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A91243 A plea for the Lords: or, A short, yet full and necessary vindication of the judiciary and legislative power of the House of Peeres, and the hereditary just right of the lords and barons of this realme, to sit, vote and judge in the high Court of Parliament. Against the late seditious anti-Parliamentary printed petitions, libells and pamphlets of Anabaptists, Levellers, agitators, Lilburne, Overton, and their dangerous confederates, who endeavour the utter subversion both of parliaments, King and peers, to set up an arbitrary polarchy and anarchy of their own new-modelling. / By William Prynne Esquire, a well-wisher to both Houses of Parliament, and the republike; now exceedingly shaken and indangered in their very foundations. Prynne, William, 1600-1669. 1648 (1648) Wing P4032; Thomason E430_8; ESTC R204735 72,921 83

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which they never yet read nor understood there remaines nothing but to answer some Presidents and Objections The Principall president insisted on by Lilburne Object 1. is the Protestation of the Lords in the case of * Cooke 2. Instit p. 50. Sir Simon Beresford 4. E. 3. nu 6. which I have already fully answered retorted and shall therefore here pretermit The second is Sir Edward Cookes Authority Object 2. and the presidents cited by him in his 4. Institutes p. 23. 24. of Judicature in Parliament where thus he writes It is to be knowne THAT THE LORDS IN THEIR HOUSE HAVE POWER OF JUDICATURE And the Commons in their House have power of Judicature and both Houses together have power of Judicature But the handling thereof according to the weight and worth of the matter would require a whole Treatise of it selfe and to say the truth it is best understood by reading the Judgements and Records of Parliament at large and the Journalls of the House of the Lords and the Booke of the Clerke of the House of Commons which is a Record as it is affirmed by Act of Parliament in An. 6. H. 8. c. 16. To which he addes these marginall Notes Vide Placita in Parlians Anno 33. E. 1. rot 33. Nicholas Seagrave adjudg● Par Praelatos COMITES BARONES ET ALIOS DE CONCILIO At the Parliament at Yorke Ap. 12. E. 3. Consideratum est per Praelatos Comites BARONES ET COMMVNITATEM ANGLIAE the Lord Audleys care At the Parliament at Westm 15. E. 2 Hugh le pier adjuge per les SEIGNIEURS COMMONS Rot. Parl. 50. E. 3. n. 34. Lord Nevils case Then he a●des See Rot. Claus 1 R. 2. n. 5. 8. 38. ●0 A tresage Councell le Roy Les SEIGNIORS COMMONS c. Rot. Parl. 2. H. 5. nu 1● Err●ra sinned THAT THE LORDS gave Judgement WIT●OVT PETITION OR AS●●NT OF THE COMMONS Rot. Parl. 28. H. 6. nu 10. and many others in the Reigne of King H. 6. and Kin E. 4. And of later times see divers notable Judgements at the prosecution of the Commons By THE LORDS at the Parliaments ●●●den 18. and 21. Iac. Regis against Sir Giles Mompesson Sir Iohn Michell Viscount St. Albon Lord Chancellor of England the Earle of Middlesex Lord Treasurer of England whereby the due proceedings of Iudicature in such Caces doth appeare Then hee cites the cases of * 8. Eliz. Thomas Long * 23 Eliz. Arthur Hall * 2. A●●●l 1. Ma●●● and Muncton censured by the House of Commons only and by them fined and imprisoned without the Lords A●d concludes thus If any Lord of Parliament spirituall or temporall have committed any Oppression Bribery extortion or the like the HOUSE OF COMMONS BEING THE GENERALL INQUISITORS OF THE REALME comming out of all parts thereof may examine the same and if they find by the Vote of the House the charge to be true then they TRANSMIT THE SAME TO THE LORDS WITH THE WITNESSES and PROOFES From which passages of his some ignorantly have concluded That the Lords have no power of Judicature without but only joyntly with the Commons That all Commoners ought to be judged only by the Commons not by the Lords and That the Commons have a sole power of Judicature in cases of Commoners and the Lords no power but joyntly with them or upon their preceding Petitions and impeachments neither in case of Commoners nor Peers I answer that Sir Edward Cookes words are much mistaken and rightly understood warrant no such inferences but the contrary For first he clearely confesseth in direct