The FIRST PART of a Brief Register Kalendar and Survey of the several Kinds Forms of all Parliamentary VVrits COMPRISING In 3. Sections all Writs Forms of Summons to Great Councils Parliaments Convocations in the Tower from the 5th of King Iohn 1203 till 23 Edw. 4. 1483 to all sorts of Spiritual and Temporal Lords Great-men Members of and the Kings Counsil Assistants to THE HOUSE OF LORDS With other Rare Writs and 4. Exact Alphabetical Chronological Tables 1. Of all Abbols Priors Masters of Orders Clergy-men except Bishops 2. Of all Dukes Earls Forreign Kings Marquesses Princes of Wales 3 Of all Lay Barons Lords Vicounts Great men 4. Of all the Kings Counsil Justices Clerks or other Officers with the several numbers of each of them and of Bishops summoned to every Council Parliament and the Years Rolls Dorses in every Kings reign wherein their names are recorded Illustrated with choice usefull Annotations Observations concerning these Writs differences alterations entries in the Clause Rolls the Stiles Titles Additions of Patriarcha Cardinalis Electus Confirmatus Magister c. given in them to Spiritual of Baro Miles Dominus c. to Temporal Lords with their Baronies Fealty Homage Oaths right of Session Iudicature The Clergies forms of Procurations Exemption from Taxes by the Laity Our Kings Prerogative to call prorogue dissolve Parliaments hold them by a Custos Regni or Commissioners by Patents here cited to create Peers Barons by Patent special not general Writs here registred to summon extraordinary Members Assistants Their propriety in Parliaments dissolved by their deaths The Power of their Counsil in and out of them The Constitution Jurisdiction Proceedings Privileges Ends Duties of English Parliaments Lords Commons Their inconsistence with armed guards seclusion of Members by force oathes menaces and with Scotish or Irish Intruders Their late differences from Councils Parliamentum when first used in Writs Acts Histories c. With other particulars Publishing more Rarities rectifying more Errors in vulgar Writers touching our Parliaments than any former Treatises of this Subject By WILLIAM PRYNNE Esq a Bencher of Lincolnes Inne Mercurius Trismegistus In unaquaque arte tanta ducimur caecitatis caligine ut maxima part eorum quae scimus sit minima pars eorum quae ignoramus LONDON Printed for the Author and sold by Edward Thomas in Little Britain and Henry Brome in Ivy Lane 1659. To the Ingenuous Readers especicially those of the Long Robe and more Noble or Generous English Extraction THere are 5. grand Defects of very publike concernment highly tending if not to the dishonor yet certainly to the great disservice prejudice of our Kingdom Parliaments great Officers of State Nobility Gentry Nation and more especially of the Professors and Profession of the municipall Laws which I have for many years last past not only much admired at and exceedingly deplored but also used my best endeavors to get supplied so farr as there was â—ny probability to effect it The 1. is the irreparable losse of all the Parliament â—olls during the Reigns of our antientâ—â—t Kings from William the 1. till 5 E. 2. â— the first Roll of that kind now extant and of many other of those Rolls since during the Reigns of Edw. 2. and 3. with the not publishing in Print those Parliamentary Rolls and Records yet extant by publike Order for the benefit of Posterity to prevent their suppression destruction Embezelling by fire warr casualties tâ—e negligence or present malice of some Iesuitical Furies or illitâ—rate Animals instigated thereunto by Hugh Peters his misintituled Pamphlet Good work for a good Magistrate printed 1651. p. 96. Where after his proposal of a short new Modell for the Law he subjoyns This being done Iâ— IS VERY ADVISABLE TO BURN ALL THE OLD RECORDS YEA EVEN THOSE IN THE TOWER THE MONVMENTS OF TYRANNY Which desperate bedlam advise of his I have elsewhere at large refuted as most pernicious to the publike and to all Corporations and Landed men The 2. is the great want of an Exact Collection out of the Clause Parliament and Statu'e Rolls of all Statutes Ordinances and Acts of Parliament made before the use of Printing them immediately after the Parliaments conclusion or during their Sessions came in fashion all our Statutes at large and the Abridgments of them even Ferdinando Pultons of Lincolns Inne Esq. the best most refined having sundry Spurious Impostures printed in them under the Titles of Acts Statutes and Ordinances of Parliament which in verâ—ty are neither of them but only particular Writs or Instuctions of the King to the Iustices and other Officers by advise of his Counâ—l out of Parliament Such are the Stâ—tutes De circumspecte agatis said to be made in 13. E. 1. resolved to be no Statute but made by the Prelates alone M. 19. E. 3. Fitz. Jur. 28. The Statutes of Protections Champerty and Conspirators in 33 E. 1. De conjunctim feoffatis in 34 E. 1. Ne rector prosternat arbores in caemiterio in 35 E. 1. The Statute for Knights 1 E. 2. of Gavelet 10 E. 2. with sundry others as the very form words penning of them demonstrate being transcribed only out of the Clause or Patents not Parliament or Statute Rolls Besides these there are some forged Acts and Statutes printed in these Statute Books not extant in the Statute Rolls that remain intire yea there are sundry misprisions in printed Statutes varying both in form substance from the Statute Rolls wherein they are recorded omitting some material words and clauses adding and altering others most of the publishers of our Statutes taking them upon meer trust as they found them transcribed by others but never examining them by the Statute Rolls Original Records as is most apparent by their mistakes of the very times and dates of some Statutes by their printing others of them without any date as made during the reign of King H. 3. Ed. the 1. or 2. BUTUNCERTAIN WHEN ORIN WHICH OF THEIR TIMES by the manifold variances between their Printed Books and the Statute Rolls of which I have given you a particular account in my Table to the Eâ—act Abridgement of the Records in the Tower the Compiler whereof was mistaken in this That the Statute of 2 R. 2. c. 5. touching tellers of News or Lyes of Noblemen or Counsellors is not in the Record nor any mention thereof it being recorded at large in French in the Statute Roll of the first Parliament that year wherein it is printed though not in the second as I can attest upon my own view of the Statute Roll it self Besides these Impostures and Variances there are many useful Acts in the Parliament and Clause Rolls totally omitted out of all our Printed Statute-Books some whereof I have heretofore published in my Irenarches Redivivus The 3. is the Grand deplorable Deficiency of such an Exact Chronological History of all the Great Councils Synods Parliaments of England with their several Canons Acts Ordinances Proceedings
only Basis whereon Parliaments are founded by which they are supported directed as well as convened and by my usefull Observations on them more compleatly to supply the 5. deâ—ect than any of the former so farr as my present leisure and ability will extend without supplies from others wherein I have with no little pains and diligence given you a most exact and faithfull Account of all the Writs of Summons to Parliaments Great Councils and most Convocations in England extant in the Clause Rolls and Records of the Tower from the 5. year of King Iohn till the 23. of Edward the 4th that I have hitherto met with upon my best search after them digested into several Sections in a Chronological method with usefull Observations on them Wherein you have a compendious yet full and satisfactory Account of all the several Forms and Varieties of writs of Summons during all this tract of time issued to Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Masters of Religious Orders and all Spiritual Lords to the Prince of Wales Forein Kings Dukes Earls Marquesses Vicounts Barons Temporal Lords and Great men to the Kings Counsil Judges and other Assistants to the House of Lords the Sheriffs of Counties and particular Corporations made Counties for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses to serve in Parliament and to the Constable of Dover Castle Warden of the Cinque-ports and Ports themselves for electing Barons of those Ports with the particular Rolls membranaes dorses wherein every of these summons are recorded Together with a general Account in gross summâ— how many Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons Great men and Assistants of the Kings Counsil were summoned to every of these Parliaments and Great Councils 4 most usefull acurate short Alphabetical Chronological â—ables inserted into my Observations on the 3. first Sections of these Different writs 1. Of the Names of all the Abbots Priors Masters of Religious Orders and other Clergymen except Bishops summoned to any Parliament or Great Council from 49 H. 3. till 23 E. 4. with the years rolls dorses in each Kings reign wherein you shall find them summoned and how oft any of them were summoned and consequently when omitted out of the lists of summons 2ly Of the Names of all the Dukes Earls Marquesses and Princes of Wales 3ly Of all the Temporal Viscounts Lords Barons Peers and Great men 4ly Of all the Kings Counsil Judges Justices and other Great Officers summoned as Assistants to the Lords in every Parliament and Great Council held in England from 49 H. 3. to 23 E. 4. with the particular Roll year dorse in every Kings reign wherein you may find their names and summons entred and when and how oft any of them or their posterity were thus summoned Which Tables as they were very painfull and troublesom to me exactly to collect being inforced to transcribe most of them three times over before I could digest them into that form as here you find them consisting of very many figures which I examined near five times over to prevent mistakes in any of them so being thus compleated will be the most usefull and delightfull Kalender to all Antiquaries Heraulds Lawâ—ers Noblemen Gentlemen and others delighting in Antiquities or Pedegrees ever yet communicated to the English Nation rectifying all those mistakes in names supplying those manifold defects in my Table of this nature to the Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower If any Noblemen Lawyers Gentlemen or others would find out and know in a moment when or how often or in what Roll and dorse any of their Ancestors Family Name were summoned to any Parliament or Great Council or when or how often any Abbot or Prior whose lands they or their Clients now enjoy were summoned to Parliaments or of what Order they were these Tables compared with the printed Lists before them will presently resolve them better than all the Tables and Kalendars to the Records in the Tower which are very defective and if they have cause to make use of the Records upon any occasion these Tables will punctually direct them both to the Number Roll and Dorse too