2. Parl. accord 1 R. 3. against Benevolence Vide Claus 4 Ed. 3. n. 22. bis Case of Libells between Edwards and Wooton In Cam. Stellat The Case was That Doctor Wooton writ to Edmunds an infamous malicious scandalous and obscene Letter with his Name subscribed And this he Sealed and directed to his Loving Friend Mr. Edward Speed this and after the said Doctor dispersed to others a great number of Copies of the said Letter And it was Resolved by the Lord Chancellor Egerton the two chief Justices et per totam curiam That this was a subtle and a dangerous kind of Libell For though the writing of a private Letter without other Publicatior the Party to whom it is directed cannot have an Action Sur le Case but where it is published to others ' to the Plaintiffs Scandal Action lyeth The Doctor thought this could not in any manner have been punish't but 't was Resolved That the infamous Letter which in Law is a Libell shall be punished in the Star-Chamber being an Offence to the King and a motive to breach of the Peace And in the Case at Bar the dispersing of Copies of it aggravates the Offence for which also the Party may have an Action Sur le Case Note By the Civil Law a Person disabling himself to bear Office or making a Libell against himself shall be punished And though the Doctor subscribed his Name to the said Letter yet it importing matter Scandalous is in the Law a Libell The Law of the Lydians is That who slanders another shall be let Blood in the Tongue who hears it and ascents to it in the Ear c. Mich. 5 Jac. Regis Wooton and Edwins Case In Replevin the Defendant avowed and the Plaintiff demurred and the Case was thus William Hawes was seized in Fee of a Messuage and 55 Acres of Land five Acres of Meadow and six Acres of Pasture in Formanton in Com. Hereford and 27. Junii 28 H. 8. by Indenture demised the Tenement aforesaid to N. Traheron for 79 years Reddendo inde annuatim praefat Gulielm Hawes et assign suis 26 s. 8 d. at the Feasts of the Annunciation and St. Michael by equal portions And after the Lessor dyed and the Reversion descended to William his Son under whom the said John Edwin Claimed And the sole Point was If the Rent reserved in this Case shall go to the Heir or be determined by the death of the Lessor If the Lessor had reserved the Rent to him without more this shall determine by the death of the Lessor And the addition of the word Assignes shall not enlarge the reservation for the Assignes cannot have the Rent longer than the Lessor himself should have it Vide 18 Ed. 3. tit Ass 86. 10 Ed. 4. 18. 27 H. 8. 19. per Audlâ—y et vide Hâ—ll 33 Eliz. Rot. 1341. In a Replevin enter Richmond and Butcher Butcher avowed for Rent as Heir to his Father upon a Demise made by his Father of certain Lands for 21 years by these words Reddendo proinde durant termin 21 annos praefat Patri executor et assignat suis 10 l. legalis c. ad festa c. And it was adjudged That by this Reservation the Heir should not have the Rent because the Reservation was to the Father and his Executors c. not to his Heirs Mich. 5 Jac. Regis Case concerning Buggary The Letter of the Statute 25 H. 8. cap. 6. If any Person shall commit the detestable sin of Buggary with Mankind or Beast c. it is Felony which Act being Repealed 1 Mar. is revived and made perpetual 5 Eliz. cap. 17. and he lose his Clergy It appears by antient Authorities of the Law That this was Felony but they vary in the punishment For Britton who writ 5 Ed. 1. cap. 17. saith That Sorcerers Sodomers and Hereticks shall be burned F. N. B. 269. agrees with it But Fleta lib. 1. cap. 35. Christiani Apostati c. debent cumburi this agrees with Britton but Pecorantes et Sodomitae terra vivisâ—ffodiantur But in the Mirror of Justice vouched in Plow Com. in Fogosses Case the Crime is more high for there it is called Crimen laesae majestatis a horrible Sin against the King either Celestial or Terrestial in three manners 1. By Heresy 2. By Buggary 3. By Sodomy Note Sodomy is with mankind and is Felony and to make that Offence Opertet rem penetrate et semen naturae emittere et effundere for the Indictment is Contra ordinationem Creatoris et naturae ordinem rem habuit veneream dictumque puerum carnaliter cognovit and so it was held in the Case of Stafford Paederastes â—mator puerorum Vide Rot. Parl. 50 Ed. 3. 58. So in a Rape there must be penetration and emission of Seed Vide Stamf. fol. 44. which Statute makes the Accessary Guilty of Felony West 1. cap. 34. If a Man ravish a Woman 11 H. 4. 18. If one Ayd another in a Rape or be present he is principle in the Buggary Vide Levit. 18. 22. et cap. 10. 13. 1 Cor. 6. Case of Premunire In Doctor Cosines Book intituled An Answer c. and publisht 1584. And a Pamphlet lately publisht by Doctor Ridley they would obtrude upon the World That in regard by the Act 10 Eliz. cap. 1. all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical Power within the Realm is annexed to the Crown and the Law thereof is the Kings Ecclesiastical Law That therefore no Premunire lyes against any Spiritual Judge for any cause whatsoever And the Reasons some of their Profession give to confirm it are 1. That when the Statute of Premunire was made the Pope usurped Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction though de jure it belonged to the King But now since the King as well de facto as de jure is Supream Head of all The cause being changed the Law is changed also 2. â—T conclusion of the Writ of Premunire is in Domini Regis contemptum et prejudicium et dictae Coronae et dignitatum suarum Laesionem et exhaeredationem manifestam et contra forman statuti c. which proves the Jurisdictions united to the Crown and what is united to and derived from the Crown cannot be said contra Coronam et dignitatem Regis 3. The High Commission Court is the Kings Court and therefore though it may be said The Consistory Courts are Curiae Episcoporum yet that Court by force of the High Commission is the Kings and so their Proceedingâ— shall not be lyable to the Premunire 4. This new Court is erected by Act of Parliament c. And because the Sâ—atute of R. 2. speaks de curia Romana seu alibi c. This alibi cannot extend to a Court erected by Act of Parliament 10 Eliz. But to these Objections it was answered and resolved by divers Justices in this Term That without Question theâ— Statutes of 27 Ed. 3. 16 R. 2. c. de Premunire are yet in force And all proceedings before any
Common-Law none can be burnt for Heresy but by Conviction at a Convocation Note The High Commission may punish Heresies and upon their Conviction a Writ de Haeretico cumburendo See 6 R. 2. by which the Commons disavowed their assent to the Act of the 5 R. 2. which was contrived by the Prelates in the Name of the Commons whereas they never assented Mich. 6 Jac. Regis Langdale's Case In Langdales Case this Term in a Prohibition to the High Commissioners two Points were moved 1. If a Feme Covert may sue for Alimony before the High-Commissioners 2. If the Court of Common Pleas may grant a Prohibition when there is no Plea pendant there This concerning the Jurisdiction of the Court was first debated and divers Objections were made against it 1. That this Court hath not Jurisdiction to hold Plea without an Original unless by Priviledge of an Attorney Officer or Clerk of the Court and unless it be in a special Case viz. when there is an Action there depending for the same Cause then it was agreed that a Prohibition ought to recite Quod cum tale Placitum pendet c. And it was said That F. N. B. 43. g. agrees with this But a man ought to have his Prohibition out of Chancery or the Kings Bench upon surmise that he is sued in Court Christian for a Temporal Cause and the 2 Ed. 4. 11. 6. was cited To this it was answered and Resolved by Coke chief Justice Warberton Daniell and Foster Justices That the Common Pleas may award a Prohibition though no Suit be there pendent for it is the principal Court of Common Law for Common Pleas Quia Communia Placita non sequantur Curiam nostram as it is Enacted by Magna Charta thirty times confirmed by Parliamâ—â—â— then if the Ecclesiastical Judges incroach upon the Jurisdiction of the Common Pleas there the Court shall Grant a Prohibition and that without Original Writ for divers Causes 1. Because no Original Writ issuing out of Chancery is retornable into the King Bench or Common Pleas but is directed to a Judge or Party or both and is not retornable And upon contempt of the Prohibition the Chancellor may award an Attachment retornable either in the Kings Bench or Common Pleas which in such case is but a Judicial Writ And if such Attachment be retornable in the Common Pleas c. the Plaintiff in the Declaration shall make mention of an Original in Chancery and of the contempt c. as appears in a notable President 2. There was great reason that no Original Writ of Prohibition shall be retornable for the Common-Law was a Prohibition in it self and incroachment upon it incurred a contempt and with this agrees our Books 9 H. 6. 56. And there 't is held That the Statute of the 45 Ed. 3. and the Common Law also was a Prohibition in it self and thus the Rule of the Book 19 H. 6. 54. so is it held in 8 R. 2. Title Attachment Sur Prohibition 15. Note By Clopton a Sergeant at the Common Pleas That if a Plea be held in Court-Christian which belongs to the Court of the King without a Prohibition in facto the Plaintiff shall have an Attachment upon a Prohibition Quod fuit concessum c. Register 77. Estrepement Praecipimus quod inhibeas c. F. N. B. 259. Register 112. A Consultation is as much an Original as a Prohibition And the Court hath granted a Consultation ergo Prohibitions Qui habet jurisdictionem absolvendi habet juris dictionem Ligandi There are several sorts of Prohibitions one sort with this word Probibemus vobis and Letters in nature thereof as Supersedeas And Injunction is a Prohibition and Prohibition of Wast out of Chancery c. Express Prohibition are in two manners the one founded upon a Suggestion the other upon Record Upon Suggestion where Plea is pendent and yet the Suggestion is the Foundation but it is founded upon Record where no Plea is pendent for Prohibitions founded upon Record Ne admittas ought to recite the Plea pendent So a Writ to the Bishop to admit a Clerk is a Judicial Latitat as Dyer defends it As to the pendency of a Plea or not pendency it is not material for divers causes 1. The pendency of the Plea may give a priviledge to the party but no Jurisdiction to the Court in a Collateral Suit between which there is great diversity 2. The Prohibition where Plea is pendent is no process Judicial upon Record for it is a Collateral Suit 3. If the Common-Pleas cannot grant a Prohibition without a Plea pendent then the Kings which onely holds Plea of Common-Pleas by second means cannot But inasmuch as the Common-Law is instead of an Original as hath been said both Courts may grant it 4. Infinite Presidents may be shewn of Prohibition out of the Common Pleas without recital of any Plea pendent And true it is That it ought to be if the Court hath not Jurisdiction to grant any without Plea-pendant every petty-Clerk of the Common-Pleas shall have by his Priviledge a Prohibition without Plea-pendent A fortiori the Common Law it self may prohibite any one 4 Ed. 4. 37. 37 H. 8. 4. 5. A President is in the 22 Ed. 4. where a Prohibition was granted for that the Plaintiff might have a Writ of false Judgment at the Common Law The Record and Report agree the words of the Record are 6. That Officers and Clerks as well in the Common-Pleas as in the Exchequer c. may have by Privileng of Court a Prohibition without Original a fortiori the Law it self shall have greater Priviledge than an Officer or Clerk and to enforce the party to bring an Action will be a means to multiply Suits to no end 4 Ed. 4. fol. 37. every Prohibition is as well at the Kings Suit as at the Parties 28 Ed. 3. 97. false Latin shall not abate nor excommunication in the Plaint is no Plea 15 Ed. 3. Title Corrody 4. Note Though the Original cause was in the Kings Bench for Corrody Excommunication is no Plea in disability of the Plaintiff Vide 21 H. 7. 71 Kelway 6. quare non admissit 4 Ed. 4. 37. for not delivery of a Libel in the Common Pleas he shall have a Prohibition by all the Justices So upon 2 Ed. 6. cap. 13. See 38 H. 6. 14. 22. Ed. 6. 20. 13 Ed. 3. Title Prohibition 11. 32 H. 6. 34. An Attorney in the Palace assaulted and menaced the Court shall take a Bill and inquire of it 4 Ed. 4. 36 37. Statham Prohibition 3. Prohibition super articulos title Prohibition pl. 5. gives a Prohibition before Scil. coram Justiciaâ—iis nostris apud Westm Vide F. N. P. fol. 69. b. in a Writ of Pone Register indic coram Justicia iis nost is apud Westm is the Common Pleas F. N. B. 64. d. 38 Ed. 3. 14. Statute 2 Ed. 6. cap. 13. Hales Case in my Reports Many Prohibitions were granted in the
Kings Bench because no Writ of Error lyes but in Plaint Robert Bankes Case Mich. 6 Jac. Regis Mich. 6 Jac. Rot. 639. Robert Bankes Gent. brought an Action upon the Statute of Winton 13 Ed. 1. against the Inhabitants of the Hundred of Burnham in the County of Bucks and counted that certain misdoers to the Plaintiff unknown at Hitcham the 22d of Nov. 5 Jac. assaulted the Plaintiff and robbed him of 25 l. 3 5. 2 d. ob and that he immediately after the robbery the same 22d of Nov. at Joplow and Maalow the next Towns to Hitcham in the said County made Hâ—e-and Cry c. and after the said Robbery and within 20 dayes before the purchase of the Writ viz. the 19 of Fâ—br Aâ— 5. at Dorney in Com. praed the Plaintiff before Sir William Gâ—rrard Knight then Justice of Peace in the said County and living next the said Hundred being examined upon Oath according to the Statute 27 Elâ—z the Plaintiff upon his Oath said He knew not the Parties who robbed him and since the said Robbery 40 dayes are past and the said Inhabitants of Burnham have not made him any amends nor the Bodies of the Felons or any of them have taken but suffered them to escape to which the Defendants plead Not Guiley and Vâ— fa. was awarded de vicineto c. And the Jury gave a special Verdict and found that the Plaintiff was robbed and made Hue-and-Cry as aforesaid and found over That the Plaintiff was sworn before Sir William Gerrard as aforesaid and said upon his Oath in these English words viz. That he on Thursday the 22 d. of Nov. 1604. riding under Hitcham wood c. was then and there set upoâ— by Horsemen which he knew not and robbed of 25 l. 3 s. 2 d. ob but whether the said Oath so taken be true according to the said Statute 27 Eliz. the Jurors pray the direction of the Court. Mouses Case Mich. 6 Jac. Regis In an Action of Trespass brought by Mouse for a Casket and 113 l. taken and carryed away the Case was the Ferryman of Gravesend took 47 Passengers into his Barge to pass to London and Mouse was one of them the Barge being upon the Water a great Tempest happened so that the Barge and all the Passengers were in danger to be drowned if a Hogshead of Wine and other pouderous things were not cast out And it was Resolved per totam Curiam That in a case of necessity for saving the Lives of the Passengers it was lawful to the Defendant being a Passenger to cast the Plaintiff's Casket out of the Barge with what was in it for quod quis ob tutelam corporis sui fecerit jure id fecissâ— videtur Upon the special matter pleaded and Reply De injuria sua propria absque tali causa the first day of this Term the Issue being tryed and it was proved directly That the Men had been drowned if the things had not been cast out The Plaintiff was Non-sult Resolved also That though when the Ferry-man surcharge the Barge yet to save the Passengers Lives in such a Necessity it is lawful for the Passengers to cast the things out of the Barge yet the Owners shall have their Remedy upon the surchage against the Ferry-man but if there was no surcharge but the danger came by the Act of God then every one must bear his own losse for Interest Râ—ipub quod homines conserventur â— Ed. 4. 23. Bull. c. 12 H. 8. 15. 28 H. 8. Dyer 36. Mich. 5. Jac. Regis Prohibitions del Roy. Noâ—e On Sunday the 10. of Nov. in this Term the King upon Complaint made by Bancroft Arch-Bishop of Canterbury concerning Prohibitions the King was informed That when Question was made of what matters the Ecclesiastical Judges have Cognâ—zance c. in any Case in which there is not express Authority in Law the King himself may decide in his Royal Person the Judges being but his Delegates c. And the Arch-Bishop said this was clear in Divinity To which it was answered by Mee in the presence and with the clear Consent of all the Justices of England and Barons of the Exchequer that the King in his own person cannot adjudge any Case either Criminal as Treason c. or betwixt party and party concerning Inheritance Goods c. But it ought to be determined in some Court of Justice according to the Law and Custome of England and all Judgments are given Ideo consideratum est per Curium And the King hath his Court in the Upper House of Parliament in which he with his Lords is the Supream Judge over all Judges And in this respect the King is called Chief Justice 20 H. 7. 7. a. by â—rudnel and it appears in our Bookes 2 R. 3. 9. 21 H. 7. 8. that that the King may sit in the Star-Chamber but this was onely to consult not in judicio So in the Kings-Bench but the Court gives Judgment And 't is commonly said in our Books the King is alwayes present in Court and therefore he cannot be Non-suit And it appears by the Acts of Parliament 2 Ed. 3. c. 9. 2 Ed. 3. c. 1. That neither by the Great Seal nor by the little Seal Justice shall be delayed ergo The King cannot take any Cause out of any of his Courts and give Judgment upon it but in his own Cause he may stay it as appears 11 H. 4. 8. And the Judges informed the King that no King after the Conquest ever assumed to himself to give Judgment in any Cause whatsoever which concerned the Administration of Justice within the Realm 17 H. 6. 14. 39 Ed. 3. 14. the King cannot Arrest any man 1 H. 7. 4. Hussey chief Justice Reports being Attorney to Ed. 4. That Sir John Markham chief Justice said to Ed. 4. That the King cannot Arrest a man for suspition of Treason or Felony as his other Leiges may And it was greatly marvailed That the Archbishop durst inform the King that such absolute Power as aforesaid belonged to him by the Word of God Vide 4 H. 4. cap. 22. Westm 2. cap. 5. vide le stat de Marlbridge cap. 1. stat de Magn. Chart. cap. 29. 25 Ed. 3. c. 5. 43 Ed. 3. c. 3. 28 Ed. 3. c. 3. 37 Ed. 3. c. 18. vide 17 R. 2. ex Rotulis Parliamenti in Turri act 10. A controversy of Land between Parties was heard by the King and Sentence given which was repealed because it did belong to the Common Law Then the King said That the Law was grounded upon Reason and that He and Others had reason as well as the Judges To which it was answered by Me That true it was God had endued his Majesty with excellent Science but his Majesty was not learned in the Laws of England and Causes which concern the Life or Inheritance or Goods of his Subjects which are not to be decided by natural Reason but artificial Reason and Judgment of Law which
