a_o treatise_n of_o the_o true_a and_o ancient_a jurisdiction_n of_o the_o house_n of_o peer_n by_o sir_n robert_n atkyns_n knight_n of_o the_o bath_n state_n super_fw-la semitas_fw-la antiquas_fw-la london_n print_v in_o the_o year_n mdcxcix_o to_o the_o honourable_a the_o knight_n citizens_z and_o burgess_n of_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o in_o parliament_n assemble_v the_o humble_a petition_n of_o sir_n robert_n atkyns_n knight_n of_o the_o bath_n show_v that_o your_o petitioner_n in_o the_o several_a public_a employment_n he_o have_v undergo_v have_v have_v more_o than_o ordinary_a occasion_n of_o observe_v the_o increase_a jurisdiction_n of_o the_o court_n of_o equity_n in_o this_o kingdom_n and_o how_o the_o common-law_n the_o birthright_n of_o every_o englishman_n have_v be_v and_o still_o be_v every_o day_n more_o and_o more_o invade_v by_o it_o he_o have_v take_v the_o pain_n to_o collect_v many_o of_o those_o continual_a complaint_n from_o time_n to_o time_n make_v by_o the_o commons_o of_o england_n in_o parliament_n against_o the_o exercise_n of_o that_o new_a jurisdiction_n in_o the_o very_a beginning_n of_o it_o and_o your_o petitioner_n have_v great_a reason_n also_o to_o take_v notice_n of_o the_o exercise_n of_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o appeal_n from_o the_o proceed_n of_o those_o court_n and_o humble_o present_v this_o honourable_a house_n with_o what_o he_o have_v collect_v in_o order_n to_o your_o service_n therein_o your_o petitioner_n crave_v leave_v to_o make_v use_n of_o that_o freedom_n which_o belong_v to_o every_o englishman_n to_o tender_v you_o a_o complaint_n against_o so_o public_a â—nd_n spread_v a_o grievance_n he_o do_v not_o appeal_n nor_o complain_v of_o any_o thing_n that_o mere_o concern_v himself_o he_o only_o subjoin_v a_o case_n wherein_o himself_o be_v a_o party_n mere_o as_o a_o instance_n of_o the_o large_a exercise_n of_o a_o power_n against_o the_o know_a and_o fundamental_a rule_n of_o the_o common-law_n as_o he_o conceive_v that_o case_n of_o your_o petitioner_n happen_v very_o late_o in_o the_o chancery_n but_o it_o be_v general_o know_v in_o the_o court_n of_o westminster-hall_n that_o as_o your_o petitioner_n have_v occasion_n he_o have_v for_o many_o year_n frequent_o and_o public_o in_o his_o station_n enveigh_v against_o the_o encroachment_n of_o court_n of_o equity_n and_o that_o late_a course_n of_o appeal_n but_o on_o the_o behalf_n of_o the_o whole_a kingdom_n he_o humble_o offer_v his_o service_n and_o lay_v before_o you_o what_o he_o have_v observe_v and_o collect_v upon_o this_o subject_a after_o near_o threescore_o year_n experience_n and_o submit_v all_o to_o your_o wisdom_n to_o proceed_v in_o provide_v just_a remedy_n and_o your_o petitioner_n shall_v ever_o pray_v etc._n etc._n robert_n atkyns_n of_o the_o supreme_a jurisdiction_n in_o the_o kingdom_n of_o england_n the_o house_n of_o lord_n have_v a_o very_a ancient_n and_o transcendent_a jurisdiction_n but_o it_o be_v not_o absolute_a nor_o arbitrary_a in_o the_o exercise_n of_o it_o nor_o universal_a and_o in_o all_o case_n it_o be_v a_o power_n limit_v by_o law_n and_o must_v be_v exercise_v according_a to_o the_o know_a rule_n of_o law_n and_o though_o the_o peer_n be_v very_o great_a and_o honourable_a yet_o they_o be_v but_o man_n and_o not_o infallible_a and_o therefore_o a_o writ_n of_o error_n lie_v