Dei Nomine Amen Cum de Jure consuetudine regni Angl. ad Archiep. Canterbur qui pro tempore fuerit nec non caeteros suos suffragandes Confratres Coeptis Abbates Priores aliosque Prelatos quoscunque per Baroniam de domino Rege tenentes pertinet in Parlimentum Regis quibuscunque ut pares regni praedicti personaliter interesse ibidemque de regni negotiis aliis ibi tractare consuetis cum caeteris dicti regni paribus aliis consulere ordinare statuere definire ac caetera facere quae Parliamenti Tempore ibid. incendet faciend in quibus omnibus singulis nos Willielmus Cant. Archiepiscopus totius Angl. Primas Angl. Sedis Legatus pro nobis nostrisque Suffraganeis Coep confratribus nec non Abbatibus Prioribus Prelatis omnibus supradictis potestat eorum quilibet potestatur qui per se vel procuratorem si fuerit modo presens publicè expresse quod intendimus intendi volumus ac vult eorum quilibet in hoc presenti Parliamento aliis ut pares regni praedicti more solito interesse considerare tractare ordinare statuere definire ac caetera exercere cum caeteris jus interessendi habentibus eisdem statu ordine Juris eorum cuilibet in omnibus semper salvum verum quia in praesenti Parliamento agitur de nonnullis materiis in quibus non licet nobis alicui eorum juxta sacrorum Canonum instituta quomodo libet personaliter interesse eo propter pro nobis eorum quolibet protestamus eorum quilibet hic presens etiam protestatur quod non intendimus nec volumus sicuti de Jure non possumus nec debemus intendi nec vult aliquis eorundem in praesenti Parliamento dum de hujusmodi materiis agitur vel agetur quomodo libet interesse sed nos eorum quemlibet in ea parte penitus absentare in re paritatis nostrae cujuslibet eorum interessend in dicto Parliamento quoad omnia singula ibidem exercenda juris eorum quilibet Statu ordine in omnibus semper salvo Ad hoc insuper protestamur eorum quilibet protestatur quod propter hujusmodi absentiam non intendimus nec volumus nec eorum aliquis intendit nec vult quod habet processus habend in praesenti Parliamento super materiis antedictis In quibus nec possumus nec debemus permittitur interesse quantum ad nos quemlâ—bet eorum attinet futuris temporibus quomodo libet impugnentur infirmentur seu etiam revocentur Which Protestation read in full Parliament by the commandement of the King and Assent of the Lords Temporall and Commons In like manner make Protestation the Bishop of Duresme and Carlisle mutatis mutandis This was upon the occâ—sion of the appeale of Treason in the same Parliament commenced by Thomas Duke of Glâ—ucester and others against Alexander Arch-Bishop of Yorke Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland and others But although they thus absented themselves they made no proxy at this time to assent in their room as afterwards they agreed to do in cases of Iudgement of death But the first use of such proxies is in the 21 oâ—Rich the 2. neither at all are such proxies or assent of the Bishops For under H. 5. the Earle of Salisbury by Petition in the nature of a Writ of Error shewed that the Attaiâ—der of John the late Earle father to the Pâ—titioner in the second of H. the 4 might now be reversed and amongst the errors assigned one was that he had been adjudged sans assent in Parliament but it was in Parliament now adjudged that it was no error The Arch-bishops of Cant. and Yorke for themselvs their Clergy make Protestation not to consent to any Statute made in this Parliament Quatenus ea in restrictione potestatis Apostolicae aut in eversione Ecclesiae dignitatis tendere dignoscuntur which at their request was inrolled in Parliament yet an Act passed at that Time and is publique against the Popes giving of Benefices by way of provision in England In the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne when divers Acts passed touching matters of the Church as Service and Sacraments and Church-possessions c. the Bils passed Dissentientibus All the Bishops as it is especially entered in the Iournals with particular enumeration of all their names Whereunto may be added that assertion of the Iudges in that deliberation had under Henry the eight touching the power Royall in the Church as the words were reported That our Lord the King may well enough hold the Parliament by himselfe and all his temporall Lords without the spirituall Lords c CHAP. VI Their appointing Judges out of themselves for examination of Judgements and delayes of other Courts THis is given them by a Statute of Edward the third in these words Likewise for that many mischiefes are come c. That divers places as well in the Chancery as the Kings Bench Common pleas the Exchequer the Iustices assigned and other Iustices to heare and determine the Iudgements wherein have been delayes sometimes by difficulty somtimes by divers opinions of the Iudges and sometimes by other occasions it is assented established and agreed that of the Commons before said in every Parliament there be one Prelate two Earles and two Barons that shall have Commission and power of the King Which priviledge is now taken away from the Prelacy by Act of Parliament Anno 17. Car. to heare by Petition to them delivered the plaints of all those which complaine of such delayes or grievances done to them and that they have power to cause to come before them at Westminster or in any other places where the parliament shall be holden and the Courts of records and processes of such Iudgements as are delayed and shall cause to come before them the same Iustices who shall be there present to heare the cause and their reason also heard by good advice of them the Chancellor three Iustices of one Bench and of the other and others of the Kings Councell And in the same Parliament accordingly the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Earles of Arundell and Huntington and the Lord Woake and the Lord Basset were assigned to the same purpose and although the Iustices Chancellor Treasurer Privy Seale and others had before taken Oath c. Yet it was ordained that those of the Baronage assigned shall give them a new Oath and increase and diminish the Ministers of Iustice as they shall see Cause CHAP. VII Their Tenants of ancient tenancies being discharged of paying the charges of Knights of the shire THe Commons exhibite a Petition that whereas the Tennants of the Lords that did hold by Barony and summons to the Parliament might not be discharged of paying towards the expences of Knights c.