in the Star-Chamber upon the Proclamation against Building and that I had given Sentence against the said Proclamation To which I answered That Presidents were to be seen and Considerations to be had upon Conference with my Brethren for Melius est recurrere quam male currere and Indictments conclude contra leges statuta never contra regiam Proclamationem At last my motion was allowed and the Lords appointed the two Chief Justices Chief Baron and Baron Altham to consider of it Note the King by his Proclamation or otherwise cannot change any part of the Common-Law Statute-Law or Customs of the Realm 11 H. 4. 37. Fortescue in laudibus legum Ang. cap. 9. 18 Ed. 4. 35 36 c. 31 H. 8. cap. 8. ubi non est lex ubi non est transgressio ergo That which cannot be punished without Proclamation cannot be punished with it Vide le Stat. 31 H. 8. cap. 8. But if a man be indicted upon a Contempt against a Proclamation he shall be Fined anâ— imprisoned Vide Fortescue cap. 9. 18 34 36 37 c. In all Cases the King out of his Providence and to prevent dangers may prohibite them before which will aggravate the Offence if it be afterwards committed And as it is a Grand Prerogative of the King to make Proclamations 22 H. 8. Procl B. yet we find Presidents of Proclamations utterly against Law and Reason and therefore void For Quae contra rationem Juris introducta sunt non debent trahi in sequentiam An Act made to License Forreiners to Merchandize in London H. 4. by Proclamation prohibited the Execution of it usque ad prox Parliament which was against Law Vide doâ—s claus 8 H. 4. Proc. in London but 9 H. 4. An Act was made That all Irish should depart the Realm before the Feast of the Nativity this only was in terrorem being utterly against Law Hollingshead 772. Anno Dom. 1546. 37 H. 8. The Whorâ—-houses vulgo Stews were suppressed by Proclamation and found of Trumpet In the same Term Râ—solved by the two Chief Justices Chief Baron and Baron Altham upon Conference between the Lords of the Privy-Council and them That the King by his Proclamation cannot create any Offence which was not an Offence before for then he may alter the Law And the Law of England is divided into three parts 1. Common-Law 2. Statute-Law 3. Custom But the Kings Proclamation is none of them Resolved also That he hath no Prerogative but what the Law of the Land allows him but he mry by Proclamation admonish his Subjects that they keep the Laws upon pain to be inflicted by Law c. Lastly If the Offence be not punishable in the Star-Chamber Prohibition by Proclamation cannot make it punishable there And after this Resolution no Proclamation imposing Fine and Imprisonment was made c. Mich. 8 Jac. Regis Prohibitions It was Resolved in this Term That if a man be excommunicated by the Ordinary where he ought not as after a general Pardon c. and the Defendant being Negligent doth not sue a Prohibition but remains excommunicate by 40 dayes and upon Certificate in Canc is taken by the Kings Writ de excommunicato capiendo no Prohibition lies in this Case because he is taken by the Kings Writ Then it was moved what remedy the Party hath who is wrongfully excommunicate to which it was answered he hath three Remedies 1. He may have a Writ out of Chancery to absolve him 14 H. 4. fol. 14. and with this agrees 7 Ed. 4. 14. 2. When he is excommunicate against the Law of this Realm so that he cannot have a Writ de Cauâ—fone admittenda then he ought Parere mandatis Ecclesiae in sorma Juris i. e. Ecclesiastici where in truth it 's Excommunicatio contra jus forman Juris i. e. Communis Juris But if he shew his Cause to the Bishop and Request him to assoyl him either because he was excommunicate after the Offence pardoned or that the Cause did not appear in Ecclesiastical Cognizance and he refuse he may have an Action Sur le Case against the Ordinary and with this agrees Dr. St. lib. 2. cap. 32. fol. 119. 3. If the Party be excommunicate for nonâ—e of the Causes mentioned in the Act 5 Eliz. cap. 23. then he may plead this in the Kings Bench and so avoid the Penalties in the Act. Note It was Resolved by the Court c. That where one is cited before the Dean of the Articles in cause of defamation for calling the Plaintiff Where out of the Diocess of London against the Statute of 23 H. 8. And the Plaintiff hath Sentence and the Defendant is excommunicated and so continues 80 dayes And upon Certificate into the Chancery a Writ of Excommunicato capiendo is granted and the Defendant taken and imprisoned thereby that he shall not have a Prohibition upon the Statute 23 H. 8. for no Writ in the Register extends to it but there is a Writ there called de cautione admittenda when the Defendant is taken by the Kings Writ de excommunicato capiendo de parendo mandatis Ecclesiae and to assoyl and deliver the Defendant But in the Case at Bar it does not appear to us judicially without Information that the Citation is against the forme of the Statute And the Information comes too late in this Case after the Defendant hath persisted so long in his Contumacy and is taken by the Kings Writ and imprisoned Admiralty It was Resolved per totam Curiam That if One be sued in the Admiralty-Court for a thing alledged to be done upon the High-Sea within the Admirals Jurisdiction and the Defendant plead and confess the thing done and after Sentence the Court will be advised to Grant a Prohibition upon surmise That it was done infra corpus comitatus against their own confession unless it can be made appear to the Court by matter in Writing or other good matter that this was done upon the Land for otherwise every one will stay till after Sentence and then for vexation only sue out a Prohibition And admonition was given to them that sue out Prohibitions That they should not keep them long in their Hands or untill they perceive they cannot prevail in the Ecclesiastical Court then to cast in their Prohibition for if they abuse that liberty to the vexation of the Party we will take such order as in case of a Writ of Priviledge if the Defendant keep it till the Jurors are ready c. it shall not be allowed Hill 8 Jacob. Regis In this Term in Doctor Trevor's Case who was Chancellor of a Bishop in Wales It was Resolved That the Office of a Chancellor and Register c. in Ecclesiastical Courts are within the Statute 5 Ed. 6. cap. 16. which Act being made for avoiding corruption of Officers c. and advancement of worthy Persons shall be expounded most beneficially to suppress Corruption And because the Law allows Ecclesiastical Courts to
understood of Treasons Misprision of Treason Petit Treason and Felony and their Accessaries c. But Premunire is but a contempt and Pardon of all Contempts pardons it Whereupon the Lord Vaux confessed the Indictment Vide Lamb Justice dâ—l Peace 520 Dallisons Report accordingly Vide Stamford c. Trin. 10 Jacob. Regis Countess of Shrewsbury's Case In this Term before a select Councel at York-house the Countess of Shrewsbury Wife of Gilbert Earl of Shrewsbury then Prisoner in the Tower was brought and by the Kings Attorney and Sollicitor was charged with a high Contempt of dangerous consequence declaring That the Lady Arbella being of the Blood-Royal had marryed Seymor the Earl of Hertford's second Son without the King's Consent for which he was committed to the Tower and had escaped and fled beyond the Seas And the Lady Arbella being under restraint escaped also and embarked her self on the Sea but was taken ere she got over of which flight of the Lady Arbella the said Countess well knew as is directly proved by Crompton and not denied by the Lady Arbella And admitting the Lady Arbella had no evil intent against the King yet when she fled and should be inviron'd with Evil Spirits cum perversis perverti possit Now the Charge was in two Parts 1. That the Countess of Shrewsbury being by the King's Command called to the Councel-Table and being required by the Lords to declare her knowledge touching the said Points she answered she would not answer particularly and being again by the King's Commands asked by the Councel at Lambeth she refused for two Causes 1. Because she had made a Vow that she would not declare any thing in particular touching the said Points and she said it was better to obey God than Man 2. She stood upon her Priviledge of Nobility viz. to answer when Judicially called before her Peers such Priviledge having been allowed to William Earl of Pembroke and the Lord Lumly 2. The second Point of the Charge was That when the Answer she had made was put in Writing and read to her yet she refused to subscribe the same Which Denial was urged by the King's Councel as a high contempt c. And the Countess hearing the Charge yet persisted in her obstinate Refusal for the same Reasons the insisted on as before And the Lord Chancellor began and the Archbishop and the other Lords adjudged it a great and high Contempt And that no such allowance was to the Earl of Pembroke or Lord Lumly as was supposed And the Archbishop and Earl of Northampton proved by Scripture that the said Case now was against the Law of God All that the Justices said was That they might well be silent but that silentium in Senatu est vitium and therefore they briefly speak of three things 1. Whâ—ther the Refusals aforesaid were Offences in Law against the King his Crown and Dignity 2. What Proceeding this is and if justifiable by President or Reason 3. What the Offences are and how punishable 1. As to the first It was resolved by the Justices and Master of the Rolls that the denying to be examined was a high Contempt against the King his Crown and Dignity and upon hope of Impunity it will be an encouragement to Offenders as Fleming Chief Justice said to enterprize dangerous Attempts The Master of the Rolls said the Nobility in this Case had no more priviledge to deny to be examined than any other Subject Also if one Noble be sued and a Peer be sued in Star-Chamber or Chancery they must answer upon their Oaths And if produced as a Witness they ought to be sworn And therefore for maintaining of Order the Chief Justice said he would recite some of those Honourable Priviledges which the Law of England attributes to Nobility 1. If a Baron Viscount Earl c. be Plaintiff in any Action and the Defendant will plead that the Plaintiff is not a Baron c. this shall be tryed onely by the Record in Chancery which imports by its self solid truth 2. Their Persons have many Priviledges in Law 1. At a Subjects Suit they shall not be arrested 2. Their Bodies are not subject to Torture in causa criminis â—aesae Majestatis 3. They are not to be sworn in Assizâ—s Juries or Inquests 4. It is Felony in any Servant of the King named in the Checquer Roll to compass or intend to kill any Lord of Parliament or of the King's Councel 5. In the Common-Pleas a Lord shall have Knights returned of his Jury 6. He shall have Day of Grace 7. Shall not be Tryed in case of Treason Felony or Miâ—prison of them but by those that are Nobles and Peers 8. In Tryal of a Peer the Lords of Parliament shall not swear but give their Judgment Super Fidem Ligeantiam Domino Regi debitam And the King honours with Nobility for two Causes 1. Ad consulendum and therefore he gives them a Robe 2. Ad Defendendum Regem Regnum and therefore he gives them a Sword And therefore as they derive their Dignities with those Honourable Priviledges from the King to deny to answer being required by the King is a high Contempt accompanied with great Ingratitude This Denial is contra Ligeantiam suam as appears by the Antient Oath of Allegeance And the Law hath greater account to a Noble-mans Allegeance then one of the Commons because the breach of their Allegeance is more dangerous for Corruptio optimorum est pessima 2. As to the second Point viz. concerning the manner of Proceedings 1. Privative It is not to fine imprison or inflict corporal punishment for that ought to be assessed in some Court Judicially 2. Positive The Fine is ad monendum or at most ad minandum it is ad instruendum non ad destruendum This selected Councel is to express what punishment this Offence justly deserved if judicially proceeded against in the Star-Chamber Therefore this Proceeding is out of the King's Mercy to this Lady that seeing her Offence she might submit to the King without any Judicial Proceedings against her And though the Law puts Limits to the King's Justice it doth not so to his Mercy Et ideo processus iste est regalis plane rege dignus And this manner of Proceeding is fortified by the President of the Earl of Essex against whom such Proceedings were in this very place 42 43 Eliz. As to the last Point It was resolved by all quasi una voce that if a Sentence should be given in the Star Chamber she should be fined 20000 l. and imprisoned during the Kings pleasure Trin. 10 Jacobi Regis Robert Scarlet 's Case Note That at the Sessions of Peace lately holden at Woodbridge in Suffolk the Sheriff returned a Grand Inquest of which one Robert Scarlet desired to be one But the Sheriff knowing the malice of the man refused to return him Yet by Confederacy with the Clark who read the Pannel he was sworn of the Grand Inquest
in the Court for such cause And the King would know their Opinions The Judges took time till this Term and then Fleming Chief Justice Tanfield Chief Baron Saig Altham Crook Bromley and Dodderidge Yelverton and Williams Justices being dead since last Term did deliver their Opinions to the Lord Chancellor That the Presidents of each Court are sufficient Warrant for their Proceedings in the same Court and for a long time and in many Successions of Reverend Judges Prohibitions upon Information without any other Plea pending have been granted Issues tryed Verdicts and Judgments given upon Demurrer All which being in force they unanimously agreed to give no Opinion against the Jurisdiction of the Common-Bench in this Case See my Treatise of the Jurisdiction of the Common-Bench in this Point Hill 10 Jac. Regis Parliament in Ireland The Lords of the Councel did write to the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron to look into Poynings Act made 10 H. 7. in Ireland and to consider thereof and certifie what shall be fit to be held concerning the same their Letter bore date Ultimo Janii 1612. Upon which in this Term the said Chief Justices Chief Baron Attorney and Sollicitor General were assembled two days at Sergeants Inne And they considered not onely of the said Act 10 H. 7. c. 4. called Poynings Act but also of an Act made in Ireland 3 4 P. M. c. 4. Entituled An Act declaring how Poynings Act shall be expounded and taken for by the said Act 10 H. 7. it is provided That no Parliament be hereafter holden in Ireland but when the Kings Lieutenant and Councell there first certifie the King under the Great Seal of that Land the causes c. and such causes c. affirmed by the King and his Councel to be good and expedient for the Land and his Licence thereupon c. A Parliament to be holden after the former before c. And any Parliament holden contrary c. to be void in Law Upon which Act divers Doubts were conceived 1. And first Whether the said Act 10 H. 7. does extend to the Successors of H. 7. the Act speaking onely of the King generally and not his Successors 2. If the Queen Mary were within the word King and both were held affirmatively for the word King being spoke indefinitely does extend in Law to all his Successors And this is so expounded by the Act 3 and 4 P. and M. viz. That the said Act 10 H. 7. shall extend to the King and Queens Majesty her Heirs and Successors Secondly where Povnings Act sayes the Kings Lieutenant and Councel the said Act 3 and 4 P. and M. explains it to extend to all other Officers the King shall Depute by what Name soever 3. The greatest Doubt was upon these words of Poynings Act And such Causes Considerations and Acts affirmed by the King and his Councel to be good and expedient for the Land c. Whether the King may make any change or alteration of the Causes c. which shall be transmitted hither from the Lieutenant and Councel of Ireland for that it is not affirmative but correction and alteration of them and therefore it was necessary to explain that the Act 3 and 4 P. and M. was in these words Either for the passing of the said Acts and in such form and tenor as they should be sent into England or else for the change or alteration of them or any part of them 4. Another Doubt arose from these words That dâ—ne a Parliament to be had If at the same Parl. other Acts which have been affirmed or altered here may be Enacted there which is explained by the said last Act in these words viz. For passing and agreeing upon such Acts and no others as shall be returned c. 5. A fifth Doubt arose from the same words Whether the Lieutenant and Councel of Ireland after the Parliament begun and pendente Parliamento may upon debate there transmit any other Considerations c. the which said Act 3 and 4 P. and M. is by express words explained they may And it was unanimously Resolved That the Causes Considerations and Acts transmitted hither under the Great Seal of Ireland ought to be kept in the Chancery in England and not be remanded 2. Iâ— they be affirmed they must be transcribed under the Great Seâ—l and so returned into Ireland 3. If the Acts transmitted hither be in any part altered or changed here the Act so altered must forthwith be returned under the Great Seal of England for the Transcript under the Irish Great Seal to remain in Chancery here shall not be amended but the Amendment shall be under the English Great Seal See 10 H. 6. 