termes That the Lords in their House have a power of judicature even without the Commons ha he de●med particularly in whose and in what cases out of the Judgements Records and Journals of Parliament at large to which he refers the Reader a being best understood by reading them which warrant the Lords judging fining imprisoning and condemning to death not only of Peers but of Commoners themselves without the Commons as I have fully manifested their could no such inference have been made Secondly ●e adde● That the Commons in their House have a power of Judicature From whence Lilburne and others inferre That they are and ought to be the sole Judges of all Commoners and not the Lords in all cases triable in Parliament But this is a most grosse mistake Sir Edward Cooke confining this Judicature of theirs only to these three c●ses First to matters and abuse concerning elections of Knights Citizens and Burgesses being Members of the Commons House the judgment and determination whereof the Commons alone of late times only have usually taken upon them without the Lords which he proves by Thomas Longs case 8. Eliz. and no greater antiquities of which elections the King and Lords in former times have been sole Judges for which I shall cite some memorable records worthy the Lords and ●●mmons consideration who now take upon them to suspend eje●● Judge their own Members elections without the Kings or Lords concurrence or privity a practice not heard of in former ages and of late originall In the Parliament holden at Westminster 5. H. 4. Rot. Parl. num 38. Thomas Thorpe his case Item because that the writ of summons of Parliament returned by the Sheriffe of Roteland was not sufficiently nor duely returned as the Commons conceived the said Commons prayed our Lord THE KING and THE LORDS IN PARLIAMENT that this matter might be duly examined in Parliament and that in case their shall be default found in this matter that such a punishment might be inflicted which might become exemplary to others to offend againe in the like manner Whereupon our said Lord the King IN FULL PARLIAMENT commanded THE LORDS IN PARLIAMENT TO EXAMINE THE SAID MATTER and to doe therein AS TO THEM SHOULD SEEME BEST IN THEIR DISCRETIONS And thereupon the SAID LORDS caused to come BEFORE THEM IN PARLIAMENT as well the said Sheriffe as William One by who was returned by the said Sheriffe for one of the Knights of the said County and Thomas Thorpe who was elected in full Countie to be one of the Knights of the said Shire for the said Parliament and not returned by the said Sheriffe And the said parties being duely examined and their reasons well considered in the said Parliament IT WAS AGREED BY THE SAID LORDS that because the said Sheriffe had not made a sufficient returne of the said writ THAT HE SHALL AMEND THE SAID RETURN and THAT HE SHALL RETURN THE SAID THOMAS FOR ONE OF THE SAID KNIGHTS as he was elected in the said Countie for the Parliament and moreover that the said Sheriffe for this default SHALL BE DISCHARGED OF HIS OFFICE and COMMITTED PRISONER TO THE FLEET and that he should MAKE FINE and RANSOME AT THE KINGS PLEASURE Loe here the Lords in Parliament at the Commons request and by the Kings command examining and giving judgement in case of undue election even without the
2. 13 R. 2. n. 6 7. 17 R. 2. n. 17 18. 8 H. 4. n. 31. to 92. 11 H. 4. n. 14. 28. 39. 44. 13 H. 4. n. 11. Commons too when ever they recommended Councellors of State to the King in Parliament made choice of f See the Soveraigne Power of Parliaments part 1. and 2. Lords and other Peers for their Privy Councellors and therefore it was thought fit just and equall the King should ever summon them to the Parliament by his Writ without any election of the people Mr. Pryns Truth Triumphing over falshood p. 56. to 70. Stat. de 4 E. 1. c. 2. Lambert Archaion for their own inherent wisdome excellency and worth the Originall cause of advancing and ennobling them at first as is expressed in their Patents and evident by these Scripture texts Esth 1. 13 14. Isay 59. 11 12 13. Jer. 5. 5. c. 10. 7. c. 51. 57. Dan. 2. 48. c. 6. 1 2 3. Gen. 41. 39 40. Psal 101. 