all other lawfull Members both of the Lords and Commons House ought to enjoy the self same Protection Priviledge Freedome immunity and no wayes to be interrupted molested disturbed by any other Officers Subjects Persons or Members whatsoever from freely repairing to residing in or returning from our Parliaments much lesse to be forcibly secluded out of them by armed guards new oaths or popular tumults Neither may can ought the House of Commons alone nor any prevailing party in it to exclude eject any duly elected returned Member once admitted without any Legall accusation tryal cause at all nor yet for betraying of his trust or misdemeaning himself as a Member after his election nor for any real offence as a Member without and against the Kings and Lords concurrent Judgments and assents in whom alone the power of Iudicature resides in such as well as in all other causes as I have elsewhere evidenced by unanswerable Presidents and the rules of right reason he being summoned only by the Kings Writ and authority impowred trusted by his electors only as their peculiar Trustee Atturney not his fellow Knights Citizens Burgesses to do and assent to such things as shall be ordained by the King Nobles and Common Counsell of the Realme touching the weighty publike affairs of the King and Kingdoms and obliged antiently by Manucaptors and since by their Indentures of retorn and our Laws not to depart from the Parliament without the Kings special license under pein of his indignation and other penalties Therefore no more to be suspended secluded ejected imprisoned by his fellow-Commoners without the Kings and Lords concurrent Judgements and Assents than one Judge or Justice on the Bench can unjustice unjudge uncommission another one Trustee Executor or Attorny discharge his fellow Trustees Executors Attornies of their trusts one Grand-Jury man thrust another out of the panell without the Judges consent or one Common Counsel man of a City or Livery man of a Company disfranchise and discommon another without the consent or judgement of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City or Master and Wardens of the Company whereof they are Members Whatever exorbitant irregular practices have of late times been usurped by or presidents made in the Commons House to the contrarie almost to the total if not final subversion of all future Parliaments and their privileges It being a Maxim in Law and Reason Par in parem nonhabet Imperium multo minus Superioritatem especially in the Kings own Parliament and Supreme Court of Justice wherein himself and his Nobles only sit as supreme Iudges not the Commons as a distinct Court and independent Judicature of themselves as some would fancy them in their Utopian brains and practises much less can they â—eâ—â—ude vote down any Members of the House of Peers or the whole antient House of Lords or dishinherit them of their Birthrights as some furious Bedlam Members of a dismembred dissolved House of Commons have most insolently and injuriously without hearing trial against their own Acts Declarations Protestations Vowes Covenants Commissions Trusts attempted to intrude themselves into their places and Tribunals and make themselves more than Lords and Caesars not only over their Fellow-Commoners but our Kings Peers Parliaments and Kingdomes which they have trampled under their Papall feet and metamorphosed at their pleasures into sundry mishapen mutable unsetled new models to our apparent approaching ruine if God of his infinite mercy prevent it not by their reestablishment upon their ancient bases and foundations 20. That if the forcible seclusion or disturbance of any Lord or Member of the Lords House duly summoned who ought of right to sit vote in the Lords House be so great a breach of Priviledge Injury as I have evidenced then the forcible suppression seclusion of all the ancient Peers and House of Lords by any real or pretended Members of the late House of Commons contrary to the expresse Clauses Formes of all ancient Writs and the very writs in 16. Caroli without any legal jurisdiction hearing triall must needs be a greater breach of trust Priviledge Injustice in them fit to be redressed for the future peace Justice settlement of our distracted Nations and restoring our Parliaments to their pristine Splendour Honour ends uses for the redressing of all publick Grievances If any Republicans Army Officers New Grandees or others here object as some now do That it will be both perillous and inconvenient to the Subjects the House of Commons and its Members to restore the ancient Lords and House of Peers to their pristine Rights Priviledges Jurisdiction Judicature over them in that latitude I have asserted evidenced it by Histories and Records in my Plea for them without prescribing some new just bounds and regulations unto them by the Commons House I answer 1. That the Lords being the only original ancient Members of our Great Councils Parliaments many hundreds of years before any Knights Citizens Burgesses or House of Commons were called admitted to them by the King and House of Lords and receiving no power Judicature or Jurisdiction at all from the Commons but what they have of right enjoyed exercised in all precedent ages without the least complaint opposition or contradiction of the Commons in any former Parliaments before 17. Caroli The Commons have no more authority right reason â—urisdiction to limit or restrain this their ancient right Judicature Priviledge much lesse to abrogate then the Grand or Petty Jury have to limit regulate the Judges or Justices Commissions Authority on the Bench or the Tenants the Jurisdiction of their Lords Courts or every Committee of the Commons House the Excesses of the House it self or the Unparliamentary Iuncto which voted them down and engaged against them without the least colour of Jurisdiction Law reason hearing impeachment triall had to usurp such a transcendent power over them not to be paralelld in any age nor now approved by assenting to it 2ly That the old Lords and House of Peers in no cases ever exercised such an exorbitant arbitrary tyrannicall Jurisdiction Illegall power in all kinds as the Commons House and every of their Committees and Sub-Committees of Examinations Sequestrations Compositions Sale of Delinquents estates Crown Lands Obstructions Appeales Scandalous Ministers and High Courts of Iustice have done without the least Report to the House it self of their proceedings both over the King and his Posteritie the Peers of the Realme their fellow Members secluded secured imprisoned close imprisoned ejected exiled by them without any cause or hearing at all and their fellow Commoners of all sorts deprived of their Inheritances Estates Offices Liberties Callings Lives and the benefit of the Lawes themselves for not taking their new Oathes and Engagements contrary to Law and their former legall Oathes Leagues and Solemn Covenant and Protestation wâ—â—hout a legal Indictment or trial by a Jurie of their equalls or witnesses viva voce upon Oath since their slighting suppressing of the old
House of Lords who should have restrained reformed these their unparallelld extravagancies which I could prove by hundreds of sad Instances and have briefly hinted in my â—lea for the old Lords page 413. to 419. For which very reason they ought now to be restored being an excellent Bank and Screen between the Prince and People to assist each against any encroachments on the other and by just judgements to preserve that Law which ought to be the Rule between every one of the three and trusted with a Iudicatory power to this very end 3ly Some of those very Members of the late Commons House Army and Whitehall who would disseise them of their House Privileges Birthrights and antient Iurisdiction before they took upon them the Title of Lords or of the House of Lords as pretended Members of the Commons House a little before and since their votes against the old House of Lords as Committees of that House or Commissioners in their new â—rected High Courts of Iustice Members of the Counsil of State at White-Hall or Counsil of Army-Officers or Major Generals and Deputy Major Generals have acted a thousand times more exorbitantly arbitrarily tyrannically to the subversion of the Fundamental Laws Liberties properties Government Justice of the Nation oppressing improverishing vexing dishinheriting destroying enslaving of the Freemen of England than ever any old Lords or House of Lords or Kings of England in Parliament heretofore did in any age whatsoever Witness their usurpations of a more than absolute Parliamentarie power to themselves by their own Votes Orâ—ers Declarations alone to alter new model over and over the whole frame of our Parliaments Laws and publike Government their electing Knights Citizens Burgesses for what they stiled a Parliament without the least privity or election of the people their dissolving declaring the long Parliament to be dissolved against an expresse Act of Parliament their repealing many old Lawes Acts Oathes enacting new Lawes contrary to them creating New Treasons and misprision of Treasons yea imposing heavy excessive New Taxes Customes Excises of all sorts on the three Nations not only in their private Westminster conventions but by their Armie and Whitehall Ordinances amounting to a large Folio Volume without any Parliament or legall Act of Parliament ordering them to be levyed by fines forfeitures sales of the refusers reall and personal esâ—ates imprisonments soldiers quartering and the like Injoysing All Courts of Iustice Iudges Iustices Sheriffs Officers of this Commonwealth Counsellors Attornies and other Persons to conform themselves accordingly without any opposition or dispute whatsoever and committing their very Counsel to the Tower as Traytors or Grand Delinquents only for arguing their Cases upon an Habeas Corpus in Westminster Hall according to Law and their Duties Their taking away the lives liberties or estates freeholds of thousands without any legall Triall or Indictment of their Peers their banishing confining imprisoning close imprisoning hundreds yea thousands at a time upon meer fears and jealousies and binding them and all their servants in excessive bonds with sureties their disfranchising Maiors Bailiffs Aldermen others in corporations enforcing divers to release their legall actions Judgements Executions and committing them at their pleasures till they did it against the expresse tenour not only of the Grand Charter Petition of Right and other Acts but the very letter of the late Act For preventing of Inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliaments The Acts for the 3. first subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage The Act for regulating the Privy Counsell For declaring unlawfull and void the late proceedings touching Ship-mony and other Acts passed by some of their own Votes in the Parliament of 16. and 17. Caroli of which or the like exorbitances no ancient Peers or House of Lords were ever yet guilty And if some of those persons who would usurp or abridg the old Lords power have been so arbitrarie tyrannical in all kinds before they claimed the Title of Lords or House of Lords how exorbitant in all probability are they likely to grow in a short time having Command in the Armie and other Courts if they should be established in their new Lordly Power and the old House of Lords put by who should correct restrain these their unparalelld Excesses for the whole Nations ease and benefit 4. If these new Peers be in truth Law Herauldry no true or real Lords Barons Peers of the Realm by their Writs of Summons for the premised reasons but meerly imaginary Titular and false ones like those created by the usurper King Stephen then the House of Commons can neither in Law nor verity agree or assent to any thing that shall be ordained by them according to the tenour of the Writs of Summons nor establish any settlement that can be reputed legal or obligatory to Posteritie in a Parliamentary Way if the ancient reall Peers and legal House of Lords be set aside and disowned And therefore they must of necessity own close with them alone and remit them to their old hereditary