And also all Grauntes to be made of old Offices which were Offices the first day of youre Reigne to the which belongeth and needeth actuel Exercise and Fees and Wages the same first day to the same Offices perteynyng or belongyng except out of the seid Peynes And that no such persone to whome oney Lesse or Lesses Graunte or Grauntes shall be made after the seid Fest for terme of Yeris or atte Wille of oney Thyng parcelle of the Duchie of Lancastre Erldome of Chestre Principalete of Wales Caleys and Guysnes and the Marches therof or of oney thyng to theym or oney of theym belongyng or appërteynyng be not hurt nor endamaggd by the penalty of this seid Acte Then follow Two Savings one for the Prince of Wales and another for Richard Duke of York as to some Patents they had Resp As touchyng this Petition of Resumption the Kyng hath well conceived and understood the Maters Articles and Desyres conteyned in the same Petition wherfore the Kyng by thadvyse and assent of the Lords Spirituel and Temporell beyng in this present Parlement and by Auctorite of the same taketh and resumeth into his Hands all manner thyngs conteyned in the seid petition and the same agreeth and accepteth the Penalte in seid petition except and leid apart alweye his Prerogative reserved forseyn alweye that suche provisions and Exceptions as been by his Highnesse by thadvyse of the seid Lordes Spirituel and Temporel made and agreed or to be agreed and in this same Parliament put in Wrytyng upon the premisses be good and effectuel the seid Acte notwithstanding for the Egalte and Reason that the Kyng ought to do to his people the which shall be to the pleaser of Godde the Honour and the We le of his Lond and People Then follow a great Number of Savings and Provisions all of 'em much of the same Nature with those in the former Acts and none of 'em seem such as could any wise defeate the Designe of the Parliament which was that all immoderate Grants should be actually resumed But some may object that Henry the Sixth under whose Reign these Three Resumptions were made was a weak Prince unfortunate Abroad engag'd in Factions at Home and kept under by the Power of the House of York whereunto we answer That it was the Interest of Great Men rather to oppose such an Act for they were most like to suffer by it therefore it s Passing was not the Effect of Faction but indeed it was carry'd on by the Weight of the People But these Objections will be more fully answer'd when we show that the same Thing was done by a Prince who had master'd all Parties and under an Active and Martial Reign which was that of Edw. IV. his Successor where the Presidents for a Resumption are four times confirmed As soon as Edward the Fourth came to the Crown one of the first Things desired by his Subjects was an Act of Resumption Rot. Parl. 1 Edw. 4. N o 11. And over that that our seid Sovereign Leige Lord King Edward IV. the Fourth Day of Marche was lawfully seised and possessed of the seid Corone of Englond in his Right and Title and from thenceforth have to hym and hys Heires Kynges of Englond all such Mannours Castels Lordshippes Honours Londs Tenements Rentes Services Fees Feefermes Rentes Knyghts Fees Advowsons Gyftes of Offices to geve at his pleasure Fairs Markets Issues Fines and Amerciaments Libertees Franchises Prerogatives Escheates Custumes Reversions Remainders and all other Hereditaments with theyr Appurtenances whatsoever be they in Englond Wales and Irelond and in Cales and the Marches thereof as Kyng Richard the 2 d. had on the Fest of Seint Matthew the Apostle the 23th Yere of his Reigne in the Right and Title of the seid Corone of Englond and Lordshippe of Irelond Resp The Kynge by thadvyse and Assent of the Lords Spirituel and Temporel in this present Parlement assembled at the Request of the Comyns beyng in the same agreeth and assenteth to this Petition and it accepteth with certain Moderations Provisions and Exceptions by his Highnesse thereupon made and in certain Cedules written and in the same Parlement delivered the tenor of which follows Then follow the Exceptions or Savings to particular Interests which are in Number 85. But this Resumption looking so far backwards as the Reigns of Henry the Sixth Henry the Fifth and Henry the Fourth was too large to have any good Effect And as to its having been impracticable and not well concerted we have this Argument that a new Act better digested and which did not retrospect so far was thought necessary Anno 3. 