Judgement against him Which was done accordingly To these cases of Privilege in the Commons House I shall adde another memorable one in the Lords House in the second Parliament of King Charls The King sitting that Parliament committed the Earl of Arundel to the Tower without leave of the House or acquainting the Lords with the cause thereof Whereupon May 25. 1626. the Lords drew up and sent this Remonstrance and Petition to the King entred in their Journal on record The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Peers MAy it please your Majesty We the Peers of this your Realm now assembled in Parliament finding the Earl of Arundel absent from his place amongst us his presence was therefore called for But thereupon a Message was delivered us from your Majesty by the Lord Keeper That the Earl of Arundell was restrained for a misdemeanour which was personal to your Majesty and lay in the proper knowledge of your Majesty and had no relation to matter of Parliament The Message occasioned us to inquire into the Acts of our Ancestors and what in like cases they had done that so we might not erre in a dutifull respect to your Majesty and yet preserve our Right and Privilege of Parliament And after diligent search made both of all Stories Statutes and Records that might inform us in this case We find it to be an undoubted Right and constant Privilege of Parliament That no Lord of Parliament sitting the Parliament or within the usual times of Privilege of Parliament is to be imprisoned or restrained without Sentence or Order of the House unless it be for Treason or Felony or for refusing to give surety for the Peace And to satisfie our selves the better we have heard all that could be alleged by your Majesties learned Counsel at law that might any way infringe or weaken this claim of the Peers And to all that can be shewed or alleged so full satisfaction hath been given as that all the Peers in Parliament upon the Question made of this Privilege hath una voce consented that this is the undoubted Right of the Peers and hath inviolably béen enjoyed by them Wherefore we your Majesties loyal Subjects andâ—… humble Servants the whole Body of the Peers now in Parliament assembled most humbly beseech your Majesty that the Earl of Aruudel a Member of this Body may presently be admitted by your Gracious favour â—…o come sit and serve your Majesty and the Commonwealth in the Great Affairs of this Parliament And we shall pray c. Vpon this Remonstrance and Petition sent to the King the * Peers presently adjourned their house till the next morning by which time they expected the Earls release but not finding him enlarged the next day May 26. they presently adjourned their House till the 2. of June refusing to sit and resolving not to act any thing till the Earl waâ—… released to sit among them or the particular cause of his Commitment and seclusion declared to them that they might judge of its legality Whereupon the King was inforced to release him to satisfie the Lords House In imitation whereof the (f) whole House of Commons the last Parliament of King Charls upon the Kings comming into the House to demand the 5 Members he had impeached of High Treason January 4. 1641. which they Voted To be an high Breach of the Rights and Privilege of Parliament and inconsistent with the Freedom and Liberty thereof presently adjourned it self and so did the House of Peers too upon his demand of the Lord of Kimbolton refusing to sit as an House but only as a Committee in Loâ—…don for certain dayes till this breach of their Privilages was repaired and their 〈◊〉 restored vindicated cleared by the King who released all further prosecution against them From which Presidents in these Parliaments of King Charles it is observable 1. That it is an antient and undoubted Privilege andâ—… Right of all and every Mrmber of Parliament as well Commoner as Peer as likewise of their necessary Servants and Attendants to be free from all Arrests Imprisonments and restaints whatsoever by the King Council oâ—… any others except only in cases of Treason Felony and Breach Surety of the Peace which was then cleared by 5 H. 4. n. 39. 5 H. 4. c. 6. 8 H. 6. n. 57. 31 H. 6. n. 25 26 27 28. 39 H 6. n. 9. 7 E. 4. n. 36. 4 H. 8. c. 6. 3 Iacobi the Baron of Walâ—…ons case and Sir George Ha 〈…〉 case â—…Caroli to which the Presidents printed in Sir Edward Cooks 4 Institutes p. 24 25. and the Statute of 8 H. 6. c. 1. may be added which declares That the Great men and Commonally of the Realm of Englaud called or to be called to the Kings Parliament do enjoy and were wont to enjoy and in time to come ought to enjoy this liberty or defence in coming tarrying and retorning not to be arrested molested or inquieted and giâ—…es the same Liberty to the Clergy called to the Convocation by the Kings writs and to their Servants and Families Therefore the arresting imprisoning secluding molesting of any Members of late or present times by the Army Officers or others is a most apparent breach of this antient Privilege worthy the severest penalties and speedy reformation 2. That the ground and only reason of this Privilege is that all every member summoned to or elected and returned to serve in Parliament might duly freely and diligently attend his publike trust and service in the Parl. Without molestation restraint seclusion or disturbance as these Presidents Statutes and Records resolve which all and every of them are bound to doe under pain of being amerced sined and otherwayes punished and of losing their wages besides as is clear by the Statute of 5 R. 2. Parl. 2. c. 4. The King doth will and command and it is assented in the Parliament by the Prelates Lords and Commons that all and singularâ—… Persons and commonalties which from henceforth shall have the summons of Parliament shall come from henceforth to the Parliament in the manner as they be bounden to doe and have been accstomed within the Realm of England of old times And every person of the same Realm which from henceforth shall have the said summons be he Archbishop Bishop Abbot Prior Duke Earl Baron Baneret Knight of the Shire Citizen of City Burgesse of Borough or other singular Persâ—…n or Comminalty which doth absent himself or come not at the said Summons except he may reasonably and honestly excâ—…se himself to our Lord the King shall be amerced and otherwise punished as of old times hath used to be done within the said Realm in the said case c. As likewise by the Statutes of 1 H. 5. c. 1. 32 â—… 6. c. 15. 9 H. 8. c. 16. The Act for Triennial 〈◊〉 16 Caroli 31 H. 6. n. 45 46. 8 Martii 23 〈◊〉 Cooks 4 Institutes p. 1 2 4 9 10 15 17 23 24 35 42 to 50 and