right else they can never make nor expect any real lasting settlement of our distracted State and Government and all they vote will quickly prove abortive illegitimate as the late New-models Instruments and Advices have done 5ly The setting aside the ancient Lords and House of Peers and establishing their very Disseisors in their places as the only future Lords and House of Peers will both justifie all their recited Exorbitances Excesses Violences Tyrannical proceedings against the old Lords their Fellow Commons others transcending Straffords Caterburies and the worst old Counsel-Table Lords excesses by many degrees ratifie yea reward crown them with the highest publick Honour Trust Power they are capable of even in Parliaments themselves Which will not onlie probably excite encourage others in succeeding times to the like dangerous extravagancies excesses to the publick prejudice and desolation but animate them when setled in their new Lordly Authority to pursue their former practises and turn greater Tyrants Oppressors in all kinds then formerly they have been to the utter enslaving of our Nations and embroyling them in new Tumults Yea how farre it may tend to the Total and Final suppression of the Commons House it self in succeeding times is worthy sad and serious consideration For if the Commons House shall not onlie silently connive at but openly approve and assent to the dissolving suppressing of the old Lords and their House by pretext of former illegall unrighteous Votes meer nullities by all Lawes made by a Fragment of a dissolved House of Commons sitting under a force not having the least Jurisdiction or power of Judicature over them against all rules of Justice the very fundamental Lawes of the Land the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of Parliament Prescription time out of mind all old late Acts Records of Parl. their very Solemn League Covenant Protestation and hundreds of late Declarations and Remonstrances to the contrary They may justly
of many Physicians and spent all that she had upon them even all her living and yet was nothing better but rather worse and could not be heated by any of them This woman is a true Embleâ— of England lyâ—â—g for so many years or more siâ—k of a bloudy issue under the hands of several Physicians under the Name and Disguise of Parliaments of several Forms and Modells who with their armed supporters have put her to infinite expences sufferings and exhausted all she hath and yet they have neither healed nor amended her in any kinde but left her in a â—arr worse condition then they found her for want of healing skil or medicins applying nothing but new corrosives causticks of steel instead of astringents and incarâ—natives to her bleeding wounds yea those very Physicians are now so full of manâ—fold infirmities distempers if not gross corruptions that we may surely say unto them this Proverb PHYSICIAN HEAL THY SELF before we can possibly expect any publike healing from them either in Church or State If these few leaves through Gods blessing on them shall become like to the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of these Physicians our Nations one prime end of their publication I shall bless God for it and deem my cost and labour well bestowed however this shall be my comfort In magnis et voluisse sat est Etiam non assecutis voluisse abunde pulchrum atque magnisicum est in such a case as this One chief means to make our future Parliaments beneficial medicinal and restorative to our Nation is to restore them to their antient freedom and secure them and their Members from all future force and violence which may be easily effected 1. By removing all armed Forces and Souldiers a good distance from the places where they shall be kept and prohibiting them under severest penalties not to approach near unto them during their Sessions 2ly By defending the wearing of any offensive arms or weapons in or near the Cities where the Parliaments convene 3ly By inhibiting all tumultuous popular addresses to them under colour of Petitions or otherwise and ordering that no Petitions or Addresses shal be tendred unto them from any County City Corporation or Fraternity upon any occasion by above 12. grave selected persons at most under pain of being questioned and proceeded against as tumultuous 4ly By declaring and enacting all Persons whatsoever to be actual Traytors and Enemies to the Nation as they are by Law and to be effectually proceeded against as such who shall offer any force violence assault to the Parliament or any Member or Members thereof during their attending therein or in going to or returning from the same or violently interrupt their proceedingâ— And that all who shall hereafter be peccant in this kind their heirs males shall be for ever hereafter disabled to sit in Parliament or bear any Office whatsoever Civil or military or to purchase or re-ceive any Lands Chattels Gift Legacy or bequest whatsoever or to enjoy the privileges of an English Freeman My chief design in this other late publications hath been to inform the English Nation of the true Original constitution uses ends Rights Privileges Judicarure and Proceedings of the Great Councils and Parliaments held within our Island from its original plantation by the Britons till the Normans ruling in it which I have already published in a Brief Chrâ—nological manner and from thence to the end of King Edward the 4th his reign which I have likewiâ—e in a good measure accomplished in my late inlarged Plea for the Lords and House of Peers wherein I have given the Readers a large account of most of the Great Councils held under King Henry the 1. and 2. proving there were no Knights Citizens or Burgesses summoned to them in their reigns as they have been of later times which may be further evidenced by these Historical Passages and Great Councils which I there omitted In the year of Christ 1109. in a Great Council of the Archbishops Bishops Abbots ET PRINCIPVM totius Regni there was this Canon made amongst others Vt nullus Archidiaconus Presbyter Diaconus Canonicus uxorem ducat vel ductam retineat c. Vt Presbyter quamdiu illicitam conversationem mulieris habuerit non sit legalis nec missam celebret nec si celebraverit ejus miss a audiatur After Anselms banishment very many Priests reteining or resuming their wives contrary to these Decrees King Henry the 1. thereupon caused his Ministers to indict and prosecute many Priests for this contempt only to extort monies from them but their fines not amounting to so great a summ as the King expected there was a general Sentence given against all the Priests as well innocent as nocent and a fine set upon every Parish Church which the Priest thereof was to redeem which some Priests having no money and others refusing to pay because it was an unjust innovation they were thereupon contumeliously seised upon by force imprisoned and tortured and when neer 200 of them in their Surplisses and Priests habits came all together to the Kings place in London barefoot imploring him with one voice to take pity on them Ille ad preces â—orum nulla miseratione permotus est vel saltem quavis eos sicut hominâ—s omnis religionis expertes responsi honestate dignatus suis obtutibus festine abegi praecepit whereupon they repaired to the Queen who only wept in pity towards them but could not relieve them Anselm upon the other Bishops Letter to him writ an Epistle to the King touching this proceeding of his as an innovation Quod hactenus inauditum et inusitatum est in Ecclesia Dei de ullo Rege et de aliquo Principe Noâ— enim pertinet secundum legem Dei hujusmodi culpam vindicare â—isi ad singulos Episcopos per suas parochias â—ut si ipsi Episcopi in hoc negligentes fuerint ad Archiepiscopum Primatem c. Adding Dico enim vobis quod valde timere debetis quod pecunia taliter accepta ut taceam quantum noceat animae non tamen cum expendetur adjuvabit terrena negotiâ— quantum postea perturbabit To which the King returned this answer Henricus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum Anselmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariae salutem In die Sancti Gregorii apud Tunebrigge mihi fuerunt delatae literae repostae sub tuo sigillo Et per â—a mihi mandasti talia unde multum miror quia quod feci credo me per te fecisse Et in die Ascensionis Domini HABEBO OMNES BARONES MEOS without Knights Citizens or Burgesses MECUM CONGREGATOS PER CONSILIUM EORUM ita convenienter tibi respondebo quod cum tecum loquar non credo te me inde blasphematurum Et quicquid fiat alias scito quod tui quicquid ipsi fecerint per omnes terras tuas in pace permanserint
d. 25. 18 p. 1. d. 14. 20 p. 2. d. 22. 21 p. 2. d. 9. 22 p. 1. d. 32. p. 2. d. 7. E. 3. William la Zousche de Castro Rici 19 d. 27. E. 2. 1 p. 2. d. 11. 16 2 d. 31 E 3. William la Zousche de Mortuomari Mortymer 2 d. 15. 23 3 d. 19 4 d. 13. 28. 32. 41 5 d. 7. 25. p. 2. d. 7 6 d. 4. 9. 19. 36 7 p. 2. d. 3 8 d. 18 9 d. 8 10 d. 1. 5. E. 3. William la Zouche de Asheby 9 d. 28. E. 3. William la Zousche de Haringworth Iunior 23 p. 1. d. 23 24 p. 2. d. 3 25 p. 1. d. 5 26 d. 14. 27 d. 12 28 d. 26 29 d. 7 8 31 d. 2. 21 32 d. 14 34. d. 4 35 d. 30 36 d. 42 37 d. 22 38 d. 3 39. d. 2 42 d. 22 43 d. 24 44 d. 1 46 d. 9 47 d. 13 49 d. 4. 6 50 p. 2. d. 6. E. 3. 1 d. 37 2 d. 13. 29 3 d. 32 4 d. 32 5 d. 40 6 d. 37 7 d 10. 37 8 d. 35 9 d. 45. 10 d. 42 11 d. 13. 37 12 d. 42 13 d. 5 14 d. 42 15 d. 37 16 d. 23 17 d. 30 18 d. 23 20 p. 1. d. 15 R. 2. William la Zouche de Haringworth 2 p. 1. d. 3 3 d. 17 5 p. 1. d. 18. p. 2. d. 4. 7 d. 30 8 d. 2 11 d. 32 12 d. 2 14 d. 22 H. 4. 1 d. 9. 37 2 d. 16 H. 5. William la Zouche de Haringworth 4 d. 15 5 d. 4 Chivaler 7 d. 2 9 d. 18 10 d. 10 13 d. 2 15 d. 18 18 d. 33 20 d. 27 25 d. 24 27 d. 24 28 d. 26 29 d. 41 31 d. 36 33 d. 36 38 d. 30. H. 6. 1 d. 35. 2 d. 3 6 d. 1. E. 4. As these last Alphabeticall Chronologicall Tables will be very usefull to all Heraulds and the ancient Nobility of the Realme and adde much luster to Mr. Brookes his Catalogue of Nobilitie Mr. Vincent his Discovery of the Errours therein Iames York his Union of Honours William Martyn his succession of the Nobility of England at the end of his History and other Writers of our Nobility who were originally hereditary for the major part so by the serious perusal of the later of them you may clearly discern beyond all contradiction 1. That there are at least 98. Laymen in the later Catalogue summoned only once and no more hui once by our Kings at sundry times to several Parliaments and Great Councels of the Realm by the self same general Writs of Summons as the Earles Peers and Barons of the land were summoned and enrolled amongst them in the Lists of Summons and Resummons and specially commanded by their Writs Quod personaliter intersitis Nobiscum ac cum Praelatis caeteris Magnatibus Proceribus dicti Regni nostâ—i super negotiis praedictis tractaturi Vestrumque Consilium impensuri c. yet neither themselves nor any of their Name or Posterity were ever summoned afterwards to any other Parliament or Great Councill for ought appears by the Clause Rolls and Lists of persons summoned 2. That there are at least 50. others of them thuâ— summoned by general Writs and listed amongst the names of the temporal Lords Barons and Great men some of them only to 2. others of them to 3. others to 4. others to 5. or 6. Parliaments and great Councils at several times yet not one of them or their Progenie afterwards called by Writ to any succeeding Parliaments or Councils 3. Thâ—t Iohn ap Adam was called by Writ to no lesse then 16. successive Parliaments and Grand Councils of the Realme under King Ed. 1. 2. and 3. Roger de Banent to 22. under Ed. 2. and 3. Guido de Bryan to 37. under E. 3. and R. 2. Iohn de Claverings to 45. under E. 1. 