8. which begins Mich. 18 H. 6. Rot. 46. coram Rege how a Parliament was holden there before Poynings Act. See also another Act made in Ireland the same 10 H. 7. c. 22. vide R. 3. 12. Hibernia habet Parliamenta faciunt leges nostra statuta non ligant â—os quia non mittunt milites ad Parliamentum sed personae coâ—um sunt subjecti Regis sicut inhabitantâ—s Calinae Gascogniae Guienae But question is made of this in some of our Books vid. 20 H. 6. 8. 32 H 6 25. 1 H. 7. 3. 8 H. 7. 10. 8 R. 2. Precess 204. 13 Ed. 2. Tit. Bastard 11 H. 47. 7 Ed. 4. 27. Plow Comment 368. 13 Eliz. Dyer 35. 2 Eliz. Dyer 366. Calvins Case 7th of my Reports 226. 14 Ed. 3. 184. A Prâ—bend in England made Bishop of Dublin in Ireland his Prebendary is voâ—d See the Sâ—atute of Ireland c. That the Acts of Parliament made in England since the 10 H. 7. do not hind them in Ireland but all made in England before the 10 H. 7. by the Act made in Ireland 10 H. 7. c. 22. do bind them in Ireland Note Cambden King at Arms told me that some held if a Baron dyes having Issue divers Daughters the King confer the Dignity to him who marryes any of them as hath been done in divers Cases viz. In the case of the Lord Cromwel who had Issue divers Daughters And the King did confer the Dignity upon Burchier who marryed the youngest Daughter and he was called Cromwel and so in other Cases Note by Linwood it appears by the Canons Ecclesiastick none may exercise Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction unless he be within the Orders of the Church because none may pronounce Excommunication but a Spiritual Person But now by the 37 H. 8. c. 17. a Doctor of Law or Register though a Lay-man may execute Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction No Ecclesiastical may cite a Church-Warden to the Court but so as he may return home the same day Also the Canons limit how many Courts Ex Officio they may have in a year Mich. 11 Jac. Regis Note If a man give to one of his Children a certain sum in his life and after dyes though this is not given as a Child 's full Portion yet it
shall be sufficient for him But if the Father by Writing declare that it is but part of a Childs portion then he shall have a full Childs part otherwise not Note It was holden by the Judges in the Kings-Bench That if a man be possessed of a House and Term for years doth devise for years does demise this to his Wife for Life the remainder over the dyes all his Debts being paid If the Widow enters generally and converts the profiâ—s to her own use and not to pious Works this is a Determination of her Election And this is the general case and therefore it is good that it be specially found Hâ—yn's Case In the Lent Assize holden at Leicester 11 and 12 Jac. the Case was One William Haynes had digged up the several Graves of three men and one Woman in the Night and had taken their Winding-Sheets from their Bodies and buryed them again And it was Resolved by the Justices at Sergeants Inne in Fleetstreet that the property of the Sheets remains in the Owners that is of him that had the property therein when the dead body was wrapped therewith as in 11 H. 4. If Apparel be put upon a Boy this is a Gift in Law for the Boy hath Capacity to take it but a dead Body being but a Lump of Earth hath no capacity Also it is not a Gift to the Person but bestowed on the Body for the Reverence towards it to express the hope of Resurrection And therefore at the second Assizes he was severally Indicted for taking these Sheets The first Indictment was of Petty-Larceny for which he was whipped And at the same Assizes he was Indicted for the Felonious taking the other three Sheets for which he had his Clergy and escaped Death Hill 11 Jacobi Regis Earl of Derby's Case In Chancery between Sir John Egerton Plaintiff and William Earl of Dirby Chamberlain of Chester and others Defendants It was Resolved by the Lord Chancellor the Chief Justice of England the Master of the Rolls Dodderidge and Winch Justices 1. That the Chamberlain of Chester being sole Judge of Equity cannot Decree any thing wherein himself is party but in such Case the Suit shall be heard here in Chancery coram Domino Rege 2. If the Defendants dwell out of the County Palatine he who hath to complain in Equity may complain here in Chancery And therefore the Suit shall be here in Chancery Ne Curia Domini Regis deficient in justitia exhibenda Else the Subject shall have good Right and yet have no Remedy And this pursues the Reason of the Common-Law 13 Ed. 3. Tit. Jurisdiction 8 Ed. 2. Ass 382. 5 Ed. 3. 30. 30 H. 6. 6. 7 H. 6. 37. For where the particular Courts cannot do Justice to the Parties they shall sue in the Kings general Courts at Westminster 11 H. 4. 27. 8 Ed. 4. 8. 3. It was Resolved That the King cannot grant a Commission to any to determine any matter of Equity but it ought to be determined in Chancery which hath had Jurisdiction in such case time out of mind and had allowance by Law whereas such new Commissions have been resolved to be against Law as was agreed in Pott's Case 4. Upon Consideration of the Lord Dyer and other Justices in Queen Elizabeth's time concerning the Jurisdiction of the County Palatine It was Resolved That for things Transitory though in truth they be in the County Palatine the Plaintiff may alleadge them to be done in any place of England and the Defendant may not plead to the Jurisdiction of the Court See Dyer 13 Eliz. sol 202 716. Forms and Orders of Parliament In the House of Commons when the Speaker is chosen he in his place where he shall first sit down shall disable himself and pray them to proceed a new Election But after he is put into the Chair then he shall pray them that he may disable himself to the King Note The King the first day of the Parliament shall sit in the Upper-House and there the King or Chancellor by his Command shall shew the Causes of Calling the Parliament and in Conclusion of the Oration the Commons are commanded to chuse a Speaker which after 2 or 3 dayes they present where He makes an Oration disabling himself c. In the Lower House when a Bill is read the Speaker opens the parts of it so that each Member may understand the intent thereof and the like is done by the Lord Chancellor in the Upper House Then upon the second Reading sometimes it is Engrossed without Commitment Then it is put to the Question and so in the Upper House But neither in the Upper or Lower House the Chancellor or Speaker shall not repeat a Bill or an Amendment but once When a Bill is committed to the second Reading then if Committees do amend it in any Point they shall write their Amendments in a Paper and shall direct to a Line and what Words shall be interlined and where and then all shall be ingrossed in a Bill And if a Bill pass the Commons House and the Lords amend it they do as before shew the Line c. and after the Amendments are ingrossed with particular References and the Bill sent down to the Commons the Amendments are road three times and so eâ—converso of a Bill passing the Upper House No Lord Knight Citizen or Burgess may speak above once to one Bill in one day No private Bill ought to be read before publike Bills In the Commons House those that are for the New Bill if there be a Question of Voyces shall go out of the House and who are against the Bill or for the Common-Law or any former shall fit still for they are in possession of the Old Law In the Upper House two Lords are appointed to number the Voyces In both Houses he that stands up first to speak shall speak first without difference of Persons When a Bill is ingrossed at the third Reading it may be amended in the same House in matter of substance â— fortiori the Errour of the Clerk in the ingrossing may be amended c. Pâ—sch 12. Jac. Regis Walter Chute's Case Walter Chute Sewer to the King exhibited a Petition to the King That for safety of the Realm c. that he would erect a new Office to Register all Strangers within the Realm except Merchant-Strangers to be kept at London and to grant it to the Petitioner with a Fee or without And all Strangers except Merchant-strangers to depart the Realm in a certain time unless they take a Billet under the said Registers Hand Which Petition the Lords of the Councel referred to Me by their Letters of the 13 Novemb. 1613. to consider what the Law is in that behalf c. And upon Conference with the Justices of the Common-Pleas and other Justices and Barons at Sergeants Inne in Fleetstreet It was Resolved That the Erection of such New Offices for the benefit of a private man was against all
assigned in the Ve Fa which was certified by Writ of Certiorari and upon this Writ no Return was made upon the Back of the Writ which is called Returnum Album And for that Cause this Easter Term the Judgment was reversed Trin. 7 Jac. Regis In Cur. Wardorum It was found by Writ of Diem clausit extremum after Roger Westcots death that the said Roger the day that he dyed was seized of and in the moiety of the Mannor of Trewalliard in his Demesne as of Fee and so dyed seized and that the moiety of the said Mannor 19 E. 3. was holden of the then Prince as of his Castle of Trematon parcel of his Dutchy of Cornwall by Knight-Service as appears by a certain Exemplification of Trematon for the said Prince made 9 Martii 19 E. 3. And the Words of the Extent were Willielmus de Torr tenet duo feoda et dimid Milit. apud Picke Stricklestombe Trewalliard per servitium militare reddit inde per annum 8 d. And it was Resolved by the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron That the Office concerning the Tenure was insufficient and void for the Verdict of a Jury ought to be full and direct and not with a prout patet for now the force of the Verdict lyes upon the Extentâ— which if it be false he who is grieved shall have no remedy by any Traverse for they have not found the Tenure indefinite which may be Traversed but with a prout patet which makes the Office in that Point insufficient And upon that a melius inquirendum shall issue And herewith agrees F. N. B. 255. FINIS THE TABLE A. AUrum Reginae what and what right the Queen hath to it 19 Alienations by Bishops when voidable by their Successors and when the King or Queen may void them 75 76 Admiralty Jurisdiction thereof is no Court of Record 82 83 84 85. 88 89. 109. 199. 200 201 Absence takes not away a Title of Honour and why 111 112 113 Affidavits false when how and from whom punishable 134 135 Arches Court its Jurisdiction 147 Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his power to act and in what cases 148 149 150 151 Apprentice none may keep a shop c. or set up a Trade c. unless he have served seven years 154 155 Apples whether within the Act for ingrossing and what within that Act 160 B. Bishops when lawfull and their Authority what and whence derived 8 9 Buggery what and how punishable 36 37 Baron who shall be said to be a Baron of Parliament and in what cases 73 74 Benevolence the nature thereof and how may be imposed 124 125 Burgage Tenure what and if tenant in Burgage shall pay aid to the King to make his Eldest Son Knight 169 170 171 172 Bridges who ought to repair them 176 177 C. Custome whence to be paid and of what 16 17. 33 Commissioners High Commissioners their power 17 18. 47 48 49 50 51 52. 72 73. 87 88 89 90 Conspiracy where such action lies for what and against whom 22 23 24. 95 96 97 Commissions what of them are against Law e contra 29 30 31 32. 93 94 Consultation where grantable 43. 46. 67 68 69 70 71 Court Christian their Power 44 Court of Common-Pleas their Power and Antiquity 60 61. 113 114 Convocation authority thereof 76 Contempt what shall be said a high contempt of the King and how punishable 100 101 Chester Chamberlain there his power 118 119 Court what judgement shall be given when the Court is divided in opinion 123 124 Contract what shall be said an intire Contract 205 206 Common when suspended or discharged e contra 214 215 Custome where and how available 216 217 218 219 D. Dignity the King may erect any name of Dignity that was not before or transfer it 85 86. 116 117 Deed obtained by Covin shall not bind 95 Duresse per Gaoler 133 Dower what a barre thereto e contra 161 162 163 164 165 F. Forrests what so properly and what may be done therein 20 21 First-Fruits and Tenths given to the Crown 46 47 Ferry-man when he may throw goods over boord 65 Felony while an Attainder in force no Felony before to be answered for 105 Forgery where punishable and how 108 177 178 Felon when his goods are forfeit 127 Fine levied how avoidable and for what 127 128 129 130 131 132 133. 202 Fine to the Lord of a Manor in Copy-hold ought to be reasonable 143 144 145 146 G. Grants antient not to be drawn in question 6 Grants of the Kings when void e contra 91 92 What shall be a good Grant to elect Burgesses to Parliament 126 H. Heresie what how and by whom punishable 58 59 60 Hand when the right hand shall be cut off and for what 74 75 Habeas Corpus 89 90 Haeretico comburendo the Writ therein lyeth 98 I. Impropriations not examinable and why 4 5 Confirmed by time though defective 5 6 Impositions when they may be laid by the King 32 33 34 Justices of Peace when they may award Processe of Outlawry 107 108 Their Power as to making Warrants 136 137 138 L. Libells what shall be judged a Libell and how and where to be punished 35 35 Law of England to be expounded by the Judges of it and none other 147 Lease for Lives when determinable 216 M. Marriages Priests Marriages not void 9 Marches Courts there when erected and why as also the power of Lords President there 51 53 54 55 56 57 58 Man-slaughter what so adjudged 92 93 Modus Decimandi what where suable 155 156 157 158 159 160. 181 182 183 184 185 186 ad 193 Meane profits when to be answered to the King 196 N. Nobility Priviledge thereof what 100 101 102 O. Oath Ex Officio in what cases the Ordinary may examine Ex Officio upon Oath 25 26 27 28 Office where traversable 106 107 Offices new where and upon what cause they may be erected 121 122 123 Office found where void and why 195 196 197. 222 Where an Estoppell 210 211 P. Procedendo in Loquela not allowable 4 Pardons what offences the King may pardon 28 29 Premunire where it lies and where not and against whom 37 38 39 40 41 42. 98 99 Prohibitions in what cases grantable and against whom and by what Courts 43 44 45 46. 52. 60 61 62 63. 66 67. 80 81. 89. 90. 150 151 152 153 Piracy who shall have Pyrates goods 77 Proclamations what may be prohibited thereby and the validity thereof 78 79 80 Priests may not be arrested in Holy Church c. 104 105 Perjury where punishable 106 Poynings Law how it shall be expounded 114 115 116 117 Portion what shall be said a sufficient Childs Portion 117 Palatine County its Jurisdiction 119 Parliament Forms and Orders of Parliament 119 120 Prohibition where it lies and for what and in what not 155 156 157 158 159 160. 172 173 174 175 176. 181 ad 193 Primer seisin where the King shall have it 198 199 Priviledge of Parliament to be determined by the Court of Parliament 212 213 Processe not to be made out of the Star-Chamben neither for damages nor costs 213 Parish Clerke who shall chuse 219 220 R. Recognizances when forfeited and for what 1 2 3 Rent when determinable by the Lessors death e contra 35 36 Robbery where the Hundred may be sued 64 65 Return when insufficient e contra 135 136 Returnum Album 222 S. Stannaries the Kings Prerogative therein 9 10 11 Salt-petre the Kings Prerogative therein in several points 12 13 14 Simony what it is and the penalty thereof 78 Statute what Officers shall be within the Stat. 5 E. 6. 16. for avoiding corruption 82 83 What is an offence within 11 H. 4. 9. 102 103 Slander fined in the Star-Chamber and why 108 Seat in the Church right thereto 109 110 Scandalum Magnatum what and how punishable 138 139 Sewers the Commissiones therein their power and how antient 179 180 T. Tayle Tenant in Tail may forfeit his Estate and when and for what 6 7 Treason what shall so be accounted e contra 14 15 16 Accessary in Treason who 86 Tenure what shall be said a Tenure in Capite c. 140 141 142 Tithes substracted where to be sued for 165 166 167 Tithes to be paid and for what and the neglect thereof how punishable 193 194 Timber-trees Oakes and Ash who may cut e contra 208 209. 216 217 V. Vowes of what validity in Common Law 99 W. Women Maids c. to take and marry against their Wills is Felony 18 19. 104 Wales Justices there not to be constituted by Commission 50 51 Witnesses Testis singularis not allowable 68 Parties to be no witnesses 72 Widow when and how her election shall determine 117 Winding-sheets felony to steal them 118 Wills and Testaments fees for writing thereof and extortion therein how punishable 177 202 Ward who shall be a ward to the King 203 204 205 Words action for words where it lies 207 208. 221 The End