without cause shewed Nor any compelled to receive Souldiers or Mariners into their Houses against their wills Nor any man adjudged to death by Martial Law in times of Peace but only by the lawful trial of his 〈◊〉 according to the established Lawes and Custom of the Realm This addition would make the Sense and Construction thereof to be That the King by his Ordinary power and Prerogative could impose no Loan Tax Tallage or other things upon his Subjects without their common consent by Act of Parliament Nor imprison any Freeman without cause shewed Nor billet any Souldiers or Mariners in mens Houses against their wills Nor condemn nor execute any Subject by Martial Law But yet by his Soveraign power wherewith he is intâ—…usted for the Protection Safety and Happinesse of his people here left intirely to him he may when he saw cause and necessity impose what Loans Taxes Impositions and Charges he pleased on his people without common consentâ—… and Act of Parliament imprison them without cause shewed quarter Mariners and Souldiers in their houses against their wills and condemn execute them by Martial Law upon this pretext that it was for the Protection Safety and Happinesse of his people in general All which himself and his Council not the Judges and our Laws must determine And so this Addition if admitted would quite overturn the Petition it self thâ—… Great Charter and all other Acts recited in it and give an intimation to Posterity as if it were the opinion of the Lords and Commons in this Parliament that there is a trust reposed in the King upon some emergent cases and necessities to lay aside as well the Common Law as the Great Charter and other Statutes which declare and ratifie the Subjects Liberty and Property by his Soveraign power And so by consequence to enable him to alter the whole frame and fabriâ—…k of the Commonwealth and dissolve that Government whereby this Kingdom hath flourished for so many year under his Majesties most royal Predecessors Whereas in truth there is in the King no Soveraign Power or Prerogative royal to enable him to dispute with or take from his Subjects that Birthright and Inheritance which they have in their Liberties by virtue of the Common Law and these Statutes which are meerly positive and declarative conferring or confirming ipso facto an inherent Right and Interest of Liberty and Freedom in the Subjects of this Realm as a Birthright and Inheritance descended to them from their Auncestors and descendible to their Heirs and Posterity But the Soveraign power wherewith he is intrusted is only for the protection safety and happinesse of his people in preserving this their inherent Birthright and Inheritance of Liberty and Freedom and those Lawes and Statutes which ratifie and declare them Uponâ—… these and other reasons alleged by the Commons the Lords after three large Conferences agreed fully with the Commons and rejected this destructive 〈◊〉 to the Petition of Right which the Lords and Commons in their * Declaration touching the Commission of Array January 16. 1642. to which many now in power were parties recite insist on and corroborated in Parliament as an undoubted truth If then the King by his absolute Soveraign power wherewith he was intrusted could upon no emergent occasion or 〈◊〉 whatsoever violate elude evade subvert all or any of these fundamental Laws Liberties Rights and Inheritances of the Subject by the joynt unanimous resolution of the Lords and Commons in these two Parliaments of King Charles much lesse then may any other Person or Persons or new Powers do it who condemned him for a Tyrant and suppressed Kingship as tyrannical over burdensome dangerous to the peoples Liberties Safety Prosperity upon any real or pretended Necessity or Emergency whatsoever Much lesse may any true English Parliament permit or enable them upon any pretence to do it in the least degree to the prejudice of 〈◊〉 after so many publick Parliamentary and Military conflicts for these Laws and Liberties The rather because that our Noble Ancestors would admit no Saving or Addition to the Great Charter or any 〈◊〉 for its confirmation that might any wayes impeach their Liberties Rights or Proprieties And when King Edward the 1. in the 28 year of his reign upon the Petition of the Lords and 〈◊〉 granted a New Confirmation of their Charters and in the * close thereof added this Clause Salvo 〈◊〉 Coronae Regis That the right and prerogative of his Crown should be saved to him in all things Which the Lords most insisted on to justify the forementioned rejected Addition to the Petition of Right when it came to be proclamed in London the peopleâ—… hearing this Clause at the end thereof added by the King fell into execration for that Addition and the great Earls who went away satisfied out of Parliament hearing thereof went to the King and complained thereof who promised to redress it as Mr. Selden then informed the Commons house out of a Leiger Book of that year in the publike Library of the Vniversity of Cambridge Whereupon in the Statute De Tallagio non concedendo 34 E. 1. the King to please his discontented Lords and Commons not only granted That no Tallage or Ayd should be taken or levied by us or our heirs in our Realm without the good will and assent of the Archbishop Bishops 〈◊〉 Barons Knights Burgesses