Illustrious Prince James Duke of York now our Soveraign Lord King James the Second p. 31. CHAP. XI Sheweth that Ignorance of the Law will excuse none and that therefore all Dissenters to the Government in Church and State are advised to Conformity p. 36. CHAP. XII Sheweth that all Subjects owe true Ligeance to their Soveraign though they never were or ever shall be Sworn to the same and is shewed the diversity between Enemies and Rebels then all are advised from Rebellion and is shewed that the King hath no Peer and therefore cannot be judged by his Subjects for his Actions p. 38. CHAP. XIII Sheweth that no Action lyeth against the King but in place thereof Petition must be made unto him and that due circumstances observed the Subject shall have his remedy against the King by way of Petition as readily as one Subject may recover against another Subject by way of Action in any of the Kings Courts for that all his Majesties Subordinate Officers are Sworn to do Justice between the King and his Subjects which if they do not they are Answerable for the injury not the King p. 41. CHAP. XIV Sheweth what inconveniencies happen in the Realm of France through Regal Government alone with the Commodities that proceed of the joynt Government Politick and Regal in the Realm of England And all the Community are herein disswaded by mutinous and Rebellious practises to Disinfranchise themselves p. 43. CHAP. XV. Sheweth how tender this Government Politick and Regal conjoyned is of the safety of the Kings Person and of all his Royal Rights and Prerogatives And that our Law doth not reject Women or Infants in the high point of the Descent of the Crown and that our King holdeth immediately of God to himself and acknowledgeth no Prince on Earth his Superior p. 46. CHAP. XVI Sheweth that all Vnlawful Assemblies or Meetings for the Plotting of harm to the King or the Alteration of the Government are Vnlawful and further sheweth what Misprision of Treason is and that it is the Duty of every good Subject presently to discover Treason p. 49. CHAP. XVII Sheweth that all Writs Process Executions and Commandments are and ought to be in the Kings Name only p. 51. CHAP. XVIII All Freeholders are advised as to what manner of Persons they are or ought to Choose for future Parliaments p. 52. CHAP. XIX Sheweth that the King of England is and always hath been Supream Head of the Church not the Pope p. 55. CHAP. XX. As to the Kings Supremacy is shewed the difference between the Primitive and more modern times herein the Author adviseth all to be at Vnity within themselves and since we are restored to our Ancient Government to give to our Soveraign Lord the King his Dues and desires all to joyn with him in the conclusive Prayer for the Morning Service in our Church Liturgy for the King p. 58. ADVICE TO THE Commons of England c. CHAP. I. Sheweth how things stood at the latter end of King James the First and something is said of the High Court of Parliament AS Noah rendred in the Word of God Gen. 6. and 9. ver to be a just and perfect Man and one that walked with God and that with his Family after the great deluge survived the whole World is fictitiously said to have had two Faces the one looking backward the other forward the one looking upon the World before the Flood the other on the World after the Flood so an old indigent Officer of the Kings Majesties Army King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory may not improperly be said to have two Faces the one looking backward the other forward the one looking on this Kingdom of England before the late Civil War the other on the same since the said War Taking leave to look backward and to examine how and in what state of Affairs things stood in the latter end of the Reign of King James the First and how the said King Charles the First found things upon the demise of the Kingdom to him upon the death of the natural Body of His said Royal Ancestor I collect out of what I have read long since that about the Ninteenth year of the Reign of the said King James the First in a Speech to his House of Peers he expressed himself that he intended not to derogate from or Infringe any of the Liberties or Priveledges of their House but rather to fortifie and strengthen them for never any King had done so much for the Nobility of England as he had done and ever would be ready to do and whatever he should say or deliver to them as his thought yet when he had said what he thought he would afterwards freely leave the judgment thereof wholly to their House he knew they would do nothing but what the like had been done before and prayed them not to be jealous that he would abridg them of any thing that had been used for whatsoever Presidents in good times of Government