4. of the same Reign Anno 3 4. Edw. 4 ti There pass'd another Act of Resumption 3 4 Ed. 4 Rot. Parl. N o 39. At which day and place for divers Causes and Considerations conteynyng the Honour and Prosperite of the Kyng our Soverayne Lord and also the Commonwele defence and welfare of this Reame and of his Subgetes of the same hit is ordeyned and enacted and stablished by thadvyse and assent of the Lords Spirituels and Temporels and of the Comyns in this present Parlement assembled and by Auctorite of the same That the Kyng froâ— the Fest of the Purification of oure Lady the Yere of our Lord 1464 have take seize hold and joye all the Honours Castells Lordshipps Towns Townshipps Manours Londes Tenementes Wastes Forestes Chases Rentes Annuities Reversions Fermes Services Issues Profites and Commodites of Shires which he had the 4th day Marche or eny tyme after afore the seid Fest by reason of his Duchie of Laâ—castre or by the Forfeitur of Henry the 6 th late in dede and not in right Kyng of Englond in Englond Irelond Wales and Marches thereof Guysnes and Caleys and Marches thereof and pass'd from hym the seid 4th day of Marche or eny tyme after and afore the seid Fest by his Letters Patentes to eny Persone or persones in Fees Fee-simple Fee-taille terme of Lyfe or terme of Yeres And that the Kyng have and Injoy every of the Premisses in like Estate and Condition as he had theym the seid 4th day of Marche or after And also that all Yefts Grauntes and Relesses made by the Kyng the seid 4th day of Marche or eny tyme after afore the seid Fest to eny Persone or Persones of eny of the Premisses in Fee-simple Fee-taille terme of Lyfe or terme of Yeres under eny of his Seales be from the seid Fest of Purification void and of noo force nor effecte Ibid. N. 40 And also that all Yeftes Grauntes Ratifications Relesses and Confirmations made by the Kyng the seid 4th day of March or eny tyme after and afore the seid Fest to eny Persone or Persones of any Possessions Right Title or Interesse of his Duchie of Yorke or Erldome of Marche or eny part of them or of eny Pension Rent Annuite to be had taken perceyved or levyed of or in the same Duchie and Erldome or
rightwyse Enheritour to the Reames of Englond and France and Lordshipp of Irelond Fader to the Kyng was seised of to his owne Use and Behoofe the 30th Day of December the 39th Yere of the pretended Reigne of the seid Henry the Sixt. And that the Kyng from the seid Fest of Ester have hold and joy all the seid Honours Castells Lordshipps Townes Towneshipps Manours Londs Tenementes Rentes Services Possessions Enheritaments Issues Profites and Commoditees in like Estate as his seid Fader had theym the seid 30th of December And that all Yefts Grauntes Ratifications Releses Leses Demyses and Confirmations made by the Kyng sin the same 30th Day to eny persone or persones under eny of his Seales of eny of the same Possessions Issues Profites or Comoditees or of eny Lordshippes Manors Londes Tenementes Possessions or Enheritaments wherof eny persone or persones were seised the same 30th Day to the Use and Behoof of his seid Fader or of eny Right Title or Intres of or in eny part of the same or of or in eny of the Premisses which his seid Fader was seised of the seid 30th Day or of eny Pension Rent Anuuitee to be had taken perceyved or levyed of or in eny part therof or of or in eny part whereof eny persone or persones were seised to the Use and Behoof of his seid Fader the seid 30th Day be from the seid Fest of Ester voide and of noo Force nor Effecte And also by the seid Advyse Assent and Auctorite it is ordeyned and stablished That such lawfull Right Title Clayme and Interest be saved and had to every persone and persones of every theyr Heires other than the seid persones atteynted and theyr Heires claymyng in by theym or eny of theym as he or they not atteynted might or shuld have had in eny of the Premisses yf this Acte had not been made otherwyse then by the Kyngs Graunte or eny of his Leâ—tres Patentes or Assignment And furthermore it is odeyned by the seid Advyse Assent and Auctorite That all Yefts made by the Kyng the seid 4th Day of Marche or eny Tyme sin to eny persone or persones of eny Office in Englond Irlond Wales or Marches therof wherupon no Charge hangeth nor nedeth to be of actuel Exercise or Occupation be from the seid Fest of Ester voide and of noo Force nor Effecte Also That all Grauntes made by the Kyng the seid 4th Day of Marche or eny tyme sin to eny persone or persones of eny Office or Offices in Englond Irlond Wales or Marches therof Guysnes Caleys or Marches therof with Fees Wages Profites or Commodities not used and accustomed to the same Office or Offices afore the same 4th Day of Marche be from the seid Fest of Ester as to the seid Fees Wages Profites and Commoditees and every of theym so not used and accustomed voide and of noo Force nor