v in_o the_o wrong_n that_o carry_v a_o present_a distance_n and_o coldness_n to_o his_o administration_n and_o when_o all_o be_v do_v the_o king_n in_o this_o very_a point_n have_v but_o pursue_v the_o sense_n of_o a_o parliament_n very_o free_o choose_v for_o in_o that_o last_o westminster_n parliament_n when_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o apprehend_v their_o dissolution_n and_o that_o the_o black_a rod_n be_v near_o the_o door_n to_o that_o purpose_n they_o come_v to_o several_a die_a vote_n as_o a_o legacy_n of_o their_o aversion_n to_o the_o court_n and_o their_o court_n to_o the_o king_n dom_n among_o which_o this_o be_v not_o the_o least_o resolve_v that_o it_o be_v the_o opinion_n of_o this_o house_n that_o the_o prosecution_n of_o protestant_a dissenter_n upon_o the_o penal_a law_n be_v at_o this_o time_n grievous_a to_o the_o subject_a a_o weak_z of_o the_o protestant_a interest_n a_o encouragement_n to_o popery_n and_o dangerous_a to_o the_o peace_n of_o the_o kingdom_n if_o the_o heat_n of_o those_o time_n can_v have_v leave_v those_o two_o angry_a word_n out_o it_o have_v carry_v the_o general_a liberty_n now_o desire_v and_o nothing_o will_v have_v hinder_v it_o in_o a_o time_n like_o this_o with_o such_o a_o parliament_n as_o that_o for_o in_o the_o reign_n of_o a_o king_n of_o a_o popish_a religion_n that_o we_o labour_v so_o much_o to_o disappoint_v to_o desire_v no_o more_o at_o our_o hand_n after_o our_o fear_n of_o so_o much_o more_o than_o a_o mere_a liberty_n of_o conscience_n indifferent_o fix_v to_o all_o dissenter_n be_v such_o a_o cure_n of_o our_o fear_n and_o a_o assurance_n of_o all_o we_o can_v wish_v that_o we_o must_v be_v want_v to_o ourselves_o in_o wit_n as_o well_o as_o to_o the_o king_n in_o gratitude_n if_o we_o reject_v the_o motion_n let_v she_o therefore_o be_v confident_a nothing_o exclude_v the_o papist_n then_o but_o our_o apprehension_n that_o they_o strive_v for_o all_o at_o our_o cost_n and_o if_o we_o be_v offer_v to_o be_v secure_v against_o such_o jealousy_n a_o parliament_n so_o choose_v will_v natural_o comprise_v they_o but_o you_o tell_v i_o that_o two_o thing_n stick_v yet_o with_o divers_a person_n of_o that_o church_n one_o that_o it_o be_v not_o reasonable_a the_o dissenter_n shall_v expect_v that_o they_o shall_v pluck_v the_o thorn_n out_o of_o their_o foot_n to_o put_v it_o in_o their_o own_o the_o other_o that_o in_o case_n the_o penal_a law_n and_o test_n be_v remove_v by_o this_o church-parliament_n another_o may_v be_v pack_v that_o may_v turn_v both_o law_n and_o test_n upon_o th●_n present_a church_n in_o the_o first_o place_n it_o be_v grant_v then_o that_o the_o law_n be_v a_o thorn_n in_o the_o foot_n of_o the_o dissenter_n be_v it_o not_o as_o just_a to_o think_v it_o ought_v to_o be_v pluck_v out_o and_o if_o the_o church_n of_o england_n will_v do_v nothing_o towards_o it_o be_v they_o not_o excusable_a that_o endeavour_v it_o themselves_o though_o when_o one_o inquire_v first_o who_o put_v the_o thorn_n in_o and_o next_o that_o there_o be_v no_o necessity_n that_o she_o must_v put_v it_o into_o her_o own_o foot_n because_o she_o pluck_v it_o out_o of_o they_o it_o shall_v not_o be_v so_o hard_a to_o persuade_v she_o to_o pluck_v it_o out_o and_o in_o my_o