and other Freemen of the Land c. 1. But likewise added c. 4. We will and grant for us and our Heirs That all Clerks and Lay-men of our Lvnd shall have their Laws Liberties and Free Customes as they have used to have the same at any time when they had them best And if any Statutes have been made by us or our Ancestors or any Customs brought in contrary to them We will and grant That such 〈◊〉 of Statutes and Customs shall be void and frustrate for evermore Yea King Edward the 3. in pursuance thereof in the Parliament of 42 E. 3. c. 1. assented and accorded That the Great Charter and Charter of the Forest be holden and kept in all points And if any Statute be made to the contrary that shall be holden for none And 〈◊〉 3 It is assented and accorded for the good Government of the Commons that no man be put to answer without Present 〈◊〉 before Justices or matter of Record or by due Process and writ original according to the old Law of the Land And if any thing from henceforth be done to the contrary it shall be void in the Law and holden for Errour And therefore we all jointly and severally expect and claim the like Declaration and Resolution in all these particulars being assented to by King Charls himself in the Petitionâ—… of Right and by these antient Warlike Kings and true English Parliaments from whose vigilancy magninamity unaminity zeal courage in defence of theâ—…e our fundamental Charters Laws Rights Liberties we should now be ashamed to degenerate after so many years wars and vast
Legacy I can leave behind me to my Native Country and the whole English Nation whose real Liberty VVeal Tranquillity Prosperity next to Gods glory and the safety of our endangered Church and Religion hath been the sole scope end of this and all other his publications who though ingratefully despitefully requited for most of them would repute it his greatest infelicity to be enforced or hear other Cordial State-Physicians compelled now at last to say of England as Gods people once did of Babylon Jer. 51. 8 9 10. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed howle for her take balm for her pain If so be she may be healed VVe would have healed Babylon but she is not healed forsake her and let us go every one into his own Country for her judgment reacheth unto Heaven â—… and is lifted up even to the Skies Yet the Lord hath brought forth our righteousnesse as he hath maugre all Enemies Oppositions Slanders the righteousnesse of him who desires thy kind acceptation of this Breviary and prayers for Gods blessing upon this and all other his real endeavours for sick desperately-wounded Englands cure Swainswick Septemb. 6. 1656. William Pâ—…nne A Summary Collection of the principal fundamental Rights Liberties Properties of all English-Freemen c. THe Liberty of the Subjects Persons having in the three first years of our late King Charles his Reign been very much invaded endangered undermined 1. By Imprisonment of their Persons by the Lords of the Council without any special Legal cause assigned in the Warrants for their commitment but only the Kings command 1. By honorable banishments upon pretence of forein imployments 3. By confinements to particular places 4. By remanding and not bayling them by the Judges upon Habeas Corpora sued forth by them 5. By Commissions for Trials of Souldiers and others for their live by Martial Law in times of peace when other Courts of Justice were open and the like The properties of their Goods and Estatâ—…s being likewise much encroached upon and in a great measure subverted 1 By forced Loans and contributions 2. By Lieutenants and Deputy-Lieutenants exorbiâ—… Powers and new rates taxes imposed on and forced from them without grant in Parliament for billeting Souldiers and quartering Souldiers in mens Housesâ—… against their wills till they paid those rates 3. By exacting Tunnage Poundage New customes and impositions without special grant and act of Parliament 4. By an intended Commission of Excise never put in execution and other particulars of like nature And the Liberty of their Free-elections much impeached by Lieutenants and others Letters menaces summoning of trained Bands to elections and the like indirect courses Whereupon the Parliament begun on Monday 17 Martil 3 Caroli in the year of our Lord 1627 to vindicate these their infringed Liberties properties freedomes and preserve them from future violations of this nature after many learned Arguments by Sir Edward Cook Mr. Noy Mr. Selden Mr. Littleton Mr. Masen Mr. Creswel Mr. Shervile Mr. Sherland Mr. Bancks Mr. Rolls Mr. Ball with other Lawyers and able Members of the Commons House passed their 〈◊〉 Votes against them Nemine centradicente fit now to be revived re-established after more dangerous avowed publick Violations of our hereditary Fundamental Liberties Properties by the greatest pretended Military and civil Champions for and Patrons Assertors and Protectors of them than any in former ages as the probablest means under God then and now to cure the mortal distempers and repair the sad divisions 〈◊〉 desolation of our Land (a) Resolved upon the Question 1. That * no Freemau ought to be committed deteined in Prison or otherwise restrained by command of the King or privy Council or any other unless 〈◊〉 cause of the commitment restraint or deteiner be expressed for which by Law he ought to be committed deteined or restrained 2. That a Writ of Habeas Corpus may not be denied but ought to be granted to every man that is committed or deteined in Prison or otherwise restrained â—… although it be by command of the King or Prioy Councill or any other he praying the same 3. That if a Freeman be committed or deteined in Prison or otherwise 〈◊〉 by command of the King or Privy Council or any other no cause of such commitment deteiner or restraint being expressed forthwith for which by Law he ought to be committed restreined or detained and the same being returned 〈◊〉 an Habeas Corpus granted for the same party that then