Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
kingdom_n end_n king_n lord_n 3,565 5 3.6733 3 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A91303 The treachery and disloyalty of papists to their soveraignes, in doctrine and practise. Together with an exact parallel of the jurisdiction, power, and priviledges claimed and exercised by our popish Parliaments, prelates, Lords and Commons in former times, with those now claimed and practised by the present Parliament, Lords and Commons, which are here manifested to be farre more loyall, dutifull, moderate; more consistent with, lesse invasive on, and destructive to the Kings pretended soveraigne power and prerogative, then those of popish parliaments, and subjects. Wherein likewise the traiterous, antimonarchicall doctrines, practises and attempts of papists upon their soveraignes prerogatives, crownes, persons, with the dangerous consequences, effects, and designes, of their present illegall arming, and accesse to the Kings Army, and person by meanes of evill counsellours, are briefely discovered; ... It is ordered by the Committee for Printing that this treatise be forthwith printed and published, by Michael Sparke, senior. Januar. 13. 1642. John White.; Soveraigne power of parliaments and kingdomes. Part 1 Prynne, William, 1600-1669.; England and Wales. Parliament. 1643 (1643) Wing P4108; Thomason E248_1; ESTC R203188 101,087 43

There are 12 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

2 3 4 5. Plato de Republica Bodius Common wealth The Repub of ●undry Nations Aristotle and al other Polititions who hold all formes of Government changeable and revocable without any injustice if necess●ry or convenient So likewise ●o the very end for which kings haveregall power as well as other Governours and Governments were ordained to wit their kingdomes peoples m Rom. 14. 1 to 6. 1 Pet. 2. 13. 14. 2 Sam. 5. 12. Aristotle Pol. l. 3. 4. 5. Caelius Rhodig l 8. c. 1. Bracton l. 3. c. 9. f. 107. welfare safety peace protection c. Salus p●puli being not onely that Suprema Lex but principall end for which all royall power was institute● by God and man and to which they must submit in case it become in compatible or cannot consist together without dammage or danger to the publike safety what therefore that learned Father Augustine Bishop of Hippo long since resolved touching the now much contested for Lordly State of Episcopacie which he and neere 300. African Bishops more were then ready to lay downe for the Churches peace I may fitly apply to the now over much contended for supposed royall Prerogatives of kings to effect Peace in the State in these times of uncivill military that I say not bloody dissentions raised about them betweene king and Parliament An vero c. n Augustinus de Geftis cune Emerita Donatist Epis Tom. 7. pars 1. p. 782. 783. What verily did ou● Redeemer descend from heaven into humane members that we might he his members and shall we le●t his very members be rent in pieces with cruell division feare to descend out of our thrones we are ordained BP ● fo● Christian peoples ●ake what therfore may profit them for Christian peace that let us do with our Bishoprickes Quod autem sum propter te sim si tibi prodest non sim si tibi obest What I-am I may be for thee if it profit thee I may not be if it be hurtfull to thee If we be profitable servants why do we envie the● eternall gaines of our Lord for our tempot all sublimities or Prerogatives Our Episcopall dignity will o See all Acts of Repeale and others which alter the common Law See Smiths Common-wealth l. 2. c. 2. 3. be more fruitfull to us if it shall more unite the flock of Christ then disperse it if retained If when I will retain my Bishoprick I disperse the ●lock of Christ how is the dammage of the flock the honour o● the sheapheard c. Old statute Lawes yea and the common Law of England may be and oft are repealed and altered by Parliaments though above the king and his Prerogative when they become mischieuous ●● inconvenient therefore any branches of the kings Prerogative inferiour to these Lawes when they prove grievous or dangerous to the subjects It is the kings own professed Maxime in full Parliamen p At the end of the Petition of Right 3. Caroli Printed and inrolled by his speciall command in all his Courts That the Kings Prerogative is but to defend the Peoples Liberties when therefore it either invades or subver● them it may justly it must necessarily be restrained diminished or resumed by the Parliament from whose assent or grant it first proceeded The Emperour q See Eutropius Sabellicus Grimston Speed others of his life Otho the first and our king Richard the second as r Speeds History p. 757. some imagine voluntary resigned relinquished their Crownes to their immortall honour to prevent the effusion of their Subiects blood by civill warres and settle peace within thei● Realmes and shall not other kings then most joyfully part with some Punctilioes of their reall o● branches of their supposed Prerogatives for the selfesame ends if their Parliaments see good cause to resume them and of right may doe it Fifthly The king though he be the chiefe and principall yet he is onely one member of the Parliament and kingdome the least because but one person though the highest branch the Lords and Commons not elected by but assigned Counsellors to the king by the kingdome and people being the greatest and most considerable part as representing the intire body of the kingdome Now common reason Law and experience manifests t See Br. Tit. Corporations that the whole or greatest part in all politique or naturall Bodies is of greater power Jurisdiction then any one particular member Thus in all our t Corporations the Court of Aldermen and Common Councell is of greater power then the Major though the chiefe Officer the Chapter of greater authority then the Deane the Deane and Chapter then the s Keckerman Systema Logic. l. 1. c. 22. BPP the whole Bench then the Lord chiefe Justice the whole Counsell then the President the whole Parliament then either of the Houses and by like reason then the king especially since one of the three Estates is lesser then the three Estates together who in Parliament by the fundamentall Constitions of the Realme are not v See the fuller answer to Dr. Ferne. p. 2. 3. Subordinate but Coordinate parts of the same great Common-Councell of the kingdome It is Aristotles expresse determination x Quod eorum qui rempublicam gerunt majori parti placue●it id est ratum ac ●●mum Arist Polit. l. 4. c. 8. l. 3. that in an Oligarchie Aristocrasie and Democrasie whatsoever seemes good to the Major part of the Governours of the Common-wealth that is ratified and that it is unfit the part should be above the whole And in all Courts of Iustice Corporations and Elections y Br. Corporations 34. 8. H. 6. c. 7. the major part have alwayes had the greatest sway and constantly over-ruled the lesse though it be but by one casting voyce as is evident to all in the Elections of Knights and Burgesses of and votes in the Parliament in which the z 14. H. 8. f. 3. b. King Lords and Commons by the Common Law make up but one intire Corporation since then even in Parliament it selfe the Major part over swayes the rest yea the king himselfe who hath no absolute negative voyce but onely in refusing to passe some kinde of Bills not all of which more hereafter doubtlesse the whole or Major part of the Parliament which in Law is the whole is above the king the chiefe member of it Which consideration together with the Statutes of 5. R. 2. Stat. 2. c 4. 6. H. 8. c. 16. Enacting That none elected to be in any Parliament shall depart or absent himself from the same Parliament till it be fully ended or proroged without speciall license of the Speaker of the Commons to be entred of record in the jornall Booke under paine of amercement losse of wages and other punishment nor * See the manner of holding Parliaments in England newly Printed London 1641 and Dyer f. 60. 2. any member of the upper House without that
doth the use thereof also teach us It seemeth also agreeable unto reason that the same should be done in the Church that is in the Councell which is done in any Kingdome And so is this sufficiently apparent that the Pope is subject unto the Councell Thus the Bishop of Burgen Ambassadour of Spaine the Abbot of Scotland and Thomas de Corcellis a famous Divine reasoned in this Councell which voted with them Here we have a full resolution of this great Councell which the Papists call a generall one being l Surius Concil tom 4. p. 1. c. And Aeneas Sylvius hist concil Basilliensis approved by the Greeke and Romane Emperours and most Christian Kings and States and ours among others That the Kingdome in Parliament Assembled is above the King as 〈…〉 Generall Councell is paramount the Pope which they manifest by five reasons First because Kings were first created and instituted by their Kingdomes and people not their Kingdomes and people by them Secondly Because they were ordained onely for their Kingdomes and peoples service and welfare not their kingdomes and people for them Thirdly Because their Kingdomes and people as they at first created so they still limit and confine their royall Jurisdiction by Lawes to which they are and ought to be subject Fourthly Because they oblige them by a solemne Oath to rule according and to be obedient unto the Lawes Fifthly Because they have power to depose them in case they contemne the Lawes and violently rob and spoyle their Subjects This then being the Doctrine of Papists concerning the Power and Superiority of Parliaments Peeres and Kingdomes over their Kings they have least ground of all others to taxe this Parliament or its Advocates as guilty of Treason and usurpation upon the Crowne for a more moderate claime then this amounts to Secondly I answer that Popish Parliaments Peeres and Prelates have heretofore challenged and exercised a greater Jurisdiction over their Kings then this Parliament or any other since the embracing of the Protestant Religion ever claimed and doe in a great measure disclaime For first of all they have challenged and executed a just and legall power as they deemed it to depose their Kings for not governing according to Law for following and protecting evill Counsellours and Officers oppressing their Subjects and making warre against them This is evident not onely by the forementioned passages of the Councell of Basil with infinite presidents in foraine Empires and Kingdomes which I pretermit b●● by sundry domesticke examples of which I shall give you a short touch m Speeds Hist p 207. 