could warrant he would allow acknowledging them to be the Supreme Court of Justice wherein he was ever present by Representation But his said Sacred Majesty then inferred that the Priviledges of the Commons which they claimed to be their natural Birthrights were but the favours of former Kings Against which the Commons then protested That the Liberties c. o◠Parliament are the Ancient and undoubted Birthright and Inheritance of the Subjects of England that the urgent Affairs concerning the Kings State and defence of the Realm and the Church of England and the Maintenance and making of Laws and redress of Mischiefs within the Realm are proper matter for Debate in Parliament and that this Debate ought to be free c. And no Member to be Imprisoned other than by censure of the House it self for debating Parliament business and if any Member is complained of for any thing done or said in Parliament the same is to be shewed the King by assent of the Commons before the King is to give credence to any private Information In Counsel afterwards this King expressed that he never meant to deny the House of Commons any Lawful Priviledge they had enjoyed by any Law or Statute by Custom or uncontrolled and lawful President In the Protestation some words viz. arduis Regni are cunningly mentioned but the word quibusdam which restraineth the generality to such particular Cases as his Majesty pleaseth to consult with them upon was purposely omitted Now as to what he is pleased to consult with them upon it is Customary for the King at the first opening of every Parliament in a short Speech to declare to the Three Estates the certain Occasions urged him to convene them on which or the particular Heads thereof the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England for the time being more Copiously enlargeth observing those measures the King his Master prescribeth him thô in fewer words for non-observance whereof and for
their own Wills and Pleasures There is no Government more resembling Heaven or more durable on Earth or that hath any certain principles but Monarchy and such a Monarchy that hath an actual visible military strength to support it self not only to protect the Good and Loyal but also to awe the Bad and Rebellious People The King represents God the Houses of Parliament the People And as in some sort is expressed before the King by his Writ gives the very essence and form to his Parliament being the production of his breath therefore Priviledges which are the consequences of the Form must necessarily flow from him Now would you know how to Elect Men Fearing God Honouring the King and such as will not meddle with those that are given to change Know aâ—d take notice that true Religion is the well tempered Mortar that buildeth up all Estates that there can be no true Religion where the word of God is wanting or not duly observed I have proved from and made it plain to you that the word of God condemneth and prohibiteth all mutinous Rebellious Actions whatsoever against the Magistrate either Supream or Subordinate And because there can be no surer sign of the ruine of a Kingdom than the contempt of Religion My Advice is to all that they would Conform but as to such that will not Conform nor be Reformed nor advised to joyn with us in the way Established by Law for the Service and Worship of God because they are either stubborn obstinate or wise in their own conceits and will not be informed such as these that are Dissenters from us in the better half of the Government that is to say in the Government of the Church I pray that as they absent themselves from us in the Divine Service and Worship of God so they would be pleased to absent and separate themselves from the publick meetings in their several Counties for the Choosing and Electing of Members to sit in Parliament for the future for as the Vessel savoureth of the same Liquor wherewith it was first seasoned so it is to be feared the mind of these Dissenters still retaineth those very qualities in their Elder Age wherein it was trained up in Youth However by their absence their misguided Consciences will be clear and the more Loyal and conformable Subjects by their so doing will be less offended and disturbed in their choise and Election of such as themselves that may better Comply than heretofore they did with his late Sacred Majesty in making and constituting such wholesome Laws and Provisions as may make for the security and preservation of our Protestant Religion which is confirmed by Scripture and History of Ancient Fathers in the Primitive Church to be agreeing in Doctrine and Discipline with the truly Ancient Catholick and Apostolick Christian Religion and Profession as it is now Established by Law in the Church