their_o opinion_n as_o i_o conceive_v be_v not_o so_o much_o as_o colourable_o to_o be_v maintain_v and_o that_o to_o maintain_v the_o same_o it_o be_v not_o at_o all_o necessary_a to_o induce_v my_o conclusion_n and_o although_o to_o admit_v it_o it_o may_v seem_v perhaps_o no_o good_a policy_n of_o argument_n but_o rather_o a_o great_a disadvantage_n to_o i_o to_o admit_v that_o without_o which_o the_o contrary_a part_n can_v uphold_v their_o opinion_n and_o which_o be_v admit_v can_v make_v any_o thing_n for_o i_o yet_o because_o we_o be_v here_o not_o as_o arguer_n at_o the_o bar_n but_o as_o judge_n in_o a_o high-court_n and_o that_o all_o our_o end_n tend_v to_o the_o discovery_n of_o the_o truth_n i_o will_v therefore_o not_o only_o admit_v it_o but_o will_v maintain_v it_o as_o well_o as_o i_o can_v that_o custom_n be_v due_a by_o the_o common-law_n i_o collect_v law_n that_o there_o be_v ever_o some_o custom_n due_a by_o the_o common_a law_n first_o by_o the_o name_n thereof_o 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king_n and_o that_o he_o may_v open_v they_o and_o shut_v they_o upon_o what_o condition_n he_o please_v answer_v and_o in_o regard_n thereof_o he_o may_v open_v and_o shut_v they_o upon_o what_o condition_n he_o please_v i_o answer_v i._o that_o the_o position_n that_o all_o the_o port_n be_v the_o king_n be_v not_o general_o true_a for_o subject_n may_v also_o be_v owner_n of_o port_n as_o may_v appear_v by_o the_o patent_n roll_v of_o 3._o e._n 1._o m._n 1._o parl._n where_o you_o shall_v find_v that_o king_n ed._n 1._o grant_v to_o the_o lord_n of_o port_n town_n the_o forfeiture_n grant_v to_o he_o by_o parliament_n for_o not_o due_o pay_v the_o new_a custom_n of_o the_o demy-marke_a within_o every_o several_a port_n of_o they_o where_o the_o merchandize_n shall_v happen_v to_o be_v import_v or_o export_v but_o admit_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o position_n yet_o be_v the_o consequence_n as_o weak_a and_o dangerous_a as_o of_o any_o of_o the_o rest_n of_o their_o argument_n for_o 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for_o they_o and_o many_o the_o like_a charge_n be_v the_o king_n by_o the_o law_n to_o undergo_v for_o the_o protection_n of_o his_o merchant_n it_o be_v reason_n therefore_o that_o his_o expense_n be_v defraied_a out_o of_o the_o profit_n make_v by_o merchant_n and_o consequent_o that_o he_o may_v impose_v upon_o merchandise_n a_o moderate_a charge_n thereby_o to_o repay_v himself_o the_o consequence_n of_o this_o argument_n be_v thus_o far_o true_a the_o law_n expect_v that_o the_o king_n shall_v protect_v merchant_n therefore_o it_o allow_v he_o out_o of_o merchandise_n a_o revenue_n for_o the_o maintenance_n of_o his_o charge_n which_o be_v the_o old_a custom_n due_a as_o at_o first_o i_o say_v by_o the_o common_a law_n but_o it_o be_v no_o good_a consequence_n answer_v the_o five_o argument_n that_o all_o foreign_a prince_n have_v power_n to_o impose_v and_o if_o our_o king_n have_v not_o the_o like_a it_o may_v be_v very_o inconvenient_a to_o this_o state_n answer_v that_o therefore_o he_o may_v take_v what_o he_o listen_v no_o more_o than_o he_o may_v at_o his_o pleasure_n increase_v that_o old_a revenue_n which_o the_o law_n give_v he_o for_o protect_v of_o subject_n in_o their_o suit_n or_o for_o protect_a ward_n etc._n etc._n another_o argument_n of_o they_o be_v this_o all_z other_z prince_n of_o the_o world_n may_v impose_v upon_o merchandise_n at_o their_o pleasure_n and_o so_o may_v make_v our_o merchandize_n less_o vendible_a with_o they_o by_o lay_v a_o imposition_n upon_o they_o to_o be_v pay_v by_o we_o when_o they_o be_v bring_v into_o their_o territory_n whereby_o their_o own_o commodity_n of_o the_o same_o