wherein they are recorded without further search So as I may conclude them to be greatly beneficial as well to the Keepers of those Records as to all those who shall have future occasion to make use of them in any kind For the extraordinary writs of summons and others here published at large I dare averr that most of the Nobility Gentry Lawyers and Parliament men of the English Nation never so much as once saw or heard of most of them before this publication and those few Antiquaries Lawyers Gentlemen who have gottenauy transcripts and Collections of the writs of summons in the Tower shall meet with many memorable rare writs in this Abridgement which are totally omitted out of their Folio Volumes collected to their hands by others which I have here supplied by my own industry and likewise digested into method all those large Collâ—ctions of writs which I have yet seen being both defective confused fraught with a tedious repetition of those names of Abbots Priors Dukes Earls Lords Barons which I have contracted into four short Tables in an orderly method So as I may justly stile this Register Kalendar and Survey a rich Cabinet and Compendious Treasury of the chiefest and most precious Parliamentary Iewels Rarities Records ever yet presented to the world in print As for my Observations on and Collections from these writs I dare affirm without vain-glory they are for the most part such as were never yet known nor communicated to the world and will be of excellent use not only for the searching but understanding of Records and of the true constitution proceedings Privileges Affairs Ends of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England and duties of their respective Members wherein I have discovered refuted many oversights and mistakes in Sir Edward Cook and other pretended Antiquaries who have written of our English Parliaments and given clearer evidences of the original beginning use of the name Parliament in England of the Authority Power use of the Kings Counsil Iudges in Parliaments of the Kings general writs of Summons to Temporal as well as Spiritual persons who held not by Barony not making themselves nor their Successors nor posterities Lords or Barons and of sundry other materiall particulars relating to the Freedom Fulness Summons Affairs Proceedings of our Parliaments than any hitherto have done out of an unfeigned desire of communicating more knowledg to the present succeeding Generations touching our Parliaments and their affairs than former times have been publikely acquainted with that thereby I might restore our Parliaments to their primitive institution use splendor freedom Honor that so theâ— may be made medicinal Restoratives Blessing not Grievances or Diseases to our 〈◊〉 Church and State or Physicians of no value We read of a woman in the Gospel which had aâ— issue of bloud for 12 years and had suffâ—ed many thiâ—gs
Archbishoprick of York wherewith I shall close up this Section and my Observations on it Claus. 9 E. 2. m. 17. Rex venerabilâ— in Christo Patri W. eadem gratia Archiepiscopo Cantuar. c. salutem Pro firmo credimus et tenemus quod ad ea quae regni nostri salva ionem et â—opulâ— Nobis commissi tranquillitatem et quietem respiâ—iunt cum Dei adjutorio feliciter promovenda mauus velitis extendere liberalitâ—r adjuvantes Quidam itaque Praelati et alii de Clero Provinciae vestre convocaâ—i quos ad interessendum Parliamento nostro apud Lincoln fâ—â—imus summoneri ibidem ex parte nostra super Subsidio nobis pro guerra nostra Scotiae faâ—â—â—nda requisiti ad urgentem necessitatem in hac parte inevitabile periculum quod tam Ecclesiae Anglicanae quam Nobis et toti poputo nostro ex Scotorum inimicorum et rebellium nostrorum qui pluries Râ—gnum nostrum hostiliter sunt ingressi depraedationes inoâ—ndia homicidia at alla dampna quamplunima intulâ—runt perpetrando obstinat a malitia potâ—rit imminere nisi â—orum nequitiae citius et potenâ—â—cus cum Dei adjutorio resistatur suae considerationis intuitum dirigentes ad Subsidium Nobis ex causa praedictâ—s faciendum quatenus voâ—is absentibus cui subsuâ— â—t in quorundam aliorum tam Praelatorum quam Religiosorum et caeterorum de Clero dictae Provinciae absentia potuerunt unanimiter consenserunt Ita tamen quod tam ipsi quam alii de Clero vestrae Provinciae qui in dicto Parliamento praâ—entes non fuerunt coram vobis ad tractandum et consentiendum vestra auctoritate interveniente de certo Subsidio Nobis ut praemittitur faciendo in loco debito convocentur Vestram igâ—â—ur Paternitatem reverendam de qua fiduciam gerimus plâ—niâ—rem requirimus et rogamus quatinus omnes Pralatos tam Religiosos quam alios caterosque de Clero Provinciae vestrae supradictae quod sint coram Vobis apud Londâ—n die Mâ—rcurii prox post Quindenam Pasch. prox futur ad ultimum ad tractand in vestra praesentia et una vobiscum consentiend super Subsidio memorato convocari faciatis 〈…〉 Subsidio nomine nostro audiendam it nobis post moduÌ„ reportandam Teste Rege apud Lincoln 17 die Febr. Eodem modo mandatum est Custodi Spiritualitatis Archiepiscopatus Eborum sede vacante mutatis competenter mutandis excepto quod Clerum Eborae Provinciae venir◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ipso apud Eborum à diâ— Paschae in unâ—m mensem c. Teste ut supra What ever else concerns the Prelates Abbots Priors Convocation and Clâ—ry is reserved for its proper placâ— in subsequent Sections SECTION II. Of the several writs of Summons to Parliaments and Great Councils directed to the Temporal Lords as The King of Castel the Prince of Wales Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts Lords Barons and other Great men of the Lords House whereof there are several forms and varieties with Observations on them SOme pretended Antiquaries not well versed in our Records in their late printed Discourses of The Antiquity of the Parliaments of England p. 22. 24. 88. 89. meeting with a Transcript of ancient writs issued to Earls Barons and Great men holding lands of the King by Knight service to repair to him at a certain time and place cum equis et armis for his defence against Enemies or Rebels in times of warrs insurrection or danger have injudiciously conceived these writs to be Writs of Summons to Parliaments or confounded them promiscuously with them affirming That they find these writs recorded AMONG THE PARLIAMENT ROLLS of 14. or 15. E. 3. and therefore thought good to remember them When as there are â—o such writs extant in any Parliament Rolls in the Tower nor any Writs of Summons to Parliaments or Great Councils entred in our Parliament Rolls as they ignorantly publish but only in the Dorse of the Clause Rolls quite different and distinct from the Rolls of our Parliaments as the meanest Novice in Records can ascertain them Upon the like mistake some have conceited these ensuing writs of Claus. 45 47 H. 3. to be writs of Summons to Parliaments and Great Councils when as the writs themselves declare the contrary that they were only Summons to assist the King against Enemies and Rebells with horses and arms and all their power not to counsel advise or grant any aydes of money to him in Parliament Rex Willielmo de Bello Campo de Aumel salutem Mandamus Vobis in fide et homagio quibus Nobis tenemini firmiter injungentes quod omnibus aliis praetermissis ad Nos sitis London in craftino Apostolorum Simonis et Iudae absque dilatione ulteriori CUM EQUIS ET ARMIS ET CUM POSSE VESTRO tam de servitio vestro Nobis dâ—bito quam de subventione amicorum vestrorum pro quibusdam urgentibus â—â—egotiis personam nostram specialiter et Statum Coronae nostrae tangentibus Et hoc sicut de vestra fidâ—litate et dilectione confidentiam gerimus specialeâ—â—ullatenus omittatis Quia SUBVENTIONEM quâ—m Nobis et Coronae nostrae praeter servicium Nobis debitum ad praesens feceritis in consequentiam trahi nolumus nec vobis per hoc ullo tempore derogari Taliter vos habeatis in hac parte quod dicto die absque defalta ad Nos sitis ita quod vobis exinde in perpetuo teneamus ad grates Teste Rege apud Turrim London 18 die Octobris Eodem modo mandatum est Phil Basset and 107. Barons and great men holding by knights service there registred by name After which this writ ensues in the same Dorse Rex Abbati de Burgo Sancti Petri salutem Mandamus vobis in fide et dilectione quibus Nobis tenemini firmiter injungentes quod omnibus aliis praetermissis mittaris Nobis Servitium vestrum quod Nobis debetis ita quod sitis ad Nos in crastino Sancti Martini absque defalto pro quibusdam urgentibus negotiis personam nostram specialiter et statum regni nostri tangentibus Et hoc sub debito fidelitatis qua Nobis â—enemini nullatenus omittatis Teste ut supra Eodem modo mandatum est to 36 Abbots more whose names are there listed in the Roll Then follows this entry Isti subscripti vocati sunt ad crastinum Apostolorum Simonis Iudae CUM EQUIS ET ARMIS Thomas de Chauro with 16. more there named after him Mandatnm est Vicecomiti Essex quod summoneri faciat omnes illos de Honoribus de Redleg et Castro Baynard et de Hundredo de Rochford quod veniant ad Regem ad â—undem diem cum servicio suo Regi debito The like writs issued to divers others in this and other Membranaâ—s of this Roll of 45 H. 3. to ayde the King against the Barons then in rebellion against him and reduce them to their obedience as is evident by this writ
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
