116. The Writ of summoning the Commons is to doe and to consâ—nt to such things which shall happen to bee ordained by Common Counsell there viz. in the Parliament p. 25.26.115 The Parliament is a Corporation composed of the King the head and the Lords and Commons the Subject body p. 5. l. 22. p. 19.20.49.50.80.122.142.145.146 And it hath power over our Lives Libertyes Lawes and Goods p. 118. The Court of Parliament is onely in the House of Lords where the King sits in person p. 116.122.144 The Office of the Lords is to Counsell the King in time of Peace and to defend him in time of War p. 116.142 It belongs to the House of Lords to reforme erroneous Iudgements given in the Kings Bench to redresse the delayes of Courts of Iustice to receive all Petitions to advise his Majesty with their Counsell to have their Votes in Voting or abrogating of Laws and to propose for the Common good what they conceive meet p. 33. How Errours in Iudgement are reversed by the House of Lords p. 55. At a Conferrence the Commons are alwaies uncovered and stand when the Lords sit with their hats on which shewes that they are not Colleagues in Iudgement with the Lords p. 147. Every Member of the House of Commons takes the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy before his admission into the House p. 67.133 Briberies Extortions Monopolyes ought to bee enquired after by the House of Commons and complained of to the King and Lords p. 114. It belongs to the House of Commons to represent the Grievances of the Countrey to grant Aydes for the King upon all fit occasions extraordinary to assent to the making or abrogating Lawes p. 33.115 116 117 118. Because making of new and abrogating of old Lawes both induce Novelties and because Bils in both Houses may passe but by one or two voices or very few and perhaps of no Iudicious men who oftentimes carry it by making the Major part which involves the consent of all therefore the Law makes the King assisted therein by a great number of Grave Learned and Prudent men the Judge of those Bils whether they be necessary for the Publique Good or no. p. 32 3â— 53.57.123 And the King upon all Bills hath liberty of assenting or dissenting p. 18.28.39.111 And in case of the Kings Minority the Protector hath his liberty and negative voice in respect of the King p. 52. The styles of the Acts printed from 9. Hen. 3. to 1. Hen. 7. were either the King Ordaines at his Parliament c. Or the King Ordaineth by the advice of his Prelates and Barons and at the humble petition of the Commons c. In Hen. 7. time the style was altered and hath so continued to this day p. 24.71 No Act of Parliament bindes the Subject without the assent of the King p. 71.72 When an Act of Parliament is against common Right or Reason or repugnant or impossible to bee performed the Common Law shall controle it and adjudge it to be void And such is an Act for a perpetual Parliament p. 139. An Act of Parliament that a man shall bee Iudge in his own cause is a voyd Act. p. 139. An Adjournment of the parliament makes no Sâ—ssion p. 137. There is no Sâ—ssion till a prorogation or dissolution of the Parliament p. 137. All the Acts of one Sâ—ssion relate to the first day of the Parliament p 138. The two Houses ought to take care of the preservation of the Kings Person p. 18. The Lords and Commons cannot assent to any thing that tends to the disinherison of the King and his Crown to which they are sworn p. 11. The two Houses ought not to meddle with the Kings Revenue p. 11. Armes are not to be borne in London or Westminster in time of Parliament p. 8.39 The Priviledge of Parliament protects no man in case of Treason or â—elony p. 15.16 78. Parliaments are as the times are if a turbulent Faction prevailes the Parliament are wicked if the times be sober modest prudent and not biassed the Parliament are right good honourable and good Medicines and Salves p. 41.42 The present Parliament THis Parliament beganne 3. Novemb. 1640 and in the beginning thereof the King acquitted the Ship-Money Knighthood-Money seven Courts of Justice consented to a Triâ—niall parliament setled the Forrest bounds tooke away the Clarke of the Market of the Houshold trusted the Houses with the Navy passed an Act not to dissolve this Parliament without the Houses assent No people in the world so free if they could have been content with Lawes Oathes and Reason and nothing more could nor can bee devised to serve us neither hath been in any time before p. 3â— Notwithstanding all this Jan. 10. 1641. the King was driven away from London by frequent Tumults and 2. thirds and more of the Lords had deserted that House for the same cause and the greater put of the House of Commons left that House also for the same reason New men chosen in their places against Law by the pretended Warrant of a counterfeit Seale and in the Kings name against his consent leavying War against Him and seizing his Forts Ports Magazins and Revenue and converting them to his destruction the subversion of the Law and Land laying Taxes on the people never head of before in this Land devising new Oathes to oppose the Forces raised by the King c. p. 35. From the 3 Novem. 1640. uâ—â—o Ian. 10 164â— they had time to persecute all evil Counsellors and Iudges p 17 4â— From that time the King was driven away the two Houses stood in opposition to the king and his power p. 66. This became no Parliament when the King with whom they should parley was driven away and it continues so whilst his Majestic is restrained as a prisoner p. 35.81 And the houses now severed from the King have no power at all no more than the body hath being severed from the head p. 80.112 The 2. Houses do not now act by the Kings Writ but contrary to it p. 121. And so their Acts are Null p. 122 141. The Act for continuing this parliament so long as both Houses please is voyd because it is 1. Against Common right for thereby the parliament men will not pay their debts And they may doe wrong to other men Impune besides the utter destruction of all mens actions who have to doe with Parliament men by the Statute of Limitation 21. Jacob. 2. Against common reason for parliaments were made to redresse publique Grievances not to make them 3. Impossible the Death of his Majesty whom God long preserve dissolving it necessarily 4. Repugnant to the Act for a Trienniall parliament and to the Act for holding a parliament once a yeare p. 139.140 The end of continuing this parliament was to raise Credit for mony for three purposes And the three ends of the Act being determined it agreeth with Law and Reason the Act should end p. 141. A perpetuall parliament
Soveraigne Lord at all seasons when need shall be Here the supreame power in the time of Parliament by both Houses is declared to belong to the King At the beginning of every Parliament all Armes are 7. Ed. 2.4 pars instit 14. or ought to be forbidden to be borne in London Westminster or the Subburbs This condemnes the multitudes comming to Westminster and the Guards of armed men All who held by Knights service 1 Edw. 2. de Militibus and had twenty pounds per annum were distraynable ad Arma militaria suscipienda This agrees with the Records of ancient time continued constantly in all Kings times but at this Parliament 3. November 1640. The King out of his grace discharged this duty which proves that the power of warre and preparation thereto belongs not to the two Houses but only to the King The two Spencers in Edw. 2. Edw. 3. Caâ—vins Case Cookâ—e 7. fol. 11. time hatched to cover their Treason this damnable and damned opinion viz That Ligeance was more by reason of the Kings politick capacity then of his person upon which they inferred these execrable and detestable consequences First if the King demeaned not himselfe by reason in the right of his Crowne his Lieges are bound by Oath to remove him Secondly seeing the King could not be removed by suit of Law it was to be done by force Thirdly that his Lieges be bound to governe in default of him All which tenets were condemned by two Parliaments the one called exilium Hugonis in Ed. 2. time the other by 1. Edw. 3. cap. 2. All which Articles against the Spencers are confirmed by this last Statute the Artiles are extant in the booke called vetera Statuta The separation of the Kings person from his power is the principall Article condemned and yet all these three damnable detestable and execrable consequents are the grounds whereupon this present time relies and the principles whereupon the two houses found their cause The Villeine of a Lord in the presence of the King cannot be seized â—â—â—nden com 322. â—y ass pl. 49 for the presence of the King is a protection for that time to him This shewes what reverence the Law gives to the person of a King Regis 33 Ed. 3. â—yde de roy 203 Fitz 30 H. 7.16 sacro oleo uncti sunt capaâ—es spiritualis jurisdictionis But the two Houses were never held capable of that power Rex est persona mixta cum sacerdote haâ—et Ecclesiasticam spiritualem jurisdictionem This shewes the Kings power in Ecclesiasticall Causes The Lands of the King is called in Law Patromoniâ—n sacrum Com. Sur. Littl Sect. 4. The Houses should not have meddled with that sacred Patromony 3 Ed. 3.19 The King hath no Peere in his Land and cannot be judged Ergo the two Houses are not above him The Parliament 15. Ed. 3. was repealed for that is was against the Kings Lawes and prerogative 4 part institâ— fol. 25. This shewes cleerely the Propositions sent to Newcastle ought not to have beene presented to his Majesty For that they are contrary to the Lawes and his Prerogative The Lords and Commons cannot assent in Parliament to any thing that tends to the dis-inherifion of the King and his Crowne 4 Part Cooke inâ—â—it fol. 14. 