were High Treason or no And in this the Justices were divided my self and divers others holding That this Act was not Treason but the chief Justice and divers others were against us 2. If it be High Treason then whether he may be indicted generally for the Counterfeiting of the Great Seal or else the special Fact must be expressed By reason of diversity of Opinions Râ—spectuatur vid. Fleta lib. 1. cap. 22. Item crimen falsi dicitur cum quis illicitus cui non fuerit ad haec data authoritas de sigillo Regis rapto vel invento et brevia Carteria vide le Attainder de Elizabeth Barton Edw. Bocking by Parliament c. 25. H. 8. c. 12. Hill 24 Eliz. In the Exchequer A Merchant brought eighty weigh of Bay-Salt by Sea to a Haven in England and out of the Ship sold 20 weighs and discharged them to another Ship wherein they were transported being never actually put on shore and for the residue viz. 60 weigh he agreed for the Custome and put them upon Land and now the dâ—nbt was 1 Eliz. cap. 12. for the words of the Statute concerning Exportation sent from the Wharfe Key or other place on the Land and concerning Importation taken up discharge and lay on Land If in this Case the said 20 weighs which alwayes were waterborn and never touched the Land ought to pay Custome as well inwards as outwards And it was Resolved That in both the Cases Custome ought to be paid and forasmuch as no Custome was paid It was Resolved That the Goods were forfeited Note No Act of Parliament can bind the King from any Prerogative which is sole and inseperable to his person but that he may dispence with it by a non obstante as his Soveraign Power of Commandines his Subjects to serve him for the publick Weal See 23 H. 6. cap. 8. 2 H. 7. 66. 13 R. 2. Parl. 2. cap. 1. See also 4 H. 4. cap. 31. Coke l. 2. fol. 69. But in things which are not incident solely and inseparably to the person of the King but belongs to every Subject and may be severed there an Act of Parliament may absolutely bind the King As if an Act of Parliament do disable any Subjects of the King to take any Land of his Grant or any of his Subjects as Bishops as it is done by the Statute 1 Jac. cap. 3. to Grant to the King this is good for to grant or take Lands or Tenements is common to every Subject Hill 4. Jac. Regis Care of High Commissioners If they have Power to Imprison Mich. 4 Jac. post prand There was moved a Question amongst the Judges and Sergeants at Sergeants Inn If the High Commissioners in Ecclesiastical Causes may by force of their Commission imprison any man or not First Resolved by all That before the Statute of the first of Eliz. the King might have granted a Commission to hear and determine Ecclesiastical Causes yet the Commissioners ought to proceed according to the Ecclesiastical Law allowed within the Realm Vide Caudrye's Case 5 Report Then all the Question rests upon the Act 1 Eliz. which hath three Branches 1. Such Commissioners have power to exercise Jurisdiction Spiritual and Ecclesiastical 2. By force of Letters-Patents they have power to visit reform c. all Heresies c. which by any manner of Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Power c. can or lawfully may be Reformed c. So that these Branches limit the Jurisdiction 3. That after such Commission delivered to them shall have power by vertue of this Act and the said Letters-Patents to exercise c. all the Premisses c. according to the Tenor c. This Branch gives them Power to execute their Commission But it was Objected That this Branch gave no power to the Queen to alter the Proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Law or to prescribe what manner of proceedings or punishment concerning the Lands Goods or Bodies of the Subject And this appears by the Title of the Act Restoring the intent being to make Restitution not any Innovation Vide a notable Case adjudged in this Point Hill 42. El. â—o 389. as to Imprisonment Smith's Case for at the last Consultation was granted And at last by the better Opinion as to things committed to them by Commission they may put Fine and Imprisonment By the 3 H. 7. cap. 14. 't is Ordained where Women as well Maids as Widows and Wives having substance c. for the lucre of such substance be taken by Misdoers contrary to their Wills and after marryed c. or defiled That what person henceforth so taketh c. against her will c. such taking c. to be Felony And the Misdâ—ers c. to be reputed as Felons Upon this great question was moved 4 5 Phil. Mar. in the Star-Chamber If the Eloym ent against her without Mariage or Carnal Copulation be Felony or no And the Opinion of Brook and some other of the Justices was that It was Felony But Sanders Lord Chief Justice was against it and afterwards as Peryam chief Baron did Report It was Resolved by all the Justices That such Eloynment onely is not Felony by the intent of the Statute without Marriage or Carnal Copulation Note By the express purview of the Act the Accessary both before and after is made Principal Pasch 4 Jac. Regis By the Commandement of the King it was referred to Popham Chief Baron and my self what Right the Queen which now is hath and in what Cases to a Right claim'd by her called Aurum Reginae that is to say Pro centum marcis argenti una marca Auri solvendum per illum qui se sponte obligat And upon consideration had thereof and view of Records and Presidents viz. Librum Rubrum in Scaccario fol. 56. de Auro Reginae where it is said that this is to be taken De iis qui sponte se obligant Regi c. which is the Foundation of this Claim And of a Record in the Tower 52 H. 3. And a Record in the Exchequer 4 Ed. 1. And a Record in the Exchequer Hill 12 Ed. 3. And in the Tower in the same year in Rot. Claus And of Acts of Parliament 15 Ed. 3. cap. 6. and 31 Ed. 3. cap. 13. and 13 R. 2. in Turri And divers other Presidents and Process out of the Exchequer in the time of R. 2. H. 4. and other Kings till H. 7. It was Resolved that the Queen hath Right to it but with these Limitations 1. It ought to be sponte by the Subject sine coactione And for this all Fines upon Judgments or by Offer or Fine for Alienation or any other Case where the Subject doth it not sponte sine aliqui coactione That the King of Right ought to have it there the Queen shall have nothing 2. It ought to be sponte sine consideration alicujus reventionis seu interesse That the King hath in esse in jure Coronae As upon Sale
89. But in a Writ of false Judgement the Plaintiff shall have direct averment against what the Judges in the inferior Court have done as Judges Quia Recordum non habent 21 H. 6. 34. Neither shall a Judge in the Cases aforesaid be charged before any other Judge at the Suit of the King 27 Ass pl. 18. 23. 2. R. 3. 9. 28 Ass pl. 21. 9 H. 6. 60. Catlyn and Dyer chief Justices Resolved That what a Judge doth as a Judge of Record ought not to be drawn in Question in this Court Nota bene that the said matters at the Bar were not examinable in the Star-Chamber and therefore it was Decreed by all the Court That the said Bill without any Answer to it by Barker shall be taken off the File and utterly cancelled And it was agreed That the Judges of the Realm ought not to be drawn into question for any supposed Corruption which extends to the annihilating of a Record or tending to the slander of the Justice of the King except it be before the King himself for they are only to make an account to God and the King otherwise this would tend to the subversion of all Justice for which reason the Orator said well Invigilandum est semper multae invidiae sunt bonis And the reason hereof is the King himself being de jure to deliver Justice to all his Subjects and because himself cannot do it to all Persons he delegates his Power to his Judges who have the Custody and Guard of the Kings Oath Thorpe being drawn into question for Corruption before Commissioners was held against Law and he pardoned Vide the conclusion of the Oath of a Judge Stowes châ—oi 18 Ed. 3. 312. Weyland chieâ— Justice of the Common Bench and Hengham Justice of the Kings Bench and other Justices were accused of Bribery and their Causes were determined in Parliament Vide 2 Ed. 3. fol. 27. The Justices of Trayl-Baston their Authority was grounded upon the Statute of Ragman which you may see in old Magna Charta Vide the form of the Commission of Trayle-Baston Hollingshead Chron. fol. 312. whereby it appears That the Corruption of his Judges the King himself examined in Parliamentâ— and not by Commission Absurdum est affirmare recredendum esse non judici Pasch 4 Jacob. Regis Case concerning the Oath ex officio The Lords of the Council at Whitehall sedente Parliamento demanded of Popham chief Justice and my self upon motion of the Commons in Parliament In what cases the Ordinary may examine any person ex Officio upon Oath and upon Consideration and View of our Books we answered the said Lords at another day in the Council Chamber 1. That the Ordinary cannot constrain any man to swear generally to Answer to such Interrogatories as shall be administred unto them but ought to deliver them a Copy of the Articles in writings that they may know whether they ought to answer them by Law or no according to the Course of the Chancery and Star-Chamber 2. No man shall be examined upon the secret thoughts of his Heart or of his secret Opinion but of what he hath spoken or done No Lay-man may be examined ex officio nisi in causis matrimonialibus et Testamentariis as appears by an Ordinance of Ed. 1. Title Prohibition Rastal See also the Register fol. 366. the force of a Prohibition and an Attachment upon it by which it appears That such Examination was not only against the said Ordinance but also against the Custome of the Realm which hath been time of which c. but also in prejudice of the Crown and Dignity of the King and with this agrees F. N. B. fol. 41. And so the Case reported by my Lord Dyer not printed Trin. 10 Eliz. One Leigh an Attorney of the Common Pleas was committed to the Fleet because he had been at Mass and refused to swear to certain Articles and in regard they ought in such case to examine upon his Oath and hereupon he was delivered by all the Court of Common-Pleas The like in Mich. 18 Eliz. Dyer fol. 175. in Hinds Case Also vide de Statute 25 H. 8. cap. 14. which is declaratory as to this point It stands not with the right order of Justice that any person should be convict and put to the losse of his Life good Name and Goods unless by due Accusation and Witnesses or by Presentment Verdict precess of Outlawry c. And this was the Judgment of all the said Parliament See F. N. B. Justice of Peace 72 Lam. 6. in his Justice of Peace 338. Crompton in his Justice of Peace 36. 6. In all which it appears That if any be compelled to Answer upon his Oath where he ought not by Law this is oppression and punishable before a Justice of Peace c. But if a Person Ecclesiastical be charged with any thing punishable by our Law as for Usury there he shall not be examined upon Oath because his Oath is Evidence against him at the Common Law but Witnesses may be cited Register title Consult F. N. B. 53. d. 2 H. 4. cap. 15. In H. 8. nor Ed. 6. time no Lay-man was examined upon his Oath except in the said two Cases But in Queen Maries Reign 2 H. 4. was revived but afterwards repealed 10 Eliz. Note King John in the time of his Troubles granted by his Charter 13 Maii Anno Regni 140. submitted himself to the Obedience of the Pope And after in the same year by another Charter he resigned his Crown and Realm to Pope Innocent and his Successors by the hands of Pandulph his Legate and took it of him again to hold of the Pope which was utterly voyd because the Dignity is an inherent inseparable to the Royal Blood of the King and descendable and cannot be transferred Also the Pope was an Alien born and therefore not capable of Inheritance in England By colour of which Resignation the Pope and his Successors exacted great Sums of the Clergy and Layety of England pro commutandis paenitentiis And to fill his Coffers Pope Gregory the 9th sent Otho Cardinalis de Carcere Tulliano into this Realm to Collect Money who did Collect infinite Sums so that it was said of him Quod Legatus saginatur bonis Angliae which Legate held a Councel at London Anno Dom. 1237. 22 H. 3. and for finding out Offences which should be redeemed with Money with the assent of the English Bishops he made certain Canons among which one was Jusjurandi Calumniae in causis Ecclesiasticis cujus libet de veritate dicendi in spiritualibus quoque ut veritas facilius aperiatur c. Statuimus de Caetero praestari in regâ—o Angliae secundum Canonicas legitimas Sanctiones obtenta in contrarium consuetudine non obstante c. By which Cannon it appears That the Law and Custom of England was against such Examinations so that this was a new Law and took its effect de
Nicholas Bishop of Norwich against whom he then being in the Custody of the Marshall the Kings Attorney did prefer a Bill of Premunire the matter whereof was this In Thetford in Com. Norfolke hath been de tempore cujus c. such Custom that all Ecclesiastical Causes rising in that Town should be determined before the Dean of that Town who hath particular Jurisdiction there and that none in that Town shall be drawn in Plea in any other Court-Christian unless before the same Dean And if it ought to be done against the same Custom this to be presented before the Mayor of the same Town and the Party to forfeit 6 s. 8 d. That One such sued in the Consistory of the Bishop for a thing arising within the said Town which was presented before the Mayor for which he forfeited 6 s. 8 d. The Bishop cited the Mayor to appear before him at his House at Hoxin in Suffolk generally pro salute animae but upon appearance◠〈◊〉 upon all the Matter and enjoyn'd him on pain of Excommunication to annul the said Presentment The Bishop had Council assigned him who objected That as well the Presentment as Custom was void and therefore not contra Coronam c. nor drawn by the Bishop ad aliud examen 2. They objected That the Bishop's Court was not intended within the Act of 16 R. 2. but in Cur. Romana aut alibi and this alibi ought not to be out of the Realm but it was Resolved by Fitz James chief Justice Et. per totam Curiam that be the Custom or Presentment good or bad this is a Temporal thing determinable at Common Law and not in Spiritual Court and therefore the Bishop hath incurred the Premunire 3. That alibi extends as well to the Bishop's Courts c. as well within the Realm as else-where and so the Court said it had been often adjudged whereupon the Bishop confessed the Indictment And Judgment was given That he shall be out of the King's Protection and that his Lands Goods and Chattels should be forfeited and his Body to be imprisoned ad voluntatem Regis c. Nicholas Fuller's Case In the great Case of Nicholas Fuller of Grays-Inn these Points were Resolved by all the Justices and Barons of the Exchequer 1. Resolved That no Consultation can be granted out of Term because it is a final award of the Court and can neither be granted in Term nor out of Term by all the Judges except in Court the name of the Writ signifying the same 2. Resolved That the Construction of the Statute 1 Eliz. cap. 1. and of the Letters Patents of High-Commission in Ecclesiastical Causes founded upon the said Act belongs to the Judges of the Common Law And therefore the Consultation which was granted with this restraint Quatenus non agat de authoritate et validitate Literarum Patentium pro causis Ecclesiasticis vobis vel aliquibus vestrum direct aut de expesitione et interpretatione Statuti de anno primo nuper Reginae c. As if the King hath a Benefice donative by Letters Patents this shall not be visitable nor deprivable by any Ecclesiastical Authority but by the Chancellor of the King or Commissioners under the Great Seal 3. Resolved When there is any Question concerning what Power or Jurisdiction belongs to Ecclesiastical Judges in any such Case the determination of this belongs to the Judges of the Common Law in what cases they have Cognizance and in what not And according to this Resolution Bracton lib. 5. tract de except cap. 15. fol. 412. Vide also Entries fol. 445. There was a Question whether Court-Christian should have Cognizance of a Lamp and a Prohibition was granted Quod non procedant in Curia Christianitatis quousque in Curiae â—ostra discussum fuerit utram cognitio placiti illius ad Curiam nostram vel ad forum Ecclesiasticum pertineat And all this appears in our Books that the Judges of the Common Law shall determâ—ne in what Cases the Ecclesiastical Judges have Power to punish any pro Laesioae fidei 2 H. 4. fol. 10. 11 H. 4. 88. 22 Ed. 4. 20. or of the bounds of Parishes 5 Ed. 3 8 8 Ed. 3. 69. 70. 18 Ed. 3. 58. 12 Ed. 4. 9 H. 7. 1. 10 H. 7. 9. And therefore in this Case of Fuller one other Restraint was added in the Consultation Et quatenus non agat de aliquibus scandalis contemptibus sâ—u aliis rebus quae ad communen legem aut Statuta Regni nostri Angliae suat puâ—ienda et determinanda 4. Resolved That if a Councellor at Law in his Argument shall scandal the King or his Government Temporal or Ecclesiastical this is a misdemeanor and and contempt to the Court for which he shall be indicted fined and imprisoned but not in Court Christian but if he publish any Heresy Schisme or erroneous Opinion in Religion he may for this be punished by the Ecclesiastical Judges for the Rule is Quod non est juri consonum quod quis pro aliis quae in Curiis nostris act a sunt quorum cognitio ad nos pertinet trahatur in placitum in Curia Christianitatis See the Book of Entries fol. 448. And for this cause a Consultation was granted Quoad Schismata Hereses c. Vide Mâ—ch 18 H. 8. Rot. 78. in Banco Regis The Case was a Leet was â—eld Jovis post Festum Sancti Mich. Arch. 17 H. 8. of the Prior of the House of St. John de Bethelehem de Shrine of this Mannor of Levisham in Com. Surrey before John Beare Steward there a Grand Jury was charged to inquire for the King of all Offences inquirable within the said Leet where one Phillip Aldwin who was a resident within the said Leet appeared Idemque Phillippus sciens quandam Margaretam uxorem Johannis Aldwin apud East-Greenwich infra jurisdictionem Letae proed pluries per antea corpus suum in adulterio viciose exercuissse c. eisdem sic juratis de dicta c. informationem veraciter dedit Upon which the said Margaret drew the said Phillip into the Archbishop of Canterbury his Court and there libelled against him for defamation of Adultery and that the Phillip said in hisce Angl. verbis Margaret Allen is a Whore and a Bawde and it is not yet three weeks agone since a man might take a Priest betwixt her Legs which words were parcel of the words by which he informed the Jury at the Leet And upon this he had a Prohibition and by this Record it appears and by the Statute 10 Ed. 3. c. 11. that Indictors of Lay-People or Clerks in Turneys and after delivering them before Justices shall not be sued for Defamation in Court-Christian but that the Plaintiff grieved shall have a Prohibition Vide Pasch 6 Eliz. In the Lord Dyers Reports which Case is not Printed John Halles in the Case of Marriage between the Earl of Hereford and the Lady Katharine Gray declared his Opinion against the