upon_o their_o judgement_n and_o the_o law_n allow_v that_o liberty_n to_o the_o mean_a subject_n to_o demur_v to_o the_o jurisdiction_n of_o any_o court_n whatsoever_o even_o that_o of_o the_o house_n of_o lord_n let_v we_o inquire_v into_o their_o jurisdiction_n when_o it_o begin_v and_o in_o what_o case_n they_o have_v a_o right_a to_o it_o a_o eminent_a author_n suppose_v to_o be_v the_o late_a lord_n hollis_n upon_o occasion_n of_o the_o great_a cause_n between_o skinner_n and_o the_o east-india-company_n so_o much_o dispute_v between_o the_o two_o house_n of_o parliament_n have_v in_o print_n assert_v that_o the_o house_n of_o peer_n have_v their_o right_n of_o judicature_n from_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o nation_n page_n 134._o he_o affirm_v it_o be_v a_o power_n lodge_v in_o they_o by_o the_o very_a frame_n and_o constitution_n of_o the_o government_n as_o to_o the_o extent_n of_o their_o jurisdiction_n page_n 213._o he_o affirm_v that_o they_o have_v a_o undoubted_a right_n to_o a_o universal_a and_o unlimited_a power_n of_o take_v conusance_n of_o all_o manner_n of_o cause_n of_o what_o nature_n soever_o and_o of_o judge_v and_o determine_v of_o they_o if_o no_o particular_a law_n do_v otherwise_o dispose_v of_o they_o nec_fw-la metas_fw-la rerum_fw-la nec_fw-la tempora_fw-la ponit_fw-la the_o first_o of_o these_o seem_v to_o entrench_v very_o far_o upon_o the_o regal_a power_n he_o not_o only_o make_v their_o power_n equal_a in_o time_n to_o it_o own_v no_o derivation_n from_o it_o but_o in_o effect_n claim_v a_o co-ordination_a with_o it_o but_o the_o claim_n of_o such_o a_o independent_a and_o original_a power_n sound_v like_o that_o which_o be_v take_v to_o be_v a_o peculiar_a of_o the_o supreme_a power_n as_o to_o the_o administration_n of_o it_o viz._n in_o all_o cause_n and_o over_o all_o person_n etc._n etc._n nay_o he_o hold_v that_o the_o peerage_n set_v bound_n both_o to_o power_n and_o liberty_n page_n 71._o as_o this_o author_n maintain_v it_o it_o may_v easy_o be_v understand_v by_o what_o follow_v what_o be_v mean_v there_o by_o power_n viz._n the_o regal_a administration_n of_o it_o whereas_o the_o common-law_n of_o england_n and_o all_o the_o author_n and_o writer_n of_o it_o do_v with_o one_o consent_n acknowledge_v jurisdiction_n within_o this_o realm_n be_v derive_v from_o the_o crown_n and_o that_o no_o court_n have_v a_o absolute_a and_o unlimited_a power_n save_o the_o supreme_a court_n of_o the_o nation_n consist_v of_o the_o king_n lord_n and_o commons_o assemble_v in_o parliament_n and_o in_o they_o indeed_o be_v the_o true_a supreme_a power_n under_o god_n but_o that_o according_a to_o the_o different_a nature_n of_o cause_n some_o be_v distribute_v into_o one_o court_n and_o some_o into_o another_o but_o not_o any_o one_o court_n have_v jurisdiction_n in_o all_o cause_n save_v that_o of_o the_o parliament_n and_o that_o all_o court_n must_v proceed_v by_o some_o certain_a know_a rule_n that_o be_v the_o court_n of_o the_o common-law_n secundum_fw-la legem_fw-la &_o consuetudinem_fw-la angliae_fw-la and_o court_n of_o equity_n according_a to_o the_o ancient_a and_o constant_a precedent_n and_o usage_n but_o this_o court_n of_o peer_n for_o i_o confine_v myself_o still_o to_o what_o be_v assert_v by_o this_o noble_a author_n do_v whole_o exclude_v the_o king_n and_o engross_v all_o to_o themselves_o no_o by_o no_o