42. E. 3. to which they are sworne This condemnes the said Propositions likewise To depose the King Parliamenâ— Rol. num 7. Rex 〈◊〉 suetudâ— Parâ—amenti to imprison him untill he assent to certaine dedemands a warre to alter the Religion established by Law or any other Law or to remove Councellors to hold a Castle or Fort against the King are offences against that Law declared to be treason by the resolution herein after mentioned by that Law men are bound to ayd the King when warre is levied against him in his Realme 25 Ed. 3. cap. 2. King in his Statute must be intended in his naturall body and person that only can dye for to compasse his death and declare it by overt Act is declared thereby treason to incounter in fight such as come to ayd the King in his warres is treason Compassing of the Qâ—â—ens death of the Kings Eldest Sonne to coyne his money to counterfeit his Great-Seale to levy Warre against him to adhere to such as shall so doe are declared by that Act to be high treason This Statute cannot referre to the King in his politique capacity but to his naturall which is inseperable from the politick for a body politick can have neither Wife 〈◊〉 13. nor Childe nor levy Warre nor doe any Act but by the operation of the naturall body A Corporation or body politick hath no soule or life but is a fiction of the Law and the Statute meant not â—â—ctitious persons but the body naturall conjoned with the politique which are inseperable The clause in that Act that no man should sue for grace or pardon for any offence condemned or forfeiture given by that Act 21 Ed. 4.14 â— 2.11 an was repealed by a subsequent Act in 21. R. â— holden unreasonable without example and against the Law and custome of the Parliament This condemnes the Proposition for disabling the King to Pardon 4 pars instit fol. 42. 4. Pars instit fol. 42. The Act of 11. R. 2. so much urged by the other side was an Act to which the King consented and so a perfect Act yet Note the Army then about the Towne Note that that Law is a-against private persons and by the 3. cap. thereof the treasons there declared are declared to be new treasons made by that Act and not to be drawne to example it was abrogated 21. R. 2. and revived by an usurper 1 H. 4. to please the people and by the tenth chap. thereof enacts that nothing shall be treason but what is declared by 25. Ed. 3. 16. Ed. cap. 5.16 R. 2. cap. 5. H. 4. The Regality of the Crowne of England is immediately subject to God and to none other Plaine words shewing where the supreame power is The Commission of Array is in force and no other Commission Rot. Parlm 5. H. 4. numb 24. an Act not printed this Act was repealed by 4. and 5. P. M cap. 2. this repealed by the Act of 1 Iacobi and so it is of force at this day for the repealing Statute is repealed 4. pars instituâ— fol. 51. 125 published fithence this Parliament by the desire of the house of Commons their Order is printed in the last leafe of the commentaries upon Magna Charta Sir Edward Cooke A booke alowed by Sir Na Brent called the reason of the War fol. 65. by their party is holden for the Oracle of the Law who wrote the said fourth part in a calme and quiet time and I may say when there was no need to defend the authority of the Commission of Array For that objection that that Commission leaves power to the
the Reformers and Martyrs and practised in the time of four Princes Fifthly these Propositions taking away from his Majesty all his power by Land and Sea rob him of that which all his Ancestors Kings of this Realme have enjoyed That enjoyment and usage makes the Law and a right by the same to his Majesty They are against their owne Protestation made this Parliament viz. to maintain his Royall Person Honour and Estate They are against their Covenant which doth say that they will not diâ—inish his just power and Greatnesse For these reasons his Majesty hath lest them and as is beleeved will refuse to agree to the said Propositions as by the fundamentall Law of the Land he may having a Negative Voice to any Bils proposed The result of all is upon the whole matter That the King thus leaving of the Houses and his deniall to passe the said Propositions are so far from making him a Tyrant or not in a condition to governe at the present that thereby he is rendred a just Magnanimous and pious Prince so that by this it appeares clearely to whom the Miseries of these times are to be imputed The remedy for all is an Act of Oblivion and a Generall Pardon God save the King DAVID JENKINS now Prisoner in the Tower 28 Aprilis 1647. The Vindication of Iudge Jenkins Prisoner in the Tower the 29. of April 1647. I Was convened upon Saturday the 10 of this moneth of Aprill before a Committee of the House of Commons wherein Master Coâ—bet had the Chaire and I was there to be examined upon some questions then to be propounded to me to which questions I refused to give any other answer then that which wâ—t set downe in a paper I then delivered to the said Mr. Corbet which followeth in these words Gentlemen I stand committed by the House of Commons for High Treason for not acknowledging nor obeying the power of the two Ponses by adhering to the King in this warre I deny this to be Treason for the supreame and onely power by the Lawes of this Land is in the King If I should submit to any examination derived from your vpwir which by the Negative Oath stands in opposition to the Kings power I should confesse the power to be in you and so condemne my selfe for a Traitour which I neither ought nor will do I am sworne to obey the King and the Lawes of the Land you have not power to examine me by those Lawes but by the Kings writ Patent or Commission if you can produce either thereof I will answer the questions you shall propound otherwiss I cannot answer thereto without the breach of my Oath and the violation of the Lawes which I will not do to save my life You your selves all of you this Parliament hive sworne that the King is our onely and supreame Governour your Protestation your Vow and Covenant your solemne League and Covenant your Declarations all of them publisht to the Kingdome that your scope is the maintenance of the Lawes those Lawes are and must be derived to us and enlivened by the onely supreame Governour the Fountaine of Iustice and the life of the Law the King The Parliaments are called by his writs the Iudges sit by his Patents so of all other Dâ—cers the Cities aud â—ownes corporate governe by the Kings Charters and therefore since by the Law I cannot be examinâ—b by you without a power veriveâ— by his Mâ—jesty I neither can nor will nor ougte you to examine me upon any questions But if as private Gentlemen you shall be pleased to 〈◊〉 me any questions I shall really and truely answer evâ—ry such question as you shall demand April 10. 