21 22. compared together This ground of calling the Nobles to the Parliament is intimated in the very words of the summons Et ibidem VOBIS CUM Coloquium habere tractare de arduis urgentibus Regni Ecclesiae Anglicanae negociis VESTRUM QUE CONSILIUM IMPENSUR c. Et hoc nullatenus omittatis which implies them to be men of wisdome and experience able to counsell and advise the King in all his weighty and arduous affaires both of the Kingdome and Church I could give many instances wherein the Commons in Parliament have extraordinarily applauded the Lords and Peers for their great wisdome and especially desired their wholesome Counsell as persons of greater wisdome and experience then themselves but for brevity sake I shall cite onely two Records one of them most sutable to the present deplorable condition of our State and worthy imitation In the Parliament of 21 Edw. 3. no. 45. William de Thorpe in the presence of the King Prelates Earles Barons and Commons declared that the Parliament was called for two causes The first concerning the Wars which the King had undertaken by the consent of the Lords and Commons against His Enemies of France The second how the Peace of England may be kept Whereupon the King would the Commons should consult together and that within four daies they should give answer to the King and His Counsell what they think therein On the fourth day the Commons declare THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO COUNSEL ANY THING TOUCHING THE POINT OF WAR wherefore they desire in that behalf to be excused And that the King will thereof ADVISE WITH HIS NOBLES AND COUNCEL and what shall be so amongst them determined they the Commons will thereto assent confirme and establish By which it is evident the Commons then reputed the Nobles more wise and able to advise the King in matters of War then themselves who confessed their inability herein and therefore submitted to assent to whatever the Nobles and Councel should therein advise Him 28 Edw. 3. n. 55. The Commons submit the whole businesse of the Treaty of Peace with France TO THE ORDER OF THE KING AND OF HIS NOBLES And ●6 Edw. 3. n. 6. The LORDS only advise the King touching Truce or War with Scotland In the first Parliament of 15 Edw. 3. n. 11. the Commons having delivered in divers Articles concerning the redresse of grievances and publick affaires to the King prayed that unto the Wednesday ensuing their Articles may be committed to certain BISHOPS BARONS AND OTHER WISE MEN there named BY THEM TO BE AMENDED which the King granted whereas the Lords exhibited their Articles 〈◊〉 to the King and the Bishops their Articles apart in this Parliament and protested that they ought not to answer but in open Parliament BY AND WITH THEIR PEERES without joyning with the Commons num 6 7 18 c. 26 27 35 37. which course they held in most following Parliaments I shall conclude with one President more most suitable to the present deplorable condition of our State and worthy imitation In the Parliament of 5 Hen. 4. Rot. Parl. num 9. 10. The Commons having presented to the King in Parliament divers grievances in the ill managing of His Revenues the decay of His Castles Houses and Parks the great poverty and pressures of His Subjects and danger of the Enemies thereupon they most intirely and cordially prayed the King to consider the eminent perils of all parts of the Realm by reason of the Enemies and Rebels of which they had news from day to day and that as the case then stood if such mischiefs were not speedily and graciously remedied and reformed in this Parliament it might fall out upon sodain arivall of Enemies or by some other means this Parliament must of necessity be departed from by all and dissolved so as the Lords and Commons should never re-assemble again to redresse the said Mischiefs and others which God defend And therefore that it would please the King considering the HIGH WISDOMES AND DISCRETIONS OF THE LORDS and that THEY HAD KNOWLEDGE OF MANY PERILS AND MATTERS which could not be so clearly known to the King that he would now in this present Parliament charge ALL HIS LORDS Spirituall and Temporall upon the faith they principally owe to God and the faith Homage and Allegiance which they owe to our Lord the King himself for the aid and salvation of themselves and of all the Realm that the said Lords WOULD COUNSEL and shew Him their advice and WHOLSOME COUNSEL IN THIS BEHALF SEVERALLY INTIRELY without