nature_n may_v be_v sell_v more_o to_o the_o gain_n of_o their_o merchant_n and_o our_o merchant_n impoverish_v or_o drive_v from_o his_o trade_n they_o may_v also_o lay_v imposition_n upon_o our_o merchant_n fetch_v commodity_n from_o thence_o and_o leave_v their_o own_o merchant_n free_a from_o any_o imposition_n in_o the_o same_o case_n by_o which_o their_o merchant_n shall_v reap_v all_o the_o profit_n by_o that_o commodity_n in_o afford_v it_o better_a cheap_a to_o we_o here_o than_o we_o can_v fetch_v it_o and_o consequent_o our_o merchant_n shall_v be_v undo_v many_o the_o like_a case_n have_v be_v put_v to_o prove_v that_o if_o the_o king_n of_o england_n may_v not_o impose_v as_o other_o prince_n may_v they_o shall_v be_v able_a at_o their_o pleasure_n to_o destroy_v our_o trade_n this_o i_o conceive_v be_v the_o same_o as_o now_o it_o be_v during_o all_o that_o time_n from_o ed._n 3._o till_o queen_n mary_n and_o doubtless_o it_o can_v not_o but_o sometime_o during_o that_o long_a space_n so_o fall_v out_o that_o foreign_a prince_n do_v put_v their_o power_n in_o practice_n to_o our_o prejudice_n and_o yet_o we_o hear_v not_o of_o any_o imposition_n lay_v by_o any_o of_o our_o king_n by_o their_o absolute_a power_n which_o may_v give_v any_o man_n assurance_n that_o they_o take_v some_o other_o course_n to_o meet_v with_o the_o inconvenience_n and_o in_o deed_n the_o mean_n be_v divers_a which_o these_o our_o king_n use_v to_o prevent_v it_o first_o they_o be_v careful_a in_o all_o their_o league_n and_o treaty_n with_o foreign_a prince_n special_o to_o provide_v for_o it_o as_o may_v appear_v by_o the_o record_n of_o the_o ancient_a league_n neither_o be_v there_o any_o league_n of_o late_a time_n that_o have_v not_o have_v a_o article_n for_o provision_n in_o this_o point_n which_o league_n for_o the_o most_o part_n be_v upon_o oath_n on_o both_o part_n and_o yet_o for_o further_a security_n our_o king_n have_v always_o have_v ambassador_n resident_a in_o the_o court_n of_o such_o foreign_a prince_n to_o put_v they_o in_o mind_n of_o their_o league_n if_o upon_o any_o occasion_n our_o merchant_n have_v in_o that_o case_n happen_v to_o be_v never_o so_o little_o wrong_v by_o they_o &_o if_o upon_o complaint_n of_o the_o ambassador_n our_o merchant_n have_v not_o find_v redress_n 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magna_fw-la charta_fw-la cap._n be_v call_v old_a and_o ancicient_a duty_n this_o be_v vectigal_a patrimoniale_a of_o which_o sort_n i_o can_v produce_v many_o other_o all_o which_o have_v like_o certainty_n nay_o there_o be_v one_o duty_n well_o know_v to_o we_o all_o which_o the_o common-law_n give_v to_o the_o king_n and_o be_v in_o his_o nature_n a_o custom_n our_o very_a case_n in_o which_o the_o king_n be_v bind_v to_o a_o certainty_n which_o he_o can_v exceed_v and_o that_o be_v prisage_n a_o duty_n give_v by_o the_o common-law_n to_o the_o king_n upon_o every_o shipload_v of_o wine_n bring_v into_o the_o kingdom_n by_o english_a merchant_n and_o be_v one_o tun_n of_o wine_n before_o the_o mast_n and_o another_o behind_o i_o be_o unwilling_a to_o trouble_v you_o with_o any_o more_o particular_n of_o this_o kind_n but_o let_v any_o man_n show_v i_o one_o particular_a to_o the_o contrary_a and_o i_o will_v then_o yield_v that_o my_o position_n be_v false_a in_o one_o may_v be_v 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the_o first_o that_o be_v always_o reduceable_a to_o a_o certainty_n by_o a_o legal_a course_n as_o by_o act_n of_o parliament_n judge_n or_o jury_n and_o not_o at_o the_o king_n pleasure_n every_o man_n that_o by_o his_o tenure_n be_v bind_v to_o serve_v the_o king_n in_o his_o war_n and_o fail_v be_v to_o pay_v according_a to_o the_o quantity_n