266 267. Matth. West An. 445. 454 c. See Holinshed Grafton others Anno Dom. 454. King Vortigern when he had reigned for yeares space for his negligence and evill Government for which Vodine Arch-bishop of London told him he had endangered both his Soule and Crowne was deposed from his Crowne by his Subjects the Britaines generall consent imprisoned and his Son Vortimer chosen and Crowned King in his stead After whose untimely death being poysoned by Rowe●a Vortigern was againe restored by them to the Crowne and at last for his notorious sinnes by the just revenging hand of God consumed to ashes by fire kindled by Aurelius and V●er as heavens ministers to execute its wrath Sig●bert n Speeds Hist p. 229. Matth. West an 756. Holinsh Graft in his life King of the West-Saxons setting aside all Lawes and rules of true piety wallowing in all se 〈…〉 suall pleasures and using exactions and cruelties upon his Subjects and ●laying the Earle Cumbra his mo 〈…〉 faithfull Counsellour for admonishing him lovingly of his vicious life the Peeres and Commons thereupon seeing their State and lives in danger and their Laws thus violated assembled all together and provida omniu 〈…〉 deliberatione rose up in Armes against him deposed and would acknowledge him no longer their Soveraigne whereupon flying into the Woods as his onely safeguard and there wandring in the day like a forlo●●e person and lodging in dens and caves by night he was slaine by Cumbra his Swin-herd in revenge of his Masters death and Kenwolfe made King in his stead Anno Dom. 756. o Speeds Hist p. 245. 246. Matth. West an 792 See Holinsh Graf●on and others Osred King of Northumberland for his i 〈…〉 government was expelled by his Subjects and deprived of all Kingly Authority Anno 789. So Ethelred th 〈…〉 Sonneof M●llo his next successor being revoked from exile and restored to the Crowne of which he was * Matth. West m. An. 758. p. 275. formerly deprived thereupon murthering divers of his Nobles and Subjects to secure his Crowne so far offended his Subjects thereby that Anno 794 they rose up in armes against him and slew him at Cob●e Thus Anno 758. the people of the kingdome of Mercia rising up against Beornerd their King because be governed the ●eople not by just lawes but tyranny assembled all together as well Nobles as ignoble and Offa a most valiant ●oung man being their Captaine they expelled him from the Kingdome which done unanimo omnium consensu by the unanimous consent of all as well Clergy as People they crowned Offa King n Matth. West An. 821. Speeds Hist p 255. And Ceolwulfe King of Mercia Anno 820 after one yeares reigne was for his misgovernment expulsed by his people abando●ing his Crowne and country for the sa●ery of his life Not to mention any more such presidents before the Conquest We finde the o Matth. Paris hist Angl. p. 264 to 280. Speede p. 585 c. Hollinshead Grafton Stow Daniel Walsingham Popish Barons Prelates and Commons disavowing King John whom they had formerly elected King for making warre upon them and ●asting burning and spoyling the kingdom like an enemie electing Lewis of France for their King to whom ●hey did homage and fealty There are none so ignorant but know that the Popish Prelates Lords and Commons in Parliament p Walsingham Hist Angl. p. 398 c. Fabiun part 7. p. 345. Polychron l. ult c. 9. Hollinshead Grafton Speed p. 758. to 766. An 1327 deposed King Edward the second their naturall King for his misgovernement and following and protecting ill Counsellors inforcing him by way of complement to resigne his Crowne threatning else that they would never endure him nor any of his Children as their Soveraigne but disclayming all homage and fealtie would elect some other for King not of his r blood whom themselves should thinke most fit and able to defend the kingdome After which they elected and crowned his sonne Edward the third for their King That An 1399 q Walsing Hol. Fab. Sp. p. 680. to 697. King Richard the second for sundry misdemeanours objected against him ●n 32. Articles in Parliament and breach of his Coronation oath was judicially deposed by a Popish Parliament by 〈…〉 definitive sentence of deposition given against him which you may read at large in our
Historians and Hen●y the fourth elected and created King in his stead In both which depositions the Popish Prelares were chiefe 〈…〉 ctors ſ Speed p. 869. 878. 879. 887. Holingshead Polychronicon Fabian Grafton Hall Stow Caxton in their lives Anno 1462. King Henry the sixt Queen Margaret and Prince Edward their Sonne were by a Popish Parliament disinherited of their right to the Crowne and Edward the fourth made King after which King Henry was by another Parliament recrowned and reestablished in his Kingdome and Edward the fourth declared 〈…〉 Traytor and usurper of the Crowne And not long after Edward taking King Henry prisoner and causing him to be murdered in the Tower another Popish Parliament Anno 1472. abrogated King Henries Lawes and ●eestablished King Edward All this have our Popish Parliaments Prelates Lords and Commons formerly done and that rightly and legally as they then supposed which far transcends the highest st●aines of pretended in●roachments on his Majesties royalties by the present Parliament which detests such presidents Secondly our Popish Parliaments Pecres and Prelates have oft translated the Crowne from the right heires ●nd setled it on others who had no lawfull right or title to it electing and acknowledging them for their one●y Soveraigne Lords in which actions the Popish Prelates and Clergy were commonly the Ring-leaders witnesse their t Speed p. 410. 411. 425 426. 404. to 407. 410. 416. 418. 419. 455 456. 466 467. 548 549. 550. 590. 591. See Matthew Paris Matth. Westminster Malmesbury Hunting don Eadmerus 〈…〉 bian Walsingham Caxton Polychronicon Polydo● Virgil Hall Gr●●t●n Stow How Hollinshead Haywar● M●●tin Daniel and Sir 〈…〉 their severall lives of these Kings electing and crowning of Edward who was illegitimate and putting by Ethelred the right heire after ●dgars decease An. 975. The electing and Crowning Canutus King a meere forrainer in opposition to Edmund ●he right heire to King Ethelred An. 1016. Of Harold and Hardiknute both elected and crowned Kings successive●y without title Edmund and Alfred the right heires being dispossessed and the latter imprisoned and tortu●ed to death An. 1036. and 1040. yet after Hardiknutes decease Edward surnamed the Confessor was chosen King by consent of Parliament And the English Nobilitie upon the death of King Harold enacted That none ●f the Danish blood should any more reigne over them After this Kings death Edgar Etheling who had best title was rejected and Harold elected and crowned King so after William the Conquerors decease Anno 1087. Robert ●he elder brother was pretermitted and William Rufus the younger brother crowned and established in the Throne After whose death Henry the first his younger brother though not next heire was elected King ●y the Clergy Nobles and Commons who refused to admit of any King but with capitulations and caveats to their ●wne liking upon faire promises for resorming bad and rigorous Lawes remission of Taxes exacted on the Subjects and ●unishment of the chiefe causers of them and a solemne oath to frame good Lawes and ratifie Saint Edwards Lawes ●ll which he really performed So after the death of Richard the first John Earle of Morton was elected and crowned King and his Nephew Arthur the right heire disinherited And he dying his sonne Henry the third was ●lected and crowned and Lewis made King in his fathers life by the Barons removed The like we finde in ●he case of King Henry the fourth King Edward the fourth and Richard the third made Kings by Acts of Par●●ament by our Popish Prelates and Nobles with the Commons consent upon unlawfull or doubtfull Titles ●y way of usurpation and the right hereditary line put by Such a transcendent power and ●urisdiction as this 〈…〉 disinherite the right heire and transferre the Crowne to whom they throught meerest neither the present nor ●ny other Protestant Parliament Peeres or Subjects ever claymed or exercised though Popish Parliaments ●relates Lords and Commons have thus frequently done it of which you may reade more in 25. H. 8. c. 22. 26. 〈…〉 8. c. 12. 28. H. 8. c. 7. 35. H. 8. c. 5. Thirdly the Lords and Commons in times of Popery have sent our writs and summoned a Parliament in the Kings name and forced the King to call a Parliament without and against his full consent Thus they summoned and held a Parliament in Ireland Anno 1341 refusing to come to a Parliament there summoned by the Kings officers and authority as the u In Camdens Britania English p. 188. Irish Annalls doe more at large record Thus they x Walsingham Hist. Ang. p. 107. 398. Speed p. 681. 757. summoned and held two Parliaments here in England to depose King Edward the second and King Richard the second without these Kings consents and by two severall Acts of Parliament 4. E 3. c. 4. and 36. E. 3. c. 10. enacted That for the maintenance of the Lawes and Statutes and redresse of divers mischiefes and grievances which daily happe●eth a Parliament shall be holden every yeare once and more often if need be whereas this Parliament was 〈…〉 called but by the Kings owne free consent and hath moderated these former Acts by changing the annuall into 〈…〉 triennuall Parliament by a speciall Bill to which his Majestie gave his full and free assent y Myrror c. 1. sect 3. p. 10. Co. instit on Littleton f. 110. Spelman Concil p. 347. Long before which Acts King Alfred in an assembly of Parliament ordained this for a perpetuall custome that a Parliament should be called together at London twice every yeare or oftner in time of peace to keep the people of God from sinne th 〈…〉 they may live in peace and receive right by certaine usages and holy judgements Fourthly Our Popish Barons Prelates and Commons have refused to meet in Parliament when the King ha 〈…〉 summoned them by his writ z Matth. Paris An. 1233. p. 344 473 c. Speedes Hi. p. 607. to 613. Anno Dom. 1233. King Henry the third summoned his Earles and Barons to appeare at a Parliament at Oxford where the King now resides but they all joyntly sent him an expresse messag 〈…〉 that they would not come upon his summons for that the Kings person went guarded with Poictovines othe 〈…〉 strangers who swayed and miscounselled him as ill Counsellors doe now the King so as they could no 〈…〉 there appeare with safety at which message the King grew very angry resolving that they should bee on 〈…〉 twice and thrice summoned to appeare Whereupon Roger Bacon who usually preached before the King freely told him That if he did not remove from him Peter Bishop of Winchester and Peter de Rivallis his malign 〈…〉 Counsellors he could never be quiet And Roger Bacon a Clergy man also of a pleasant wit seconding Robert advise told the King that Peirae and Rupes were most dangerous things at Sea alluding to the Bishops name Petrus de Rupibus The King hereupon comming a little to himselfe and taking that