mean_n he_o allow_v the_o king_n a_o single_a voice_n among_o they_o page_z 145._o as_o a_o chief_a justice_n in_o another_o court_n who_o voice_n or_o opinion_n have_v no_o more_o force_n than_o that_o of_o a_o puisny_n judge_n no_o not_o so_o much_o as_o a_o casting-voice_n where_o they_o be_v equal_o divide_v i_o shall_v offer_v to_o consideration_n upon_o what_o ground_n and_o proof_n this_o noble_a author_n do_v entitle_v the_o house_n of_o peer_n to_o this_o unlimited_a jurisdiction_n he_o have_v be_v lead_v into_o these_o opinion_n i_o fear_v by_o some_o late_a overzealous_a and_o injudicious_a writer_n who_o out_o of_o a_o too_o fond_a and_o forward_a zeal_n to_o depress_v the_o house_n of_o commons_o in_o the_o late_a exorbitant_a power_n which_o they_o take_v upon_o they_o in_o the_o late_a time_n in_o order_n i_o say_v to_o the_o decry_v of_o their_o usurp_v power_n those_o writer_n think_v they_o can_v never_o sufficient_o exalt_v the_o power_n of_o the_o lord_n to_o overbalance_n that_o of_o the_o commons_o and_o it_o may_v perhaps_o be_v useful_a by_o the_o way_n to_o take_v notice_n of_o the_o strange_a revolution_n that_o in_o the_o late_a time_n happen_v to_o the_o government_n of_o this_o nation_n 1._o our_o king_n begin_v first_o to_o strain_v prerogative_n too_o high_a upon_o the_o subject_a 2._o both_o the_o house_n of_o parliament_n thereupon_o join_v together_o in_o usurp_a upon_o the_o regal_a power_n 3._o after_o some_o short_a time_n the_o late_a house_n of_o commons_o by_o the_o help_n of_o their_o army_n lay_v aside_o the_o house_n of_o lord_n sic_fw-la cum_fw-la sole_a perit_fw-la syderibus_fw-la decor_fw-la 4._o after_o some_o time_n again_o a_o lesser_a part_n of_o the_o house_n of_o commons_o exclude_v the_o great_a part_n 5._o and_o these_o their_o own_o army_n overtop_n as_o be_v but_o the_o fragment_n of_o that_o house_n 1._o sic_fw-la medus_n ademit_fw-la 2._o assyrio_fw-la medóque_fw-la tulit_fw-la moderamina_fw-la perses_n 3_o persen_n subjecit_fw-la macedo_n cessurus_n &_o ipse_fw-la 4._o romano_n these_o modern_a writer_n who_o be_v such_o earnest_a advocate_n for_o the_o house_n of_o peer_n ascribe_v to_o the_o lord_n
or_o person_n employ_v under_o the_o freeholder_n and_o the_o copyholder_n do_v true_o and_o literal_o hold_v their_o land_n at_o first_o ad_fw-la voluntatem_fw-la domini_fw-la till_o time_n give_v it_o the_o reputation_n of_o a_o legal_a custom_n and_o to_o a_o more_o durable_a interest_n and_o lease_n for_o above_o 40_o year_n be_v not_o allow_v in_o those_o ancient_a time_n but_o adjudge_v and_o hold_v to_o be_v void_a as_o vie_v in_o value_n with_o inheritance_n but_o they_o have_v of_o late_a time_n be_v countenance_v by_o court_n of_o equity_n and_o make_v equal_a in_o esteem_n with_o freehold_a estate_n and_o inheritance_n be_v altogether_o under_o the_o rule_n and_o government_n of_o those_o court_n and_o have_v their_o dependence_n upon_o the_o decree_n of_o those_o court_n and_o have_v the_o same_o privilege_n and_o favour_n with_o inheritance_n under_o the_o new_a notion_n of_o be_v by_o their_o decree_n make_v to_o wait_v upon_o the_o inheritance_n and_o subject_a to_o trust_n which_o those_o court_n take_v upon_o they_o to_o have_v the_o controlment_n of_o and_o hereby_o the_o freehold_a and_o inheritance_n of_o land_n be_v of_o little_a regard_n and_o value_n in_o comparison_n of_o those_o high_a power_n