the writs and lists of summons by which they are distinguished from the Laymen mentioned in those writs and lists And that one Bishop elect summoned amongst the Bishops to Parliament was yet summoned as one of the Kings Counsil by an other writ What ever else is worthy Observation touching these writs or lists of persons summoned I have noted already in the precedent recitals of them 9ly That though the Kings Justices and others of his Counsil summoned to our Parliaments were no real essential Members of them but rather Assistants to the King and Lords yet they had a very great hand power authority not only in making Ordinances Proclamations desciding all weighty controversies regulating most publike abuses and punishing all Exorbitant Offences out of Parliament in the Star-chamber and elsewhere Coram Rege et CONSILIO SVO as is evident by 19 E. 3. Fitzh Judgement 24. 20 Asâ— 14. Br. Dures 12. 39 E. 3. f. 14. b. Brook Judges 13. Judgment 117. 43 Ass. 15. 38. Register pars 1. f. 191. b. pars 2. f. 124. b. 125. a. 13 E. 4. f. 9 10. 27 H. 6. 5. b. 2 R. 3. f. 2. 10 11. 1 H. 7. f. 3. 4. Brooke Parliament 37. 105. Fitz. Parl. 2. 135. An Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower p. 157 169 197 426 428 459 460 560 591 638 641 651. Lambardi Archaion p. 108. to 116. and the records there cited transcribed by Sir Edward Cook in his 4 Institutes c. 5 Cromptons Jurisdiction of Courts f. 29. c. de Court de Starr-chamber et matters avant LE COVNSELL LE ROY Ashes Tables Courts 2. and the Lawbooks Statutes there cited with others anon remembred but likewise in receiving answering all sorts of Petitions determining adjudging all weighty doubtfull cases pleas yea in making Acts Ordinances Statutes and transacting all weighty affaires concerning the King or kingdome even in Parliaments themselves when summoned to them by the premised writs which being not commonly known to the Kings Counsill or others nor insisted on nor cleared up by Sir Edward Cooke or any others who have written of our PARLIAMENTS I shall briefly and satisfactorily illustrate by these four following particulars 1. By sundry Petitions upon several complaints and occasions presented and directed to the King and HIS COUNSELL OR SAGE OR GOOD COUNSEL in sundry of our antient Parliaments entred in the Clause and Parliament rolls more especially in Claus. Anno 1. E. 3. pars 1. 2. Where multitudes of Petitions are thus directed A nostre Signâ—ur le Roy et ASON COVNCILL Au BON COVNCIEL nostre Signior le Roy c. Which Petitions were usually answered and determined sometimes By the KING and His COVNSELL joyntly other times by His COVNSEL alone and sometimes by the King with the assent or advice of his COVNSEL as these entries Coram Rege CONSILIO concessum est emendatum per agard de toute LE COVNSELL soit le COVNCIEL certifie Coram CONSILIO NOSTRO in praesenti Parliamentâ— venire faciatis scriptum praedictum ad faciend inde ulterius quod per idem CONSILIVM NOSTRVM ibidem CONTIGERIT ORDINARI Videtur CONSILIO Il semble AV COVNCIEL que ce est bone affaire Veniat Inquisitio CORAM CONSILIO Place at Dom. Regi CONSILIO SVO ordinare with the like most frequently occurring in these Petitions and the answers to the proceedings and resolutions upon them abundantly evidence 2. By this subscription or addition to many Writs Patents Charters in the Clause Patent Charter and Parliament Rolls per ipsum Regem Consilium in Parliamento being all made issued granted approved entred by Order of the King and those of His COUNSIL in Parliament 3. By the Placita coram ipso DOMINO REGE ET EJUS CONSILIO AD PARLIAMENTA SUA AD PARLIAMENTUM SUUM c. recorded in the Parchment Book of Pleas in the Tower of London â— Wherein the Proceedings and the Judgments on them were given sometimes by the Kings COVNSELL alone sometimes by the King and his COUNSELL and other times by the King with the advice of the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Barons and others or the rest of His COUNSELL and sometimes Fines and Recognizances were acknowledged before the COUNSELL in Parliament To instance in some particulars In the Placita coram ipso Domino Rege et ejus Consilio ad Parliamenta sua post festum Sancti Hillarii et etiam post Pascha Anno 18 E. 