1647. David Jenkins This Paper hath beene mis-represented to the good people of this City by a printed one stilling it my Recantation which I owne not and besides is in it selfe repugnant just like these times the Body fals out with the Head To vindicate my selfe from that Recantation and to publish to the world the realty of the Paper then delivered to Mr. Corbâ—t and the matter therein contained I have published this ensuing discourse No person whoâ— hath committed Treason Mutter 〈◊〉 â—elony hath any assurance at all for so much as one houre of life Lands or Goods without the Kings grâ—tions pardon 27. Hen. 8. cap. 24. The King is not virtually in the two Houses at VVestminster whereby they may give any assurance at all to any person in any thing for any such offence 1. The House of Commons have beelarâ—d to the Kingdome in their Declaration of the 28 of November last to the â—cots Papers p. 8. That the King at this time is not in a condition to goverâ—e No person or thing can derive a vertue to other men or things which it selfe hath not and therefore it is impossible that they should have a vertue from the King to govern which they declare he hath not himselfe to give 2 The Law of the Land is 5 Elizab. cap. 1. That no person in any Parliament hath a vayce in the House of Commons but that he stands a pâ—rson to all intents and purposes as if he had uevâ—r boeu electâ—d or returned if before he sit in the Hause he take not hâ—s Datâ— upon the holy Evangel sts that the Kings Majesty is the onely ond supreame Governour over all persons in all Canses All the Members of the said House have taken it and at all times as they are returned do take it otherwise they have no colour to intermeddle with the publick Affaires How doth this Solemne and Legall Oath agree with their said Declaration That the King is in no condition to govern 〈◊〉 By the one it is sworne he is the only supreme Governour by the other that he is not in a condition to governe 3. The Oath is not that the King was or ought to be or had been before he was seduced by ill Councell our onely and supreame Governour in all Causes over all persons but in the present tense that he iâ— on t only and supream Governont at this present in all causes and over all persons So they the same persons swear one thing and declare to the Kingdome the contrary of the same thing at the same time in that which concerneth the weale of all this Nation 4 The Ministers in the Pulpits do not say what they swear in the House of Commons Who ever heard fiâ—hence this unnaturall Warre any of their Presbyters attribute that to his Majesty which they sweare The reason is their Oath is taken at westminster amongst themselves that which their Ministers pray and preach goes amongst the people To tell the people that the King is now their only and supreame Governour in all Causes is contrary to that the Houses doe now practise and to all they act and maintaine They the two Houses forsooth are the only and supreame Governours in default of the King for that he hath lest his great Councell and
Subject is bound to govern in ayd of him we only say that his power is distinguishable from his person and when he himselfe makes a distinction betwixt them commanding one thing by his legall Writs Courts and Officers and commanding another thing extrajudicially by word of mouth Letters or Ministers we are to obey his power rather than his person 5. We take not from the King all power of pardoning Delinquents we onely say it is not proper to him quarto modo For if the King pardon him which hath murthered my son his pardon shall not cut me off from my appeal and 't is more unreasonable that the Kings pardon should make a whole State which hath suffered remedilesse than any private man So if the King should deny indemnity to those which in the furie of war have done things unjustifiable by the Lawes of peace and thereby keep the wounds of the state from being bound up 't is equitable that an Act of Indemnity should be made forcible another way And if his will not hold yet this is no good consequence the King is absolute in point of pardons therefore he is absolute in all things else and the parliament hath no power to discharge Delinquencies therefore it hath no power in other matters 6. The Parliament hath declared the King to be in no condition to governs but thir must not be interpreted rigidly and without distinction for if the King with his Sword drawn in his hand and pursuing the Parliament and their Adherents as Rebels be not fit for all Acts of Government yet it is not hereby insinuated that he is divested of the habit or right of Governing if he be unqualified now he is not unqualified for the future if he may not do things destructive to the parliament he is not barred from returning to the parliament or doing justice to the parliament This is a frivolous cavil and subâ—erfuge 7. We swear that the King is our supreme Governour over all persons and in all causes but we do not swear he is above all Law nor above the safetie of his people which is the end of the Law and indeed Paramount to the Law it selfe If he be above Law or liable to no restraint of our Law then we are no freer than the French or the Turks and if he be above the prime end of Law common safety then wee are not free as the French or Turks For if the totall subversion of the French or Turk were attempted they might by Gods Law imprinted in the book of Nature justifie a self-defence but we must remedilesly perish when the King pleases to command our throats Besides how atchieved the King of England such a Supremacy above all Law and the community it selfe for whose behoofe Law was made If Gods donation be pleaded which is not speciall to him or different from what other Kings may pretend to then to what purpose serve our Lawes nay to what purpose serve the Lawes of other Countryes for by this generall donation all Nations are condemned to all servitude as well as we If the Law of this Land bee appealed to what Bookes hath Mr. Ienkins read where hath he found out that Lex Regia whereby the people of England have given away from themselves all right in themselves Some of our Bookes tell us that we are more free than the French that the King canot oppresse us in our Personâ— oâ— Estates by imprisonment denying justice or laying Taxes without our consents Other Books tell us that the safety of the people is the supreme Law and that the King hath both God and the Law for his Superiour But all this is nothing to learned M. Jenkins 8. We admit that no Acts of Parliament are compleat or formally binding without the Kings assent yet this is still to be denied that therefore without this assent particularly exprest the two Houses can do nothing nor have any virtual power at all no not to examine M. Ienkins nor to do any other thing of like nature though in order to publike justice and safetie I have done and wish M. Ienkins would call in and lick up again his black infamous execrable reproaches so filthily vomited out against the Parliament To the first I Was examined by a Committee appointed by the House of Commons I say and said that the House of Commons have no power to examine me for that it is no Court every Court hath power to examine upon Oath this power the House of Commons never claimed The Court of Pye-powders court-Baron Hundred court County court and every other Court of Record 5. H. 4. c. 3. 3 H. 6.46 19 H. 6.43 â—5 H. 6.5 or not of Record hath power to examine upon Oath and an examination without Oath is a communication onely examination in Law is upon Oath There is no court without a power of tryall Sir Anthony Maynes â—ase Cook 1. par Reports Lit. 2. lib. Sect. 194. 6. H. 4.1 the House of Commons have no power to try any offence nor ever practised it by Bill Indictment Information Plaint or Originall Writ to reduce it to tryall nor to try it by Verdict Demurrer or Examination of Witnesses upon oath without which there can be no condemnation or judgement and that which can attaine to no reasonable end the Law rejects as a thing inutile and uselesse Sapiens incipiâ—a â—ine The Writ whereby they are called gives them power Ad faciendum consentiendum â— paâ—s instit fol. â— 9. To what To such things Quae ibidem de communi consilio ordiâ—â—â— contingerint viz. in the Parliament This makes nothing at all for a Court for the House of Commons that consilium which that Writ intends is cleared partly by the Writ for chusing Knights c. For the King by that Writ is said to resolve to consult and treate with the Prelates and Peeres of the Kingdome for and touching the great concernments of the Common-wealth for the King never sits in the House of Commons and this also is made evident by the Writs to the Prelates Peeres Judges and to his Counsell at Law The words in the Writ are To appeare and attend the Parliament Consilium impensuri the one doth conâ—ulere the other sacere conseâ—tire The House of Lords where the King sits in person assisted by His Lords Judges Serjeants Atturney 7 H. 6.28 1 H. 7. â—0* 13 Ed. 3. c. 5. 4 pars inst p. 21. Sollicitor Masters of the Chancery is a court of Record to many purposes set down in the Bookes of Law and the Statutes of the Land and that court is onely in the House of Lords where the King sits A court must either bee by the Kings Patent Statute Law or by the common Law Plowd Com. 319. which is common and constant usage the House of commons hath no Patent to bee a court nor Statute Law to bee a court nor common usage they have no Journall Booke but since Edward
