exceeding Straffords 10. As it is a crime Odious in the nature of it so it is odious in the Judgement and Estimation of the Law TO ALTER THE SETTLED FRAME AND CONSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT IN ANY STATE Let those consider it who are guilty of it in the Highest Degree beyond Strafford Canterbery or the Shipmoney Judges in our own State The Lawes whereby all parts of a Kingdom are preserved should be very vaine and defective if they had not a Power to secure and preserve themselves The Forfeitures inflicted for Treason by our Law are of Life Honour and Estate even all that can be forfeited and this Prisoner although he should * pay all these Forfeitures will still be a Debtor to the Common wealth Nothing can be more equall then that he should perish by the Justice of the Law which he would have subverted Neither will this be a New way of bloâ—d There are marks enough to trace this Law to the very Originall of this Kingdome And if it hath not been put in execution as he alledgeth this 240 yeares it was not for want of Law but that all that time had not bred a man * bold enough to commit such crimes as these Which is a circumstance much aggravating his Offence and making him no lesse liable to punishment because he is THE * ONELY MAN that in so long a time hath ventured UPON SUCH A TREASON AS THIS Thus far Mr. John Pym in the Name and by the Order and Authority of the whole Commons House in Parliament which I wish all those who by their Words Actions Counsels and printed Publications too have trayterously endeavored to subvert the Fundamentall Lawes Liberties of England and Ireland and to introduce an arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law as much as ever Strafford did and out stripped him therein ever since his execution in all particulars for which he was beheaded would now seriously lay to heart and speedily reform lest they equall or exceed him conclusion in Capitall punishments for the same or endlesse Hellish Torments The next Authority I shall produce in point is The speech and declaration of Mr. Oliver St. John at a Conference of both Houses of Parliament concerning Ship-mony upon Judge Finches Impeachment of High Treason January 14. 1640. printed by the Commons Orders London 1641. wherein he declares the sense of the Commons p. 12. c. That by the Judges Opinions forecited concerning Ship-mony THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF THE REALM CONCERNING OUR PROPERTY and OUR PERSONS ARE SHAKEN Whose Treasonable Offence herein he thus aggravates p. 20. c. The Judges as is declared in the Parliament of 11 R. 2. are the Executors of the Statutes and of the Judgements and Ordinances of Parliament They have here made themselves the * EXECVTIONERS OF THEM they have endevoured THE DESTRVCTION OF THE FVND AMENTALS OF OVR LAWS and LIBERTIES Holland in the Low-Countries lies under the Sea the Superficies of the Land is lower than the Superficies of the Sea It is Capitall therefore for any man to cut the Banks because they defend the Country Besides our own even Forreign Authors as Comines observes That the Statute DE TALLAGIO and the other old Laws are the Sea walls and Banks which keep the Commons from the inundation of the Prerogative These * Pioners have not onely undermined these Banks but they have levelled them even with the ground If one that was known to be Hostis Patriae had done this thought the Dammage be the same yet the Guilt is lesse but the Conservatores Riparum the overseers instructed with the Defence of these Banks for them to destroy them the breach of Trust aggravates nay alters the nature of the offence Breach of trust though in a private Person and in the least things is odious amongst all men much more in a publick Person in things of great and publick concernement because * GREAT TRUST BINDS THE PARTY TRUSTED TO GREATEST CARE AND FIDELITY It is TREASON in the Constable of Dover-Castle to deliver the Keys to the known enemies of the Kingdome because the Castle is the Key of the Kingdome whereas if the house-keeper of a private person deliver possession to his Adversary it is a crime scarce punishable by Law The * Judges under his Majesty are the Persons trusted with the Laws and in them with the Lives Liberties and Estates of the whole Kingdome This Trust of all we have if primarily from his Majesty and * in him delegated to the Judges His Majesty at his Coronation is bound by his Oath TO EXECUTE JUSTICE TO HIS PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THE LAWS thereby to assure the people of the faithfull performance of his Great Trust His Majesty again as he trusts of Judges with the performance of this part of his Oath so doth he likewise exact another Oath of them for their due execution of justice to the people according to the Laws hereby the Judges stand intrusted with this part of his Majesties Oath If therefore the Judges shall do wittingly against the Law they do not onely break their own oaths and therein the Common Faith and trust of the whole Kiâ—â—dome but do as much as in them lies sperse and blemish the sacred Person of his Majesty with the odious and hateful fin of * Perjury My Lords the hainousnesse of this offence is most legible in the * severe punishment which formour ages have inflicted upon those Judges who have broken any part of their Oaths wittingly though in things not so dangerous to the Subject as in the case in question * Sir Thomas Wayland Chief Justice of the Common-pleas 17 E. 1. was attainted of Felony for taking bribes and his Lands and goods forefeited as appears in the Pleas of Parlament 18 E. 1. and he was banished the Kingdome as unworthy to live in the State against which he had so much offended * Sir William Thorp Chief Justice of the Kings Bench in Edward the thirds time having of five persons received five severall Bribes which in all amounted to one hundred pounds was for this alone adjudged to be hanged and all his goods and Lands forfeited The reason of the Judgement is entered in the Roll in these words Quia praedictus Wilielmus * Throp qui Sacramentum Domini Regis erga populum suum habuit ad custodiendum fugit malitiosè falsò rebeliter quantum in ipso suit There is a notiable declaration in that Judgement that this Judgement was not to be drawn into example against any other officers who should break their Oaths but onely against those qui predictum Sacramentum fecerunt fregerunt * habent Leges Angliae ad custodiendum That is onely to the Judges Oaths who have the Laws intrusted unto them This Judgement was given 24. E. 3. The next year in Parliament 25 E. 3. Numb. 10. it was debated in Parliament whether this Judgement was legall