of_o his_o tenure_n a_o fine_a by_o the_o name_n of_o escuage_z this_o can_v be_v assess_v but_o in_o parliament_n upon_o forfeiture_n for_o treason_n or_o otherwise_o to_o the_o king_n though_o it_o be_v a_o kind_n of_o a_o certainty_n that_o the_o law_n give_v in_o give_v he_o all_o the_o estate_n of_o the_o party_n convict_v both_o in_o good_n and_o land_n or_o in_o good_n only_o as_o the_o case_n be_v yet_o for_o reduce_v it_o to_o a_o more_o express_a certainty_n the_o law_n require_v that_o it_o be_v find_v by_o office_n wayfe_n stray_v wreck_n treasure-trove_a and_o such_o like_a be_v no_o less_o certain_a for_o the_o king_n have_v the_o thing_n themselves_o in_o kind_n fine_n for_o misdemeanour_n be_v always_o assess_v by_o the_o judge_n amercement_n in_o all_o case_n be_v to_o be_v affer_v by_o the_o country_n and_o not_o to_o be_v assess_v by_o the_o king_n though_o the_o form_n of_o the_o judgement_n be_v et_fw-la sit_fw-la in_o misecordia_fw-la domini_fw-la regis_fw-la in_o the_o king_n mercy_n pro_fw-la contemptu_fw-la predict_v nay_o though_o for_o punishment_n of_o a_o offence_n it_o be_v by_o statute-law_n enact_v that_o a_o offendor_n shall_v make_v fine_a and_o ransom_n at_o the_o king_n pleasure_n the_o law_n even_o in_o this_o case_n which_o be_v as_o strong_a a_o case_n as_o may_v be_v will_v not_o leave_v the_o assess_n of_o the_o fine_a to_o the_o king_n pleasure_n to_o be_v by_o he_o rate_v private_o in_o his_o chamber_n but_o it_o must_v be_v solemn_o and_o legal_o do_v in_o a_o open_a court_n of_o justice_n by_o the_o judge_n who_o in_o all_o other_o case_n be_v to_o judge_v between_o the_o king_n and_o his_o people_n where_o the_o interest_n or_o property_n of_o the_o subject_a or_o any_o charge_n or_o burden_n upon_o they_o do_v come_v in_o question_n as_o may_v be_v prove_v by_o the_o book_n of_o 2_o r._n 3._o foe_n 11._o insomuch_o that_o i_o be_o of_o opinion_n that_o if_o a_o statute_n be_v make_v that_o the_o king_n may_v raise_v the_o custom_n at_o his_o pleasure_n yet_o may_v it_o not_o be_v do_v as_o now_o it_o be_v by_o the_o king_n absolute_a power_n but_o by_o some_o other_o legal_a course_n of_o which_o the_o common-law_n do_v take_v notice_n as_o in_o the_o case_n of_o the_o fine_a and_o ransom_n much_o less_o than_o will_v the_o common-law_n permit_v that_o it_o shall_v depend_v upon_o the_o king_n absolute_a pleasure_n there_o be_v no_o such_o statute_n in_o the_o case_n you_o have_v hear_v out_o of_o what_o ground_n i_o first_o deduce_v this_o my_o position_n that_o the_o law_n require_v certainty_n in_o matter_n of_o profit_n between_o the_o king_n and_o his_o people_n you_o have_v hear_v likewise_o the_o particular_a reason_n of_o that_o position_n you_o have_v also_o hear_v what_o proof_n i_o have_v make_v by_o particular_a case_n of_o like_a nature_n to_o this_o in_o question_n and_o how_o i_o have_v apply_v they_o to_o the_o point_n and_o so_o leave_v the_o judgement_n of_o the_o whole_a to_o your_o wisdom_n who_o can_v best_o discern_v whether_o the_o argument_n be_v of_o weight_n i_o proceed_v to_o my_o second_o reason_n which_o be_v draw_v from_o the_o policy_n and_o frame_n of_o this_o commonwealth_n and_o the_o providence_n of_o the_o common-law_n the_o which_o as_o it_o require_v at_o the_o subject_n hand_n loyalty_n and_o obedience_n to_o their_o sovereign_n so_o do_v it_o likewise_o