and_o privilege_n which_o by_o the_o law_n and_o original_a institution_n of_o the_o nation_n do_v at_o first_o belong_v to_o they_o all_o this_o tend_v to_o the_o great_a subversion_n of_o the_o common-law_n and_o of_o the_o very_a constitution_n of_o the_o nation_n and_o to_o all_o the_o good_a rule_n and_o order_n of_o it_o and_o in_o length_n of_o time_n if_o not_o before_o remedy_v will_v bring_v all_o estate_n in_o land_n to_o depend_v upon_o decree_n in_o equity_n and_o to_o be_v rule_v by_o their_o arbitrary_a proceed_n and_o then_o farewell_n to_o the_o common-law_n and_o these_o freeholder_n who_o be_v but_o the_o offspring_n of_o those_o ancient_a tenant_n in_o capite_fw-la be_v by_o the_o common-law_n the_o true_a and_o right_a owner_n and_o proprietor_n of_o the_o kingdom_n and_o according_o as_o in_o they_o be_v the_o true_a value_n stable_n firm_a and_o fix_a interest_n of_o the_o nation_n so_o in_o they_o do_v the_o law_n place_n the_o power_n and_o government_n under_o the_o king_n who_o be_v always_o the_o supreme_a in_o the_o administration_n hence_o it_o be_v that_o a_o trial_n by_o freeholder_n be_v in_o the_o sense_n and_o language_n of_o the_o law_n a_o trial_n per_fw-la patriam_fw-la for_o they_o be_v indeed_o the_o country_n and_o the_o country_n be_v true_o they_o and_o it_o be_v a_o mighty_a power_n if_o we_o inquire_v into_o it_o and_o much_o of_o it_o still_o remain_v though_o it_o have_v be_v exceed_o abate_v and_o humble_v by_o the_o swell_a of_o equity_n and_o by_o certain_a act_n of_o parliament_n make_v in_o troublesome_a reign_n yet_o there_o be_v some_o remain_v and_o the_o mark_n and_o footstep_n of_o those_o many_o and_o great_a benefit_n that_o be_v lop_v and_o pare_v off_o from_o it_o these_o tenant_n in_o capite_fw-la and_o freeholder_n be_v the_o person_n who_o under_o our_o king_n make_v up_o the_o primitive_a constitution_n of_o our_o government_n both_o as_o to_o the_o legislature_n and_o the_o supreme_a judicature_n or_o last_o resort_v though_o now_o those_o power_n run_v in_o a_o new_a channel_n i_o shall_v instance_n in_o some_o of_o those_o ancient_n and_o inherent_a right_n and_o freedom_n which_o those_o freeholder_n or_o tenant_n in_o capite_fw-la do_v enjoy_v at_o the_o common-law_n and_o in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o saxon_n and_o from_o time_n as_o ancient_a as_o any_o record_n do_v reach_v till_o by_o several_a act_n of_o parliament_n make_v for_o the_o most_o part_n in_o unquiet_a time_n they_o be_v deprive_v of_o they_o which_o will_v best_o discover_v the_o true_a and_o original_a constitution_n of_o the_o government_n and_o give_v great_a light_n to_o the_o matter_n we_o have_v now_o in_o hand_n viz._n to_o find_v out_o the_o supreme_a judicature_n almost_o all_o the_o suit_n and_o cause_n that_o do_v arise_v in_o the_o nation_n come_v under_o the_o hand_n and_o power_n of_o the_o freeholder_n ad_fw-la primam_fw-la instantiam_fw-la at_o the_o first_o rise_v of_o they_o and_o they_o judge_v of_o they_o both_o as_o to_o matter_n of_o fact_n and_o point_n in_o law_n in_o the_o country_n and_o then_o the_o great_a and_o weighty_a matter_n of_o the_o law_n meet_v the_o same_o person_n again_o at_o the_o last_o resort_v of_o all_o cause_n in_o the_o witena-gemots_a for_o these_o freeholder_n make_v up_o the_o main_a body_n of_o those_o common-council_n and_o great_a assembly_n sir_n hen._n spelman_n