dissimulation or adulation having regard to the great mischiefs and necessity aforesaid And thereupon our Lord the King most graciously with His own mouth in full Parliament charged and commanded as well the Lords as the said Commons that they should do their diligence and shew unto Him their good and wholsome Counsels in this behalf for the aid of Him and all His Realm And after the said Commons in the same Parliament made request to the said Lords that seeing the King had given them such a charge and command and that in so high a manner of Record that they would do their diligence well and loyally to persever the same without any courtesie made between them in any manner as they would answer before the most High and before our Lord the King and to all the Realm in time to come and that the Commons themselves thereupon would do the like on their party Which if both Lords and Commons would now cordially and sincerely promise and ingage to do without self-ends or interests we might see our Church and Kingdome speedily setled in a peaceable and happy condition In brief the Lords in the very Writ touching Knights and Burgesses are stiled The Common Councell of the Kingdome and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses are called to inform and assent to that which they and their King shall Ordain and 5 Ric. 2. Parl. 2. n. 3. 6 R. 2. n. 8 9 11 26.
the said Earle ought to make fine and ransome at the will of the King Whereupon the said Earle most humbly thanked our Lord the King and the sayd Lords his Peers of Parliament FOR THEIR RIGHTFULL JUDGEMENT and the Commoners for their good affectious and diligence used and shewen in this behalfe And the said Earle further prayed the King that in assurance of these matters to remove all jealousies and evill suspitions that he might be sworn a new in the presence of the King the Lords and Commons in Parliament and the said Earle tooke an Oath upon the Crosier of the Archbishop of Canterbury to be a faithfull and loyall lige to our Lord the King the Prince his sonne and to the heires of his body inheritable to the Crown according to the Lawes of England Whereupon the King out of his grace pardoned him his fine and rausome for the trespas aforesaid After which num 17. the Lords spirituall and temporall humbly thanked the King sitting in his royall Throne in the white Chamber for his grace and pardon to the said Earle of his fine and ransome and likewise the Commons thanked THE LORDS SPIRITUALL and TEMPORALL FOR THE GOOD and JUST JUDGEMENT THEY HAD GIVEN AS PEERS OF PARLIAMENT TO THE SAID EARLE From this memorable record I shall observe First that though this Declaration of this Earles case was made by his Petition in the presence of the King Lords and Commons in Parliament according to the Statnte of 25. E. 3. yet the Lords only by Protestation in presence of the King and Commons claimed to be THE SOLE JUDGES OF IT as Peers of Parliament and belonging to them OF RIGHT S●condly That this claime of theirs in this case was acknowledged and submitted to both by the King and Commons and thereupon the Lords only after serious consideration of the case and Statutes whereon it depended gave the definitive sentence and judgement in this case that it was neither Treason nor Felony but Trespas only c. Thirdly That the Earle thanked the King only for his grace the Lords FOR THEIR JUST JUDGEMENT and the Commons only for their good hearts and diligence having no share in the judgement though given by the Lords both in the Kings and their presence and that the Commons themselves returned speciall thanks to the Lords spirituall and temporall on Parliament for their good and just judgement Fourthly That this judgement of the Lords only was finall and conclusive both to the King and Commons who aquiesced in it All that can be objected to evade this President Object is that this Judgement was given in case of a Peer wherein the Lords only are the Judges by Magna Charta c. 29. but not of a Commoner which is the question I answer Answ that though this judgement of theirs was in case only of an Earle who was a Peer triable * See Cooke 2. Inslit on Ma●na Charta c. 29. only by his Peers yet the King Lords in this Parliament the very same day gave Judgement of High Treason against Henry and Thomw Peircy one of them no Peer and OTHERS who were in their companie who were but Commoners and no Peers for levying warre against the King and that without the Commons as is evident by the Parliament Roll of 5. H. 4. nu 15. Et anxy mesme le vendreay AIVGGES PAR LE ROY ET SEIGNEIURS EN PARLEMENT que levier de guerre fait per les ditz Mounsieur Henry Mounsieur Thomas furont tenuz pur treason ceo si bien de eux mesmes come DE AUTERS qui fueront en lour compaigne au temps de dit lever which quite takes off this Objection Se● Mr. Prynnes Doome of Cowardice and Treacherie p. 2. 