of England CHAP. XIX Sheweth that the King of England is and always hath been Supream Head of the Church not the Pope FOR we are to know and understand that the King of England is in all Causes as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal within these his Majesties Realms and Dominions Supream Head and Governour By the Ancient Law of the Realm the King hath power to visit reform and correct all Abuses and Enormities in the Church and by the Statutes made in the time of King Henry the Eighth the Crown was but remitted and restored to its Ancient jurisdiction which was Usurped by the Bishop of Rome Reges sacro oleo uncti spiritualis jurisdictionis sunt capaces Kings Anointed with Holy Oyl are capable of Spiritual Jurisdiction And 10. H. 7. 18. Rex est persona mixta cum sacerdote the King is said to be a Person mixt or participating with the Priest in the Priesthood Also the King shall have Tythes by the Common Law of which no Lay Person can be capable And the King by himself or by his Commissioners shall visit his free Chappels and Hospitals And by the Cannon Law Omnes Reges dicuntur Clerici and another Text thereof saith quod causa Spiritualis committi potest Principi laico All Kings are said to be Clarks and that however a Spiritual Cause may be determined by a Lay Prince as may be seen in Davyes rep 4. a. And although the proceedings in the Ecclesiastical Courts be in the Name of the Bishop yet they are the Courts and Law of the King as the Leet though it be holden in the Name of the Lord of the Manour yet it is the Court of the King C. 5. 1. part 39. b. The Canonists ascribe to the Pope Prerogative as to the Interpretation of Laws and granting of Dispensations but the jurisdiction that the Pope by Colour thereof claimed in England was a meer Usurpation to which the Kings of England as I shall presently shew you from time to time made opposition even to the time of King Henry the Eighth And the King of England not the Pope before the making the Statute of Faculties might de jure of right dispence with the Ecclesiastical Law for though that many of our Ecclesiastical were first devised in the Court of Rome yet being established and confirmed in this Realm by acceptance and usage they are now become English Laws and are no more to be reputed Romish Cannons and they are to be observed as the Laws of the Kingdom of England and not to be esteemed or reputed as Rules of the Pope Davyes rep 71 72. And the King is Supream Patron as King and not as in respect of the Supream Jurisdiction that the Realm by the Statute hath acknowledged in him Therefore a Resignation to the King of a Deanry is as good as if it had been made to the Bishop because that by the Common Law he is the Supream Head of the Church of England and the Deanry is void by it And the King shall be made privy and shall give his consent to every Appropriation where the Church is of the Patronage of another as well as where it is of his own Patronage Plowd 498 499. And it appeareth by Doctor and Student 124 125. That the Law hath appointed Six Months unto the Patron to present his Clark unto the Bishop but if the Patron do not present his Clark unto the Bishop within Six Months next after the Church shall become void then shall the Lapse incur to the Bishop and he shall present for the default of the Patron a Clark of his own choosing and his presentation is called Collation and if the Bishop or Ordinary surcease his time and shall not Collate within the Six Months then shall the Metropolitan the Archbishop of the Province Collate his Clark and if he do not Collate within other Six Months then shall the Kings Majesty not the Pope as Supream Ordinary of all the Benefices in England present his Clark to the Church And all the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks within the Realm of England are
those Loyal Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament in the 12th year of his late Sacred Majesty well knew that he must needs want the necessary supplies to maintain defend and uphold the Government as the late Vsurpers had to offend alter and destroy the same The Kings Charges are great as well for the security and safety of his own Royal Person as for the preservation of the publick Peace of his Realms and Dominions for the general good of the whole Community A few Yeomen of the Guard before the late times of Rebellion called Beef-eaters were not enough for to nor could rescue his Sacred Majesty King Charles the First from that impious Act execrable Murther and unparalel'd Treason against his Sacred Person and Life committed the 30th of January 1648. neither was nor could such a Guard have been sufficient to secure the late Vserpers so ridiculous was their Right to what they