6. time was there ever Fine by the House of Commons estreated into the Exchequer For murder or Felony they can imprison no man much lesse for Treason that House which cannot do the lesse cannot doe the greater It is ordained 25. â— 3. c. 4. 3. Car. Petition of Right that no man shall be imprisoned or put out of his Franchise by the King or his Councell but upon indictment or presentment of his good and lawfull Neighbours where the deed is done or by originall Writ at the Common Law and so is Lex terrae the Law of the Land mentioned in Magna Charta cap. 29. expounded and the said Magna Charta and Charta de Forresta are declared by the Statute of 25. E. 1. c. 1. to bee the Common Law of the Land All Judges and Commissioners are to proceed Secundum legem consuetudinem Regni Angliae as appeares by all proceedings in all Courts and by all Commissions and therefore the house of Commons by themselves proceeding not by Indictment Presentment or Originall Writ have no power to imprison men or put them out of Franchise This no way trenches upon the Parliament 4 pars instit p. 1. 3 pars instit p. 23. for it is in Law no Parliament without King and both Houses I have onely in my Paper delivered to Mr. Corbet 12. H. 7.20 Princes case 8 Pars Cook 1 pars instit p. 159. 14 H. 8.3 Dier 3â— H. 8.60 applyed my selfe to that Committee that had not power to examine mee but I never thought said or wrote that the Parliament had no power to examine me The Law and custome of this Land is that a Parliament hath power over my life liberty lands and goods and over every other Subject but the House of Commons of it selfe hath no such power For the Lord Cookes relation 1 pars inst 19. b. that the House of Commons have imposed Fines and imprisoned men in Queen Elizabeths time and since Few facts of late time never questioned make no power nor Court à facto ad jus is no good argument for the words of the Statute of 6. Hâ—n 8. c. 16. that a licence to depart from the House of Commons for any Member thereof 4 P. Inst c. Parl. is to be entred of Record into the Booke of the Cleark of the Parliament appointed Hobbarts reports fol. 152. or to be appointed for that House doth not conclude that the House of Commons is a Court of Records For first that Law of 6. H. 8. c. 26. handles no such question as that whether the House of commons be a court it is a maxime in all Lawes Hobbarts reports fol. 154. Leâ— aliâ—d tractâ—us nil probat the word Record there mentioned is onely a memoriall of what was done and entred in a book A plaint removed out of the County-Court to the Court of the common-Pleas hath these words in the Writ of remove Recordari facias loquelam Fitz. Nat. Br. 70. Fitz. Nat. Br. 13. 12 H. 4.33 34 H. 6.49 c. and yet the county court is no court of Record and so for ancient Demesne in a Writ of false judgement the words are Recordari facias loquelam c. and yet the court of ancient Demesne is no court of Record and so of a court Baron the Law and custome of England must bee preserved or England will bee destroyed and have neither Law nor custome Let any man shew mee that the court of Lords or the House of commons in any age hath made any man a Delinquent Rege dissentiente the KING contradicting it under his Great Seale Miâ—hell and others of late were condemned by the prosecution of the House of commons in King Iames his time did King Iames ever contradict it And so in ancient times where the House of Peeres condemned the Lord Latimer in 50 E. 3. 4 Pars Inst Tit. Parlia p. 23. The Kings pardon freed him which shewes clearly that the Kings expresse or implied assent must of necessitie be had to make a Delinquent The execution of the sentence is in the Kings name The Gentl. saith That the Parliament sits or ought to sit by something greater than the Kings Writ c. No Parliament did ever sit without the Kings Writ 4. Pars inst p. 4. 6. nor could ever Parliament begin without the Kings presence in person or by a Guardian of England by patent under the Kings Great Seal the King being in remotis or by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords representing the Kings person and it hath been thus in all Ages unto this Session of Parliament wherein his Majestie hath been pressed and hath passed two Acts of parliament one for a Triennial parliament and another for a perpetual if the Houses please to satisfie their desires how these two Acts agree one with another 4 H. 3. c. 14. 36. H. 3. c. 10. 21. Iac. the Act of Limitation of Actions c. 22. and with the Statute in Edâ— the Thirds time where parliaments are ordained to be holden every year and what mischiefes to the people of this Land such length of Parliaments will produce by protections and priviledges to free them and their menial servants from all debts during their lives if they please to continue it so long and how destructive to mens actions against them by reason of the Statute of Limitations which confines their actions to certain yeares and many other inconveniences of greater importance is easie to understand How can any man affirme that the two Houses of Parliament do act now by the Kings Writ which relates to counsel and treatie with the King 4. p. inst p. 14. Vow any Covenant p. 11. concerning the King the defence of his Kingdom and of the Church of England these are three points which it tends to as appeares by the Writ They keep their King prisoner at Holmby and will not suffer him to consult and treat with them They have made a Vow and Covenant to assist the Forces raised and continued by both Houses against the Forces raised by the King without their consent and to the same effect have devised the Oath which they call the Negative Oath Is this to defend the Kings Kingdom or their kingdom When by their solemne League and Covenant they extirpate Bishops Deanes and Chapters root branch Is this to defend the Church of England 3. pars Cook Dean and Chapter of Norwich that Church must necessarily be meant that was the Church of England when the said Writ bore test they were not summoned to defend a Church that was not in being to destroy and defend the Church are very contrary things the Church is not defended when they take away and sell the Lands of the Church The Gentleman saith The King cannot controul other Courts of Justice or prevent them from sitting or acting and therefore not the two Houses c. 14 H. 8.3 36. H. â— Dier
the Parliament time by all the Members of the House of Commons and is required by the Law to be taken in all Parliaments otherwise they have no power nor colour to meddle with the publick Affaires This Oath being taken in Parliament that the King is the only and Supream Governour in al causes then it followes in Parliament causes over all persons then over the two Houses Let them keep this Oath and we shall bee sure of Peace in the Land and good Lawyers ought to desire peace both for the publicke good and their private and not dishonour that Noble profession as many doe in this miserable time The Gent. sayes Wee do not swear that the King is above all Law nor above the safety of his people neither do we so swear but his Majesty and we will sweare to the contrary and have sworne and have made good and will by Gods grace make good our Oath to the world that the KING is not above the Lawe nor above the safety of his people the Law and the safety of his people are his safety his Honour and his Strength AD 8. The Gent. concludes That Acts of Parliament are not formaly binding nor compleat without the Kings assent yet the Houses have a virtual power with out the Kings particular assent to doe things in order to publique justice and Safety viz. In setting up the Excise in raising and maintaining of Armes in Taxing the people at pleasure with Fifth and Twentieth part Fifty Subsidies Sequestrations Loans Compositions imprisoning the King abolishing the Common prayer Book felling the Churchs Lands c. all these are in order to the publick Justice and Safety Mr. H. P. you are of my profession I beseech you for the good of your Country for the Honour of our Science perswade your selfe and others as much as in you lies to beleeve and follow the monition and councell of that memorable reverend and profoundly Learned in the Lawes and Customes of the Land the Lord COOKI 3 par Inst pag 36. who writes as becomes a great and a learned Iudge of the Law a person much magnified by the two Houses in these words Peruse over all Books Records and Histories and you shall finde a Principle in Law a Rule in Reason and a Triall in Experience that Treason doth ever produce farall and finall destruction to the offender and never attains to the desired end two incidents inseparably thereunâ—o therefore let al men abandon it as the poysonouâ— bait of the divil follow the Precept in Holy Scripture SERVE GOD HONOUR THE KING AND HAVE NO COMPANY WITH THE SEDITIOVS Conclusion I say againe that without an Act of Oblivion a gratious Generall pardon from his Majesty the arrears of the Souldiers paid a favourable regard had to tender Consciences theâ—e will he neither Truth nor Peace in this Land nor any mansâ—cure of any thing he hath By me David Jenkins Prisoner in the Tower A DISCOURSE TOVCHING The Inconveniencies of a Long-continued PARLIAMENT A Perpetuall Parliament is repugnant to the Act made this Parliament for a Triennial Parliament for how can every three yeares a Parliament beginne if this bee perpetuall which may bee so if the two Houses please 2. An adjournment of the Parliâ—ment makes no Session 4 pars institut fol. 27. Howbeit before the adjournment the KING gives His Royall assent to some Bills Cookeibid 3. There is no Session till a Prorogation or dissolution of the Parliament 4. This Parliament as appeâ—res by the Act for not dissolving thereof set downe in the printed Statutes of this Parliament Plowd com 33.8 Bro. relation 35. Bro Parl. 86. Dâ—â— 1. Mariae 8 fol. 138. cannot be prorogâ—ed or dissolved but by Act of par liamènt There hath been as yet no Act of Parliament in that behalfe And therefore all the Acts of this Parliament are Acts of one Session 5. All Acts of one Session relate to the first day of the Parliament and all the Acts of such a Parliament are acts of one day so the Act for the Trienniall and the Act for this Perpetuall are two Acts of one day by the Law 6. 