regne du Roy Henry Sisme pâ—is le conquest primerement unâ— Commission du Roy fait desoutz son grande Seal directâ—z al Honorable puissent Prince Humphry Duc de Glocestre son-Uncle per la quell le Roy avâ—iâ— done poiar a mesme son Uncle a tenit le dit Parlement en le nom du Roy folonâ— laffect la contenuz de mesme la Commission en la preseucâ— de'l dit Duc seant en la Chambre de peinte deinz In Palayes de Westm. anxy de les Seignieurs espuelz temperelz les Chivalers des Countees des Citeins Burgeois del Roialme Deingleterre pur toute lay Comme de mesme la Rolalmâ— au dit Parlement tenuzilleoqes alors esteantz â—uit overtement le eâ—z dont le tenure-cy ensuyt Heâ—ritus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae omnibus ad quos praesentes litetrae pervenerint salutem Sciatis quod cum de avisamento Concilii nostri pro quibusdam arduis urgentibus negociis nos statum defensionem Regni nostri Angliae ac Ecclesiae Anglicanae contingentibus quoddam Parliamentum nostrum apud Westm. Die Lunae prox ante sestum Sti. Martini prox futur teneri ordinavimus Et quia vero propter certas causas ad Parliamentum Praedictum personaliter non poterimus interesse Nos de circumspectione industria carissimi Avuncuâ—i nostri Humfredi Ducâ—s Gloucestr plenam fiduciam reportantes eidem Avunculo nostro ad Parliamentum praedict nomine nostro iâ—choand in eo procedend ad facienda omnia singula quae pro Nobis per Nos pro bono regimiâ—e gubernatione Râ—gni nostripraedicti ac aliorum Uominiorum nostrorum eidens Regno nestro pertinentâ—um ibâ—dem suerint faciend Nec non ad Parliamentum illud â—â—â—iendum dissolvendum de assensu Concilii nostri plenam tenore praesentium committimus potestaâ—eâ—s Dante 's ultâ—râ—us de assensu ejusdem Concilii nostri tam universis singulis Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Dusibus Comitibus Baronibus Militibus quam omnibus aliis quorum interest ad Parliamentum nostrum praedictâ— conventuris similiter tenore prâ—sentum in mundatis quod eideâ—â— Avâ—â—culo nostrâ— intendantâ—â—â— praemissiâ—â—â— forma supraâ— dictâ— In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes T. mâ—ipsa apud Westm. 6 dis Novembris Anno Regni nostri primo The like Commission I finde made to the same Duke in the Parliamant Roll of 2. H. 6. n. 1. word for word except in those additional words and clauses in the Commission it self Nos de circumspectione fidelitate industria c. Eidem Avunculo nostro ad Parliamentum praedict nomine nostro inchoand negociaque praedicta exponend ac declarand ac exponi declarari faciend necnon in negociis illis Parliamento praedicto ac omnibus singulis in eo emergentibus procedeâ—d c. Neâ—non ad Parliamentum illud si necesse fuerit continuand prorogand ac ad idem Parliamentum finiend c. plenam committimus potestatem quam in eventu praedicto Parliamento nostro tempore aliquo forsan in persona nostra adessâ— contigerit revocare intendimus Dante 's c. Ut supra with the like in other Parliaments during this Kings Minority and in 33 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 30. It is observeable that none of these Custodes Regni or Protectors had any power given them to summon or hold Parliaments in their own Names or by their own inherent Authority as Protectors nor to create new Peers or Barons of the Realm by Writs or Patents for ought I finde the very words of their Patents and the Parliaments of 1. H. 4. rot Parl. n. 24 25 26 2 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 15 16. 6 H. 6 rot Parl. n. 22 23 24. a notable Record 8 H. 6. rot Parl. â— 13. 33 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 30. to 42. resolving the contrary By all these forecited Commissions Patents and the Patent to the Protectors themselves during the Kings Minoritie enrolled in the Parliament Roll of 1. H. 6. Num. 24 which I have elsewhere published it is most apparent That as the Scripture and New Testament it self in express terms resolve The King alone to be the Supream Magistrate So the Common and Statute Laws Lawyers Writs Records and Parliaments of England have alwaies hitherto resolved declared proclaimed as Bracton l. 1. c. 8. l. 3. c. 16. f. 134. l. 3. c. 3. 9. Fleta l. 1. c. 5. 17. The Parliament of Lincolne 29 E. 1. 16 R. 2. â— 5. 25. H. 8. c. 19 21. 22. 26 H. 8. c. 1. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 28 H. 8. c. 7 10. 31 H. 8. c. 10 15. 32 H. 8. c. 22 24 26. 33 H. 8. c. 29. 35 H. 8. c. 1. 3 27 19 37 H. 8. c. 15. 1. E. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. 5. 1. 3. 4. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. 1 Iac. c. 1. 2. 3. Iac. c. 4. 7 Iac. c. 6. The Prologues of all ancient Parliaments and the very words of the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance prescribed to all Members of the Common House Judges Justices Officers Barristers Attornies Sheriffs Graduates Ministers and School-Masters by our Parliaments abundantly evidence The King of England alone not the Custos Regni Protector nor any other person whatsoever nor the Pope himself to be the onely Supream Governour Head Magistrate of the Realm of England and the Dominions thereunto annexed and that in and over all spiritual and ecclesiastical persons things causes as well as temporal without recognizing any other Soveraign Lord Governour Magistrate for ought I finde in History or Record 10. That the causes of summoning and proroging all Parliaments ought to be generally or particularly expressed in the Writs of Summons and Prorogation together with the precise daies whereon and places wherein they are to meet upon the Summons or Prorogation that so all may know â—ertainly at what time and place to meet That the daies and places of their meeting and prorogation were absolutely in the power of our Kings who varied them according to emergent occasions and the places of their necessary residence For instance When the wars or affairs of Scotland drew our Kings and Nobles towards the Northern parts they usually summoned or prorogued their Parliaments to York Karlisle Newcastle Stanford Lincolne Leycester Northampton Cambridge Stainford Conventry Nottingham When the wars and businesses of France called them towards the South they frequently summoned their Parliaments to Winton Salisbury Southampton Canterbury When the wars or negotiations of Wales or Ireland occasioned their removal towards them they convened their Parliaments at Gloucester Worcester Salop Hereford Bristol Oxford or Malborough But most usually they were summoned and prorogued to Westminster or London as the center and Metropolis of the Realm and the most indifferent and convenient place of meeting as
all other lawfull Members both of the Lords and Commons House ought to enjoy the self same Protection Priviledge Freedome immunity and no wayes to be interrupted molested disturbed by any other Officers Subjects Persons or Members whatsoever from freely repairing to residing in or returning from our Parliaments much lesse to be forcibly secluded out of them by armed guards new oaths or popular tumults Neither may can ought the House of Commons alone nor any prevailing party in it to exclude eject any duly elected returned Member once admitted without any Legall accusation tryal cause at all nor yet for betraying of his trust or misdemeaning himself as a Member after his election nor for any real offence as a Member without and against the Kings and Lords concurrent Judgments and assents in whom alone the power of Iudicature resides in such as well as in all other causes as I have elsewhere evidenced by unanswerable Presidents and the rules of right reason he being summoned only by the Kings Writ and authority impowred trusted by his electors only as their peculiar Trustee Atturney not his fellow Knights Citizens Burgesses to do and assent to such things as shall be ordained by the King Nobles and Common Counsell of the Realme touching the weighty publike affairs of the King and Kingdoms and obliged antiently by Manucaptors and since by their Indentures of retorn and our Laws not to depart from the Parliament without the Kings special license under pein of his indignation and other penalties Therefore no more to be suspended secluded ejected imprisoned by his fellow-Commoners without the Kings and Lords concurrent Judgements and Assents than one Judge or Justice on the Bench can unjustice unjudge uncommission another one Trustee Executor or Attorny discharge his fellow Trustees Executors Attornies of their trusts one Grand-Jury man thrust another out of the panell without the Judges consent or one Common Counsel man of a City or Livery man of a Company disfranchise and discommon another without the consent or judgement of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City or Master and Wardens of the Company whereof they are Members Whatever exorbitant irregular practices have of late times been usurped by or presidents made in the Commons House to the contrarie almost to the total if not final subversion of all future Parliaments and their privileges It being a Maxim in Law and Reason Par in parem nonhabet Imperium multo minus Superioritatem especially in the Kings own Parliament and Supreme Court of Justice wherein himself and his Nobles only sit as supreme Iudges not the Commons as a distinct Court and independent Judicature of themselves as some would fancy them in their Utopian brains and practises much less can they â—eâ—â—ude vote down any Members of the House of Peers or the whole antient House of Lords or dishinherit them of their Birthrights as some furious Bedlam Members of a dismembred dissolved House of Commons have most insolently and injuriously without hearing trial against their own Acts Declarations Protestations Vowes Covenants Commissions Trusts attempted to intrude themselves into their places and Tribunals and make themselves more than Lords and Caesars not only over their Fellow-Commoners but our Kings Peers Parliaments and Kingdomes which they have trampled under their Papall feet and metamorphosed at their pleasures into sundry mishapen mutable unsetled new models to our apparent approaching ruine if God of his infinite mercy prevent it not by their reestablishment upon their ancient bases and foundations 20. That if the forcible seclusion or disturbance of any Lord or Member of the Lords House duly summoned who ought of right to sit vote in the Lords House be so great a breach of Priviledge Injury as I have evidenced then the forcible suppression seclusion of all the ancient Peers and House of Lords by any real or pretended Members of the late House of Commons contrary to the expresse Clauses Formes of all ancient Writs and the very writs in 16. Caroli without any legal jurisdiction hearing triall must needs be a greater breach of trust Priviledge Injustice in them fit to be redressed for the future peace Justice settlement of our distracted Nations and restoring our Parliaments to their pristine Splendour Honour ends uses for the redressing of all publick Grievances If any Republicans Army Officers New Grandees or others here object as some now do That it will be both perillous and inconvenient to the Subjects the House of Commons and its Members to restore the ancient Lords and House of Peers to their pristine Rights Priviledges Jurisdiction Judicature over them in that latitude I have asserted evidenced it by Histories and Records in my Plea for them without prescribing some new just bounds and regulations unto them by the Commons House I answer 1. That the Lords being the only original ancient Members of our Great Councils Parliaments many hundreds of years before any Knights Citizens Burgesses or House of Commons were called admitted to them by the King and House of Lords and receiving no power Judicature or Jurisdiction at all from the Commons but what they have of right enjoyed exercised in all precedent ages without the least complaint opposition or contradiction of the Commons in any former Parliaments before 17. Caroli The Commons have no more authority right reason â—urisdiction to limit or restrain this their ancient right Judicature Priviledge much lesse to abrogate then the Grand or Petty Jury have to limit regulate the Judges or Justices Commissions Authority on the Bench or the Tenants the Jurisdiction of their Lords Courts or every Committee of the Commons House the Excesses of the House it self or the Unparliamentary Iuncto which voted them down and engaged against them without the least colour of Jurisdiction Law reason hearing impeachment triall had to usurp such a transcendent power over them not to be paralelld in any age nor now approved by assenting to it 2ly That the old Lords and House of Peers in no cases ever exercised such an exorbitant arbitrary tyrannicall Jurisdiction Illegall power in all kinds as the Commons House and every of their Committees and Sub-Committees of Examinations Sequestrations Compositions Sale of Delinquents estates Crown Lands Obstructions Appeales Scandalous Ministers and High Courts of Iustice have done without the least Report to the House it self of their proceedings both over the King and his Posteritie the Peers of the Realme their fellow Members secluded secured imprisoned close imprisoned ejected exiled by them without any cause or hearing at all and their fellow Commoners of all sorts deprived of their Inheritances Estates Offices Liberties Callings Lives and the benefit of the Lawes themselves for not taking their new Oathes and Engagements contrary to Law and their former legall Oathes Leagues and Solemn Covenant and Protestation wâ—â—hout a legal Indictment or trial by a Jurie of their equalls or witnesses viva voce upon Oath since their slighting suppressing of the old