fourteen_o twelve_o year_n her_o age_n of_o consent_n and_o nine_o year_n capable_a to_o be_v endow_v a_o year_n and_o a_o day_n give_v to_o sue_v a_o appeal_n the_o like_a limitation_n of_o a_o year_n and_o day_n in_o very_a many_o other_o case_n in_o effect_n who_o reduce_v all_o the_o know_a ground_n of_o the_o common_a law_n to_o that_o certainty_n that_o now_o they_o be_v because_o we_o can_v tell_v how_o or_o when_o they_o begin_v shall_v we_o therefore_o conclude_v that_o they_o begin_v by_o the_o king_n absolute_a power_n and_o infer_v that_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n they_o may_v be_v change_v at_o his_o pleasure_n if_o the_o king_n may_v increase_v his_o fine_n upon_o the_o purchase_n of_o original_a writt_n which_o by_o the_o same_o reason_n he_o may_v do_v that_o he_o may_v do_v his_o custom_n nay_o he_o have_v more_o colour_n for_o this_o then_o for_o that_o because_o there_o be_v no_o statute_n against_o this_o he_o may_v easy_o raise_v that_o revenue_n to_o the_o value_n of_o his_o custom_n but_o no_o man_n can_v nor_o will_v i_o hope_v offer_v to_o maintain_v it_o to_o be_v lawful_a you_o see_v the_o weakness_n and_o the_o dangerous_a consequence_n of_o this_o argument_n by_o compare_v it_o to_o other_o case_n of_o like_a nature_n to_o say_v the_o truth_n all_o these_o thing_n begin_v no_o man_n can_v say_v certain_o when_o or_o how_o but_o by_o a_o tacit_n consent_n of_o king_n and_o people_n and_o the_o long_a approbation_n of_o time_n beyond_o the_o memory_n of_o any_o man_n and_o yet_o no_o man_n can_v direct_o affirm_v but_o that_o most_o of_o they_o may_v begin_v by_o act_n of_o parliament_n though_o now_o there_o be_v no_o record_n extant_a of_o such_o ancient_a parliament_n the_o first_o parliament_n be_v not_o keep_v 9_o h._n 3_o though_o it_o be_v the_o first_o in_o our_o book_n if_o we_o will_v give_v credit_n to_o other_o record_n and_o to_o our_o best_a chronicler_n parliament_n the_o antiquity_n of_o parliament_n we_o shall_v 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the_o time_n of_o inas_fw-la king_n of_o the_o westsaxons_a i_o assure_v myself_o there_o be_v parliament_n hold_v and_o that_o of_o the_o three_o estate_n as_o at_o this_o day_n as_o may_v appear_v by_o these_o word_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o law_n of_o king_n inas_fw-la in_o mr._n lambert_n suasu_fw-la &_o instituto_fw-la episcoporum_fw-la nostrorum_fw-la omnium_fw-la senatorum_fw-la nostrorum_fw-la &_o natu_fw-la majorum_fw-la populi_fw-la nostri_fw-la in_o frequentia_fw-la magna_fw-la and_o more_o plain_o in_o the_o conclusion_n of_o some_o other_o of_o his_o law_n hoc_fw-la factum_fw-la fuit_fw-la per_fw-la common_a consilium_fw-la &_o assensum_fw-la procerum_fw-la comitum_fw-la &_o omnium_fw-la sapientium_fw-la seniorum_fw-la &_o populorum_fw-la totius_fw-la regni_fw-la &_o per_fw-la praeceptum_fw-la regis_fw-la inae_fw-la which_o be_v the_o same_o in_o latin_a which_o we_o be_v in_o english_a by_o the_o king_n the_o lord_n spiritual_a and_o temporal_a and_o the_o commons_o why_o may_v not_o the_o custom_n upon_o wool_n be_v first_o grant_v at_o one_o of_o these_o parliament_n as_o well_o as_o to_o have_v it_o first_o begin_v by_o the_o king_n absolute_a power_n there_o be_v no_o more_o probability_n of_o the_o one_o than_o the_o other_o because_o most_o of_o the_o ancient_a record_n be_v burn_v in_o h._n 2._o time_n when_o the_o exchequer_n be_v burn_v shall_v we_o conclude_v therefore_o that_o there_o be_v neâ—er_o any_o such_o you_o see_v the_o weakness_n of_o this_o argument_n in_o all_o the_o point_n thereof_o i_o leave_v it_o and_o pass_v to_o another_o the_o king_n may_v say_v they_o restrain_v the_o passage_n of_o merchant_n at_o his_o pleasure_n answer_v the_o second_o argument_n that_o the_o king_n may_v total_o restrain_v the_o import_v and_o export_v of_o merchandize_n therefore_o he_o may_v do_v it_o sub_fw-la modo_fw-la by_o lay_v of_o a_o imposition_n answer_v which_o they_o prove_v by_o divers_a record_n 2_o e._n 1._o m._n 18._o ro._n par._n 2_o e_o 1._o m._n 17._o ro._n fin_n 31_o e._n 1._o n._n 44._o ro._n pat._n 17_o