he ought to be delivered or bayled 4. (b) That no Freeman ought to be confined to his House or any other place by any commaud of the King or Privy Council or any other unless it be by * Act of Parliament or by other due course or Warrant of Law 5. (c) That the Commission for martial Law and all other of such nature to be executed within the Land at such times as were appointed by this Commission then questioned to wit in times of peace when the Kings Courts of Law were open and other Legal trials might be had by Juries in Courts of Iustice are against the Law 6. That †billetting and placing of Souldiers or any other person in the House of any Freeman against his will is against the Law 7. (d) That it is the * antient and undoubted Right of every Freeman that he hath a full and absolute propriety in his goods and Estate And that no taxes Tallages loan bonevolence or other charge ought to be commanded imposed or levyed by the King or his Ministers without commou consent by Act of Parliament All which Votes were drawn up and inserted intoâ—… the Petition of Right assented to by the Lords and at last by the King himself in his Answer to that petition as the antient Fundamental Rights and Liberties of all English Freemen And therefore after all our late Parliamentary and Military contests wars for their defence fit to be confirmed ratified by all sorts of Domestick waies and policies by which the great Charter was * antiently confirmed and all violations of them exemplarily punished without any further argument or debate being indisputable principles and foundations whereon all our Liberties Properties as English Freemen are bottomed To which end I would advise that all Civil and Military Officers whatsoever as well Supreme as subordinate all Members of Parliament Barresters Attornies Graduates in our Universities Steward of Leets and Court Barons throughout 〈◊〉 Dominions should from time to time upon and at their investitures into their several Offices Trusts or taking their Degrees be corporally sworn To defend and maintain the Great Charter of England the Petition of Right and other Fundamental Lawes of this Land together with the antient undoubted Rights and Liberties of our English Parliaments according to their late Protestation and Solemn League and Covenant And that all Justices of 〈◊〉 Judges and Justices of the Peace should specially be sworn at every Assizes and Sessions of
the Peace in their respective Circuits Counties Corporations and the Justices of the Kings Bench every Term amongst other Articles to the Grand Iury to give them in charge upon their Oaths diligently to inquire of and present all Offences Exactions Oppressions Taxes Imposts and 〈◊〉 whatsoever against the Great Charter the Petition of Right and other Good Lawes for the preservation of the Liberty Right and Property of the Subject by any person or persons to the end that they may be exemplarily punished according to Law by Fines Imprisonments or otherwise as theâ—… quantity and quality of the Offences deserve It being the * Advice Desire Proposition and Petition of the whole Commons house first and after of the Lords and Commons house joyntly to King Charles in his last Parliament to which he readily assented though never since put into actual execution which is now most necessary to be effectually accomplished for the future having been so long neglected After these Votes and the Petition of Right passed several Impositions upon Wines Currans Tobacco Beer and the taking of Tonnage and Poundage without Act of Parliament being complained of it was by special Votes and Declarations of the Commons House resolved and declared in the same Parliament 8. (e) That the receiving of Tunnage and Poundage and other Impositions not granted by Parliament it * a breach of the fundamental Libberties of this 〈◊〉 and contrary to his Majesties Regal answer to the Petition of Right And those declared Publick Enemies who should thenceforth collect or pay any Customes Tunnage Poundage or Imposts not granted by act of Parliament which was since enacted and declared for Law in the (f) two 〈◊〉 acts for Tunnage and Poundage in the last Parliament of King Charles and all those in a Premunire and disablea to sue in any Court of Justice who shall presume to levy the same without Act of Parliament The case of all Customers Excisemen and their Instruments at this present fit to be made presidents in this kind for the terror of others 9. A Commission from the King under the Great Seal of England directed to 33 Lords and privy Counsellors dated the last of Febr. 3 Caroli stiled (g) a Commission of Excise was complained of and brought into the Commons House and there read which commanded them to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Impositions or otherwise as they in their wisdoms should find convenient forâ—… the safety and defence of the King Kingdom and People the Kings Protestant Friends and Allies which without hazard of all could admit no delay the necessity being so inevitable that form and circumstances must rather be dispensed with than substance lost Injoyning the Commissioners to be diligent in the service as they tendred the safety of his Majesty and of his People Dominions and Allies This Commission of Excise by the unanimous Vote and judgement of the Lords and Commons was resolved to be against Law and contrary to the Petition of Right And thereupon was cancelled as such in his Majesties presence by his own command and was brought cancelled to the Lords House by 〈◊〉 Lord Keeper and by them afterwards sent to the Commons and the Warrant with all 〈◊〉 of it were cancelled and ordered by the Commons that the Prejector of it should be found out and punished Which judgement (h) was thrice recited confirmed and insisted on by the Lords and Commons and some in greatest present power the last Parliament of King 〈◊〉 in printed Speeches and Declarations And if this intended Commission of Excise though never 〈◊〉 was thus