Effecte Also That every Graunte made by the Kyng the seid 4th Day of March or eny time since to eny persone for terme of his Life of the Office of Sarjeant of Armes be from the seid Fest of Ester of noon other Force and Effecte than onely at the Kyngs Will and Pleaser Then follow several Savings much of the like Nature as those in the former Acts as also some Regulations relating to the King's Tenants not material to our present Subject Quae quidem cedula transportata fuit Communibus Regni Angliae in dicto Parliamento existent Cui iidem Communes Assensum suum prebuerunt sub hiis Verbis A toutez lez Actez Provisions desuis Escriptez les Comunes sont assentuz Quibus quidem cedula assensu in Parliamento predicto lectis auditis plenius intellectis de avisamento assensu autoritate predict respondebat eidem in forma sequen Resp Le Roy le voet ovesq lez Provisions Exceptions sur ceo pur luy faitz les tenours de queux cy apres ensuent That is the King consents to the Bill with the ensuing Provisions and Exceptions Then follow a great Number of Savings and Provisions most of 'em for private Persons and much of the same Natures as those of the former Acts. 7 Edw. 4. Rot. Parl. N. 15. And at the closing of the Sessions the King thanks the H. of Commons by the Mouth of the Bishop of Bath and Wells his then Chancellour for this Resumption * Pro suis Laboribus circa dictam Resumptionem ostensis Idem Dominus Rex omnia singula per ipsos Communes declarata desiderata profunde conceperat Anno 13. Edw. 4. There pass'd another Act of Resumption for that either the former had been so ill executed or that the Exceptions had been so many as to frustrate the good Intentions of the House of Commons 13 Edw. 4. Rot. Parl. N. 6. For divers Causes and Considerations concernyng the Honour Estate and Prosperite of the Kyng and also the common We le Defence Surete and Welfare of this Reame and Subgettes of the same It is ordeyned enacted and stablished by Thadvyse and Assent of the Lordes Spirituells and Temporells and by the Commons in this present Parlement assembled and by the Auctorite of the same That the Kyng from the Fest of the Seynt Thomas thappostill that shall be in the Yere of our Lord God One Thousand Fowre Hundred Seventy and Three shall have take seise hold possesse and enjoye all Honours Castelles Lordshipps Manors Londes Tenementes Rentes and Annuitees which he was seised and possessed of in the 4th Day of March the first Yere of his Reign or eny time after by reason of the Corone of Englond in Englond Irlond Wales or Marches therof Guysnes Caleys or Marches therof and also that apperteyned or belonged to him the same 4th Day of Marche or eny tyme sith as parcelle of hys Duchie of Lancastre or by forfaiture of Henry the Sixt late in Dede and not in Right Kyng of Englond And of eny persone atteynted sith the seid 4th Day of Marche by Auctorite of eny Parlement holden sith the same 4th Day of Marche or otherwyse atteynted by the Cours of the Common Lawe of this Lond and passed fro the Kyng undre eny of his Seales to eny persone or persones in Fee-simple or Fee-taille for terme of Lyfe or terme of Yeres or otherwyse by the Kyngs Graunte under his Seales and that the Kyng from the seid Fest of St. Thomas have hold possede and enjoye eny of the Premisses in and of like Estate and Condition as he had theym in the seid 4th Day of Marche or eny tyme after And furthermore It is ordeyned by the seid Advyse Assent and Auctorite That the Kyng from the seid Fest of Seynt Thomas have take seise hold and enjoye all Honours Castells Lordshipps Manoirs Londes Tenements Rentes and Annuitees which the full noble and famous Prynce Richard veray true and rightwyse Enheritour to the Reames of Englond and France and Lordshippe of Irlond Fader to the Kyng was seised of
and Confiscated to the King's use In this Colloquy the Barons told him That he was in Debt and Ruin'd by the Strangers about him who had Consum'd all so that he was forc'd to give Tallies for the Victuals of his Table * Knyghton Col. 2445. N o 10. Domine Rex inter manus Alienigenarum res utique tua male agitur diversimode tractatur nam consumptis universis multo jam deprimeris eâ— alieno datis pro cibariis tuis Talleiâ— versus es in scandalum in omni populo tuo The Consequence of this Profusion was grievous Taxes the Taxes produc'd Discontents these Discontents encourag'â— Simon Montford and others to begin thâ— Civil War in which this King had beeâ— lost but for the Courage and Conduct 〈◊〉 his Son In the Reign of Edward the I. we 〈◊〉 not find there was any Resumption bâ— Annn Dom. 1289. the Legislative Authority did very wisely interpose in Correâ—ing the Abuses of Westminster-Hall * Vide Dan. p. 160 Mat. West p. 414. N o 10 and Knyghton Col. 2466. Finâ—ing all the Judges for their Corruptioâ— and Extortions Sir Ralph Hengham wâ— had been Chief Justice of the highâ— Bench and Commissioner for the Gâ—vernment of the Kingdom in the King Absence paid Seven thousand Marcs 〈◊〉 Edward Stratton paid Thirty four thousand Marcs Thomas Wayland found the greatest Delinquent Forfeited all his Estate The whole Set paid among 'em 〈◊〉 Hundred thousand Marcs which for those Days was a prodigious Summ. The next Reign of Edward the IId gives the prospect of Civil Wars Treachery Bloodshed and a view of all the Calamities that are the Consequences of â— Riotous and Profuse Court The unbounded Favour of this Prince o his Minion Pierce Gaveston made Earl of Cornwal and the Waste which the said Earl had made in the Crown-Revenue so provok'd the Peers that they never restd till they had obtain'd an Instrument mpowering several Ecclesiastical and â—ay Lords to make certain Ordinances â—or the good of the Kingdom which nstrument and Ordinances made by Virue of it were afterwards ratify'd in Parament Among other things it was then order'd That the Crown-Revenue should â—ot be Alienated Derecheif ordein est Rot. Ord. 5 Edw. II. N o. 3. pur les dettes le Roy acquitter son estate relever le plus honourablement mainteiner qe nul don de Terre ne de Rent ne de Franchise ne d' Eschete ne de Gard ne Marriage ne Baillie se face a nul des ditz Ordenours durant leur poer del dit ordeinment ne a uul autre sauns Conseil assent des ditz Ordenours ou de la greinder partie de eux au six de eux au moins mes totes les choses desquex profits poit surdre soient enpruees al profit le Roy jusques son estat soit avenantment releve c. There is this Remarkable in the Record That they bound up themselves as well as others from receiving any part of the King's Lands as we may suppose not thinking it fair for them who had the Power to keep the Purse shut to others and to open it for themselves They took likewise Care of a Resumption * Ibed N o 7. Et puis derecheife pur se qe lâ— Corone est tant abeissee demembree pâ— diverses donns nous Ordinons qe toâ— les donns qe sont donez au damage dâ— Roy descresse de la Corone puis 〈◊〉 Commission a nous fait des Chasteam Villes Terres Tenements Bayleâ— Gardez Marriages Eschetes Relâ— queconques queles soint aussibien 〈◊〉 Gascoin Irland Gales Escoce coâ— me en Engleterre soint repelleez noâ— les repellons de tout sanz estre redonnâ— a meismes ceux sanz comun assent 〈◊〉 Parlement Et que si tieu maner des dom ou Reles soint Desormes donez encâ—â—tre la form avantdit sanz assent de soâ— Barnage ce en Parlement tant qe 〈◊〉 dettes soint acquittees son estatâ— avenantment releves soint tenus poâ— nuls soit le pernour puny en Parlement par Agard del Barnage 'T is true these Ordinances were revok'd in the * Great Statute Roll from H. III. to 21 Ed. III M. 31. Bibli Cott. Claud. Parliament which this King held at York the 15th of his Reign just after he had Defeated and put to Death Thomas Earl of Lancaster with many other of the Barons But his Rigid Proceeding with those who had Fought in Defence of their Countries Freedom and his immoderate Favour and Bounty to the Spencers Earls of Whinchester and Gloster with all his other Mis-government lost him both his Crown and Life in a short time after 'T is to be presum'd That what the Parliament had done in Edward II. Reign to hinder the Favourites from making Depredations upon the Crown-Revenue had effectually stopp'd the Evil because we do not find there was any need of an Act of Resumption in Edward the III's Time There is no part of our History more remarkable than the Life of Richard II. Grandson of Edward III. And no Times afford so many Presidents of Liberty asserted and of the Excesses of Regal Power with the Corruption of bad Ministers as this unfortunate Reign But Misgovernment will of Necessity bring on good Laws in the End The lavish Temper of this Prince his unreasonable Favour to the Duke of Ireland to Michal de la Pool Earl Suffolk his Chancellor and others with his loose and careless Administration produc'd the Parliaments of 10th 11th and 13th Richard II. by which his Power was circumscribd and bounded 'T is true 21 Richard II. he procur'd a Repeal of what had been formerly settled by Parliament for the Welfare of the Kingdom in which Sessions he got Iniquity establish'd by a Law but the Conclusion of all this Misgoverment was that he incurr'd so much the Publick hatred as to be deserted by the whole People and in a solemn manner to be depos'd The Excesses of the Court and Rapine of the Ministers in those days and towards the latter end of