House of Lords who should have restrained reformed these their unparallelld extravagancies which I could prove by hundreds of sad Instances and have briefly hinted in my â—lea for the old Lords page 413. to 419. For which very reason they ought now to be restored being an excellent Bank and Screen between the Prince and People to assist each against any encroachments on the other and by just judgements to preserve that Law which ought to be the Rule between every one of the three and trusted with a Iudicatory power to this very end 3ly Some of those very Members of the late Commons House Army and Whitehall who would disseise them of their House Privileges Birthrights and antient Iurisdiction before they took upon them the Title of Lords or of the House of Lords as pretended Members of the Commons House a little before and since their votes against the old House of Lords as Committees of that House or Commissioners in their new â—rected High Courts of Iustice Members of the Counsil of State at White-Hall or Counsil of Army-Officers or Major Generals and Deputy Major Generals have acted a thousand times more exorbitantly arbitrarily tyrannically to the subversion of the Fundamental Laws Liberties properties Government Justice of the Nation oppressing improverishing vexing dishinheriting destroying enslaving of the Freemen of England than ever any old Lords or House of Lords or Kings of England in Parliament heretofore did in any age whatsoever Witness their usurpations of a more than absolute Parliamentarie power to themselves by their own Votes Orâ—ers Declarations alone to alter new model over and over the whole frame of our Parliaments Laws and publike Government their electing Knights Citizens Burgesses for what they stiled a Parliament without the least privity or election of the people their dissolving declaring the long Parliament to be dissolved against an expresse Act of Parliament their repealing many old Lawes Acts Oathes enacting new Lawes contrary to them creating New Treasons and misprision of Treasons yea imposing heavy excessive New Taxes Customes Excises of all sorts on the three Nations not only in their private Westminster conventions but by their Armie and Whitehall Ordinances amounting to a large Folio Volume without any Parliament or legall Act of Parliament ordering them to be levyed by fines forfeitures sales of the refusers reall and personal esâ—ates imprisonments soldiers quartering and the like Injoysing All Courts of Iustice Iudges Iustices Sheriffs Officers of this Commonwealth Counsellors Attornies and other Persons to conform themselves accordingly without any opposition or dispute whatsoever and committing their very Counsel to the Tower as Traytors or Grand Delinquents only for arguing their Cases upon an Habeas Corpus in Westminster Hall according to Law and their Duties Their taking away the lives liberties or estates freeholds of thousands without any legall Triall or Indictment of their Peers their banishing confining imprisoning close imprisoning hundreds yea thousands at a time upon meer fears and jealousies and binding them and all their servants in excessive bonds with sureties their disfranchising Maiors Bailiffs Aldermen others in corporations enforcing divers to release their legall actions Judgements Executions and committing them at their pleasures till they did it against the expresse tenour not only of the Grand Charter Petition of Right and other Acts but the very letter of the late Act For preventing of Inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliaments The Acts for the 3. first subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage The Act for regulating the Privy Counsell For declaring unlawfull and void the late proceedings touching Ship-mony and other Acts passed by some of their own Votes in the Parliament of 16. and 17. Caroli of which or the like exorbitances no ancient Peers or House of Lords were ever yet guilty And if some of those persons who would usurp or abridg the old Lords power have been so arbitrarie tyrannical in all kinds before they claimed the Title of Lords or House of Lords how exorbitant in all probability are they likely to grow in a short time having Command in the Armie and other Courts if they should be established in their new Lordly Power and the old House of Lords put by who should correct restrain these their unparalelld Excesses for the whole Nations ease and benefit 4. If these new Peers be in truth Law Herauldry no true or real Lords Barons Peers of the Realm by their Writs of Summons for the premised reasons but meerly imaginary Titular and false ones like those created by the usurper King Stephen then the House of Commons can neither in Law nor verity agree or assent to any thing that shall be ordained by them according to the tenour of the Writs of Summons nor establish any settlement that can be reputed legal or obligatory to Posteritie in a Parliamentary Way if the ancient reall Peers and legal House of Lords be set aside and disowned And therefore they must of necessity own close with them alone and remit them to their old hereditary right else they can never make nor expect any real lasting settlement of our distracted State and Government and all they vote will quickly prove abortive illegitimate as the late New-models Instruments and Advices have done 5ly The setting aside the ancient Lords and House of Peers and establishing their very Disseisors in their places as the only future Lords and House of Peers will both justifie all their recited Exorbitances Excesses Violences Tyrannical proceedings against the old Lords their Fellow Commons others transcending Straffords Caterburies and the worst old Counsel-Table Lords excesses by many degrees ratifie yea reward crown them with the highest publick Honour Trust Power they are capable of even in Parliaments themselves Which will not onlie probably excite encourage others in succeeding times to the like dangerous extravagancies excesses to the publick prejudice and desolation but animate them when setled in their new Lordly Authority to pursue their former practises and turn greater Tyrants Oppressors in all kinds then formerly they have been to the utter enslaving of our Nations and embroyling them in new Tumults Yea how farre it may tend to the Total and Final suppression of the Commons House it self in succeeding times is worthy sad and serious consideration For if the Commons House shall not onlie silently connive at but openly approve and assent to the dissolving suppressing of the old Lords and their House by pretext of former illegall unrighteous Votes meer nullities by all Lawes made by a Fragment of a dissolved House of Commons sitting under a force not having the least Jurisdiction or power of Judicature over them against all rules of Justice the very fundamental Lawes of the Land the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of Parliament Prescription time out of mind all old late Acts Records of Parl. their very Solemn League Covenant Protestation and hundreds of late Declarations and Remonstrances to the contrary They may justly
fear and well expect by way of divine and human retaliation that their very New erected House of Lords when once established having the power of Judicature if not of the Army in them to preserve themselves from the like Usurpations of the Commons over them in after ages will upon the first opportunity Vote down by this their president the whole House of Commons and quite suppresse it for the future as Vselesse dangerous factious Tumulâ—uous seditious arbitrary Tyrannicall oppressive to the people degenerated from its ancient duty bounds moderation as not only some of our late Kings but of those new intended Lords have publickly branded proclaimed it to be in late printed Declarations and constitute all future Parliaments only of a House of Lords and Great men of the Realme assisted with the Counsell and Iustices without any Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports or House of Commons according to all ancient long continued Presidents in former ages before 49. H. 3. when for ought appeares the Commons were first admitted and called unto Parliaments out of meer grace by the Kings Writs Or at least the disinherited ancient Nobility in case they regain their pristine Rights of Session Judicature in Parliament without the Commons assistance of which there is no absolute future improbability may by way of Justice and retaliation set the Commons House quite aside for their late transcendent breaches abuses of their Trusts towards them in secluding and voting them quite down against their Writs Indentures Duties Oathes by which they have legally forfeited all their Priviledges and right of Parliamentary session according to this received Maxime in all Lawes Privilegium amittat qui improbabili temeritate quod non accepit usurpat sua authoritate non legitime utitur sed abutitur potestate Which weighty consideration though seconded with none else should engage all Commoners to pursue the golden rule precept of Christ himself as well in point of prudence conscience Justice as morality towards the old Lords Matth. 7. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets For with the same measure that ye meat withall it shall be measured to you again as Luk. 6. 38. Iudg. 1. 6. 7. Psal. 137. 8. Rev. 13. 10. c. 16. 5. 6. Ezek. 35 10. 11. 14. 15. Obad. 15. 16. Ioel. 3. 6. 7. 8. Gen. 9. 6. Mat. 26. 52. Iam. 2. 