4 Ed. 3. cap. 36. Ed. 3. cap. 10. A Parliament is to be holâ—en once every yeare and more often if need shall bee those Acts are confirmed by the Act for the Trienniall Parliament How doth a perpetuall Parliament agree with a Parliament once every yeare or with the intention of those Lawes How doth a Parliament every three-years agree with a Parliament for ever which may be if the two Houses please 7. The result is this atâ—ent day in Law this Parliament two acts have passed for howbeit the one was in 16 Carol. and the other in 17 Carol. yet both in Law are Acts of one day the one saith there shall be a Trienniall Parliament after the end of the sitting of this Parliament The other this Parliament shall sit for ever if they please The one will have a Parliament with an end the other a Parliament without an end When an Act of Parliament is against common Right or Reason 1 Pars. Doct. Bon. hams case â—o 11 8. 8. E. 3 3.30.33 E. cassaâ—it 32. 27. H. G. Anuity 41. 1. Eliz. Dâ—er 113. or repugnant or impossible to be performed the Common Law shall controle it and adjudg this Act to be void they are the words of the Law An Act of Parliament that a Man shall be judg in his own Cause is a void Act. Hobbart Fol. 120. Begin with Common Right It is against Common Right that indebted men should not pay their debts That if any Member of the House of Commons doe any Subject wrong by disseising him of his land or dispossessing him of his goods or blasting of his fame or doing violence to his person that such persons during their lives should not be questioned by a Priviledg of Parliament and that extended also to many other beside themselves common right doth abhor these Enormities which a perpetuall Parliament doth beget besides the utter destruction of al mens actions real personall or mixt 21. Iac c. 16. who have to doe with Parliament-men by the statute of Limitation which confines Suites to certaine yeares For Common Reason Parliaments were ordained for remedies to redresse publique greivances it is against reason they should make publique and insufferable Grievances The Law of the Land allowes no protection for any men imployed in the service of the Kingdome but for a yeare to be free from Suites and in many Suites none at all howbeit he be in such service 39. H. 6.39 but a Parliament perpetuall may prove a protection not for a yeare but for ever which is against all manner of reason For impossibility The death of his Majesty whose life God prolong dissolves 〈◊〉 necessarily for the Writ of Summons iâ— Carolus Rex in hoc individuo and Carolus Rex is in this particular habiturus colloquium tractatum cum prelat is
and in laying Burdens upon the people and in breaking all the Oathes Vowes and promises they ever made As the Army hath power 2 3 E 6. c. 2. 11 H 7 c. 1. Calvins case 7. pars Cook fol. 11 so now adhering to the King all the Lawes of God Nature and Man are for them their Armies are just and blessed and the King is bound in justice to reward his Deliverers with honour profit and meere Liberty of conscience To the VI. Quaere All the sixth Quaere containes calumnies cast upon the Army the new Elections are against all the Lawes mentioned in the Margin and are against the Ejection of the old Members and by this it may be judged 11 M 4 c. 1 1-h 5 0 1.8 h 6 c. 7 23 h. 6 c. 15. what a House of Commons we have By the said Lawes it appeares that if any undue returne be made the person returned is to continue a Member the Sheriffes punishment is two hundred pounds one to the King and the other to the party that is duly elected Imprisonment for a yeare without Bail or mainprize and that person who is unduly returned shall serve at his own charge and have no benefit at the end of the Parliament by the Writ De solutione Militum Civium Burgensium Parliament And the trial of the falsity of the returne is to be before the Justices of Assizes in the proper county or by action of Debt in any Court of Record This condemnes the Committee for undue Elections 3. Ed. 4.20.5 Ed. 4.42 which hath been practised but of late times for besides these Lawes it is a-Maxime of the Common Law art Averment is not receivable against the returne of the Sheriffe for his Returne is upon Oath which Oath is to be credited in that Suit wherein the Returne is made The said Statutes condemne Elections of such men who were not resâ—ant and dwelt in the County or Boroughs for which they were returned and any abusive practise of late times to the contrary is against the Law and ought not to be allowed To the VII Quaere The Quaerist saith that the Votes of the Independents in the Houses were arbitrary exorbitant and irregular and that they disposed and singred more of the common Treasure than others That whole Quare I believe is false and slandeâ—ous and the Author ought to make it good or else to undergo the Law of Talnio 37. Ed. 5. c. 17. which is to suffer such punishment failing of his poof as the accused should in case of proofe made To the VIII Quaere This Quaere is all minatory and threatning and the contrary of every part is true by the deliverance of the King and Kingdom from the bondage of that party in the 2 Houses by the Army their renown will be eversasting they secure themselves they content and please the Kingdome City and Countrey as appeares by their confluence to see his Majesty and the Army and their acclamations for his Majesties safety and restitution all which doth evidence to every one of the army how acceptable the intentions of the Army are to the people of this Land who have been so long inthralled Sir Thomas Fairfaâ— let your Worthinesse remember your extraction and your Ladies by the grace and favour of the Prince to be in the ranke of Nobility Remember what honour and glory the present Age and all posterity will justly give to the Restorer of the King to his Throne of the Lawes to their strength and of the afflicted people of this Land to peace Let the Colonels and Commanders under You and likewise your Souldiery rest assured that they shall not only share in the renowne of this Action but also shall have such remuneration as their haughty Courage and so high a virtue doth deserve This his Majesty can and will do the Houses neither will nor can and God blesse you all and prosper you I Conclude all as I have alwayes done without an Act of Oblivion a generall pardon the arrears of the Souldiery paid and a regard to Liberty of conscience this Kingdom will certainly be ruined Iudge Ienkins PLEA delivered into the Earl of Manchester and the Speaker of the House of COMMONS Sitting in the CHANCERY at WESTMINSTER Which was read by their Command in open Court the 14th of Febr. 1647. And there avowed By DAVID IENKINS Prisoner in NEVVGATE LONDON Printed In the Yeare 1648. Judge Jenkin's PLEA Delivered in to the Earle of Manchester and the Speaker of the House of COMMONS sitting in the CHANCERY at WESTMINSTER I Have been required to appear in the Chancery the Twelfth of this instant February before Commissioners appointed by the two Houses for the keeping of their Great Seal and managing the Affaires of the Chancery I cannot nor ought nor will submit to this power I am a Judge sworne to the Lawes The Law is First that this Court is Câ—ram Râ—gâ— in Cancellaria 4 pars instfol 79 â— E 4 fol 5 â— E 4 f 15 Secondly the Chancellor or Keeper of the great Seale is by delivery of the Great Seale to him by the KING and by taking of an Oath The Oath followeth in these words 1. 42 pars inâ—â— 10 R 2 rot Parlanum â— Well and truly to serve our Sovcraigne Lord the King and his people in that Office 2. To do right to all manner of people poor and rich after the Laws and usages of this Realm 3. Truly to Counsell the King and his Coun cell to conceate and keep 4. Not to suffer the hurt or disheriting of the King or that the rights of the Crown be decreased by any means â—â—farre as he may let it 5. If he may not let it be shall maâ— it clearly and expresly to be knowne tâ— the King with his advice and counâ— sell 6. And that be shall do and purchase the Kings profit in all that he reasonably may as God him help and the contents of Gods book The said Commissioners among others have Imprisoned their King Declar. 17 Ian. 1647 have declared to the Kingdome that they will make no Addresses or Applications to him nor receive any from him Have counterfeited a new great Seal Articulisup chartrs c. 5 and after destroyed the true old great Seale which belonged by the Law to the Kings custody These Commissioners have had no Seale delivered to them by his Majesty have taken no such Oath or full ill kept it and for these evident reasons grounded upon the sundamental Lawes of this Land these Commissioner have neither Court Scale or Commission and therefore I ought not against â—he Lawes against my knowledg and against my conscience submit to their power To affirâ—e that they maintaine the Kings power and authority in relation to His Lawes as they often do and restraine only his person is strange They must be remembred that the House of commons this Parliament gave in charge to Mr. Solicitor upon the prosecution of the