h._n 6._o ro._n clo._n in_o dorso_fw-la upon_o which_o they_o infer_v that_o if_o he_o may_v restrain_v a_o merchant_n that_o he_o shall_v not_o pass_v at_o all_o he_o may_v much_o more_o so_o restrain_v he_o that_o he_o shall_v not_o pass_v except_o he_o pay_v a_o certain_a sum_n of_o money_n for_o this_o say_v they_o be_v less_o than_o total_o to_o restrain_v he_o and_o cui_fw-la licet_fw-la quod_fw-la majus_fw-la licet_fw-la etiam_fw-la quod_fw-la minus_fw-la of_o this_o argument_n my_o l._n dyer_n give_v light_a in_o his_o case_n of_o imposition_n 1_o eliz._n and_o this_o have_v be_v diverse_o enforce_v by_o all_o that_o have_v argue_v for_o imposition_n in_o answer_n of_o which_o i_o will_v consider_v how_o far_o the_o king_n may_v restrain_v the_o passage_n of_o merchant_n and_o then_o will_v examine_v the_o consequence_n of_o the_o argument_n for_o my_o part_n i_o think_v the_o king_n can_v restrain_v the_o passage_n of_o merchant_n but_o for_o some_o special_a cause_n wherein_o to_o define_v certain_o and_o resolute_o to_o say_v for_o what_o cause_v he_o may_v and_o for_o what_o not_o i_o will_v not_o undertake_v only_o let_v i_o inform_v you_o that_o there_o be_v not_o one_o of_o these_o precedent_n vouch_v by_o they_o to_o prove_v the_o king_n power_n to_o restrain_v but_o they_o be_v upon_o special_a reason_n as_o by_o reason_n of_o enmity_n with_o such_o a_o nation_n from_o whence_o they_o be_v restrain_v or_o because_o such_o a_o commodity_n may_v not_o be_v spare_v within_o the_o kingdom_n beside_o they_o be_v not_o restraint_n from_o all_o place_n and_o of_o all_o manner_n of_o merchandize_n but_o from_o certain_a place_n only_o and_o for_o certain_a sort_n of_o merchandize_n and_o for_o my_o part_n i_o think_v that_o restraint_n in_o all_o these_o case_n and_o of_o like_a nature_n be_v by_o the_o common-law_n leave_v to_o the_o king_n absolute_a power_n for_o if_o it_o be_v otherwise_o it_o shall_v be_v in_o the_o power_n of_o a_o merchant_n for_o a_o little_a private_a lucre_n to_o enrich_v the_o king_n enemy_n or_o to_o furnish_v they_o with_o munition_n to_o be_v employ_v against_o the_o state_n or_o utter_o to_o ruin_v the_o commonwealth_n by_o carry_v out_o a_o commodity_n which_o may_v not_o be_v spare_v or_o by_o bring_v in_o of_o some_o that_o may_v be_v hurtful_a nay_o which_o be_v more_o such_o may_v be_v the_o occasion_n that_o the_o king_n may_v i_o doubt_v not_o stop_v the_o passage_n of_o all_o merchant_n from_o all_o place_n for_o a_o short_a time_n as_o upon_o the_o death_n of_o the_o late_a queen_n it_o be_v put_v in_o practice_n to_o prevent_v intelligence_n there_o may_v likewise_o be_v such_o necessary_a use_n of_o their_o ship_n as_o the_o want_n of_o they_o upon_o some_o sudden_a attempt_n may_v be_v a_o cause_n of_o the_o overthrow_n of_o the_o whole_a state_n in_o such_o case_n as_o these_o if_o the_o common_a law_n do_v not_o give_v the_o king_n leave_v to_o restrain_v their_o passage_n by_o his_o absolute_a power_n it_o be_v very_o improvident_a in_o the_o high_a point_n which_o can_v be_v imagine_v of_o so_o wise_a a_o law_n and_o yet_o the_o king_n of_o this_o realm_n have_v always_o be_v spare_v in_o the_o practice_n of_o their_o absolute_a power_n in_o this_o point_n for_o there_o be_v little_o less_o than_o 30._o act_n of_o parliament_n touch_v the_o open_n and_o shut_v up_o of_o the_o passage_n of_o merchant_n most_o of_o which_o as_o i_o conceive_v be_v make_v rather_o for_o the_o increase_n of_o punishment_n then_o for_o want_v of_o power_n in_o the_o king_n for_o the_o breach_n of_o a_o restraint_n by_o absolute_a commandment_n be_v punishable_a as_o all_o other_o contempt_n only_o by_o fine_a and_o imprisonment_n and_o not_o by_o forfeiture_n of_o the_o merchandize_n