AND PRINCIPLES upon which it was framed and founded Though the Generality of the afterwards-secured and secluded Majority of the House of Commons endeavoured constantly to make good this Declaration in all particulars yet how desperatly the garbled Minority thereof continuing in power after their Seclusion prevaricated apostatized and falsified their Faith and Engagements herein in every particle in the highest Degree we cannot but with greatest grief of heart and detestation remember to the subversion â—uine of our King Lords Commons Kingdom Parliaments Fundamental Laws Government and the Peoples Liberties c. almost beyond all hopes of restitution or reparation in humane probability without a miracle from heaven The Lord give them grace most seriously to consider of repent and really sincerely reform it now at last and not still add drunkenness to thirst lest they bring them to temporal and eternal condemnation for it in Gods own due time and engender endless Wars Troubles Taxes Changes Confusions in our Kingdoms as they have hitherto done By this full Jury of Parliamentary Authorities to omit many others of like or a inferiour nature and less moment it is undeniable That the People of England have both ancient Fundamental Rights Liberties Franchises Laws and a Fundamental Government which like the Laws of the Medes and Persians neither may or ought to be altered violated or innovated upon any pretence but perpetually maintained defended with greatest care vigilancy resolution and he who shall still deny or oppugne it deserves no refutation by further arguments since it is a received Maxime in all Arts Contra Principia negantâ—â—â— non est disputandum but rather demerits a sentence of Condâ—â—nation and publike Execution at Tyburn as a common Enemy Traytor to our Laws Liberties Nation it being no less then 〈◊〉 transcendent Crime and High Treason by our Laws for any person or persons secretly or openly to attempt the 〈◊〉 or subversion of our Fundamental Laws Rights Liberties Government especially by fraud treachery force or armed power and violence the later part of my first Proposal which I shall now confirm by these twelve following Presidents and Evidences corroborating likewise the former part that we have such Fundamental Laws Liberties Rights Franchises and a Fundamental Government too In the b fifth year of King Richard the second the vulgar rabble of people and villains in Kent Essex Sussex Norfolk Cambridgeshire and other Countreys under the Conduct of Wat Tyler Jack Straw and other Rebels assembling together in great multitudes resolved by force and violence to abrogate the Law of villenage with all other Lawes they disliked formerly setled to burn all the Records kill and behâ—ad all he Judges Iustices and men of Law of all sorts which they could get into their hands to burn and destroy the Innes of Court as they did then the new Temple where the Apprentices of the Law lodged burning their Monuments and Records of Law there found to alter the Tenures of Lands to devise new Laws of their own by which the Subjects shold be governed to change the ancient Hereditary Monarchicall Government of the Realm and to elect petty elective Tyrannies and Kingdoms to themselves in every Shire a project eagerly prosecuted by some Anarchical Anabaptists Jesuits and Levellers very lately and though withall they intended to destroy the King to last and all the Nobles too when they had gotten sufficient power yet at first to cloak their intentions for the present they took an Oath of all they met Quod Regi communibus fidelitatem servarent that they should keep allegeance and faith to the King and Commons this their resolution and attempt thus to alter and subvert the laws government upon full debate in the Parliament of 5. R. 2. n 30 31. was declared to be High Treason against the King and against the Law for which divers of the chief Actors in this Treasonable design were condemned and executed as Traitors in several places and the rest enforced to a publike submission and then pardoned 2. In the a Parliament XL R. 2. as appears by the Parliament Rolls and printed Statutes at large three Privie Counâ—cellors the Archbishop of York the Duke of Ireland and Earl of Suffolk the Bishop of Exeter the Kings Confessor five Knights six Judges where of Sir Robert Trisilian Chief Justice was one Blake of the Kings Councel at Law Vsk and others were impeached and condemned of High Treason some of them executed as Traytors the rest banished their Lands and goods ferfeited and none to endeavour to procure their pardon under pain of Felony for endeavouring to overthrow a Commission for the good of the Kingdome and contrary to an Act of Parliament of force of arms and Opinions in Law delivered to the King tending to subvert the Laws and Statutes of the Realm overthrow the Power Priviledges and proceedings of Parliament and betray not all the house of Lords but only some of the Lords of Parliament which Judgment being afterwards reversed in the forced and packed Parliament of 21. R. 2. was reconfirmed in the Parliament of 1 H. 4. c 3. 4 5. and the Parliament of 21. R. 2. totally repealed and adnulled for ever and hath so continued 3. In the a Parliament of 17 R. 2. n 20. and Pas. 17. R. 2. B. R S. Rot 16. Sir Thomas Talbot was accused and sound guilty of High Treason for conspiring the death of the Dukes of Glocester Lancaster and other Peers who maintained the Commission confirmed by act of Parliament X R. 2. and assembling people in a warlike manner in the County of Chester for the effecting of it in destruction of the Estates of the Realm and OF THE LAWES OF THE KINGDOME 4. In the 29. year of King Henry the sixth Jack Cade under a pretence to REFORM alter and abrogate some Laws Purveyances and extortions importable to the Commons whereupon he was called JOHN AMEND ALL drew a great multitude of Kentish people to Black Heath in a warlike manner to effect it in the Parliament of 29. H. 6. c. 1. this was adjudged High Treason in him and his Complices by act of Parliament and the Parliament of 31. H. 6. c 1. made this memorable Act against him and his Imitators in succeeding ages worth serious perusual and consideration by all who tread in his footsteps and over-act him in his Treasons Whereas the most abominable Tyrant horrible odious and erraut FALSE TRAITOR Iohn Cade calling himself sometimes Mortimer sometime Captain of Kent which Name Fame acts and Feats to be removed out of the speeh and mind of every faithful Christian man perpetually fasly and trayterously purposing and imagining the pertual destruction of the KINGS PERSON and FINALL SUBVERSION OF THIS REALM taking upon him * ROYALL POWER and gathering to him the Kings people in great number BY FALSE SVBTIL IMAGINED LANGVAGE and seditiously made a stirring Rebellion and insurrection under Colour of Justice for Reformation of the LAWS
just suits deprived of their lawfull Rights and subjected to his Tyrannicall will to their ruine and destruction Fourthly That he hath Trayterously endeavoured to corrupt the other Courts of Justice by advising and procuring his Maiesty to sell places of Judicature and other offices contrary to the Laws and Customes in that behalf Fifthly He hath Trayterously caused a Book of Canons to be compiled and published without any Lawfull warrant and authority in that behalf in which pretended Canons many matters are contained contrary to the Kings prerogitive to the Fundamentall Laws and statutes of this Realm to the Rights of Parliament to the property and Liberty of the subject and matters tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence and to the establishing of a vast unlawful presumptuous power in himself and his successors c. Seventhly That he hath trayterously endeavoured to alter subvert Gods true Religion BY LAW EST ABLISHED and instead thereof to set up Popish Religion and Idolatry And to that end hath declared and maintained in Speeches and printed Books divers popish doctrines and opinions contrary to the Articles of Religion ESTABLISHED BY LAW Hee hath urged and enjoyned divers popish and superstitious Ceremonies WITHOUT ANY WARRANT OF LAW and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same by corporal punishments and imprisonments and most unjustly vexed others who refused to conform thereunto by Ecclesiastical Censures Excommunication Suspension Deprivation and Degradation contrary to the Laws of this Kingdome 13. He did by his own authority and power contrary to Law procure sundry of his Majesties Subjects and enforced the Clergy of this Kingdome to contribute towards the maintenance of the war against the Scots That to preserve himselfe from being questioned for these and other his Trayterous Courses hee hath laboured to Subvert the Rights of Parliament and the ancient Course of parliamentary proceedings and by false and malicious slanders to incense His Majesty against Parliaments All which being proved against him at his Tryall were after solemn Argument by Mr. Samuel Brown in behalf of the Commons House proved and soon after adjudged to be High Treason at the Common Law by both Houses of Parliament and so declared in the Ordinance for his Attainder for which he was condemned and beheaded as a Traytor against the King Law and Kingdom on Tower-hil January 10. 