2. and 3. Philip de Columbariis to 44. under E. 2. and 3. Sir William Herne to 8. under E. 3. R. 2. and H. 4. as likewise Walter de Manny Iohn de la Mare Nicholas de Meyvill Thomas de Musgrave Iohn Somery Henry de Teyez Thomas Vhtred and some others summoned by general Writs to sundry Parliaments and Councils by one or more of our Kings yet they and their Posterities of the same name were afterwards totally omitted out of the Writs and lists of Summons and never summoned again in succeeding times 4. That Gilbert and William de Acton Richard and William de Aldeburge Gilbert and William de Aton perchance the same with Acton Robert and William de Felton John Richard and Matthew Fitz Iohn Ralph and Robert de Grendon Robert and Alexander de Hilton Adam and Thomas de Novo Mercato Hugh and Hugh de Sancto Phileberto Giles and Richard de Playez Miles and Nicholas de Stapleton William and Theobald Trussell William and John Tuchet to omit others were successively summoned to one two or three Parliaments Great Councils not immediately succeeding each other but some good distance of years and time after the other during which many Parliaments and Councils intervened to which none of them were called by Writ and then totally omitted none of their name or posteritie for ought appeares being ever summoned again as the last Table visibly demonstrates From which 4. particulars I conceive it experimentally evident beyond dispute That as the Kings Writs to his Counsell Justices and other Assistants mentioned in the next Section did neither constitute them nor their issues Peers or Barons of the Realm nor Assistants for life though they sat advised with the King Lords upon all weighty occasions in the Lords House and as the elections retornes of Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports by the Kings Writs of summons to Parliaments and their sitting voting in the Commons House in one or more Parliaments for which they are elected though seconded with the Kings Writs for levying their expences after the Parliaments ended do neither create them Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports nor Members of the Commons House during their own lives much lesse their issue Males in succession after them but only during the session and continuance of these particular Parliaments and Councils for which they are elected and retorned which being once determined they presently ceased to be Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons in any succeeding Parliaments or Councils unlesse newly elected and retorned to serve in them by the Kings new Writs as our Law books and experience resolve so the Kings generall Writs of summons directed to Knights Gentlemen and other Laicks who held not by Barony and are no Lords nor Barons by special creations or Descent from their Ancestors to treat with the King and the rest of the Lords and Great men in the Lords House and their sitting therein once twice or oftener by Vertue of such Writs doth in truth and reality neither make nor create themselves nor their heires Males after them in point
one general Councill in 32 E. 3. d. 14. 5ly That after King Edward the 3d. his reigne there is not one president of any Archbishop Bishop Abbot Prior or religious persons summoned to any Parliament to my remembrance but only of those who held by Barony and were constantly summoned as Spiritual Peers to all our Parliaments And very few Presidents if any of a Knight Gentleman or other Layman whatsoever summoned by any general Writs to the Lords House to treat and consult together with them unlesse they were ancient Earles Lords or Barons of the Realm or newly created such by special Patents before their summons or by special clauses of creation in the Wriâ—s by which they were summoned as all the lists of summons in the Clause Rolls the precedent Table the Statutes of 5 R. 2. Stat. 2. c. 4. 31 H. 8. c 10. and Mr. Martyns Catalogue of them at the end of his History clearly manifest 6ly That in my best observation there is no president from 49 H. 3. till the last Parliament of King Charles nor in any age before where any of the ancient Nobility Peers Lords or Barons of the Realme at least any considerable number of them unlesse such who were actually outlawed or attainted of High Treason or absent in forreign parts or in actual service in the Wars or under age were omitted out of the Writs of summous or secluded from sitting in the Lords House in any Parliament by force or frand unless by Morâ—imer in the Parliament at Salisbury An. 2. E. 3. and in 21 R. 2. nor of others who were no real Lords Peers by Patent Tenure or other legal creation summoned to the Lords House out of England much lesse out of Scotland and Ireland to supplant them or supply their places under any name notion or pretext whatsoever Neither were they or any of them secluded disinherited of their seats Votes Peerage in Parliament without or before the least legal hearing trial impeachment or conviction whatsoever of any capital crime which might forâ—eit their Peerage against all the Great Charters Statutes Records Declarations Orders Ordinances Votes Protestations Oathts Covenants mentioned in my Plea for the Lords and House of Peers which ratifie and perpetuate this their Birthright to them and their Posterities and the very law of all Nations 6ly It is very observable that both Houses of Parliament in their Propositions sent to King Charles at their last Treaty with him in the Isle of Weight to prevent the creation and introduction of any New Lords into future Parliaments to the prejudice seclusion or overvoting of the Ancient Nobility or Commons house did amongst other things propound That BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT all LORDS and PEERS made by the King since Edward Lord Littleton deserted the Parliament and carried away the Great Seal the 21. of May 1642. should be unlorded unpeered set by and their Titles of Honour Patents revoked declared null and void to all intents and never hereafter put in use And that NO PEER WHICH SHOULD BE HEREAFTER MADE BY THE KING HIS HEIRES OR SUCCESSORS who have onely and solely a just legal power to create them and none else as they hereby declare SHALL SIT IN THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND WITHOUT CONSENT OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Which the King then fully and freely consented to without any limitation or exception whatsoever Since which Proposition of both Houses and concession by the King how any person or persons who assented to or approved thereof in any kind as reasonable or beneficial to the publick without any special Patent or creation from the King his heires or successors and without the consent of the House of Lords and ancient Peers of the Realme the only proper members of Iudges in it of the Commons House yea against both their consents and approbations can justly by any other authority Patent Writ or instrument whatsoever assume unto themselves the Titles of Lords or Barons of the Realme or of the Lords House it self to the disseasing disinheriting suppressing of the ancient undoubted Peers and House of Lords Or how any who have Voted down declared against and abolished the Lords and Lords House in sundry printed Papers as Uselesse Dangerous Inconvenient Oppressive to the People obstructive to the Proceedings in Parliament and the like and afterwards by several Votes and printed New Knacks took and subscribed themselves and prescribed to all others under severest penalties a publick Engagement To be â—rue and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England as it was then established as they thought by themselves though the event soon after proved the contrary Without a King or House of Lords can or dare become this very Selfsame Vselesse dangerous oppressive obstructive grievance c. themselves and against their own Votes Declarations Acts Subscriptions Engagements stile or assert themselves to be either real Lords or an House of Lords without the greatest Praevarication Contradiction to and Apostacy from their own former Principles or how they can ever probably expect that either the ancient Lords or Commons of England should submit unto them as such let their own judgments consciences and reasons resolve them The rather because divers of the Earles Nobles made by King Stephen were stiled yea deposed as meer Imaginary false Earles and Lords Quosdam Imaginarios et Pseudo-Comites and both their Titles and Crown lands given them by Stephen though King de facto resumed by King Henry the 2. right heir to the crown because Stephen was an Usurper Chartae Invasoris praejudicium legitimo Principi minime facere deberent as the Chronicle of Normandy the Book of the Abby of Waverly Mr. Selden out of them Gulielmus Neubrigensis and Chronicle of Bromton Col. 1046. inform us Whose President may justly deterre them from any unjust disseisin of the ancient Lords and setting themselves in their Places And thus much for my Observations on and from the Writs in this second Section SECTION 3. Of Writs of Summons to the Kings Counsil and other Ordinary Assistants to the Lords in Parliaments and Parliamentary Councils with annotations on them THe next Writs of Summons after those to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords entred in the antient Clause Rolls are those to the Kings Counsil different only in one or two Clauses from the former in which else they usually accorded These persons commonly summoned to Parliaments as the Kings Counsil by distinct writs from the Lords as ordinary Assistants both to the King and them in all causes controversies Questions of Moment were mostly the Kings Great Officers as well Clergymen as Secular persons who were no Lords nor Barons of the Realm as namely his Treasurer Chancellor of the Eschequer Judges of his Courts at Westminster Justices in Eyre Iustices assignes Barons of his Eschequer Clerks Secretaries of his Counsil and sometimes his Serjeants at Law with such other Officers and Persons whom our Kings thought meâ—â—o summon The
That this Oath was made by unanimous consent of the Queen Lords and Commons in Parliament 2. That it was five years a probationer and approved ratified by two successive Parliaments before it was imposed upon any Members and not actually administred to any till the Parliament of 8. Elizabeth 3. That it was imposed onely upon the Members of the Commons House not upon any temporal Lords or Barons of the Realm 4. That the principal end of prescribing it was to abolish the Popes usurped supremacy and prevent his and his instruments Traiterous attempts against the Queens person Crown Kingdome discover persons popishly affected and seclude them from sitting or voting in the Commons House if elected returned unless they should first take this Oath Not to debar or exclude any real Protestants when duly elected from entring into the Parliament house to discharge their trusts and duties 5. That it appoints no Officers or armed Guards forcibly to seclude any Knight Citizen Burgess or Baron of the Ports till hee hath openly taken and pronounced this Oath but onely layes 2 particular inhibition upon every such Member himself not to enter the House without taking it under the disabilities and penalties therein mentioned leaving every Member a liberty to seclude himself in case hee were unsatisfied or could not in conscience or prudence take this Oath but authorizing none else to keep him perforce out of the House if hee had a mind to rush into it without taking it After this the Parâ—iament of 3. Iacobi c. 4. upon the detection and prevention of the inâ—ernal Gunpowder Treason of the Pope Iesuites and Papists to blow up the King Queen Prince Lords Commons and Parliament when all assembled together in the Lords House November 5 Anno 1605. by unanimous consent of the three Estates made and prescribed a New Oath of Allegianoe to all persons except Péers of the Realm who actually were or should be suspected to be Papists for their better discovery and conviction without imposing it upon any Members of either House Which Oath many Papists oppugning with false and unsound Arguments though tending onely to the declaration of such duty as every true well-affected subject not onely by his bond of Allegiance but also by the commandement of Almighty God ought to bear to the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors Thereupon the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of 7. Iacobs when this Oath had been approved four years space not onely enacted ch 2. that every person who should henceforth be naturalized