Sentence given by Commissioners of the Queen in a Cause Ecclesiasticall under the Great Seal That the said Sentence was unjust and wicked and that he thought the Delegates had done against their Conscience and what offence this was was referred to divers Judges to consider by whom it was Resolved That this Offence was a contempâ— as well against the Queen as to the Judges and punishable by the Common-Law by Fine and Imprisonment 5. Resolved When any Libell in Ecclesiastical Court contains many Articles if any of them do not belong to Court-Christian a Prohibition may be generally granted and upon motion Consultation may be made as to things which belong to Spiritual Jurisdiction And for these Reasons it was Resolved by all That the Prohibition in the case at Bar was well granted which in truth was granted by Fenner and Crooke Justices in the Vacation Note these general Rules concerning Prohibitions Quaesparsim inveniantur in libris nostris Non debet dici tendere in praejudicinm Ecclesiasticae libertatis quod rege et repub necessarium videtur Artic. Cleri c. 8. 2. Non est juri consonum quod quis super iis quorum cognitio ad nos pertinet in Curia Christianitatis trahetur in placitum Entries 444. 447. 3. Episcopus teneat placitum in Curia Christianitatis de iis quae mere sunt Spiritualia Circumspâ—cte agatis c. 4. Prohibeatur de caetero Hospitalariis et Templariis ne de caetero trahunt aliquem in placâ—tum coram conservatoribus privilegiorum de aliquare cujus cognitio ad Forum spectat Regium West 2. cap. 43. 5. Non concedantur citationes priusquam exprimatur super quare fieri debet citatio Ibidem 6. Resolved That this special Consultation being only of Heresy Schisme and erroneous Opinions c. that if they convict Fuller and if he recant the same c. that he shall never be punished by Ecclesiastical Law After the Consultation granted the Commissioners proceeded and convicted Fuller of Schisme and erroneous Opinions and imprisoned and fined him 200 l. And after in the same Term Fuller moved the Court of Kings Bench to have a Habeas Corpus et ei conceditur upon which Writ the Goaler did return the cause of his detention Mich. 5 Jac. Regis The Case of First-Fruits and Tenths Note Annates Primitiae and First-Fruits are all one It was the value of every Spiritual Livâ—ng by the year which the Pope claiming the disposition of all Ecclesiastical Livings reserved And those and Impropriations began about the time that Polidore Virgil lib. 8. cap 2. saith Vide Concilium Viennense quod Clemens quintus indixit pro annatibus These First-Fruits were given to the Crown 26 H. 8. cap. 3. Note Hill 34 Ed. 1. An. 1307. At a Parliament held at Carlisle great Complaint was made of Oppressions of Churches c. by William Testa called Mala Testa and Legate of the Pope in which Parliament the King with his Barons assent denied payment of First-Fruits And to this effect he writ to the Pope whereupon the Pope relinquished his Demand and the First-Fruits for Two years were by that Parliament given to the King Decimae id est Tenths of Spiritualties were perpetual and paid to the Pope till Pope Urban gave them to R. 2. to aid him against Charles King of France and others who supported Clement the 7th against him 5 H. 3. By the Popes Bulls all Tenths were paid to H. 3. for years These were given to the King 26 H. 8. cap. 6. Vide Dambert de prist Anglor c. fol. 128. cap. 10. et ibidem inter leges Juae fol. 78. cap. 4. Sir Anthony Roper's Case In the Case of Sir Anthony Roper drawn before the High Commissioners at the Suit of one Bullbrook Vicar of Bently for a Pension out of a Rectory Impropriate whereof Sir Anthony was seized in Fee And the High-Commissioners sentenced the said Sir Anthony to pay it which he refused whereupon they committed him to Prison who appeared in Court this Term by Habeas Corpus upon the return of which Writ the matter did appear And it was well debated by the Justices and Resolved 1. That the said Commissioners had not Authority in the said Case for when the Acts of the 27 H. 8. and 31 H. 8. of Monasteries had made Parsonages Impropriate c. although that Pensions were saved yet by the Preamble of the Act 34 H. 8. cap. 16. those to whom the Pensions appertain had not remedy for the said Pensions c. And if the King covenanted to discharge the Patentee c. of Pensions the Suit shall be made for the same in the Court of Augmentations and not else-where And if High-Commissioners will determine of Pensions they must do it by that Act 34 H. 8. which expresly gives it to Ordinaries and their Officials the High-Commissioners Power being granted long after by the Act 1 Eliz. But it was Objectâ—d That that Act of 1 Eliz. gave the Queen and her Successors Power to assign Commissioners c. And it was said That such Spiritual Jurisdiction which the Bishop should have is transferred to the High Commissioners But it was unanimously resolved by Coke Walmesly Warberton Daniel and Foster Justices That the Act 1 Eliz. extends not to this Case for divers Causes 1. Because the Act of the 1 Eliz. doth not take away nor alter any Act of Parliament but those onely which are expresly named therein And it was Râ—solved That the High-Commissioners cannot hold Plea for the double value of Tythes carried away before severance 2. Because the words in the 1 Eliz. are which by any manner of Spiritual Jurisdiction can or lawfully may be reformed And it appears That these words extend to Crime only and not to Cases of Interest betwixt Party and Party 3. Because this Jurisdiction was given to the Bishops by Act of Parliament viz. 34 H. 8. which is more Temporal than Spiritual as all of Parliament are 4. It was not the intent of the Act 1 Eliz. which revived the Statute 23 H. 8. cap. 9. That the High-Commissioners for private Causes shall send for Subjects out of any part of the Realm and so in effect confound the jurisdiction of the Ordinary an Officer so necessary that the Kings Courts cannot be without him in divers Cases 5. If that Act 1 Eliz. had extended to give High-Commissioners power to determine meum et tuum as Pensions Tythes c. the Party thereby also should have benefit to appeal otherwise this should be dissolve the Court of the Ordinary which is so antient and necessary in many Cases that without it Justice cannot be administred 6. The High-Commissioners cannot extend themselves but only to Crime Mich. 5 Jac. Regis Rot. 2254. Praecept fuit Guardiano prison Domini Regis de Flecte quod haberet qpud â—estm immediate c. Coâ—pus Anthonii Roper Mil. inprison praed sub custodia sua detent quocunque nominâ— cens reretur una cum
die causa c. Et iidem Justiciarii hic visa causa illa ulterius fieri fecerint quod c. Et modo hic ad hunc diem viz. diem Sab. prox Oct. Sanct. Mich. isto eoâ—um termino venit praed Anthonius in propria persona suaâ— sub custod praed Guard ad Barr. hic praed idem Guardianus tunc hic mand Quod ante advent brevis praed vâ—z 9. die Oct. ult praeter praed Anthonii Roper mil. reducit se prison praed perantea Commissus virtute cujusdam â—arranti dat 30 die Junii ult praeter quod sequitur in haec verba viz. These are in his Majâ—sties Name to require and charge you by Vertute of his High-Commission for causes Ecclesiastical under the Great Seal of England to us and others directed that herewith you receive and take into your Custody the Body of Sir Anthony Roper Knight and him safely detain c. signifying unto you That the cause of his Commitment for that there being a certain cause c. betwixt him the said Sir Anthony Roper and John Bullbrooke Vicar of Bently for that he detained wrongfully from him the said Vicar a certain yearly Pension c. Given at Lambeth this thirtieth of June 1607. Et quod haec suit causa captionis et detentionis praed Anthonii in prison praed corpus tamen praed Anthonii modo hic paratus hâ—bet prout â— super quo visis praemissis per Justiciurios hic plenius examinatis videtur iisdem Justiciariis hic quod praed causa Commissionis praed Anthonii prison de Fleet praeâ— in retorn spâ—cificat minus sufficiens in lege existit c. Idco prad Anthonius a prisona prad per-Cur hic dimittitur ac idem Guardianus de hujusmodi Custodia per eand Cur. hic plene exoneretur And this was resolved una voce by Coke chief Justice Walmesly Warberton Daniel and Foster Justices And in the same Term in I am's Case A Parson in Noâ—folk that sued one of his Parishioners before the High-Commissioners for Scandal in saying only in the Church on a Sabbath day That he was a wicked man and an arrant Knave Prohibition lyes for this That it was not so enormous as the Staâ—â—te intended Hill 5 Jac. Regis Note It was moved to the Justices this Term upon consideration of the Acts of 34 H. 8. and 18 Eliz. If the Justices in Wales may be Constituted by Commission and it was conceived they could not but that it ought to be by Patent as hath been ever used since 34 H. 8. Then it was moved If the King by force of a Clause there in might do it which Clause is That the King 's most Royal Majesty shall and may at all times hereafter change adde alter minish and reform all manner c. And it seemed to divers of the Justices that this Power given to the King determin'd by his Death for divers Causes 1. Because it wants these Words His Successors and to draw it in Succession by Construction would be against the Intention of the Maker of the Act For they gave this high Power of Alteration c. of Laws to the King as to his most Excellent Wisdom shall be thought most meet which words want His Successors For they well knew his Wisdom did not go in Succession so the Power went not in Succession And for this that Eorum progressus ostendent multa quae ab initio provideri non possunt And what ensues upon this concerning this uniting of Wales and England none could divine But it was never the Intention of the said Act to give Power to the King and his Successors for ever to alter c. 2. Power of Alteration of Laws c. is a Point of Confidence concerning the Administration of Justice which the Act by omitting of his Successors intended to unite this Confidence to the Person of H. 8. and not to extend it without Limitation of time to his Successors 1 Ed. 5. 1. 1 H. 7. 1. 14 Ed. 4. 44. All Commissions concerning Administration of Justice determine by the King's Death Not so if he make a Lease durante bene placito or present one to a Church these are not void by his Death untill revoked by his Successor And upon Certificate of the Justices Opinion That the Justices of Wales cannot be Constituted by Commission Baron Snig had a Patent for the Circuit of Wales as others before him had Trin. 6 Jac. Regis This Term it was Resolved per totam Curiam in Communi Banco viz. Coke Chief Justice Walmesly Warberton Daniel and Foster in the Case of Allan Ball That the High-Commissions cannot be force of the Act 1 Eliz. cap. 1. send a Pursivant to Arrest any Person subjâ—ct to their Jurisdiction to answer to any matter before them But they ought to proceed according to Ecclesiasticall Law by Citation And in the Circuit of Northampton when the Lord Anderson and Glanvile were Justices of Assize a Pursivant was sent by the Commissioners to Arrest the Body of a Man to appear before them and in resistance of the Arrest and striving among them the Pursivant was killed And if this was Murther or not was doubted and it was Resolved that the Arrest was tortious and by consequence that this was not Murther though the killing of an Officer of Justice whose Authority is lawful in Execution of his Office is Murther But they may send Citation by a Puisivant and upon default proceed to Excommunication and then to have a Capias Excommunicatum which Writ de excommunicato capiendo is preserved and returnable by the Statute 5 Eliz. See Magna Charta and all the antient Statutes Vid. Rast Title Accusation Marmaduke Langdale's Case In the Case of Marmaduke Langdale of Leventhorp in the County of York by Joan his Wife being sued for maintenance before the Bishop of Canterbury and others High-Commissioners It was Resolved per totam Curiam praeter Walmesly that a Prohibition before granted was well maintainable because it was not any Enormity nor Offence within the Statute but a neglect of his duty and a Breach of his Vow of maintenance And the Rule of the Court was That the Plaintiff shall count against the High-Commissioners and upon Demurrer joyned the Case to be argued and adjudged and the Party grieved to have a Writ of Errour si sibi viderit expedire c. Upon Complaint made to the King and Councel by the Lord President of Wales and the Lord President of York against the Judges of the Realm and the King's Pleasure signified to them Upon Consideration had of the parts of the Complaint they Resolved upon these Answers And because of the Lord President of York first opened the Cause of his Grief more amply they first answered those Objections made on the behalf of that Councel And first as to the Institution of that Court. 1. After the Suppression of all Religious Houses Anno 27. H. 8. in
October 28. H. 8. there was an Insurrection of the Lord Hussey and 20000 Men in Lincolnshire about Religion which was appeased by the Duke of Suffolk This was no sooner over but 40000 Men under Sir Robert Aske made a Commotion in Yorkshire Soon after was a great Rebellion in Lancashire Westmerland Cumberland and Northumberland which the Earl of Derby quieted Then Musgrave Tilby and others assaulted Carlisle Castle and were overthrown by the Duke of Norfolk Soon after Sir Francis Pigot Rebelled at Setrington in Yorkshire Soon after the Lord Darcy c. began a Commotion about Hull appeased by the Duke of Norfolk And all these Rebellions were between the 28. of and 30. of H. 8. in which time many of the Rebels were Executed And the King having effected in the 31 year of his Reign the Suppression of the greater Houses of Religion he establisht a Councel there for the quiet of the Counties of Yorkshire Northumberland Westmerland Cumberland Durham the Counties of the City of York Kingston upon Hull and Newcastle upon Tyâ—e for preventions of Ryots c. And in this time of Necessity the King Armed the President and Councel with two Authorities in one Commission The one A Commission of Oyer and Terminer de quibuscunque Congregationibus conventiculis illicitis coadjutoribus Lolardiis c. per quae pax tranquilitas subditorum nostrorum Comitatibus c. praedict gravat c. secundum legem coâ—suetudinem regni nostri Angliae c. The other Authority was Nec non quascunque actionesreales seu de libero tenemento personales causasque de bitorum demandorum quorumcunque in Com. c. praed quando ambae partes vel altera pars sic gravata paupertate fuerit quod commode Jus suum secundum legem Regni nostri aliter prosequi non possit c. And this was the Authority that the President and Councel had at first without any private Instructions as appears by the Commission under the Great Seal 31 H. 8. 6 pars Roberto Landavensi Episcopo Presidenti Consilii aliis out of which these things were observed 1. That the intention of the Commission was Quod pax subditorum tranquilitas preserventur 2. That they hear and determine Riots Routs c. according to Law or their Discretions which without question was no otherwise intended but that they should proceed according to Law for that is summa discretio and not according to private Conceits for talis discretio discretionem confundit so the other Clause concerning reall and personal Actions in all the Counties and Places aforesaid was onely ad faciendum populum for it was utterly void in Law 1. Because no such general Authority granted may be made by the Commission of the King to hear and determine all reall Actions within such a County according to Law as he may be Charter in a particular County or place As it was Resolved in Scrogges Case An. 2 Eliz. so 175. in Dyer Vid. Dyer 236. But the King by Letters-Patents may grant to a Corporation in such a Town Tenere placita realia personalia mixta And none can by this be prejudiced for the proceeding ought to be according to Law and if they erre a Writ of Errour lies See Magna Charta cap. 12. and Westm 2. cap. 30. which Acts give Authority to Justices of Assize in their proper Counties whereby it appears that without an Act of Parliament the King by Letters Patents cannot authorize Justices De Assize capiend to take them in another County As a Justice of one Bench or other ought to be made by Commission not by Writ yet he may be discharged by Writ 5 Ed. 4. 32. But Justices in Eyre are by Writ Bracton lib. 3. cap. 11. Britton fo 1. Also Westm 2. cap. 30. and of York cap. 4. sic de ceteris Also it was observed that at first the Commission extended onely when one or both Parties were so poor as they were not able to prosecute at Law Also they had no power to grant Injunctions and lastly their Commission was a Patent under the Great Seal and enrolled in Chancery And thus much was said concerning the first Institution of the Court 2. That our Proceedings in granting Prohibitions is for matter justifiable by Law As to this whereas at first their Authority was Patent it is now private for the Letters-Patent refer to private Instructions which are no where of Record Et de non apparentibus non existentibus eadam est ratio besides the danger to the Subject is great for if they lose their Instructions which hath and may happen all is Coram non Judice The second Reason is drawn from the contumacy of the Party supposed to be grieved by the Prohibition and against whom it is granted for if the Authority of the Councel be never so good yet being a late Jurisdiction the Party must of necessity plead it so as it may appear judicially for as we are Judges of Record so must we be informed of Record And no party prohibited ever yet moved in Court to have a consultation by which might be set forth the Jurisdiction of that Court and Councel so as the granting of Prohibitions hath been just The third Reason is drawn from the great Injury offered to the Defendants for it is a true Rule Misera servitus ubi jus est vagum aut incertum The Defendants by Law may in all Courts plead to the Jurisdiction of the Court but how can they do so when no man can possibly know what Jurisdiction they have And the keeping of them in such Secrecy bewrayeth that the Councel are afraid that they would not be justified if they were known 3. That the manner of our Proceedings was respectful for a Jury of Officers and Attorneys of our Court being according to an antient Custome time out of mind used sworn to present among other things all Defaults of Officers and Ministers in not executing the Process of this Couâ—t and all Impediments of the due Proceedings thereof And finding upon their Oaths divers unjust Impediments of the said Proceedings by the said Councel in particular thereupon a motion being made in open Court in Michaelmas Term last by the King 's Serjeant Philips of many Grievances done thereby prayed the Court according to Law and Justice to grant several Prohibitions in all those several Causes which we could not deny Yet first we conferred with Sir Cuthbert Pepper Attorney of the Wards and one of that Councel to let him understand the partâ—cular Gâ—ievances who upon Motion came to us to Seâ—geants Inne with whom we conferred who would not take upon him to justifie the same in no sort but said he would acquaint the President and Councel therewith and return their Answer Which for that it was neglected upon further Motion in Court we granted Prohibition as in Justice we ought 4. Now to answer all Objections And first where it was objected