3. 4. 5. c. where these records are cited at large verbatim To put all out of question I shall instance in some few ancient prefidents more which are full and punctuall In the Parliament of 1. R. 2. num 38. 39. 40. The Commons prayed that all those Captaines who had rendred or lost Castles or Townes through default might be put to answer it in this Parliament and severely punished according to their deserts BY AWARD or Judgement OF THE LORDS and BARONS to eschew the evill examples they had given to other Governours of Townes and Castles Whereupon Sir Alexander de Buxton Constable of the Tower was commanded to bring BEFORE THE LORDS IN PARLIAMENT William de Weston and Lord of Gomynes both of them Commoners on Friday the 27. of November to answer such Articles as should be surmised against them on the Kings behalfe Being brought BEFORE THE LORDS in full Parliament they were severally articled against at the command of THE LORDS by Sir Richard le Scrop Knight Steward of the Kings House and their severall Articles and answers to them in writing being read before THE LORDS Which done the Constable was commanded to bring them againe before THE LORDS on Saturday next ensuing being the 20. of November on which day it was shewed unto them severally by the said Steward by THE LORDS COMMAND That THE LORDS OF THE PARLIAMENT whose names are particularly mentioned in the Roll had met together and considered of their respective answers and that IT SEEMED TO THE LORDS AFORESAID that the said William had delivered up the Castle of Outherwycke to the Kings enemies without any duresse or want of victuals contrary to his alleagiance and undertaking safely to keep it and therefore THE LORDS ABOVE NAMED SITTING IN FUL PARLIAMENT ADJVDGE you TO DEATH THAT you SHAL BE DRAWN and HANGED But because our Lord the King is not informed of the manner of the Judgement the ex●cution of it shall be respited till the King be thereof in●ormed A●ter which Judgeme●t given it was shewed to the said John Lord of Gomynes by the 〈◊〉 Steward how the said LORDS had assembled and considered of his answer and THAT ●●●●●EEMED TO THE LORD sitting in full Parliament that without duresse or default of victualls or other necessaries for the defence of the Town or Castle of Arde and without the Kings command hee had evilly delivered and ●urrendred them to the Kings Enemies by his own default against all apparance of right or reason against his undertaking safely to keep the same Wherefore THE LORDS aforesaid here in full Parliament ADJUDE YOU TO DEATH And because you are a Gentleman and a Baronet and have served the Kings Grandfather in his Warrs and are no Leige●man of our Lord the King you shall be beheaded without having OTHER JUDGEMENT And because that our Lord the King is not yet informed of the manner of this Judgement the execution thereof shall be put in respite untill our Lord the King be informed thereof Loe here two expresse Judgements given in Parliament by the Lords alone without King or Commons in case of Treason even against Commoners themselves And an expresse acknowledgement of the Commons of the Lords
