as I have formerly mentioned in the Epistle to my Plea for the Lords my Preface to an Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower and in a printed Title three year since by which I endeavoured to promote it which would supply all the three precedent Defects The 4. is the great lack of diligent faithfull Collections and Publications of all the choicest Records Proclamations Writs Letters Charters Patents Commissions c. in the Tower or elsewhere which concern the Liberties and Properties of the Subject The just antient Duties Customs Revenues Jurisdictions of the Kings and Crown of England in times of Warre and peace the Coin Merchandize Manufactures Trade Government Navy Forts Militia of England and Ireland and the Negotiations Leagues Treaties with forein States or at leastwise the want of an Exact Table Repertory to them whereby they might be readily found out and made uâ—e of upon all emergent occasions The 5. is a Compleat Register or Kalendar of all Parliamentary Writs extant in our Records which those who have formerly written Discourses touching our English Parliaments were either totally ignorant of or not well acquainted with or else took no care or pains at all to communicate to others though the very foundations of all our Parliaments and their proceedings The omission or ignorance whereof hath made most of their Treatises of this subject very imperfect unsatisfactory and full of gross misprisions which pass for current Truths It seemed very strange and monstrous to me that none of our Kings Parliaments Great Officers of State Nobles but especially none of our reverend Iudges learned Lawyeâ—s nor any of the Mâ—sters of the Rolls to whose beneficial Office care diligence it most propeâ—ly appertained in so large a tract of time since Printing first grew common have not hitherto put to their own helping hands nor incouraged others by Honorary Salaries to supply these deplâ—rable prejudicial Defects especially the 3. first which so much concern the publike Government Justice Honor welfare Laws Interest of the whole English Nation when as forein Kings Parliaments Statesmen Lawyers Advocates especially in France Spain Germany Denmark have been very diligent and laborious in later ages in searching out transcribing publishing to posterity all the Antiquities Records Councils Parliaments Laws Edicts Ordinances Histories Transactions of thâ—ir Predecessors and encouraged their learnedest Scholars by great Offices Honors Salaries and bountiful rewards to collections and publications of this Nature to their eternal honor VVhereupon I endeavoured the last long Parliament by an Epistle to the Lords to excite them to contribute their best assistance towards the speedy Publication of all our Parliamentary Rolls and Records profering my best endeavors to promote it but I neither then nor since received the least incouragement from them or others towards this beneficial publike undertaking from which soon after I was both discouraged and disabled by near 3. years close Imprisonment in 3. remote Castles under armed strictest guards by Mr. Iohn Bradshaws and his Whitehall Associates warrant without any accusation hearing or particular cause either then or since expressed of purpose to debarr me from publishing any thing of this Nature or against their New Tyrannical usurpations transcending all in former ages After my enlargement from these 3. years expensive as well as tedious restraints superadded to my former Imprisonments and Losses under the Prelates and Army-Officers I endeavored to revive this Heroick work and to encourage all publike-Spirited Noblemen Gentlemen Lawyers to promote it both by the publication of many unknown rare Records in the second Part of my Demurrer to the Iews long discontinued Remitter into England and Discoveries therein of the Vsefulness and excellency of our Records in general and of those relating to our Parliaments Laws Liberties Properties in particular Since which by a printed Paper I proposed a way how in what manner and by what time this usefull Design might probably be effected with no loss at all but certain gain to those who should contribute only 10 〈◊〉 a piece towards it for a year or two at most and should then certainly receive their principal again together with Books in the interval amounting to treble the interest which though some of my friends to whom I communicated these papers highly approved of seeming forwards to contribute towards it yet I found such a general lukewarâ—nness or rather absolute coldness in others really to advance it as caused me totally to desist from any further prosecution thereof Whereupon to supply those defects in some degree as much as in me lay I did with no little pains and cost upon my own private account alone without the least assistance contribution from any others collect compile print and publish to the world in the 3. First Parts of my Seasonable Historical Vindication and Chronological Collection of the good old Fundamental Liberties Rights Franchises Laws 〈◊〉 all English Freemen an Exquisite Epitome of all the Parliamentary Councils Synods and State-assemblies held within our Realms upon several Occasions extant in our Historians from the Britons first arival therein till the Coronation of King William the first Anno 1066. conteining the space of 2390. years Which though very usefull seasonable profitable containing sundry rarities in them were looked upon by most men with contempt like old Almanacks Clothes or Fashions quite out of dâ—te whence most of them lye moulding in Warehouses for want of sale After which in pursute of these beginnings I freely contributed my labors to the publishing of Aâ—â—xact Abridgment of the Parliâ—ment Rolls and Records in the Tower of London from King Edward the 2. till 1 R. 3. rectifying sundry mistakes supplying divers defects therein adorning it with a necessary Preface usefull Tables and Marginal Notes without which it had been in a manner altogether useless Since which I much enlarged and reprinted â—pon my own Account alone for want of assistance by others my Plea for the Lords and House of Peers Wherein I have communicated to the world out of Records and Histories more Presidents knowledge touching the Judicature Jurisdiction and Proceedings of our Great Councils and Parliaments in former ages and more fully vindicated the just antient Privilege and Hereditary right of the Lords and Barons of this Realm to sit vote judge in all our English Parliaments than any others have done in former ages without the least incouragement ayde or retribution from any of their Lordships notwithstanding my manifold sufferings by from and under some of them and their ancesters heretofore both in person and estate without the smallest voted recompence These last publications together with my Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms my Historical Collection of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England and new published Argument of the Case of the Lord Magwire having in some measure though not so fully as I desire supplied the 4. first premised Deâ—ects I have endeavored by this presentâ— Brief Registâ—◠〈◊〉 and Survey of the sâ—veral 〈…〉 the
one general Councill in 32 E. 3. d. 14. 5ly That after King Edward the 3d. his reigne there is not one president of any Archbishop Bishop Abbot Prior or religious persons summoned to any Parliament to my remembrance but only of those who held by Barony and were constantly summoned as Spiritual Peers to all our Parliaments And very few Presidents if any of a Knight Gentleman or other Layman whatsoever summoned by any general Writs to the Lords House to treat and consult together with them unlesse they were ancient Earles Lords or Barons of the Realm or newly created such by special Patents before their summons or by special clauses of creation in the Wriâ—s by which they were summoned as all the lists of summons in the Clause Rolls the precedent Table the Statutes of 5 R. 2. Stat. 2. c. 4. 