or restored in blood should first take this oath but to shew their great approbation thereof humbly prostrating themselves at his Majesties feet did earnestly beseech him that the same Oath might be administred to all his Subjects what soever And thereupon it was enacted ch 6. That all and every Knights Citizens Burgeâ—â—es and Barons of the Five-Ports of the Commons House of Parliament â—before hee or they shall be permitted to eâ—ter the said House shall make take and renew the said corporal Oath upon the Evangelists before the Lord Steward for the time being or his Deputy or Deputies without imposing any disability or penalty or appointing any Officers forcibly to seclude those from entring who refused it Since these recited Acts all Members of the Commons House have constantly taken these two Oaths voluntarily without coercion or forcible seclusion before they entred or sate as Members in the House The last Parliament of 16. Caroli in their first Act for preventing the inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliaments enacted That all and every the Members that shall be elected to serve in any Parliament hereafter to be assembled by virtue of this Act shall assemble and enter into the Commons House of Parliament and shall enter into the same and shall have voices in Parliament before and without the taking of the several Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance or either of them any Law or Statute to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Provided alwaies that if the Kings Majesty his Heirs or Successors shall at any time during any Parliament hereafter to be assembled by vertue of this Act award or direct any Commission to any person or persons whatsoever to take or receive the said Oaths of all or any Members of the Commons House of Parliament and any Members of the House being duly required thereunto shall refuse or neglect to take and pronounce the same that from thenceforth such person so refusing or neglecting shall bee deemed no Member of that House nor shall have any voice therein and shall suffer such pains and penalties as if hee had presumed to sit in the same House without Election return or authority These Statutes being all in their full force never legally repealed authorizing no Officers nor Souldiers whatsoever forcibly to seclude or punish any Member of the Commons House for not taking both or either of these two Legal Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance ratified by so many indubitable Parliaments one after another and backed by the solemn League Covenant and Protestation it is neither in the power of the King himself or his Counsil nor of the House of Lords or any other persons whatsoever much less of the Commons House alone or any prevailing party in it who never in any age had the least Legal right or authority to administer an Oath in any case to any witness or person whatsoever much less to impose any New Oaths upon their fellow-Members sitting with them or secluded by them and on all succeeding Members of that House in future Parliaments to enforce any New Oath or Engagement whatsoever inconsistent with or repugnant to these two Legal Parliamentary Oaths or to suspend exclude or eject any Knight Citizen Burgess or Baron of the Ports duly elected and returned from sitting or voting with them in the Commons House for refusing such new Ingagement or Oath it being directly contrary not only to the Freedome Priviledge of our English Parliaments Laws Liberties but to the very letter of the Petition of Right ratified by K. Charles himself which complained of and provides against the administring of any Oath not warranted by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and enacts That no Man hereafter shall be called to take such Oath as being repugnant to their Rights Liberties the Laws and Statutes of the Land much less then no Members of Parliament enforced by their fellow-Members to take such an Oath or else be suspended secluded the House of Commons that former proceedings of this kind in the case of Loanes wherein such an oath was prescribed exacted should not be drawn hereafter into consequence or example Yea contrary to the House of Commons Remonstrants of the State of the Kingdome 15. Decemb. 1641. who therein charge the Kings evil Counsellors That New Oaths have been enforced upon the Subjects against Law and new Iudicatures erected without Law which some who thus remonstrated have
only Basis whereon Parliaments are founded by which they are supported directed as well as convened and by my usefull Observations on them more compleatly to supply the 5. deâ—ect than any of the former so farr as my present leisure and ability will extend without supplies from others wherein I have with no little pains and diligence given you a most exact and faithfull Account of all the Writs of Summons to Parliaments Great Councils and most Convocations in England extant in the Clause Rolls and Records of the Tower from the 5. year of King Iohn till the 23. of Edward the 4th that I have hitherto met with upon my best search after them digested into several Sections in a Chronological method with usefull Observations on them Wherein you have a compendious yet full and satisfactory Account of all the several Forms and Varieties of writs of Summons during all this tract of time issued to Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Masters of Religious Orders and all Spiritual Lords to the Prince of Wales Forein Kings Dukes Earls Marquesses Vicounts Barons Temporal Lords and Great men to the Kings Counsil Judges and other Assistants to the House of Lords the Sheriffs of Counties and particular Corporations made Counties for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses to serve in Parliament and to the Constable of Dover Castle Warden of the Cinque-ports and Ports themselves for electing Barons of those Ports with the particular Rolls membranaes dorses wherein every of these summons are recorded Together with a general Account in gross summâ— how many Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Great men and Assistants of the Kings Counsil were summoned to every of these Parliaments and Great Councils 4 most usefull acurate short Alphabetical Chronological â—ables inserted into my Observations on the 3. first Sections of these Different writs 1. Of the Names of all the Abbots Priors Masters of Religious Orders and other Clergymen except Bishops summoned to any Parliament or Great Council from 49 H. 3. till 23 E. 4. with the years rolls dorses in each Kings reign wherein you shall find them summoned and how oft any of them were summoned and consequently when omitted out of the lists of summons 2ly Of the Names of all the Dukes Earls Marquesses and Princes of Wales 3ly Of all the Temporal Viscounts Lords Barons Peers and Great men 4ly Of all the Kings Counsil Judges Justices and other Great Officers summoned as Assistants to the Lords in every Parliament and Great Council held in England from 49 H. 3. to 23 E. 4. with the particular Roll year dorse in every Kings reign wherein you may find their names and summons entred and when and how oft any of them or their posterity were thus summoned Which Tables as they were very painfull and troublesom to me exactly to collect being inforced to transcribe most of them three times over before I could digest them into that form as here you find them consisting of very many figures which I examined near five times over to prevent mistakes in any of them so being thus compleated will be the most usefull and delightfull Kalender to all Antiquaries Heraulds Lawâ—ers Noblemen Gentlemen and others delighting in Antiquities or Pedegrees ever yet communicated to the English Nation rectifying all those mistakes in names supplying those manifold defects in my Table of this nature to the Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower If any Noblemen Lawyers Gentlemen or others would find out and know in a moment when or how often or in what Roll and dorse any of their Ancestors Family Name were summoned to any Parliament or Great Council or when or how often any Abbot or Prior whose lands they or their Clients now enjoy were summoned to Parliaments or of what Order they were these Tables compared with the printed Lists before them will presently resolve them better than all the Tables and Kalendars to the Records in the Tower which are very defective and if they have cause to make use of the Records upon any occasion these Tables will punctually direct them both to the Number Roll and Dorse too wherein they are recorded without further search So as I may conclude them to be greatly beneficial as well to the Keepers of those Records as to all those who shall have future occasion to make use of them in any kind For the extraordinary writs of summons and others here published at large I dare averr that most of the Nobility Gentry Lawyers and Parliament men of the English Nation never so much as once saw or heard of most of them before this publication and those few Antiquaries Lawyers Gentlemen who have gottenauy transcripts and Collections of the writs of summons in the Tower shall meet with many memorable rare writs in this Abridgement which are totally omitted out of their Folio Volumes collected to their hands by others which I have here supplied by my own industry and likewise digested into method all those large Collâ—ctions of writs which I have yet seen being both defective confused fraught with a tedious repetition of those names of Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Lords Barons which I have contracted into four short Tables in an orderly method So as I may justly stile this Register Kalendar and Survey a rich Cabinet and Compendious Treasury of the chiefest and most precious Parliamentary Iewels Rarities Records ever yet presented to the world in print As for my Observations on and Collections from these writs I dare affirm without vain-glory they are for the most part such as were never yet known nor communicated to the world and will be of excellent use not only for the searching but understanding of Records and of the true constitution proceedings Privileges Affairs Ends of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England and duties of their respective Members wherein I have discovered refuted many oversights and mistakes in Sir Edward Cook and other pretended Antiquaries who have written of our English Parliaments and given clearer evidences of the original beginning use of the name Parliament in England of the Authority Power use of the Kings Counsil Iudges in Parliaments of the Kings general writs of Summons to Temporal as well as Spiritual persons who held not by Barony not making themselves nor their Successors nor posterities Lords or Barons and of sundry other materiall particulars relating to the Freedom Fulness Summons Affairs Proceedings of our Parliaments than any hitherto have done out of an unfeigned desire of communicating more knowledg to the present succeeding Generations touching our Parliaments and their affairs than former times have been publikely acquainted with that thereby I might restore our Parliaments to their primitive institution use splendor freedom Honor that so theâ— may be made medicinal Restoratives Blessing not Grievances or Diseases to our 〈◊〉 Church and State or Physicians of no value We read of a woman in the Gospel which had aâ— issue of bloud for 12 years and had suffâ—ed many thiâ—gs