Vsurped from that time to the time of his late Majesties Restauration We see before how in Ancient times King Canutus was served so soon as he was I grant Politickly but how Wisely I know not perswaded to withdraw and disband his Guards it may be his Arms or Armies might be attended with many inconveniencies but the present Guards of our Soveraign Lord the King may be necessary to be continued if ever in this our present Age which hath been very changeable and one Plot or other hath been too much threatning alteration of the Government in Church and State and these Guards of his Sacred Majesty are not attended with any inconveniencies nor are chargeable to any but the King himself Sir Edw. Coke saith That the Kings Treasure is the sinews of War and the Honour and safety of the King in times of Peace that it is firmamentum belli ornamentum pacis It is so but I deny any War to be justifiable against the Lord our King within his Realms and Dominions and therefore every Rising and Force raised within the Realm is properly called a Rebellion improperly a War Nor do the Kings Laws Protect any Subject to trade get and gain a great Estate to the end to impower him to ascend the Throne and to stand in competition with or to distast the Person or the Government of our rightful Soveraign Lord the King but rather it is the bounden duty of all in general to Love Honour and obey their Lord the King and proportionably according to their Estates Qualities and Degrees to give Aides and Supplies to his necessities for the just defence and security of his Royal Person and the preservation of the Peace and quietness of him and all his People in all his Realms and Dominions We say quo ditior est quisque eo nobilior by so much as every Man is the more Rich by so much he is the more Noble by so much he is the better respected and the more Esteemed But I say Principem habere ditiorem confert ad dignitatem subditorum ditiores habere subditos confert ad nobillitatem principis to have the Richer Prince conduceth to the dignity of the Subjects and to have the Richer People conduceth to the dignity of the Prince Now all here last mentioned is to this end and purpose that all old Animosities Jealousies and Fears laid aside after his Gracious Majesty shall have convened his Parliament unto him be given quod defunctus Antecessor suus habuit what his deceased Ancestor had Believe the word and promise of his Gracious Soveraign he beginneth his Reign with Clemency and Mercy to all his Subjects and will certainly be so far from invading your Properties that having what was thought needful for his late Royal and Dear Brother nay I say the Richer you make him the more he will be respected at home the more safe he and all his People will be and the more he will certainly be feared and dreaded abroad But least with the Foolish Architect I make the Porch too big for the House I say no more only recommend to you the reading of this ensuing Treatise which was written for the confirmation only of the more knowing and Loyal and for the information of the more Ignorant and therefore less Loyal Subjects So I commit every Man to Gods protection and rest Every Mans well Wisher J. B. The Contents CHAP. I. SHeweth how things stood at the latter end of King James the First and something is said of the High Court of Parliament p. 1. CHAP. II. Sheweth how King Charles the First found things at his first coming to these Crowns and there is also said something as to the learning of the Customs the chief Maintenance of the Crown in his time p. 4. CHAP. III. Sheweth how the late Rebellion broke out and sâ—mething is said of the great Advantages the Rebels had with what Advantages only the Loyal Party had p. 12. CHAP. IV. Sheweth how the King the Loyal party and the Law suffered Violence p. 14. CHAP. V. Sheweth about what time the Kings Writs were first framed for the induction of the Commons into the Parliaments of England p. 16. CHAP. VI. Sheweth the difference between Parliamentary Priviledges and the Prerogatives of the King and sheweth how at the first Kingly Goverment was constituted by God himself and that by Gods Law also the Legislative Power and the Power of the Militia was given to the King and that in these highest Points of the Kings Prerogative the Law of England is agreeing with the Law of God and that God is vindex sui Ordinis the avenger of his own Ordinance p. 18. CHAP. VII Sheweth that vindictive Justice is also derived from God to the King as supream and that all Subordinate Officers derive their Jurisdiction from the King and through his Mediation from God also and that herein the Law of England is also agreeing with the Law of God p. 23. CHAP. VIII Sheweth that the Subjects of England are bound by their bond