in_o his_o glossary_n fol._n 70._o speak_v of_o the_o magnate_v and_o proceres_fw-la explain_v who_o be_v mean_v by_o those_o high_a term_n that_o be_v the_o good_a freeholder_n and_o he_o show_v likewise_o what_o judicial_a power_n they_o have_v in_o those_o first_o time_n magnates_n and_o proceres_fw-la be_v they_o qui_fw-la in_o curiis_fw-la praesunt_fw-la comitatuum_fw-la hoc_fw-la est_fw-la ipsarum_fw-la curiarum_fw-la judices_fw-la quos_fw-la henricus_fw-la primus_fw-la the_o son_n of_o the_o conqueror_n legum_fw-la suarum_fw-la cap._n 30._o esse_fw-la libere_fw-la tenentes_fw-la comitatus_fw-la demonstrat_fw-la regis_fw-la judices_fw-la inquit_fw-la sunt_fw-la barones_n comitatus_fw-la qui_fw-la liberas_fw-la in_o eye_n terras_fw-la habent_fw-la there_o be_v the_o person_n and_o judge_n viz._n freeholder_n per_fw-la quos_fw-la debent_fw-la causae_fw-la singulorum_fw-la alternâ_fw-la prosecutione_n tractari_fw-la there_o you_o have_v their_o power_n and_o jurisdiction_n among_o the_o law_n of_o king_n henry_n the_o first_o c._n 7._o collect_v by_o mr._n lambert_n de_fw-fr priscis_fw-la etc._n etc._n fol._n 180._o the_o title_n of_o the_o law_n be_v de_fw-fr generalibus_fw-la placitis_fw-la comitatuum_fw-la quo_fw-la modo_fw-la vel_fw-la quando_fw-la fieri_fw-la debeant_fw-la sicut_fw-la antiqua_fw-la fuerat_fw-la institutione_n formatum_fw-la generalia_fw-la comitatuum_fw-la placita_fw-la certis_fw-la locis_fw-la &_o diffinito_o tempore_fw-la convenire_fw-la debent_fw-la nec_fw-la ullis_fw-la ultra_fw-la fatigationibus_fw-la agitari_fw-la nisi_fw-la propria_fw-la regis_fw-la necessitas_fw-la vel_fw-la commune_fw-la regni_fw-la commodum_fw-la saepius_fw-la adjiciat_fw-la intersint_fw-la autem_fw-la episcopi_fw-la comites_fw-la vice-domini_a vicarii_fw-la centenarii_fw-la aldermanni_n praefecti_fw-la praepositi_fw-la barones_n vavasore_n tungrevii_fw-la &_o caeteri_fw-la terrarum_fw-la domini_fw-la these_o be_v the_o judge_n of_o the_o court._n then_o for_o the_o extent_n of_o their_o jurisdiction_n and_o the_o universality_n of_o the_o cause_n it_o proceed_v thus_o viz._n agantur_fw-la primò_fw-la verae_fw-la christianitatis_fw-la jura_n now_o term_v ecclesiastical_a cause_n secundò_fw-la regis_fw-la placita_fw-la plea_n of_o the_o crown_n or_o criminal_a postremo_fw-la causae_fw-la singulorum_fw-la between_o party_n and_o party_n and_o in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o saxon_n who_o first_o introduce_v this_o course_n and_o method_n of_o justice_n suitor_n be_v not_o permit_v to_o pass_v by_o this_o first_o application_n and_o address_n before_o the_o barones_n or_o freeholder_n who_o now_o we_o call_v free-suitor_n at_o the_o country-court_n and_o per_fw-la saltum_fw-la to_o begin_v at_o the_o court_n of_o westminster_n or_o to_o follow_v the_o king_n be_v lambert_n de_fw-fr priscis_fw-la etc._n etc._n fol._n 62._o it_o be_v among_o the_o law_n quas_fw-la edgarus_n anno_fw-la 959._o frequenti_fw-la senatu_fw-la sancivit_fw-la fol._n 63._o nemo_n in_o litem_fw-la regem_fw-la appellato_fw-la nisi_fw-la quidem_fw-la domi_fw-la justitiam_fw-la impetrare_fw-la non_fw-la poterit_fw-la sin_n summo_fw-la jure_fw-la urgeatur_fw-la if_o he_o meet_v with_o hard_a measure_n in_o the_o country_n ad_fw-la regem_fw-la provocato_fw-la that_o be_v to_o the_o king_n in_o his_o high_a court._n then_o be_v i_o proper_a time_n of_o appeal_n to_o the_o king_n in_o