1644. 11. In the a same Parliament December 21. Ian. 14 February 11. 1640. and Iuly 6. 1641. Sir John Finch then Lord Keeper chief Justice Bramston Judge Berkley Judgeâ—Crawley Chiefe Baron Davenport Baron Weston and Baron Turnour were accused and impeached by the House oâ— Commons by several articles transmitted to the Lords of High Treason for that they had Traitorously and wickedly endeavoured to subvert the Fundamentall Laws and established Government of the Realm of England and instead thereof to introduce an arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government against Law which they had declared by traiterous and wicked words opinions judgment and more especially in this their extrajudical opinion subcribed by them in the case of ship-money viz. We are of opinions that when the good and safety of the kingdome in general is concerned and the whole kingdome in danger your majesty may by wrâ—â— under the great Seal of england without consent in parliament command all your subjects of this your kingdome at their charge to provide and furnish such a number of ships with men victual and ammunition and for such time as your Majesty shall think fit for the defence and safeguard of the kingdome from such danger and peril and we are of opinion that in such case your Majesty is the sole Judge both of the danger and when and how the same is to be prevented and avoided and likewise for arguing and giving judgment accordingly in Master Iohn Hampdens case in the Exchequer Chamber in the point of ship money in April 1638. which said opinions are Destructive to the Fundamentall Laws of the Realm the subjects right of propriety and contrary to former Resolutions in parliament and the petition of right as the words of their several Impeachments run Sir John Finch fled the Realm to preserve his head on his shoulders some others of them died through fear to prevent the danger soon after their Impeachments and the rest put to Fines who were less peccant 12. Mr. Iohn Pim in his Declaration upon the whole matter of the Charge of High Treason against Thomas Earle of Stafford April 12. 1641. before a Committee of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster hall printed and published by order of the house of Commons proves his endeavour to subvert the fundamentall Law of England and to introduce an Arbitrary Power to be High Treason and an offence very hanious in the nature and mischievous in the effects thereof which saith he will best appear if it be examined by that universall and supream Law Salus Populi the element of all lawes out of which they are derived the end of all Lawes to which they are designed and in which they are perfected 1. It is an offence comprehending other all offences Here you shall finde severall Treasons Murthers Rapins Oppressions Perjuries There is in this Crime a Seminary of all evills hurtfull to a State and if you consider the Reasons of it it must needs be so The Law is that which puts a difference betwixt Good and Evill betwixt just and unjust If you take away the Law all things wiill fall into Confusion every man will become a law to himself which in the depraved condition of humane nature must needs produce many great enormities Lust will become a Law and Envy will become a Law Covetousnesse and Ambition will become Lawes and what Dictates what decisions such Lawes will produce may easily be discemed in the late Government of Ireland and England too since this The Law hath a power to prevent to restrain to repair evils without this all kinds of mischiefes and distempers will break it upon a State It is the Law that doth the King to the alegiance and Service of his people it intitles the people to the Portection and Justice of the King c. The Law is the Bondary the measure betwixt the Kings prerogative and the peoples liberty whiles these move in their own Orb they are a support and security to one another but if these Bounds be so removed that they enter into contestation and conflict one of these mischiefs must needs ensue If the Prerogative of the King overwhelme the liberty of the people it will be turned into Tyranny If liberty undermine the peprogative it will turne into Anarchy The Law is the safegard the custody of all private interests your honours your lives your liberties and estates are all in the keeping of the Law without this every man hath a like Right to any thing and this is the condition into which the Irish were brought by the Earle of Strafford and the English by
others who condemned him And the reason which he gave for it hath more mischiefe than the thing it selfe THEY ARE A CONQUERED NATION Let those who now say the same of England as well as Scotland and Ireland consider and observe what follows There cannot be a word more pregnant and fruitfull IN TREASON then that word is There are few Nations in the world that have not been conquered and no doubt but the Conquerour may give what Laws he please to those that are conquered But if the succeeding Acts and agreements do not limit restrain that Right what people can be secure England hath been conquered and Wales hath been conquered and by this reason will be in little better case then Ireland If the King by the Right of a Conquerour give Lawes to his people shall not the people by the same reason be restored to the Right of the conquered To recover their Liberty if they can What can be more hurtfull more pernicious than such Propositions as these 2. It is dangerous to the Kings Person and dangrous to his Crown It is apt to cherish Ambition usurpation and Oppression in great men and to beget Sedition Discontent in the people and both these have been and in reason must ever be causes of great Trouble and Alterations to Prince and State If the Histories of those Easterne Countries be perused where Princes order their Affaires according to the mischievous Principles of the Earle of Straffords LOOSE and ABSOLVED FROM ALL RULES OF GOVERNMENT they will be found to be frequent in combustions full of Massacres and of the tragicall end of Princes If any man shall look into our own Stories in the times when the Laws were most neglected he shall finde them full of Commotions of Civil Distempers whereby the Kings that then raigned were alwayes kept in want and distresse the people consumed with CIVILL WARRES and by such wicked Counsels as these some of our Princes have been brought to such miserable ends As * no honest heart can remember without horror and earnest Prayer that it may never be so again 3. As it is dangerous to the Kings person and Crown so it is in other respects very prejudiciall to His Majesty in honour profit and greatnesse which he there proves at large as you may there read at leasure and yet these are the Guildings and Paintings that are put upon such Counsells These are for your Honour for your Service 4. It is inconsistent with the Peace the Wealth the Prosperity of a Nation It is destructive to Justice the Mother