more Prohibitions had been granted of late than in many years before To this a Sixfold Answer was made 1. That they had exceedingly multiplyed the number of Causes they in five Counties and three Towns having at one sitting 450 Causes at Hearing whereas the Chancery that extends into all England and Wales had in Easter Term but 95. and in Trinity Term but 72. to be heard So that it is no wonder it in such a Multiplication of Causes the number of Prohibitions be increased 2. Besides the Multiplication they have innovated and taken upon them to deal in Causes which we know never any President could and we think never any President and Councel did usurp As first Suits upon Penal Laws As between Hâ—rison and Thurston upon the 39 of Eliz. of Tillage 2. In Hâ—rtley's Case after Indictment of Forcible Entry and Restitution according to the Statute upon English Bill dispossessed by the President 3. After a Recovery in Ejectione Firmae and Habere facias possessionem out of our Court they upon English Bill dispossessed the Plaintiff this was Hart's Case So in other Cases as between Jacksoâ— and Philips Stanton and Child and Binns and Collâ—t 4. They admit English Bills in nature of Writs of Errour Formedons and other reall Actions 5. They wiâ—l â—dmit no Plea of Outlary in disability of the Plaintiff 6. They usually granted Injunctions to stay the Common-Law which is utterly against Law and som times to stay Suits in Chancery and in the Exchâ—quer Chambâ—r for which in respect as well of the Multiplications of Suits as Innovations of others it may very well be that more Prohibitions and Habeas Corpus have been granted of late than in time past And yet there hath been more granted and more antient than is supposed For which see Mich. 7 Eliz. Rot. 31. and Mich. 7. and 8 Eliz. in libro de Habeas Corpus Also Trin. 20 Eliz. ibid. 3. The Judges never grant either Prohibition or Habeas Corpus but upon Motion or Complaint by the Party grieved and therefore as the Subject hath more cause to complain there must needs be more Prohibitions and Habeas Corpus than heretofore 4. The Proceedings there are by absolute Power and their Decrees uncontrollable and finall more than in a Judgment in a Writ of Right which makes them presume too much upon their Authority 5. These Suits grow more prejudicial to the King than ever because thereby the King loseth his Fines c. 6. Remedy for the time past if the Common-Bench erre Writ of Errour lies in Banco Regis if the Kings-Bench erre a Writ of Errour lyes in the Upper-House of Parliament 7. For the time to come 1. That the Instructions be inrolled in Chancery that the Subject may see and know their Jurisdiction 2. That the Presidents and Councels have some Councel Learned in the Court to inform us judicially of their true Jurisdiction and we will give them a day to shew cause that Justice may be done on both sides and if we erre the Law hath provided a Remedy by Writ of Errour And we are sworn to do Justice to all according to the Laws Upon this Answer of the Judges the Lords of the Councel upon Conference among themselves gave by the Earl of Salisbury then Lord Treasurer this Resolution 1. That the Instructions should be Recorded as far as they concerned Criminal Causes or Causes between Party and Party But as to State-Matters not to be published 2. That both Councels should be within the Survey of Westminster Hall viz. the Courts of Westminster 3. The Motion was well allowed that the Presidents and Councels should have Councel learned in every Court that day might be given c. And concerning the remotenesse of the place the Counties of Cornwall and Devon are more remote then York And this was the end of that Dayes Work Case of Heresy Note 2 Ma. title Heresy Brook per omnes Justiciarios et Baker et Hare The Archbishop in his Province in the Convocation may and doth use to convict Heresy by the Common-Law and then to put them convicted into Lay-hands and then by the Writ de Heretico comburendo they were burnt but because it was troublesome to call a Convocation It was ordained by the Statute 2 H. 4. cap. 15. That every Bishop in his Diocesse might convict Hereticks And if the Sheriff was present he might deliver such to be burnt without the Writ aforesaid but if the Sheriff were absent or he were â—o be burnt in another County then the said Writ ought to be had And that the Common-Law was such Vide lib. intra title Indictment pl. 11. Who are Hereticks See 11 H. 7. Book of Entries fol. 319. See Doct. Stud. lib. 2. cap. 29. Cosin 48. 2. 1 2 P. M. cap. 6. Also 3 F. N. B. fol. 269. And the Writ in the Register proves this directly 4 Bracton l. 3. cap. 9. fol. 123 124. And true it is That every Ordinary may convent any Heretick or Schismatick before him pro salute animae and may degrade him and enjoyn him penance according to Ecclesiastical Law but upon such Conviction the Party shall not be burnt Nota The makers of the Act of 1 Eliz. were in doubt what shall be deemed Heresy or Schisme c. and therefore the Statute of 10 Eliz. provides That nothing shall be deemed Heresy but what had been so determined by one of the four general Councels the Word of God or Parliament See Fox in Ed. 6. and Britton 5 Ed. 1. lib. 1. cap. 17. and with this agrees the Statute 2 H. 5. cap. 7. 23 H. 7. 9. 25 H. 8. cap. 14. or that the proceedings in the Commencement and end was altered by the Statute 25 H. 8. then came the Satute 1 Ed. 6. cap. 12. and that repealed 5 R. 2. 2 H. 5. 26 H. 8. and the 2 H. 4. and by general words all Statutes concerning matter of Religion then the 1 2 P. M. c. 6. revived the 2 H. 4. by which the 25 H. 8. lost its force but by the Act 1 2 P. M. cap. 8. expresly repealing 21 H. 8. 23 H. 8. 24 H. 8. 27 H. 8. but the 25 H. 8. cap. 14. was not repâ—aled being repealed before by 〈◊〉 1 Ed. 6. yet in the end of that long Act there is a general Clause sufficient of it self to repeal the Act 25 H. 8. cap. 14. without more then the 1 Eliz. cap. 1. repeals the 1 and 2 P. and M. is repealed except some Branches and in the same Act it is enacted That all other Statutes repealed by the said Act of Repeal 1 and 2 P. and M. and not in this Act specially revived shall remain repealed But the 25 H. 8. cap. 14. was not particularly revived and therefore remains repealed And after the said Statute 1 Eliz. repeals the Act 1 and 2 P. and M. of reviving of three Acts for punishment of Heresyes so that now at
Law of what nature soever Therefore when one Captain Lee made suit to the King to have an Office to inventory the Goods of those that dyed Testate or Intestate It was Resolved by my Lord Chancellor and my Self That such Grant shall be utterly void being both against the Common-Law and the Statute 21 H. 8. In like manner when another sued to have the Registring of Birth-dayes and the time of death c. So Mich. 19 Jac. To make a New Office in the Kings-Bench onely for making Lattitats was resolved void So Littletons Suit to name an Officer to be a Gen. Reg. c. But the Suit was rejected notwithstanding the fair Pretences of it by the two Chief Justices and others See Hill 12 Jac. Regis 2. Secondly It was Resolved That it was inconvenient for divers Causes 1. For a private man to have private ends 2. The numbring of Strangers by a private man would inâ—er a Terrour and other Kings and Princes will take offence at it 3. It is to be considered what breach it will be to former Treaties 3. As to the third It may be performed without any Inconvenience and so it was divided by the Lord Burleigh and other Lords of the Councel 37 Eliz. To write Letters to the Mayors Bayliffs c. of every City Borough c. where any strangers are resident to certifie how many and of what quality c. which they are to know in respect of their Inhabitants c. and this may be done without any Writing which being shewn to the Lords was by them well approved and the Suits utterly disallowed Decemb. 3. Anno 3 H. 8. Commission was granted to divers to certifie the number of Strangers Artificers c. within London and Suburbs according to the Statutes See Candish Case 29 Eliz. 13 Eliz. A Grant of an Office to Thomas Knivâ—t to examine his Majesties Auditors and Clerks of the Pipe c. Resolved by the Court to be against Law for it belongs to the Barons who are Judges 25 Eliz. A Grant of an Office to Thomas Lichfield to examine all Deceits c. of the Queens Officers for 8 years Resolved to be void Sub-poena's in Chancery belonged antiently to the Six Clerks Queen Elizabeth granted the same to a particular man Affidavits Filing and keeping belonged to the Register King James granted them to a particular man So the erecting and putting down Innes did belong to the Justice of Peace the same King granted it to a particular man So likewise the taking of Depositions c. The Office of Alneger granted by the King to Simon Darlington and the Fees limited The Drawing Ingrossing and Writing all Licences and Pardons granted to Edward Bacon with former Fees and a Restraint to all others The Spa Office granted to Thomas George and others during life with the Fee of 2 s. and a restraint to others The Office of making and Registring all manner of Assurances and Policies c. granted to Richard Gandler Gent. with such Fees as the Lord Mayor and others should rate and a Restraint to others c. The Office of writing Tallies and Counter-Tallies granted to Sir Vincent Skinner The Office of ingrossing Patents to the Great Seal with encrease of Fees granted to Sir Richard Young and Mr. Pye Sed de hoc quaere Sir Stephen Proctor's Case In an Information in the Star-Chamber against Stephen Proctor Berkenhead and others for Scandall and Conspiracy against the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Wooton At the Hearing of the Case were present eight Lords viz. the Chief Baron the two Chief Justices two Bishops one Baron Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Lord Chancellor And the three Chief Justices and the Temporal Baron condemned Sir Stephen Proctor and fined and imprisoned him But the Lord Chancellor the two Bishops and the Chancellor of the Exchequer acquiâ—ted him And the Question was if Sir Stephen Proctor shall be condemned or acquitted And the matter was referred to the two Chief Justices calling to their assistance the Kings Learned Councel And first they Resolved That this Question must be determined by the Presidents of the Court of Star-Chamber that Court being against the Rule and Order of all Courts For in all other Courts if the Justices are equally divided no Judgment can be given So also is it in the Parliament and therefore this course must be warranted by the Custom of the Court. And as to that two Presidents onely were produced viz. One in Hillary Term 39 Eliz. Gibson Plaintiff and Griffith and others Defendants for a Ryot where at Hearing 8 being present 4 gave Judgment that the Defendants were guilty and 4 â— contra and no Sentence of Condemnation was ever entred because the Lord Chancellor was one of the 4 that acquitted them The other was in Hillary 45 Eliz. in an Information against Katherine and others for Forging a Will c. where 4 finding the Defendants guilty of Forgery and 4 onely of Misdemeanour whereof the Lord Chancellor was one Sentence was entred according to the Chancellors Voyce and no other President could be found in this Case as I reported this Term. Concerning Benevolence Note The Exaction under the good Name of Benevolence began thus When King Edw. the 4th had a Subsidy granted him by Parl. in the 12th year of his Reign because he could have no more by Parl and with a Parl. he could not have a Subsidy he invented this Devise wherein observe 3 Things 1. The Cause 2. The Invention 3. The Success 1. The Duke of Burgundy who marryed Edw. the 4th Sister sollicited the King to joyn in War with him against the French King whereto he easily consented to be revenged of him for aiding the Earl of Warwick c. And this was the cause 2. The Invention was The King called before him several times many of his wealthiest Subjects to declare to them his Necessity and Purpose to levy War and demanded of each of them a Sum of Money which by the King 's extraordinary courtesie to them they very freely yielded to Amongst the rest there was a Rich Widow of whom the King merily asked what she would give him for maintenance of his Wars By my Faith quoth she for your lovely Countenance sake you shall have 20 l. which being more than the King expected he thanked her and vouchsafed to kiss her Upon which she presently swore he should have 20 l. more 3. The Success was That where the King called this a Benevolence yet many of the People did much grudge at it and called it a Malevolince Primo Ed. 5. The Duke of Buckingham in Guild-Hall London among other Things inveighed in his Speech against this Taxation and 1 R. 3. c. 2 a Statute is made against it 6 H. 7. The King declaring in Parl that he had just cause of War against the French King desired a Benevolence according to the Example of Edw. 4. and publish'd That he would by their open Hands measure their