or inheritance and in capitall offences so Arbitrary that the forme of the death inflicted sometimes varied from the ordinary course used in the common Law for such offences Under the first Head these cases of 1. Iohn Matravers 2. Borges of Bayons 3. Iohn Deverill 4. Thomas Gourney 5. William of Ocle 6. Iohn of Gomeniz and 7. William of Weston All condemned to death for Treason and all to bee drawne and hanged saving Gomeniz who was judged to bee beheaded because he was a Banneret and had served the King in his Warres Under the second Head are these cases of 1. Iohn at Lee Steward of the houshold 2. Richard Lions 3. William Lord Latimer 4. William Ellis 5. Chichester and Botesham 6. Alice Pierce 7. Cavendish against Sir Mich. de la Poole Chancellour of England 8. The Earle of Northumberland For Writs of error their power and course in them may bee seene some speciall examples which are expressed whereunto is added that of Thorpe being Speaker of the Lower House under Henry the sixt which specially shewes the power of Iudicature in the Lords although otherwise it tast too much of what is wholy against the priviledges of every member of the Parliament at this day Ex rot Parliamenti 4. E. 3. mem. 3. num 3. WItnesse the Peeres Earles and Barons assembled in this Parliament at Westminster that it is openly assented and agreed that Iohn Matravers is guilty of the death of Edmund Earle of Kent the Vnckle of our Lord the King that now is as he that principally traiterously and falsely compassed the death of the said Earle so that the said Iohn did know of the death of King Edward our Father when the said Iohn by haynous manner and by his false and wicked deeds conspiring with the sonne of the said Earle against the life of the King which hee did actually commit for which the said Peeres of the Land and Iudges of the Parliament adjudge and award that the said Iohn bee drawne hanged and quartered as a Traitor in what part of the Kingdome soever he be found and the said Peeres doe pray our Lord the King that hee will command that a writ be made to make search and enquiry throughout the Realme and that he that can take the said Iohn alive and bring him to the King shall have a hundred markes and if in case he cannot be taken alive he that brings his head shall have fiftie pounds of the Kings guift Moreover to have such judgement it is agreed that it be put in execution of Boges de Boyons and John Deverell for the cause afore-mentioned and that hee that can take the said Boges alive and bring him to the King shall have a hundred pounds and he which brings the head of the said Iohn shall have forty pounds of the Kings guift Item it is assented and agreed that Thomas Gourney and William of Ocle shall have such judgement for the death of King Edward Father of our Lord the King that now is who falsely and traiterously murdered him and who can apprehend the said Thomas and take him alive shall have a hundred pound and he that can bring the head of him a hundred markes likewise he that can take the said William alive shall have a hundred markes and hee that brings the head of him if in case hee cannot be taken alive shall have forty pound of the Kings guift Rot. Parliamen 4. R. 2. M. 5. in Schedula annexa THis Schedule the Commons made and caused to be brought in Parliament praying the Lords to ratefie the same and to put in execution in that schedule amongst divers others this Article occurres Item that all those which have lost or rendred when necessity required not Castle Towne or Fortresse to the dishonour of our Lord the King the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament being every of them attainted of such fault shall be punished according to their desert without partiality for to avoyde the evill example which they have given to all others Then afterwards followes an Accusation and a Iudgement upon an offence of that nature ITEM where the Supplication is by the Commons that all those which have rendred and lost Castle or Townes lost by the very default of Captaines may be put to their answer at this Parliament and according to their desert throughly punished by the award of the Lords and Baronage avoyding the evill example which they have given to others and that Allen Buxall Constable of the Tower of London shall cause to come before the Lords of Parliament at Westminster on friday the 27. day of November in the yeare afore mentioned Iohn Lord of Gomeniz and William of Weston imprisoned and detain'd in the said Tower at the commandement of our Lord the King because they have rendered and lost faithfull Castles and Townes of our Lord the King for to answer upon the Articles which there shall be preferred for the said cause on the behalfe of our Lord the King At which day being friday the said John and William were brought by the said Constable of the Tower before the Lords aforesaid sitting in full Parliament in the great chamber They were severally put to answer at the commandement of the said Lords by sir Richard Scroope Knight Steward of the Houshold of our Lord the King in manner as followeth William of Weston you have taken upon you to the thrice powerfull Prince whom God have in his keeping Lord Edward late King of England Vnckle of our Lord the King that now is surely to keepe to him and his Heires Kings of England the Castle of Barwick without surrendring the same to any but him or his said Heirs have you William who were a leige man of our Lord the King that now is true Heire of the late King Edward delivered and surrendered the said Castle to the Enemies of our Lord the King without his Commandement in dishonour of him and his Crowne and of the Estate of his Realme of England against your leigeance and undertakings whereupon hee put his answer in writing having a Schedule contayning the Tenor of many things and came and read the said Schedule in full Parliament upon which the Law was demanded by the said Steward if the said Schedule should bee taken for his finall answer in that behalfe or not And thereupon the said William prayeth that the said Schedule may be redelivered to him and there hee putteth in his finall answer and after the said William put in to the said Schedule an Addition in full Parliament for finall in that behalfe The Tenor of which Schedule is such as followeth To the most sage Councell of our Lord the King and to the other Nobles and Commons of Parliament WIlliam of Weston beseecheth and shewes that he is accused maliciously to have rendered the Castle of Barwick which he had in keeping upon the Trust and assignement of our Lord the King may it please your just