of Peace to Industry the Spring of Wealth to Valour which is the active vertue whereby the prosperity of a Nation can onely be procured confirmed and enlarged It is not onely apt to take away Peace and so intangle the Nation with warres but doth corrupt Peace and powres such a malignity into it as produceth the effects of Warre both to the * NOBILITY and others having as little Security of THEIR PERSONS OR ESTATES in this peaceable time as if the Kingdome had beene under the fury and rage of Warre And as for Industry and Valour who will take paines for that which when he hath gotten is not his own or who fights for that wherein he hath no other interest but such as is subject to the will of another c. Shall it be Treason to embase the Kings Coine though but a piece of twelve pence or six pence and must it not needs be the effect of GREATER TREASON to * embase the Spirits of his Subjects and to set a stamp and Character of Servitude upon them whereby they shall be disabled to do any thing for the Service of the King or Common wealth 5. In times of sudden danger by the Invasion of an enemy it will disable his Majesty to preserve himself and His Subjects from that danger When Warre threatens a Kingdome by the comming of a forreign enemy it is no time then to discontent the people to make them weary of the PRESENT GOVERNMENT and more inclinable to a change The Supplies which are to come in this way will be unready uncertain there can be no assurance of them no dependence upon them either for time or proportion And if some money be gotten in such a way the Distractions the Divisions Distempers which this cause is apt to produce will be more prejudiciall to the publick safty than the Supply can be advantageous to it 6. This crime is contrary to the Pact and Covenant between the King and his people by mutall agreement and stipulation confirmed by OATH on both sides 7. It is an Offence that is contrary to the ends of Government 1. To prevent Oppressions to * limit and restraeine the excessive power and violence of great Men to open passages of Justice with indifference towards all 2. To preserve men in their Estates to secure them in their Lives and Liberties 3. That vertue should be cherished and vice suppressâ—d but where Laws are subverted and arbitrary and unlimited power set up a way is open not onely for the security but for the Advancement and Incouragement of evill Such men as are * aptest for the execution and maintenance of this power are onely capable of Preferment and others will not be Instruments of any unjust commands who make conscience to doe any thing against the Law of the Kingdome and Libbeties of the Subject are not only not passable for imployment but SUBJECT TO MUCH JEALOUSY and DANGER Is not this their condition of late and present times expertus quor 4. That all Accidents and events all Counsels and Designs should be improved to the publick good But this arbitrary power is apt to dispose all to the maintenance of it self And is it not so now 8. The Treasons of Subversions of the Lawes violation of liberties can never be good or justifiable by any circumstance or occasion being evil in their own nature how specious or good so ever they be pretended He alledgeth it was a time of GREAT NECESSITY and DANGER when such Counsels were necessary FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE STATE the Plea since and now used by others who condemned him If there were any NECESSITY IT WAS OF HIS OWN MAKING He by his evill Counsel had brought the King as others the Kingdome since into a necessity and by no Rules of Justice can be allowed to gain this advantage to his Justification which is a GREAT PART OF HIS OFFENCE 9. As this is Treason in the nature of it so it doth exceed all other Treasons in this that in the Designe and endeavour of the Authour it was to be A CONSTANT and PERMANENT TREASON a standing perpetuall Treason which would have been in continuall Act not determined within one Time or Age but transmitted to Posterity even from Generation to Generation And are not others Treasons of late times such proclaimed such in and by their owne Printed Papers and therein
Et nullo contradicente is was declared TO BE JUST AND ACCORDING TO THE LAW and that the * same Judgement may be given in time to come upon the like occasion This case is in point That it is death for any Judge wittingly to break his oath in any part of it This oath of Thorp is entred in the Roll and is the same verbatim with the Judges Oath in 18 E. 3. and is the same which the Judges now take And let those who have taken the same Oath remember and apply this President lest others do it for them Your Lordships will give me leave to observe the differences between that and the case in question 1. That of Thorp was only a selling of the Law by Retail to those five persons for he had five severall bribes of these five persons the Passage of the Law to the rest of the Subjects for ought appears was free and open But these Opinions are a conveyance of the Law by wholesale and that not to but from the Subject 2. In that of Thorp as to those five persons it was not an absolute denâ—all of Justice it was not a damming up but a straightning only of the Chanel For whereas the Judges ought Judicium reddere that is the Laws being THE BIRTHRIGHT and INHERITANCE OF THE SVBJECT the Judge when the parties in suit demand Judgment should reâ— dare freely restore the Right unto them now he doth not dare but vendere with hazard only of perverting Justice for the party that buyes the Judgement may have a good and honest cause But these Opinions besides that they have cost the Subjects very dear dearer then any nay I think I may truly say then all the unjust Judgements that ever have been given in this Realm witnesse the many hundred thousand pounds which under colour of them have been levied upon the Subjects amounting to * seven hundred thousand pounds and upwards that have been paid unto the Treasurer of the Navy in sundry years besides what the Subjects have been forced to pay Sheriffes Sheriffes-Bayliffes and now an hundred times more to Troopers and Souldiers who forcibly levy their unlawfull Contributions and Excises and otherwise which altogether as is conceived amounts not to lesse then a million in five years space whereas now we pay above two Millions in Taxes Imposts Excises every year besides the infinite vexations of the Subject by suits in Law binding them over attendance at the Councel Table taking them from their necessary imployments in making Sesses and Collections and imprisonment of their persons all now trebled to what then I say besides what is past to make our miseries compleat they have as much as in them is MADE THEM ENDLESSE as others since have done for by these Opinions they have put vpon themselves and their Successors An impossibility of ever doing us right again and an incapacity upon us of demanding it so long as they continue as the Compilers of the late Instrument with 42. Strings intituled The Government of the Common-wealth of England c. Artic. 