right to award Judgement in these cases without the King or them then which a fuller and clearer proofe cannot be desired In the self-same Parliament 1. R. ● num 41 42 43. Dame Alice Piers was brought before THE LORDS and charged by Sir Richard le Scrope with sundry misdemeanors which she denied hereupon divers Witnesses were examined against her Whereupon JVDGEMENT WAS GIVEN BY THE LORDS AGAINST HER that she should be banished and forfeit all her lands goods and tenements whatsoevèr To this Judgement neither King nor Commons were parties but the Lords only To these I might adde the cases of c See the doom of 〈◊〉 and treachery 〈◊〉 14 15. where the record is transcribed Sir William de Eleuham Sir Thomas Trivet Sir Henry de Ferriers and Sir William Farnden Knights and Robert Fitz Ralph Esquire Rot. Parl. 7. R. 2. num 24. sentenced and condemned by judgement of the Lords in Parliament pronounced by the Chancellour for selling the Castle of Burbugh with the armes and amm●nition in it to the Kings enemies without the Kings license 21. R. 2. Parl. Rot. Plac. Coronae num 27. where Sir Robert Pleasington is adjudged a Traytor after his death by the King by ●SSENT OF THE LORDS and num 15. 16. Sir Thomas Mortimers case num 17. Sir John Cobhams case * 31. H. 6. n. 45. 64. 65. ● 3. n. 16. to ●8 and num 28. Henry Bonoits case condemned in like manner of treason by the Lords with hundreds of Presidents more I shall only cite three more at large which are punctuall In the Parliament of 8. R. 2. n. 12. Walter Sybell of London was arrested and brought into the Parliament before the Lords at the suit of Robert de Veer Earl of Oxford for slandering him to the Duke of Lancaster and other Nobles for maintenance Walter denied not but that he said that certain there named recovered against him the said Walter and that by maintenance of the said Earl as he thought The Earl there present protested himself to be innocent and put himself upon the triall Walter thereupon was committed to Prison by the Lords and the next day he submitted himself and desired the Lords to be a mean for him saying he could not accuse him whereupon THE LORDS CONVICTED and FINED HIM FIVE HVNDRED MARKS TO THE SAID EARL for the which and for his fine and ransome he was committed to prison BY THE LORDS A direct case in point In the second Parliament in 7. R. 2. num 13. to 19. Iohn Cavendish a Fishmonger of London accused Michael de la Pool Knight Lord Cha●cellour of England first before the Commons and afterward before the Lords for bribery and injustice and that he entere●●●nto a Bond of x. l. to Iohn Ottard a Clerk to the said Chancellour which he was to give for his good successe in the businesse in part of payment w●●●eof he br●ught Herring and Sturgeon to Ottard and ye was delayed a●d could have no justice at the Chancellours h●nds and upon hearing he cause and examining wi●● o●fes upon Oath before THE LORDS the Chancellour was cleared The Chancellour thereupon required reparation for so great a slander the Lords being then troubled with other weighty matters let the Fish-monger to Bail and referred the matter to be ordered by the Judges who upon hearing the whole matter condemned Cavendish in three thousand marks for his slanderous complaint against the said Chancellour and adjudged him to prison till he had paid the same to the Chancellour and made fine and ransome to the King also which the Lords confirmed In the Parliament of 15. R. 2. nu 21. Iohn Stradwell of Begsteed in the County of Sussex was committed to the fleet by JVDGEMENT OF THE LORDS there to remain during the Kings pleasure for that he informed the Parliament that the Archbishop of Canterbury had excommunicated him and his neighbours wrongfully for a temporall cause appertaining to the Crown and Common Law wh●ch was ADIVDGED BY THE LORDS upon examination and hearing to BE VNTRVE These three eminent Presidents to which many more might be added of the Lords fining and imprisoning meere Commons only for slandering Peeres of Parliament even by false accusations against them in Parliament by way of complaint will ●●stify the Lords proceedings against Lilburn and Ov●rton for their professed Libells both against their Persons and Jurisdictions too To proceed to latter times in Parliaments of 18. and 21. Jacobi and 3. Car. not only the Lord * Cook 4. Instit p. 23. Chancellour Bacon and the Earl of Middlesex Lord Treasurer upon complaint of the Commons were censured and judged by the Lords alone but likewise Sir Giles Mompesson Sir Iohn Michell and Dr Manwering all Commoners JUDICIALLY SENTENCED Doctor Pocklinton and Doctor Bray even for erroneous Books and Sermons were sentenced this Parliament by the Lords alone since these Master Clement Walker Esquire was imprisoned in the Tower and fined by the Lords for some words pretended to be spoken against the Lord Say and within these few moneths on● Morrice