Edward III. produc'd Acts of Resumption The Commons pray that all kind of Gifts whatsoever made by King Edward III. may be examin'd if worthily bestow'd to be Confirm'd if otherwise to be Revok'd * Rot. Parl. 1 Ri. II. N o. 48. Item ils Prient pur ceo que la Corone est moult abaisse demembre par divers donns donez en temps de notre Seigneur que Dieux assoille queux donns il estoit malement deceux en plusieurs Personnes malement emploeis come home le poet declarer a grand damage de lui de notre Seigneur le Roi q'ore est si bien des Chasteaux Villes Terres Tenements Baillez Gardes Marriages Eschetes Releves aussi bien en Gascoigne Irlande come en Engleterre qe plese a notre Seigneur le Roy son Conseil faire examiner par les Rolles
a Tenth out of their Goods only thrice a Tenth Five Fifteens besides a Tenth and Fifteenth which amounted to 120000 l. Three Subsides of which the last came to but 36000 l. One Benevolence And of the Clergy twice the Tenth and 25000 l. by way of Subsidy and yet Cotton says for which he cites a good * Lib. Acquit in t Regem Dudley R. C. Authority That he left behind him in Bullion Four Millions and a Half besides his Plate and rich Attire of House My Lord †Life of Hen. 7. p. 230. Bacon indeed brings the Sum lower and says it was near Eighteen Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling But to reckon according to either of these Authors the Sum was prodigious for those Times 'T is true he had very extraordinary Ways of scraping up Money such as Sale of Offices Redemption of Penalties dispensing with the Laws and the like but all these together produc'd only * Answer to the Reasons c. p. 52. 120000 l. per Annum Besides Empson and Dudley the Two Ministers of his Extortions did not commit their Rapines till towards the latter End of his Reign From whence we may reasonably conclude that the Principal Foundation of all this Wealth join'd with his own Parsimony must have been the Crown-Revenue and that the former Acts of Resumption with that which was made in his own Reign which no doubt this frugal Prince took Care to see put in Execution had reduced it to it 's former State and Condition For had no more been left than 5000 l. per Annum there would have been no matter for his Oeconomy to work upon so that we may very well infer that the fore-mentioned Resumptions had reliev'd the King's Affairs and brought the Crown-Revenue once more into a flourishing Condition But Henry the Eighth not only spent the immense Sum left him by his Father but likewise a great Part of that Revenue which came to the Crown by seizing the Abby-Lands which amounted to * Hist of the Reform Part 2. p. 268. 131607 l. 6 s. 4 d. per Ann. However he who considers the History of those Times and how much this Prince made himself the Arbiter of Europe will find his Money was not so unprofitably spent as is vulgarly imagin'd Besides †Ibid. p. 269. great Sums were laid out on building and fortifying many Ports in the Channel and other Parts of England which were rais'd by the Sale of Abby-Lands But notwithstanding the expensive Temper of this Prince he left his Successors very sufficient and substantial Landlords in England For we found in Sir Robert Cotton's Library in a * Cleopatra F. 6. Fol. 51. Book part of which is of that learned Antiquary's own Hand writing and to which King James the First has set his Name James R. which Book contains very many curious Things That the Revenue of the 12th of Elizabeth besides the Wards and Dutchy of Laâ—câ—ster amounted to 188197 l. 4 s. per Annum The Writer of these Papers does not remember to have met with any Thing relating to Resumptions in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth but the Reason why nothing of that Nature should be done in her Time is very obvious her Father had alienated from the Crown a great Part of the Abby-Lands or exchang'd 'em for other Lands as a Multitude of Acts pass'd to that Purpose in his Reign Witness And it was a strong Security to the Protestant Religion and Interest that those Estates should remain in the Hands and Possessions of private Persons A Resumption was thought on in the Reign of King James the First of which the forementioned Tracts of Sir Robert Cotton are a sufficient Evidence Besides in the †Annals of King Jam. p. 10. Annals of those Times 't is said to have been debated in Council But in the Reign of King Charles the Second a Resumption was again agitated for we find in the Journals of the House of Commons Martis 22 Die Maii 1660. A Bill for making void of Grants made since May 1642 of Titles of Honor Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments pass'd under several great Seals by the late