1 2 3 9 10 12 22 24 25 26 27 28 31 32 36 37 38 39. have done as far as they and much beyond them In that sore famine in the Land of Egypt when the inhabitants were reduced to the next door to death for there they say why should we die for bread First they give their mony next their flocks and Cattle last of all their persons and Lands for bread all became Pharaohs but by this Lex Regia there is a transaction made not only of our persons but of our bread likewise wherewith our persons should be sustained that was for bread this of our bread For since these Opinions if we have any thing at all we are not at all beholding TO THE LAW FOR IT but are wholly cast UPON THE MERCY and GOODNESSE OF THE KING Again there the Egyptians themselves sold themselves and all they had to the King if ours had been so done if it had been so done by our own free consent in Parliament we had the lesse cause to complain But it was done against our wills and by those who were trusted and that upon Oath with the preservation of these things for us The Lawes are our Forts and Bulwarks of Defence If the Captain of a Castle only out of fear and Cowardize and not from any Compliance with the enemy surrender it This is TREASON as was adjudged in Parliament 1 R. 2. in the two Cases of Comines and Weston and in the Case of the Lord Gray for surrendring Barwick Castle to the Scots in Edward the thirds time though good defence had been made by him and that he had lost his eldest son in maintenance of the Siege and yet the losse of a Castle Ioseph not the Kingdome only the place and adjacent parts with trouble to the whole But by the Opinions there is a Surrender made of all our Legall defence of Property that which hath been preacht is now judged that there is no Meum Tuum between the King and people besides that which concerns our Persons The Law is the Temple the Sanctuary whether Subjects out to run for shelter and Refuge hereby it is become Templum sine numine as was the Temple built by the Roman Emperour who after he had built it put no gods into it We have the Letter of the Law still but not the sense we have the Fabrick of the Temple still but the Dii Tutelares are gone But this is not all the Case that is That the Law now ceaseth to aide and defend us in our Rights for then possession alone were a good Title if there were no Law to take it away Occupanti concederetur melior esset Possidentis conditio But this though too bad is not the worst for besides that which is Privitive in these Opinions there is somewhat positive For now the Law doth not only not defend us but the Law it self by temporising Judges and Lawyers is made the Instrument of taking all away For whensoever his Majesty or his Successors shall be pleased to say that the good and safety of the Kingdome is concerned and that the whole Kingdome is in danger the when and how the same is to be prevented makes our persons and all we have liable to bare will and Pleasure By this means The Sanctuary is turned into a Shambles the Forts are sleighted that so they might neither do us good nor hurt But they are held against us by those who ought to have held them for us and the mouth of our own Canon is turned upon our own selves and that by our own military Officers Souldiers and others since as well as the Ship money Judges then Thus farre Mr. Oliver St. John by the Commons Order whose words I thought fit thus to transcribe at large because not only most pertinent but seasonable for the present times wherein as in a Looking Glasse some pretended Judges
Judgements and Authorities in all ages undeniably evidencing declaring vindicating establishing perpetuating these Fundamental Hereditary Rights Liberties Priviledges Franchises Customs Laws and abundantly manifesting the extraordinary care industry zeal courage wisdom vigilancy of our Ancestors to defend preserve and perpetuate them to posterity without the least violation or diminution 4. I shall vindicate the exellencie indifferencie and legality of trying all Malefactors whatsoever by Juries of their peers upon legal Processe and Indictments and manifest the illegality injustice partiality dangerous consequences of admitting or introducing any other form of Trials by New Arbitrary Martial Commissions or Courts of High Justice or rather * Injustice inconsistent with and destructive to the Fundamental Rights Liberties Priviledges Laws Franchises of the English Nation and of most dangerous President to Posterity being set up by the greatest Pretenders to Publike Liberty Law and the chiefest inveighers against Arbitrary Regal Tyranny and Power which never publikely established them by any Law and may fall to imitate them in future Ages Each of these I intend to prosecute in distinct Chapters in their order For the first of these That the Kingdome and Free-men of England have some Ancient Hereditary Right Liberties Priviledges Franchises Laws and Customs properly called FVNDAMENTAL and likewise a FVNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT no wayes to be altâ—red undermined subvertâ—d directly or indirectly under pain of Highâ—treason in those who shall attempt it especially by fraud force or armed power I shall confirm the first part of it by these ensuing punctual Authorities of moment against those a traytorous late-published Pamphlets which professedly deny it and endeavour a total abrogation of all former Laws to set up a New Model and Body of the Law to rule us for the future according to their Pleasures The first is the expresse words of the Great Charters of the Liberties of England granted by b King John Anno 1215. in the 17 yeer of his Reign regranted and confirmed by King Henry the third in the ninth yeer of his Reign and sundry times afterwards and by King Edward the first in the 25 and 28 yeers of his Raign wherein these three Kings successively by their several Grand Charters under their Great Seals did grant give and confirm to all the Free-men of the Realm of England FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR HEIRS FOR EVER the Customs Libertiâ—s therein contained TO HAVE AND TO HOLD THEM TO THEM AND THEIR HEIRS FROM THEM AND THEIR HEâ—RS FOR EVER Concluding their Charters thus All these Customs and Liberties aforesaid which we have granted to be holden within this our Realm as much as appertaineth TO US AND OUR HEIRS WE SHALL OBSERVE And ALL MEN OF THIS OUR REALM AS WELL SPIRITUALL AS TEMPORALL as much as in them is shall observe the same against all persons in likewise And we have granted unto them THAT NEITHER WE NOR OUR HEIRES SHALL PROCURE OR DO ANY THING WHEREBY THE LIBERTIES IN THESE CHARTERS CONTAINED SHALL BE INFRINGED OR BROKEN We â—atifying and approving these Gifts and Graunts aforesaid CONFIRM and CORROBORATE ALL THE SAME FOR US AND OUR HEIRS PERPETUALLY and by these Presents as the later Charters run do renew the same Willing and Granting FOR US AND OUR HEIRS THAT THESE CHARTERS AND ALL AND SINGULAR THEIR ARTICLES FOR EVER SHALL BE STEDFASTLY FIRMLY AND INVIOLASLY OBSERVED Sir Edward Cook that reverend learned Judge and Professor of our Laws in his preface to his second Institutes and p. 2. and 77. thereof wherein he comments on this Great Charter printed by two Orders of the House of Commons in Parliament dated 12 Maii. 1641. and 30 Junii 1642. resolves in direct terms That the Great Charter was for the most part declaratory of the Principal Grounds of THE FVNDAMENTAL LAWS OF ENGLAND That these words therein for as and our heirs for ever were added to avoid all scruples THAT THIS GREAT PARLIAMENTARY CHARTER MIGHT LIVE AND TAKE EFFECT IN ALL SUCCESSIONS OF AGES FOR EVER A clear Resolution that the principal Liberties Customs Laws contained in these Great Charters and ratified by them are both Fundamental perpetual and unalitrable being since confirmed in all points by neer fourty several special Acts of Parliament in succeeding Parliaments and likewise by the Solemn Oathes of our Kings Nobles Judges Great Officers and of the People too all severall times sworn to defend and maintaine the same and by sundry Solomn Excommunications against the onfringers or contemners of them in any kind as I shall prove more fully in the third Chapter The second is the punctuall