to the Sheriffs hands I shall adde this memorable exposition of the Statute of Magna Charta c. 35. made by the King and greater part of the Bishops Earls and Barons of the Realm without the Commons touching the holding of Hundred Courts Wapentakes Court Leets omitted by Sir Edward Cook in his Commentary thereon which it better explains than his Annotations upon it Claus. 18. H. 3. m. 10. Rex Vic. Linc. salutem Quia audivimus quod tu Ballivi tui Ballivi aliorum qui Hundredum habent in Comitatu tuo non intelligitis qualiter Hundreda Wapentake teneri debeant in Com. tuo postquam concessimus omnibus de Regno nostro Libertates in cartis nostris quas indo fecimus dum fâ—imus infra aetatem Nos eandem Caâ—â—am nuper legi fecimus in praesentia Dom. CANIUAR ARCHIEP MAJORIS SANIORIS PARTIS OMNIUM EPISCOPORUM COMITUM ET BARONUM TO TIUS REGNI NOSTRI UT CORAM EIS ET PER EOS EXPONERETUR haec clausula contenta in Carta nostra de Libertatibus viz. Quod nullus Vicecomes vel Ballivus faciat Turnum suum per Hundredum nisi â—is in anno non nisi loco debito consueto viz. semel post Pascham iterum post festum sancti Michaelis Ita scilicet quod qui libet habeat â—ibertates suas quas habuit habere consuevit tempore H. Regis avi nostri vel quas postea perquisivit Unde à multis ibi dictum suit quod tâ—â—pore H. Regis avi nostri tam Hundreda et Wapentac quam curiâ—â— Magnatum Angliae solebant teneri de Quindena in Quindenam Et licet multum placeret communi utilitati totius regni indempnitati pauperum providere quia tamen illi duo Turnii plene non sufficient ad pacem regni nostri conservandam ad excessus tam divitibus quam pauperibus illatis corrigendos quae ad Hundredum pertinent De COMMVNI CONSILIO praedict Dom. CANTUAR OMNIUM praedict EPISCOPORUM COMITUM ET BARONUM ET ALIORUM ITA PROVISUM EST. Quod inter praedictos duos Turnos teneantur Hundredum Wapentakia etiam curiae Magnatum de Tribus septimanis in Tres septimanas ubi prius teneri solent de Quindena in Quindenam Ita tamen quod ad illa Hundred a VVapentakia Curias non fiat generalis summonitio siâ—ut ad Turnos praedictos set ad hujusmodi illa VVapentakia Curias convenient conquerentes adversarii sui illi qui sectas debent per quos teneantur placita fiant judicia nisi ita sit quod ad Hundreda illa VVapentakia fieri debeat Inquisitio de placitis Coronae sicut de morte hominis Thesauro invento hujusmodi ad quae inquirenda conveniant cum praedictis sectariis quatuor villatae proximae scilicet omnes de illis villis qui necessarii fuerint ad Inquisitiones illas faciendas Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod praedicta Hundreda VVapentakia Curias tam Nostras quam aliorum teneri facias de cetero secundum quod praedictum eâ—t de tribus sepeimanis in tres septimanas exceptis praedictis duobus Turnit qui de caetero teneantur secundum quod prius teneri solebant T. R. apud VVestm 11. Octobris I shall only adde this one Record more proving that matters concerning Truces were resolved by King H. 3. the Spiritual and Temporal Lords in Parliamentary Councils without any Knights Citizens or Burgesses Claus. 19. H. 3. m. 20. Rex Roberto de Langeton Archidiacono Cant. Abbati de sancta Radegunda saluteâ— Super sollicitudine diligentia laudabili simul laboribus sumptuosis quas circa negotium nostrum expediendum quod vobis injunximus apposuistis urrique vestrum copiosas referrimus gratiarum actiones vobis quidem magister S. praecipuas speciales utpote ei cujus fidelitatem prudentiam plurimum commendamus Sciatis autem quod CONGREGATIS apud VVestmon in octabis sancti Hillarii vener patribus G. Cantuar Archiepiscopo EPISCOPIS COMITIBUS ET ALIIS FIDELIBUS NOSTRIS to wit the Barons and Great men not Commons as the subsequent clause attests Post diligentem tractatum habitum CUM IPSIS DE NEGOTIO TREVGARVM inter Nos Regem Franciae aliis agendis nostris visum fuit iisdem fidelibus nostris quod nullo modo sine verecundia opprobrio nostris Insulam de Olerone 〈◊〉 potuimus Comiti Marchiae pro coÌ„sensu suo adhibendo ad treugas inter nos ineundas nec in co consilium Nobis praestare vel consentire voluerint Sic enim praeter verecundiam quam inde consequeremus ab omnibus quibus factum nostrum innotesceret teneremur et pro remissis et minus valentibus haberemur et etiam pessimum perniciosum exemplum aliis qui in casu consimili ad similia petenda per hoc moverentur Vnde si per dâ—centas libras annuas Treugis durantibus ad consensum Treugarum possitâ—idem Comes induci pro Insula praedicta sicut alias locutum suit bene placeret tam Nobis quam praedictis MAGNATIBVS NOSTRIS et ad hoc laborare velitis quia priori conditioni consentire non esset honestum vel expediens c. T. Rege apud Westm. 27. Januarii I shall trouble you with no more Presidents or Records of this nature by way of Preface to this first part of my Register Kalender and Survey of Parliamentary Writs In which I have presented you onely with the several Writs of Summons directed to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Kings Counsil their ordinary Assistants intermixed with some other Writs and several forms of Procurations in my Observations on them which relate wholly or principally to the House of Lords Convocations and Clergy amounting to a just vendible Volume The several forms varieties of Writs issued to Sheriffs of Counties Wardens or Officers of the Cinque-Ports Dukes of Lancaster their Lieutenants or Chancellors and Sheriffs of particular Boroughsâ—made â—made Counties within â—emselves for electing Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons of the Ports peculiar to the House of Commons with all sorts of Writs for proroguing continuing adjourning Parliaments or superseding them after summons to them upon extraordinary occasions relating equally to both Houses of Parliament and their Members together with some special Writs of Summons to the Kings Prelates Nobles Barons Great Officers and others of the Realms Lands of Scotland and Ireland to appear in at or before the Parliaments Great Councils Kings or Privy Counsil in England concerning the affairs or defence of Scotland and Ireland onely as likewise to particular Merchants Masters of Ships Forresters Lawyers learned men of both Universities and other Persons upon special occasions to attend the Parliament King Counsil with my particular Observations on them which I at first intended to have published in this Piece I shall if God send health life oportunity and incouragement by a
mercenary Guards and Soldiers for their defence hath been unexpectedly affronted assaulted forced dissipated yea destroyed by them and made their basest Slaves and Captives may learn to avoid all such extravagances and oversights in succeeding ages 22. It is observable and most evident by comparing the births of our Princes of Wales and Earls of Chester recorded in our Histories wiâ—h the dates of their first wâ—its of Summons to Parliamâ—ntâ— that Edward of Carnarvan the first Prince of Wales was first summoned by writ to Parliament when he was but 19. years old that Edward the eldest Son of King Edward the second as Earl of ChesteÌ„r was first summoned by writ to Parliament when he was scarce 9. years of age that Edward the black Prince of Wales was summoned when he was not 20. and Richard his Son Prince of Wales called by writ to Parliament when he was not full 9. years old The Kings eldest and youngest â—ons being usually summoned to Parliaments during their Minorities though others are seldom summoned till their full age even as King Henry the 6. rode triumphantly to and sate in State in Parliament in his Queen-mothers lap before he was full 12. months old 23. I observe that in Claus. 27 E. 1. d. 6. 16. Adomarus de Valencia was summoned and listed among the Earls without the Title of Earl annexed to his name being then as I conceive Earl of Pâ—mbroc and so stiled in succeeding Summons And in Claus. 50 E. 3. pars 2. d. 6. Thomas de Wodestoke Constabularius Angliae and Henry de Percy Marescallus Angliae are listed amongst the Earls without any Title of Earls yet in the next writ of Summons Claus. 1. R. 2. d. 31. 37. Thomas de Wodestoke is stiled Com de Buck et Constab. Angliae and Henry de Percy Com. Northumb. in the list of the Earls and therefore I apprehend they were Earls in 50 E. 3. as our Histories Heraulds report them though not so stiled â—n-the Roll of Summons 24. That the names of the Kings Counsil Justices and other Officers â—ummoned to Parliaments only as Assistants are sometimes inserted into the Eodem modo mandatum est and Confimiles literae next after the the Lords and Barons name without any space line or distinction between them sometimes with a lines distance or small space only from them sometimes they are distinguished from the Lords and Barons by the words Milites or Clâ—ricis Consilii Iâ—stâ—â—iar added in the Margin and a small space between them as in Claus. 5 E. 2. d. 17. Cl. 2 E. 1. and sometimes they are inâ—exmixed with the Lords and Barons names and listed amongst themâ— as in Claus. 8 E. 2. d. 35. Roger de Brabazon and 7 others of them areâ— named amongsâ—â—th Lords and Barons and so in Claus. 3 E. 3. d. 19. Claus. â— E. 3. p. 2. d. 7. In the Clause Roll of 25 E. 1. d. 25. the word Milites is inserted in the Margin over aâ—ainst the Names of the Judges and Kings Counsil in the Eodem modo and in Claus. 5 E. 2. d. 17. Clericis consilii Iusticiar is written in the Margin to distinguish them from the Lords and Barons but in no Rolls besides without the word Barones superadded to the Barons and Greatmen in the catalogue of their names 24. That although the word BARO and BARONES in the Clause Rolls of King Iohn Henry the 3dâ— Edward 1. 2. Histories Great Charters and Statutes in their reigns be frequently used applied to all the Temporal Lords of Parliament yet in all the Clause Rolls and Writs of Summons I have seen no particular persons amongst them are summoned by the Title of Barons but only the Barons of Greystok Graystoke or Craystoke and the Barons of Stafford In the Clause Rolls of Ed. 1 3 so of Rich. 2. H. 4. 5. and 6. writs are frequently issued Iohanni BARONI de Greystoke Willo BARONI de Greystoke Rado BARONI de Greystoke as they are sâ—iled in the Eodem modo yet in other writs lists rolls in the Eodem modo the direction to these very Barons is many times Iohanni de Craystoke or Greystoke Willo Rado de Greystoke without the addition of BARONI annexed to them which Title is totally omitted in all the Roâ—â—s of Edw. the 4th as the ensuing Alphabetical and Chronological Table with my Table to the Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower will more particularly inform you So in the Rolls of King E. 1. 3. mentioned in the following Table the directions in sundry writs in the â—odâ—m modo are Edmundo Rado BARONI de Stafford and in other writs to the one of them he is stiled only Rado de Stafford BARONI being omitted in his Title BARO being given â—o none for ought I can find in any lists of summons but to these 2. Barons of Greystoke and Stafford alone 25. That in my best observation â— the Title or Addition of MILES or CHIVALER was not given to any Temporal Lords or Barons in any writs or lists of Summons to Parliament before Claus. 49 E. 3. dorse 4. 6. 50 E. 3. pars 2. d. 6. wherein summons issued Willielmo le Morle Chivaler Willielmo de Aldeburgh Chivaler Iohanni de Well Chivaler Hugoni de Dacre Chivaler after which it grew more common under King Rich. the 2. Henry 4. and 5. when many of the Temporal Lords and Baâ—ons had this addition given them sooner or later those who wanted it in one two three four or more writs of Summons at first before they were Knighted receiving it in subsequent writs after they were Knighted After the beginning of King Henry the 6. and during the reign of Edw. the 4th there was scarce any Temporal Lord in the lists of summons but was stiled Chivaler or Miles being all genetally Knighted for their greater honour Of all the Temporal Lords I find onely one namely Tho. de la Ware constantly stiled MAGISTER Tho. de la Ware in all writs of summons to him from 23 R. 2. â—05 H. 6. as the enâ—uing Table will inform you the true and only reason whereof I apprehend to be this that before the temporal Dignity of a Lord or Baron descended to him he had been a Clergyman in sacred Orders this Title Magister being alwayes prefixed before the Names of all of the Kings Council who were Clergy-men in their summons to Parliament as Assistaâ—ts to the Lords House as the writs and Table in the next Section will inform youâ— not to distinguish him from the Lords who were Knights as some mistake because none of the other Lords who were not Knights had this Title Magister given to them but he alone Now whereas in the summons of 1 E. 4. Iohn de Audley is stiled Armiger I conceive it mistaken by the Clerks for Chlr. he being ever â—â—iled Chivaler not Armiger in the summons of 49 H. 6. d. 6. 2 E. 4. d. 3. 6 E. 4.