1. Willielmus de Wasthull quaeritur Domino Regi et ejus Consilio per quandam petitionem against a deceit and covin in levying a fine Iohannes Comes de Dewe venit coram Rege et ejus Consilio ad Parliamentum suum post Pascha c. petiit c. So Domino Regi et ejus Consilio Johannes Episcopus Wynton alias coram Auditoribus quaerelarum monstâ—avit c. Petrus Maulore venit coram Domino Rege et ejus Consilio ad Parliamentum c. et petiir c. Dominum Regem et ejus Consilium certiorari faciant Querela Willielmi de Valentia Consilio Domini Regis in Anglia dum Rex suit in Vasconia Macolomus de Harlegh monstravit Consilio Regis per quandam petitionem c. So Placita Parliamenti apud Clipston Asherugg c. Anno 18 E. 1. Margeria de Mose uxor Thomae de Weyland Ricardus filius ejusdem Thomae monstraverunt Domino Regi et ejus Consilio c. coram ipso Domino Rege et ejus Consilio venerunt praedicti Cemites Gloucestr Hereford Quod ipsi habeant corpora eorundem Comiâ—um coram ipso Domino Rege et Consilio suo c. ad faciendum et recifiendum id quod Dominus Rex de Consilio suo duxerit ordinandum Prior de Goldelyne queritur Domino Regi et ejus Consilio de hoc c. Memorandum quod Recordum quod Episcopus Wynton et socii sui miserunt coram Consilio de magno placito Abbatis de Rupl c. Robertus Bardolph habet diem per adjornamentum in pleno consilio c. Maria quae fuijâ—uxor Willielmo de Brewosa petiit coram Domino Rege et ejus Consilio versus Willielmum c. medietatem manerii de Wykeham c. Placita coram Rege et Consilio suo ad Parliamentum suum post Pascha apud London Anno 21 E. 1. Willielmus de Mere c. et Reginaldus do Legh coram ipso Domino Rege et ejus Consilio allocuti ad rationem positi de hoc c. Stephanus Rabez Vicecomes Leicestr Warwic coram ipso Domino Rege et ejus Consilio arrenatus ad rationem positus de hoc c. Placita coram ipso Domino Rege et Consilio suo ad Parliamentum suum post festum Sancti Michaelis Ann. 21 E. 1. Malcolinus de Harley Eschaetor Domini Regis citra Trentam monstravit Domino Regi et ejus Consilio c. et super hoc
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-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
King being both Caput Principium finis Parliamenti as Modus tenendi Parliamentum Sir Edward Cooke and others resolve our Parliaments living and dying with our Kings and determining when summoned and sitting by the Kings decease since they can neither treat nor confer with him of any businesses concerning him or his Kingdome nor be his Parliament after his death as the Parliaments of 1. H. 4. rot Parl. n. 1. 2. 3. 1. H. 5. rot Parl. n. 16. 4. E. 4. f. 44. Cooks 4. Instit. p. 46. adjudge the Parliament of 23. R. 2. dissolving by this resignation of the Crown and the Parliaments of 14 H. 4. and 24. Iacobi being dissolved by their respective deaths as their Judges and Parliaments resolved and the Parliament of 18. Caroli by the self same reason as I have elsewhere evidenced seeing hee could neither vobiscum cum caeteris Magnatibus Proceribius Regni nostri colloqaium habere Tractatum super diversis arduis negocâ—is Nos Regnum nostrum coâ—tingentibus nor the Commons do and assent hiis quae tunc ibidem per Nâ—s c. ordinari contigerit super negotiis antedictis as the Writs of Summons and Prorogation prescribe 8. That when ever there was a Custos Regni during the Kings absence in forraign parts or a Protector during his Minority the Writs of Summons and Prorogation issued alwaies in the Kings stile name and by his authority and direction and the Teste onely in the Custos or Protectors name with a per ipsum Regens per ipsum Regem Consilium or per ipsum Regem Custodem consilium subjoyned 9. That when our Kings could not be personally present at any Parliament by reason of their wars sickness extraordinary occasions absence in forraign Parts or minority they held them by a Custos Regni or Commissioners authorized by special Commissions issued to them in the Kings name under his Great Seal to hold these Parliaments in his Name and Stead which were publickly read at the beginning of the Parliament and entred in the Parliaments Rolls for which I shall present you with these presidents onely omitting all others of this kind agreeing with them or varying little from them in form or substance