Bishop of the same Ward and marriage made to the said William and surrendered to the said Iohn by the said William by durity and menaces bee fully restored to the said William and that the Enrolment of the release to the said Iohn by the said William of the same Ward and marriage also by durity and threatning made as by the said William in the Exchequer be cancelled voyde and holden for nought for ever saving all times to the King his right in time to come Ex. Rot. Parl. 50. E. 3. mem. 2. num 17. FIrst the said Richard Lions Merchant of London was impeached and accusâ—d by the said Commons of many deceits extortions and other evill deeds commited by him against our Lord the King and his people as well in the time that he had beene belonging to the House and Councell of the King as otherwise during the time that he was Farmor of the Subsedies and Customes of the King And more especially for that the said Richard by Covin had betweene him and some of the privie Councell of our Lord the King for their singular profit and advantage had procured and gotten many Patents and Writs of Licence to be made to carry great faith and credit whereby Skins wools and other merchandises were transported other where then to the Stapâ—e of Callis against the Ordinances anâ— defences made in that behalfe concerning the same before time in Parliament And for that he had imposed and procured to bee put upon Wools Skins Leather and other Merchandises certaine new Impositions without assent of Parliament and those Impositions and Taxes without permission of the King or of the High Treasurer of the Realme having not medlage therewith and it was said how hee uncertainly tooke ten shillings in one parcell and twelve pence in another parcell of every sack c. which mounted to a very great summe throughout all the time that hee had beene receiver or Treasurer and likewise of another new imposition of foure pence by him made and put upon every pound of money upon the Lumbards and other Merchants for a discharge by his owne proper Authority and without warrant and assent in Parliament or otherwise and the same imposition of foure pence the pound contrary to piety collected and kept as to the use of our Lord the King whereof hee payed nothing And also of divers loanes made to the use of the King without cause necessary and more especially of one loane which he newly had at London of twenty thousand markes where our Lord the King was bound to pay 30000. markes and that by the Counsell of the said Richard and others in the Kings Court who have covenanted with the receivers to have part of the gaine and to be parties secretly to the said loane the said Richard taketh the said money and afterwards gaineth by way of vsury of the King his Lord of whose Councell hee was before a great quantity of money in great dammage and deceit to the King and also many other extortions throâ—ghout the Realme and so demeaned himselfe against his Councell Treasurer and receiver concerning the new impositions as otherwise taking upon him in all the said matters the Royall Power which was horrible to rehearse And also for that our Lord the King had beene debtor of Record to divers Gentlemen of many great summes of money so had the said Richard by the assent of other privie complices in the Kings Court of the said Covin caused many such accounts to be bargained and compounded sometimes for the tenth penny and sometimes for the twentieth or a hundreth penny and hath procured the King to pay the debts intire and so by such his subtilties and for his singular profits as well our Lord the King as the said debts are wickedly abused and more especially the Prior of Saint John of Ierusalem in England to whom the King was debtor of a certaine summe and the said Richard hath had twenty foure Marks thereof for Broakage to cause the said Prior to have payment of the remnant and another time of the Lord Steward to whom the King was also a debtor and the said Richard hath had of him by the same manner another great summe of money and so of many others in great deceit slander and villany to the King and his Court Whereunto the said Richard present in Parliament saith that as to all the said Loane made to the King of the twenty markes aforesaid hee is altogether without other fault and further saith that he at no time had profit or gaine nor tooke any thing at all of the Loane aforesaid nor of the said money nor in other things and that he was ready to prove by all wayes reasonable when they would demand of him and as to the said Impositions of ten shillings and twelve pence the sack of wooll c. 4. pence the pound of money he could not cleerely excuse himselfe that he had not so levied and collected and thereof taken money his part that is to say 12. pence of every sack of Wooll c. but that was hee said at the commandement of our Lord the King at the prayer and assent of the Merchants who demanded such Licence and as to the remnants of these Impositions he had wholy delivered them to the receiver of the Kings chamber and accountable is the receiver in the Parliament And the said Richard first of all collected the same having a Warrant by which authority he hath before shewed in Parliament under the Seale of the King himselfe and his Councell so to doe and thereupon were witnesses produced in Parliament that our Lord the King had expressed a day for the same And some Lords there present in Parliament were that knew not how or in what manner he was become in such office under the King and what is more that the King knew him not for his Officer and that amongst other Articles the said Richard made no answer wherefore the said Richard was awarded to prison during the Kings pleasure and distrained to fine and ransome according to the quantity of his trespasse and that he loose his freedome of the City of London and bee no more in Office under the King nor approach to the Kings Court or Councell and thereupon another time the said Richard was sent before the Lords of Parliament where it was said to him that it seemed to the Lords that his offences were so great and horrible that hee had not sufficient wherewith to make satisfaction and forthwith the said Richard submitted himselfe into the favour of the King his body his Lands Tenements goods and Chattells and willed and granted that his body goods and Chattells should bee at the Kings will to give and as to the Extortions done by the said Richard or his Deputies from the time that hee was Farmer of the subsedies or Customes as beforesaid it is ordained in Parliament that good Inquiry bee made by sufficient Gentlemen in all the