opinion_n it_o shall_v be_v as_o easy_a to_o fling_v it_o away_o that_o it_o may_v trouble_v no_o body_n else_o for_o the_o future_a but_o that_o perhaps_o she_o think_v be_v not_o possible_a to_o be_v do_v and_o that_o impossibility_n be_v give_v for_o the_o reason_n why_o she_o choose_v to_o leave_v it_o where_o it_o be_v which_o natural_o introduce_v my_o answer_n to_o the_o second_o objection_n viz._n that_o if_o the_o penal_a law_n and_o test_n be_v remove_v by_o this_o church_n parliament_n another_o may_v be_v pack_v which_o may_v turn_v both_o law_n and_o test_n upon_o the_o present_a church_n in_o my_o last_o letter_n say_v something_o that_o aught_o in_o my_o opinion_n to_o satisfy_v the_o most_o jealous_a in_o this_o particular_a for_o first_o all_o agree_v it_o be_v impossible_a to_o repeal_n the_o law_n and_o test_n without_o a_o parliament_n second_o it_o be_v not_o to_o be_v think_v that_o the_o present_a parliament_n will_v do_v it_o without_o such_o a_o provision_n as_o will_v secure_v we_o in_o the_o point_n fear_v to_o say_v there_o be_v none_o be_v ridiculous_a for_o who_o can_v tell_v what_o they_o may_v think_v upon_o or_o from_o other_o head_n what_o may_v occur_v to_o they_o if_o they_o will_v repeal_v they_o let_v we_o suppose_v a_o other_o parliament_n as_o free_o choose_v at_o least_o can_v we_o imagine_v that_o such_o a_o representative_a will_v be_v less_o careful_a to_o secure_v we_o against_o our_o fear_n though_o they_o be_v more_o inclinable_a to_o abolish_v those_o law_n if_o then_o both_o be_v like_a to_o go_v together_o be_v it_o by_o the_o present_a or_o another_o parliament_n i_o see_v no_o insecurity_n that_o be_v like_a to_o follow_v either_o to_o the_o church_n of_o england_n or_o her_o protestant_a dissenter_n who_o in_o that_o respect_n be_v equal_o concern_v with_o herself_o and_o for_o pack_v of_o a_o parliament_n if_o that_o be_v the_o business_n and_o design_n at_o last_o why_o be_v it_o not_o attempt_v at_o first_o certain_o it_o be_v so_o easy_a to_o be_v do_v that_o if_o the_o king_n do_v not_o seek_v a_o more_o agreeable_a and_o last_a security_n to_o his_o friend_n to_o wit_n a_o national_a one_o there_o be_v man_n enough_o of_o no_o religion_n to_o be_v pack_v to_o morrow_n that_o will_v first_o conform_v to_o the_o law_n and_o test_n and_o then_o mercenary_o take_v they_o away_o i_o know_v there_o be_v silly_a people_n of_o all_o party_n for_o who_o no_o body_n can_v answer_v but_o it_o be_v astonish_a that_o such_o a_o jealousy_n shall_v have_v so_o much_o room_n with_o man_n of_o any_o share_n of_o sense_n that_o if_o this_o parliament_n shall_v repeal_v the_o law_n and_o test_n the_o papist_n in_o the_o next_o will_v come_v into_o parliament_n and_o then_o make_v their_o religion_n national_a at_o our_o charge_n for_o first_o it_o suppose_v no_o other_o expedient_a which_o be_v easy_a to_o be_v find_v and_o obtain_v or_o let_v the_o other_o remain_v second_o it_o suppose_v that_o roman_a catholic_n will_v be_v choose_v or_o return_v though_o they_o be_v not_o choose_v the_o one_o it_o be_v certain_a we_o do_v fear_n and_o methinks_v they_o only_o shall_v be_v afraid_a of_o the_o other_o for_o since_o they_o can_v be_v their_o own_o security_n and_o this_o they_o declare_v by_o seek_v a_o national_a one_o