will not come to them and yet the King desires to come but they wil not suffer him but keepe him prisoner at Holmby so well doe their Actions and Oathes agree 5. They sweare now King Charies is their only and supreame Governor but with a resolution at the time of the Oath taking and before and after that he shall not be only or supreame Governour or only and supreame but not any Governour at all For there is no point of Government but for some yeares past they have taken to themselves and used his name only to abuse and deceive the people 6. That this virtuall power is a meere fiction their Propositions sent to Oxford to Neweastle to be signed by the King doe prove it so What needs this adoe if they have the virtuall Power with them at Wistminster 7. To affirme that the Kings power which is the vertue they talke of is separable from his person is High Treason by the Law of the Land which is so declared by that learned man of the Law Sir Edward Cocke so much magnified by this present Parliament who in the 7 part of his Reports in Calving case fol. 11 saith thus In the reigne of Edward the second the Supencers the Father and Sonne to cover the Treason hat hed in their hearts invented this damnable and damned opinion that homage and Oath of Legeance was more by reason of the I Kings Crowne that is of his potitick capacity theu by reason of ohe person of the King upon which â—â—inion they inferred three execraâ—le and detestable consequences h. If the King to not demeaue himselfe by reason in the right of his Crowne his Lieges are bound â—y Oath to remove the King 2 seeing that the King â—ould not be retormed by â—nte of Law that ought so be dene per aspertes that is by orce 3. That his Lieges be beund to governe in â—yde of him and in default of him all which wâ—re condemned by two Parliaments one in the raigue of Edw. 2. called exilium Hugonis le Spencer and the other in anno 1. Edw 3 cap. 2. And that the naturall body and politick maks one indivisible body that these two bodies incorporate in one person make one body and not divers is resolved as the Law of Eng. 4 Ed 3 Ploydon Com. fol. 213 by Sir Co bet Catlin L. Chiefe Justice of Eng. Sir Iâ—mes Dâ—er L. Chief Justice of the Common pleas the L. Sanders L. Chief Baron of the Excheâ—ner by the rest of the Judges viz. Justice Restall Justice Browne Justice Corbet Justice weston Baron Frevylâ— Carus and Powâ—rel Sergeant to the Queene Gerrard Auturny Generall Carell Atturney of the Dutchy Pâ—owdon the learnedest man of that age in the knowledge of the Law and Customes of the Realme 8. The Law in all ages without any controversie is and hath been that no Act of Parliament bindes the Subjects of the Land without the assent of the King â— Hâ—â— 3 Mogn Charta So in every Age till this dâ—y and in every Kings time as appeares by the Acts in Print 1 part of the Iustit Sect. 234. 〈◊〉 fine where many of the Law-Bookes are â—iied 7 Hen. 7.14.12 of Hen. 7.20 either for Person Lauds Goods or Fame No man can shew any sillable letter or line to the contrary in the bookes of the Law or printed Acts of Parliament in any age in this Land If the virtuall power be in the Houses there needs no assent of the Kings The stiles of the Acts printed from 9 Hen. 3. to 1 Hen. 7. were either The King ordaines at his Parliament c. or the King ordaineth by the advâ—ee of his Prelates and Barâ—â—rs and at the humble Petition of the Commons c. In Hen. 7. his time the Stile altered and hath fithence continued thus It is oâ—dained by the Kings Majesty and the Lords spirituall and temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled So that alwayes the Assent of the King giveth the life to all as the soule to the body and therefore our Law bookes call the King the Fountaine of Justice and the life of the Law 9. 2 Han. 4 Cap 22 4 pars instit 42. Mr. â—â—in in his Treatise of the great Seal fol. 17.27 Hen. 8 Chap. 24. Mercy as well as Justice belongs by the Law of the Land onely to the King This is confessed by Mr. Pryn and it is so without any question The King can onely pardon and never more cause to have sufficient pardons then in such troublesome times as these and God send us pardons and peace None can give any pardon but the King by the Law of the Land The whole and sole power of pardoning Treasons and Felonies belongs to the King are the words of the Law and it is a delusion to take it from any other and utterly invalid 27. Hen. 8. c. 24. 10. Queene Elizabeth summoned her first Parliament to bee held the 23. of Jan. in the first yeare of her Majesties Raigne The Lords and commons assembled by force of the same Writ the 21 day the Queen fell sick and could not appeare in her person in Parliament that day and therefore prorogued it untill the 25 of the same Month of January Resolved by all the Judges of England that the Parliament began not the day of the returne of the Writ 3 of Eliz. Dier 2â—3 viz. the 23. of January when the Lords and Commons appeared but the 25 of the said Moneth when the Queene came in person which sheweth evidently that this virtuall presence is a meere deluding fiction that hath no ground in Law reason or sence They have the King now a prisoner at Holmby with guards upon him and yet they governe by the virtuall power of their prisoner These are some few of the causes and reasons which moved me to deliver that paper to Mr. Corbet which I am ready to justifie with my life and should hold it a great honour to dye for the honourable and holy Lawes of the Land that which will save this Land from destruction is an Act of Oblivion and his Majesties gracious generall pardon the Souldiers their Arrears and euery man his own and truth and Peace established in the Land and a favourable regard had to the satisfaction of tender Consciences April 29. 1547. David Ienkins THE ARMIES INDEMNITY WITH ADDITION Together with a DECLARATION SHEWING How every Subject of ENGLAND ought to be tried for Treasons Felonies and all other Capital Crimes as is set down in the Lawes of the LAND By DAVID IENKINS now Prisoner in the Tower of London Printed in the Yeare 1648. The Armies Imdemnity c. UPon the publishing of the Ordinance of the 22 of May last for the Indemnity of the Army certaine Gentlemen well affected to the peace of the Kingdome and safety of the Army desired mee to set down in writing whether by the Law of the Land the said Ordinance did secure them from danger as to
Soueraign Lord calling to remembrance the duty of Allegiance of his Subjects of this his Realm and that they by reason of the same are bound to serue their Prince and Soueraigne Lord for the 〈◊〉 being in his Wars for the defence of him and the land against euery rebellion power might raised reared against 〈◊〉 and with him to â—â—er and abide in seruice in battell if â—ase so require and that 〈◊〉 the same service what fortune euer fall by chance in the same battel against the mind and will of the Prince as in this land sometime passed hath béen seen that it is not reasonable but against al laws reason good conscience that the said subjects going with their Soueraign Lord in Wars attending upon him in his person or being in other places by his coÌ„mandement within this Land or without any thing should lose or forfeit for doing their duty or seruice of Allegiance It be therefore ordained enacted and established by the King our Soueraign by the advice and assent of his Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by authority of the same that from hence forth no manner of person or persons whatsoeuer he or they be that attend upon the King and Soueraign Lord of this land for the time being in his person and do him true and faithfull seruice of Allegiance in the same or be in other places by his commandement in his wars within this land or without that for the said déed and true duty of Allegiance he or they be in no wise convict or attaint of high