he was called to the King where hee found the Lady Alice Pierce Nicholas Currein and many other Knights Esquires which came with him and there it was rehearsed by the said Nicholas how the King had shewed favour to Richard Lions of his Tenements which were holden by the Earle of Cambridge and Master Thomas of Wooâ—stock and had given him a 1000. marks of his Treasury And as to that which was don the said Dame Alice Pierce prayed the same Mr. Allen that hee would declare to the said Earles the Kings will his chargings upon the blessing of their father to cease to extend the Tenements of Maâ—ter Allen and that they doe it voluntarily if the King commanded them to doe so And forthwith at the instance of the said Alice the King commanded and it was also done And as to the Article of Master Nicholas Dagworth he saith that he knoweth nothing but that hee heard the said Lady Alice say many timâ—s that it is not reason nor Law that the said Mr. Nicholas who was enemy to Master William Windsor should bee sent into Ireland to make Inquisition of him or against him Item Will Street late controller of the Kings house sworne in like manner and diligently examined saith that he was one day at Havering when Williamâ—f Yorke spake to the K. of William Windsor in presence of the Lady Alice Pierce for to disturb the passage of Master Niâ—holas and the said Lady Alice said that it â—as not reason that one Enemy shoulâ— bee Iudge of another And moreover the said William Streâ—t saith in his consciâ—nce that the said Ladâ—Alice was principall and motrix of the said cause as he verily beleeves And as to the Article of Richard Lions he knowes nothing before it was all finished Item John Beverill sworne in like manner and diligently examined saith that he heard not at any time the said Lady Alice speake to the King concerning neither the one Article nor the other and that she kept her selfe well from him that she spake nothing in his presence but hee thinks in his conscience that she was the promotrix in the said businesse for hee knowes no other which could have followed that matter and notwithstanding they were caused to come before the said Duke and the said Earles Mr. Robert Beauchampe Master Allen Buxall Master Iohn Burle Mr. Philip de la Page Mr. Iohn Foxley and Thomas Barre Knight Nich Currein Iohn Beauchampe of Holt John Beverly George Felborough John Salisbury William Street Pierce Cornewall Thomas Lurden Lolvin Legat Esquires of the house of the said late King Edward which doe say upon their oathes that the said Alice was principall promotrix to the said King at his Court aâ—Havering about the Feast of All Saints in the 50. yeare of his Reigne concerning that Article touching the revocation of the said Nicholas Dagworth and for that she was committed Item as to the Article touching Richard Lions they know well that the said Alice was well willing councelling and aiding to the said busines prevailing with the said King at Sheeâ— in the moneth of May last past and for that she is found guilty in the same impeachment and the Lords of Parliament that were at Parliament when the said Ordinance was made remember that their intention was witnessed and bearing the force of a Statute and by the generall words whatsoever the said Alice may forfeit extend as well to the forfeiture of Lands and Tenements as goods and Chattells and all other possessions considering the dammages and villanies by her done to the King and to the Realme for that it was in effect to restraine and punish the said Lady Alice only wherefore it is awarded in this present Parliament that the said Ordinance have the force and effect according to the intent aforesaid that she be banished out of the Realm and her Lands and Chattels Tenements and possessions as well in demeane as in reversion be forfeited to the King and seised into his hand and it is the Intention of the King and of the Lords of the Ordinances assented to in the same Parliament that all the Lands whereof she hath taken the profit or bargained to her own profit be forfeited because of the fraud which may bee presumed in which shee is most abounding for which câ—use the same shâ—ll 〈◊〉 â—orâ—eited to the King and seised as the oâ—her Lands And it is the Intention of the King and of the Lords that this Oâ—dinance and award made by the King for such odious things in this especiall case which may extend to a thousand other persons shall in no other case but this bee taken in Example Likewise it is ordained and assented that notwithstanding the said forfeiture if she purchased any Lands or possessions by foâ—ce or dures Bee it by fine or by deed in pais or deed inrolled or otherwise that the purchase bee holden for nothing and that the parties which perceiv themselves aggrieved may have remedy by processe in Chancery and by advice of the GRANDIES of the Councell right shall bee done to the parties and restitution made according to the case demanded so that the purchases made bona fide be not made voide nor disanulled bâ— any manner of way Et istud rotulum sic factum scriptum tradidit liberaâ— it Edmundus Bradwell Clericus de Corona c hoc in Parliamento assig Clerico Parliamenti Ex. Rot Parliam Anno 7. R. 2. N 11. ITem It is to be understood that the 23. day of May there was present one Iohn Cavendish of London priâ—oner in this Parliament before the Commons of England in their Assembly in presence of some Prelates and Lords temporall there being and afterwards before all the Prelates and Lords being in this Parliament and prayed the Lords that for Goâ—s sâ—ke they would hasten for the peace and safety of his life that hee may have iufficient surety of the peace of those wheâ—eof hee complained and especially demanded surety of the Peace of Master Nicholas de la Poole Chancellor of England and this request to him was granted and thereupon by Commandements of the Lords aforesaid the said Master Nicholas there present found Sureties to be peaceable towards the said Iohn that is to say the Earle of Stafford and the Earle of Salisbury and the said Iohn rehearsed how at the last Parliament hee had made persuit by one Savill against Gibbon Mansfield Robert de Parry Iohn Hawkins and WILLIAM HORSMAN to have Restitution of certaine goods and marchandizes of great value left upon the Sea in default of the said Gibbon Robert John and William at the time when he had undertooke the safeguard of the Sea and of the marchandizes passing and comming from Sea for the time against all Enemies out of the power Royall which Bill was endorsed in the said Parliament he confessed and acknowledged in the Chancery for to discontinue and determine the matter by composition according to