frequently damned as 〈◊〉 intollerable and monstrous Grievance against our Laws Properties and the Petition of Right How much more are all present Orders Commissions Warrants for the actual imposing and levying all sorts of Excises on such without any act of 〈◊〉 X. The Commons House in that Parliament upon solemn Argument and Debate concluded That by the Laws of th is Realm none of his Majesties Subjects ought to be impressed or compelled to goe forth of his County to serve as a Souldier in the Wars except in case of necessity of the sudden comming in of strange Enemies into the Kingdom or except they 〈◊〉 otherwaies bound by the Tenures of their Lands or possessions Nor 〈◊〉 sent out of the Realm against his Will upon any foreinâ—… imployment by way of an honorable banishment Which Resolution in the last Parliament of King Charles was 〈◊〉 and declared to be the Law of the Land and fundamental Liberty of the Subject by the (i) Act for impressing Souldiers for Ireland by two D clarations of the Lords and Commons against the Commission of array and assented to by the King in his answer thereunto All which unanimous Votes Resolutions of both Houses having been 〈◊〉 ratified in two several Parliaments in King Charles his Reign whereof some in present Power were Members and enacted by several Statutes assented to by King Charles himself it must needs be the extremity of Impudency Tyranny Treachery Impiety Perjury Barbarism for any who have formerly contested with him in our Parliaments or in the open field for all or any of these premised Fundamental Rights and Liberties of all English Freemen and who vowed protested covenanted remonstrated again and again before God and all the World inviolably faithfully constantly to defend them with their Lives and Fortunes all their daies in their several places and callings and who beheaded him as the Greatest 〈◊〉 together with Strafford and C 〈◊〉 for infringing them to oppose contradict violate 〈◊〉 infringe them all in a more transcendent publike manner than he or his worst Ministers formerly have done and now not really chearfully to corroborate defend transmit them to posterity in full vigor by all good wayes and corroborations that possibly can be devised without the least opposition and dispute to make the Nation free and their own posterity together with it XI After the Petition of Right had passed the Commons House and was transmitted to the Lords the House of Lords desired that this Clause might be addedâ—… to the close thereof We humbly present this Petition to your Majesty not only with a Care of Preservation of our own Liberties but with a due regard to leave intire that Soveraign Power where with your Majesty is trusted for the Protection Safety and Happinesse of your People The Commons aâ—…ter a long and full Debate resolved That this Saving ouâ—…ht to be rejected and by no means to be added to this Petition though very Specious in shew and words for that it would be destructive to the whole Petition and would leave the Subjects in farre worse condition than it found them For whereas the Petition recites That by the Great Charter and other Laws and Statutes of this Land No Loan Tax Tallage or other Charge ought to be imposed on the Subjects or levyed without common consent by Act of Parliament Nor any Freeman of this Realm imprisoned
expences for their preservation and all sacred solemn Protestations Vows Leagues Covenants Declarations Remonstrances and Ordinances engaging us with our lives and fortunes constantly to defend them all the daies of our lives against all oppositioâ—… And if any who pretend to the Name or power of a Parliament should now refuse or neglect to do their duties herein they may justly expect to be had in perpetual detestation and execration both with God and all English Freemen XII It was frequently averred declared (k) by the Commons in this Parliament That the old custome and use of our Parliaments constantly hath been and ought to be to debate redress all publick grievances and re-establish secure their violated * Great Charter Laws Rights and Liberties in the first place of all before they debated or granted any aides or subsidies demanded of them shough never so pressing or necessary it beâ—…ng both dangerous imprudent and a breach of their trusts towards the people who elected them to play an After-game for their Liberties Laws and Grievances which would never be effectually redressed after subsidies once granted VVhereupon they refused to pass the Bill of Subsidies then granted till the Petition of Right was fiâ—…st assented unto enrolled and their Grievances redressed by the King XIII They cast Sir Edmund Sawyer a Member of the Commons House out of it upon solemn Debate (l) committed him Prisoner to the Tower and perpetually disabled him to serve in Parliament for the future for having a chief hand in making a Book of Rates for Tunnage and Poundag and laying imposiiontâ—… on the Subject in nature of a Projector without grant or Act of Parliament And likewise suspended Mr. John Baber then Recorder and Burgesse of Welle only for making a Warrant to billet Souldiers on some of the Townsmen against the Law and Subjects Liberty out of of fear Resolving that all Projectors and Promoters of illegal impositions Taxes 〈◊〉 Projects out of base fear which Mr. Baber or by regal ' command which Sir Edmund Sawyer pleaded for his excuse were unfit to sit or vote in any English Parliament and fit to be turned out thence by judicial sentence with greatest Insamy And whether any such be fit to be Members at any other season let those whom it concerns determine XIV In this Parliament of 3 Carâ—…li the (a) Speaker in the close of his first Speech to the King according to (b) usual custome in former ages prayed 3 Privileges in behalf of every Member of the Commons House the first whereof was That for the better attending the publick and important services of the House all and every Member thereof and their necessary attendants may be