31 H. 8. c 10. and Mr. Martyns Catalogue of them at the end of his History clearly manifest 6ly That in my best observation there is no president from 49 H. 3. till the last Parliament of King Charles nor in any age before where any of the ancient Nobility Peers Lords or Barons of the Realme at least any considerable number of them unlesse such who were actually outlawed or attainted of High Treason or absent in forreign parts or in actual service in the Wars or under age were omitted out of the Writs of summous or secluded from sitting in the Lords House in any Parliament by force or frand unless by Morâ—imer in the Parliament at Salisbury An. 2. E. 3. and in 21 R. 2. nor of others who were no real Lords Peers by Patent Tenure or other legal creation summoned to the Lords House out of England much lesse out of Scotland and Ireland to supplant them or supply their places under any name notion or pretext whatsoever Neither were they or any of them secluded disinherited of their seats Votes Peerage in Parliament without or before the least legal hearing trial impeachment or conviction whatsoever of any capital crime which might forâ—eit their Peerage against all the Great Charters Statutes Records Declarations Orders Ordinances Votes Protestations Oathts Covenants mentioned in my Plea for the Lords and House of Peers which ratifie and perpetuate this their Birthright to them and their Posterities and the very law of all Nations 6ly It is very observable that both Houses of Parliament in their Propositions sent to King Charles at their last Treaty with him in the Isle of Weight to prevent the creation and introduction of any New Lords into future Parliaments to the prejudice seclusion or overvoting of the Ancient Nobility or Commons house did amongst other things propound That BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT all LORDS and PEERS made by the King since Edward Lord Littleton deserted the Parliament and carried away the Great Seal the 21. of May 1642. should be unlorded unpeered set by and their Titles of Honour Patents revoked declared null and void to all intents and never hereafter put in use And that NO PEER WHICH SHOULD BE HEREAFTER MADE BY THE KING HIS HEIRES OR SUCCESSORS who have onely and solely a just legal power to create them and none else as they hereby declare SHALL SIT IN THE PARLIAMENT OF ENGLAND WITHOUT CONSENT OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT Which the King then fully and freely consented to without any limitation or exception whatsoever Since which Proposition of both Houses and concession by the King how any person or persons who assented to or approved thereof in any kind as reasonable or beneficial to the publick without any special Patent or creation from the King his heires or successors and without the consent of the House of Lords and ancient Peers of the Realme the only proper members of Iudges in it of the Commons House yea against both their consents and approbations can justly by any other authority Patent Writ or instrument whatsoever assume unto themselves the Titles of Lords or Barons of the Realme or of the Lords House it self to the disseasing disinheriting suppressing of the ancient undoubted Peers and House of Lords Or how any who have Voted down declared against and abolished the Lords and Lords House in sundry printed Papers as Uselesse Dangerous Inconvenient Oppressive to the People obstructive to the Proceedings in Parliament and the like and afterwards by several Votes and printed New Knacks took and subscribed themselves and prescribed to all others under severest penalties a publick Engagement To be â—rue and faithfull to the Commonwealth of England as it was then established as they thought by themselves though the event soon after proved the contrary Without a King or House of Lords can or dare become this very Selfsame Vselesse dangerous oppressive obstructive grievance c. themselves and against their own Votes Declarations Acts Subscriptions Engagements stile or assert themselves to be either real Lords or an House of Lords without the greatest Praevarication Contradiction to and Apostacy from their own former Principles or how they can ever probably expect that either the ancient Lords or Commons of England should submit unto them as such let their own judgments consciences and reasons resolve them The rather because divers of the Earles Nobles made by King Stephen were stiled yea deposed as meer Imaginary false Earles and Lords Quosdam Imaginarios et Pseudo-Comites and both their Titles and Crown lands given them by Stephen though King de facto resumed by King Henry the 2. right heir to the crown because Stephen was an Usurper Chartae Invasoris praejudicium legitimo Principi minime facere deberent as the Chronicle of Normandy the Book of the Abby of Waverly Mr. Selden out of them Gulielmus Neubrigensis and Chronicle of Bromton Col. 1046. inform us Whose President may justly deterre them from any unjust disseisin of the ancient Lords and setting themselves in their Places And thus much for my Observations on and from the Writs in this second Section SECTION 3. Of Writs of Summons to the Kings Counsil and other Ordinary Assistants to the Lords in Parliaments and Parliamentary Councils with annotations on them THe next Writs of Summons after those to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords entred in the antient Clause Rolls are those to the Kings Counsil different only in one or two Clauses from the former in which else they usually accorded These persons commonly summoned to Parliaments as the Kings Counsil by distinct writs from the Lords as ordinary Assistants both to the King and them in all causes controversies Questions of Moment were mostly the Kings Great Officers as well Clergymen as Secular persons who were no Lords nor Barons of the Realm as namely his Treasurer Chancellor of the Eschequer Judges of his Courts at Westminster Justices in Eyre Iustices assignes Barons of his Eschequer Clerks Secretaries of his Counsil and sometimes his Serjeants at Law with such other Officers and Persons whom our Kings thought meâ—â—o summon The
away the Court commonly called the Starr-chamber fit to be put in vigorous execution against the transcendent infringers of it By all which it appears that the Kings Iustices and Counsil in Parliaments as well as out of them had formerly a principal hand in making Laws Ordinances and resolving points questions of Law and other matters of moment I shall close up my Observations on this Section with these 4. memorable Records relating to the Kings Counsell and the Nobles in Scotland and Ireland as distinct from his Counsell and Parliamentary Assemblies in England Cl. 37. H. 3. d. 9. Rex mandat quod Abbas Westm. -moretur in Anglin de Consilio Reginae propter recessum Regis ad partes Vasconiae Et mandatum est eidem Reginae quod ipsum ad hoc admittat accepto ab eo prius corporali Sacramento quod officium illud fideliter intendat T. ut supra Cl. 38. H. 3. dors 13. Rex H. Cantuar. Archiepiscopo salutem Cum quaedam ardua urgentia negotia Statum nostrum Regni nostri tangentia habeamus Vobis communicanda quae sine consilio Vestro aliorum Magnatum nostrorum noluimus expediri Vobis mandamus in fide quia Nobis tenemini firmiter injungentes quatinus sicut Nos honorem nostrum diligitis nullatenus omittatis quin à die Sancti Hillarii proximo futuri in quindecim dies sitis apud Westm. coram Regina nostra R. Com. Cornub. fratre nostro aliis de Consilio nostro super dictis negotiis tractaturi nec retardetis adventum vestrum quin sitis ad dictum diem tempestive Teste A. Regina R. Com. Cornub. apud Westm. The cause of this meeting is at large related in another Writ to this Archbishop forecited p. 3. 4. Upon the same occasion the King issued this Writ to the King of Scots entred in the same Roll and dorse Rex Regi Scotiae salutem Quia ratio Vinculi foederis inter nos contracti requirit quod Vobis fidelibus Vestris ardua urgentia negotia Statum nostrum terrae nostrae tangentia communicemus Vos Nobis vice versa Serenitatem vestram ex toto corde requirimus quatinus in Quindena Purificationis beatae Mariae prox futur apud Castrum puellarum de Edenburgh personaliter interesse velitis convocantes inducentes Praelatos Magnates Regni Vestri ut ad dictos diem locum representent se coram Vobis modis omnibus Nullo enim modo expediret honori proficuo nostro vestro quin modo praedicto ad praedictos diem locum compareatis audituri per nuncios nostros qui de Vasconia Vobis ibidem occurrent praedicta negotia arduissima urgentissima in quibus necesse est quod vos fideles vestri consilium vestrum pariter auxilium apponatis T. ut supra per Reginam Comitem It is observable that the King by this Writ doth not summon the King of Scots and his Nobles to his Parliament or Counsell of England as members thereof to advise and assist him in this necessitie notwithstanding the strict alliance and league between them but to assemble together at Edenburgh in their own country by themselves alone as the Officers and Nobles of Ireland were then also required to meet in Ireland by themselves by this ensuing Writ of the same date with the former Rex Mauricio filio Giraldi salutem Quia Rex Castell cum multitudine Exercitus Christianorum Saracenorum terram nostram Vasconiae in Quindena Pasche prox futur ingressurus est hostiliter non solum ad eandem terram destruendam occupandam set ad terras nostras Angliae Hiberniae per introitum dictae terrae si eam optineret quod absit invadendas aspirat Nos in propria persona nostra cum eodem Rege bellum campestre aggredi proposuimus de universa fidelitate vestra quam in agendis nostris fructuosam semper invenimus plenam gerentes fiduciam vos requirimus in fide qua Nobis tenemini affectuosè rogamus quatinus sicâ—t Nos honorem nostrum indempnitatem corporis nostri diligitis in hac necessitate nostra non parcentes personae aut rebus vestris nulla ratione seu occasione differatis quin poteritis vos praeparare ad veniendum ad nos in Vasconiam omnes amicos vestros ad hoc idem inducentes Ita quod sitis apud Waterford in Octabis Pasche prox futur cum equis armis bona gente prompti parati statim naves ascendere ad transfretandum ad Nos in terram praedictam Scitote indubitanter qui Nobis in hac parte subvenerint eorum amici erimus benevoli imperpetuum qui Nos in hac urgenti inexuperabiâ—i necessiâ—ate relinquerint de eis alias minus confidere poterimus eis minus grati erimus Nunquam etiam futuris temporibus tanta Nobis imminebit necessitas consilii auxilii sicut in presenti negotio Et ad regerendum vobis plenius pericula nostrorum Inimicorum Iohannem filium Galfridi Justiciarium nostrum Hiberniae ad partes illas misimus cui apud Dublinum ad in stantem mediam Quadragesimam una cum aliis Magnatibus nostris Hiberniae quibusâ—id mandavimus accedatis audituri voluntatem nostram cum ipâ—o super praemissis plenius tractaturi T. ut supra An Exact Alphabetical Table of all the Kings Counsil whether Judges Serjeants at Law Officers of State Deans Archdeacons 〈◊〉 other Clergy men or Laymen from 22 E. 1. till 23 E. 4. with the Yeares Rolls Dorses of each King wherein they were summoned to Parliaments By which you may finde who were Chief Justices Judges Officers in each Kings reign A IOhn Abell 5 d. 17. 