Helenam ideo ipsi c. Out of which Record these things are to be observed 1. Though it is Enacted by the Stat. West 2. cap. 21. That in this Case Justiciarii c. puniant appellatorem per prisonam unius Anni c. so that they were not Bailable yet quia eadem Helena praegnans fuit in periculo mortis she was let to Bayl to have her Body 15 Mich. ad satisfaciendum praedicto Laurentio et aliis c. And the Reason of this is because the Common-Law requires in every Case conveniency and it is inconvenient a Woman with Child should remain in Common-Gaol And the Judges of the Common-Law ought to know what the Moral Poet spoke Redâ—ere personae sit convenientia cuique and agrees with Advice of Bracton lib. 2. cap. 2. 2. That the Defendants recover their Damages either wholly against the Principle or wholly against the Abettors and with this agrees Ed. 4. 3. 3. Though the Statute saith Restituant Appellatores damna c. yet the Damages shall be singulatim assessed for as the Defamation of one may be greater than another so the Damages of one may be greater than another 4. Though the Appellor be not sufficient to pay yet his body shall be taken ad satisfaciendum Quia qui non habet in aere luat in corpore 5. Though the Jurors in the Appeal have found the Defendants Abettors yet insomuch as they are strangers to the Original they shal not be concluded Quia res inter alios actae alteri nocere non debent Vide the Book of Entries Title Appeal Divisione Damages 1 2. Vide Placita coram rege apud Ebor. in Crast Sancti Trin. 7 Ed. 3. 44. Divisione Indictments are very well worth observing Duresse per Gaoler See there divers sorts of Presentments as of Wollingover John Alnner Thomas Ballivus de Flaxwel Laughton Thomas de Mandon Ballivus de Boby of Grafton Thomas Carleton Under-Sheriff of the County of Lincoln and Hugo de Baxter c. False Affidavits In an Action suâ—le case it was Resolved per totam Curiam That iâ— a Sumner return one certified upon his Oath in Court-Christian where in truth he was not and thereon he is pronounced contumax and so becometh excommunicate he shall have his Action sur le case for here is damaum et injuria And it was Resolved That Perjury by which Damages do accrew may be punished as a Misuemeanour at the Suit of the King and also the Party may have his Action upon the Case for Perjury may not be committed with Impunity And for that Reason If Jurors themselves use Perjury an Attaint â—yes by the Common-Law as appears by Glanvil lib. 2. cap. 29. 15 H. 8. Title Attaint 75. 6 H. 3. ibid. 73 75. and in the time of Ed. 1. â—ttaint 70. West 1 cap. 38. Vide F. N. B. 109 Vid. 27 H. 6. 25. In like manner it was agreed That if one make a false Affidavit by which the Party is Arrested with Process of Contempt he may have an Actioâ— sur le case and recover Damage And though the Court-Christian may punish pro salute animae yet they cannot award Damages to he party And though the matter be meerly Ecclesiastical yet if the Party grieved hath Damages either by wrongful Proceedings of the Judge or Mâ—sfeasans or Nonfeasans or falsity of any Minister c. the Party grieved may have an Action sur le câ—se and recover Damages Doctor and Stud. 118 119. Action sur le Case lyes against the Ordinary for a wrongful Excommunication touching any thing out of his Jurisdiction c. So in Fitz. 47 H. 6. 8. If an Arch-Deacon refuse to induct the Clerk c. he shall have Action sur le case Which was affirmed for good Law by all the Court with which agrees 26 H. 8. 3. a. If a man proceed against a Prohibition the Party may have an Action upon the Case against him for prosecuting in Court-Christian Vid. Trin. 20 Ed. 3. Rot. 46. in the Treasury Richard Tresil's Case So the like Pasch 13 Ed. 3. Rot. 78. Philip de Harâ—eshals Case Hill 32 Ed. 3. Rot. 78. and Trin. 37 Ed. 1. and Mich. 29 Ed. 3. Rot. 19. similiter and divers other Records you may have See in my Book of Presidents Pasch 14 Jac. Regis An Habeas Corpus to the Marshal of the Admiralty granted in Hillary Term last past for Haukridge Prisoner in the custody of the said Marshal who did return Quaedâ—m causa spolii c. contra Haukridge pendet indecisa pro judicio sententia paratus c. Qui quidem Will Haukridge remanet donec antedict causa per praefat Daniel Dun suerit hoc est causa And also upon another Habeas Corpus he made such a Return and otherwise Parata sit c. Which the Court took to be very insufficient and gave divers days to amend the Return and to shew the cause of Delay and why Sentence was not given and the Marshal would not amend his Return Upon which the Party being in Prison 16 or 18 Weekes always the Return was est parata c. And after in another Writ returnable Crast Ascentionis was another Return of Parata c. without shewing cause of Delay The Return also was insufficient because Quaedam causa spolii civilis maritima quae coram c. which is too general for two Causes 1. Because spolii is uncertain and ought to be specified in some more certainty besides it shews not the value of the Goods 2. That Maritima est super littus or in portu maris and yet the Admiral hath not Jurisdiction Super littus maris or in portu because they are infra corpus comitat And so it was adjudged in Lacies Case Dyer 15 Eliz. the Abbot of Ransey's Case 15 Eliz. Dyer fol. 236. Pasch 17 Eliz. in Scaccar ac contra Digges for which cause he ought to have said Super altum mare intra Jurisdictionem Admiralli See the Stat. 13 R. 2. c. 5. 2 H. 4. c. 11 19 H. 6. 7. For the first all the Court Resolved that it was insufficient also there was shewn no time of the spoyl And for this in the same Term the said Haukridge was bailed in open Court till the next Term according to the Books 6 H. 6. 44. 28 H. 8. c. 15. Note It was said by some That when Judgment is given that one shall be hanged till he be dead the King cannot alter the Judgment and command that he shall be beheaded for the Execution ought to be conform to the Judgment and with this accords 35 H. 6. fol 58. and Stamf. lib. 1. fol. 13. Vide 27 Ass pl. 41. F. N. B. 144. 22 Ass pl. 49. Duke of Somersets Case and the Lord Sturtons Case in Queen Mary's time and the Lord Datres his Case in H. 8. both which were hanged for Felony It was Resolved also That King H. 8. could not by
Ayd Hill 6 Jacob. Regis Prohibitions Upon Ashwednesday in Feb. 1606. A great Complaint was made by the President of York to the King That the Judges of the Common-Law had in Contempt of the Kings Command last Term granted 50 or 60 Prohibitions out of the Common-Plâ—as to the President and Councel of York after the 6th of February and named 3 in particular 1. Between Bell and Thawptes 2. Another between Snell and Huâ—t 3. And another in an Information of a Riotous Rescue by English Bill by the Attorney-General against Christopher Dickenson one of the Sheriffs of York and others in rescuing one William Watson out of the Custody of the Deputy of one of the Purseyvants of the said Councel who had Arrested the said Watson by force of a Commission of Rebellion by the said President and Councel awarded Which Prohibition upon the Information was as was said denyed upon a Motion in the Kings-Bench the last Term but granted by Us. And the King sent for me to answer the Complaint and I onely all the rest of the Justices being absent waited upon the King who in the presence of Egerton Lord Chancellor and others of the Privy-Councel rehearsed to me the Complaint aforesaid And I perceived well that the King had thereupon conceived great displeasure against the Judges of the Common-Pleas but chiefly against Me To which I having the Copy of the Complaint sent me by the Lord Treasurer answered in this manner That I had made search in the Office of Prothonotaries of the Common-Pleas and as to the Cases between Bell and Thawpts and Snell and Huet no such could be found but I would not take advantage of a Misprisal And the truth was the 6th of February the Court of Common-Pleas had granted a Prohibition to the President and Councel of York between Lock Plaintiff and Bell and others Defendants and that was a Replevin in English was granted by the said President and Councel which I affirmed was utterly against Law for at Common-Law no Replevin ought to be made but by Original Writ directed to the Sheriff and the Statute of Marlbridge cap. 21. and West 1. cap. 17. authorize the Sheriff to make a Replevin So 29 Ed. 3. 21. 8 Eliz. Dyer 245. And the King by his Instructions neither had made the President and Councel Sheriffs nor could grant them Power to make a Replevin against Law which the Lord Chancellor affirmed for very good Law and it may well be we have granted others in the like Case Another Prohibition I confess we have granted between Sir Bethel Knight now Sheriff of the County of York as Executor to one Stephenson who made him and another his Executors and preferred an English Bill against Chambers and others in nature of an Action of the Case upon a Trover and Conversion of Goods and Chattels in the Testators Life to the value of 1000 l. And because the other Executor would not joyn with him he had no remedy at Common-Law but was forced to pray remedy there in Equity And I say the President and Councel have not any Authority to proceed in that Case for divers causes 1. Because there is an express Limitation in their Commission that they shall not hold Plea between Party and Party c. unless both or one of the Parties tanta paupertate sunt gravati that they cannot sue at Common-Law and in that Case the Plaintiff was a Knight Sheriff and man of great quality 2. Because by that Suit the King was deceived of his Fine which was 200 l. because the Damages amounted to 4000 l. And that was one of the Causes that the Sheriff began his Suit there and not at Common-Law Another Cause was that their Decrees which they take upon them are final and uncontroulable either by Errour or any other Remedy which is not so in the Kings Courts where there are five Judges for they can deny Justice to none who hath Right nor give any Judgment but what is controulable by Errouâ— c. And if we shall not grant Prohibitions in Cases where they hold Plea without Authority then the Subjects shall be wrongfully oppressed without Law and we denyed to do them Justice And their Ignorance in the Law appeared by allowing that Suit viz. That the one Executor had no Remedy at Common Law because the other would not joyn in Suit with him whereas every one Learnâ—d in the Law knows that Summons and Severance lyeth in any Suit brought as Executors And this was also affirmed by the Lord Chancellor Another Prohibition I confess we granted between the L. Wharton who by English Bill before the Councel sued Bank S. Buttermere and others for fishing in his several Fishings in Darwent in the County of C. in nature of an Action of Trespass at Common-Law to his Damages of 200 l. and for the Causes before recited and because the same was meerly determinable at Common-Law we granted a Prohibition And that also was allowed by the Lord Chancellor Then the King asked me the Case of Information upon the Riotous Rescous To which I answered That one exhibited a Bill there in the nature of an Action of Debt upon a Mutuatus against Watson who upon his Oath affirmed that he had satisfied the Plaintiff and owed him nothing yet because he did not deny the Debt the Councel Decreed the same against him And upon that Decree the Pursuyvant was sent to Arrest the said Watson who Arrested him upon which the Rescous was made And because the Action was in the nature of an Action of Dâ—bâ— upon a Mutuatus where the Defendant at Common Law might have waged his Law the Prohibition was granted and that was also affirmed by the Lord Chancellor Also I affirmed it was Rescous because the principal cause belonged not to them but it might be a Riot yet not punishable by them but by course of Law by a Commission of Oyer and Terminer Also I confess that we have granted divers Prohibitions to stay Suits there by English Bill upon penal Statutes for the manner of prosecution as well for the Action Process c. as for the Count is to be pursued and cannot be altered and therefore without question the Councel in such Cases cannot hold Plea which was affirmed also by the Lord Chancellor And I said no Court of Equity can be Erected at this day without Act of Parl as was Resolved in Q. Eliz. time in Parots Case and lately in the Case of the President and Councel of Wales And the King was well satisfied with these Reasons who gave me his Royal Hand and I departed from thence in his favour Pasch 7 Jac. Regis This Term a Question was moved at Sergeants Inne who by the Common-Law ought to repair the Bridges common Rivers and Sewers and the High-ways and by what means they shall be compelled to it and first of Bridges And as to them it is to be known that of common right all the Country shall be
their Consciences and Oaths they can 2. That all the said Cases are clear in the Judgment of those who are Learned in the Laws that Consultation ought by the Law to be granted 1. For as to the first President the Case upon their own shewing is Three Persons joyned in one Prohibition for three several parcels of Land each having a several sort of Tything and their Interests being several they could not joyn and therefore a Consultation was granted 2. To the second the manner of Tything was alleadged to be paid to the Parson or Vicar which is uncertain 3. To the third The Modus never came in Debate but whether the Tythes did belong to the Parson or Vicar which being between two Spiritual Persons the Ecclesiastical Court shall have Jurisdiction and therewith agrees 38 E. 3. 6. 4. To the last The same was upon the matter of a Custom of a Modus Decimandi for Wooll for to pay the Tythe of Corn or Hay in Kind in satisfaction of Corn Hay and Wooll cannot be a satisfaction for the Wooll for the other two were due of common right The Bishop of London answer'd That the words of the Consultation were Quod suggestio praedicta mattriaque in eadem cohtenta minus sufficiens in lege existit c. So as materia cannot be referâ—ed to Form and therefore it ought to extend to the Moâ—us Decimandi To which I answer'd That when the Matter is insufficiently or uncertainly alleadged the Matter it self faileth and though the Matter be in truth sufficient yet if it were insufficiently alleadged the Plea wanteth matter Then the Lord Treasurer saâ—d he wondered they would produce things that made more against them then any thing had been said And when the King relyed upon the Prohibition in the Register when Land is given in discharge of Tythes the Lord Chancellor said That was not like this Case For there by the Gift of the Land the Tythes were discharged but in the Case de modo Decimandi an Annual Sum is paid yet the Land remains charged and is to be discharged by Plea de modo Decimâ—ndi All which I utterly denied For the Land was as absolutely discharged of the Tythes in casu de modo Decimandi as where Lands are given All which the King heard with patience and the Chancellor answer'd no more After the King with all his Councel had for 3 dayes together heard the Allegations on both sides he said He would maintain the Laws of England and that his Judges should have as great respect from all his Subjects as their Predecessors And for the Matter he said for any thing had been said on the Clergies part he was not satisfied and advised Us the Judges to confer among our selves and that nothing be encroached in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdâ—ction and they to keep within their Jurisdiction And this was the end of these three dayes Consultation Note Dr. Bennet in his Discourse inveighed much against the Opinion 8 E. 4. 14. and in my Reports in Wrights Case That the Ecclesiastical Judge would not allow a Modus Decimandi and said that was the Mistery of Iniquiâ—y and they would allow it The King asked for what cause it was so said in the said Books To which I answer'd That it appears in Linwood who was Dean of the Arches and a Profound Canonist who wrote in Henry the Sixth's time in his Title De decimis cap Quoniam propter c. fol. 139. b. Quod decimae soluantur absque ulla diminutione And in the Gloss it is said Quod consuetudo de non Decimando aut de non bene decimando non valet And that being written by so great a Canonist was the cause of the said Saying in 8 E. 4. that they would not allow the said Plea de modo decimandi And it seemed to the King that that Book was a good cause for them in Edward the Fourth's time to say as they had said But I said I did not rely thereon but on the Grounds aforesaid Lastly The King said that the High Commission ought not to meddle with any thing but that which is enormous and which the Law cannot punish as Heresie Schism Incest and the like great Offences And the King thought that two High-Commissions for either Province one should be sufficient for all England and no more Mich. 39 40 Eliz. In the Kings-Bench Bedel and Sherman's Case Mich. 39 40 Eliz. Which is entred Mich. 40 Elizâ— in the Common-Pleas Rot. 699. Cantabr the Case was this Robert Bedel Gent. and Sarah his Wife Farmers of the Rectory of Litlington in the County of Cambridge brought an Action of Debt against John Sherman in custodia mariscalli c. and demanded 550 l. and declared that the Master and Fellows of Clare-Hall in Cambridge were ieized of the said Rectory in Fee in right of the said Colledge and the 10 Jun. 29 Eliz. by Indenture dâ—nised to Christopher Phesâ—nt the said Rectory for 21 years rendring 17 l. 15 s. 5 d. and reserving Rent-corn according to the Statute c. which Rent was the antient Rent who entred and was possessed and assigned all his Interest to one Matthew Bats who made his last Wâ—ll and made Sarah his Wife Executrix and dyed Sarah proved the Will and entred and was thereof possessed as Executrix and took to Husband the said Robert Beâ—el by force whereof hey in right of the said Sarah entred and were possessed and the Defendant was thâ—n Tenant and seized for his life of 300 Acres of Arable Lands in Litlington aforesaid which ought to pay Tythes to the Rector of Litlington and in 38 Eliz. the Defendant Sâ—minavit grano 200 Acres paâ—c â— c. the Tythes whereof amounted to 150 l. And the Defendant did not set forth the same from the Nine Parts but carryed them away contrary to the Statute 2 E 6 c. The Defendant pleaded Nihil debet And the Jury â—ound that the Defendant did owe 55 l. and to thâ— rest they found Nihil debet And in Arrest of Judgment divers Matters were moved 1. That Grano Seminata is too general and it ought to be expressed with what kind of Grain the same was sowed 2. It was moved If the Parson ought to have the treble value the Forfeiture being â—xoresly limited to none by the Act. or that the same beâ—ong to the Queen 3. If the same belong to the Parson if he ought to sue for it in the Ecclesiastical Court or in the King 's Temporal Court 4. If the Husband and Wife should joyn in the Action or the Husband alone and upon solemn Argument at the Barre and Bench Judgment was affirmed Trin. 7 Jac. Regis In the Court of Wards John Bayley's Case It was found by Writ of Dien clausit extremum that the said John Bayley was seized of a Messuage and of and in the 4th part of one Acre of Land late parcel of the Demesne Lands of the Mâ—nnor of Newton in the