of Allegiance to serve the King only in his Wars and that the King is the Fountain of Honour and by way of Induction to the same something is said of a Countee Palatine Davids worthies and good old Barzillai the Gileadite p. 25. CHAP. IX Herein you have a Subject defined you have Ligeance defined and is shewed that the King hath two Capacities the one Natural and the other Politick and that the Body Politick cannot be separated from the Body Natural that Ligeance is due to the Natural Body of the King that the Kingdom of England admits of no interregnum and that the Disherison of the Right Heir of a Kingdom is wont to be the beginning of Civil Wars p. 29. CHAP. X. Herein you have an Heir defined and divided and is shewed that the Right Heir of the Crown ought not nor can Lawfully be Disinherited that a Bastard ought not nor can be Heir to to the Crown and further something is said to the late Bill for the Exclusion of the late most
Secretaries of State or some Magistrate and to discover the whole matter in orderly manner that he ought not to stay Two days or nights in one place before he sees the King nor to be let or hindred by any business though never so urgent quia vix ei permittitur ut retrospiciat because the Law giveth him not so much time as to look back in some Cases as we must render an account for every idle word so must we likewise in this case for our idle silence for in such a Case as this where any knoweth of any Conspiracy against his King or Country he is bound by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm presently to discover it for as Fire in its beginning whilst it is but small is more easily quenched than it is afterwards when by some continuance it hath gathered strength so the beginning of Rebellious contrivances being known and discovered with more ease the sad events and evil consequences thereof are nipped in the Bud and are smothered hindred and prevented therefore as to this Evil or rather Devil of Rebellion all are to be advised by the Poet who saith Principiis obsta sero medicina paratur Cum mala per longas invaluere moras CHAP. XVII Sheweth that all Writs Process Executions and Commandments are and ought to be in the Kings Name only NOW I shall acquaint you further that all Writs Executions and Commandments are done in the Kings Name Nay we do say in England the Life and Member of the Kings Subject are the Kings only that is to say no Man hath hault or moyenne Justice but the King nor can hold plea thereof Hence it is that those Pleas which touch the Life or Mutilation of Man be called Pleas of the Crown nor can be done in the Name of any inferior Person than he or she that holdeth the Crown of England And all Enditements Presentments and Processes relating to the Sessions of the Peace begin with Juratores presentant pro Domino Rege quod I. S. de c. or Inquiratur pro Domino Rege si A. B. de c. And every warrant from a Justice of the Peace upon all occasions whatsoever directed to the Constable begin with these or such like words these are in his Majesties Name to Will and Require you forthwith c. If any Process Summons Invitation or Commandment come to you in Parliament time or out of Parliament time in any other Habit Dress or Name whatsoever Be you assured such Coin is counterfeit and not currant within his Majesties Realms and Domions but are deceitful and delusory and may not improperly be likened to the Melody of Syrens who Sing not to stir up Mirth but to allure unto danger and mishaps CHAP. XVIII All Freeholders are advised as to what manner of Persons they are or ought to Choose for future Parliaments I Remember I made mention of the Secluded Members in the late times of Rebellion These were they with whom Treason had no place because with them Obedience to their Soveraign Lord the King and his Laws Ecclesiastical and Temporal bore sway and held Principallity some of whom when the confluence and Clamours of the Tumults in those times passed all boundaries of Laws and Reverence to Authority by the rude and unseemly deportments both in contemptuous words and actions of the vulgar and that no means prevailed for their suppression withdrew themselves with his Sacred Majesty King Charles the First for the security of their Persons from Violence others of when the Lords were Excluded and the House of Commons was purged by the Military power to a Rump Parliament for rotten Members as they then termed them were cast out and all of them that were afterwards living were again chosen for Parliament-men upon his late Majesties most miraculous and happy Restauration Many of them held their King and Country and the Government thereof so dear that in defence thereof they feared not to hazard their lives and Fortunes Such as these