presence and of all his Barons and himselfe was one of the Excommunicators That such a one should be ma● their Chiefe Justice who would judge according to Right without respect to poore or rich With other things concerning the kingdome to the common utility peace and honor of the King and kingdome To these their necessa●● Councels and provisions they did frequently and most constantly by way of advice desire the King to condescend swearing and giving their mutuall Faith and hands one to another That they would not defis●● prosecute their purpose neither for losse of money or Lands nor love nor hare no nor yet for life or dea● of them or theirs till they had cleared England to which they and their forefathers were borne from up starts and aliens and procured laudable Lawes The King hearing this and that they came exquisitely arme that so he and his aliens might be enforced if they would not willingly assent tooke his corporall Oath a● his Sonne Prince Edward also that he would submit ●o their Councels and all those their Ordinances f●● feare of perpetuall imprisonment The Lords having by an Edict threatned death to all that resisted Whi● done all the Peeres and Prelates tooke their Oath To be faithfull to this their Ordinance and made all wh● would abide in the Kingdome to sweare they would stand to the ●ryall of their Peeres the Arch-bishop● and Bishops solemnely accursing all that should rebell against it And Richard King of Romans the Kings younger Brother comming soone after into England to visit the King and his owne Lands the d Matth. Par. p. 952 953. Spe. p. 636. Barons enforce him according to his promise sent them in writing before his arrivall to take this Oath as soone as he la●ded in the Chapter-house at Canterbury Heare all men that I Richard Earle of Cornewall sweare upon ●● holy Gospels to be faithfull and forward to reforme with you the kingdome of England hithert● by the councell of wic●ed men so much deformed And I will be an effectuall coadjuto● to expell the Rebels and troublers of the Realme f●● out of the same This Oath will I observe under paine to for feit all my Lands I have in England To such a high straine as this did these Popish Parliaments Prelates Peeres and Commons scrue up their ●●risdictions to preserve themselves and the Kingdome from slavery and desolation whom Matthew Paris ●● continuer for this service stiles e History Angliae p. 95● Angliae Reipublicae Zelatores the Zelors of the English Republicke Neith● is this their example singular but backed with other presidents In the second and third yeares of King E●ward the second f Walsing ●p●digma Neust An. 1309 1310 Hist Ang. p. 70. to 77. S. p. 608. c. with Holin Stow. Graf How and others F●x Act. Mon. v●l ● Ed. ult p. 480 481. Piers Gaveston his great proud insolent covetous unworthy Favorite miscounselling a● seducing the young King from whom he had beene banished by his Father and swaying all things a●●● pleasure the Pe●res and Nobles of the Real●e seeing themselves contemned and that foraine upstart p●●fe●red before them all came to the King and humbly entreated him That he would manage the Affaires of ● Kingdome by the Counsels of his Barons by whom he might not onely become more cautious but more safe from inc●●bent dangers the King Voce ●enus consented to them and at their instance summoned a Parliament at Lond●● to which he commanded all that ought to be present to repaire Where upon serious debate they earn●●ly demanded of the King free liberty for the Barons to compose certaine Articles profitable to himselfe to his kingdome and ●o the Church of England The King imagining that they would order Piers to be banished a lo●● time denyed to grant their demand but at last at the importunate instance of them all he gave his assent a● swore he would ratifie and observe what ever the Nobles should ordaine The Articles being drawne up and agreed by common consent they propounded them to the King and by their importunity much against his well-liking caused him to ratifie them with his Seale and to take his corporall Oath to observe them Which done the Archbishop of Canterbury with his Suffragans solemnely denounced a sentence of excommunication against all who should contradict these Articles which they caused to be openly read in Pauls Church London in the presence of the Prelates Lords and Commons of the whole Kingdome the King being present Among which Articles they demanded That Magna Charta with other provisions necessary to the Church and Realme should be observed that the King ●s his Father had commanded should thrust all Strangers out of his Court and kingdome and remove ill Councellours ●●om him That he would thenceforth order all the affaires of the Kingdome by the Counsell of the Clergie and Lords ●nd begin no warre nor depart any where out of the kingdome without common consent The King notwithstanding ●ll these things seemed hard and insupportable to him consented to the Articles and banished Piers into ●reland No * Note the credit of Princes Regall promises and Protestations sooner was the Parliament dissolved but the King neglecting his Fathers solemne adjurations ●ogether with his owne Oath never to reduce Piers sends for him backe to his Court marryeth him to the Countesse of Glocester his owne sisters daughter sheweth him more favour then ever Resolving with himselfe ●o retaine this Gaveston maugre all his Earles Barons and for the love of him to put his Crowne and life in ●erill when time should serve In which whither the King or his favourite shewed lesse discretion it is not ●t the first easily determined it being as unsafe for the one with so offensive behaviour to affect immoderate ●●ew and use of grace as for the other to the injury of his name and Realme to bestow the same But upon ●he Queenes complaint to the King of France her Brother of Piers his insolence and prodigality and on the ●arons message to the King by common consent That he should banish Piers from his company and observe the ●ffect of the foresaid Articles or else they would certainely rise up against him as a perjured person by a like vow which ●peech seemed hard to the King because he knew not how to want Piers but yet discerned that more danger would spring ●p if he obeyed not the Lords Petition Piers rather by the Kings permission then good liking did the third ●●me abjure the Realme with this proviso that if at any time afterward he were taken in England he should ●e forthwith put to death as a perilous enemy to the Kingdome yet he returning in Christmas to the King at Yorke the Lords spirituall and temporall to preserve the Liberties of the Church the Kingdome and remove this ●iper elected Thomas Earle of Lancaster for their Generall and sent honourable messengers to the King re●uesting him
we also shew unto you that one old statute and laudable custome is approve 〈…〉 which no man can deny That the King our Soveraigne Lord may once in the yeare lawfully summon his high Cou 〈…〉 of Parliament and call the Lords and Commons thereunto as to that which is the highest Court of this Real 〈…〉 In which Court all equity and justice must shine even as the Sunne when it is at the highest whereof poore and ri 〈…〉 may take refreshing where also must be reformed all the oppressious wrongs exactions and enormities within t 〈…〉 Realme and there to consult with the wise men for the maintenance of the Kings estate And if 〈…〉 might bee knowne that any persons within the Realme or without intended the contrary there also m 〈…〉 bee devised how such evill weeds might be destroyed There also must be studied and foreseene that if a 〈…〉 charge doe come upon the King and his Realme how it may be well and honorably supported and sustained Hither 〈…〉 to it is thought by the whole Realme that your Subjects have lovingly demeaned themselves to you in ayding 〈…〉 with substance to the best of their powers and they desire to have knowledge how and by whom these goods be spe 〈…〉 One thing resteth yet to declare in their behalfe unto you * Not● The King should be present in Parliament once in 40. dayes how that by an old Ordinance they have an Act if t 〈…〉 King absent himselfe 40. dayes not being sicke but of his owne minde not heeding the charges of his people 〈…〉 their great paines will not resort to his Parliament they then may lawfully returne home to their houses And 〈…〉 sir you have beene absent a longer time and yet refuse to come amongst us which greatly is our discom 〈…〉 for t And our Parliaments present case To this the King answered by these words Well we doe con 〈…〉 der that the people and Commons goe to rise against us wherefore we thinke we can doe no better then to aske a 〈…〉 of our Cosin the French King and rather submit us to him then to our owne Subjects The Lords answered S 〈…〉 that Counsell is