if_o the_o first_o will_v do_v why_o dont_fw-fr they_o begin_v upon_o it_o and_o pack_v a_o parliament_n present_o and_o repeal_v the_o law_n and_o test_n without_o any_o more_o to_o do_v and_o if_o they_o do_v do_v this_o not_o because_o they_o can_v think_v upon_o it_o but_o because_o they_o do_v think_v it_o worth_a try_v why_o shall_v they_o attempt_v by_o such_o a_o way_n a_o hard_a thing_n for_o no_o body_n will_v take_v it_o so_o ill_a of_o they_o to_o repeal_n the_o law_n that_o vex_v they_o by_o a_o indirect_a way_n as_o they_o will_v if_o they_o go_v about_o to_o make_v their_o religion_n national_a by_o it_o and_o if_o they_o think_v it_o not_o assure_v enough_o for_o the_o lesser_a can_v they_o be_v tempt_v to_o embrace_v it_o for_o effect_v of_o the_o great_a point_n some_o of_o they_o have_v read_v the_o history_n of_o their_o own_o country_n and_o can_v but_o remember_v that_o in_o time_n even_o of_o their_o own_o religion_n parliament_n ill_o choose_v come_v to_o ill_a ends._n that_o the_o twenty_o first_o of_o richard_n the_o second_o repeal_v the_o act_n of_o the_o parliament_n of_o the_o eleven_o of_o the_o same_o king_n and_o

that_o the_o first_o of_o henry_n the_o four_o repeal_v the_o twenty_o first_o of_o richard_n the_o second_o and_o that_o the_o thirty_o nine_o of_o henry_n the_o six_o repeal_v the_o law_n of_o the_o 38th_o of_o the_o same_o king_n &_o damn_a that_o parliament_n because_o undue_o elect_v which_o be_v the_o pack_v mean_v in_o the_o objection_n so_o that_o it_o be_v not_o worth_a while_n to_o attempt_v it_o if_o such_o a_o parliament_n can_v be_v immortal_a or_o be_v able_a to_o charm_n successive_a reign_v or_o be_v not_o a_o violation_n of_o the_o constitution_n of_o parliament_n and_o of_o one_o of_o the_o tender_a point_n in_o our_o government_n or_o do_v not_o break_v faith_n with_o mankind_n when_o most_o oblige_v to_o make_v a_o straight_a step_n and_o by_o all_o this_o treasure_n up_o wrath_n against_o the_o day_n of_o wrath_n upon_o the_o whole_a party_n which_o must_v dawn_n at_o the_o set_n of_o our_o present_a king_n it_o be_v something_o but_o when_o all_o this_o will_v follow_v as_o certain_a as_o the_o night_n do_v the_o day_n to_o break_v all_o bound_n of_o law_n and_o go_v by_o open_a force_n be_v a_o honest_a and_o wise_a thing_n to_o such_o a_o wooden_a invention_n of_o law_n as_o this_o will_v be_v to_o all_o man_n live_v of_o common_a sense_n and_o to_o the_o age_n that_o shall_v follow_v we_o who_o of_o right_n will_v have_v the_o censure_v of_o our_o action_n what_o then_o be_v leave_v we_o but_o to_o embrace_v this_o gracious_a tender_a and_o all_o party_n to_o meet_v the_o king_n in_o those_o method_n that_o be_v most_o likely_a to_o establish_v it_o with_o the_o great_a satisfaction_n and_o certainty_n if_o no_o other_o security_n can_v be_v have_v i_o say_v then_o let_v this_o that_o be_v remain_z if_o there_o may_v be_v such_o a_o thing_n why_o shall_v we_o not_o embrace_v it_o the_o church_n of_o england_n disclaim_v severity_n and_o partiality_n then_o let_v her_o part_n with_o those_o instrument_n of_o both_o and_o not_o suspect_v the_o shake_n of_o the_o law_n of_o property_n for_o stop_v the_o execution_n of_o the_o law_n that_o undermine_v it_o i_o leave_v one_o consideration_n