Burgensium levandis mentioned in the Modus tenendi Parlamentum though in no Records before Claus. 28. E. 1. it indeniably appears that this absurd ridiculous Modus so much magnified followed relied upon by Sir Edward Cook in sundry of his Books as a most ancient authentick Record both known and used in Edward the Confessors time For Certain rehearsed before William the Conqueror by the discreet men of the Realm and by him approved and used who kept a Parliament according to its Prescription which the Book of 21. E. 3. f. 60. hee cites to prove it directly contradicts After which King H. the 2. fitted and transcribed this Modus into Ireland in a Parchment Roll for the holding of Parliaments there Which no doubt hee did by the advice of his Iudges c. That this Modus was seen by the makers of Magna Charta Anno 9. H. 3. c. 2. concerning the reducing of ancient Reliefs of intire Earldemos Baronies Knights fees according to such proportions as is contained in the Modus which they could not have done so punctually if they had not seen the same all which hee asserts with so much confidence as if hee had been an eye-witness thereof himself though most gross untruths is in verity a late spurious Imposture written long after the Reign of King Henry the 3. and Edward the 1. himself confessing that some part thereof is cited in he should have said taken out of the Parliament Roll of Anno 11. R. 2. and other Records of Parliament and not compiled before the latter end of King R. the 2. The word Parliamentum being not onely used many hundred times almost in every line throughout this Modus and not the words Concilium or Collequium but likewise intituling and denominating the very Treatise it self which grew not into such Vulgar use till after the Reign of King Henry the 3. under King Edward the 3. and succeeding Kings as appears by Thomas Walsingham Hist Angliae p. 5 8 12 13 17 25 28 32 34 35 36 37 38 40 41 42 44 45 46 70 71 76 77 78 81 82 83 88 96 105 110. Ypodigma Neustriae p. 68 69 71 72 73 82 83 87 88 98. Henry de Knyghton and was totally unknown to and not used by any Lawyers States-men Clerks Writers of our English Annals before the Reign of King Henry the 3. Which I much wonder Sir Edward Cook who writes that after diligent search hee could finde nothing against this Modus and demands Quis vituperaâ—it and some others of ou Antiquaries observed not being so palpable an Imposture as Mr. Selden Archbishop usher and others have discovered it to be Indeed I found one Roll in the Tower Anno 9. E. 2. stiled Modus Parliamenti which upon its first view I conceited might have some affinity with or at least give some colour to this forged Modus but upon perusal it proved onely a Roll of the Proceedings in the Parliament of 9. E. 2. farre different from this Modus and having no affinity with it yet peradventure the Author of this Imposture borrowed his Title from it Besides the late introduction of the word Parliamentum into England doth likewise discover Sir Edward Cooks other pretended ancient Manuscript of the Monastery of St. Edmonds which hee much cried up yet never would send judicious Sr. Henry Spelman to peruse perchance lest hee should detect its Novelty and Imposture to be of no such Antiquity as hee conceited it to be written in King Cnutes Reign or not long after it but after Henry the 3. his Reign since the words Parliamentum in suo publicâ— Parliamento tunc in eodem Parliamento personaliter existentibus were not grown in use till Edward the 1 2 3. and the whole clause hee prints out of it in his Preface to his 9. Reports prove it to be written under one of these three Kings Reigns if not after them as the Modus was By both which you may easily discern how little insight this great Lawyer had in Histories Antiquities or Records as to be cheated besotted with such Impostures and bottom his Discourses of our Parliaments upon such spurious rotten Foundations as these 3. That no Oath nor Engagement whatsoever was antiently imposed on the Members of the Lords or Commons House to debar or seclude any of them from sitting or voting much less were any of them suspended or forcibly kept out of either House till they had taken any new-invented Oath prescribed them onely by a prevailing party without a Legal Act of Parliament ratified both by the Kings Lords and Commons in an orderly manner such inforced seclusive Oaths being inconsistent both with the Freedome Priviledges Rights of old English Parliaments The Parliament of 1. Eliz. c. 1. upon the abolishing of Popery and restitution of the Protestant Religion having by unanimous consent of the three States made and prescribed an Oath of supremacy for the preservation of the ancient Rights and Royalties of the Crown of England and of the persons of the Queen her heirs and successors against the usurpations claimes practices of the Bishop of Rome and his confederates on all Arch-Bishops Bishops Arch-Deacons Clergy-men and temporal officers By reason of the manifold Plots and Treasons of the Pope and Papists against the Queens person Crown and Realm the Parliament of 5. Eliz. c. 1. thought fit to prescribe this Oath for the better detection of persons popishly affected not onely to all Readers Barresters Graduates in the Universities Schoolmasters Sheriffs and other inferiour Officers but likewise to all future Knights Citizens and Burgesses of Parliament enacting That every person who shall bee hereafter elected or appointed a Knight Citizen Burgess or Baron of the five Ports for any Parliament or Parliaments hereafter to be holden shall from henceforth before hee shall enter into the Parliament House or have any voice there openly receive and pronounce the said Oath before the Lord Steward for the time being or his Deputy or Deputies for that time to be appointed And that hee which shall enter into the Parliament House without taking the said Oath shall be deemed no Knight Citizen Burgess nor Baron for that Parliament nor shall have any voice but shall be to all intents constructions and purposes as if hee had never been returned or elected Knight Citizen Burgess or Baron for the Parliament and shall suffer such pains and penalties as if hee had presumed to sit in the same without Election return or authority Provided that this Act nor any thing therein shall not extend to compel any temporal person of or above the degree of A Baron of the Realm to take or pronounce the Oath abovesaid nor to incur any penalty limited by this Act for not taking or refusing the same This is the first Act ever imposing an Oath upon any Members before their sitting and voting in the Parliament House wherein five things are observable 1.