6 d. 31. 7 d. 27. 8 d. 29. 9 11 d. 8. 14. 14 d. 23. E. 2. Magister Richard de Abyngdon 1 d. 8. 11. 19. 2 d. 11. 20. 5 d. 17. 6 d. 31. 16. 7 d. 2. 8 d. 29. 9 d. 22. E. 2. Magister Robert de Aileston Archidiac Berks 6 d. 9. 19. Thesaurarius Regis 7 E. 3. Richard de Aldeburge 3 d. 19. 7 8 E. 3. Peter Arderne 23 25 27 29 31 33 twice 38 H. 6. 1 2 6 E. 4. Magister Robert de Ashton 1 2 3 d. 13. 19. R. 2. Henry Asty and Astee 49 50 E. 3. 1 â— 3 d. 13. 19. 4 5 6 R. 2. William de Ayremine 6 d. 16. 7 d. 11. 27. E. 2. William Ayscogh 20 23 25 27 28 29 31 H. 6. William Ayshton 23 25 27 28 29 31 33 38 H. 6. 1 2 E. 4. B VVIlliam Babington 7 H. 5. 1 2 3 4 5 7 9 10 11 13 H. 6. Iohn Bacun 11 d. 8. 14. 14 d. 23. E. 2. Thomas Bacoun 7 p. 2. d. 3. 8 d. 18. E. 3. Magister Robert de Baldock 11 d. 11. 19. Archidiac Midd. 12 d. 11. 29. 13 d 13. 14 d. 23. E. 2. Iohn de
all other lawfull Members both of the Lords and Commons House ought to enjoy the self same Protection Priviledge Freedome immunity and no wayes to be interrupted molested disturbed by any other Officers Subjects Persons or Members whatsoever from freely repairing to residing in or returning from our Parliaments much lesse to be forcibly secluded out of them by armed guards new oaths or popular tumults Neither may can ought the House of Commons alone nor any prevailing party in it to exclude eject any duly elected returned Member once admitted without any Legall accusation tryal cause at all nor yet for betraying of his trust or misdemeaning himself as a Member after his election nor for any real offence as a Member without and against the Kings and Lords concurrent Judgments and assents in whom alone the power of Iudicature resides in such as well as in all other causes as I have elsewhere evidenced by unanswerable Presidents and the rules of right reason he being summoned only by the Kings Writ and authority impowred trusted by his electors only as their peculiar Trustee Atturney not his fellow Knights Citizens Burgesses to do and assent to such things as shall be ordained by the King Nobles and Common Counsell of the Realme touching the weighty publike affairs of the King and Kingdoms and obliged antiently by Manucaptors and since by their Indentures of retorn and our Laws not to depart from the Parliament without the Kings special license under pein of his indignation and other penalties Therefore no more to be suspended secluded ejected imprisoned by his fellow-Commoners without the Kings and Lords concurrent Judgements and Assents than one Judge or Justice on the Bench can unjustice unjudge uncommission another one Trustee Executor or Attorny discharge his fellow Trustees Executors Attornies of their trusts one Grand-Jury man thrust another out of the panell without the Judges consent or one Common Counsel man of a City or Livery man of a Company disfranchise and discommon another without the consent or judgement of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City or Master and Wardens of the Company whereof they are Members Whatever exorbitant irregular practices have of late times been usurped by or presidents made in the Commons House to the contrarie almost to the total if not final subversion of all future Parliaments and their privileges It being a Maxim in Law and Reason Par in parem nonhabet Imperium multo minus Superioritatem especially in the Kings own Parliament and Supreme Court of Justice wherein himself and his Nobles only sit as supreme Iudges not the Commons as a distinct Court and independent Judicature of themselves as some would fancy them in their Utopian brains and practises much less can they â—eâ—â—ude vote down any Members of the House of Peers or the whole antient House of Lords or dishinherit them of their Birthrights as some furious Bedlam Members of a dismembred dissolved House of Commons have most insolently and injuriously without hearing trial against their own Acts Declarations Protestations Vowes Covenants Commissions Trusts attempted to intrude themselves into their places and Tribunals and make themselves more than Lords and Caesars not only over their Fellow-Commoners but our Kings Peers Parliaments and Kingdomes which they have trampled under their Papall feet and metamorphosed at their pleasures into sundry mishapen mutable unsetled new models to our apparent approaching ruine if God of his infinite mercy prevent it not by their reestablishment upon their ancient bases and foundations 20. That if the forcible seclusion or disturbance of any Lord or Member of the Lords House duly summoned who ought of right to sit vote in the Lords House be so great a breach of Priviledge Injury as I have evidenced then the forcible suppression seclusion of all the ancient Peers and House of Lords by any real or pretended Members of the late House of Commons contrary to the expresse Clauses Formes of all ancient Writs and the very writs in 16. Caroli without any legal jurisdiction hearing triall must needs be a greater breach of trust Priviledge Injustice in them fit to be redressed for the future peace Justice settlement of our distracted Nations and restoring our Parliaments to their pristine Splendour Honour ends uses for the redressing of all publick Grievances If any Republicans Army Officers New Grandees or others here object as some now do That it will be both perillous and inconvenient to the Subjects the House of Commons and its Members to restore the ancient Lords and House of Peers to their pristine Rights Priviledges Jurisdiction Judicature over them in that latitude I have asserted evidenced it by Histories and Records in my Plea for them without prescribing some new just bounds and regulations unto them by the Commons House I answer 1. That the Lords being the only original ancient Members of our Great Councils Parliaments many hundreds of years before any Knights Citizens Burgesses or House of Commons were called admitted to them by the King and House of Lords and receiving no power Judicature or Jurisdiction at all from the Commons but what they have of right enjoyed exercised in all precedent ages without the least complaint opposition or contradiction of the Commons in any former Parliaments before 17. Caroli The Commons have no more authority right reason â—urisdiction to limit or restrain this their ancient right Judicature Priviledge much lesse to abrogate then the Grand or Petty Jury have to limit regulate the Judges or Justices Commissions Authority on the Bench or the Tenants the Jurisdiction of their Lords Courts or every Committee of the Commons House the Excesses of the House it self or the Unparliamentary Iuncto which voted them down and engaged against them without the least colour of Jurisdiction Law reason hearing impeachment triall had to usurp such a transcendent power over them not to be paralelld in any age nor now approved by assenting to it 2ly That the old Lords and House of Peers in no cases ever exercised such an exorbitant arbitrary tyrannicall Jurisdiction Illegall power in all kinds as the Commons House and every of their Committees and Sub-Committees of Examinations Sequestrations Compositions Sale of Delinquents estates Crown Lands Obstructions Appeales Scandalous Ministers and High Courts of Iustice have done without the least Report to the House it self of their proceedings both over the King and his Posteritie the Peers of the Realme their fellow Members secluded secured imprisoned close imprisoned ejected exiled by them without any cause or hearing at all and their fellow Commoners of all sorts deprived of their Inheritances Estates Offices Liberties Callings Lives and the benefit of the Lawes themselves for not taking their new Oathes and Engagements contrary to Law and their former legall Oathes Leagues and Solemn Covenant and Protestation wâ—â—hout a legal Indictment or trial by a Jurie of their equalls or witnesses viva voce upon Oath since their slighting suppressing of the old