13. do all infallibly resolve us as well as late experiments 21. That the first and principle things specified in the Writs of summons as the prime ends for which Parliaments are summoned is to debate and consult of quaedam specialia ardua negotia Nos et Statum regni nostri et etiam Iura Salvationem et Defensionem Coronae nostrae Regiae as well as Regni nostri et Ecclesie Anglicanae specialiter intime contingentibâ—s And all Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports elected returned to serve in Parliament in the Commons House receive plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se et Communitate Comitatuum Civitatum Burgorum et Portuum from those Commonalties who elect them only ad faciendum consentiendum his quae tunc ibidem de communi Consilio Comitum Baronum or dicti Regni nostri contigerit ordinari super Negotiis antedictis quod hoc breve or prout breve illud in se exigit requirit as the express words of the Sheriffs returns and their Indentures evidence Therefore their enacting any thing by themselves alone without the Earls Barons and Lords House or Majoritie of their Fellow Commoners or against their Counsell Votes advice to the prejudice destruction subversion of the Kings Person State Kingdom and the Prerogative Rights of his Royal Crown and Dignity which they were purposely summoned by the King and authorized intrusted only by their Electors Commonalties people to preserve support and defend and to do and consent to nothing else inconsistent with or repugnant to these ends is the highest prevarication treacherie violation of their Trusts Duties that can possibly be imagined deserving the most exemplarie punishments And those Republicans who lately acted in this kind to the destruction of the King kingdom the prerogatives Rights of the Crown Parliament Lords and Monarchie of England upon this pretext that they were intrusted impowred thus to doe by the people and those who did elect them are the most notorious Impostors Prevaricators Infringers Peruerters Falsifiers of their trusts and power in this kinde that ever England yet produced as all the forecited Writs compared with their their retorns unanimously resolve against their false absurd pretences to the contrarie wherewith they have endeavoured to blinde and cheat the people in whom they verbally voted placed the Soveraign power only by this forged hypocritical pretext actually to usurp appropriate it to themselves as their Trustees and Representatives presently thereupon in all their new published Knacks Papers intitling themselves alone not the people the SUPREAM AUTHORITY OF THE NATION making the people greater Slaves and Uassalls to them in respect of their Lawes Lives Members Liberties Freeholds Franchises Properties Estates than ever they were in any age under Beheaded King Charles or the worst of all our Kings and Lords who never acted half so arbitrarily tyrannically in everie kinde as they their Committees High Courts of Iustice Counsils of State Major Generals Excise-men and other Officers have done since their late Exorbitant Anti-parliamentary Vsurpations Innovations Proceedings under the disguise and Notion of the Parliament of England without A KING HOUSE OF LORDS or the secluded MAIORITY OF THE COMMONS HOUSE it self the forced absence seclusion of all and everie of which 3. made them no real Parliament at all but an Anti-Parliamentary Conventicle and all their miâ—intitled Acts Ordinances meer Nullities both in Law and Conscience fit to be enternally exploded by the whole English Nation and all future new Parliaments to prevent the like pernicious Extravagances in after ages which have involved us in so manie various Miseries Warrs Perplexities Fears Dangers Oppressions Factions Troubles Changes Unsettlements and Confusions which without Gods insinite mercie presage nought else but total and final Desolation both to our Church State and Nations Our Law-books resolve the Parliament to be a Corporation consisting of the King as thief head the Lords as the Superior and the Commons as inferior Members who ought mutually to preserve each others interests and unite their counsells for the publike good without any seisure or encroachment upon one another For as there is nothing but giddiness torture distemper consumption restlesness sickness inactivity maimedness confusion in the body natural whiles the head or chief joints bones parts of it are inverted dislocated fractured severed and kept out of joynt and no other means left when thus distorted to restore it to rest health soundness activitie and prevent its dissolution by
one general Councill in 32 E. 3. d. 14. 5ly That after King Edward the 3d. his reigne there is not one president of any Archbishop Bishop Abbot Prior or religious persons summoned to any Parliament to my remembrance but only of those who held by Barony and were constantly summoned as Spiritual Peers to all our Parliaments And very few Presidents if any of a Knight Gentleman or other Layman whatsoever summoned by any general Writs to the Lords House to treat and consult together with them unlesse they were ancient Earles Lords or Barons of the Realm or newly created such by special Patents before their summons or by special clauses of creation in the Wriâ—s by which they were summoned as all the lists of summons in the Clause Rolls the precedent Table the Statutes of 5 R. 2. Stat. 2. c. 4. 31 H. 8. c 10. and Mr. Martyns Catalogue of them at the end of his History clearly manifest 6ly That in my best observation there is no president from 49 H. 3. till the last Parliament of King Charles nor in any age before where any of the ancient Nobility Peers Lords or Barons of the Realme at least any considerable number of them unlesse such who were actually outlawed or attainted of High Treason or absent in forreign parts or in actual service in the Wars or under age were omitted out of the Writs of summous or secluded from sitting in the Lords House in any Parliament by force or frand unless by Morâ—imer in the Parliament at Salisbury An. 2. E. 3. and in 21 R. 2. nor of others who were no real Lords Peers by Patent Tenure or other legal creation summoned to the Lords House out of England much lesse out of Scotland and Ireland to supplant them or supply their places under any name notion or pretext whatsoever Neither were they or any of them secluded disinherited of their seats Votes Peerage in Parliament without or before the least legal hearing trial impeachment or conviction whatsoever of any capital crime which might forâ—eit their Peerage against all the Great Charters Statutes Records Declarations Orders Ordinances Votes Protestations Oathts Covenants mentioned in my Plea for the Lords and House of Peers which ratifie and perpetuate this their Birthright to them and their Posterities and the very law of all Nations 6ly It is very observable that both Houses of Parliament in their Propositions sent to King Charles at their last Treaty with him in the Isle of Weight to prevent the creation and introduction of any New Lords into future Parliaments to the prejudice seclusion or overvoting of the Ancient Nobility or Commons house did amongst other things propound That BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT all LORDS and PEERS made by the King since Edward Lord Littleton deserted the Parliament and carried away the Great Seal the 21. of May 1642. should be unlorded unpeered set by and their Titles of Honour Patents revoked declared null and void to all intents and never hereafter put in use And that NO PEER WHICH SHOULD BE HEREAFTER MADE BY THE KING HIS HEIRES OR SUCCESSORS who have onely and solely a just legal power to create them and none else as they hereby declare SHALL SIT IN THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND WITHOUT CONSENT OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Which the King then fully and freely consented to without any limitation or exception whatsoever Since which Proposition of both Houses and concession by the King how any person or persons who assented to or approved thereof in any kind as reasonable or beneficial to the publick without any special Patent or creation from the King his heires or successors and without the consent of the House of Lords and ancient Peers of the Realme the only proper members of Iudges in it of the Commons House yea against both their consents and approbations can justly by any other authority Patent Writ or instrument whatsoever assume unto themselves the Titles of Lords or Barons of the Realme or of the Lords House it self to the disseasing disinheriting suppressing of the ancient undoubted Peers and House of Lords Or how any who have Voted down declared against and abolished the Lords and Lords House in sundry printed Papers as Uselesse Dangerous Inconvenient Oppressive to the People obstructive to the Proceedings in Parliament and the like and afterwards by several Votes and printed New Knacks took and subscribed themselves and prescribed to all others under severest penalties a publick Engagement To be â—rue and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England as it was then established as they thought by themselves though the event soon after proved the contrary Without a King or House of Lords can or dare become this very Selfsame Vselesse dangerous oppressive obstructive grievance c. themselves and against their own Votes Declarations Acts Subscriptions Engagements stile or assert themselves to be either real Lords or an House of Lords without the greatest Praevarication Contradiction to and Apostacy from their own former Principles or how they can ever probably expect that either the ancient Lords or Commons of England should submit unto them as such let their own judgments consciences and reasons resolve them The rather because divers of the Earles Nobles made by King Stephen were stiled yea deposed as meer Imaginary false Earles and Lords Quosdam Imaginarios et Pseudo-Comites and both their Titles and Crown lands given them by Stephen though King de facto resumed by King Henry the 2. right heir to the crown because Stephen was an Usurper Chartae Invasoris praejudicium legitimo Principi minime facere deberent as the Chronicle of Normandy the Book of the Abby of Waverly Mr. Selden out of them Gulielmus Neubrigensis and Chronicle of Bromton Col. 1046. inform us Whose President may justly deterre them from any unjust disseisin of the ancient Lords and setting themselves in their Places And thus much for my Observations on and from the Writs in this second Section SECTION 3. Of Writs of Summons to the Kings Counsil and other Ordinary Assistants to the Lords in Parliaments and Parliamentary Councils with annotations on them THe next Writs of Summons after those to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords entred in the antient Clause Rolls are those to the Kings Counsil different only in one or two Clauses from the former in which else they usually accorded These persons commonly summoned to Parliaments as the Kings Counsil by distinct writs from the Lords as ordinary Assistants both to the King and them in all causes controversies Questions of Moment were mostly the Kings Great Officers as well Clergymen as Secular persons who were no Lords nor Barons of the Realm as namely his Treasurer Chancellor of the Eschequer Judges of his Courts at Westminster Justices in Eyre Iustices assignes Barons of his Eschequer Clerks Secretaries of his Counsil and sometimes his Serjeants at Law with such other Officers and Persons whom our Kings thought meâ—â—o summon The