since that actually done to the secluding of sundry Members of their own new-model'd Parliaments for refusing to take new illegal Oaths and Engagements repugnant to their old ones of Supremacy and Allegiance if not the very third Article of the late Petition and Advice viz. That the ancient and undoubted Liberties and Priviledges of Parliament which are the Birth-right and Inheritance of the people and wherein every man it interessed bee preserved and maintained and that you will not break nor interrupt the same nor suffer them to be broken or interrupted And particularly that those persons who are legally chosen by a free Election of the people to serve in Parliament may not be secluded from sitting in Parliament to do their duties but by judgement and assent of that House whereof they are Members Therefore not by any armed Guards without any hearing or judgement whatsoever Which had some of those Army-Officers and Swordmen well considered who assented to this Article and Petition they would never have forcibly secluded secured imprisoned my self and sundry other Members of the late Parliament onely for the faithful discharge of our Oaths Duties without yea against the judgement of the House whereof they were Members which God in judgement hath repaid on some of them since that with a suitable Retaliation Seclusion Restraint by some of their own confederates in that unrighteous Anti-parliamentary action 4 That there is no one President exstant in our Histories or Records in former Ages nor from 49. Henry 3. till the end of King Charles his Reign of any Writs issued to Sheriffs or other Officers in Ireland or Scotland though subordinate and subject to our English Kings and Parliaments for electing Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commissioners to sit or vote as Members of the commons-Commons-house in any Parliaments or great Councils of England nor yet for any Knights Citizens Burgesses out of Gersy Gernsey Alderny Serke Man Silly or other Islands belonging to England Yea the Principality of Wales it self though ever subjected and united to England as part thereof never sent any Knights Citizens or Burgesses to the Parliaments of England as Members thereof till enabled by special Acts of Parliament Anno 27. H. 8. c. 26. 35. H. 8. c. 11. Nor yet the County Palatine of Chester though a part and member of England till specially enabled by the Statute of 34. H. 8. c. 13. neither did much less then can or ought any Counties Cities Burroughs in Scotland or Ireland to claim or pretend the least colour of Right Law or Reason to send any Knights Citizens Burgesses or Peers to sit or vote in the Parliaments of England neither ought any such if elected returned to be of right admitted into our English Parliaments 1. Because they never enjoyed this priviledge heretofore in any Age nor pretended to it 2. Because they are very remote from the places where our English Parliaments are held and it will not be onely extraordinarily troublesome expensive vexatious inconvenient for them when elected to resort so far to our English Parliaments but dangerous especially to cross the Seas out of Ireland in the Winter season and mischievous Thirdly Because if any of them be unduly elected returned as is most probable the most of them will be so it must necessarily put them to intollerable expences trouble vexation and almost an impossibility to examine determine the legality or illegality of such Elections and returns from Scotland and Ireland The Parliaments being likely to be determined or adjourned before the Sheriffs and other Officers who unduly returned them can be summoned and witnesses produced thence to prove the abuses or injustice of such Elections so that any persons thence returned by those in power though never elected or very unduly through favour power or corruption of Officers shall sit and vote as Members whilst those who were duly chosen and entrusted by the people shall be secluded and left without relief 4 Because Scotland and Ireland though united to England alwaies were and yet are distinct Realms and Republicks never incorporated into England or its Parliament as natural proper Members thereof they all having by their own Fundamental Laws Statutes Customes Rights Priviledges their peculiar proper Parliaments Peers Knights Citizens Burgesses Courts Iudicatures Councils and Iudges distinct divided from and not intercommoning with one another The Peers Lords Knights Citizens Burgesses of England having no place voice nor right of Session in the Parliaments of Scotland or Ireland though in many things subordinate to the Parliaments of England and subject to Acts of Parliament made in them and the Lords Peers Citizens Burgesses of the Parliaments of Scotland and Ireland being no Lords Peers Knights Citizens or Burgesses at all in England or its Parliaments being distinct from theirs and summoned unto their own Parliament onely as I shall hereafter manifest in its due place This is evident not onely by the distinct printed Laws and Statutes of England Scotland and Ireland and those Historians who have written of them especially Holinshed Bucanaâ— and Mr. Cambden but likewise by Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour p. 2. c. 5 6 7 Cooks 4 Institutes ch 1. 75 76. Cooks 7 Reports Calvins case The Statute of 1 Iacobi ch 1 2 3. Iacobi c. 3 4. Iacobi ch 1. 7. Iacobi ch 1. which fully confirm and establish the distinct Parliaments Rights Laws Liberties Customes Iurisdictions Iudicatures of the Realmâ— of England and Scotland 5. Because the calling and admission of Scotish Knights Citizens Burgesses or Peers unto the Parliaments of England and giving them a voice and Legislative power therein both in Relation to England Scotland and Ireland though united under one King and Soveraign Lord is diametrically contrary First to all these recited Acts and the Propositions proceedings mentioned in them referred to the consideration and determination of the Parliaments of both Realms as separate and distinct from each other and not incorporated into one body Realm or Parliament whose peculiar distinct Rights Jurisdictions Powers Parliaments are since that in precise terms confirmed and perpetuated without any union or incorporation into one undivided body politique Secondly Because it is expresly contradictory to the late Act of 17. Caroli passed ratified in and by the Parliaments of both Kingdome for the confirmation of the Treaty of Pacification between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland Wherein the Commissioners deputed by the Parliament of Scotland to treat with the Commissioners appointed by the King and Parliament of England for the saving of the Rights of Scotland that the English might not claim any joynt right or interest with the Scots in the things that concerned their Parliaments or Kingdome in their papers of the 7. of August 1641. did declare and make known that although they were fully assured that the Kingdome and Parliament of England was for the present far from any thought of usurpation over the Kingdome and Parliament of Scotland or their Laws and Liberties
yet for preventing the misunderstanding of posterity and of strangers and for satisfying the scruples of others not acquainted with the nature of this Treaty and the manner of their proceedings which may arise upon their comming into England and their treating in time of Parliament That neither by our treaties with the English nor by seeking our Peace to be established in Parliament nor any other action of ours do wee acknowledge any dependence upon them or make them Iudges to us or our Laws or any things that may import the smallest prejudice to our Liberties But that wee come in a free and brotherly way by our Informations to remove all doubts that may arise concerning the proceedings of our Parliament and to joyn our endeavours in what may conduce for the peace and good of both Kingdomes no otherwise than if by occasion of the Kings Residence in Scotland Commissioners in the like Exigence should be sent thither from England Thirdly It is point-blank against the solemn League and Covenant ratified and confirmed in the most sacred and publick manner The 3 Article whereof taken with hands lifted up to heaven and subscribed by the Parliaments of both Kingdomes and all others well-affected in both Realms doth thus preserve the distinct Priviledges of the Parliaments of both Realms in these words We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdomes of England and Scotland which are likewise distinguished from each other in every other Article the Prologue and Conclusion of the League and Covenaâ—t and all Ordinances that confirm it 4. As if this were not sufficient it is directly contrary to the Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament 17 April 1646. of their true intention inviolably to maintain the Ancient and Fundamental Government of the Kingdome by King Lords and Commons the Government of the Church securing the people against all arbitrary Government and maintaining a right understanding between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland according to the Covenant and Treaties To the Commons printed Answers to the Scots Commissioners Papers 28 of November 1646. Yea to the Lords and Commons Houses joynt Declaration the 29. of Iune 1646. In all which they do professedly declare assert argue resolve the absolute Independency distinct Rights Iurisdictions of the Kingdomes and Parliaments of England and Scotland from the very Articles of the solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between both Kingdomes and other Evidences grounds reasons positively asserting That the Parliament and Kingdome of England is and ought to bee the sole and proper Iudge of what may bee for the good of this Kingdome and that the Kingdome and Parliament of Scotland neither have nor ought to have any joynt-concurrent share or interest with them therein nor right of joynt-exercise of interest in disposing the person of the King in the Kingdome of England And that the self-same liberty and priviledge alwaies had been admitted and ever shall bee carefully and duly observed by them and the Parliament and Kingdome of England to the Kingdome and Parliament of Scotland in all things that concern that Kingdome And that it was not the intention of the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England nor of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland in sending Propositions to the King in the name and in the behalf of both Kingdomes by joynt-consent that any construction should be made therefrom as if either Kingdome had any interest in each others Propositions or in the Legislative Power of each other concerning any of the said Propositions but that it remaineth distinct in each Kingdome and Parliament respectively And that notwithstanding any joynt-proceedings upon the said Propositions either Kingdome hath power of themselves to continue repeal or alter any Law that shall be made upon the said Propositions for the good and government of either Kingdome respectively And both Houses did therein declare that they are fully resolved to maintain and preserve inviolable the solemn League and Covenant and the Treaties between the Kingdomes of England and Scotland Now the calling and incorporating of Scotish and Irish Peers Knights Citizens and Burgesses into the Parliaments of England as Members Voters Legislators together with the English to oblige both England Scotland and Ireland against the ancient unquestionable distinct fundamental Rights Priviledges of the Kingdomes Parliaments people both of England Scotland and Ireland all whose Parliaments Rights Priviledges Liberties will be totally subverted by it as well as our English is so contradictory so repugnant to and inconsistent with all and every of these recited Acts Ordinances Declarations clauses of the solemn League and Covenant to the Great Charter of King Iohn all ancient Writs of Summons to English Irish or Scotish Parliaments all Acts for Electing Knâ—ghts Burgesses and concerning Parliaments formerly established in all these three Kingdomes as distinct that no conscientious Heroick Englishman Scot or Inhabitant of Ireland who cordially affects the honour maintenance preservation of his own native Countries Kingdomes or Parliaments fundamental Rights Priviledges Liberties or makes conscience of violating the Articles of this solemn League and Covenant hee hath formerly taken and subscribed in the presence of Almighty God Angels and Men with this protestation wee shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combinatien perswasion or terror to be divided or withdrawn from it either by making defection to the contrary part or by giving our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality but shall all the daies of our lives constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our Power against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever and this wee shall do in the sight and presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as wee shall answer the contrary at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed can ever in conscience justice reason policy or prudence submit thereto but is bound to oppose and resist with all his power for the premised Reasons 6. Because the proportioning and distribution of the thirty persons to be elected for Scotland and the thirty others for Ireland and incorporating of these sixty Scotish and Irish Knights Citizens and Burgesses into the Parliaments of England was not projected effected approved ratified by the free full and joynt-consents of the respective Parliaments of England Scotland and Ireland but onely by about twenty or thirty Army-Officers in a private Cabinet Conventicle at Whitehall without yea against their privities and consents by their Instrument of Government which they then published 16 Decemb 1653. Artic. 9 10 11. having not the least shadow of any Legal Power or Authority to oblige our 3 distinct Kingdomes Nations Parliaments much less to subvert and abolish them by new melting them into