were Men Fearing God Honouring their King and abhorring to meddle or joyn with those that are given to change I advise every Freeholder who hath a voice in the Election of Knights Citizens and Burgesses should Chose and Elect to sit in Parliament for the future when his Majesty shall be pleased to Issue forth his Royal Writs for the same If you know of any that have offended grievously in former Parliaments Elect them not again upon an expected repentance All jealousies and fears laid aside Elect such as are Men of good Fortunes not such as have their fortunes to make such as are Wise and prudent Men in the management of their own private Affairs at home and in their several Countries make a right and good use of those benefits which God hath put into their hands for their succouring of others their poor Tennants and Neighbours whose vertue is yet altogether joyned with that Justice that is prudently guided with Moderation and reason for they that know well how to manage their own private Affairs when called thereto will in all probability as carefully contribute their prudent and hearty endeavours for the preservation of the Publick Peace and welfare of the whole Community Let not Elections be carryed on as heretofore with partiality and popular heat let the Gravity and discretion of the more sober and better educated Gentry allay and fix the Commons to a due temperament guiding some Mens well meaning Zeal by such Rules of Moderation as are best both to preserve and restore the health and welfare of all States and Kingdoms Every Freeholder ought to know and well to consider with what power he trusts those whom he chooseth in regard the Power of the House of Commons is derived from that trust and the Kings Writ directed to the Sheriff gives Authority to the Freeholders to make their Elections in which is expressed not only the Sheriffs Duty in point of Summoning but the Writ also contains the Duty and Power of such Knights and Burgesses as shall be Elected and such as shall be Elected are to know that as a Body Natural cannot do any perfect Act if it be dismembred viz. if the Head be in one place and the Body in another place and so of the rest of the Members of a Body Natural so it is in like wise of the Parliament which may be said by the Power of the King to be made corporate or the highest Court aggregate and consisting of the King or Queen of England the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in Parliament Assembled the Members whereof are or ought to know that they are Capitulariter or rather sub uno capite congregati Chapterwise or rather Assembled under one Head which is the King or Queen thereof who have the only Power Priviledge and Prerogative not only of Summoning but also of Adjourning Proroguing and Dissolving of the Parliament as alsh of Passing or not Passing any Bills whatsoever framed for Acts at
of the Kings foundation and the Kings of England are the Founders of them all and they sit in Parliament and have the Names of the Lords of the Parliament non ratione Nobilitatis sed ratione Officii not by reason of their Nobility but by reason of their Office and in respect of their Ancient Barronies annexed to their dignities C. Inst 1. part 97. a. And in C. 5. 1. part Cawdreyes Case it may be seen That King Kenulphus by Charter in Parliament in the year of our Lord 755. Exempted the Abbot of Abingdon from Episcopal Jurisdiction and gave it him That amongst the Laws of Edward the Confessor it was Ordained that he should Govern the Kingdom and his People and above all the Holy Church not the Pope That William the Conqueror Appropriated Churches with Cure That King Henry the First presented to Abbeys as well by his Ecclesiastical as his Kingly Power That Henry the Third granted Prohibitions and in Issue of Loyalty of Marriage and general Bastardy the King wrote to the Bishop as his immediate Officer That in the time of Edward the Third the Temporalties of the Archbishop of York were lost during his Life for refusal of a Clark of the King by reason of a Provision of the Pope That by 25. Edw. the Third a Man might kill those that procured Provisions from Rome and those that executed them Also by 25. Edw. 3d. It was Enacted that the Pope shall not give Archbishopricks Bishopricks c. but that the King them shall give c. That by 16. Rihard the Second chap. 5th It is Enacted that because the King holdeth his Crown immediately under God they who purchase or pursue in the Court of Rome Translations Processes Excommunications Bulls Instruments c. and their Fautors and Councillors shall be out of the Protection of the King and Praemunire facias shall be awarded against them That 2. H. 4. 