CAETERIS DE CONSILIO NOSTRO super dictis Negotiis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri et hoc nullatenus omittatis Teste ut supra Without any Eodem modo to others Claus. 47 E. 3. d. 13. there is a writ issued to him with a different recitall as p. 67. and a personaliter intersitis Nobiscum et cum caeteris de Consilio nostro with Consimilia Brevia to 6 more Justices The like writ to him is in Clause 48 E. 3. dors 24. with Consimilia Brevia to 8 others whereof two are Masters These writs are entred after those to the Sheriffs and before the writs to the Warden of the Cinque-ports as the like writ to him is Claus. 50 E. 3. pars 2. dors 6. with Consimilia Brevia to 8 moâ—e the two last Mro Iohanni Barnet and Mro Nicho de Chaddeston as in the last before The next writs of this nature are in Claus 1 R. 2. dors 37 Claus 2 R. 2. d 13. both directed Iohanni Cavendish Capitali Justiciar suo and 11 others in both Rolls with a personaliter intersitis Nobiscum cum caeteris de Consilio nostro super dictis negotiis tractaturi c. But that of Claus 3 R 2 dors 32. runs thus Quod omnibus aliis praetermissis dictiss die loco personaliter intersitis Nobiscum CUM CAETERIS PRAELATIS MAGNATIBUS ET PROCERIBVS Regni nostri DE CONSILIO NOSTRO tractaturi vestrumque Consilium impensuri c. The like Ordinary writ issued to Cavendish and 9 others Claus 4 R 2 dorso 32 After which this form of writ is registred Rex dilecto Servienti suo David Hannemere salutem Quia de avisamento c. usque tractatum tunc Mandamus firmiter injungentes c quod diâ—tis die et loco personaliter intersitis ad faciendum pro Nobis et expeditione negotiorum nostrorum quod ad tunc ibidem fuerit faciend et hoc Nullatenus omittatis Teste Rege apud Westm 26 die Augusti In the Clause Roll of 5. R. 2. dorso 40. The writ entred is directed Roberto Tresilian Capitali Justic suo and 7 more Claus. 6 R 2. pars 1. d. 4. 7. to him and 8 others in both dorses Claus. 7 R. 2. d. 10. 17. to him and 7. others in both Claus. 8 R. 2. d. 35. to him and 10. besides Claus. 9 R. 2. d. 45. to him and 9 more Claus. 10 R. 2. d 42. to him and 12 others Claus. 11 R. 2. d. 24. to him and 11 more Claus. 12 E. 3. d. 42. the writ issued Waltero Clopton Capitali Iustic suo and 7 others Claus. 13 R. 2. pars 1. d. 6. Cl. 14 R. 2 d. 42. to him and 12 more Cl. 16 R 2. d. 37. to him and 12 others whereof the chief Baron of the Exchequer was one Clause 16 R. 2. d 23. to him and 11 others and d 32 to him and 12. more Claus. 17 R. 2. d. 30. to him and 12 others Cl. 18 R. 2. d 23. to him and 10 besides Claus. 20 R. 2. d. 11. to him and 11 more Cl. 21 R 2. d. 27. and Cl. 23 R. 2. d. 3. to him and 11 others The writ in Claus 1 H 4 d. 37. is directed Waltero Clopton Capitali Iustic suo and 12 others and still to the Chief Justice for the time being throughout his reign all or most of the rest of the Assistants being Justices whose names you may find in the ensning Table The writ in Claus 1 H 5 dors 9. issued Willielmo Hankeford Capitali Iustic suo c. But that in dors 37 Willielmo Gascoyne Capitali Iusticiario suo and 11 others most or all Justices and so throughout his reign In Henry the 6. his reign Claus. 1 H. 6. dors 22. the writ is directed Willo Hankeford Capitali Iustic suo and 10 more Justices and so in other years to the Chief Justice for the time being and other Justices In Cl. 1 E 4. d. 34. the writ issued Iohi Markham and 12 Justices and Lawyers besides and so throughout his reign to the Chief Justice and Justices for the time being and few else besides them Of later times both the Chief Justices Chief Baron and all the Kings Justices Barons of the Eschequer Serjeants at Law the Mr of the Rolls some Masters of the Chancery have been usually summoned as Assistants to counsell and advise both the King and Lords in all matters of Law and difficulty wherein their advice is necessary as also to carry messages Bills and Orders from the Lords to the Commons House and return answers from them upon such occasions when they please to return answers by them and not by Messengers of their own Usefull Observations upon the precedent Writs to and concerning the Kings Counsil summoned to Parliaments and Parliamentary Councils IT is observable 1. That in many antient Rolls and Lists of Summons to Parliaments and Parliamentary Councils there is no mention of any writs or summons at all to any of the Kings Counsil Justices Officers or others as there is in those forecited as namely in the summons in Claus 49 H. 3. d 11. 23 E 1. d. 2 3 4. 24 E. 1. d. 7. 25 E. 1. d. 6. 27 E. 1. d. 9. 16. 28 E. 1. d. 16 17. 30 E. 1. d. 9. 32 E. 1. d. 2. Cl. 33 E. 1. d. 8. Cl. 35 E. 1. d. 13. Cl. 3 E. 2. d. 16 17. 7 E. 2. d. 16. 9 E. 2. d. 22 18 E. 2. d. 5. 21 34. 20 E. 2. d. 4. Cl. 5 E 3. pars 2. d. 7. 1â— E. 3. p. 1. d. 15. 16 E. 3. pars 1. d. 39. 16 E. 3. pars 2. d 13. 29 E 3. d. 7. 32 E. 3. d. 14. 33 E. 3 d. 10. 34 E. 3. d. 35. 49 E. 3. d. 4. to omit others Which Parliaments it seemes were held without any of the Kings Counsil or Justices summoned to them or else the Clerks through negligence or slothfullness omitted the entries of their Writs or names in all these Rolls of Summons Therefore they are no essential Members of the Parliaments or Great Councils of England which may be held without them being none of the 3. Estates 2ly That there is no mention at all made of them in the usual ordinary writs to the Spiritual or Temporal Lords Sheriffs and Wardens of Cinque-ports in these most material clauses Parliamentum nostrum tenere Voâ—iscum ac â—um Praelatis Magnatibus Proceribus dicti regni nostri Angliae Colloquium haâ— bere volumus tractatum Or the personaliter intersâ—â—is Nobiscum ac cum dictis Praelatis Magnatibus et Proceribus dicti Regni super dictis Negotiis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri which have never this Clause cum â—aeteris de Consilio nostro inserted into them Therefore they are no essentiall constitutive Members of our Parliaments or Great Councils but Assistants only to the King and Lords as there is occasion 3ly That those of the
17. E. 1. made and agreed on at Nottingham By the assent of our Counsell there being By the Preface to Articuli Cleri 9. E. 2. In our Parliament holden at Lincolnâ— the 9th of our reigne We caused the Articles underwritten with certain Answers made to some of them to be rehearsed before Our Counsell and made certain Answers to be corrected and to the residue of the Articles underwritten answers were made By us and our Counsell of which Articles and Answers the tenours here ensue By the Statute of Gavelet An. 10. E. 2. It is provided by our Lord the King and His Iustices c. By the Statute De Terris Templariorum 17. E. 2. It was moved in Parliament in the presence of the Prelates Barons Nobles and Great men of the Realm and others there present Whether the Order of the Templers being dissolved the King and other Lords of the fees might retain them by the Law of the Realme and with safe conscience Whereupon the Greater part of the Kings Counsell as well the Iustices as other Lay-Persons being assembled together the said Iustices affirmed precisely That our Lord the King and other Lords of the fees aforesaid might well and lawfully by the lawes of the Realme retain the foresaid Lands as their Escheats in regard of the ceasing and dissolution of the Order aforesaid But upon other grounds of Conscience they setled them on the Hospitall of S. Iohns of Ierusalem by this Statute 1. E. 3. c. 3. But it is not the mind of the King nor of His COUNSELL that they who have sold ther Lands c. should have any benefit of this Statute The Prologue of the printed Statute of 1. E. 3. Parl 2. At the request of the Commonally by their Petition made before the King and HIS CONSELL in Parliament by assent of the Prelates Earles and Barons c. 9. E. 3. c. 1. Our Sovereign Lord the King desiring the profit of his people by the assent of his Prelates Earles Barons and other Nobles of his Realm summoned at his present Parliament and By the aâ—vice of his Counsell being there c. hath ordained and established the Statâ—â—te of Money 9. E. 3. c. 7. When and where it shall please us and OVR COVNSELL to make Exchanges 11. E. 3. c. 1. Till by the King and his COVNSELL iâ— he otherwise provided 14. E. 3. c. 5. The Chancellor Treasurer the Justices of the one Bench and of the other and other OF THE KINGS COUNSELL 14. E 3. Stat. 3. Of the Clergy Prologue Wherefore Wee their petition seen and regarded and there upon deliberation with the Peers of the Realme and other of OVR COVNSELL and of the Realm c. have granted c. And ch 5. Our Chancellour and Treasurer taking to them other of our Counsell c. 20. E. 3. Prologue By the assent of the Great men and other wise men of Our Counsell We have ordained these things following And c. 5. We have ordained to come before us at a certain day or before them whom we shall depute of Our Counsell 23. E. 3. c. 8. should be converted to a publick and common profit by advise of His Counsell And alwayes it is the intent of the King and of His Counsell that according to the first Ordinance it should be lawfull and shall be lawfull for every man c. 25. E. 3. of Labourers Prologue It was ordained by our Sovereign Lord the King and by assent of the Prelates Earles Barons and other of His Counsell 25 E. 2. Stat. 2. Of those born beyond the Seas Our Sovereign Lord the King willing that all doubts and ambiguities should be put away and the Law in this case declared and put in a certainty hath charged the said Prelates Earles Barons and other wise men of his Counsell assembled