one body contrary to their very fundamental Laws Constitutions Rights Priviledges to their grand prejudice and dishonour Therefore there is no reason for either of them to submit and conform thereto The rather because this Instrument was never ratified by any but opposed by every publick Convention since its publication yea totally set aside if ever valid by the last of them in and by this clause of their humble Petition and Advice Artic. 3 4. That the number of persons to be elected and chosen to sit and serve in Parliament for England Scotland and Ireland and distribution of the persons so chosen within the Counties Cities and Burroughs of them respectively may be according to such proportions as shall be agreed in this present Parliament which agreed nothing concerning the same And both the Instrument and Advice being now set aside by those in present power by issuing Writs for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses throughout England according to the ancient Laws Usage Custome and not according to the Instrument or Advice by which the English and Commons House are now remitted to their old Parliamentary Rights Priviledges They are obliged upon all these Reasons Authorities and Considerations henceforth to seclude all Scotish and Irish Knights Citizens Burgesses or Peers from sitting or voting amongst them as Members and ought to treat with them onely as Delegates or Commissioners sent from both Nations touching such affairs as particularly relate to Scotland and Ireland according to ancient and late Presidents but not to permit them any place or vote at all in the Commons or Lords House as joynt-Members Legislators with the English in the Parliaments of England 7. Because the thrity persons to be chosen for Scotland and the other thirty for Ireland and the several Counties Cities and Borroughs within the same to represent and oblige both these Kingdomes and Nations as their Representativees and Attornies are not to be elected by the generality of both Kingdomes as in justice reason equity they ought to be but by such as the Major part of the Council at Whitehall shall prescribe as the 9th Article in the Instrument declares some whole Counties and eminent Cities in both Kingdomes having no voices at all in the Elections of these Members and therefore not to be obliged by them as 44. E. 3. f. 19. 11. H. 7. 14. 21. H. 7. 40. 23 H. 8. Br. Lert 27. 7. H. 6. 35. 6. Dyer 373. b. resolve This being a general Rule in Law Justice Reason inserted into the very Writs of Summons to Parliament Claus. 24. E. 1. m. 7. dorso here p. 6. Ut quod omnes tangit ab omnibus approbâ—tur And the sole reason why Acts of Parliament oblige all those who send Knights and Burgesses to them and not tenants in Ancient Demesn is onely this because they assent unto them in and by their representatives as the Statute of 1 Iac. c. 1. 4. H. 7. 10. Brooke Parliament 25. 27. 41. Ash Parliament 10. and Proclamation 39. and the Law-books Authorities there collected to this purpose determine 8. In the Parliament of a Caroli the Lords Spiritual and Temporal then in Parliament assembled exhibited this Petition to the King That whereas they heretofore in civility as to strangers yeelded precedency according to their several degrees unto such Nobles of Scotland and Ireland as being in Titles above them have resorted hither Now divers of the natural born Subjects of these Kingdomes resident here with their families and having their estates among us do by reason of some late created dignities in those Kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland claim precedency of the Peers of this Realm which tends both to the disservice of your Majesty aâ—d to the diâ—paragement of the English Noâ—ility as by these Reasons may appear 1. It is a nobelty without President that men should inherit honours where they possess nothing else 2. It is injurious to those Countries from whence their Titles are derived that they should have a voâ—e in Parliament where they have not a foot of Land c. Upon the consideration of which inconveniencies they humbly beseeched his Majesty that an order might be timely setled therein to prevent the inconvenience to his Majesty and redress the prejudice and disparagement to the Peers and Nobility of this Kingdome occasioned thereby which the King promised to do And is it not a far greater inconvenience prejudice and disparagement to the Nobility Gentry and Parliaments of England yea a greater Novelty and Injury than this they then petitioned against not only for the Nobility but for the very Knights Citizens Burgesses of Scotland and Ireland to sit with and take place of the ancient Peers Knights Citizens and Burgesses of England according to their several Titles and to enjoy an equal vote judicature priviledge with them in every particular in the very Parliaments of England which they never formerly did though they have not one foot of Land in England nor the English any vote of place in their Parliaments No doubt it is Therefore as fit to be timely redressed as that grievance upon the self-same grounds being more universal prejudicial and dishonourable to the whole English Peerage Parliament and Nation than this which concerned the English Peers alone and that onely out of Parliament 9. This number of Members sent from Scotland and Ireland to the Parliaments of England holds no just not equal proportion or distribution with the numbers of Members which they formerly elected and sent to their own respective Parliaments in Scotland and Ireland as is evident by the Irish Statutes of 18 E. 4. c. 2. 10. H. 7. c. 16 38. H. 8. c. 12. 33. H. 8. c. 1. Cookes 4. Iustit c. 75 76. and Regiam Majestatem nor yet in reference to the number of the Members and Parliament-men in England being near ten to one to the Members of both these Nations conjoyned which inequality upon all occasions may prove very prejudicial to them both 10. It will be an extraordinary grievance oppression expence vexation mischief delay and obstruction of Justice to all the Inhabitants of Scotland and Ireland not onely to bear the Expences of all the Members they send to the Parliaments of England but to be enforced to resort unto them in person together with their Witnesses Evidences and Council for all grievances oppressions injuries errors complains and misdemeans in Officers or Courts of Justice formerly redressed and remediable onely in their own proper Parliaments much nearer home and now only to be heard examined redressed determined in the Parliaments of England as the Claus. Roll. of 39. E. 3. M. 12. De erroribus corrigendis in Parliament is tenend is in Hibernia printed in my Epistle to my Argument of the case of the Lord Magâ—â—re most fully and excellently resolves And the multitudes of complaints out of all three Kingdomes will prove so great in every Parliament that it will be impossible to hear and determine the moity of
fear and well expect by way of divine and human retaliation that their very New erected House of Lords when once established having the power of Judicature if not of the Army in them to preserve themselves from the like Usurpations of the Commons over them in after ages will upon the first opportunity Vote down by this their president the whole House of Commons and quite suppresse it for the future as Vselesse dangerous factious Tumulâ—uous seditious arbitrary Tyrannicall oppressive to the people degenerated from its ancient duty bounds moderation as not only some of our late Kings but of those new intended Lords have publickly branded proclaimed it to be in late printed Declarations and constitute all future Parliaments only of a House of Lords and Great men of the Realme assisted with the Counsell and Iustices without any Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports or House of Commons according to all ancient long continued Presidents in former ages before 49. H. 3. when for ought appeares the Commons were first admitted and called unto Parliaments out of meer grace by the Kings Writs Or at least the disinherited ancient Nobility in case they regain their pristine Rights of Session Judicature in Parliament without the Commons assistance of which there is no absolute future improbability may by way of Justice and retaliation set the Commons House quite aside for their late transcendent breaches abuses of their Trusts towards them in secluding and voting them quite down against their Writs Indentures Duties Oathes by which they have legally forfeited all their Priviledges and right of Parliamentary session according to this received Maxime in all Lawes Privilegium amittat qui improbabili temeritate quod non accepit usurpat sua authoritate non legitime utitur sed abutitur potestate Which weighty consideration though seconded with none else should engage all Commoners to pursue the golden rule precept of Christ himself as well in point of prudence conscience Justice as morality towards the old Lords Matth. 7. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets For with the same measure that ye meat withall it shall be measured to you again as Luk. 6. 38. Iudg. 1. 6. 7. Psal. 137. 8. Rev. 13. 10. c. 16. 5. 6. Ezek. 35 10. 11. 14. 15. Obad. 15. 16. Ioel. 3. 6. 7. 8. Gen. 9. 6. Mat. 26. 52. Iam. 2. 13. do all infallibly resolve us as well as late experiments 21. That the first and principle things specified in the Writs of summons as the prime ends for which Parliaments are summoned is to debate and consult of quaedam specialia ardua negotia Nos et Statum regni nostri et etiam Iura Salvationem et Defensionem Coronae nostrae Regiae as well as Regni nostri et Ecclesie Anglicanae specialiter intime contingentibâ—s And all Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports elected returned to serve in Parliament in the Commons House receive plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se et Communitate Comitatuum Civitatum Burgorum et Portuum from those Commonalties who elect them only ad faciendum consentiendum his quae tunc ibidem de communi Consilio Comitum Baronum or dicti Regni nostri contigerit ordinari super Negotiis antedictis quod hoc breve or prout breve illud in se exigit requirit as the express words of the Sheriffs returns and their Indentures evidence Therefore their enacting any thing by themselves alone without the Earls Barons and Lords House or Majoritie of their Fellow Commoners or against their Counsell Votes advice to the prejudice destruction subversion of the Kings Person State Kingdom and the Prerogative Rights of his Royal Crown and Dignity which they were purposely summoned by the King and authorized intrusted only by their Electors Commonalties people to preserve support and defend and to do and consent to nothing else inconsistent with or repugnant to these ends is the highest prevarication treacherie violation of their Trusts Duties that can possibly be imagined deserving the most exemplarie punishments And those Republicans who lately acted in this kind to the destruction of the King kingdom the prerogatives Rights of the Crown Parliament Lords and Monarchie of England upon this pretext that they were intrusted impowred thus to doe by the people and those who did elect them are the most notorious Impostors Prevaricators Infringers Peruerters Falsifiers of their trusts and power in this kinde that ever England yet produced as all the forecited Writs compared with their their retorns unanimously resolve against their false absurd pretences to the contrarie wherewith they have endeavoured to blinde and cheat the people in whom they verbally voted placed the Soveraign power only by this forged hypocritical pretext actually to usurp appropriate it to themselves as their Trustees and Representatives presently thereupon in all their new published Knacks Papers intitling themselves alone not the people the SUPREAM AUTHORITY OF THE NATION making the people greater Slaves and Uassalls to them in respect of their Lawes Lives Members Liberties Freeholds Franchises Properties Estates than ever they were in any age under Beheaded King Charles or the worst of all our Kings and Lords who never acted half so arbitrarily tyrannically in everie kinde as they their Committees High Courts of Iustice Counsils of State Major Generals Excise-men and other Officers have done since their late Exorbitant Anti-parliamentary Vsurpations Innovations Proceedings under the disguise and Notion of the Parliament of England without A KING HOUSE OF LORDS or the secluded MAIORITY OF THE COMMONS HOUSE it self the forced absence seclusion of all and everie of which 3. made them no real Parliament at all but an Anti-Parliamentary Conventicle and all their miâ—intitled Acts Ordinances meer Nullities both in Law and Conscience fit to be enternally exploded by the whole English Nation and all future new Parliaments to prevent the like pernicious Extravagances in after ages which have involved us in so manie various Miseries Warrs Perplexities Fears Dangers Oppressions Factions Troubles Changes Unsettlements and Confusions which without Gods insinite mercie presage nought else but total and final Desolation both to our Church State and Nations Our Law-books resolve the Parliament to be a Corporation consisting of the King as thief head the Lords as the Superior and the Commons as inferior Members who ought mutually to preserve each others interests and unite their counsells for the publike good without any seisure or encroachment upon one another For as there is nothing but giddiness torture distemper consumption restlesness sickness inactivity maimedness confusion in the body natural whiles the head or chief joints bones parts of it are inverted dislocated fractured severed and kept out of joynt and no other means left when thus distorted to restore it to rest health soundness activitie and prevent its dissolution by