9. It is resolved that Collectors of the Pope by their Bulls have not any Jurisdiction here and that the Archbishops and Bishops are called the Spiritual Judges of the King And 11. H. 4. 37. it is said Papa non potest mutare leges Angliae that the Pope cannot change or alter the Laws of England That 2. Henry the Fourth chap. 3d. he that obtaineth from the Bishop of Rome to be exempt from regular Obedience is within the Case of a Praemunire That 6. H. 4. chap. 1. Forfeiture was imposed upon those who payed great sums to the Chamber of Rome That by 2. H. 5. chap. 1. The King not the Pope gave power to the Ordinary to enquire of the Foundation and Government of Hospitals and to correct c. That in 9. H. 6. 16. The King only can give License for the Foundation of a Corporation Spiritual not the Pope That 12th Edw. 4th 16. A Legate of the Pope was compelled to Swear that he would not attempt any thing against the Crown c. That in 2. Rich. 3. It is said that Excommunication or Judgment at Rome is of no force here That in First Henry the 7th 10th It is said that in time of King Henry the Sixth Humphry Duke of Glocester burnt the Letters of the Pope that were in Derogation ot the King and his Crown And 1. H. 7. 20. It is adjudged that the Pope may not grant Sanctuary And 25. Henry the 8. chap. 21. It is Enacted by the Statute forementioned of faculties that none shall make suit to Rome but that the Archbishop of Canterbury may grant to the King and his Subjects such Licenses Dispensations Grants Faculties Escripts Delegacies Instruments c. not repugnant to Holy Scripture as been used to be granted by the Pope yet it is to be noted that such Cannons Constitutions Ordinances Synods Provincials c. were provided to be in force which had been allowed by general Consent and Custom within the Realm not repugnant to Law or the Prerogative of the King and so by the same general Consent may be Corrected Enlarged Explained or Abrogated hence we may rest satisfied that for many Hundreds of years last past successively in the time of one King after another King when all our Ancestors were Papists and of that profession that yet the Government of the Church ever was inherent to the Imperial Crown of the Kings of England In the time of King Henry the Third the Usurped Jurisdiction of the Pope was elevated more high than ever before or since yet it may be observed that in the Ninth year of his Reign in the very first Chapter of the great Charter Entitled and Called The Confirmation of Liberties is mentioned First We have granted to God and by this our present Charter have confirmed for Us and Our Heirs for ever that the Church of England shall be free and shall have all her whole Rights and Liberties inviolable And by the Statute of 24. H. 8. chap. 12. by 24. Bishops and 29 Abbots it is recited that England is an Empire and that the King is the Head of the Body Politick consisting of the Temporalty and the Spiritualty impleet and furnished with full Power to render final Justice in all matters whatsoever as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal And that part of the said Body Politick called the Spiritualty hath been always thought sufficient and meet of it self without the intermeddling of any Forreign Pope or any exterior Person or Persons when any cause of the Law Divine happened to come in question or of Spiritual Learning to declare and determine all such doubts and to adminster all such Offices and Duties yet as the Spiritual Judges of and under the King as to their several Roomes Spiritual doth appertain And the Laws Temporal for Trial of Property of Lands and Goods and for the conservation of the Realm in Unity and Peace without Rapine or Spoil were and yet are Administred Adjudged and Executed by sundry Judges and Ministers of the other part of the Body Politick called the Temporalty And their Authorities and Jurisdictions do conjoyn together in the due Administration of Justice the one is a help to the other and both are a help to and in ease of the King the Head of this Body Politick here you have concisely and in few words discovered unto you the Ancient form of the Government of England both in Church and State and accordingly in Ancient times the Parliaments of England consisted only of the King the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal who were Anciently the Representatives of the whole Kingdom in Parliament Assembled under the Kings or Queens thereof but for some Hundreds of years last past a Writ hath been framed for the Election of Knigts c. to sit in Parliament and these Knights c. are to be chosen by the Freeholders in their several Counties CHAP. XX. As to the Kings Supremacy is shewed the difference between the Primitive and more modern times herein the Author adviseth all to be at Vnity within themselves and