for moving the King and power of France and by such repute as then and yet is taken to bee wherefore all the said profit ought to appertain to the KING as of a Schismatick and alien which thing of reasoâ— ought to have beene made known by the said Eaâ—le before hee demanded of the KING the said profit and hee kâ—ew expressely that hee demanded it for â—is sonne as an Hospitall and alleadged not in his answer that the King when hee granted the profit was informed of the matters aforesaid and also in that that when hee was such an Officer as beforesaid hee sent to the Court of Rome to have the same profit for his Sonne of the Collation of the Pope as benefice of the holy Church and to have also the profit out of the KINGS hand by the Sea Apostolicall as the Record termeth it and hee denies not that hee received of the said profits foure hundred pounds per annum alleadging that hee rendered to the KING the sâ—me and that after the said Earle had made a bargainâ— to have the provision which hee claymed of the said profit in England of the Pope a hundred pound per annum of the said provision to him and his Sonne John for term of their two lives for to deliver the said profit to the said provision for payment of which 100. l. to him and his sonne he tooke surety of the provision by recognizance and Obligations of divers summes notwithstanding that the King had commanded by his Letters to deliver all the profit aforesaid out of his hands to the said provision there where it seems for any thing that yet was shewn that all the said profit ought to have rested in the Kings hand for the causes aforesaid at least untill it had beâ—ne discussed whether the said profit were the benefit of holy Church grantable by the Pope or appurtenant to the K. by reason of Schismasie and endemnity of the said Master and he alleadged not in his answer that the King was cleerely informed of the matters aforesaid wherefore it is awarded that the said foure hundred markes per annum in time that the said profit was so granted to him by the King untill the time that hee delivered the same profit to the said provision as also the said 100. l. a yeare received also of the sâ—id provision untill the same bee levied to the use of our Lord the King of his Lands and chaâ—tells and that all the profit which should of late appertaine to the said Earle by reason of the said recognizance or of other Obligations and Covenants also made in surety of payment And as also to the 1000. markeâ— which hee had alleadged that he payed to the King for the said Exchanges It is awarded that the said 1000. markes remaining in the hands of the King as part of payment of the fine and ransome thâ—t the said Earle shall likewise make to the King before hee be delivered from prison Ex rotulo Parliamenti Anno 5. H. 4. N. 11. ITem Friday the last day of February the Earle of Northumberland came before the King and the Lords and Commons of Parliament and there the Chancellor of England shewed how on Tuesday last past hee had beene before the King the Lords and Commons in the same Parliament and there beseeched the King as hee had done at other times at his comming before him in Yorke that it would please our said Lord the King to grant him pardon of those things wherein he hath offended against him not keeping his Lawes and Statutes as Ligeance demandeth as by a Petition by him preferred in Parliament written in English whereof the Tenor ensueth may appeare more at large To my most Dreadfull and Soveraigne liege LORD I Your humble liege beseech your Highnesse to have in remembrance my comming to your Highnesse to have in remembrance my comming to your Worshipfull presence unto Yorke of my free will by your goodly Letters where I put mee in your Grace as I that nought have kept your Lawes and Statutes as liegeance asketh and especially of gathering of power and giving of Liveries as that time I put mee in your Grace and yet doe And I sent it like to your Highnesse that all gracelesse should not goe Wherefore I beseech you that your High Grace be seene on mee at this time and of other things which you have examined mee of I have told you plainely and of all I put mee wholy in your Grace WHich Petition by Commandement of the King examined by the Iustices for to have their Counsell and advice in this behalfe by Protestation made by the said Lords that the Iudgement appertained to them onely and after reaâ—ing and understanding of the same Petion before the Lords as Peers of the Parliament to whom such Iudgements appertaine of right to heare and understand by the Statutes made in the 25th yeare of the King that now is by deliberation of King Edward cozen of our Lord the King that now is they adjudge that those things which the said Earle hath don contained in the said Petition are not treason nor Felony but onely Trespasse for which Trespasse hee ought to make fine and ransome according to the Kings pleasure wherefore the said Earle most humbly reverenceth our Lord the King and the said Lords the Peeres of Parliament concerning the right Iudgement and further the said Earle prayed our Lord the KING that in affirmance of those matters hee might bee purged from all suspitions and prayed to bee judged de Novo in the presence of the KING and of the LORDS and Commons in Parliament the said Earle tooke his Oath upon the Crosse of the Arch-bishop to bee faithfull and loyall liege man to our Lord the King and to his eldest sonne and to the Heires issuing of his body and to his brothers and their Issue successesively and inheritably at which time if the King would command him hee should bee ready to shew and declare that which hee knowes in that he halfe and set forth the truth thereof And that our Lord the King might not bee deceived the said Earle was present and charged in his liberty the said Earle upon his Oath which hee had made upon the said crosse setteth forth and declareth openly in Parliament that which hee knoweth in this matter upon which charge to him given the said E. saith That at the day of Tryall of his life hee knew not of the Dukes and Bishops and other Lords any thing that â—ounded in derogation of the honourable estate of the K. and of his royall Majesty but that they were and are to him good and lawfull Lieges and that for such our Lord the King may hold and repute them and may faithfully put his trust in them in perill of his life and by the Oath which heâ— had made as before said And moreover the said Earle of Northamberland humbly beseeched the Lords and Earles and Commoners that they will beseech our Lord the