not best but a way rather to bring you into danger For it is well knowne that the French King 〈…〉 your ancient enemy and your greatest adversary and if he set foot once within your Realme he will rather dispo 〈…〉 you invade you and depose you from your estate royall then put any hand to helpe you c. And as th 〈…〉 King cannot be poore that hath rich people so cannot he be rich that hath poore Commons And all these inconven 〈…〉 〈…〉 es be comne by the evill Counsell which are about you And if you put not your helping hand to the redresse ●he premises this Realme of England shall be brought to nought and utter ruine which clearely should be laid 〈…〉 our default and in your evill Counsell Seeing that in the time of your Father this Realme throughout all the 〈…〉 rld was highly esteemed and nothing ordered after these wayes Wherefore we be sent unto you to exhort you to 〈…〉 uester all such persons as might be the occasion of ruine either of you or else of your Realme By these good 〈…〉 swasions the King was appeased and promised within three dayes after to come to the Parliament and to 〈…〉 descend to their Petitions And according to his appointment he came Where soone after John Fordham 〈…〉 hop os Durham was discharged of the Treasurourship and the Bishop of Hereford ser in his place de la 〈…〉 le was put from his Chancellourship for divers crimes frauds briberies and treasons by him com 〈…〉 tted to the prejudice of the King and his Realme committed to the Tower and fined 20. thousand 〈…〉 rkes to the King in releeving of the Commons Divers other Judges Knights and Delinquents of all 〈…〉 t s were condemned and executed others banished and their states confiscated others put out of office 〈…〉 this Parliament as you may reade in our Histories and in the k 10. R. c l 11. R. 2. c. l 29 3 4 5 6. 2 R. 2. c. 2. 3. 12. Statutes at large in which Statutes the 〈…〉 schievous effects of these evill Counsellors to King Kingdome and people are at full related whereby 〈…〉 e King and all his Realme were very nigh to have beene wholly undone and destroyed the Lords ●ay●g of Forces against them resolved to be lawfull and these traytorous Delinquents made uncapable of 〈…〉 y pardon l See the Records of this Parliament published by order of both Houses Aug. 27. 1642. and their raysing of Armes against the Parliament and kingdome though with the Kings 〈…〉 ne consent and his command declared and enacted to bee high Treason These proceedings ratified 〈…〉 d assented to in Parliament by the King much against his will wrought an intolerable secret 〈…〉 tred and desire of revenge in his heart against the Lords which for want of power he concealed neare 〈…〉 yeares space but in the 20. yeare of his raigne being somewhat elevated in his spirit with a rumour 〈…〉 at he should be elected Emperour he suddenly apprehended the Duke of Glocester the Earles of Warwicke 〈…〉 d Arundell the chiefe sticklers in the premises committing them to severall prisons And to blinde the 〈…〉 ples eyes lest they should riseup in Armes to rescue these Lords the King sent out a feigned Proclamation which he caused to be proclaymed throughout the Realme that these Lords were apprehended onely for 〈…〉 w Treasons committed against him for which he would he prosecute them in the next Parliament and not for the 〈…〉 trepasses After which he proclaimes those Lords Traytors Which done he summoned a m Grafion p. 329. c. Mr. Saint-Johns Speech 1640. p. 33. 1. H 4. No. 21. 21. 48. Parliament at Westminster to this Parliament the King commanded to 〈…〉 me all such as he had best confidence in omitting the rest and the Knights were not elected by the Commons 〈…〉 custome required they should be but by the Kings pleasure yea he put out divers persons elected and put in other 〈…〉 their places to serve his turne which was one Article objected against him when he was deposed Against 〈…〉 e time of this Parliament the King received a guard of 4000. Archers all Cheshire men as if he would 〈…〉 ve gone in battle against enemies so that divers came armed to the Parliament out of feare These 〈…〉 eshiere men were rude and beastly people and so proud of the Kings favour n As the Cavaliers do now that they accounted the 〈…〉 ng to be their fellow and set the Lords at nought though few of them were gentlemen but taken from the 〈…〉 ough and other trades After these ●usticall people had a while courted they grew so bold that they 〈…〉 uld not let neither within the Court nor without to beat and slay the Kings
a Seneca de Cleme●●●a l. 1. as may winne their hearts and affections and not to straine their pretended Prerogatives beyond the bounds of Law this being a most certaine experimented rule which b Polit. l. 5. c. 10 11. p 367 368 See Polybius Hist l. 6. Aristotle the Prince of Politicians gives That there are two intestine causes most perilous and frequent of all others by which a kingdome is usually lost and subverted The first is if the Nobles and people dissent from the King himselfe The second if Kings will Reigne tyrannically and usurpe a greater domination or prerogative then the Lawes of their kingdomes give them Then he addes Verily a kingdome is preserved by contrary remedies specially by a moderate kinde and temperate forme of Government For by how much the c Deut. 17. 19 20. See Prov. 16. 12. c. 20. 28 c. 29. 4. 14. c. 25. 5. more moderate the King shall be and contented with smaller and fewer prerogatives by so much the more constant and longer-lasting shall his kingdome necessarily be For by this meanes it recedes farther from the domination of Tyrants and it comes nearer to the equability of manners and humanity of life and is lesse envyed by their Subjects which he proves by the notable speech and example of King Theopompus And indeed this is the principall policy which God himselfe hath prescribed a King to prolong his dayes in his kingdome he and his children after him to keepe all the words of this Law and those Statutes to doe them that ●s to governe himselfe and his Subjects onely by Law not power to doe justice and judgement avoid oppression and not to liftup his heart above his brethren as if they were his vassals and no● men or Christians of the same kinde and quality as himselfe is Wherefore I shall close up this with old Bractons resolution d Lib. 3. c. 9. f. 107. Fleta lib. 1. c. 17. Potestas itaque Regis juris est non injuriae Exercere igitur debet Rex potestatem Juris ●icut Dei vicarius Minister in terra quia illa potestas SOLIUS Dei est potestas autem injuriae Diaboli non Dei cujus horum operum fecerit Rex ejus Minister erit cujus opera fecerit Igitur dum facit justitiam vicarius est Regis aeterni minister autem Diaboli dum declinat ad injuriam * See Leges Edwardi Confessoris cap. 17. in Lambards Archaion f. 130. accordingly Dicitur enim Rex a bene regendo non a regnando quia Rex est dum bene regit Tyrannus dum populum sibi creditum violenta opprimit dominatione Temperet igitur potentiam suam per legem quae fraenum est potentiae quod secundum leges viva● quia hoc sanxit Lex humana quod leges suum ligent latore● alibi in eadem digna ●ox Majestate regnan●●s est legibus alligatum se Principem profiteri Item nihil t●m proprium est imperii quam legibus vivere Et majus imperio est legibus submittere Principatum merito debet retribuere legi quia Lex tribuit ei facit enim Lex quod ipse sit Rex Item cum non semper oporteat Regem esse arma●um armis sed legibus addiscat Rex sapientiam conservet justitiam All which is notably seconded by Judge Fortescue De Laudibus Legum Angliae c. 9. to 15. worthy any Princes serious perusall And thus doing neither he nor his Posterity need ●eare this Supreame Prerogative Power of Parliaments which hath ●aine dead and buryed for many ages Et pereat positum rubigine telum 11. All Papists e See p 2 3. the Authours there quoted Bishop Jewels View of a seditious Bull and of the Popes Supremacy Cassanaeus Catagloria mundi part 4. attribute farre more divine authority and Soveraigne Jurisdiction over Emperours Kings Princes Kingdomes Subjects to the Pope their Lord and God whom they make the Supreame Monarch of the World and all kingdomes in it and give him greater Authority to summon ratify and dissolve generall Councels then ever any Christian King or Emperour challenged or usurped yet those who maintaine these Paradoxes of the Popes Supremacy confesse f See John Whites Way sect 36. n. 30. 34 35. p. 102. 104 105. Surius Tom. 3. 4. that a generall Councell is above the Pope and may upon just cause not onely convent and censure him for his misdemeanours but likewise actually depose him and set up another in his stead as the Councels of Pisa Constans Basil which deposed foure Popes namely Gregory the 12. Benedict the 13. John the 23. and Eugenius the fourth the Councell of Chalcedon against Pope Leo the Councell of Sinuessa against Pope Marcellinus the sixth seventh and eighth generall Councels against Honorius the Councels of q Wormes and Brixia against Hildebrand the Councell of Pisa summond 1511. of purpose to depose Pope Julius for his perjury h See John Whites Way sect 36. n. 30 p. 102 and n. 34 35. p. 104 105. sundry Popish Writers acknowledge Now the Councell of Basil as I shewed * See p. 4. before defined That the whole Kingdome and Parliament hath as great a power over their Kings as a Councell hath over the Pope therefore by Papists verdicts it is above the King in point of Soveraigne power as a Councell is above the Pope which John Mariana De Rege Regis Instit lib. 1. c 3. to 10. professedly proves at large 12. That Court which may lawfully coniure question depose banish execute the Kings greatest Favorites Officers Judges yea Lord Protectors themselves the highest Peeres of the Realme notwithstanding such are said to be i Psal 82. 1 2. Exod. 22. 2● John 10. 34. Gods k Rom. 13. 1 2 3 4. Ordained of God Gods Ministers To l Prov. 8. 15. decree Judgement g Fox Acts Monuments vol. 1. p 231. 235. 879 to 890. 962. by God to be the higher powers c. in Scripture as well as Kings and that not onely with but against the Kings Good will must questionlesse be the highest power and Jurisdiction in the Realme else the King and their Authority might protect them against its Justice But the Parliament may lawfully censure question depose banish execute all or any of these not onely without but against the Kings consent witnesse the proceedings in Parliament against m Hoveden p. 702 703. 705 706. with Speed Holinshed Grafton Stow Matthew Paris Polychronicon Fabian William Longchamp Bishop of Ely Chiefe Justicia● Lord Chancellor and Vice-roy of England in Richard the first his Reigne during his absence in the Holy Land from which Offices he was by the Peeres and Commons deposed for his misd●meanours and oppressions n Walsingh Speed Holinsh Fabian in Edw. 2. Froyssards Chron. part 1. c. 12 13. Piers Gaveston and the two Hugh Spensers in Edward the seconds Reig●e oft banished