free both in Person and in Goods from all Arrests and troubles according to their antient Privileges and immunities Which the King then readily granted them all according to the true Rights and Privileges of Parliament By the mouth of the Lord Keeper (c) After which Sir Edward Cook arguing against the King and his Councils power to commit men only by special command without any legal cause expressed in the Warrant in the House used this expression This concerneth not only the Commonalty but the Lords and therefore it deserveth to be spoken of in Parliament because this might dissolve the Parliament and this House for we may be then all one after another thus committed 31 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 26 27. (d) No Member of Parliament can be arrested but for Felony Treason or Peace And all here may be committed under thefe pretences and then where is the Parliament Surely the Lordâ—… will be glad of this iâ—… concerns them as well as us (e) Not long after the Common House being informed that Sir Robert Staâ—…hop a Member there of was committed by the Lords of the Council thereupon the House in whose power it was either to send an Habeas Corpus or their Sergeant with his Mace for any Member committed as was resolved the last Parliament before this together with the cause thereof ordered That their Sergeant should go with his Mace and bring Sir Robert Stanhop with his Keeper and the Warraut for his commitment into the House the next morning they sate Who accordingly brought him with the Marshal of the Houshold and the Warrant wherein it was declared That his commitment was by the Lords of the Council for breach of the peace and refusing to give Suretiet for the Peace upon a challenge and a Duel intended by him as the truth of the Case appeared Whereupon the House were of opinion That standing committed for his real breach of the peace and refusing to give Sureties he could not have his Privileges without giving good security in the Kings Bench to keep the peace ' And Mr. â—…anshaw alleging That in such cafâ—…s some Members by order of the House had entred into Recognizances in the Kings Bench in former times to keep the Peâ—…ce a Committee was ordered to search out the Presidents and consider of the Case But the quarrel being soon after taken up thereupon the Lords released Sir Robert without Sureties to attend the service of the House On the 28 of April 1627 Sir Simon Steward a Member of the Commons House being served with a Sub poena ad audiendum judicium out of the Star-chamber at the suâ—…e of the Kings Attorâ—…y upon a Bill there exhibited against him for sundry misdemeanours complained thereof to the House and shewed that he had beenâ—… inticed to enter into a Bond and Recognizance of 500 l. not to claim any privilege of Parliament The House upon solemn debate hereof April 20. resolved That Sir Simon notwithstanding this Bond and Recognizance should have his Privilege allowed him because he was elected by and served for others and could not make a Proxy and because else the House might thereby be deprived of his attendance by his Censure Yea this Recognisance with the Condition thereof not to claim his Privilege were held to be void and against the Law And by order of the House the pâ—…rty who served the Subpoena on Sir Simon Steward was sent for as a Delinquent and Sir Simon commanded to attend the service of the House and not the hearing of the cause Vpon this on the 10th of May the Inhabitants of the Isle of Ely exhibited a Petition against Sir Simon to the House complaining that they had exhibited an Information against him in Starchamber for taking bribes about pressing of Souldiers as a Deputy Lieutenant and defrauding the Country about the Kings composition which cause was ready for hearing Petitioning the House that he might wave his privilege having enâ—…red into a Bond of 500 l. not to claim it But it was resolved upon debate That the Commons House was Judge of any offence done by the Members of it And thereupon ordered That a Committee should examine the Witnesses and other proofs of the Charge against him and so this House to proceed to
such and so many Mâ—…mbers of both or either House may be takeâ—… out of it at any time by any persons to serve a torn and to make a major part oâ—… whom they will at pleasure And therefore as the Freedom of the Parliament dependeth in a great part upon this Privilege and the Freedome of this Nation upon the Freedome of Parliaments We have good â—…ause to believe that the People of England knowing that their Lives and Fortunes are bound up in this Bâ—…ndle will venture their Lives and Fortunes in this Quarrâ—…l Accursed and for ever exeâ—…rated then let all those Sword-men and Innovators be who by any Matchiavilian Policieâ—… Eugines or Instruments whatsoevâ—…r shall endeavour to deprive the Parliaments and People of England of thiâ—… their antient essâ—…ntial Privilege and Freedomâ—… or necessitate them once again to venture their Lives or Fortunes in this quarrel to maintain or regain the same by a New war or insurrection against the Imprisoners or Secluders os any of their duly elected and best respected publick Trustees out of our Parliaments in time to come as they have oft times done for some years by-past â—…o the subversion of Parliaments and Peoples general affront and discontent To prevent which danger I could heartily wish that a free Legal English Parliament might be duly summoned either by the Peers of the Realm or by the Freeholders Freemen and Burgesses of every County City and Borough in their default aâ—…ording to the late Act for triâ—…nial Parliaments yet in force to which manyâ—… in present power were assenting to redress all high violations of our Parliaments just Rights and Privileges and prevent the like for the future reform all publick Grievances remove all unrighteous oppressions compose our manifold sad Divisions Schismes Fractions both in Church and State and settle our three distracted