Resolution of the whole Parliament of 1 Jacobi even in a printed act of Parliament chap. 2. and of King James himself in his speech therein as is evident by this Prologue to that act Whereas his most excellent Majestie hath been pleased out of his great wisdome and judgment not onely to represent unto us by his own prudent and Princely Speech on the first day of this Parliament how much he desired in regard of his inward and gratious affection to both the famous and ancient Realms of England and Scotland now united in allegiance and by all subjection IN HIS ROYAL PERSON TO HIS MAJESTY AND HIS POSTERITY FOR EVER that by a speedy mature and sound Deliberation such a future Vnion might follow as should make perfect that mutual love and uniformity of Maners and Customs which Almighty God in his providence for the strength and safety of both Realms hath so far already begun inâ— pparent sight of all the world but also hath vouchsafed to expresse many ways how far it is and EVER SHALL BE from his Royal and sincere care and affection to the Subjects of England TO ALTER OR INNOVATE the FUNDAMENTAL and ANCIENT LAWS PRIVILEGES and GOOD CUSTOMS OF THIS KINGDOM whereby not only HIS ROYAL AUTHORITY but THE PEOPLES SECURITY OF LANDS LIVINGS and PRIVILEGES â—oth in generall and particular are PRESERVED and MAINTAINED and BY THE ABOLISHING OR ALTERATION OF THE WHICH IT is IMPOSSIBLE BUT that PRESENT CONFUSION WIL FALL UPON the WHOLE STATE and FRAME OF THIS KINGDOM c. In which memorable Clause these four things are observable 1. That the Kingdom and People of England have Fundamental ancient good Laws Privileges and Customs 2. That these are no ways to be altered or innovated and that it always hath been is and ever shall be far from the thoughts and intents of all good Kings Governours and Parliaments who bear a sincere care and affection to the subjects of England to alter or innovate them 3. That by these ancient good Laws Privileges and Customs not onely the Kings Regal authority but the peoples security of Lands Livings and Privileges both in general and particular are preserved and maintained 4. That by the abolishing or altering of them it is impossible but that present confusion will fall upon the whole State and frame of this Kingdome Which I wish all Innovators and New Modellers of our Laws
established by a Law consented to by your Majesty is in effect denied to be a Parliament c. And hereupon we think our selves bound to let your Majesty know That since the * continuance of this Parliament is setled by a Law which as all other Laws of your Kingdom your Majesty is sworn to maintain as we are sworn to our Allegiance to your Majesty these Obligations being reciprocal we must in duty and accordingly are resolved with our lives and fortunes to defend and preserve the just Rights and full Power of this Parliament To which the Earl of Essex then General by both Houses direction in his Letter to the Earl of Forth Jan. 30. 1643. adds this Corollary My Lord the maintenance of the Parliament of England and the Priviledges thereof is that for which we are all resolved to spend our bloud as being THE FOUNDATION WHEREON ALL OUR LAWS and LIBERTIES ARE BUILT Which both the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament in their Declaration of 23. Martii 1643. touching their proceedings upon his Majesties Letter concerning a Treaty of Peace wherein this Earls former Letter is recited thus second The Parliament of England is the only Basis the chief Support and Pillar of our Laws and Liberties c. And if notwithstanding all these Obligations the King shall * at his pleasure dissolve this Parliament the Kingdom is not only deprived of the present but made uncapable of enjoying the benefit of any future Parliament or Laws any longer then shall stand with the will and pleasure of the King and consequently THE FUNDAMENTALS OF ALL OUR LAWS GOVERNMENT ARE SUBVERTED Let the Parliament-dissolving officers Army and their Confederates seriously ponder this with all who shall hereafter sit in Parliament consider it in the first place The eleventh is the a Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament 13. Junii 1644. for the Forces raised in the County of Salop which begins thus The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament taking into their serious considerations the great oppressions under which the Inhabitants of the County of Salop by reason of insupportable Taxes c. and the present condition of the County by reason of the great number of Irish Rebels that have invaded it and joyned with Papists and other ill-affected persons now in those parts doth threaten the extirpation of the Protestant Religion and the subversion of the FUNDAMENTAL LAWS and GOVERNMENT of the Kingdom For prevention whereof c. The twelfth is b A Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament 17 Aprilis 1646. of their true intentions concerning the ANCIENT FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM securing the people against ALL ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT c. wherein they complain that the Enemy being in despair to accomplish his designs by War do misrepresent our intentions in the use we intended to make of the great Successes God hath given us and the happie opportunity to settle Peace and truth in the three Kingdoms to beget a belief that we now desire to exceed or swerve from our first Aims and Principles in the Undertaking of this War and to recede from the Solemn League and Covenant and Treaties between the two Kingdoms and that we would prolong these uncomfortable troubles and bleeding Distractions IN * ORDER TO ALTER THE FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTION FRAME OF THIS KINGDOM to leave all Government in the Church loose and unsetled and our selves to exercise THE SAME ARBITRARY POWER OVER THE PERSONS ESTATES OF THE SUBJECTS which this present Parliament hath thought fit to abolish by taking away the Star-Chamber High Commission and other Arbitrary Courts and the exorbitant Power of the Councel Table all which we have seen since experimentally verified in every particular in the highest degree notwithstanding this Declaration by some in late and present Power notwithstanding this Publication All which being seriously considered by us c. We do declare THAT OUR TRUE REAL INTENTIONS ARE OUR ENDEAVOR SHALL BE to settle Religion in the purity thereof * TO MAINTAIN THE ANCIENT FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM TO PRESERVE THE RIGHTS LIBERTIES OF THE SUBJECT to lay hold on the first opportunity of procuring a safe and well-grounded Peace in the three Kingdoms and to keep a good understanding between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland according to the grounds expressed in the Solemn League and Covenant And lest these Generals should not give a sufficient satisfaction we have thought fit to the end men might no longer be abused in a misbelief of our intentions or a misunderstanding of our actions to make this further enlargement upon the particulars And first concerning Church-Government c. because we cannot consent to the granting of an Arbitrary and unlimited Power and Jurisdiction to neer ten thousand Judicatories to be erected within this Kingdom and this demanded in such a way as is not consistent with THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS GOVERNMENT OF THE SAME c. our full Resolutions still are sincerely really and constantly to endeavour the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of ENGLAND IRELAND in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and according to the Covenant WE ARE * SO FAR FROM ALTERING THE FUNDAMENTAL GOVERNMENT OF THIS KINGDOM BY KING LORDS COMMONS That we have only desired that with the consent of the King such Power may be setled in the TWO HOUSES without which we can have no assurance but that the like or greater mischiefs then those which God â—ath hitherto delivered us from may break out again and engage us in a second and more destructâ— ve War whereby it plainly appears OUR INTENTIONS ARE NOT TO CHANGE THE ANCIENT FRAME OF GOVERNMENT WITHIN THIS KINGDOM but to obtain the end of the Primitive Institution of all Government THE SAFETY WEAL OF THE PEOPLE not judging it wise or safe after so bitter experience of the bloudy Consequences of a * pretended Power of the Militia in the King to leave any colourable authoâ—ity in the same for the future attempts of introducing AN ARBITRARY GOVERNMENT OVER THIS NATION We do declare That we will not nor any by colour of any Authority derived from us shall interrupt the †ordinary course of Justice in the several Courts and Judicatories of this Kingdom nor intermeddle in cases of private interest otherwhere determinable unless it be in case of Male-Administration of Justice wherein we shall see and provide that Right be done and punishment inflicted as there shall be occasion ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM Lastly Whereas both Nations have entred into a Solemn League and Covenant we have and EVER SHAL BE VERY CAREFUL DULY TO OBSERVE THE SAME That as nothing hath been done SO NOTHING SHALL BE DONE BY US REPUGNANT TO THE TRUE MEANING AND INTENTION THEREOF c. WHO WILL NOT DEPART FROM THOSE GROUNDS
of the said KING robbing slaying spoiling a great part of his faithfull People Our said Soveraign Lord the King considering the promises with many other which were more odious to remember by advice and assent of the LORDS Spirituall and Temporall and at THE REQVEST OF THE COMMONS and by authority aforesaid hath ordained and established that the said Iohn Cade shal be had named and declared a false Traytor to cur said Soveraign Lord the King and that all His Tyranny Acts Facts false Opinions shall be voyded abated adnulled destroyed and put out of remembrance for ever And that all indictments in time coming in like case under power of Tyranny Rebellion and stirring had shall be of no regard nor effect but void in Law and all the petitions * delivered to the said King in his last Parliament holden at Westminster the sixth day of November the 29 of his Reign against his mind by him not agreed shall be taken and put in oblivion out of remembrance undone voided adnulled and destroyed for ever as a thing purposed against God and his Couscience and against his royall estate and preheminence and also dishonourable and unreasonable 5. In the a 8 year of King Henry the 8. William Bell and Thomas Lacy in the County or Kent conspired with Thomas Cheyney the Hermite of the Queen of Fairies TO OVERTHROW THE LAWS AND CVSTOMS OF THE REALM for effecting whereof they with 200. more met together and concluded upon a cause or raising greater forces in Kent and the adjacent shires this was adiudged high treason and some of them executed as traytors Moreover it b was resolved by all the Judges of in the reign of Henry S. that an Insurrection against the Statute of Labourers or for the inhansing of salaries and wages was Treason a levying war against the King Because it was generally against the KINGS LAW and the Offenders tooke upon them the REFORMATION thereof which Subjects by gathering of power ought not to do 6. On a December 1. in the 21. yeer of King Henry the 8. Sir Thomas Moor Lord Chancellor of England with 14. more Lords of the Privy Councel Iohn Fitz Iames Chief Justice of England and Sir Anthony Fitzherbert one of the Judges of the Common Pleas exhibited sundry Articles of Impeachment to King Henry the 8. against Cardinall Wolsy That he had by divers and many sundry ways and fashions committed High Treason and notable grievous offences misusing altering and subverting the order of his Graces Laws and otherwise contrary to his high Honour Prerogative Crown Estate and Dignity Royall to the inestimable great hinderance dimunition and decay of the universal Wealth of this his Graces Realm The Articles are 43. in number The 20 21 26 30 35 47 42 43. contain his illegal arbitrary practices and proceedings to the subversion of the due course and order of his Graces Laws to the undoing of a great number of his loving people Whereupon they pray Please therefore your most excellent Majesty of your excellent goodness towards the Weal of this your Realm and Subjects of the same to see such order and direction upon the said Lord Cardinal as may bee to terrible example of others to beware to offend your Grace and your Lawes hereafter And that he be so provided for that he never have any power jurisdiction or authority hereafter to trouble vex or impoverish the Commonwealth of this your Realm as he hath done heretofore to the great hurt and dammage of every man almost high and low His * poysoning himself prevented his Iudgment for these his practises 7. The b Statute of 1. Marieâ— 12. Enacts that if 12. or more shall endeavour by force to alter any of the laws or statutes of the Kingdome the offender shall from the time therein limited be adjudged ONELY AS A FELON whereas it was Treason before but this act continuing but till the next Parliament and then expiring the offence remains Treason as before 8. In the a 39. of Queen Elizabeth divers in the County of Oxford consulted together to go from house to house in that County and from thence to London and other parts to excite them to take arms for the throwing down of inclosures throughout the Realm nothing more was prosecuted nor assemblies made yet in Easter Term 39. Elizabeth it was resolved by all the Judges of England who met about the case That this was High Treason and a levying Warre against the Queen because it was to throw down all inclosures throughout the Kingdome to which they could pretend no right and that the end of it was to overthrow the Laws and Statutes for Inclosures Whereupon BRADSHAW and BVRTON two of the principall offenders were condemned and executed at Aicâ—ston Hill in Oxfordshire where they intended their first meeting 9. To come nearer to our present times and case In the last Parliament of King Charls Anno 16â—0 1641 b The whole House of Commons impeached Thomas Earle of Stafford Lord Deputy of Ireland of high Treason amongst other Articles for this crime especially wherein all the other centred that he Treasonably endeavoured by his Words actions and Counsels to subvert the Fundamentall Lawes of ENGLAND and IRELAND and introduce an arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government This the whole parliament declared and adjudged to be High treason c in and by their votes and a speciall act of parliament for his attainder for which he was condemned and soon after executed on Tower Hill as a traytor to the King and Kingdome May 2â— 1641. 10. The whole House of Commonâ— the same Parliament impeached William Lâ—â—d archbishop of Canterbury of HIGH TREASON in these 〈…〉 1646. First that he hath traytorously endeavoured 〈…〉 Fundamental Lawes and Government of this Kingdome of England and instead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law And hee to that end hath wickedly and Traiterously advised his Majesty that hee might at his own will and pleasure levy and take Money of his Subjects without their consent in parliament and this hee affirmed was warrantable by the Law of God Secondly He hath for the better accomplishment of that his Trayterous design advised and procured Sermons and other Discourses to be preached printed and published in which the authority of parliaments and the force of the Laws of this Kingdome have been denyed and absolute and unlimited power over the persons and estates of his Majesties Subjects maintained and defended not onely in the King but in himself and other Bishops against the Law Thirdly he hath by Letters Messages Threats and promises and by divers other ways to Judges and other Ministers of Justice interrupted perverted and at other times by means aforesaid hath endeavoured to interrupt and pervert the course of Justice in his Majesties Courts at Westminster and other Courts to the subversion of the LAWES of this KINGDOME whereby sundry of his Majesties Subjects have been stopt in their