King Charles or the King's Majesty that now is or any other great Seal was this Day read the second Time and upon the Question committed c. And as a Mark that these Alienations of the Crown-Revenue were always distasteful to the People of England and to show that the House of Commons desir'd that a new Prince should betimes know the Nation 's Sence in this Matter we shall produce the following Resolves of that Parliament which restor'd King Charles Martis 4 Die Sept. 1660. Resolv'd That this House doth agree with the Committee That a Bill be brought in for Settling the Lands of the Crown so as that no Grant of the Inheritance shall be good in Law nor any Lease for more than Three Lives or One and Thirty Years where a Third Part of the true yearly Value is reserv'd for a Rent as it shall appear upon a Return of a Survey which that Act is to take Order for to be speedily had and taken and that Mr. Sollicitor General and Mr. Serjeant Glyn do prepare and bring in a Bill accordingly Resolv'd That this House doth agree with the Committee That the King's Majesty be humbly desir'd from this House to forbear to make any Leases of the Lands or other Grants of the Revenue of the Crown till the said last mention'd Act be pass'd And the Reason why these good Resolutions took no Effect is not at all difficult to discover 'T is to be fear'd that too many we mean without Doors in those corrupt Times not only were concern'd in the Grant already made but likewise did design as it prov'd afterwards to get for themselves what remain'd of the King's Lands And now for a full Answer to those who pretend Resumptions had never any Effect we shall produce a State of the Crown-Revenue as it lay before the House of Commons the same Year Martis die 4. Sept. 1660. ' Sir Heneage Finch reports from the Committee That according to the best Information the Committee could receive and by Estimate the Revenue amountted to 819398 l. per Annum viz.  l. By Customs 400000. By Composition for the Court of Wards 100000. The Revenue of Farms and Rents 263598. The Office of Postage 21500. The Proceed of Dean Forest 4000. The Imposition on the Sea-Coal exported 8000. Wine-Licenâ—e and other Additions 22300. Total 819398. From which Accompt it appears that notwithstanding the Profusion of Henry the Eighth and the irregular Bounty of K. James the 1st to his Scots the Land-Revenue of the Crown which Anno 28. Hen. 6. when the Parliament made the first formal and regular Resumption was reduc'd to 5000 l. per Annum came afterwards with the Forest of Dean to amount to 267598 l. per Annum Our Princes have seldom been known to purchase Lands The Abby-Lands could not make this
own Hands are clean and that they do not at all participate in the Depredations that are made upon the Publick If they have ask'd nothing for themselves 't is a sign they did not promote Grants for he who ventures to wrong the King will rather do it for his own Gain than for the Advantage of another Therefore a total Self-denial in the Minister is a great Mark of Innocence If they were seen to have as large a share in the Plunder as any others if the King 's best Lands and Mannors were found in their hands or which is worse if they had devour'd all the Flesh themselves and left to others only the Bones to pick if while the Publick was poor they had procur'd to themselves outragious Gifts of Money as they are call'd in the Records if it was known that they had procur'd immoderate Releases for Money now they term 'em Privy-Seals and that in an unwarrantable manner Our Ancestors look'd no farther but took the Ministers to be guilty and presum'd that they singly for their own Gain and Profit had incited the Prince to Liberalities inconsistent with the Welfare of his Crown and Government and thereupon our Forefathers grounded the Impeachments we have mention'd in this Section We do not find in the Records except in the Lady Vescie's Case that the Anger of Parliaments was provoked against the Common Herd of Courtiers who in all Ages have raked from the Prince whatsoever they could But the Sword of the Legislature was directed against their Heads who being Ministers of State in his Privy Council bound up by Oaths Astricts per lour serments and having Offices attended with large Sallaries and Profits did nevertheless with insatiable Avarice and Ambition and without any Consideration of the Publick Wants and Miseries rob the Crown of all they could by a Practice as foul in it self as it was fatal in its Example For in these Cases the Law has only an Eye to those who are intrusted and expects the Town should not be sold surrender'd or betray'd by the very Centinels who are set to watch the Gates