The Priviledges OF THE BARONAGE OF ENGLAND When they sit in Parliament Collected and of late revised by John Selden of the Inner Temple Esquire out of the Parliament Rolles and Journalls Patent and close Rolls the Crowne Rolls the proceedings of the English Courts at Westminster the Register of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Delegates yeare-Bookes of the Common Law Statutes other good Authorities and in such sort that frequently the words of the chiefest Testimonies are transcribed least the freedome of the Readers Iudgement might be other wayes prevented by short Collections The recitalls of the French Records in the 4th Chap. also newly translated into English for the benefit of others as well as the Students of the Lawes of England Quo communius eo magis bonum quod est justum LONDON Printed by T. Badger for Matthew Wallbanck and are to be sold at his shop at Grase-Inne Gate 1642. The Introduction by way of Table or Index to the Chapters following contained in this Treatise PRiviledges are speciall Rights belonging to the Baronage of England In which name are comâ—rehended all those who as Magnati proceres regni by common right are summoned to every Parliament wherein also they have place and voyce as incident to their Dignities and what things doe concerne them eâ—ther as they are one Estate together in the upper House or as every one of them is privately a single Baron As for the prelacy who had heretofore the first place in the summons viz. Praelati magnates c. they have now lost all their Priviledges oâ— sitting in Parliament and of bearing of any secular Offices in the Kingdome they are disabled by act of this present Parliament 17. Car. 1641. For Priviledges of the first kinde CHAP. TEstimonies are hereby collected touching CHAP. 1. Their proxies and making of proxies 1 CHAP. 2. Their proceedings in Suits as well for followers as for themselves during the Parliament 7. CHAP. 3. That none of them bee subject to bee questioned before the lower House onely 9. CHAP. 4. Their Jurisdiâ—â—ion in matters of offences as well capital as not capitall Errors out of the Kings Bench 10 CHAP. 5. Their passing of Bills and giving of Iudgements heretofore without any assent of spirituall Lords 120 CHAP. 6. Their appointing of Iudges out of themselves for examination of delaies of Iudgements in other Courts 127 CHAP. 7. Their Tennants of ancient Tennancies bring discharged of paying the charges of Knights of the shiere 129 For Priviledges of the second kinde of which also some are communicated to Baronesses The heads of the Collections are CHAP. 1. FIrst touching Oathes and Protestationt upon Honour 131 CHAP. 2 Tryall by Peeres 142 CHAP. 3 Scandala magnatum 155 CHAP. 4. Processe against them in English Courts Proceedings by Bill and Answere id CHAP. 5. Their number of Chaplaines is qualified 158 CHAP. 6. Their retayning of strangers 159 CHAP. 7. Clergy without reading id CHAP. 8. Their libertie of hunting in the Kings Forrests 161 CHAP. 9. Amerciaments of them id CHAP. 10. No Processe in a civill account to bee awarded against the body of a Baron 163 CHAP. 11. A Knight to bee returned upon every pannell where a Baron is party 16 CHAP. 12. No day of grace against a Baroâ— of Parliament ib. CHAP. 13. Making Deputies of places of Trust committed to them without words of the special power 167 BEsides these they have some Rights which are so commonly knowne that there needs no particular mention of them as their interest in making or repealing of Lawes or the like and divers others may perhaps be found which have not been oblivious in the late search made for them but of these particulars before mentioned according to the order in which they are described such store as are here collected doe follow First of the speciall RIGHTS WHICH Concerne them as they are one estate in the upper House of Parliament CHAP. I. Of Proxies of the Lords of Parliament VPON the summons of the Parliament licence of absence being obtained and the same licence as usually it being provided that a proxie bee made the Baron so licensed may appeare onely by that proxie to whom his voyce is so committed although his Writ bee Quod personaliter interâ—it and so also without licence upon sicknesse or such inevitable cause of absence The first mention of Proxies that occurres in the memories of our Parliaments is of Carlile under Edward the first where the words are Quia omnes Praelati Milites alij de communitate Regni tunc plenariè non venerunt receptis quibusdam procurationibus Praelatorum qui venire non poterant adjornantur omnâ—s qui summoniti sunt ad Parliamentum usqué ad diem Mercurij proximum sequentem ad horam primam And in a Parliament held at Westminster under Edwaâ—d the second the Biâ—hops of of Durham and Carlile remaining upon the defence of the marches of Scotland were severally commanded to stay there And in the Writ this clause was ordered to both of them Sed procuratorem vestrum sufficientèr instructum ad dictos diem locum mittatis ad consentiendum quod tunc ibidem per dictos praelatos proceres contigerit ordinari And the like Testimonies are afterwards under the same King for allowance and making of proxies by the name of procuratores sufficientes And in succeeding times the Testimonies of them downe to this day are most frequent But two things are most especially observable touching them 1. THat although the generall proxies were admitted yet when the nature of the Parliamentory businesse required more speedie and full advice a clause was inserted into the summons to premonish the Baron summoned that his proxie should not bee admitted unlesse he were compelled to absent himselfe by most inevitable necessity So was it in the Writs of summons under Edward the third to the Parliament held for advice touching the voyage of the King of France into the holy Land every Baron having these words in his Writ Scientes pro certo quod nisi evidens manifestus id exposcat non intendimus procuratores seu excusatores pro vobis admittere ea vice propter arduitatem negotiorum praedictorum And likewise under Richard the second the summons to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the rest had these words Et 〈◊〉 nullatonus amittatis â—ne quid absit per vestram absentiam quà m necessitate infirmitate tunc â—etenti fueritis quòd aliqualiter illuc laborare non poteritis nullo modo excusatum habere volumus ista vice expeditio ne potior nostrâ—rum praedictorum retardetur seu aliqualâ—ter deferatur And divers other Examâ—lâ—s are for personall appearance and excâ—uding Proxies 2. That the course of the elder time was not that Barons onely were made Proxies in the upper House as at this day but other men also of low condition and this hath beene very frequently in the case of Bishops and Parliamentory Abbots