upon all or any of the Freemen of England by reason of any pretended or reall Danger Necessity or other pretext by the Kings of England or any other Powers but onely with and by their common consent and Grant in a free and lawfull Parliament duly summoned and elected Except onely such ancient legall Ayds as they are specially obliged to render by their Tenures Charters Contracts and the Common Law of England 2. That no Freeman of England ought to be arrested confined imprisoned in any private Castles or remote unusuall Prisons under Souldiers or other Guardians but onely in usuall or Common Gaols under sworn responsible Gaolers in the County where he lives or is apprehended and where his Friends may freely visit and relieve him with necessaries And that onely for some just and legall cause expressed in the Writ Warrant or Processe by which he is arreâ—â—ed or imprisoned which ought to be legally executed by known legal responsible sworn Officers of Justice not unknown military Officers Troopers or other illegall Catchpols That no such Freeman ought to be denied bail Mainprise or the benefit of an Habeas Corpus or any other Legal Writ for his enlargement when bailable or incumpernable by Law nor to be detained prisoner for any reall or pretended Crime not bailable by Law then untill the next Generall or Speciall Gaol-delivery held in the County where he is imprisoned where he ought to be legally tried and proceeded against or else enlarged by the Justices without deniall or delay of Right and Justice And that no such Freeman may or ought to be outlawed exiled condemned to any kind of corporall punishment losse of Life or Member or otherwise destroyed or passed upon but onely by due and lawfull Processe Indictment and the lawfull Triall Verdict and Judgment of his Peers according to the good old Law of the land in some usuall Court of Publick Justice not by and in a new illegall Military or other Arbitrary Judicatories Committees or Courts of High Justice unknown to our Ancestors 3. That no Freeman of England unlesse it be by Speciall Grant and Act of Parliament may or ought to be compelled enforced pressed or arrayed to go forth of his own Countrey much lesse out of the Realm into forreign parts against his will in times of Warre or Peace or except he be specially obliged thereto by ancient Tenures and Charters save onely upon the sudden coming of strang enemies into the Realm and then he is to array himself onely in such sort as he is bound to do by the ancient Laws and Customs of the Kingdome still in force 4. That no Freeman of England may or ought to be disinherited disseised dispossed or deprived of any inheritance Freehold liberty Custome Franchise Chattle Goods whatsoeuer without his own Gift Grant or free Consent unlesse it be by lawfull Processe Triall and Judgment of his Peers or speciall Grant by act of Parliament 5. That the old received Government Laws Statutes Customes Priviledges Courts of Justice legall Processe of the Kingdome and Crown ought not to be altered repealed suppressed nor any new from of Government Law Statute Ordinance Court of Judicature Writs or legall Proceedings instituted or imposed on all or any of the Free men of England by any Person or Persons but onely in and by the Kingdomes free and full Consent in a lawfull Parliament wherein the Legislative Power solely resides 6. That Parliaments ought to be duly summoned and held for the good and safety of the Kingdome every year or every three years at least or so often as there is just occasion That the Election of all Knights Citizens and Burgesses to sit and serve in Parliament and so of all other Elective Officers ought to be free That all Members of Parliament hereditary or Elective ought to be present and there freely to speak and vote according to their judgements and Consciences without any over-awing Guards to terrifie them and none to be forced or secluded thence And that all Parliaments not thus duly summoned elected whilst held but unduly packed and all Acts of Parliament fraudulently and forcibly procured by indirect means ought to be nulled repealed as void and of dangerous president 7. That neither the Kings nor any Subjects of the Kingdome of England may or ought to be summoned before any Forreign Powers or Jurisdictions whatsoever out of the Realm or within the same for any manner of Right Inheritance Thing belonging to them or Offence done by them within the Realm 8. That all Subjects of the Realm are obliged by Allegiance and duty to defend their Lawfull Kings Persons Crowns the Laws Rights and Priviledges of the Realm and of Parliament against all Usurpers Traytors violence and Conspiracies And that no Subject of this Realm who according to his duty and Allegiance shall serve his King in his Warres for the just defence of him and the Land against Forreign enemies or Rebels shall lose or forfeit any thing for doing his true duty service and Allegiance to him therein but utterly discharged of all vexation trouble or losse 9. That no publick Warre by Land or Sea ought to be made or levied with or against any Forreign Nation or Publick Truce or League entred into with Forreign Realms or States to bind the Nation without their Common advice and consent in Parliament 10. That the ancient Honours Manors Lands Rents Revenues Inheritances Right and perquisites of the Crown of England originally settled thereon for the Ease Exemption of the people from all kind of Taxâ—s payments whatsoever unlesse in cases of extraordinary necessity and for defraying all the consant ordinary expences of the Kingdome as the expences of the Kings houshold Court Officers Judges Embassadors Garisons Navy and the like ought not to be sold alienated given away or granted from it to the prejudice of the Crown and burdening of the people And that all Sales Alie nations Gifts or Grants thereof to the empairing of the publick Revenue or prejudice of the Crown and people are void in Law and ought to be resumed and repealed by our Parliaments and Kings as they have frequently been in all former ages For the Readers fuller satisfaction in each of these propositions some of which I must shew here but briefly touch for brevity sake having elsewhere fully debated them in print I shall specially recommend unto him the perusall of such Tracates and Arguments formerly published wherein each of them hath been fully discussed which he may peruse at his best leasure The first of these Fundamentalls which I intend principally to insist on is fully asserted debated confirmed by 13. H. 4. f. 14. By Fortesâ—ue Lord Chief Justice and Chancellour of England de laudibus Legum Angliae dedicated by him to King Henry the 6 f. 25. c. 36. f. 8â— By a learned and necessary Argument against impositions in Parliament of 7. Jacobi by a late Reverend Judge printed at London 1641. By Mr. William Hakewell in his