in their Controversies of the Popes Supremacy of general Councels Generall Councell above the Pope the Pope above the Archbishop the Archbishop above the Ordinary because men may Appeale from the Ordinary to the Archbishop from him to the Pope but now with us to the Kings Delegates If there be any difference betweene c See Grafton p. 512 513. 161. Matthew Paris p. 954. Fox old Edition p. 508. King or Subject touching any inheritances Priviledges or Prerogatives belonging to the Crowne it selfe or any points of misgovernment yea which is more if there be any suite quarrell or difference betweene our Kings in Act and any other their Competitors d See Hoveden p. 724 725 for the Crowne it selfe which of them hath best title to it who of them shall enjoy it and how or in what manner it shall be setled the Lords and Commons in Parliament are and ought to be the sole and finall Judges of it Not to give you a●y instances of this kinde betweene King and Subjects which I have formerly touched nor to relate how our e Walsingham Hist p. 514. Speed p. 647 648. Kings Edward the first King John f Matthew Paris p. 273. 274 275. condemned to death by a Parliament in France by French Peeres for slaying his Nephew Arthur trecherously with his owne hands and likewise to lose the Crowne of England Henry the third and other our Kings have Appealed to the Parliaments of France and England upon differences betweene the Peeres and Kings of France and them concerning their Lands and Honours in France Or how King Edward the third and Philip of France submitted both their Titles to the Kingdome of France to the determination in a French Parliament where they were both personally present which adjudged the Crowne to Philip Nor yet to repeate the i pag. 5. forementioned precedents how the Lords and Commons when the Title to the Crowne hath beene in dispute have transferred it from the rightfull Heires to others I shall give you some other pregnant evidences where the Parliament hath finally determined the Title to the Crowne when it hath beene in competition and setled it in a legall manner to avoid debates by way of Appeale to them by compe●itors or reference from the Kings themselves as the onely proper Judges of such a superlative controversie Not to mention any stories of our British Kings to this purpose where the * See Matthew Westm Fabian Grafton Holin Kingdom Lords and Commons then disposed of the Crowne in cases of minority want of He●res misgovernment and c●ntroversies ab●ut the Title to the Crowne * Polichron l. 6. c. 18. Speed p. 399. See Grafton and Holinshed accordingly Canutus after the death of King Edmond Anno 1017. claiming the whole Realme against Edmonds Brethren Sons referred his Title upon the agreement made between Edmond and him fo● this purpose to the Parliament who resolved for Canutus Title and thereupon tooke an Oath of feal●y to him Offering to defend his right with their swords against all others claimes After his decease the * Matthew Westminster and Malmes●wy Anno 1036. Holinshed l. 17. c. 13. p. 398. Speed p. 404. 406. Huntingdon Walsingham Anno 1036. 10●0 Title to the Crowne being controverted betweene Hardicanute the right Heire and Harold his elder but base Brother it was referred to a Parliament at Oxfo●d who gave their voyces to Harold there present and presently proclaimed and consecrated him King Anno 1036. After whose death the States of England sent and adjudged the Crowne to Hardicanute then in Denmarke He dying * Huntindon l. 6. Polychron l. 6. c. 18. Speed p. 410. Matthew West●n An. 1042. p. 415. Edward the Confessor by a generall consent of the Nobles Clergy and People who presently upon Harolds death enacted by Par●iament g Matthew Paris p. 893. 925. 930. 948. 954 655. Grafton p. 188 189 Speed p. 687 688 785 786. That none o● the Danish blood should any more Reigne over them was elected King and declared ●ight Heire to the Crowne Anno 1126. k Hoveden Hun●ingdon Matthew Westminster Matthew Paris Walsingham Polychronic●n Fabian Anno 1126. Speed p. 477. See Ho●inshed Grafton Stow Anno 1126. King Henry the first having no issue male but onely one Daughter Maude to fucceed him summoned a Parliament in the presence of himselfe and David King of Scotland wherein the Crowne was setled upon Maude after his decease being of the ancient Royall English Blood whereupon Stephen his Sisters Sonne and all the Nobles presently swore fealty to ●er As much as in them lay after King Henries death if ●e dyed without issue male to establish ●er Queene ●f the Monarchy of great Britaine But Stephen after his decease usurped the Crowne against his Oath h Polyd. Virgil l. 19. Claudius Seyse●●us his French Monarchy By the unanimous consent and election of the Lords and Commons And after seventeene yeares civill warres ●o the devastation of the Realme l Walsingham Ypod An. 1113 Matthew Westm An. 1153 p. 42. Matthew Paris ● 82 83. Speed p. 497. Hoveden p. 490. Hun●indon Hist l. 8 p. 598. Fox Vol. 1. p. 261. King Stephen and Henry the Sonne of Maude came to a Treaty ● Wal●ingford where by the advise of the Lords they made this accord That Stephen if he would should ●eaceably hold the kingdome during his life and that Hen●y should be his adopted Sonne and Successor enjoy ●he Crowne as right Heire to it after his death and that the King and all the Bishops and Nobles should ●weare that Henry after the Kings death if he su●vived him should P●ssesse the Kingdome without any conradiction Which done the civill warres ceased and a blessed peace ensued and then comming to Oxford in a Parl●ament all the Nobles did fealty to Henry who was made chiefe Justiciar of England and determined all the affaires of the Kingdome In the 8. and 25. E. 3. there was a m 25. E. 3. Parl 2. in the Statuts at large doubt moved in Parliament whether the children of the King or others borne beyond the Seas within his Allegiance should in●erit lands in England The King to cleare all doubts and ambiguities in this case and to have the La● herein reduced to ce●tainty charged the Prelates Earles Barons and other wise men of his Councell assembled in Parliam●nt in the 25. yeare of his Raigne to delibera●● of this point who with one assent resolved That the Law of the Realme of England is and alwayes hath beene such that the children of the Kings ●● England in whatsoever parts they be borne in England or elsewhere be able and owe to beare inheritance after the death of their Ancestors Which when they had declared the King Lords and Commons by a special Act did approve and affirme this Law for ever the onely Act passed in that Parliament And in a * Cooke l. 7. The Princes case Parliament 11. E. 3. this
his finger he said * Neta Thou ●● in no wise be ruled by these men for these be those which brought me into this lamentable plight and the mi● thou seest me in A memorable strange speech of a distracted Prince And thus the Emperour 5 Grimstons Imperiall History p. 581 582. Sententia Ex●●ctorationis Depositionis Wencestai An. 14●0 in Germani Hist Tom. 2. p. 180. 181. Iean Crespin L estate de Lesglise p. 465. Wen●●us was likewise deposed by the Princes electors of the Empire For besotting himselfe so with pleasures ● as that he became altogether unfit for the government and a man unprofitable for the Empire and Christian ●●monwealth and Rupert Count Palatine of R●ine and Duke of Bavaria was elected Emperor in his stead ●● like no doubt might be lawfully done here in England by the whole Kingdome and Parliament if ● such cases of incurable folly or frenzy should befal any of our Kings who might then either create a Lord ●tector to governe both King or Kingdome during such disabilities of Government in the King as ●hildricke for a time before his deposition was governed and over-ruled in all thing● by the Marshall ●he Palace or else Crowne the next Heire King if he be capable to Governe Yea in the time of our ●on Kings when the right Heire was an In●ant unable to governe the Crowne usually descended ●he next Heire of full age Hence * Speed● hist p. 252 253. 262. 364 365 See Matthew West Poly●h●onicon Floren. Wigorniensis Holinshed Hun●●ndon and others Wibba King of Mercia deceasing Penda his Sonne being an Infant Crowne descended to his Nephew Ceorl of full age after whose death Penda being of ripe age inheri● the Kingdome So King Wulfeher deceasing leaving his Sonne Kenred within age his Brother Ethelred ●●eeded him who resigning his Crowne and turning Monke after he had Reigned 30. yeares Kenred ●● of full age enjoyed the Crowne So Ethelfred King of Northumberland dying Edelwald his Brother ●●ed the Government and Reigned Aldulfe Ethelherds Sonne being then a minor who enjoyed not ● Crowne till after Edelwalds death So * Gaufredus Monu lib. 3. c. 20. Grafton p. 67. Cassebelan succeeded Lud his Brother in the Kingdome of Bri●e Luds Sonnes being too yong and insufficient to Reigne The like was very usuall in Scotland of ●●h there are divers precedents in Gra●ion Hector B●etius and Buchanan which I pretermit All which 6 Aventine l. 3. f. 293. Fri●ingens l. 5. c. 13. Nauclerus vol. 3. Gen. 26. ●●iculars laid together are a most cleare unanswerable demonstration that the Soveraignest power and ●isdiction of all others resides in the whole Kingdome and Parliament not in the King h●mselfe since ●● may thus dispose of the very Crowne it selfe and determine all controversies all titles which con●e it The King alone having no power to transferre it to any other without the Lords and Com●●s free consents as was resolved in the case of King John who resigned and granted his Crowne to the ●e without the Kingdomes consent and therefore the resignation and grant were adjudged voyd not ●y by the 7 Gra●ton l. 1. 