The first is this Anno 13. E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 4. Edwardâ—s Dei gratia Rex Angliae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitaniae Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus omnibus aliis ad instans Parliamentum nostrum apud Westm. summonitum conventuris salutâ—m Cum dilectus fidelis noster Edwardus Dux Cornubiae Comes Cestr. filius noster carissimus Custos Regni nostri propter quaedam negocia sibi incumbentia sit ad praesens Parliamentum praepeditus quo minus isto die Iovis in Octabis Sti. Hillarii apud locum praedictum vale at personaliter interesse de circumspectionis industriae magnitudine venerabilis Patris Iohannis Archiepiscopi Cantuar. totius Angliae Primatis discretorum virorum Magistri Willielâ—i de le Zouche Decani Ecclesiae beati Petri Ebor Thesaurarii nostri Ricardi de Willoughby Iohannis de Stonore Iohannis Decani Sti. Pauli plenam fiduciam reportantes ipsos quatuor tres aut duos eorum ad inchoand continuandâ—m Parliamentum praedictum nostri dicti filii nostri nomine ad faciend ea quae Pro Nobis per praedictum filium nostrum facienda fuerint usque adventum filii nostri ibidem Deputamus Assignamus Et ideo vobis mandamus quod iisdem Archiepiscopo The saurario Rico. Iohi. Iohi. quatuor tribus duobus eorum intendentes sit is in praemissis in forma praedicta Teste Edwardo Ducâ— Cornub. Comite Cestr. filio nostro carissimo Custode Angliae apud Langle XIX die Ianuarii Anno Regni nostri tertio decimo The second is thus registred Annâ— 25. E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 1. 2. Edwardus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus Militibus omnibus aliis ad instans Parliamentum nostrum apud Westm Summonitum conventuris salutem Cum Nos ex certis caâ—sis sumus ad partes transmariâ—as profectâ—ri per quod ad primum diem dicti Parliâ—menti forte non poterimus interesse Nos in casu quod citra dictum diem non redeamus Leonello filio nostro carissimo ad inchoand Nomine nostro Parliamentum praedictam ad faciend ea quae pro Nobis per Nos faciâ—ndâ— fuerint usque adventum nostrum ibidem plenam tenore praesentiuâ—â— committimus potestatem Et ideo Vobis mandamus quod eidem filio nostro intendentes sitis in praemissis in forma praedicta In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri â—ecimus patentes Teste mâ—ipso apud Turrim London 20. die Januarii Anno Regni nostri Angliâ—â— 24. Regni vero nostri Franciae undecimo Per ipsum Regem The third is thus recorded in the Parliament Roll of 51. E. 3. n. 1. with this Prologue Enle 15a sâ—int Hilar c. que fuist le primer jour de ce present Parlement trâ—z nobles pâ—issent Sir Richard Prince de Gales Duc de Cornwelle Couâ—te de Cestr. auxint les Prelets Seigneurs Justices Comenes auters que fuerent venuz per Sommons de ce present Parlement sesemblerent en le palayes de Westm. en le Chambre de peinte illoeques en lour presence le dit Prince alos seent in my lieu de uly Cestassavâ—ir en la place du Roy mesâ—es nostre le dit Seigâ—ieur le Roy esteant meismes benemont venier en sa proper persone envoy ast en dit Parlement returnes ses Literes patents â—oâ—z son grant Seale enseales en la form que ensuant Edwardus Dei gratia c. Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Ducibus Comitibus Baronibus militibus omnibus aliis in instanti Parliamento conventuris salutem Cum ex certis cansu sumâ—s ad prâ—â—sâ—ns praepâ—diti ita quod ad primum diem Parliamenti praedicti ad locum praedictum personaliter non poterimâ—s interesse de circumspectionis industriae magnitudine carissimi filii nostri Ricardi Principis Wallia Duciâ— Cornubiae Comitis Cestr plenam fiduâ—iam reportantes eidem filio nostro ad Parliamentum praedictum nostro nomine inchoand ad faciend 〈◊〉 quae pro Nobis per â—os ibidem faciend fuâ—runt plenâ—â—m tenorsâ— praesentium committimus poâ—estatâ—m Et ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem Principi intendentes fitis in praemissis in forma praedicta In cujus Rei c. Teste meipso apud Havering 26. die Jan. Anno Regni nostri Aâ—gliae 51. Franciae 38. The fourth is thus entred Rot. Parl. An. 1. H. 6. n. 1. Fait assavoir 〈◊〉 commâ—ncâ—ment del Parlement tenuz le Lundy prochein de â—aâ—t le feste de Seint Martyn I'aâ— del