losse without necessary cause and also of Patentâ— made in destruction of the Staple of Callis and alsâ— of divers Impositions put upon woolls against the Statute of Parliament in that behalfe lately made he is awarded by the Prelates and Lords in full Parliament to prison to be kept in Ward of the Maâ—shall and to make raâ—som at the Kings will whereupon the said Commons beseech the King for that he is found in such defaults by his singular Counsels he being in all Offices of the King and especially one of the Kings Privy Counsell throughout all that time it was requested that the King would bee pleased to grant that the said Lord might go under baile whereupon the King willed and granted that the said Lord Latimer should find in Parliament certain Prelates Lords and others during the Parliament to have his body before the King and the Lords to answer further to the Articles wherof he was â—o arrested under a certain paine and forme comprised in a Schedule annexed And under such surety the Marshall of England let him go at liberty Ibidem N. 31. ITem Willâ—am Ellis of great Jermouth is impeached and accused in this present Parliament in divers manners first viz. by the surmise of the Commons made to him that the said William whilest he was Farmer to our Lord the King of his pety Customes in the Port of great Jermouth and Deputy of Richard Lions Farmour of the Subsidies of 6 d. the pound granted by our Lord the King of all Marchandizes passing out of the Kingdome and entring in the same for the safeguard of the Sea and of the Marchants passing by Sea and of their Marchandize he did take by him and his servants as well English as of Strangers in the said Ports and members thereof by way of extortion by colour of his said Offices many great summes of money and otherwise that he ought not to have done in great prejudice slaunder of the King and dammage of the said Realme and to the oppression and wrong of the Marchants aforesaid And the said William Ellis present in Parliament saith that true it is that he is one of the Farmours of the said pety Customes of the Marchants passing and comming saving the purport of the Commissions thereof made without that that he tooke the same or caused any thing to be taken by extortion more than was clearely due to the King and that hee was ready to prove to the King by whatsoever way way hee ought to do and the Commons replying said that the said William confessed to them in the Common assembly in the Chapter house within the Abbey of Westminster the day before that he had received the said 33 l. prayed that against his owne ackowledgement so openly and before so many persons he might not at other times be received to say the contrary And therupon the said Commons brought in Parliament John Botild Willi Cooper of Leiwstoft and two others that affirmed they had payed to the said William Ellis by the said Marchanâ— of Scotland the said 3â— l. for full Informâ—tioâ— of the matter aforesaid which John and William Cooper being thereof examined in Paâ—liament acknowledged that tâ—ey were obliged to our Lord the King and to the said William Ellis by their obligations or letters obligatory in the said 33 pounds together with the said Scot which was their hoast and payed at a certaine day for the said Subsidy of 6 d. the pound due of all the marchandizes in the said ship and the truth was that the said Scot discharged nothing of all the matters aforesaid at the day of payment but that they payed to the said William Ellis the 33 l. and therupon the said Commons prayed Iudgment upon the same said William Ellis who said that although that he had received the said 33 pounds of John Botild and of the other aforesaid be received it not but as supposing the same a gift and that without câ—ndition and that as often as concerning the â—ame hee should have a Writ or other Commandement of our Lord the King he would make deliverance thereof which otherwise he would not do voluntarily Item afterwards the said John Botild and William Cooper did put in the Bils in form which followeth To our Thrice doughty Lord the King and to his Sage Councell Sheweth John Botild of Lewistoft that the munday next after the Ascension of our Lord in the yeare of the raigne of our Lord the King that now is the nine and fortieth that there was chased by tempest in Kirke la Rode one Cockboat of Gotham in Pruse whereof the Masters name was Henry Luce charged with divers Marchandizes of the Marchants of Pruse that is â—o say Freeze and other marchandizes And the same day William Savage Clerke and servant to Wil. Ellis by commandement of the said William Ellis tooke of the said Cockboat for the marchandizes neither discharged the same from paying custome then 17 nobles and a last of leather the price of the last 10 pounds 16 s. at Lewistoft before the boat went out of Kirke la Rode to the great danger of the said Marchants And because that the said William Ellis knew that Wil. Cooper would come to this Parliament and shew this grievance others in aid of the Marchants and also set forth how the great Charter Huc Ang. might be amended in aid of the whole Realm the said Wil. by his false suggestion caused the said Wil. Cooper to be arrested and cast in prison for the space of 3 weeks May it please our thrice doubty L. the King his sage Councell to make remedy thereof in worke of charity Which Billes passed in absence of the said Wil. Ellis he saith that as to the said 17 nobles and skins called leather he could not sweare for him nor for any of the said Marchants of Pruse nor other whatsoever and the said John Botild and Wil. Cooper affirming the contrary at last it was said by the Lords in Parliament that those Billes touching the entry of the leather were now in the Kings Bench for Triall And as to the said Imprisonment the said William Ellis saith for that he was warned in coÌ„ming to London by many sufficient persons that the said John Wil. Cooper with 36 other persons of Lewist did lie in wait for the person of the said Wil. Ellis at Wickham market in Suffolke and going there in the high way of Gerneith from London at such time as the said W. was going towards London carrying with him a great summ of the K. money of the Customes Subsidies aforesaid and for that the said W. Ellis is awarded to prison to make fine ransom to our said L. the K. it is awarded to either of the said Iohn and William Cooper twentie pounds for their dammages and dispences during their said Imprisonment had and suffered Also it is awarded that the said Commissions be made to sufficient Gentlemen to enquire