112. French King and his Lords but by our owne Parliament as you may read in 40 Ed. 3. ● 8. and Doctor Craken●●orpe Of the Popes temporall Monarch● cap. 2. p. 251. to 255. This point ●ave thus copiou●ly debated not out of any the least intention to derogate from his Majesties just ●re●acy and P●erogatives royall which I have of● solemnely sworne to maintaine to the utmost of my pow● and shall God willing performe but out of a serious desire to rectifie the generall mistakes of men ●ching a pretended Prerogative which their fantasies onely not the Law have unduely attributed to ● King and to vindica●e the just Liberties Priviledges and Prerogatives of the Parliament so much ●yed declaimed against of la●e by a company of ignorant Papists Ma●ignan●s Royalists who know not ●t the jurisdiction of Parl●aments is according to the Protestation the clearing of which points in my ●ke apprehension is the onely high and ready way to compose our present differences and settle all ● distractions which the ignorance and mistakes of the Kings and Parliaments just Preroga●ives and ●ers next to the trecherous ma●i●e of the Papists have principally raised among us almost to the ●e of the Kingdome For my part I professe sincerely I love and honour both King and Parliament ●● and in the controversies now betweene them concerning their Jurisdictions stand as a man indiffe● to doe right to bo●h without prejudice to either the King being the Principall Member of the Par●ent the elevating of its now disda●ned Power to its due altitude can be no depression but advancement ●e Kings prerogative which shines most perspicuously in Parliaments whiles King and Parliament ●●nited and is most eclipsed onely when they are divided as the precedents in all ages manifest And ● I dare confidently averre that there are no such enemies to the Kings Prerogative as those who ad●cing it beyond due bounds doe necessarily draw it into dispute in which it commonly comes off with ● and diminution in the end as in ●h● late cases of Lo●nes Ship-mony and the like If any here object against the premises f 1 El c. 2. that the King is the onely Supreme Governour of this R●a●● Object That g Li. 1. c. 8. f. 5 6. l 3. c 9. f. 107. Bracton h L. 1. c. 5. 17 Fleta and our i 3 E. 3. 19. Corone 161. 22 Answer E. 3. 3. b. Dyer 297 a. Stamfo 153. a. Law bookes resolve That the King hath no Peere in his Kingdo● for so he should lose his Empire since Peeres or equals have no command over one another much more then ou●● he not to have a Superiour or mightier for so he should be inferiour to those who are subject to him and infer●ours cannot be equall to Superiours The King ought not to be under man but under God and the Law If then J●stice be demanded of him by way of Petition because no writ runs against him though k 22 E. 3. 3. b anciently some w●● did if he doe not justice this punishment may be sufficient to him that he may expect God will revenge it Ne●● quidem de factis suis praesumat disputare m●lto fortius contra factum suum venire c. Therefore the K●● is above the Parliament and whole Kingdome not they above him I Answer First that the meaning of all these Bookes is that the King is above every one of his S●●jects and hath no Peere nor Superiour if they be taken particularly and distributively as single m●● as the words Parem Superiorem in the singular number and the like explaine the meaning of the Book● to be But if we take them collectively in Parliament as they are one body and represent the whole Ki●●dome then these very Authours resolve in their forequoted words
good Subjects as the Cavaliers doe 〈…〉 w and to take from them their victuals at their pleasure paying little or nothing for them and to ravish their 〈…〉 ves and daughters And if any man persumed to complaine to the King of them he was soone rid out of 〈…〉 way no man knew why nor by whom so that in effect they did what they listed In this Parliament 〈…〉 King having made the Speaker and a great part of mercinary proud ambitious men of the Commons 〈…〉 use to be of his side to act what he required them he then prevayled likewise with the upper house 〈…〉 with the Prelates then with the Lords more out of feare of him then any reason by meanes where 〈…〉 the Commission Charters of pardon and Acts made in Parliament in the 10. and 11. yeare of his raigne 〈…〉 re quite revoked and declared voyd in Law as being done without authoritie and against the will and 〈…〉 ertie of the King and of his Crowne And withall they declared the Judges opinions for which they were 〈…〉 demned in that Parliament to be good and lawfull and attainted the said imprisoned Lords of high 〈…〉 eason and confiscated their lands The two Earles hereupon were beheaded and the Duke by reason 〈…〉 is p●pulat●tie smothered onely for their former actions which done the King adjourned the Par 〈…〉 ent to Shrew●bury where he subrilly procured an o 21. R. c. 12. Act to passe by common consent that t●e power 〈…〉 he Parliament should remaine in seven or eight persons who after the Parliament dissolved should deter 〈…〉 e certaine petitions delivered that Parliament and not dispatched By colour whereof Those Commit 〈…〉 proceeded to other things generally touching the Parliament and that by the Kings app 〈…〉 ment in derogatien p 21. R. 2. c. 16. Walsing Hist Aug. Ann● 1398. p 394 〈…〉 he state of the Parliament the dis●ommodity and pernicious example of the whole Realme And by colour 〈…〉 Authority hereof the King caused the Parliament Rols to be altered and defaced against the effect of the 〈…〉 said grant After which he much vexed and oppressed his people with divers forced Loanes Oathes 〈…〉 positions and oppressing Projects to raise money seeking to trample them under his feet and 〈…〉 roy the Realme and tooke all the Jewels of the Crowne with him into Ireland without the Kingdomes 〈…〉 sent Which rendered him so odious to his people that Henry Duke of Lancaster landing in England the whole kingdome came flocking to his ayde so that he had an Army of 60000. men in a short time who v 〈…〉 ed to prosecute the Kings ill Counsellours Whereupon King Richard returning out of Ireland hearing 〈…〉 the Dukes great Army assembled against him and knowing that they would rather dye then yeeld 〈…〉 of their hatred and seare of him he dismissed his Courtiers hiding obscurely in corners till he was a 〈…〉 prehended and by a Parliament summoned in his name though against his will judicially deposed 〈…〉 his misgovernment Among which Articles of his misgovernment for which he was judicially dethroned these are rema 〈…〉 able First * Graft p. 400 401 402 c. That he was●fully spent the Treasure of the Realme and had given the possessio●s of the Crow 〈…〉 to men unworthy by reason whereof daily new charges more and more were laid on the neckes of the poore C 〈…〉 monalty And when divers Lords were appointed by the High Court of Parliament to commune and t 〈…〉 of divers matters concerning the Common-wealth of the same which being busie about those Commissions he 〈…〉 other of his affinity went about to impeach them of high Treason and by force and threatning compelled 〈…〉 Justices of the Realme at Shrewesbury to condescend to his opinion for the destruction of the said Lords 〈…〉 somuch that he began to raise warre against John Duke of Lancaster Thomas Earle of Arundell Rich 〈…〉 Earle of Warwicke and other Lords contrary to his honour and promise Item He assembled certaine Lancashire and Cheshire men to the intent to make warre on the fores 〈…〉 Lords and suffered them to rob and pillage without correction or reproofe Item Although the King flatteringly and with great dissimulation made Proclamation throughout 〈…〉 Realme that the Lords before named were not attached for any crime of Treason but onely for extortions 〈…〉 oppressions done in the Realme yet be laid to them in the Parliament rebellion and manifest Treason Item He hath compelled divers of the said Lords servants and friends by menace and extreame paines 〈…〉 make great sines to their utter undoing And notwithstanding his pardon to them granted yet he made the fine of new Item That he put out divers * Note Sheriffes lawfully elected and put in their roomes divers of his owne Mi 〈…〉 on s subverting the Law contrary to his Oath and Honour Item For to serve his purpose he would suffer the Sheriffes of the Shire to remaine above one yeare or two Item He borrowed great summes of money and bound him under his Letters Patents for repayment of the sa 〈…〉 and yet not one penny paid Item He taxed men at the will of him and his unhappy Councell and the same Treasure spent in folly not pay 〈…〉 poore men for their victuall and viand Item He said That the Lawes of the Realme were in his head and sometime in his brest by reason of wh 〈…〉 phantasticall opinion he destroyed Noble men and impoverished the Commons Item The Parliament setling and enacting divers notable Statutes for the profit and advancement of the Co 〈…〉 monwealth he by his private friends and solicitors caused to be enacted * Such a kinde of proviso was endevoured to beadded to the Petition of Right 3 Caroli That no Act then enacted should 〈…〉 more prejudiciall to him then it was to any of his Predecessors though with proviso he did often as he listed 〈…〉 not as the Law meant Item That he at his going into Ireland exacted many notable summes of money besides Plate and Jew 〈…〉 without Law or custome contrary to his Oath taken at his Coronation Item That without the assent of the Nobility he carryed the Jewels Plate and Treasure of the kingdome o 〈…〉 the Sea in to Ireland to the great impoverishing of the Realme And all the good Records for the Comm 〈…〉 wealth and against his extortions he privily caused to be imbezeled and conveyed away Item When divers Lords and Justices were sworne to say the truth of divers things to them committed in cha 〈…〉 both for the honour of the Realme and profit of the King the said King so menaced them with sore threatning 〈…〉 that no man would or durst say the right Item He most tyrannically and unprincely said that the lives and goods of all his Subjects were in the Prin 〈…〉 hands and at his disposing Item He craf●ily devised certaine privy Oathes contrary to the Law and caused divers of his