moved the King to shew mercy to them were put to several fines The 2. is in the Placita coâ—amâ—ipso Rege Consilio suo ad Parliamentum suum post Pascha apud London Anno 21 E. 1. the Archbishop of Yorkes case Johannes Archiepiscopus Eborum attachiâ—tus fuit ad respondendum Damino Regi de plaâ—iâ—o quare cum placita de Imprisonamento et aliis Transgressionibus in regno Regiâ— contra pacem Regis factis ad Regem coronam et dignitatem suam specialiter pertineant Idem Archiepiscopus per Johannem Priorem de Bolton in Cravene Commissarium suum in venerabilem Patrem Antonium Episcopum Dunolm dum nuper in partibus Borialibns in obsequio Regis juxta laâ—us suum per praeceptum ipsius Regis sub protectione extitit pro eo quod Ballivi esusdem Episcopi Willielmum de Wrleton 〈◊〉 Johannem Roman apud Dâ—nolm inventos ceporunt et imprisonaverâ—nt Excommunicationis sententiâ—m in Regis contemptum et Coronae dignitatis suae laesionem contra reverentiam Regis in hac parte debitam in dispectum ipsius Regis viginti Mille librarum fecit fulminari et illam Excommunicationem demandari Propter quod idem Rex taâ—um contemptum tantum irreverenti 〈◊〉 sibi illatamâ—ransire impunitam sustinere non valens maxime cum tam ipse Rex quam praellictus Episcopus quanium in ipso suit praefato Willielmo Johanni de imprisonamento praedicto celeris justitiae complementum juxta regni consueâ—udinem semper fuerunt parati exhibere c. After the Archbishops Plea thereto and a long debate of the business in Parliament Videtur Domino Regi in pleno Parliamento praedicto Comitibus Baronibus Iusticiariis similiter toti Consilio ipsius Domini Regis quod praedictus Archiepiscopus quantum in ipso fuit nitebaâ—ur occupare usurpare super Coronam Regiam et Dignitatem in casuâ—isto deliberationes imprisonatorum contra legem et consuetudinem regni et Contra â—â—dem in qua idem Archiepiscopus Domino Regiet Coronae suae astringitur ad exhaeredationem Doâ—â—ni Regis et haeredum suorum manifestam Propter quod per Comites Barones et Iusticiarios et dinnes alios de Constlio ipsius Domini Regis concordatum est quod praedictus Archiepiscopus committatur prisonae pro offensa transgressione praedictis Et super hoc ante Iudicium pronunnciatum licet unanimiter de consilio praedictorum Magnatum et aliorum concordatum fuisset tenendum in hoc casu et similiter in casibus consimilibus imperpetuum praedictus Archiepiscopus Maguates et alios de Consilio ipstus Domini Regis rogavit quod pro eo Dominum Regem requirerent ut Ante Pronuntiationem Judicit ipsum ad gratiam suam admitteret Et Dominus Rex ad instantiam eorundem Magnatum de gratia sua speciali hoc idem ipso Archiepiscopo concessit Et idem Archiepiscopus humiliter supplicavit quod possit de omnibus praemissis alto basso Voluntati Domini Regis se submittere Which the King assenting to at the Lords request Dictum est eidem Archiepiscopo sub gravi forisfactura quod non recedat à Parliamento isto â—onec super praemissis Domini Regis audivit voluntatem Postea venit praedictus Archiepiscopus et fecit finem Domino Regi pro Transgressione praedicta pro quatuor millibus marcarum per scriptum suum obligatorium 5 others being bound with him for due payment thereof to the King It is observable that in all these Pleas Proceedings Judgments there is no mention at all of the Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons in Parliament no sharâ—rs in them but only of the King Archbishops Bishops Earles Barons Justices and Kings Counsell 4ly The power of the Kings Counsell and Judges in Parliament is evident by sundry Prefaces to and passages in our printed Acts of Parliament as namely by the preface of the printed Statute of Bigamie 4. Octoâ— An. 4. Ed. 1. In the presence of certain Reverend Fathers Bishops of England and OTHERS OF THE KINGS COVNSELL the Constitutions underwritten were recited after heard and published before the King and HIS COVNSELL forasmuch as ALL THE KINGS COVNSELL AS WELL IVSTICES AS OTHERS DID AGREE that they should be put in writing for a perpetual memory and that they should be stedfastly observed c. By the exposition of the Statute of Gloucester An. 6. E. 1. made by the King and HIS IVSTICES By the Statute of Morâ—main An. 7. E. 1. which recites Wee by the advice of our Prelates Lords Barons and other our Subjects BEING OF OVR COVNSELL have provided made and ordained c. By the Statute of Acton Bnrnell 13. E. 2. Forasmuch as Merchants c. The King for himself and BY HIS COVNSELL hath ordained and established c. The Prologue to the Statute of Wesâ—m 2. An. 13. E 1. Whereas of late our Lord the King the 6. year of his reigne calling together the Earles Prelates Barons and HIS COVNCELL at Glocester c. so as there were writs of summons then issued to them all though not entred in the Clause Rolls of 6. Ed. 1. nor any other now extant By the Statute of Merchants An. 13. E. 1. The King and HIS COVNSELL at his Parliament holden at Acton Burnell the 11. year of his reigne â—ath Ordained establishments thereupon for the remedy of such Merchants which Ordinances and establishments the King commandeth that they shall be firmly kept throughout the Realme By the Statute of Wast Anno 20. E. 1. Other Instices with the more part OF THE KINGS COVNSELL were of the contrary opinion c. Wherefore our Lord the King in his full Parliament in the 20th year of his reigne by A GENERALL COVNSELL hath ordained c. Articuli super Chartas An. 28. E. 1. c. 2. Neverthelesse the King and HIS COVNSELL do not intend by reason of this estatute to diminish the Kings Right for the ancient Prises due and accustomed And ch 20. Notwithstanding all these things c. both the King and HIS COUNSELL and all they that were present at the making of this Ordinance will and intend that the right and prerogative of his Crown shall be saved to him in all things The Statute for Escheators Anno 29. E. 1. At the Parliament of our sovereign Lord the King By his Counsell it was agreed and also commanded by the King himself c. according to advice of c. Treasurer to the King Chancellor and other of the Counsell there present before the King c. By the New Statute of Quo Warranto 30 E. 1. Cum nuper in Parliamento nostro aâ—uâ— Westm. per Nos et Consilium nostrum provisum sic et Proclamatum quod Praelati Comites Barones alii c. By the Ordinance for Inquests 33. E. 1. It is agreed and ordained by the King aud all his Counsell c. By Ordinatio pro statu Hyberniae An.
17. E. 1. made and agreed on at Nottingham By the assent of our Counsell there being By the Preface to Articuli Cleri 9. E. 2. In our Parliament holden at Lincolnâ— the 9th of our reigne We caused the Articles underwritten with certain Answers made to some of them to be rehearsed before Our Counsell and made certain Answers to be corrected and to the residue of the Articles underwritten answers were made By us and our Counsell of which Articles and Answers the tenours here ensue By the Statute of Gavelet An. 10. E. 2. It is provided by our Lord the King and His Iustices c. By the Statute De Terris Templariorum 17. E. 2. It was moved in Parliament in the presence of the Prelates Barons Nobles and Great men of the Realm and others there present Whether the Order of the Templers being dissolved the King and other Lords of the fees might retain them by the Law of the Realme and with safe conscience Whereupon the Greater part of the Kings Counsell as well the Iustices as other Lay-Persons being assembled together the said Iustices affirmed precisely That our Lord the King and other Lords of the fees aforesaid might well and lawfully by the lawes of the Realme retain the foresaid Lands as their Escheats in regard of the ceasing and dissolution of the Order aforesaid But upon other grounds of Conscience they setled them on the Hospitall of S. Iohns of Ierusalem by this Statute 1. E. 3. c. 3. But it is not the mind of the King nor of His COUNSELL that they who have sold ther Lands c. should have any benefit of this Statute The Prologue of the printed Statute of 1. E. 3. Parl 2. At the request of the Commonally by their Petition made before the King and HIS CONSELL in Parliament by assent of the Prelates Earles and Barons c. 9. E. 3. c. 1. Our Sovereign Lord the King desiring the profit of his people by the assent of his Prelates Earles Barons and other Nobles of his Realm summoned at his present Parliament and By the aâ—vice of his Counsell being there c. hath ordained and established the Statâ—â—te of Money 9. E. 3. c. 7. When and where it shall please us and OVR COVNSELL to make Exchanges 11. E. 3. c. 1. Till by the King and his COVNSELL iâ— he otherwise provided 14. E. 3. c. 5. The Chancellor Treasurer the Justices of the one Bench and of the other and other OF THE KINGS COUNSELL 14. E 3. Stat. 3. Of the Clergy Prologue Wherefore Wee their petition seen and regarded and there upon deliberation with the Peers of the Realme and other of OVR COVNSELL and of the Realm c. have granted c. And ch 5. Our Chancellour and Treasurer taking to them other of our Counsell c. 20. E. 3. Prologue By the assent of the Great men and other wise men of Our Counsell We have ordained these things following And c. 5. We have ordained to come before us at a certain day or before them whom we shall depute of Our Counsell 23. E. 3. c. 8. should be converted to a publick and common profit by advise of His Counsell And alwayes it is the intent of the King and of His Counsell that according to the first Ordinance it should be lawfull and shall be lawfull for every man c. 25. E. 3. of Labourers Prologue It was ordained by our Sovereign Lord the King and by assent of the Prelates Earles Barons and other of His Counsell 25 E. 2. Stat. 2. Of those born beyond the Seas Our Sovereign Lord the King willing that all doubts and ambiguities should be put away and the Law in this case declared and put in a certainty hath charged the said Prelates Earles Barons and other wise men of his Counsell assembled in this Parliament to deliberate upon this point which of one assent have said That the Law of the Crown of England is and alwayes hath been such c. 25. E. 3. Parl. 5. c 2. of Treasons And if percase any men of this Realme endeavour covertly or secretly against any other to slea him or to rob him or take him or retein till he hath made fine or ransome or to have his deliverance it is not the mind of the King Nor His Counsell that in such cases it shall be judged Treason but shall be judged Felony or Trespasse according to the Laws of the Land of old time used and according as the case requireth And chap. 4. It is accorded assented and stablished that from henceforth none shall be taken by petition or suggestion made to our Sovereign Lord the King or to his Counsell unlesse it be by Inditement or presentment of his good and lawfull neighbours 25. E. 3. Parl. 6. Statute of Provisors Whereas in the Parliament of Edward King of England Grandfather of the King that now is the 25. of his reigne holden at Carlile the Petition heard put