in this Parliament to deliberate upon this point which of one assent have said That the Law of the Crown of England is and alwayes hath been such c. 25. E. 3. Parl. 5. c 2. of Treasons And if percase any men of this Realme endeavour covertly or secretly against any other to slea him or to rob him or take him or retein till he hath made fine or ransome or to have his deliverance it is not the mind of the King Nor His Counsell that in such cases it shall be judged Treason but shall be judged Felony or Trespasse according to the Laws of the Land of old time used and according as the case requireth And chap. 4. It is accorded assented and stablished that from henceforth none shall be taken by petition or suggestion made to our Sovereign Lord the King or to his Counsell unlesse it be by Inditement or presentment of his good and lawfull neighbours 25. E. 3. Parl. 6. Statute of Provisors Whereas in the Parliament of Edward King of England Grandfather of the King that now is the 25. of his reigne holden at Carlile the Petition heard put before the said Grandfather and HIS COUNSELL by the Commonalty of his Realm c. 27. E. 3. c. 1. Provisors shall have day containing the space of two moneths by warning to be made to them c. to be before the King and HIS COUNSELL or in his Chancery or before the Kings Justices in his places of the one Bench or the other or before other the Kings Justices which shall be deputed to the same to answer in their proper persons to the King of the contempt done in this behalf ch 2. It is assented by the King and all his Counsell 27. E. 3. of the Staple ch 21. That the same Mayor and Constables do not ordain any thing contrary to these Ordinances nor make interpretation nor exceptions to them otherwise then the words purport but if there be any thing that is doubtfull it shall be shewed unto Our Counsell and there declared by good advise ch 23. And in case that debates arise betwixt them upon the discussing of any plea or quarrell the tâ—nour of the said Plea or quarrell shall be sent before the Chancellor and other of Our Counsell to be by them determined without delay ch 25. And now late it is done Us and our Counsell to understand by the complaint of the said Merchants ch 28. And in case any thing be to be amended added changed or withdrawn of any of the said points in time to come by a true cause we will that the same be done by deliberation and advice of the Great men and Other of our Counsell in Parliament 31. E. 3. Stat. 2. c. 3. It is accorded by our Sovereign Lord the King the Great men and all the Commons in this present Parliament that the Chancellor and Treasurer taking unto them the JUSTICES and OTHER THE KINGS COUNSEL such as to them shall seem meet shall have power to ordain remedy of the buying and selling of Stockfish of St. Botulfs and Salmon of Barwick and of Wines and Fish of Bristow and elsewhere and that the Ordinances by
House of Lords who should have restrained reformed these their unparallelld extravagancies which I could prove by hundreds of sad Instances and have briefly hinted in my â—lea for the old Lords page 413. to 419. For which very reason they ought now to be restored being an excellent Bank and Screen between the Prince and People to assist each against any encroachments on the other and by just judgements to preserve that Law which ought to be the Rule between every one of the three and trusted with a Iudicatory power to this very end 3ly Some of those very Members of the late Commons House Army and Whitehall who would disseise them of their House Privileges Birthrights and antient Iurisdiction before they took upon them the Title of Lords or of the House of Lords as pretended Members of the Commons House a little before and since their votes against the old House of Lords as Committees of that House or Commissioners in their new â—rected High Courts of Iustice Members of the Counsil of State at White-Hall or Counsil of Army-Officers or Major Generals and Deputy Major Generals have acted a thousand times more exorbitantly arbitrarily tyrannically to the subversion of the Fundamental Laws Liberties properties Government Justice of the Nation oppressing improverishing vexing dishinheriting destroying enslaving of the Freemen of England than ever any old Lords or House of Lords or Kings of England in Parliament heretofore did in any age whatsoever Witness their usurpations of a more than absolute Parliamentarie power to themselves by their own Votes Orâ—ers Declarations alone to alter new model over and over the whole frame of our Parliaments Laws and publike Government their electing Knights Citizens Burgesses for what they stiled a Parliament without the least privity or election of the people their dissolving declaring the long Parliament to be dissolved against an expresse Act of Parliament their repealing many old Lawes Acts Oathes enacting new Lawes contrary to them creating New Treasons and misprision of Treasons yea imposing heavy excessive New Taxes Customes Excises of all sorts on the three Nations not only in their private Westminster conventions but by their Armie and Whitehall Ordinances amounting to a large Folio Volume without any Parliament or legall Act of Parliament ordering them to be levyed by fines forfeitures sales of the refusers reall and personal esâ—ates imprisonments soldiers quartering and the like Injoysing All Courts of Iustice Iudges Iustices Sheriffs Officers of this Commonwealth Counsellors Attornies and other Persons to conform themselves accordingly without any opposition or dispute whatsoever and committing their very Counsel to the Tower as Traytors or Grand Delinquents only for arguing their Cases upon an Habeas Corpus in Westminster Hall according to Law and their Duties Their taking away the lives liberties or estates freeholds of thousands without any legall Triall or Indictment of their Peers their banishing confining imprisoning close imprisoning hundreds yea thousands at a time upon meer fears and jealousies and binding them and all their servants in excessive bonds with sureties their disfranchising Maiors Bailiffs Aldermen others in corporations enforcing divers to release their legall actions Judgements Executions and committing them at their pleasures till they did it against the expresse tenour not only of the Grand Charter Petition of Right and other Acts but the very letter of the late Act For preventing of Inconveniences happening by the long intermission of Parliaments The Acts for the 3. first subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage The Act for regulating the Privy Counsell For declaring unlawfull and void the late proceedings touching Ship-mony and other Acts passed by some of their own Votes in the Parliament of 16. and 17. Caroli of which or the like exorbitances no ancient Peers or House of Lords were ever yet guilty And if some of those persons who would usurp or abridg the old Lords power have been so arbitrarie tyrannical in all kinds before they claimed the Title of Lords or House of Lords how exorbitant in all probability are they likely to grow in a short time having Command in the Armie and other Courts if they should be established in their new Lordly Power and the old House of Lords put by who should correct restrain these their unparalelld Excesses for the whole Nations ease and benefit 4. If these new Peers be in truth Law Herauldry no true or real Lords Barons Peers of the Realm by their Writs of Summons for the premised reasons but meerly imaginary Titular and false ones like those created by the usurper King Stephen then the House of Commons can neither in Law nor verity agree or assent to any thing that shall be ordained by them according to the tenour of the Writs of Summons nor establish any settlement that can be reputed legal or obligatory to Posteritie in a Parliamentary Way if the ancient reall Peers and legal House of Lords be set aside and disowned And therefore they must of necessity own close with them alone and remit them to their old hereditary right else they can never make nor expect any real lasting settlement of our distracted State and Government and all they vote will quickly prove abortive illegitimate as the late New-models Instruments and Advices have done 5ly The setting aside the ancient Lords and House of Peers and establishing their very Disseisors in their places as the only future Lords and House of Peers will both justifie all their recited Exorbitances Excesses Violences Tyrannical proceedings against the old Lords their Fellow Commons others transcending Straffords Caterburies and the worst old Counsel-Table Lords excesses by many degrees ratifie yea reward crown them with the highest publick Honour Trust Power they are capable of even in Parliaments themselves Which will not onlie probably excite encourage others in succeeding times to the like dangerous extravagancies excesses to the publick prejudice and desolation but animate them when setled in their new Lordly Authority to pursue their former practises and turn greater Tyrants Oppressors in all kinds then formerly they have been to the utter enslaving of our Nations and embroyling them in new Tumults Yea how farre it may tend to the Total and Final suppression of the Commons House it self in succeeding times is worthy sad and serious consideration For if the Commons House shall not onlie silently connive at but openly approve and assent to the dissolving suppressing of the old Lords and their House by pretext of former illegall unrighteous Votes meer nullities by all Lawes made by a Fragment of a dissolved House of Commons sitting under a force not having the least Jurisdiction or power of Judicature over them against all rules of Justice the very fundamental Lawes of the Land the undoubted Rights and Priviledges of Parliament Prescription time out of mind all old late Acts Records of Parl. their very Solemn League Covenant Protestation and hundreds of late Declarations and Remonstrances to the contrary They may justly