had sworne After ●hich he rightly setled the affaires of England by the counsell of his Nobles and then passed over in●o Normandy But how ill he kept this his Oath and others of this Nature and how he violated the ●tatutes of Magna Charta and D● Forresta which he had confirmed with his hand seale oath Pro●amations the B●shops Excommunications and the Popes Bull within three moneth● after he had on firmed them and procured a dispensation of his oath and abrogation of these Lawes making ●loody warres upon his Barrons and Subjects who confiding to those confirmations and royall pro●ises expected no such strange performances spoyling robbing and destroying his people every ●here in the selfe-same manner as we now are plundered * See before p. 5. 8. Graf p. 11. Mat. Paris p● 243. to 247. worthy reading and consideration the Histories of his life too manifestly ●● late which oft put his Crowne in danger of utter los●e Lewis of France being crowned king by the ●●rons in his steed who renounced their allegiance to him for his perjuries and breach of faith and ●aking warre upon them John departing this life his sonne Henry being but 9. yeares old was pro●aimed king through the pe●swasion of the Earle Marshall and of Pembroke afterwards made his ●rotector who informed the Lords and Commons h Fox Acts Mon. Ed. t●lt v. 1. p. 334 Speed p. 591. that though King Iohn for his evill demeanors ●eserved their persecution and l●sse of his crowne yet his young child tender in yeares was pure and inno●nt from his fathers doings Wherefore ●ith every man is to be charged with the burthen of his owne trans●ressions neither shall the child as scriptures teach beare the iniquity of his Fathers they o●ght of duty ●nd conscience to beare themselves ●ildly towards this tender Prince and take comp●ssion of his age And ●r as much as he was Iohns naturall and eldest sonne and ought to be their Soveraigne let us with one joynt ●llistance APPOINT HIM our King and Governour let us renounce from us Lewis the French kings ●onne and suppresse his people which are a confusion and shame to our Nation and the yoakes of their Ser●itude let ●s cast from our shoulders Vpon which perswasions Henry was presently proclaimed and crowned king at Glocesler And though he were but an infant yet being i Mat. Paris p. 278. 305. set before the High Altar he swore before the Clergy and people upon the Holy Evangelists and divers Saints Reliques Ioceline Bishop of Bath dictating the Oath That he would beare honour peace and reverence to God to ●● Church and Priests all the dayes of his life He likewise swore that he would maintaine right Iustice among the people committed to his Charge And that he would blot out ill Lawes and unjust customes if that should be any in the kingdome and observe good ones and cause them to be kept by all men How well ● observed this solemne oath with many others of like nature made to his Lords and Subjects f● confirmation of Magna Charta and their Liberties k In his Edition Tiguri 1589. p. 876. 938. 958. 959 960. Mathew Paris will informe us who writ● that the King in all his Oathes and promises did so farre transgresse the bounds of truth that the Prela●● and Lords knew not how to hold this Proteus the King for where there is no truth there can be no ●ix● confidence That thought he sometimes humbled himselfe confessing that he had beene often bewitched ● ill Counsell and promised with a great Oath solemnely taken upon the Altar and coffin of Saint Edwar● that he would plainely and fully correct his former Errors and graciously condescend to his naturall Subject good counsell yet his frequent preceding breaches of oathes and promises sepenitus incredibilem reddider●● made him altogether incredible so that though he usually heard three Mosses every day but seldome a● Sermons as l Hist Angl. P. 1. Walsingham notes yet none would afterwards beleeve him but ever feare and susp●● his words and actions and to avoyd the infamie of perjurie which he feared he sent to the ●ope● absolve him from those Oathes he repented of who easily granted him an absolution Such faith and assurance is there in the Oathes and Protestations of Princes to their Subjects whose Politicke capacities oft times have neither soule nor conscience This perfidiousnesse in the king made his long raig● full of troubles of bloody civill warres and oft times endangered the very losse of his Crowne a● kingdome as our Historians informe us for which he repented and promised amendment at h● death m Lib. 3. c. 9. f. 107. Bracton an ancient Lawyer in this kings dayes writes That the king in his Coronation OVGHT by an Oath taken in the name of Iesus Christ to promise these three things to the people subject to hi● First that he will command and endeavour to his power that true peace shall be kept to the Church and ● Christian people in his time Secondly That he will prohibit rapines or plunderings and all iniquities ● all degrees Thirdly That in all Iudgements he will command equitie and mercy that so God who is gracious and mercifull may bestow his mercy on him and that by his justice all men may injoy firme peace F● saith he a King is SACRED and ELECTED to wit by his kingdome for this end to doe justis unto all for if there were no justice peace would be easily exterminated and it would be in vaine to make Lawes and doe justice unlesse there were one to defend the Lawes c. And before the Conquest I re● in n Fox Acts and Monuments Edition 1641. vol. 1. p. 214. and Lambards Archaion Leges Edwardi c. 17. Bilson par 3 p. 494. King Edward the Confessors Lawes not onely the Office but Oath of the King whom he an● Bracton oft stiles Gods and Christ Vicar upon earth thus excellently described A King ought abo● all things to feare God to love and observe his Commandments and cause them to be observed through h● whole kingdome He ought also to set up good Lawes and customes such as be wholesome and approved s●● as be otherwise to repeale them and thrust them out of his kingdome Item he ought to doe justice an● judgement in his kingdome by the counsell of the Nobles of his Realme All these things ought the King ● his owne person to doe taking his oath upon the Evangelists and the blessed Reliques of Saints swearing ● the presence of the whole state of his Realme as well of the temporalty as of the spiritualty before he ●● crowned of the Archbishops and Bishops Three servants the King ought to have under him as Vassals fleshly lust avarice and greedy desire whom if he keepe under as his servants and slaves he shall reigne well an● honorably in his Kingdome He must doe all things with good advisement and praemeditation and th● properly
Kings eldest sonne was created Duke of Cornwall by Parliament which then also entailed the Dutchy of Cornwall upon the eldest sonnes of the Kings of England See 21 R. 2. c. 9. * 7. H. 4. c. 2. Hals Chronicle 1. H. 4. f. 10. 15. Fabian par● 7. p. 376. Speed p. 763. King Henry the fourth the ●et●er to assure the inheritance of the Crownes and Realmes of England and France to him and his posterity caused them by a speciall Act of Parliament in the first yeare o● his raigne to be entailed and setled on himselfe and the heires of his body begotten and Prince Henry hi● eldest sonne to be established pronounced ordained and decreed heire apparant to him and to succeed hi● in the said Crownes and Realmes to have them with their appurtenances after the Kings death to him an● the heires of his body begotten And if he should die without heire of his body begotten then to remaine to th● Lord Thomas the Kings second sonne with successive remainders to Lord John the third and Lor● Humfry the Kings fourth sonne and the heires of their bodies begotten After which Act passed for t●● avoyding for all claimes titles and ambiguities to be made unto the Crowne he thought never by any of his Subjects to be molested or troubled the rather because in this Parliament it was first concluded that deposed King Richard should continue in a large prison and ●e plenteously served of all things necess●ry both for viande and apparell and if any persons should presume to reare warre or congregate a multitude ●o deliver him out of prison that then he should be the first that should die ●or that sedi●ious comm●tion Which King Richard as * Fabian part 7. p. 373. Sir John B●got by his Bill exhibited to this Parliament averred h●● divers times at sundry Parliaments in his time holden said that he would have his intent and pleasur● concerning his owne matters whatsoever betide of the residue and if any withstood his will or minde b● would by one meanes or other bring him out of his life And further said to him at Lichfield in the one ●● twentieth yeare of his raigne that he desired no longer for to live then to see his Lords and Commons ha●● him in ●s great awe and dread as ever they had of any his Progenitors so that it might be chronicled of him that none passed him of honour and dignity with condition that he were deposed and put ●●rom his said dignity the next morrow after So wilfull was he as to preferre his will before his Crowne or safety n Hall An. 38. 