with_o she_o and_o so_o shall_v leave_v you_o at_o this_o time_n let_v nothing_o that_o be_v vnfair_n or_o indirect_a lie_n at_o her_o door_n i_o beg_v she_o for_o god_n sake_n ought_v she_o to_o differ_v thus_o with_o any_o body_n and_o less_o with_o such_o a_o king_n upon_o a_o point_n she_o can_v maintain_v and_o that_o be_v better_a leave_v then_o keep_v take_v the_o question_n either_o as_o to_o right_n or_o prudence_n i_o will_v not_o be_v very_o particular_a but_o enough_o to_o make_v way_n for_o a_o full_a discourse_n on_o the_o subject_a the_o test_n the_o chief_a if_o not_o the_o only_a thing_n in_o debate_n have_v they_o any_o foundation_n in_o our_o constitution_n shall_v a_o man_n be_v of_o any_o religion_n hinder_v he_o from_o serve_v the_o country_n of_o his_o birth_n do_v his_o go_v to_o a_o conventicle_n natural_o unqualifie_v he_o for_o a_o constable_n staff_n or_o believe_a transubstantiation_n render_v he_o uncapable_a of_o be_v a_o good_a clark_n it_o be_v as_o reasonable_a to_o say_v that_o it_o be_v impossible_a for_o a_o fanatic_a to_o be_v a_o good_a shoemaker_n or_o a_o papist_n a_o good_a tailor_n the_o very_a notion_n be_v comical_a and_o that_o must_v ever_o be_v the_o consequence_n of_o go_v out_o of_o the_o way_n and_o serve_v the_o public_a with_o such_o a_o bias_n to_o a_o party_n for_o that_o be_v the_o soft_a way_n of_o speak_v of_o the_o error_n but_o when_o we_o consider_v the_o test_n in_o relation_n to_o the_o parliament_n where_o the_o objection_n lie_v strong_a against_o the_o repeal_n it_o appear_v not_o one_o jot_n less_o unreasonable_a to_o continue_v it_o for_o a_o opinion_n of_o religion_n be_v make_v to_o deprive_v a_o peer_n of_o the_o high_a right_n of_o his_o peerage_n true_a he_o be_v not_o total_o destroy_v but_o he_o be_v geld_v of_o his_o chief_a privilege_n for_o though_o he_o lose_v not_o his_o title_n he_o have_v little_a else_o leave_v he_o can_v the_o peer_n of_o england_n to_o serve_v a_o turn_n so_o mute_o suffer_v a_o precedent_n to_o continue_v that_o shake_v their_o hereditary_a share_n in_o the_o government_n and_o so_o essential_a a_o part_n of_o our_o ancient_a &_o celebrate_v constitution_n and_o by_o which_o it_o be_v make_v impossible_a to_o have_v a_o unconcerned_a house_n in_o judgement_n let_v we_o but_o look_v back_o to_o seventy_o five_o and_o see_v what_o be_v do_v then_o by_o divers_a lord_n in_o a_o case_n of_o this_o nature_n i_o will_v but_o repeat_v the_o test_n and_o their_o protest_v i_o a._n b._n do_v declare_v that_o it_o be_v not_o lawful_a upon_o any_o pretence_n whatsoever_o to_o take_v up_o arm_n against_o the_o king_n and_o that_o i_o do_v abhor_v that_o traitorous_a position_n of_o take_v arm_n by_o his_o authority_n against_o his_o person_n or_o against_o those_o that_o be_v commission_v by_o he_o in_o pursuance_n of_o such_o commission_n and_o i_o do_v swear_v that_o i_o will_v not_o at_o any_o time_n endeavour_v the_o alteration_n of_o the_o government_n either_o in_o church_n or_o state_n so_o help_v i_o god._n the_o debate_n last_v five_o several_a day_n before_o it_o be_v commit_v to_o a_o committee_n of_o the_o whole_a house_n which_o hardly_o ever_o happen_v to_o any_o bill_n before_o the_o debate_n be_v manage_v chief_o by_o the_o lord_n whole_a name_n you_o