his_o great_a council_n as_o it_o be_v say_v in_o that_o magnum_fw-la placitum_fw-la in_o ryley_n placita_fw-la parliamentaria_fw-la page_n 84._o between_o humphrey_n de_fw-fr bohun_n earl_n of_o hereford_n and_o gilbert_n de_fw-fr clare_n earl_n of_o gloucester_n and_o they_o be_v the_o very_a word_n of_o the_o judgement_n in_o that_o case_n dominus_fw-la rex_fw-la est_fw-la omnibus_fw-la &_o singulis_fw-la subditis_fw-la suis_fw-la justitiae_fw-la debiton_n but_o the_o king_n alone_o in_o his_o own_o person_n never_o administer_v justice_n or_o equity_n but_o together_o with_o his_o great_a court_n or_o by_o his_o delegate_n the_o judge_n in_o inferior_a court_n as_o i_o have_v full_o prove_v in_o my_o treatife_n of_o the_o chancery_n these_o great_a freeholder_n or_o tenant_n de_fw-fr rege_fw-la in_o capite_fw-la as_o they_o be_v and_o still_o be_v the_o judge_n of_o the_o county-court_n which_o in_o ancient_a time_n be_v the_o most_o busy_a court_n so_o they_o have_v by_o the_o common-law_n and_o from_o time_n as_o far_o as_o any_o record_n or_o english_a history_n do_v reach_v that_o mighty_a freedom_n of_o choose_v all_o both_o civil_a and_o military_a officer_n or_o magistrate_n under_o who_o they_o live_v they_o
all_o that_o vast_a power_n and_o jurisdiction_n which_o they_o read_v in_o our_o ancient_a history_n to_o be_v exercise_v by_o the_o national_a assembly_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o old_a british_a saxon_a danish_a and_o norman_a king_n thus_o write_v mr._n william_n pryn_n in_o his_o plea_n for_o the_o lord_n and_o house_n of_o peer_n page_n 164._o that_o the_o house_n of_o peer_n have_v this_o sovereign_a jurisdiction_n vest_v in_o it_o both_o in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o british_a saxon_a danish_a and_o norman_a king_n and_o other_o modern_a writer_n chime_v in_o with_o he_o whereas_o it_o be_v most_o evident_a by_o our_o more_o ancient_a and_o most_o judicious_a author_n and_o antiquary_n that_o the_o great_a assembly_n which_o be_v convene_v in_o ancient_a time_n here_o in_o england_n be_v quite_o of_o another_o constitution_n and_o complexion_n from_o the_o now_o two_o house_n of_o parliament_n and_o have_v no_o resemblance_n to_o they_o it_o be_v in_o those_o ancient_a time_n but_o one_o great_a and_o numerous_a assembly_n that_o meet_v not_o distinguish_v either_o by_o those_o several_a term_n of_o lord_n and_o commons_o or_o by_o two_o house_n the_o upper_a and_o the_o low_a nor_o by_o any_o other_o divide_v title_n those_o great_a assembly_n have_v under_o our_o several_a king_n and_o together_o with_o they_o the_o whole_a legislative_a and_o judicial_a power_n with_o little_a distinction_n to_o be_v find_v in_o the_o exercise_n of_o those_o two_o mighty_a power_n the_o member_n of_o they_o be_v not_o qualify_v neither_o by_o any_o title_n of_o honour_n though_o there_o may_v be_v honorary_a title_n in_o those_o time_n but_o they_o be_v qualify_v and_o entitle_v to_o their_o power_n by_o their_o possession_n and_o tenor_n and_o some_o few_o by_o certain_a great_a office_n this_o great_a assembly_n can_v not_o proper_o be_v call_v the_o representative_a of_o the_o nation_n for_o they_o come_v not_o all_o to_o these_o assembly_n as_o choose_v by_o the_o people_n but_o most_o of_o they_o come_v thither_o in_o their_o own_o personal_a inherent_a right_n and_o may_v more_o just_o be_v call_v the_o