and foure or five more of his confederates were censured fined and impr●soned by the Lords alone for forging an Act of Parliament upon Sir Adam Littletons complaint with all the Commons privity or consents and above one hundred Commoner more have been imprisoned by them or fined this very Session of Parliament for breach of Priviledge contempts or misdemeanours by the Lords alone without the Commons yet no demurrer nor exceptions were taken by them or the Commons to their Iurisdiction who applauded this their Justice in some of these cases From all these cleare confessions of the Commons themselves in Parliament and punctuall presidents in print in former late Parliaments and in this now sitting it is undeniable That the King and Lords joyntly and the Lords severally without the King have an indubitable right of Judicature without the Common● vested in them not only of Peers themselves but likewise of C●mmoners in all extraordinary cases of Treason Felony Trespasse and other Misdemeanors triable only in Parliament which hath been constantly acknowledged practised and submitted to without dispute much more then have they such a just and rightfull power in case of breach of their owne priviledges of d Cooke 4 Instit p. 15. which none are or can be Judges but themselves alone And to deny them such a power is to make the Highest Court of Iudicature in the Realme inferiour to the Kings Bench and all other Courts of Justice who have power to judge and try the persons and causes of Commoners and to commit and fine them for contempts and breaches of Priviledges as our e See Brooke and Ashes Tables Tit. Contempts Fines pur Contempt Imprisonment Law bookes resolve and every mans experience can testifie The Lords right of Judicature being thus fully evicted against the false and ignorant pretences of illiterate Sectaries altogether unacquainted with our Histories and Records of Parliament
at all because some of the Lords were not come by reason of foule weather shortnesse of warning or other publike imployments all their personall presence in Parliament being reputed necessary and expedient And 20. R. 2. N. 8. The Commons themselves in Parliament required the King to SEND FOR SUCH BISHOPS and LORDS WHO WERE ABSENT to come to the Parliament before they would consult of what the Chancellor propounded to them in the Kings name and behalfe to consider of To recite no more ancient Presidents in the Parliament of 2. Caroli the Earle of Arundell sitting in the Parliament being committed by the King to the Tower of London about his sonnes marriage May 25 1626. without the Houses privity and consent whereby their Priviledges were infringed and the House deprived of one of their Members presence thereupon the Houses of Peeres adjourned themselves on the 25 and 26. of May without doing any thing and upon the Kings refusall to release him they adjourned from May 26. till June 2. refusing to sit and so that Parliament disolved in discontent his imprisonment in this case being a breach of Priviledge contrary to Magna Charta And not long after the beginning of this Parliament upon the Kings accusation and impeachment of the Lord Kimbolton and the five Members of the Commons House * An Exact collection part 1. both Houses adjourned and sate not as Houses till they had received satisfaction and restitution of those Members as the Journals of both Houses manifest it being an high breach of their Priviledges contrary to the Great Charter If then the Kings bare not summoning of some Peares to Parliament who ought to sit there by their right of Perage or impeaching or imprisoning any Peere unjustly to disable them to sit personally in Parliament be a breach of the fundamentall Lawes of the Realme and of Magna Charta it selfe confirmed in above 40. succeeding Parliaments then the Lords right to sit vote and Judge in Parliament is as firme and indisputable as Magna Charta can make it and consented to and confirmed by all the Commons people and Parliaments of England that ever consented to Magna Charta though they be not eligiable every Parliament by the freeholders people as Knights and Burgesses ought to be and to deny this birth-right and Priviledge of theirs is to deny Magna Charta it selfe and this present Parliaments Declarations and proceedings in