will_v find_v to_o the_o follow_a protestation_n we_o who_o name_n be_v under_o write_a be_v peer_n of_o this_o realm_n do_v according_a to_o our_o right_n and_o the_o ancient_a usage_n of_o parliament_n declare_v that_o the_o question_n have_v be_v put_v whether_o the_o bill_n entitle_v a_o act_n to_o prevent_v the_o danger_n which_o may_v arise_v from_o person_n disafftect_v to_o the_o government_n do_v so_o far_o entrench_v upon_o the_o privilege_n of_o this_o house_n that_o it_o ought_v therefore_o to_o be_v cast_v out_o it_o be_v resolve_v in_o the_o negative_a we_o do_v humble_o conceive_v that_o any_o bill_n which_o impose_v a_o oath_n upon_o the_o peer_n with_o a_o penalty_n as_o this_o do_v that_o upon_o the_o refusal_n of_o that_o oath_n they_o shall_v be_v make_v uncapable_a of_o sit_v and_o vote_v in_o this_o house_n as_o it_o be_v a_o thing_n unpresident_v in_o former_a time_n so_o be_v it_o in_o our_o humble_a opinion_n the_o high_a invasion_n of_o the_o liberty_n and_o privilege_n of_o the_o peerage_n that_o possible_o may_v be_v and_o most_o destructive_a of_o the_o freedom_n which_o they_o ought_v to_o enjoy_v as_o member_n of_o parliament_n because_o the_o privilege_n of_o sit_v and_o vote_v in_o parliament_n be_v a_o honour_n they_o have_v by_o birth_n and_o a_o right_a so_o inherant_a in_o they_o and_o inseparable_a from_o they_o as_o that_o nothing_n can_n take_v it_o away_o but_o what_o by_o the_o law_n of_o the_o land_n must_v withal_o take_v away_o their_o life_n and_o corrupt_v their_o blood_n upon_o which_o ground_n we_o do_v here_o enter_v our_o dissent_n from_o that_o vote_n and_o our_o protestation_n against_o it_o buckingham_z bridgwater_n winchester_n salisbury_z bedford_z dorset_z aylisbury_n bristol_n denbigh_n pagitt_n holles_n peter_n howard_n e._n of_o berks_n mohun_n stamford_n hallifax_n delamer_n ewer_n shaftsbury_n clarendon_n grey_n roll._n say_v &_o seal_n wharton_n to_o say_v nothing_o here_o of_o the_o matter_n of_o the_o test_n it_o be_v plain_a from_o the_o extent_n of_o their_o argument_n they_o be_v against_o all_o test_n that_o deprive_v peer_n of_o this_o fundamental_a right_n of_o peerage_n and_o that_o nothing_o can_v in_o their_o opinion_n do_v it_o but_o such_o crime_n as_o taint_v their_o blood_n and_o take_v away_o their_o life_n i_o know_v not_o if_o those_o live_a be_v still_o of_o that_o mind_n but_o the_o honour_n i_o have_v for_o their_o understanding_n and_o integrity_n forbid_v i_o to_o doubt_v it_o now_o pray_v suffer_v i_o to_o turn_v the_o table_n and_o ask_v our_o churchman_n one_o question_n in_o the_o language_n of_o their_o fear_n can_v the_o king_n make_v lord_n and_o pack_v a_o house_n of_o commons_o that_o shall_v first_o take_v and_o then_o abolish_v the_o test_n why_o then_o it_o be_v not_o so_o great_a a_o security_n as_o they_o imagine_v and_o it_o be_v hardly_o worth_a while_n to_o be_v so_o stiff_a to_o support_v it_o but_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n that_o they_o can_v repeal_v this_o they_o may_v enact_v another_o and_o if_o so_o may_v not_o the_o house_n of_o peer_n be_v quick_o another_o set_n of_o man_n for_o that_o fire_n that_o roast_v a_o goose_n can_v rost_n a_o gander_n what_o tide_n be_v these_o in_o government_n and_o what_o state_n be_v safe_a