Kingdoms in such unity peace prosperity after all our destructive wars as all good men long pray for and none but Traytors or professed Enemies to our Tranquillity and Welfare can or dare oppose 15. The whole House of Commons m impeached and the Lords House judicially sentenced Dr. Manwâ—…ring then a Member of the Convocation for preaching before the King and publishing in print in two Sermons intituled Religion and Allegiance contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm and propriety of the Subject 1. That the King is not bouud to keep and observe the good Laws and customes of the Realm concerning the Rights and Liberties of the Subject who undoubtedly inherit this Right and Liberty not to be compelled to contribute any tax tallage aid or to make any loans not set or imposed by common consent by Act of Parliament And that his Royal will and command in imposing Loans Taxes and other Aids without Common consent in Parliament doth so far bind the conscience of the Subje of this Realm that they cannot refuse the same without peâ—…il of damnation 2. That those his Majesties Subjects who refused the Loan imposed on them did therein offend against the Law of God against his Majesties supream Authority and by so doing became guilty of impiety disloyalty rebellion disobedience and lyable to many other Taxes and censures 3. That authority of Parliament is not necessaryâ—… for raising of Aids and Subsidies That the slow proceedings of such Assemblies are not fit for the supply of the urgent necessities of the State but rather apt to produce sundry Impediments to the just designs of Princes and to give them occasion of displeasure or discontent For which Sermons and positioris the Lords House adjudged 1. That this Dr. Manwaring notwithstanding his humble Petitions and craving pardon for these offences shall be imprisoned during the pleasure of the House 2. That he be fined 1000 l. to the King 3. That he shall make such a submission and acknowledgement of his offences as shall be set down by a Committe in writing both at the Lords Bar and in the House of Commons which he accordingly made 4. That he shall be suspended for the time of three years from the exercise of the Ministry 5. That he shall be for ever disabled to preach at the Court hereafter 6. That he shall be disabled hereafter to have any Ecclesiastical dignity or secular Office 7. That the same Book is worthy to be burnt and that for the better effecting thereof his Majesty may be moved to grant a Proclamation to call in the said Books that they may be burnt accordingly in London and both Universities and for inhibiting the printing hereof upon a great penalâ—…y Which was done accordingly Whether some late Court-Chaplaint or Parasites have not incurred the like offences and demerit not as severe a censure as he for some Sermons and printed Pamphlets * Instrurnents of like nature is worthy the consideration of the next publike Assembly and future English Parliaments XV The (n) House of Commons sent for and committed Mr. Laughton and Mr John Trelawny to the Tower and Sir William Wray and Mr. Edward Trelawny to the Sergeant at Arms during the Houses pleasure and ordered them to make a Recognition of theirâ—… offences at the Assises in Cornwal for interrupting the freedomes of Elections in that Counâ—…y For that some of them being Deputy-Lieutenants and others of them Justices of Peace of the County of Coâ—…nwal writ Letters to this effect Whereas the safety of the Realm depends upon the Parliament we the Deputy-Lieutenants and Justices to whose care the County is committed finding A. and B. fit persons have desired them to stand to be Knights whereof we give you notice and advising Sir John Eliot and Mr. Cariton to desist that they wished them not to be chosen and menacing them in this manner but if you go on we will oppose you by all means lest his Majesty suspect our fidelity since you know how gracious you are to his Majesty and how many waies he hath expressed his displeasure against you And his Majesty will conceive your Election to be an affront to his service and so we shall draw the displeasure of the King on us Our hope is that you out of conscience and loyalty will not seek this place and we let you know that if yoâ—… do we will oppose you all we can c. And writing Letters to others of the County to this effect Whereas unquiet Spirits seek their own ends we desire men of moderation may be chosen and we desire you to give your Voito A. and B c. And for that besides these Letters they warned the trained Band to attend the day of the election By which Letters Menaces and Practices they were voted guilty as practising to pervert the freedome of the election of the Knights of that County and thereupon thus censured by the House On the 38 of the same May 1628. Sir John Eliot reported from the Committee sundry complaiuts against the Lord Mohun Vice-warden of the Stanneries in Cornwal by the Tinners of that County whereof this
informâ—…tion Only most gracious Soveraign we beg leave to offer unto your gracious view â—… and 〈◊〉 consideration a few of them in general 1. The service of Almighty God is hereby greatly ly hindered the * people in many places not daring to repair to their Churches lest in the mean time the Souldiers should rifle their Houses 2. The antient good Government of the Country is thereby neglected and almost contemned 3. Your Officers of Justice in performance of their Duties have been resisted and endangered 4. The Rents and Revenues of your Gentry are greatly and * generally diminished Farmers to secure themselves from the Souldiers insolence being by the clamour and sollicitation of their fearfull and endangered VVives and Children enforced to give up their antient dwellings and to retire themselves into placeâ—… of more secure habitation 5. Husbandmen that are as it were the hands of the Country corrupted by ill example of Souldiers are * encouraged to idle life give over their work and seek rather