if any such right had anciently belonged to them not only they themselves but the temporall Baronage under H. 6. protesteth by the mouth of Viscount Beaumont for their triall by Peeres when William de la Poole put himselfe upon the King and not on his Peeres in such sort as those Bishops put themselves on the Pope and not upon any legall Triall But one particular case is here to be added touching this right singled by it selfe that is Triall by Peeres upon the third offence against the Statute of Service and Sacraments under Queen Elizabeth for the known triall by Peeres is in cases of treasons or misprisions or one of them And triall by Peeres saved to the Baronage in the Statute of new treason of felony hath reference only to the known use of such triall so that in those new treasons or felonies such as for other offences which were before treason or felony were to be tried by their Peeres are likewise and none else to be tried by their Peeres for new treasons or felonies and therein the Spirituall Lords are equally excluded But this of the third offence against that Statute is neither treason felony nor misprision but a Trespasse punished only by forfeiture of goods and perpetuall imprisonment In which Case this act saith without reference to the use of triall by Peeres as it is usually expressed in other Statutes that all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the third offence shall be tried by their Peeres CHAP. III. Scandala Magnatum IF any person shall divulg false Tales of any of the Lords of Parliament by which dissention may bee betwixt the Commons and them the offender is to be imprisoned untill hee bring forth the Author but this also is communicated to the greaâ—er Officers of the Kingdom CHAP. IV. Proces against them in English Courts by Bill and Answer THe course of the Chancery is and of the late Starcham was that the Chancellor writes to the Lords of Parliament and sends out Subpoena's and usually his letters are prayed in the Bils that are exhibited against them But whether upon a Barons not appearing on a Subpoena an attachement may be awarded hath been a question neither do I find it cleerely resolved otherwise than that in later times the practise is that it may but in the time of Queen Elizabeth in a suit between Tavernor and the Lord Cromwell the defendant disobeying an Injunction in the Chancery it was questioned what course should bee taken against him and upon good and deliberate advice taken by the Court having the opinion of some of the Iudges herein an attachment was awarded to the Sheriffe of Norfolke and returned so and the Sheriffe had his costs for bringing him This attachment was awarded in Michaelmas Terme and in Hillary Terme he was returned so but afterwards there being a Parliament began in May and ended in June the Lord Chancellor complained of it and it was pretended that it was gotten in Court in the absence of the Lord Chancellor and advice was had with Councell and Iudges and it appeares not as the words of the Iournall booke are that by the Common Law or by any presidents of the said Court of Chancery it was warranted that the person of any Lord having place and voyce in parliament in the like case in the said Court of Chancery before this time had been attached and therfore they took it to be against the priviledges of the Lords of this Kingdom and he was discharged But for that of attachment upon Subpoenas and in the course of proceeding against noble men by such Writs or Bils as are used in the Exchequer Chancery or elsewhere it is not likely that any certain Course of ancient Common Law or proceeding in equity can be found to justifie it at all either against them or any other persons beyond the time of R. 2. under whom John Waltham Bishop of Salisbury and Chancellor of England brought in the Writs of Subpoena caeteris de causis in the Chancery and the Exchequer by example whereof other Courts have used them against which the Commons passed a Bill in Parliament under Henry the fift but the King would not give assent to it The like is found under Henry the sixt and Henry the fourth CHAP. V. Their number of Chaplaines qualified BY the Statute of Pluralities every Arch-bishop may have eight Chaplaines that may take dispensations for a plurality but for the plenty of Schollers of good ability in Arts and Learning it is like the Law in these points will be altered that they all have and none want convenient benefice Every Marquesse and Earle may have 5 Chaplaines Every Viscount may have 4 Chaplaines Every Bishop may have 6 Chaplaines Every Temporall Baron may have 3 Chaplaines Every Dutchesse being Widdowes two Every Marchionesse being Widdowes two Every Countesse being Widdowes two Every Baronesse being Widdowes two CHAP. VI Their retaining of Strangers A Baron of the Parliament may keepe six strangers borne out of the Kings obeysance at one time whereas another man may retaine not above foure CHAP. VII Clergy VNder Edw. the sixt a priviledge was given to the Nobility that in all cases where a common person as a Clerke convict shall and may have benefit of his Clergy and in all cases where priviledge of Clergy is restrained or taken away by that Statute except in willfull murder that is Burglary Robbery by or neere the high-way stealing of Horses and Sacriledge a Lord of the Parliament and Peere of the Realme should at the first offence only of common grace without prayer have benefit of the Clergy and stand as a Clerke convict to make purgation although hee cannot read But as Stamford notes in all other cases in which Clergy is taken away since that Act. A Baron of the Parliament is in the same case as any other common person is And by Acts made since it was taken away generally 1 For stealing of Horses 1. E. 6. cap. 33. 2 Robbing in dwelling houses c. in or neere the high way 5. E 6. c. 9. 3 Burning of Houses or Barnes pety treason 5 Phil Mar. c. 4. 4 Stealing of 5 s. in any dwelling house or any place adjoyning 39. Eliz. cap. 15. 5 Stealing of 12 d. or more without the knowledge of the person c. 8. Eliz. cap. 4. 6 Burglary and Rape 16. Eliz cap. 7. 7 Killing one that hath no weapon drawn 1 Jac. cap. 9. CHAP. VIII Their liberty of hunting in the Kings Forrests QVicunque Archiepiscopus Comes vel Baro veniens ad nos per mandatum nostruÌ„ transiret per forestam nostram liceat ei capere unam bestiam vel duas per visum Forestarii si presens fuerit sin autem faciat cornare ne videatur hoc furtim facere hoc liceat eis redeundo facere sicut praedict est and this hath been interpreted to the comming of a Lord by summons to the Parl. by