before the said Grandfather and HIS COUNSELL by the Commonalty of his Realm c. 27. E. 3. c. 1. Provisors shall have day containing the space of two moneths by warning to be made to them c. to be before the King and HIS COUNSELL or in his Chancery or before the Kings Justices in his places of the one Bench or the other or before other the Kings Justices which shall be deputed to the same to answer in their proper persons to the King of the contempt done in this behalf ch 2. It is assented by the King and all his Counsell 27. E. 3. of the Staple ch 21. That the same Mayor and Constables do not ordain any thing contrary to these Ordinances nor make interpretation nor exceptions to them otherwise then the words purport but if there be any thing that is doubtfull it shall be shewed unto Our Counsell and there declared by good advise ch 23. And in case that debates arise betwixt them upon the discussing of any plea or quarrell the tâ—nour of the said Plea or quarrell shall be sent before the Chancellor and other of Our Counsell to be by them determined without delay ch 25. And now late it is done Us and our Counsell to understand by the complaint of the said Merchants ch 28. And in case any thing be to be amended added changed or withdrawn of any of the said points in time to come by a true cause we will that the same be done by deliberation and advice of the Great men and Other of our Counsell in Parliament 31. E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 3. It is accorded by our Sovereign Lord the King the Great men and all the Commons in this present Parliament that the Chancellor and Treasurer taking unto them the JUSTICES and OTHER THE KINGS COUNSEL such as to them shall seem meet shall have power to ordain remedy of the buying and selling of Stockfish of St. Botulfs and Salmon of Barwick and of Wines and Fish of Bristow and elsewhere and that the Ordinances by
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
them at any one Session or Parliament and the attendance will prove so tedious to all or most that it will become a greater grievance to them than any they complain of and if they gain any relief it will be in effect a Remedy as bad or worse as the diseasâ— it cures Yea an express violation of Magna Charta ch 29. Nulli negabimus nulli differemus justitiam aut rectum Finally This patching of New Scotish and Irish Members into our old English Parliament will be so farre from uniting and contenting the three Nations and Parliaments in one that it will discontent and disunite them more than before and make the rent the greater upon every occasion as Christ himself resolves with whose words I shall close up this observation No man seweth or putteth a peece of new Cloth upon an old Garment else the new peece that filleth it up taketh away from the old and agreeth not with the old and the rent is made worse 5. That as the Writs of the Common Law are the foundations whereon the whole Law and subsequent proceedings do depend as Glanvil Bracton Britton Fleta heretofore Fitzherbert Thelwell Sir Edward Cook and others of later times resolve upon which account if the Writs be vicious erronious invalid illegal or null in Law they abate vitiate and annihilate the whole Process Declarations and Struotures grounded on them as all our Law-Books assert So the Writs of Summons to Parliaments and Great Councils are the very foundations and corner-stones whereon our Parliaments Great Councils and all their Votes Judgements Proceedings Acts Ordinances do depend Therefore if they be defective erronious invalid illegal insufficient or null in themselves the Parliaments and Great Councils convened by founded on them with all their Iudgements Proceedings Acts Ordinances must of necessity be so likewise as the Statutes of 1. Hen. 4. c. 3. 21. R. 2. c. 1. 39. 8. H. 6. c. 1. H. 8. c. 1. 17. E. 4. 5. 7. 1. H. 4. rot Parl. n. 1. 66. 1. E. 4. rot Parl. n. 8 to 17. 1. H. 7. c. 9. 27. H. 8. c. 24. in England largely evidence and the Statute of 10. H. 7. c. 27. in Ireland determines repealing a Parliament holden at Drogheda before Sir Robert Preston decreed and deemed void to all Intents by the Kings Council in Ireland 1. Because the Duke of Bedford Lieutenant of Ireland by whose Deputy it was summoned and held surrendred his Patent of Lieutenancy before the said Parliament summoned 2. Because there was no general summons of the said Parliament to all the Shires but onely to four Shires 3. Because the said Deputy had no mâ—nner of Power by his Commission to summon or kéep a Parliament For the which causes it was ordained and enacted that the Parliament to holden be deemed void and of none effect by the whole Parliament of Ireland Anno 10. H. 7. And the Parliament of 18. E. 4. ch 2. in Ireland touching the Election of Knights and Bâ—rgesses further manifests it 6. That the summoning as likewise proâ—â—guing adjourning dissolving of all Parliaments and Great Councils in England and Ireland is a peculiar inseparable royal Prerogative belonging onely to the Kings of England and incommunicable to any other person or persons yea to Parliaments themselves which cannot appoint a succeeding Parliament to be called but by the Kings consent and that though appointed to be held at a prefixed day and place to be summoned only by the Kings Writ That all Writs of Summons and Prorogation alwaies issued and of right ought to be issâ—ed onely in the Kings name stile authority whether absent out of or present within the Realm whether within age or of ripe years and that by his special Commands alone or his and his Councils joynt precept as the stile name contents of all precedent and subsequent Writs the subscriptions under them Per ipsum Regem per ipsum Regem Consilium per ipsum Regem Custodem Consilium in the Kings absence per breve de privato sigiâ—â—o c. the stile tenor of all Writs De expensis Militum Burgen sium the Statutes of 5. R. 2. Parl. 2. c. 4. 7. H. 4. c. 14. 6. H. 6. c. 4. 23. H. 6. c. 11. 27. H. 8. c. 24. 31. H 8. c. 10. most Acts of late times for the subsidies of the Clergy and Temporalty Tonage Foundage the Prologues to our ancient and modern printed Statutes the Kings Chancellors and others speeches upon the convention of most Parliaments in Parliament Rolls together with the Act of 16. Caroli for preventing of inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliaments Cooks 4. Institutes ch 1. and all who have written of our English Parliaments abundantly evidence and resolve beyond contradiction Hence our late King Charles in his Declaration of the causes of assembling and dissâ—lving the two last Parliaments Iune 13. 2. Caroli affirms That the calling adjourning proroguing and dissolving of Parliaments do peculiarly belong unto himself by an undoubted Prerogative inseparably uniied to his impertal Crown and the Statute of 16. Caroli c. 1. made by the unanimous consent of both Houses declares That by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm the appointment of the time and place for the holding of Parliaments and the summoning of them by Writ in the Kings Name hath alwaies belonged as it ought to his Majesty and his royal Progenitors and none else 7. That the Kings of England have as true full real and legal an haereditary right Title Interest Propriety in and to the Parliament as they have in and to the Kingdome and Crown of England as these Clauses in all their Writs of Summons Prorogations of Parliaments issued to the spiritual and temporal Lords Kings Counsil Sheriffs and Warden of the Cinque-ports resolve Ordinavimus quoddam Parliamentum nostrum c. tenere In ultimo Parliamento nostro post ultimum Parliamentum nostrum sitis ad nos ad Parliamentum nostrum and the like compared with Statum Regni nostri Angliae Et cum Praelatis Proceribus Regni nostris sicut commodum Regni nostri Diligitis Iura Coronae nostrae c. in the same Writs The Writs de expensi Militum Burgensium The Titles and Prologues of most printed Acts of Parliament The Statutes of 8. H. 6. c. 7. 23. H. 6. c. 11. 23. H. 8. c. â—3 27. H. 8. c. 24. 31. H. 8. c. 10. 1. Iac. c. 1. and sundry Writs in the Register stiling the Parliament the Kings Parliament his Parliament our Parliament in relation to the King and his Patents for creating Dukes Marquesses Earls Peers and Barons of the Realm granting them and their Heirs males Sedem locum in Parliamentis nostris Haeredum successorum nostrorum inâ—ra Regnum nostrum Angliae Therefore the Parliaments of England can no more exist or subsist without the King than the Kingdome or Crown of England the
the Clause Rolls now and then without any to the Temporal Lords or Barons registred together with them So there are some writs of Summons to and prorogations of Parliaments issâ—ed to Temporal Lords in some Rolls without any to Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors or Ecclesiastical Lords entred with them though no doubt they had the like writs of Summons and Prorogations although not registred as the bodies of the writs do manifest 21. That the writs issued to the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors and Clergy run usually in this form Vobis mandamus quod in fide et dilectione quibus nobis tenemini c. not in fide et homagio But the writs to the Earls Barons and Temporal Lords though they sometimes retain the self same words in fide et diloctione yet for the most part they run thus quod in fide homagio or ligeantia quibus nobis tâ—nâ—mini c. or in homagio â—idâ— et dilectione or in homagâ—o et ligeâ—ntia homagio or ligeantia being put in the place of dilectionâ— or added to fide et dilectione quibus nobis tenemini 22. That the writs to the Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Priors for the most part observe this stile Vobiscum ac cum caeteris Praelatis Magnatibus et Proceribus c. in all clauses of the writ The writs to the Earls Temporal Lords Vobiscum ac cum Praelatis et caeteris Magnatibus et Proceribus or caeteris Magnatibus or Proceribus only caeâ—eris being evâ—r placed before Praelatis in the writs to the Bishops Abbots but after Praelatis and before Magnatibus or Procâ—ribus in all writs to the Temâ—oral Lords because of different Orders the Prelates noâ— being Magnates or Procâ—râ—s by birth or in their own right but only the Temporal Lords and they being not Praelati or Ecclâ—sâ—astical Peers by order or function but only the Bishops Abbots Priors and other Ecclesiastical Barons 23. That the number of Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors and Ecclesiastical persons summoned by writs to our Parliaments was for the most part equall to and many times farr exceeding the number of the Temporal Lords Barons as you may easily discern by computing and comparing their numbers in this with those of the Temporal Lord in the ensuing Section In the Parliamvnt of 49 H. 3. the number of the Prelates Abbots and Spiritual persons summoned by writ was 120. the number of Temporal Lords but 23. Anno 23 E. 1. d. 9. the number of the Spiritual Lords summoned was 77 of the Temporal Lords but 63. And dors 3 4. the Spiritual Lords summoned to another Parliament that year amounts to 90. the Temporal Lords only to 50. In 24 E. 1. d. 7. the Spiritual Lords summoned were in all 91. the Temporal but 43. yet in other Parliaments the Temporal Lords exceeded the Spiritual as in 27 E. 1. d. 18. the Spiritual Lords were 58. the Temporal 90. but in the next Parliament 28 E. 1. m. 3. the Spiritual Lords summoned were 102. the Temporal only 89. Their differences in number in other Parliaments I shall for brevity sake omit only in most summons under King H. 4 5 6. during these Kings absence and wars in France when most of the Earls and Temporal Lords were in actual service in the wars the Spiritual Lords were neer double to the Temporal 24. That the first writ wherein I finde any mention of and provision for the Defence of the Church of England is in 6 E. 2. here p. 20. the next is in 11 E. 3. p. 39 40. 