to live idlely on other mens charges than by their own labours 6. Tradesmen and Artificers almost discouraged being enforced to leave their Trades and to imploy their times in preserving their families from violence and cruelty 7. Markets unfrequented and our waies grown so dangerous that your peoplâ—… dare not passe to and fro upon their usual occasions 8. Frequent Robberies Assaults Burglaries Rapes Rapines murders barbarouâ—… cruelties and other late most abominable vices and outrages are generally complained of from all parts where these companies have been and made their abode few of which insolencies have not been so much as questioned and fewer according to their demerit punished These and many other lamentable effects most dear and dread Soveraign have by this billetting of Souldiers already fallen upon your loyal Subjects tending no lesse to the dis-service of your Majesty than tâ—… their own impoverishing and distraction So that thereby they are exceedingly disabled to yield your Majesty those supplies for your urgent occasions which they heartily desire And yet they are more pâ—…rplexed with the apprehensiâ—…ns of more approaching dangers One in regard of the Subjects at home the other of Enemies abroad In both which respects it seems to threaten no small calamity For the first the meaner sort of your People being exceeding poor whereof in many places are great multitudes and therefore in times most seâ—…led and most constant administration of Justice not easily ruled are most aâ—…t upon this occasion to cast off the reigns of Government and by themselves with those disordered Souldiers are very like to â—…all into mutiny and rebellion Which in faithful discharge of our Duties we cannot forbear most humbly to present â—…nto your high and excellent Wisdom being possessed with probable fears that some such mischieâ—…s will shortly ensue if an effectual and speedy course be not taken to remove them out of the Land or otherwise to disband those unruly Companies For the second we do humbly beseâ—…ch your Majesty to take into your Princely consideration that mâ—…ny of those Companies besides their dissolute dispositions and carriages are such as professe themselves * Papists And therefore to be suspected that if occasion serve they will rather adhere to a forein Enemy if of that Religion than to your Majesty their Liege Lord and Soveraign espeâ—…ially some of their Commanders and Captains being as Papistically affected as themselves and having served in the wars on the part of the King of Spain or Arch. Dutchess against your Majesties Allies â—… Which of what pernicious consequence it may prove and how prejudicial to the safety of all your Kingdom We humbly leave to your Majâ—…sties high and Princely Wisdom Aâ—…d now upon these and many more which might â—…e alleged most weighty and important reasons grounded upon the maintenance of the worship and service of Almighty God the continuaâ—… of your Majesties high Hâ—…nor and profit the preservation of the antient and undoubted Liberties of your people and therein of justice industry and valour which concerns the glory and happinesse of your Majesty all your Subjects and the prevenâ—…ng of imminent Calamity and ruine both of Church and Common-wealth We your most humble and loyal Subjects the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons in the name of all the Commonalty of your kingdom who are on this occasion most miserable disconsolate and afflicted prostrate at the Throne of your Grace and Iustice do most humbly and ardently beg for the present removal of this unsupportable Burthen and that your Majesty would be graciously pleased to secure us from the like pressure in time to come Which King Charls then did by the Petition of Right which I shall here insert because almost quite forgotten by most men like an old Almanack out of date especially by our Grandees To the Kings most excellent Majesty HUmbly sheweth unto our Soveraign Lord the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled That whereas it is declared and enácted by a Statute made in the time of King Edward the I. commonly called 〈◊〉 de Tallagio non concedendo That no Tallage or â—…id shall be taken or levied by the King or his 〈◊〉 in this Realm without the good will or assent of thâ—â— Archbishops Bishops Earls Barons Knights Burgesses and other the Freemen of the Commonalty of this Realm And by an Authority of Parliament holden the 25 year of the reign of King Edward the 3d. it is declared and enacted That from thenceforth no person should be compelled to make any loans to the King against his will because such Loans were against reason and the Franchises of the Land And by other Lawes of this Realm it is provided That none shall be charged by any Charge or Composition called a Benevolence nor by any such like Charge By which Statutes before mentioned and other the good Laws and Statutes of this Realm your Subjects have inherited this freedom That they should not be compelled to contribute any Tax Tallage or Aid or other like Charge not set by common Assent by Act of Parliament Yet neverthelesse of late divers Commissions directed to sundry persons in several Counties with their instructions have issued by pretext whereof your people have been in divers places assembled and required to lend certain sums of mony to your Majesty And many of them upon their refusal so to doe have had an Oath not warranted by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm administred unto them and hâ—…ve been constrained to become bound to make appearance and to give attendance before your Privy Counsel at London and in other places and others of them have been therefore impâ—…isoned confined and certain otherways molested and disquieted And divers other charges have been laid and levied upon your people in several Counties by Lord Lieutenants Deputy Lieutenants Commissioners for Musters Justices of Peace and others by command or direction from your Majesty or