Service Tenant Richard Hulme dyed after whose death 31 H. 8. it was found that he dyed seized of the said Mesnalty and that the same descended to Edward his Son and Heir within Age and found the Tenure aforesaid c. And during nonagâ— Robert Male dyed seized of the said Tenancy peravail and that the same descended to Richard his Son and Meir as was found by Office 25 H. 2. within age and that the said Tenancy was holden of the King as of his said Dutchy by Knights Service whereas in truth the same was holden of Edward Hulme then in Ward of the King as of his Mesnalty for which the King seized the Ward of the Heir of the Tenant And afterwards Anno quarto Jacobi Rogis nunc after the death of Richard Male the lineal Heir of Robert Male by another Office it was found that Richard dyed seized of the Tenancy and held the same of the King as of his Dutchy c. his Heir within age Whereupon Richard Hulme Cozen and Heir of the said Richard Hulme preferred a Bill to be admitted to traverse the Office found 4 Jac. Regis And the Question was Whether the Office found 35 H. 8. be any Estoppel to the said Hulme or if that the said Hulme should be first driven to Traverse that And it was objected That he ought first to traverse the Office of 35 H. 8. as in the Case 26 E. 65. And that the first Office shall stand as long as the same remaines in force To which it was Answered and Resolved by the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron and Court of Wards That the finding of an Office is not any Estoppel for that is but an Inquest of Office and the party grieved shall have a Traverse to it But when an Office is found falsly that Land is holden of the King by Knights Service in capite or of the King himself in Socage if the Heir fueâ—h a general Livery it is holden 46 Ed. 3. 12. by Mowbray and Persey that he shall not after adde that the Land is not holden of the King But that is not any Estoppel to the Heir himself and shall not conclude his Heir for so saith Mowbray himself expresly 44 Ass pl. 35. See 1 H. 4. 6. b. So 33 H. 6. 7. And there is no Book that saith that the Estoppel shall endure longer than his life but that is to be intended of a general Livery but a special Livery shall not conclude one And if a Jury find falsly in a Tenure of the King the Lord of whom the Land is holden may traverse that Office Or if Land be holden of the King in Socage c. the Heir may traverse the last Office for by that he is grieved and he shall not be driven to traverse the first Office And when the Father sues Livery and dyes the Conclusion is executed and past as is aforesaid And note there is a special Livery but that proceeds of the King's Grace and is not the Suit of the Heir and the King may grant it either at full age before aetate probanda or to the Heir within age as appears 21 E. 3. 40. And then is general and shall not comprehend any Tenure as the several Livery doth and therefore it is not any Estoppel without question See the 33 H. 8. cap. 22. 23 Eliz. Dyer 177. It was also Resolved in this Case that the Office of 35 H. 8. was not traversable for his own Traverse shall prove that the King had cause to have Wardship by reason of Ward And when the King comes to the Possession by a false Office or otherwise if it appears the King have any other Right to have the Land there none shall traverse the Office or Title of the King because the Judgment in the Traverse is Ideo consideratum est quod manus Domini Râ—gis amoveantur c. See 4 H. 4. fol. 33. in the Earl of Kents Case c. Mich. 7 Jacobi Regis Note The Priviledge Order or Custom of Parliament either of the Upper-House or House of Commons belongs to the Determination of the Court of Parliament and this appeareth by two notable Presidents 1. The one at the Parliament holden in the 27 H. 6. There was a Controversie moved in the Upper-House between the Earles of Aâ—undel and Devonshire for their Seats Places and Pre-eminences of the same to be had in the King's Presence as well in Parliament as in Councels and elsewhere The King by the Advice of Lords Spiritual and Temporal committed the same to certain Lords of Parliament who not having leisure to examine the same by the said Lords Advice referred it to the Judges of the Land to hear see and examine the Title c. and to report what they conceive herein The Judges reported as followeth That this matter viz. of Honour and Pre-eminency between the two Earles Lords of Parliament was a matter of Parliament and belonged to the King and his Lords in Parliament to be decided Yet being so commanded they shewed what they found upon Examination and their Opinions thereon Another Parliament 31 H. 6. 6th of March begun and after some continuance was prorogued to the 14 of February and afterwards in Michaelmas Term the same 31 H. 6. Thomas Thorpe Speaker of the Commons House was condemned in the Exchequer in 1000 l. Damages at the Duke of Buckingham's Suit for a Trespass done to him The 14th of Feb. the Commons mâ—ved in the Upper-House that their Speaker might be set at liberty to exercise his Place c. The Lords refer it to the Judges and Fortâ—scue and Prisoit the two Chief Justices in the Name of all the Judges answer'd That they ought not to consider this Question c. but it belongeth to the Lords of the Parliament and not to the Justices But as to their Proceedings in the Lower-Courts in such Cases they deliver'd their Opinions See 12 E. 4. 2. Hill 7 Jac. Regis In Cam. Stâ—ll Heyward and Sir John Whitbrook's Case In the Case between Hyward and Sir John Whitbrook in the Star-Chamber the Defendant was convicted of divers Misdemeanours and Fine and Imprisonment imposed on him and Damages to the Plaintiff And it was moved that a special Process might be made out of that Court to levy the said Damages upon the Lands and Goods of the said Defendant And it was referred to the two Chief Justices whether any such Process might be made who this Term moved the Case to the Chief Baron and the rest of the Judges and Barons and it was unanimously by them all Resolved That no such Process could or ought to be made neither for the Damages nor for the Costs given to the Plaintiff the Court having no such power but onely to keep the Defendant in Prison till he pay them For for a Fine due to the King they can make no Process to levy it but they estreat it into the Exchequer which hath power by Law to write forth Process
Law The Case was often argued at Bar and now this Term it was argued at the Bench by the Justices and therein these Points were resolved 1. That the first part of the Custom was absurd and repugnant but it extends not to the Case for the last part of the Custom which concerns the cutting down of the Trees concerns the Point in question and so the first part of the Custom is not material And when it was objected that the pleading that the Messuage of the Plaintiff was in decay was too general as appears by the Book 10 Ed. 4. 3. To that it was answered by Cook Chief â—ustice That the said Book proved the pleading in the Case at Bar was certain enough and therewith agrees 7 H. 6. 38. 34 H. 6. 17. 2. It was Resolved That in this Case without question there needs not to alleadge more certainty for the Copyholder doth not here take it according to the Custom but the Lord of the Mannor cuts it down and preventeth the Copyholder of his benefit and therefore he needeth not to shew any decay at all but onely for increasing of Damages for the Lord does the wrong when he cuts down the Tree which should serve for Reparations 3. It was Resolved That of Common-Right as a thing incident to the Grant the Copyholder may take House-bote Hedge-bote and Plough-bote upon his Copy-hold Quia concesso uno conceduntur omnia sine quibus id consistere non potest And with this agrees 9 H. 4. Wast 59. But the same may be restrained by Custome 4. It was Resolved That the Lord cannot take all the Timber-Trees but he ought to have sufficient for Reparation of the Customary Houses and for Plough-bote c. for otherwise great Depopulation will follow And it is to be understood that Bote being on old Saxon Word hath two significations First compensatio criminis as Frithbote signifies to be discharged for giving amends for breach â—f the Peace Manhote to be discharged of amends for the death of a man And secondly for Reparation as Bridgebote Burghbote Castlebote Parkbote c. And it is to be known that Bote and Estovers are all one And Estover is derived of the French Word Estover i. e. fovere i. e. to keep warm cherish c. And there are four kinds of Estovers viz. First Arandi Secondly Ardendi Thirdly Construendi And fourthly Claudendi viz. Ploughbote Firebote Housebote and Hedgebote 5. It was Resolved That the Copyholder shall have a general Action of Trespass against his Lord Quare clausum fregit arborem suam succidit For Custome hath fixed it to his Estate against his Lord. And the Copy-holder in this Case hath as great an Interest in the Timber Trees as he hath in his Messuage which he holds by Copy And if the Lord break or destroy the House without question the Copyholder shall have an Action of Trespass against his Lord Quare domum fregit and by the same Reason for the Timber-Trees which are annexed to the Land and which he may for Reparation of his Messuage or else it cannot stand See Trin. 40 Eliz. Rot. 37. in B. R. between Stebbing and Grosenor See Taylor 's Case in the Fourth Part of my Reports and see 5 H. 4. 2. 2 H. 4. 12. 2 E. 4. 15. 1 H. 6. 4. 7 H. 4. 15. 19 H. 6. 34. 11 H. 4. 28. 11 H. 4. 23. 21 H. 7. 14. b. acc 35 H. 6. 24. 30 H. 6. Tresp 10. c. 21 H. 7. 15. 11 H. 4. 23. See Fitz. Trespass ultimo in the Abridgement And afterwards the same Term Judgment was given on the principal Case for the Plaintiff Pasch 8 Jacobi In Communi Ranco The Parishioners of St. Alphage in Canterbury by Custome ought to choose the Parish-Clerk whom they chose accordingly The Parson by colour of a new Canon made at the Convocation in the Year of the King that now is which is not of force to take away any Custome drew the Clark before Dr. Newman Officiall of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to deprive him upon the Point of right Election and for other Causes And upon that it was moved at the Bar to have a Prohibition And upon hearing of Dr. Newman and himself and his Councel a Prohibition was granted by the whole Court because the Party chosen is a meer Temporal Man And the means of choosing him viz. the Custome is also meerly Temporal So as the Official cannot deprive him but upon occasion the Parishioners may displace him And this Office is like that of a Church-Warden who though they be chosen for two years yet for cause they may displace them as is held in 26 H. 8. 5. And though the Execution of the Office concerneth Divine Service yet the Office it self is meer Temporal See 3 E. 3. Annuity 30. 18 E. 3. 27. And it is to be known that the deprivation of a man of a Temporal Office or Place is a Temporal Thing Upon which no Appeal lyes by the 25 H. 8. but an Assize as in 4 Eliz. Dyer 209. And therewith agrees the Book 8 Ass Sirases Case But if a Dean of a Cathedral Church be deprived before the Commissioners of the King he may appeal to the Delegates within the said Act 25 H. 8. For a Deanery is a Spiritual Promotion and not Temporal And before that Act in such Case the Appeal was to Rome immediately Mich. 5 Jacobi Regis In Banco Regis Prichard and Hawkin's Case John Prichard brought an Action upon the Case against Robert Hawkins for Slanderous Words publish'd the last Day of August 3. Jacob. Viz. That Prichard which serves Mistriss Shelley did murder John Adam's Child Quandam Isabellam Adams modo defunct filia cujusdam Johannis Adams de c. innuendo Upon which a Writ of Errour was brought in the Exchequer-Chamber upon a Judgment given for Prichard in the Kings-Bench and the Judgment was reversed in Easter Term 7 Jac. because it doth not appear that Isabel was dead at the time of speaking the words for tunc defunct ought to have bin in stead of modo defunct Pasch 8 Jac. In Banco Regis Dison and Bestney's Case Humphry Dyson said of Nicholas Bestney a Councellor at Law of Grays-Inne Thou a Barrester Thou art no Barrester Thou art a Barretor Thou wert put from the Bar and darest not shew thy self there Thou study the Law thou hast as much Wit as a Daw. Upon Not Guilty pleaded the Jury found for the Plaintiff and gave 23 l. Damages upon which Judgment was given and upon Writ of Errour in the Exchequer-Chamber the Judgment was affirmed Pasch 8 Jac. Regis In Banco Regis Smith and Hill's Case Noah Smith brought an Action of Assault and Battery against Walter Hill in the Kings-Bench which began Pasch 7 Jac. Rot. 175. Upon Not Guilty pleaded a Verdict and Judgment for the Plaintiff and 107 l. given for Damages and Costs In a Writ of Errour in the Exchequer Chamber the Errour was
holden That if one were to sit in the Chancel and hath there a place his Carpet Livery and Cushion the Parson cannot claim them as Oblations for that they were hanged there in honour of the Deceased the same Reason of a Coat-Armour c. And the Chief Justice said the Lady might have a good Action during her Life in the Case aforesaid because she caused the things to he set up there and after her death the Heir shall have his Action they being in the nature of Hire-looms which belong to the Heir And with this agrees the Laws of other Nations Bartho Cassanâ—us sol 13. Coâ—cl 29. Actioâ— dat si aliquis arma in aliquo loco posita deleat aut abrasit c. and in 21 Ed. 3. 48. in the Bishop of Carlisle's Case Note That in Easter Term 10 Jacob. it was Resolved in the Star-Chamber in the Case between Hussâ—y and Katharine Leyton that if a man have a house in any Parish and that he and all those whose Estate he hath have used to have a certain Pew in the Church that if the Ordinary will displace him he shall have a Prohibition but where there is no such Prescription the Ordinary shall dispose of common and vulgar Seats Earl of Shrewes buryes Case Sir Humphry Winch Sir James Ley Sir Anthony St. Leger and Sir James Hullesâ—on certified the Lords of the Councel by Command from them by Letters dated 28. Martii 1612. of the Claim of Gilbert Earl of Shrewesbury to the Earldome of Waterford and Barony of Dungarvan in Ireland as followeth King Henry the Sixth by Letters-Patents in the 20th year of his Reign did Grant to his Cosin John Earl of Shrewsbury in consideration of his Loyal Services in the City and County of Waterford pro se c. ipsum in Comitem Waterford una cum stilo et titulo ac nomine ac honore eisdem debitis ordinamus creamus habendum to the said Earl and his Heirs-males of his Body and further did Grant the Castles Lordships c. of Dungarvan to the said Earl and the Heirs-males of his Body To hold c. of the King and his Heirs by Homage and Fealty and by the Service of being his Majesties Seneschal in Ireland After in the Parliament called Des Absentees holden at Dublin in Ireland 10. Maii 28 H. 8. It was enacted by reason of the long absence of George Earl of Shrewesbury out of the said Realm That the King his Heirs c. shall enjoy in right of his Crown of England all Honors Mannors Castles c. and all and singular possessions c. as well Spiritual as Temporal which the said George Earl of Shrewesbury and VVaterford or any other Persons had to his Use c. King Henry the 8th by his Letters Patents dated 29th of his Reign reciting the said Statute Nos praemissa Considerantes c. did Grant to the said Earl and his Heirs the Abbey of Rufford with the Lands thereunto c. in the County of Nottingham and the Lordship of Rotheram in the County of York the Abbeys of Chestersteld Shirbrook and Glossaâ—dale in Derbyshire with divers other Lands c. to be holden in Capite And the Questions were as followeth 1. Whether by the long absence of the Earl of Shrewsbury out of Ireland the Title of the Honor be lost and forfeited he being a Peer of both Realms and refiding here in England 2. Whether by the Act Des absentâ—es 28 H. 8. the Title of Dignity of Earl of VVaterford be taken from the said Earl as well as the Land c. Afterwards by other Letters Patents dated 27th of Sept. 1612. the two Chief Justices and Chief Baron were required to consider of the Case and to certifie their Opinions which Case being argued by Councel learned in the Law in behalf the said Earl and they having taken great advisement It was unanimously Resolved by them all as followeth 1. As to the fiâ—st Resolved That since it does not appear what defence was requisite and that the Consideration Executory was not found by Office to be broken in that Point the said Earl of Shrewsbury notwithstanding does remain Earl of Waterford 2. As to the second It was Resolved That the said Act 28 H. 8. Des Absenteâ—s does not onely take away the Possessions given him at his Creation but also the Dignity it self for though one may have a Dignity without Possession yet is it very inconvenient that Dignity should be cloathed with Poverty and so it was resolved in the Lord Ogles Case in Edw. 6. Reign as the Baron of Burleigh 35 Elâ—z did report The cause of Degradation of George Nevil Duke of Bedford is worth observation which was done by Act of Parliament 16 June 17 Ed. 4. which Act reciting the making the said George Duke sets forth the cause of his Degradation in these words And for so much as it is openly known that the said George hath not or by Inheritance may have any livelyhood to support the said Name Estate and Dignity c. Therefore the King by Advice of his Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons c. Enacteth c. That from henceforth the same Creation of the said Duke and all Names of Dignity given to the said George or to John Nevil his Father be void and of none effect Wherein are to be observed 1. That though the Duke had not Possessions to maintain his Dignity yet it could not be taken from him but by Act of Parliament 2. Great Inconveniencies follow where there is great State and Dignity and no means to maintain it 3. It is good reason to take away such Dignity by Act of Parliament and then the Act shall be expounded to take away such Inconvenience And though the Earl of Shrewsbury be of great Honour Vertue and Possessions in England yet it was not the Intention of the Act to continue him Earl in Ireland when his Possessions there were taken away And where it was objected that the general words Honours and Hereditaments are explained and qualified by the said Relative subsequent which the said George or any to his use hath Now in regard no man can be seized of the said Digniâ—y therefore the Act doth not extend to it 'T is answered that is to be understood Reddendo singula singulis and these words which the said G. E. hath are sufficient to pass the Dignity and with this agrees all the Judges Opinions in England in Nevils Case upon the like in the Statute 28 H. 8. in 7th Part of my Reports sol 33 and 34. Hill 2 Jacob. Regis Jurisdiction of the Court of Common-Pleas In the last Term by the King's Commands the Justices of the Kings Bench and Barons of the Exchequer were assembled before the Lord Chancellor Ellesmere at York-house to deliver their Opinion Whether there was any Authority in our Books that the Justices of the Common-Bench may grant Prohibitions or whether every Plea ought to be pending