Perhaps these Great Men alledged in their Excuse That none will serve a Court without Rewards But our Ancestors thought the Appointments belonging to their Offices a sufficient Recompence and that Government grows very costly when Ministers must go away with Ten thousand Pounds per Annum Estate for Five or Six Years Service Nor did our Fore-fathers think it Reasonable that out of the Substance of the Commons of England there should be built up every Year Three or Four New and Wealthy Families 'T is true indeed the Ranulphs the De la Pools the Beurlees and the Buckinghams of former Ages might very well expect all they got or could get if every Day they were making bold Steps by which they ran a Hazard of their Necks But in Times when the Laws govern and when extraordinary things are neither expected by the Prince nor suffer'd by the People Ministers for their Service ought to be contented with a moderate Reward 'T is probable likewise that when they begg'd those large Grants of former Kings for which they were impeached they suggested to 'em what immense Summs of Money they had got granted for them by the Commons But if the true Necessities of the State requir'd it the Gifts would have proceeded without their urging Nor do we find that Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury a good and faithful Servant got or was impeach'd for getting Grants tho' he had obtain'd Eleven hundred thousand Marks for the Redemption of King Richard Besides our Ancestors never thought that procuring Money from the People ought to commute for robbing the Prince well-knowing that to be true which my Lord Verulam has since observ'd that these Men so dextrous at finding out Projects and at inventing new Taxes * Life Henry VII p. 210. Prey upon the People like tame Hawks for their Master and like wild Hawks for themselves Our Fore-fathers had good Reason to animadvert upon these Proceedings for nothing more tends to corrupt a Country than the easie way of getting Wealth by the Profusion of a Court. It makes Men abandon the Thoughts of raising themselves by Virtue and Merit and reduces a Nation to the State of which Mr. Pym speaks when he says There are but few now that apply themselves either to do well or to deserve well finding Flattery and Compliance to be the easier way to attain their Ends and Expectations But the Advocates for Male-Administration and they who give a fair Colour to Corruptions of this Nature will perhaps urge that generally the Heirs of such as here are mentioned to have been attainted for these Crimes have been restor'd in Blood We grant the Fact to be so but this is no Argument that they were wrongfully accus'd or coudemn'd Perhaps to make the Punishment extend beyond the Person of the Criminal is wrong in our Constitution and that all Restitutions in Blood whatsoever ought to be favour'd But Families have been restor'd whose Parents no Man will pretend to justifie * Rot. Parl. 2 Hen. V. Numb 19. Hamond Belknap was enabled in Blood 2. Hen. V. and the Family was afterwards fully restor'd 6 Hen. VIII And yet no English Man will offer to say that Belknap did not deserve his Death The Attaindures shew'd the severe Justice of our Ancestors and the Restitutions that came afterwards are Signs only that we are born in a Country where the People are well natur'd and who cannot long entertain angry and revengeful Thoughts but where Lenity has encourag'd many Persons more boldly to enterprise against the Publick Thus far as to what has been done in these Matters But before we conclude this Section we shall observe That other Countries as well as England have relieved the Affairs of the Prince by Resumptions for which Grotius cites several Authorities †Grotius de Jure Belli ac Pacis L. 2. Annot. ad Cap. 14. Donata etiam ab Emptoribus repetiit Galba relicta decima Tacit. Hist 1. Pertinax etiam à liberis ea exegit quae sub specie venditionis Commodo Principe lucrifecerant Basilius Macedo Imperator repetiit quae Michael Imperator elargitus fuerat Zonaras de eo Communi consensu placuit ut qui pecunias nulla probabili ex causa accepissent partim totas partim dimidium redderent Vide eundem Isaacio Comneno de donationibus Ludovici XI vide Serranum Carolo VIII de ejusdem donationibus etiam quae Ecclesiis factae non servatis Philippum Cominaeum lib. ix Marianam vero de donationibus quas Arragoniae Rex Ramirus fecerat rescissis lib. x. cap. xvi de Isabellae donationibus rescissis per ipsam xxvii cap. ii .. The same has been done in Scotland †Drammond 's Hist of Scotland p. 27 28. James the 1st recall'd all such Lands as had been either alienated or wrongfully Usurped from the Crown And also what was wont to be idly