39. H. 6. f. 176. to 183. Fabian An●o 1441. p. 470. Grafton p. 643. to 648. Holins Stow Howes An. 1440 144● In the yeares 1440. and 1441. Edward Duke of Yorke came into the Parliament House an● there in a large Oration laid claime and set forth his Title to the Crowne of England which King He●ry the sixth had long enjoyed desiring the Parliament to determine the right of the Title betweene the● both ●ides submitting to their resolution as the proper Judges of this weighty royall controversie After lon● debate and consideration of the case among the Peers Prelates and Commons of the Realme it w●● finally agreed and resolved by them That in as much as Henry the sixth had beene taken as King for 38. yea●● and more that he sh●uld enjoy the name and title of King and ●ave p●ssessi●n of the Realme during his n●turall life And if he either died or resigned or FOR FAITED THE SAME for breaking ●● part of this concord then t●e said Crowne and authority royall should immediately descend to the Duke ●● Yorke King Edward the 4. his Father if he then live● ●r else to the next heire of his line And that the s● Duke from thenceforth should be Protector and Regent of the Kingdome Provided alway that if the Ki●● did closely or apertly study or goe about to breake or alter this agreement or to compasse or imagine the de●● of the said Duke or his bloud then he TO FORFEIT THE CROWNE and the Duke T● TAKE IT These Articles made by the Parliament betweene them they both subscribed sealed ● swore to and then caused them to be enacted Loe here we have these two Kings submiting their Titles ● the Crowne and Kingdome it selfe to the Resolution of both houses of Parliament as the Soveraig● Judge betwene them who settled the Crowne in this order under paine of ●orfeiting it by Ki●● Henry if he violated their Decree herein and appointing a Lord Protector over the Kingdome in ●● full age as o Historia Angliae p. 458. Parliamentum fuit c●nv●catum in qu● Parliamento ex assensu omnium Statuum idem Dux Defensor seu Protector Angliae fuera● nomina●us ordina●us omniaque Regni off●cia beneficia ejus dispositioni sunt commissa Walsing●am informes us a Parliament c●nstituted Duke Humsry to be protector of hi● and h●s Kingdome of England and the Duke of Bedford to ●e Regent of France during his minority wh● exercised all regall power by vertue of that authority which the Parliament derived to them A●● this in these two Kings reignes p See Grafton p. 691. 692. Speed p. 869. 878. 859. 886. 1. E. 4. c. 1. 17. E. 4. c. 7. the Crown and its descent were variously setled by Parliament as I ha●● formerly manifested yet so as that which one Parliament setled in this kinde continued firme till it ●● akered or reversed by another Parliament King q Speeds Hist p. 928. 931 Richard the third comming to the Crown by usurp●tion to strengthen his Title procured the Lords and Commons to passe an Act of Parliament where in th● declare him to be their lawfull King both by election and fuccession entaile the Crowne upon him and the hei●● ●f his body lawfully begotten create his Sonne Edward Prince of Wales and declare him heire to succeed him in ●he royall Crowne and dignity after his decease In which Act of Parliament recited at large by Speed there is this memorable passage That the Court of Parliament is of such Authority and the people of this land of such a nature and disposition as experience teach●th that manifestation or declaration of any Truth or Right made by the three Estates of this Realme Assembled ●n Parliament and by the Authority of the ●ame makes before all other things most faith and certainty and ●uieting of mens mindes removeth the occasion of all doubts and seditious language r Halls Chro. 1 H. 7. f. 855. Henry the seventh af●erwards slaying this usurping Richard at Boswell-field to avoyd all ambiguities and questions of his Title to the Crowne in his first Parliament procured the Lords and Commons by a speciall Act to set●le the inheritance of ●he Crownes of England and France on him and the heires of his body lawfully begotten perpetually by the grace ●f God so to endure and on none
doe both ● point of Law Divinity conscience resist the highest powers because they resist the Parliament and ● shall receive damnation to themselves for it either here or hereafter if they repent not which I seriously ●sire all those Delinquents Papists Malignants ill Counsellers and Cavaliers to consider who con●ary to severall Orders and Declarations of Parliament yea contrary to the Law of God of Nature of the ●ealme have like unnaturall Vipers taken up offensive Armes against the Parliament and Kingdome to ●ine them with our Religion Lawes and Liberties at once Thirdly Hence it followes that the Resolutions and Declarations of the Lords and Commons in Parlia●ent the supremest Court against the Commission of Array Arming of Papists raising of Forces impo●g Taxes to maintaine Warre against the Parliament plundering and the like ought to be obeyed and sub●itted to as lawfull and binding both by the King himselfe the Kingdome and every private Subject ●hatsoever and that the Kings extrajudiciall and illegall Declarations out of Parliament in direct oppo●ion and contradiction to the resolutions and Votes of both Houses in Parliament ought not to be obeyed ●e King himselfe as our Law Bookes resolve being no t 8 H. 4. 13. b. 24 H. 8. c. 12. 52 H. 3. c. 1. 25 H. 8. c. 21. Cookes 1 Institutes on Mag. Charta f. 103. See here p. 14. 34. competent Judge especially out of his Courts ●hat is Law or what not in those Cases but the Parliament onely Which extrajudiciall new device of con●olling affronting the Resolutions and Declarations of both Houses by opposite Proclamations and ●●clarations published in his Majesties name is such a transcendent violation of and contempt against ●e knowne priviledge the sacred venerable Authority and power of Parliaments as I am confident ●● age can parallell and if not severely vindicated by exemplary punishments of the highest nature up●● those ill Counsellors and corrupt Lawyers who contrive and pen them will bring this Highest grea●st and most honorable Court wherein the u 31 H. 8. c. 1 1 Jac. c. 1. Dr. Student 44. a. whole Kingdome and every member of it are represented into ●eater contempt and lesse estimation with all men whether Natives or Forainers then the basest Court ●● Pipouders is No King nor Subject ever yet attempted such affronts against the Resolutions of any Jud●s in inferiour Courts Let no person whatsoever then presume by pen or tongue any longer to a●●igne or traduce the Resolutions and Ordinances of this highest Tribunall If Kings or Counsellors of ●ate willinstruct or excite the Subjects perempto●ily to disobey and contemne the Ordinances the ●udgements of the Parliament let them never expect the least obedience or submission to any of their ●wn commands which are of lesser credit and Authority Fourthly That the Parliament and whole Kingdome being the highest power or any Member of ●●e Parliament cannot by any publicke Acts or Votes of theirs consented to in Parliament become Tray●●s or guilty of high Treason against the King either by the Common Law o● the S●atute of 25. Ed. 3. b page 4 5. ● 2 of Treasons which running in the singular number If A MAN c. that is any private man ● men by their owne private authority shall levy warre against the King c. it ought to be judged high ●reason extends not to the whole Kingdome or Court of Parliament representing it of which no trea●n was ever yet presumed and by this very act is made the Judge of all Treasons that are doubtfull being ●ver yet included within the words or meaning of any Law concerning Treasons and therefore cannot be ●ilty of it Hence the depositions of a Graf par● 6. p. 62 63. Galfredus Mo●●● Fabia● Polychr others Archigallo and Emcrianus two ancient British Kings by the unani●ous assent of the Lords and Commons for their rapines oppressions and Tyranny with other forenamed Sax● Kings and of Edward the second Richard the second Henry the sixth Edward the fourth by Acts ●● Parliament the creating of Richard the third King and the frequent translations of the Crowne from ●e right heire at Common Law to others who had no good title by the whole Kingdome or Parliament ●o lesse then c Bracton l. 2 Glan l. 2. f. 112 Myrror c. 1 sect 4. Britton c. 8. f. 16. c. 22. f. 39 25. E. 3. ● 2. See Rastal ●rote Sta●●f Crompt Dalton in their Titles Chapters of Treason high Treason in private persons was never yet reputed much lesse questioned or adjudged ●igh Treason in the whole Kingdome or Parliament or any chiefe active Members in these Parliaments which being above the King are uncapable of Treason for any their judiciall actions and resolutions in such cases being onely Tortious and Erroneous reversible by other Acts in Parliament not Trayterous and Rebellious as appeares by all the forequoted Statutes and by 13 Eliz. c. ● which makes it high Treason d page for any person to affirme That the Queene by Authority of the Parliament of England is not able to make Lawes e Walsingham Holin Graf Sto. Speed Martyn Fab. Polychro in 21 R. 2. 11 R. 2. c. 3 4. 21 R. 2. c. 12. and Statutes of sufficient force to alter limit and binde the Crowne of this Realme and the descent limitation inheritance and government thereof And for direct Authorities in this very point Robert Tresylian and Belknap then chiefe Justices Holt Fulthorpe and Burgh Judges Locton Kings Sergeant and Blake the Kings Counsell in the Parliament o● 1● Rich. 2. were condemned executed and banished the Realme as guilty of high Treason onely for affirming under their hands and seales f See the particulars more at large in 21 R. 2 c. 12. That the Duke of Glocester the Earles of Arundell aad Warwicke were and that other Lords and Commons might be guilty of high Treason for procuring a Commission and other proceedings in Parliament and be punished for it as Traytors Which opinion of theirs being afterwards affirmed for Law in a packed Parliament 21 Rich. 2. was the very next Parliament in 1 Hen. 4. c. 2 3 4. repealed and the judgement given against those Judges for this Trayterous opinion tending to the utter subversion of Parliaments resolved and enacted to be just This g See 1 H. 4. c. 3. and here p. 13. Judge h Spee p. 747 Belknap foresaw and therefore was unwilling to put his Seale to this opinion Saying There wanted but a hurdle a horse and hal●●● to carry him where he might suffer the death HE HAD DESERVED for if I had not done this ● should have dyed for it and because I have done it I DESERVE DEATH for betraying the Lords Which makes me wonder at a passage in i Hist p. 675 Speed who records it now frequent in Malignants mouthe● That the very shop where the Barons originall Treasons were forged was THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE wherein from time to time they