Parliamentum nostrum apud Lincoln mittatis Ita quod sint ibi in Octabis Sancti Hillarii prox futur ad ultimum Nobiscum cum caeteris de Consilio nostro super praemissis tractaturi suumque consilium impensuri Et hoc sicuâ— Nos honorem ac commodum Regni nostri diligitis nullatenus omittatis T. Rege ut supra Eodem modo mandatum est Cancellar et Universitati Cantebr quod mittant ad dictum Parliamentum duo vel tres de discretioribus et magis in â—ure scripto expertis c. Then follows a writ to sundry Abbots Priors Deans and Chapters with the same recital Quia super Iure Dominio c. as in the last De mittendiâ— Chronic ad Parliamentum c. of which in its due place more fully The occasion and result whereof and of sending these Lawyers from the Universities to the Parliament you may read at large in Matthew Westminster Anno 1302. p. 419. to 438. and in Thomas de Walsingham Hist. Angl. p. 32. to 58. Before I proceed to the ensuing Writs I shall here observe 1. That this recital Quia super jure Dominio quae Nohis in regno Scotiae competit c. is not mentioned at all in the Writs of Summons to the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors temporal Lords Justices or Sheriffs of Counties but only to the Clergy-men of the Kings Counsil Vniversities and to those Abbots Priors Deanes and Chapters who were to search and send their Chronicles to the Parliament that had any thing in them concerning the Kings right to Scotland 2ly That for the Honour of my Quondam nursing Mother the University of Oxford she is here preferred before the Vniversity of Cambridge and her Chancellor and she enjoyned to send 4. or 5. of the discreâ—test and most exact Lawyers of the said University to the Parliament to treat with the King and the rest of his Counsil concerning his ancient right and dominion to the Realme of Scotland whereas the Chancellour and Vniversity of Cambridge are commanded to send only 2. or 3. such Lawyers of it for that purpose 3ly That these Lawyers sent from the Universities upon this special occasion were only extraordinary assistants there being no such president of any thus sent to succeeding Parliaments The 6. Writ of this kind is in Claus. 30. E. 1. d. 13. Rex dilectoâ— fidelissimo suo Rogero la Brabazun salutem Quia super quibusdam arduis negotiis Nos totum Regnum nostrum specialiter tangentibus Vobiscum Cum caeteris de Consilio Nostro habere Volumus colloquium tractatum Vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes quod in Octabis Nativitatis Sancti Johannis Baptistae prox futur ad ultimum apud Westm. omnibus modis personaliter intersâ—â—is Nobiscum superâ—dictis negotâ—is tractatur vestrumque consilium impensur hoc nullatenus omittatis T. Rege ut supra p. 13. Consimiles literae diriguntur subscriptis viz. 33. more Judges and others mentioned in the former Catalogues Anno. 34. E. 1. dors 2. There is no Writ to the Assistants entred in the Roll but 16. of them only Justices and Clergy-men are named in the Eodem modo after the Lords and great men with aâ—little space between their names for distinction sake The next Writ of this kind is thus briefly registred Claus. 1. E. 2. dors 19. Rex dilecto fideli suo Rogeroâ— le Brabazun salutem Quia super quibusdam c. ut supra usquâ— ibi vobiscum cum caeteris fidelibus nostris c. Magnatibus c. Teste Rege ut supra p. 14. 15. eodem modo scribitur subscriptis viz. 29. more Justices Clerks and others In Claus. 1. E. 2. d. 9. There is no Writ but after the Earles and Barons Writ and names followes this entry Eodem modo mandatum est subscriptis viz. Willielmo Iuge and 36. others whereof 2. only were Clergy-men The next Writ is in Claus. 1. E. 2. dors 8. Rex dilecto fideli suo Rogero de Brabazon salutem Quia c. ut supra p. 15. Vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes quod dictis die loco omnibus aliis praetermissis personaliter intersitis ibidem Nobiscum Cum caeteris de Consilio Nostro super dictis negotiis tractatur vestrumque consilium impensur hoc nullatenus omâ—ttatis T. R. apud Westm. x. Die Martii Consimiles literae diriguntur to 35. others Justices and Lay-men and but to 2. Clerks In Claus. 2. E. 2. d. 14. 11. 20 Schedula there are 4. Writs of the same forme with the last The 1. to Roger de Brabazon and 34. others whereof one only was a Clerk the 2. to him and 16. others whereof 7. were Clerks the 3d. to him and 22. others whereof 6. were Clerks and two others Escheators the one ultra Trentam the other citra Trentam The 4th to him and 6. more the one of them a Clerk The next Writ is in Claus. 4. E. 2. dors 1. somewhat different from the former Rex dilecto fideli suo Willielmo de Bereford salutem Quia super diversis arduis negotiis Nos Statum Regni nostri specialiter tangentibus in instanti Parliamento nostro die Dominica prox ante festum Sancti Laurentii prox futur fecimus summoneri Vobiscum cum caeteris de Consilio nostro Colloquium habere volumus tractatum Vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes quod omnibus aliis praetermissis dictis die loco personaliter intersitis Nobiscum cum caeteris de Consilio nostro super praemissis tractaturi Vestrumque consilium impensur Et hoc nullatenus omittatis T. ut supra â—p Eodem modo scribitur subscriptis viz. 16. Lay-men more Claus. 5. E. 2. d. 17. The Kings Counsill Clerks and Judges are thus entred in the eodem modo scribitur subscriptis after the Earles and Lords with a lines space between them and this distinction made between them in the margin of the Roll. Iohanni de Sandale Iohanni de Merkingfeld Waltero de Norwico Iohanni Abell Magistro Ricardo de Abyndon Magistro Iohan. de Everdon Magistr Roberto de Pickering Magistro Iohanni de Nassington senior Rogero Brabazon Willielmo de Bereford Gilberto de Roubury Stephano de Malo Lacu Waltero de Thorp Magistro Tho. de Cobham Magistro Golberto de Middleton Magistro Tho. de Loggore Willielmo de Goldington Iohan. de Chaynell Roberto de Cliderhow Iohan. de Foxle Roberto de Reâ—ford Willielmo de Ormesby Henrico de Stourton Henr. le Scroop Iohan. de Benstede Iohan. de Insula Lamberto de Trikingham Iohan. de Miâ—ford Henr. de Guldeford Iohan. de Doncastr Willielmo Inge Henr. Spigurnel In Claus. 6. E. 2. d. 31. There is such a Writ to Roger le Brabazon as the fore rehearsed with Vobiscum caeteris de Consilio nostro c. twice repeated in it and an eodem mâ—do mandatum est to 42
Kings Counsil summoned to Parliaments and Great Councils by the precedent writs were sometimes very many in number somtimes very few and alwaies more or less at the Kings meer pleasure In the first writ and list of summons extant they were no less than 40 in some others above 30 in most under 20 usually in later times but 10 11 12 13 or 14 sometimes but 4 5 6 or 7 once or twice but one Sometimes most of them were Deans Archdeacons and other Clerks or Clergymen who had alwaies the Title MAGISTRO praefixed to their names both in the writs and lists of their names other times the major number were Justices Laymen and but two or three Clerks In later times the Clergymen were wholly omitted or very rarely inserted and that when they were Treasurers or Temporal Officers to the King An unanswerable apparent Argument and demonstraon that they were no essential Members of our Parliaments or Great Councills since the King might thus summon more or fewer of them or which of them he thought fittest and omit all or any or as many of them as he would at his pleasure out of the summons 4ly That in all lists of Summons of this kinde the Kings Chief Justices and other Justices of his Courts at Westm and Chief Baron were constantly summoned in more or less numbers and the Kings Serjeants very frequently yea the writs of Summons entred in the Rolls were for the most part issued to the Kings Chief Justice because there was most use of the Justices and learned Lawyers advice and counsel in Parliaments in all matters of Law there debated inâ—writs of Error there pending in the penning of New and altering explaining or repealing of former Statutes in Pleas of the Crown and other cases criminal or civil heard and determined in Parliaments than there was of inferiour Clergymen of the Counsil the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors and Spiritual Lords there present as Members being sufficiently able to advise the King and Temporal Lords in all Ecclesiastical matters there debated or treated of especially when assisted