principal_n of_o the_o nation_n and_o look_v upon_o as_o the_o true_a owner_n and_o proprietor_n of_o the_o nation_n account_v the_o land-interest_n to_o be_v the_o main_a and_o the_o true_a and_o stable_a interest_n and_o may_v therefore_o true_o be_v term_v the_o nation_n itself_o assemble_v or_o the_o people_n assemble_v it_o be_v the_o land-interest_n then_o that_o give_v both_o honour_n and_o power_n that_o census_n honour_n yet_o it_o can_v be_v deny_v but_o that_o the_o ancient_a borough_n do_v elect_a their_o representative_n even_o in_o the_o most_o ancient_a time_n who_o be_v at_o first_o a_o small_a part_n of_o these_o great_a assembly_n though_o now_o much_o more_o numerous_a and_o weigh_v down_o the_o balance_n and_o this_o be_v prove_v to_o have_v be_v long_o before_o the_o time_n of_o king_n henry_n the_o three_o though_o those_o late_a writer_n date_n it_o from_o that_o time_n only_o it_o will_v be_v folly_n to_o undertake_v to_o give_v any_o clear_a or_o large_a account_n of_o the_o supreme_a judicature_n that_o be_v in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o ancient_a briton_n saxon_n or_o dane_n which_o many_o of_o our_o late_a writer_n pretend_v to_o do_v for_o tacitus_n in_o the_o life_n of_o agricola_n tell_v we_o of_o the_o old_a briton_n that_o at_o the_o time_n of_o the_o come_n of_o the_o roman_n into_o this_o land_n they_o do_v not_o so_o much_o as_o in_o commune_fw-la consulere_fw-la that_o be_v they_o have_v no_o common-council_n nor_o do_v they_o meet_v together_o to_o consult_v how_o to_o repel_v their_o common_a danger_n but_o be_v divide_v into_o a_o multitude_n of_o feud_n and_o faction_n under_o their_o reguli_fw-la or_o pretty_a prince_n rarus_n duabus_fw-la tribusve_fw-la civitatibus_fw-la ad_fw-la propulsandum_fw-la commune_fw-la periculum_fw-la conventus_fw-la after_o the_o briton_n be_v whole_o subdue_v by_o the_o roman_n they_o receive_v law_n and_o magistracy_n from_o their_o conqueror_n net_n legibus_fw-la suis_fw-la patriis_fw-la uti_fw-la permissi_fw-la sunt_fw-la though_o it_o be_v imply_v that_o they_o have_v law_n of_o their_o own_o sed_fw-la magistratus_fw-la à _fw-la populo_fw-la romano_n cum_fw-la imperio_fw-la &_o securibus_fw-la missi_fw-la qui_fw-la jus_o dicerent_fw-la say_v learned_a cambden_n in_o his_o britannia_n page_n 48._o for_o which_o he_o cite_v his_o author_n the_o saxon_n who_o succeed_v the_o roman_n divide_v the_o nation_n into_o seven_o part_n and_o constitute_v the_o heptarchy_n it_o be_v in_o vain_a to_o search_v for_o a_o house_n of_o lord_n or_o any_o one_o supreme_a judicature_n all_o that_o time_n for_o all_o the_o nation_n the_o supreme_a judicature_n in_o those_o time_n must_v be_v seven_o in_o number_n if_o any_o for_o the_o seven_o be_v independent_a one_o of_o the_o other_o most_o part_n of_o the_o state_n of_o the_o saxon_a government_n be_v so_o obscure_a say_v our_o great_a selden_n that_o we_o can_v see_v only_a step_n or_o tear_v relic_n of_o they_o rather_o than_o so_o much_o as_o may_v give_v full_a satisfaction_n if_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n in_o their_o time_n to_o our_o purpose_n that_o be_v concern_v one_o supreme_a court_n of_o judicature_n to_o which_o the_o whole_a nation_n be_v subject_a it_o must_v fall_v towards_o the_o latter_a end_n of_o the_o saxon_a time_n after_o egbert_n king_n of_o the_o westsaxon_n have_v reduce_v the_o other_o part_n