the case of the Lord Kimbolton a member of the House of Peers Fifthly The ancient Treatise intituled * See Cooke ● Justit p. 12. for the Antiquity and for the Authority of this Treatise The manner of holding Parliaments in England in Edward the Confessors time before the Conquest rehearsed afterwards before William the Conqueror by the discreet men of the Kingdome and by himselfe approved and used in his time and in the times of his Successors Kings of England if the Title be true and the Treatise so ancient as many now take it to be determines thus of the Kings and Lords right to be personally present in all Parliaments The King IS bound by all meanes possible TO BE PRESENT AT THE PARLIAMENT unlesse he be detained or let there from by BODILY SICKNESSE and then he may keep his Chamber yet so THAT HELYE NOT WITHOUT THE MANOUR OR TOWNE WHERE THE PARLIAMENT IS HELD and then he ougth to send for twelve persons of the greatest and best of them that are summoned to the Parliament that is two Bishops two EARLES two BARONS two Knights of the Shire two Burgesses and two Citizens to looke upon his person to testifie and witnesse his estate and in their presence he ought to make a Commission and give Authority to the Archbishops of the Peace the steward of England and Cheife Justice that they joyntly and severally should begin the Parliament and continue the same in his name expresse mention being made in that Commission of the cause of his absence then which ought to suffice and admonish the OTHER NOBLES cheife men in the Parliament together with the evident testimony of the twelve Peers of theirs The reason is BECAVSE THERE WAS WONT TO BE A CRY OR MURMVR IN THE PARLIAMENT FOR THE KINGS ABSENCE BECAUSE HIS ABSENCE IS HURTFULL and DANGEROUS TO THE WHOLE COMMONALTY OF THE PARLIAMENT and KINGDOME WHEN THE KING SHALL BE ABSENT FROM HIS PARLIAMENT Neither indeed OUGHT OR MAY HE BE ABSENT BUT ONELY IN THE CASE AFORESAID After which it followes The Archbishops Bishops and other cheife of the Clergy ought to be summoned to come to the Parliament and Also EVERY EARLE and BARON and their PEERS OUGHT TO BE SUMMONED and COME TO THE PARLIAMENT c. Touching the beginning of the Parliament The Lord the King shall sit in the mi●st of the great bench and is bound to be present in the first and last day of Parliament And the Chancellors Treasurer and Barons of the Eschequer and justices were wont to record the defaults made in Parliament according to the order following In the third day of the Parliament the Barons of the Cinqueports shall be called and after wards the BARONS of England after them the EARLES Whereupon if the Barons of the Cinqueports be not come the Barony from whence they are shall be amerced at an hundred markes and an Earle at one hundred pounds After the same manner it must be done to those who are Peers to Earles and Barons After which it relates the manner of place of the Earles Barons and Peers in Parliament Then addes The Parliament may be held and OVGHT every day to begin at one of the clocke in the afternoone at which time THE KING IS TO BE PRESENT AT THE PARLIAMENT and ALL THE PEERS OF THE KINGDOME None of all the Peers of the Parliament MAY OR OUGHT TO DEPART alone from the Parliament unlesse he have obtained and that in full Parliament leave from the KING and of ALL HIS PEERS so to doe and that with all there be a remembrance kept in the Parliament roll of such leave and Liberty granted And if any of the Peers during the terme of the Parliament shal be sick or weake so as he is not able to come to the Parliament then he ought three dayes together send such as may excuse him to the Parliament or else two Peers must go and view him and if they finde him sicke then he may make a Proxy Of the Parliament the King is the Head the beginning and ending So this ancient Treatise The Statute of 5. R. 2. Parl. 2. ch 4. enacts by COMMAND of the King and ASSENT of the Prelates LORDS and COMMONS in Parliament That all and singular persons and Commonalties which from henceforth shall have the Summons of the Parliament shall come from henceforth to the Parliament in the manner AS THEY BE bound TO DOE and hath been ACCVSTOMED within the Realme of England OF OLD TIME And every person of the said Realme which from henceforth shall have the