treason nor of other offences for that cause by Act of Parliament or otherwise by any processe of Law wherby he or any of them shal lose or forfeit life lands tenements rents possessions heriditaments goods chattels or any other things but to bee for that déed and service utterly dischar ged of any vexation trouble or loss And if any Act or Acts or other process of the Law hereafter thereupon for the same happen to be made contrary to this Ordinance that then that Act or Acts or other process of Law whatsoever they shall be shall bee utterly voyd Prouided alwaies that no person or persons shall take any benefit or aduantage by this Act which shall hereafter decline from his or their said Allegiance Cap. 24. In the Statute of 27. H. 8. It is enacted that no person or persons of what estate or degrée soever they be of shall haue any power or authority to pardon or remit any Treason Murders Man slaughters or any other Felonies c. but that the King shall haue the sole and whole power and authority thereof united knit to the Imperiall Crown as of right it appertaineth c. And in the same Statute it is enacted further That none shal haue power of what estate degrée or condition soeuer they be to make Iustices of Eyre Iustices of Assize Iustices of Peace c but all such Officers and Ministers shal be made by Letters-Paâ—ents under the Kings great Seal in the name and by the authority of the King and his Heires Successors Kings of this Realm In the first ear of Queen Mary and the first Chapter It is enacted by the Quéen with the consent of the Lords Conmions That no déed or offence by act of Parliament made treason shall be taken deemed or adjudged to be â—igh Treason but only such as be declared and expressed to be Treason by the Act of Parliament made 25. Ed cap. 2. before mentioned A Declaration of Mr. David Jenkins now Prisoner in the Tower of London one of His Majesties Iudges in Wales for tryals of Treasons Murthers Felonies and all other capitall crimes that they ought only to be by Juries and not otherwise unless it be by Act of Parliament THe Common Law of this Land is that every Freeman is subject to a tryall by bill of Attainder in Parliament wherein His Majesty and both Houses must necessarily concur for that tryall and attainder is an Act of Parliament to which all men are subject to a Mag. Charta 19. 2 part inst fol 28 29.46 48 49 50. composed by Sir Ed. Cook and published by the Order of the House of Commons in May 1641. 4 pars instit fol. 41.356 No man shall otherwise be destroyed c. but by the lawfull judgement of his Peers or by the common Law of the Land Peeres to Noblemen are Noblemen Peeres to the ComoÌ„ns are Knights Gen c. Judgement of peers referres to peers those words The Law of the Land refers to the Commons the Law of the Land is for the tryall of the life of a free Commoner by indictment presentment of good and lawfull men where the deed is done or by Writ originall of the common Law all this is declared in Magna Charta c. 29 and by 25 Ed. 3. c. 4.28 Ed. 3. c. 3.37 Ed. 3 c. 8.42 Ed. 3. c. 3. If the Lords wil try any man by an Ordinance they destroy that excellent Act of Magna Charta and all those other good Laws Sir Simon de Bereford a free Commoner of England was condemned by the Lords to death by an Ordinance which after the Lords better considering the matter that they might be acquitted of that sentence became suiters to the King that what they had done in future time might not be drawn into president because that which they had done was against the Law b Rot. Par. roul 4. â— 2 Num. 2. part inst p. 50 with this agrees Sir Iohn Lees case Rot. Par. 42. â— 3. Num. 22.23 2. inst f. 50. with this agrees the practise and usage of all times in this Land all the free Commoners of this Kingdome hath alwayes been tryed and acquitted or condemned in capitall causes by Iurers of their equals An Ordinance bindeth not in Law at all c See 4. p. inst f. 23.48.232.298.292 2. p. inst f. 47 48.157.643 4. H. 7. faâ— 1. H. 7. f. 14.3 p. inst f. 41. and but pro tempore as the two Houses now affirme a man's life cannot be tried by that which is not binding and to continue for all times for a life lost cannot be restored By an Act of Parliament of the 1. 2. Philâ—p and Mary c. 10. It is enacted that all trials for Treason hereafter to be had shall be according to the course of the Common Law and not otherwise If the crime charged upon any be Treason against the two Houses against the Parliament it caannot be for there is no Parliament without the King That is no Treason in Law as appeares by 25. Ed. 3. c. 2. 11. R. 2. c. 3. 1. H. 4. c. 10. 1. 2 Philip and Mary c. 10. 3. part of the Institutes page 23 An Act of Parliament to make any a Iudge where he is party is a void act d Dr Bonams case 8. part of Cooks Reports for none can be a Iudge and party in the
Inne and of the rest of the Innes of Court and to all the Professors of the LAW I Have now spent Forty five yeares in the Study of the Laws of this Land being my Profession under and by the conduct of which Lawes this Common-wealth hath flourished for some ages past in great splendor and happinesse jam seges est ubi Troja fuit The great and full body of this Kingdome hath of late yeares fallen into an extreame sicknesse it is truely said that the cause of the disease being knowne the disease is easily cured There is none of you I hope but doth heartily wish the recovery of our common parent our native countrey Moribus antiquis stat res Britannica I call God to witnesse that this discourse of mine hath no other end then my wishes of the common good how farre I have been from Ambition my life past and your owne knowledge of me can abundantly informe you and many of you well know that I ever detested the Ship-money and Monopolies and that in the beginning of this Parliament for opposing the excesses of one of the Bishops I lay under three Excommunications the Examination of seventy seven Artioles in the high Commission Court His sacred Majesty God is my witnesse made me a Judge in the parts of Wales against my will and all the meanes I was able to make and a patent formy place was sent me for the which I have not paid one farthing and the place is of so inconsiderable a benefit that it is worth but 80. l. per Annum when paid and it cost me every yeare I served twice as much out of my owne estate in the way of an ordinary and frugall expence That which gave me comfort was that I knew well that his Majesty was a just and a prudent Prince In the time of the Atturneyships of Mastor Noy and the Lord Banks they were pleased to make often use of me and many referrences concerning suits at Court upon that occasion came to my knowledge and as I shall answer to God upon my last account this is truth that all or most of the referrences which I have seene in that kind and I have seene many were to this effect that his Majesty would be informed by his Councell if the suits preferred were agreeable to the Lawes and not inconvenient to his people before he would passe them what could a just and pious Prince doe more Gentlemen you shall finde the cause and the Cure of the present great distemper in this discourse and God prosper it in your hands thoughts and words as the case deserves Hold to the Lawes this great body recovers forsake them it will certainely perish I have resolved to tender my selfe a Sacrifice for them as cheerefully and I hope by Gods assistance as constantly as old Eleazer did for the holy Lawes of his Nation Your Well-wisher David Jenkins Now Prisoner in the Tower LEX TERRAE THe Law of this Land hath three grounds First Custome Secondly Iudiciall Records Thirdly Acts of Parliament The two latter are but declarations of the Coumon-Law and Custoâ—e of the Realme touching Royall Government And this Law of Râ—yall Gâ—vernment is a â—aw Fundamentall The Government of this Kingdome by a Râ—yall Soveraigne The Kings Prerogative is a principall part of the common Law Com. Lital 34â— 27 Hen. 8. Stamford Praâ— fol. 1. 