of_o the_o heptarchy_n under_o his_o obedience_n when_o they_o do_v in_o unum_fw-la coalescere_fw-la and_o be_v all_o seven_o melt_v down_o into_o one_o mass._n and_o after_o the_o several_a government_n and_o part_n be_v unite_v though_o the_o government_n be_v but_o one_o yet_o there_o be_v three_o several_a and_o distinct_a law_n remain_v in_o force_n which_o have_v their_o several_a limit_n and_o precinct_n see_v lambert_n de_fw-fr priscis_fw-la anglorum_fw-la legibus_fw-la page_n 180._o and_o these_o be_v not_o mere_o some_o certain_a different_a custom_n for_o so_o it_o be_v to_o this_o day_n in_o our_o several_a county_n as_o of_o gavelkind_n and_o burrough_n english_a etc._n etc._n but_o they_o be_v under_o three_o distinct_a system_n or_o body_n of_o law_n so_o that_o it_o can_v not_o be_v any_o way_n practicable_a during_o that_o time_n to_o have_v any_o one_o great_a court_n of_o judicature_n for_o the_o whole_a land_n by_o which_o of_o those_o three_o law_n shall_v that_o great_a judicature_n have_v proceed_v but_o after_o some_o time_n those_o three_o different_a body_n of_o law_n be_v find_v incompatible_a with_o one_o entire_a government_n as_o it_o come_v to_o be_v at_o last_o and_o therefore_o king_n edgar_n a_o saxon_a king_n out_o of_o these_o three_o body_n of_o law_n by_o the_o counsel_n of_o his_o wise_a man_n compose_v one_o great_a body_n of_o law_n to_o be_v observe_v by_o the_o whole_a nation_n of_o england_n and_o edward_n the_o confessor_n give_v new_a vigour_n and_o life_n of_o this_o new_a body_n which_o be_v afterward_o extract_v out_o of_o those_o three_o old_a body_n of_o law_n and_o be_v indeed_o the_o fountain_n and_o materia_fw-la prima_fw-la of_o that_o which_o we_o now_o call_v the_o common-law_n of_o england_n from_o these_o we_o derive_v our_o trial_n by_o twelve_o man_n our_o levy_n of_o fine_n of_o land_n and_o the_o office_n of_o sheriff_n coroner_n constable_n and_o many_o more_o of_o our_o law_n custom_n and_o office_n continue_v among_o we_o ever_o since_o unto_o this_o day_n and_o these_o be_v those_o good_a old_a law_n of_o king_n edward_n the_o confessor_n which_o william_n the_o first_o who_o be_v style_v the_o conqueror_n do_v more_o than_o once_o swear_v to_o govern_v by_o which_o prove_v he_o to_o be_v indeed_o no_o conqueror_n and_o these_o make_v up_o the_o great_a part_n of_o our_o magna_fw-la charta_fw-la i_o shall_v mention_v some_o few_o precedent_n in_o the_o time_n of_o the_o saxon_n of_o their_o supreme_a judicature_n and_o examine_v what_o resemblance_n they_o bear_v with_o that_o use_v at_o present_a among_o we_o and_o then_o i_o shall_v give_v some_o account_n of_o the_o supreme_a court_n of_o judicature_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o norman_a government_n during_o the_o time_n of_o their_o first_o six_o or_o seven_o king_n and_o by_o the_o way_n still_o examine_v how_o just_o any_o court_n now_o in_o be_v can_v be_v say_v to_o derive_v their_o power_n from_o they_o and_o to_o sit_v and_o succeed_v they_o in_o their_o seat_n and_o in_o the_o last_o place_n i_o shall_v make_v my_o conjecture_n how_o and_o at_o what_o time_n the_o magnum_fw-la concilium_fw-la in_o parliamento_fw-la or_o the_o house_n of_o peer_n first_o begin_v to_o exercise_v the_o supreme_a judicature_n and_o while_o i_o run_v through_o the_o precedent_n and_o cite_v my_o author_n whoever_o read_v they_o may_v at_o the_o