with the Clerks of the Convocation usually summoned without any Clergymen of the Kings Counsil 5ly That by the King and his Counsil Vs and Our Counsil Vs and the rest of our Counsil aliis ac caeteris de Consilio nostro in the precedent and other writs in the Clause Rols the Rolls of Parliament the afetrcited Statutes and other Acts of Parliament the Kings Justices and others summoned to Parliaments and Great Councils as his Counsil not as Spiritual or Temporal Lords are properly meant and intended not the Lords of the Kings Privy or continual Council nor yet the Lords in Parliament or Parliament it self the Parliament in the writs of Summons to the Bishops in the Clause of Praemunientes Decanum Capitulum Archidiaconos totumque Clerum vestrae Dioc c. and in the writs to the Sheriffs Wardens of the Cinqueports being usually stiled Commune Consilium Regni nostri as the Clause Ad consentiendum hiis quae tunc ihidem de Communi Consilio regni nostri contigerit ordinari inserted into the last part of these Writs informes us And so is it stiled in the writ prescribed by the Statute De non ponendis in Assisâ—s Anno 21 E. 1. in other Writs grounded upon Acts of Parliament in the Register of Writs and Natura Brevium Or the Kings Common or General Council as in the Stat of Vouchers 18 E. 1. in the Statutes of Wast de Defensione Iuris An 20 E 1. and other printed Acts and long before this in Pat. 1 Joh Râ— m. 3 n. 3. Pat. 1 H 3. m. 3. Pat. 3 H 3. ps 2. m. 6. and sundry other writs and Patents in his reign 6ly That although Sir Edward Cooke and others make this the chief or sole distinguishing Claâ—se or proprium quarto modo between the writs of Summons to the Lords and Members of the Lords House and Assistants that the one are always summoned quod in propria persona intersitis Nobiscum ac cum dictis or caeteris Praelatis Magnatibus et Proceribus dicti regni nostri super dictis negotiis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri The others only summoned quod personaliter intersitis Nobiscnm et cum caeteris de Consilio nostro super dictis negotiis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri Yet this is not a general truth For 1. in sundry forecited writs to the Kings Counsil Justices and Assistants this clause Et cum caeteris de Consilio nostro c. is totally omitted though it be in most of them and intersitis Nobiscum only or intersitis Nobiscum et cum dictis Praelatis Magnatibus et Proceribus super dictis negotiis tractaturi vestrumque consilium impensuri without any cum caeteris de Consilio nostro inserted in lieu thereof yet with this distinction not formerly observed by any to my knowledge that in the writs to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords the words alwayes run thus in the first Clause of the writs Vobiscum ac cum CAETERIS Praelatis Magnatibus Proceribus dicti Regni nostri to a Spiritual Lord and Vobiscum cum Praelatis ac CAETERIS Magnatibus et Proceribus c to a Temporal Lord and thus in the mandatory part dictis die et lâ—co personaliter intersitis Nobiscum ac cum CAETERIS Praelatis Magnatibus Proceribus if to a Prelate and if to a Temporal Lord Nobiscum ac cum Praelatis et CAETERIS Magnatibus et Proceribus Praedictis super dictis negotiis tractaturi c. the word Caeteris is alwaies omitted in the writs to the Justices and other Assistants of the Counsil in both these clauses because they are no Spiritual nor Temporal Lords of Parliament nor summoned as such and cum Praelatis Magnatibus Proceribus without caeteris being only used in their writs both where cum caeteris de Consilio nostro is inserted into their writs after the word Proceribus or elsewhere and where it is totally omitted So that the omission of the word caeteris in this place and manner in all writs to the Justices and other Assistants and the inserting it as aforesaid into the writs of the Spiritual and Temporal Lords is the principal distinguishing word that puts a difference between them not this Clause alone Nobiscum cum aliis de Consilio nostro twice inserted into the writs of Prorogation and Resummons both to the Temporal and Spiritual Lords as well as to the Justices and Assistants Claus 33 E. 1. d. 9 10. which I shall recite at large in its due Section 7ly That in the writs of Summons to the Kings Counsil they are never licensed to appear by Proxies or Attorneys as the Spiritual and Temporal Lords sometimes are but in proper person alone 8ly That such of them who were Deans Archdeacons or Clergymen have alwaies the Title MAGITRO prefixed to their names both in
the Writs of Summons and Prorogation attest 11. That for the most part all Writs of Summons and Prorogation both to the spiritual and temporal Lords Kings Counsil Sheriffs of Counties and Wardens of the Cinque-ports have the self-same Teste date Prologues yet now and then some of them are different in their dates yet very rarely in their recitals That there is frequently a different space of daies and times between the dates of the Writs of Summons and Resummons upon Writs of Prorogation and the daies of the first meeting of the Parliaments and Great Councils to which they are summoned and elected as you may easily discern by comparing them there being sometimes two months space or more sometimes fifty daies but usually forty daies or more according to the Charter of King Iohn between the date of the Writs and daies of appearance in Parliaments and Grand Councils Yet in cases of extream necessity upon sudden unexpected dangers I finde two Parliaments summoned to meet within the space of forty daies as in Claus. 4 E. 3. d. 19. Where there was onely two and thirty daies between the date of the Writ and Parliament which being unusual there is an express clause in the Writs that it should not be drawn into consequence for the future So in 28 Eliz. the Writ bore date the 15th of September and the Parliament was to begin the 15th of October following but thirty daies after All other Writs to my best remembrance these two excepted having at least forty daies between the Teste and daies of appearance that so the Members might have competent time to prepare themselves to repair to Parliaments and Great Councils after their Summons and Elections 12. That in ancient times our Parliaments and Great Councils were more frequently summoned to meet and appear on the Lords Day than on any other day of the week which abuse in succeeding times was reformed and quite discontinued even in times of Popery as well as since the reformation of Religion 13. That our Kings upon extraordinary publick dangers and other occasions may summon Parliaments Great Councils Convocations as often as they think meet That they were anciently summoned once or twice every year at least and some times thrice four or five times in one year according to the ancient Constitution in the. Council at Hereford Anno 673. Can. 7. The Law of King Alfred Rotul Ordinationum 5 E. 2. n. 31. 4 E. 3. c. 14. Rot. Parl. n. 14. 36. E. 3. cap. 10. 50. E. 3. Rot. Parl. n. 181. 1 R. 2. rot Parl. n. 95. 2. R. 2. rot Parl. n. 4. 5. 16 Carol. cap. 1. 14. That the more weighty difficult pressing urgent the occasions and dangers were of summoning Parliaments the more importunate vehement urgent mandatory minatory and compulsary were the expressions mandates clauses in the Writs of Summens for the Lords and Commons personal appearance and attendance without admitting any excuses or procurations and not to depart from them without special licence 15. That when any publick weighty businesses intended to be propounded dispatched in one Parliament or Great Council by reason of other businesses or shortness of time could not be propounded or concluded therein thereupon another Parliament or Council was soon after called to dispatch it the day and place whereof was sometimes appointed in and by the Parliament next preceding before its dissolution 16. That though anciently before the word Parliamentum came in use among our Ancestors Great Councils were the same in substance with Parliaments yet since the summoning of Knights Citizens Buâ—gesses and Barons of the Ports to Parliaments and the insertion of Parliamentum into the Writs of Summons and Statutes you may obâ—erve some differences between Parliaments and Councils and the Writs of Summons to them which are frequently distinguished in the margin of the Clause Rolls by this different entry Summunitio Parliamenti De veniendo ad Parliamentum c. Summonitio Concllil de veniendo ad Concilium c. The principal differences between them are these 1. That many Bishops Abbots and Nobles are usually omitted in the Summons to Councils which were usually summoned to Parliaments and seldome omitted in the summons to them unless absent in forraign parts 2. That many persons were summoned to Councils which wee never finde summoned to Parliaments 3. That there is no Clause of Praemunientes in the Writs of Summons to Councils issued to Archbishops and Bishops to summon their Chapters Deans Archdeacons and Clergy of their Diocess as there is usually in their Writs of Summons to Parliaments 4. That Writs of Summons to Councils issued to the Lords Great men are seldome accompanied with any Writs of Election for Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons of Ports issued to Sheriffs or the Warden of the Cinqueports as Writs of Summons to Parliaments are and if any Knights Citizens or Burgesses be summoned to them it is in a different manner and number than when they were summoned to Parliaments 5. Writs of Summons to Parliaments are usually accompanied with Writs of Summons to the Kings Counsils but those to Councils are never attended with such Writs distinct from those issued to the spiritual and temporal Lords as Writs of Summons to Parliaments are Which differences some injudicious Writers and Antiquaries not observing have both confounded those Writs together as one and mistaken one of them frequently for the other 17. That the principal end scope of summoning Parliaments ought to be the common benefit ease profit welfare of the people the execution promotion of publick Justice the Peace and good Government of the Realm the reformation of all publick grievances and oppressions the enacting of wholesome Laws the maintenance of the Great Charters and Liberties of the people and freeing them from all unjust exactions impositions taxes not granted by Parliament nor warranted by Law the necessary defence of the Realm by common consent against forraign enemies and not to exact and impose unnecessary insupportable excessive endless Aids and Taxes on the people 18. That no publick war ought to be undertaken nor no Aids Taxes Imposts Customes or Tallages imposed on or exacted levyed on the people by our Kings or any other but onely by common consent and Grant of the Lords and Commons in a full and free Parliament though it be for the necessary defence of the Kingdome by Land or Sea the defence or regaining of the Lands and Rights of the Crown in forraign parts and that onely in moderate and just proportions granted onely for a short season and leavyed in a legal manner Nor no mens Rights precluded or forejudged in Parliament by any general Act before they bee heard Nor the Clergy taxed by the Lords and Commons but onely by themselves in their convocations 19. That the Writs of Summons to Parliaments enjoyning all the temporal Earls Peers Lords and Barons of the Realm and commanding them upon and in the Love
fear and well expect by way of divine and human retaliation that their very New erected House of Lords when once established having the power of Judicature if not of the Army in them to preserve themselves from the like Usurpations of the Commons over them in after ages will upon the first opportunity Vote down by this their president the whole House of Commons and quite suppresse it for the future as Vselesse dangerous factious Tumulâ—uous seditious arbitrary Tyrannicall oppressive to the people degenerated from its ancient duty bounds moderation as not only some of our late Kings but of those new intended Lords have publickly branded proclaimed it to be in late printed Declarations and constitute all future Parliaments only of a House of Lords and Great men of the Realme assisted with the Counsell and Iustices without any Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports or House of Commons according to all ancient long continued Presidents in former ages before 49. H. 3. when for ought appeares the Commons were first admitted and called unto Parliaments out of meer grace by the Kings Writs Or at least the disinherited ancient Nobility in case they regain their pristine Rights of Session Judicature in Parliament without the Commons assistance of which there is no absolute future improbability may by way of Justice and retaliation set the Commons House quite aside for their late transcendent breaches abuses of their Trusts towards them in secluding and voting them quite down against their Writs Indentures Duties Oathes by which they have legally forfeited all their Priviledges and right of Parliamentary session according to this received Maxime in all Lawes Privilegium amittat qui improbabili temeritate quod non accepit usurpat sua authoritate non legitime utitur sed abutitur potestate Which weighty consideration though seconded with none else should engage all Commoners to pursue the golden rule precept of Christ himself as well in point of prudence conscience Justice as morality towards the old Lords Matth. 7. 12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the Law and the Prophets For with the same measure that ye meat withall it shall be measured to you again as Luk. 6. 38. Iudg. 1. 6. 7. Psal. 137. 8. Rev. 13. 10. c. 16. 5. 6. Ezek. 35 10. 11. 14. 15. Obad. 15. 16. Ioel. 3. 6. 7. 8. Gen. 9. 6. Mat. 26. 52. Iam. 2. 13. do all infallibly resolve us as well as late experiments 21. That the first and principle things specified in the Writs of summons as the prime ends for which Parliaments are summoned is to debate and consult of quaedam specialia ardua negotia Nos et Statum regni nostri et etiam Iura Salvationem et Defensionem Coronae nostrae Regiae as well as Regni nostri et Ecclesie Anglicanae specialiter intime contingentibâ—s And all Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of Ports elected returned to serve in Parliament in the Commons House receive plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se et Communitate Comitatuum Civitatum Burgorum et Portuum from those Commonalties who elect them only ad faciendum consentiendum his quae tunc ibidem de communi Consilio Comitum Baronum or dicti Regni nostri contigerit ordinari super Negotiis antedictis quod hoc breve or prout breve illud in se exigit requirit as the express words of the Sheriffs returns and their Indentures evidence Therefore their enacting any thing by themselves alone without the Earls Barons and Lords House or Majoritie of their Fellow Commoners or against their Counsell Votes advice to the prejudice destruction subversion of the Kings Person State Kingdom and the Prerogative Rights of his Royal Crown and Dignity which they were purposely summoned by the King and authorized intrusted only by their Electors Commonalties people to preserve support and defend and to do and consent to nothing else inconsistent with or repugnant to these ends is the highest prevarication treacherie violation of their Trusts Duties that can possibly be imagined deserving the most exemplarie punishments And those Republicans who lately acted in this kind to the destruction of the King kingdom the prerogatives Rights of the Crown Parliament Lords and Monarchie of England upon this pretext that they were intrusted impowred thus to doe by the people and those who did elect them are the most notorious Impostors Prevaricators Infringers Peruerters Falsifiers of their trusts and power in this kinde that ever England yet produced as all the forecited Writs compared with their their retorns unanimously resolve against their false absurd pretences to the contrarie wherewith they have endeavoured to blinde and cheat the people in whom they verbally voted placed the Soveraign power only by this forged hypocritical pretext actually to usurp appropriate it to themselves as their Trustees and Representatives presently thereupon in all their new published Knacks Papers intitling themselves alone not the people the SUPREAM AUTHORITY OF THE NATION making the people greater Slaves and Uassalls to them in respect of their Lawes Lives Members Liberties Freeholds Franchises Properties Estates than ever they were in any age under Beheaded King Charles or the worst of all our Kings and Lords who never acted half so arbitrarily tyrannically in everie kinde as they their Committees High Courts of Iustice Counsils of State Major Generals Excise-men and other Officers have done since their late Exorbitant Anti-parliamentary Vsurpations Innovations Proceedings under the disguise and Notion of the Parliament of England without A KING HOUSE OF LORDS or the secluded MAIORITY OF THE COMMONS HOUSE it self the forced absence seclusion of all and everie of which 3. made them no real Parliament at all but an Anti-Parliamentary Conventicle and all their miâ—intitled Acts Ordinances meer Nullities both in Law and Conscience fit to be enternally exploded by the whole English Nation and all future new Parliaments to prevent the like pernicious Extravagances in after ages which have involved us in so manie various Miseries Warrs Perplexities Fears Dangers Oppressions Factions Troubles Changes Unsettlements and Confusions which without Gods insinite mercie presage nought else but total and final Desolation both to our Church State and Nations Our Law-books resolve the Parliament to be a Corporation consisting of the King as thief head the Lords as the Superior and the Commons as inferior Members who ought mutually to preserve each others interests and unite their counsells for the publike good without any seisure or encroachment upon one another For as there is nothing but giddiness torture distemper consumption restlesness sickness inactivity maimedness confusion in the body natural whiles the head or chief joints bones parts of it are inverted dislocated fractured severed and kept out of joynt and no other means left when thus distorted to restore it to rest health soundness activitie and prevent its dissolution by