2 Pars inflit fol. 496 3 Parsinstit pag. 84. hath been as ancient as History is or the memoriall of any time what power this Soveraignty alwaies had and used in warre and peace in this Land is the scope of this discourse That Vsage so practised makes therein a Fundamentall Law and the Common Law of the Land is common Vsage Plâ—wdens Commentaries 195. For the first of our Kings sithence the Norman Conquest the first William second William Henry the first Stephen Henry the second and Richard the first the Customes of the Realme touching Royall Government were never questioned The said Kings injoyed them in a full measure In King Iohns time the Nobles and Commons of the Realme conceiving that the ancient Customes and Rights were violated and thereupon pressing the said King to allow them in the seventeenth of King Iohn the said Liberties were by King Iohn allowed and by his Sonne Henry the third after in the niâ—th yeare of his Reigne confirmed and are called Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta declared foure hundred twenty two yeares sâ—hence by the said Charters Now â—ests to be considered after the Subjects had obtained their Rights and Liberties which were no other then their ancient Customes and the fundamentall Rights of the King as Soveraigne are no other How the Rights of Soveraignty continued in practise from Henry the thirds time untill this present Parliament of the third of November 1640. for before Henry the thirds time the Soveraignty had a very full Power Rex habet Potestatem jurisdictionem super omnes qui in Regno suo sunt Bracton temp H. 3. l. 4 cap. 24. Sect. 1. ea quae sunt jurisdictionis paucis ad nullum pertinent nisi ad Regiam dignitatem habet etiam coercionem ut Delinquentes puniat coerceat This proves where the supreme Power is A Delinquent is he who adhears to the Kings Enemies Com. Sur. Litil 261. This shewes who are Delinquents Omnis sub Rege ipse sub nullo nisi tantum Deo nonest inferior sibi Subjectis Soct 5. Bracâ— ibid. non parem habet in Regno suo This shewes where the supreme power is Rex non habet superiorem nisi Deum satis habet ad poenam quod Deum expectat ultorem Bracton l. 5. tract 3. de delaiti cap. 3 Bracton l. 3 cap. 7. This shewes where the supreme power is Treasons Fellonies and other Pleas of the Crowne are propria causa Regis This shewes the same power By these passages it doth appeare what the Custome was for the power of Soveraignty before that time the power of the Militia of coyning of Money of making Leagues with forraigne Princes the power of pardoning of making of Officers c. All Kings had them the said Powers have no beginning Sexto Edw. 1. Com. Sur. Eittl 85. Lege Homage every Subject owes to the King viz. Faith de Membro de vita de terreno Honore the forme of the Oath Edward 1. inter vetera statuta is set downe We read of no such or any Homage made to the two Houses but frequently of such made by them It is declared by the Prelates Earls Barons and Commonalty of the Realme that it belongeth to the King and his Royall Segniory â— Ed. 1. Strasuâ—e at large fol. 42. straitly to defend force of Armour and all other force against the Kings peace at all times when it shall please him and to punish them that shall doe contrary according to the Law and Usage of the Realme and hereunto they are bound to ayd their
60. 4. p. inst p. 1. It is true the King cannot controule or prevent his other Courts for that they are his ordinary Courts of common Justice to administer common right unto all men according to the fixed Lawes The Houses make no Court without the King they are no Bodie corporate without the King nor Parliament without the King they all make one corporate Bodie one Court called the Parliament whereof the King is the Head and the Court is in the Lords House where the King is present and as a man is no man without a head so the Houses severed from the King as now they are have no power at all and they themselves by levying War against the King and imprisoning of him have made the Statute for not dissolving adjourning or proroguing this Parliament of no effect by the said Acts of their own they sit to no purpose without his assent to their Bills they will not suffer him to consult with them and treat and reason with them whereby He may discerne what Bils are fit to passe and what not which in all Ages the Kings of this Land have enjoyed as their undoubted Rights and therefore they sit to no purpose by their own disobedience and fault For the ordinary Courts at Westminster 27. H. 8. c. â—4 28. H. 8.11 Dier the Judges in all those Courts are Judges by the Kings patent or Writ otherwise they are no Judges the Houses can make no Judges 2. â— 3.11 they are no Judges at all who are made by them the whole and sole power of making Judges belongs to the King the King cannot controul or prevent his own Judges from â—itting and acting but the Houses He may for they are not the Kings Judges but the judges of the â—â— Houses In his other Courts the King commits his power to his Judges by his patent and they are sworne to do common right to all men and the King is sworn not to let them from so doing the King cannot judge in those Courts nor controul but the King is both Judge and Controuler in the Court of Parliament Quoad Acts for his assent or dissent doth give life or death to all Bills Many Lawyers have much to answer to God this Kingdom and to posteritie for puzling the people of this Land with such Fancies as the Gentleman who wrote the Answer to my Paper and others have published in these Troubles which have been none of the least causes of the raising and continuing of them And so I have done with the first part of this Answer AD. 2. For the Non sequitur in the second Section of the Gentl. Answer the Antecedent and the Consequent are his own Quem recitas meus est O Fidentine libellus Sed malè dum recitas incipit esse tuus My words are that the King is not virtually in the two Houses at Westminster to enable them to grant pardons for that whole and sole power by the Law belongs to the King My paper hath no such thing 27. H. 8. c. 24. as that the Kings power cannot be derived to others or the virtue of his power For his power and the virtue of his power â— in all patents to his Judges in harâ—ers to Corporations in Commission of all sorts and in the Parliament assembled by force of his Writ of Summons so long as they obey him but when they renounce that power and claim it not from the King and declare to the Kingdom that he is not in condition to govern and imprison him and usurp to themselves all Royal Authoritie as the two Houses now do no reasonable man can affirme that they Act by the power of their Prisoner who hath no power to give them that by force of Armes take all power unto themselves The Gent saith The King grants Commissions dayly of Oyre and Terminer which he cannot frustrate nor elude The King may revoke and discharge the Commission by his Writ as he may remove all Judges and place other men in their room and any Kings death determines all the Judges Patents at Westminster Hal Commission of Oyre and Terminer c And so he might dissolve both Houses in all times 4. â— 4.39 5. â— 4.4 1. Eliâ— Dier 165. 1. Mar. Brooks case 〈◊〉 by his Writ under the Great Seal untill that in this Parliament by his own concession the King of his goodnesse had secluded himselfe which goodnesse hath been full ill requited The Gentl. affirmes That the power the Parliament hath is concurrent from the King and Kingdom which he conceives is proved by the grant of Subsidies to the King by the Parliament 4. pars 〈◊〉 pag. The mistaking of this word Parliament hath been mischievous in these times to this Land and it is affectedly mistaken which makes the sin the greater for the two Houses are not the Parliament as before is declared and at this time so to inculcate it when all men know that of the 120. Peers of this Kingdom who were temporal Peers before the Troubles there are now not above 30. in the Lords House and in the House of Commons about 200. of the principal Gentlemen of the Kingdom left the House and adhered to his Majesty who is imprisoned by them shewes no such candor as is to be desired It is true that no Tallage can be laid upon the people of this Land but by their consent in Parliament as appeareth by the Lawes mentioned in the Margent but you shall finde in M. Seldens learned Book called Mare clausum a number of presidents in Henry the Thirds time for Ship-mony justly condemned this Parliament to the which his Majesty assented and in truth that Ship-money was condemned before by the said two Statutes of 25. E. 1 34. E. 1. de Tallagio non concedendo 25. E. 1. confirmatio chartarum c. 6. 34. H. 1. c. 1. de Tallagio non concedendo Dangelet Englishely and many grievous Burthens were laid upon the people and born untill that memorable Princes time But I am of opinion that the common Law of the Land did alwayes restrain Kings from all Subsidies and Tallages but by consent in Parliament which doth appear by Magna Charta the last chapter where the Prelates Lords and Communalty gave the King the fifteenth part of their moveables In truth it is no manner of consequence because the King cannot take what he pleaseth of the Subjects goods that therefore they have a concurrent power in Parliament there have been many Parliaments and no Subsidies granted parliaments may be without Subsidies but Subsidies cannot be without parliaments of ancienâ— times parliaments rarely granted any unlesse it were in the time of forrâ—igne Warres and in my time Queen Elizab. refused a Subsidie granted in parliament and in the parliament of 1. Iac. none were granted The Gentl. should make a conscience of blinding the people with such untrue colours to to the ruine of the King and people AD. 3. The Gentl.