12 E. 3. p. 42. 14 E. 3. p. 46. After which in the writs of 18 E. 3. p. 50. 31 E 3. p. 60 61 62. 46 E. 3. p. 67. 49 E. 3. p. 69. 1 R. 2. p. 69 70 72. and in most succeding them Defensionem Ecclesiae Anglicanae Salvationem et defensionem Ecclesiae Sanctae Et â—oc sicut salvationem et defensionem Ecclesiae Sanctae diligitis were usually inserted into the writs of Summons as well to Parliaments as Convocations and in writs to the Temporal Lords and Sherifs as they were in writs to the Clergy it being one principal end of summoning Parliaments and Convocations 25. That sometimes the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors were authorized by the writs themselves to make Proctors or Proxies to supply their places other times prohibited to make any Proctors or Proxies at all but peremptorily injoyned to appear in person without any excuse or Proctor to supply their absence But the Deans Chapters Archdeacons Priors and Clergy of every Diocess by a special clause of Praemunientes c. in the writs to the Archbishops and Bishops and by second writs to the Archbishops were summoned the Deans Priâ—rs and Archdeacons by themselves their Chapters by one and the Clergy of each Diocess Quod per duos Procuratores idonâ—os pâ—enam et sufficienteÌ„ potestateÌ„ ab ipsis Capitulis et Clero habentes dictis die et loco intersint ad facâ—end consentiend hiis quae tunâ— ibidem de Com Consilio regni nostri divina faventâ— clementia coâ—tigâ—rit ordinari Amongst others the Bishop of Bath and Wells was particularly injoyned Praemunientes Priorem et Capitulum Bathon et Decanum et Capitulum Wellen Ecclesiarum suarum c. quod idem Prior et Dâ—canus in propriis personis suis dicta Capitula per unum Procuratorem idoneum c. una nobiscum inter sint ad c. Hereupon the Prior of Bath when sick appeared not in person but by a Proctor and the Chapter of Bath by one or more Prâ—ctors specially chosen and authorized by their Letters of Procuration under their Seals Which Letters of Procuration I find entred in the antient Parchment Leiger Book of the Priory of Bath in sundry forms in the reign of King Edward the 1. which I shall here insert for their rarity and because they will inform us what â—ull and sufficient power other Priors Deanes Chapters and the Clergy of each Diocess as also the Spiriâ—â—al Lords when absent and authorized to make Proxies gave to their Procurators and in what forms other Letters of Procuration were made in former times of which I find only one printed in Mr. Selden The first of these Procurations runs in this manner being directed to the King himself Serenissimo Domino suo Domino Edwardo Dei gratia illustri Regi Angliae Domino Hiberniae et Duci Aquitanâ—ae sui devoti Thomas Prior et Capiâ— Bathoniensis Ecclesiae salutem et debitam cum orationibus assiduis reverentiam et fidelitatem Ad tractandum ordinandum et faciendum una Vobiscum et caererâ—s Praelatis et Proceribus et aliis Regni incolis in praesenti Convocatione Generali apâ—d Westm. die Dominica proxima post festum S. Martini pro diversis Regni negotiis convenientibus dilectum in Christo Conâ—ratrem et Conprofessum nostrum Fraâ—rem W. de Hamptâ—n â—ostrum facimus ordinamus et constituimuâ— PROCURATOREM per praesentes
one body contrary to their very fundamental Laws Constitutions Rights Priviledges to their grand prejudice and dishonour Therefore there is no reason for either of them to submit and conform thereto The rather because this Instrument was never ratified by any but opposed by every publick Convention since its publication yea totally set aside if ever valid by the last of them in and by this clause of their humble Petition and Advice Artic. 3 4. That the number of persons to be elected and chosen to sit and serve in Parliament for England Scotland and Ireland and distribution of the persons so chosen within the Counties Cities and Burroughs of them respectively may be according to such proportions as shall be agreed in this present Parliament which agreed nothing concerning the same And both the Instrument and Advice being now set aside by those in present power by issuing Writs for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses throughout England according to the ancient Laws Usage Custome and not according to the Instrument or Advice by which the English and Commons House are now remitted to their old Parliamentary Rights Priviledges They are obliged upon all these Reasons Authorities and Considerations henceforth to seclude all Scotish and Irish Knights Citizens Burgesses or Peers from sitting or voting amongst them as Members and ought to treat with them onely as Delegates or Commissioners sent from both Nations touching such affairs as particularly relate to Scotland and Ireland according to ancient and late Presidents but not to permit them any place or vote at all in the Commons or Lords House as joynt-Members Legislators with the English in the Parliaments of England 7. Because the thrity persons to be chosen for Scotland and the other thirty for Ireland and the several Counties Cities and Borroughs within the same to represent and oblige both these Kingdomes and Nations as their Representativees and Attornies are not to be elected by the generality of both Kingdomes as in justice reason equity they ought to be but by such as the Major part of the Council at Whitehall shall prescribe as the 9th Article in the Instrument declares some whole Counties and eminent Cities in both Kingdomes having no voices at all in the Elections of these Members and therefore not to be obliged by them as 44. E. 3. f. 19. 11. H. 7. 14. 21. H. 7. 40. 23 H. 8. Br. Lert 27. 7. H. 6. 35. 6. Dyer 373. b. resolve This being a general Rule in Law Justice Reason inserted into the very Writs of Summons to Parliament Claus. 24. E. 1. m. 7. dorso here p. 6. Ut quod omnes tangit ab omnibus approbâ—tur And the sole reason why Acts of Parliament oblige all those who send Knights and Burgesses to them and not tenants in Ancient Demesn is onely this because they assent unto them in and by their representatives as the Statute of 1 Iac. c. 1. 4. H. 7. 10. Brooke Parliament 25. 27. 41. Ash Parliament 10. and Proclamation 39. and the Law-books Authorities there collected to this purpose determine 8. In the Parliament of a Caroli the Lords Spiritual and Temporal then in Parliament assembled exhibited this Petition to the King That whereas they heretofore in civility as to strangers yeelded precedency according to their several degrees unto such Nobles of Scotland and Ireland as being in Titles above them have resorted hither Now divers of the natural born Subjects of these Kingdomes resident here with their families and having their estates among us do by reason of some late created dignities in those Kingdomes of Scotland and Ireland claim precedency of the Peers of this Realm which tends both to the disservice of your Majesty aâ—d to the diâ—paragement of the English Noâ—ility as by these Reasons may appear 1. It is a nobelty without President that men should inherit honours where they possess nothing else 2. It is injurious to those Countries from whence their Titles are derived that they should have a voâ—e in Parliament where they have not a foot of Land c. Upon the consideration of which inconveniencies they humbly beseeched his Majesty that an order might be timely setled therein to prevent the inconvenience to his Majesty and redress the prejudice and disparagement to the Peers and Nobility of this Kingdome occasioned thereby which the King promised to do And is it not a far greater inconvenience prejudice and disparagement to the Nobility Gentry and Parliaments of England yea a greater Novelty and Injury than this they then petitioned against not only for the Nobility but for the very Knights Citizens Burgesses of Scotland and Ireland to sit with and take place of the ancient Peers Knights Citizens and Burgesses of England according to their several Titles and to enjoy an equal vote judicature priviledge with them in every particular in the very Parliaments of England which they never formerly did though they have not one foot of Land in England nor the English any vote of place in their Parliaments No doubt it is Therefore as fit to be timely redressed as that grievance upon the self-same grounds being more universal prejudicial and dishonourable to the whole English Peerage Parliament and Nation than this which concerned the English Peers alone and that onely out of Parliament 9. This number of Members sent from Scotland and Ireland to the Parliaments of England holds no just not equal proportion or distribution with the numbers of Members which they formerly elected and sent to their own respective Parliaments in Scotland and Ireland as is evident by the Irish Statutes of 18 E. 4. c. 2. 10. H. 7. c. 16 38. H. 8. c. 12. 33. H. 8. c. 1. Cookes 4. Iustit c. 75 76. and Regiam Majestatem nor yet in reference to the number of the Members and Parliament-men in England being near ten to one to the Members of both these Nations conjoyned which inequality upon all occasions may prove very prejudicial to them both 10. It will be an extraordinary grievance oppression expence vexation mischief delay and obstruction of Justice to all the Inhabitants of Scotland and Ireland not onely to bear the Expences of all the Members they send to the Parliaments of England but to be enforced to resort unto them in person together with their Witnesses Evidences and Council for all grievances oppressions injuries errors complains and misdemeans in Officers or Courts of Justice formerly redressed and remediable onely in their own proper Parliaments much nearer home and now only to be heard examined redressed determined in the Parliaments of England as the Claus. Roll. of 39. E. 3. M. 12. De erroribus corrigendis in Parliament is tenend is in Hibernia printed in my Epistle to my Argument of the case of the Lord Magâ—â—re most fully and excellently resolves And the multitudes of complaints out of all three Kingdomes will prove so great in every Parliament that it will be impossible to hear and determine the moity of