Selected quad for the lemma: parliament_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
parliament_n	king_n	law_n	peer_n	3,558	5	10.1638	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54631	Lex parliamentaria, or, A treatise of the law and custom of the parliaments of England by G.P., Esq. ... ; with an appendix of a case in Parliament between Sir Francis Goodwyn and Sir John Fortescue, for the knights place for the county of Bucks, I Jac. I., from an original French manuscript, translated into English.; Lex parliamentaria. English	Petyt, George.	1690 (1690)	Wing P1943; ESTC R4908	108,214	341

of Judicature and both Houses together have Power of Judicature This Power is best understood by reading the Judgments and Records of Parliament at large Ibid. and the Journals of the House of Lords and * 6 H. 8. c. 16. Rast 429 430. Vaughan 285. the Book of the Clerk of the House of Commons If Inconveniencies necessarily follow out of the Law only the Parliament can cure them If a Marriage be declared by Act of Parliament to be against God's Law Id. 327. we must admit it to be so for by a Law that is by an Act of Parliament it is so declared In many Cases Multitudes are bound by Acts of Parliament 4 Inst 4 5. which are not Parties to the Elections of Knights Citizens and Burgesses as all they that have no Free-hold or have Free-hold in ancient Demesne and all Women having Free-hold or no Free-hold and Men within the Age of One and twenty years c. It is declared by the Lords and Commons in full Parliament Id. 14. upon Demand made of them on the Behalf of the King that they could not assent to any Thing in Parliament that tended to the disherison of the King and his Crown whereunto they were sworn The Expounding of the Laws Hakewel 94. doth ordinarily belong to the Reverend Judges and in Case of greatest Difficulty or Importance to the High Court of Parliament Errors by the Law in the Common Pleas are to be corrected in the King's Bench 4 Inst 22. Vid. Stat. 1. Jac. 1 c. 1. and of the King's Bench in the Parliament and not otherwise Actions at Common Law are not determined in this High Court of Parliament Selden 's Judicature 2. yet Complaints have ever been received in Parliaments as well of private Wrongs as publick Offences And according to the Quality of the Person and Nature of the Offence they have been retained or referred to the Common Law There be divers Precedents of the Trial of Bishops by their Peers in Parliament Id 4.5 as well for Capital Offences as Misdemeanors whereof they have been accused in Parliament As the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury 15 Ed. 3. n. 6 7 8. ibid. postea 44. 39. ibid. 17 E. 3.22 And the Bishop of Norwich 7 Rich. 2. for Misdemeanors So were the Bishops of York and Chichester tried for Treason by their Peers in Parliament upon the Appeal of the Lords Appellants 11 R. 2. Anno 21 R. 2. The Commons Acensed the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury of Treason and the Temporal Lords judged him a Traytor and Banished him But if the Bishop be accused out of Parliament he is to be tried by an ordinary Jury of Free-holders for his Honour is not inheritable as is the Temporal Peers out of Parliament save that only of their Trial. As no Day of Grace to be granted against them in any Suit A Knight to be returned upon the Pannel where a Bishop is Party and no Process in a Civil Action to be awarded against his Body and the like And by this it appeareth what Persons are de Jure triable by the Lords in Parliament viz. their Peers only Judgments in Parliaments for Death have been strictly guided per Legem Terrae Id. 168. The Parliament hath three Powers Sir Rob. Atkyns Argument c. 36. a Legislative in Respect of which they are call'd the three Estates of the Realm a Judicial in respect of this it is call'd Magna Curia or the High Court of Parliament a Counselling Power hence it is call'd Commune Concilium Regni The Parliament gives Law to the Court of the King's Bench Id. 49. and to all other Courts of the Kingdom and therefore it is absurd and preposterous that it shou'd receive Law from it and be subject to it The greater is not judged of the less All the Courts of Common Law judge only by the ordinary Rules of the Common Law Id. 50. but the Proceedings of Parliament are by quite another Rule The Matters in Parliament are to be discussed and determined by the Custom and Usage of Parliament and the Course of Parliament and neither by the Civil nor the Common Law used in other Courts The Judges of all the Courts of Common Law in Westminster are but Assistants Ibid. and Attendants to the High Court of Parliament And shall the Assistants judge of their Superiors The High Court of Parliament is the dernier Resort Ibid. and this is generally affirm'd and held but it is not the last if what they do may yet again be examin'd and controlled Because the High Court of Parliament proceeds by a Law peculiar to that High Court Id. 52. which is call'd Lex Consuetudo Parliamenti and not by the Rules of the Common Law and consists in the Customs Usages and Course of Parliament no Inferior Court can for this very Reason judge or determine of what is done in Parliament or by the Parliament A Statute Arc. Parl. 85. or Act of Parliament shall not be proclaimed for the Parliament represents the Body of the whole Realm for there are Knights and Burgesses of every County and Town But otherwise where it is ordained by the Act that it shall be proclaimed A man Attainted of Felony Id. 100. or Treason shall not be restored in Blood without Parliament 28 Ed. 1. Petyt's Appendix to Miscel Parliament n. 38. A Truce being concluded between the English and French by King Edward's Ambassadors who therein had dishonorably agreed to include the Scots the Ambassadors at the ensuing Parliament were sharply rebuked and corrected not only by the King himself the Prelates and Nobles but by the Commons The Court of Parliament was the Sanctuary Turner's Case of Bankers 36. whether the distressed Subject in his Exigence fled for Shelter and Refuge and alway found it Into the Sacred Bosom of Parliaments it was Ibid. Vide Several Precedents and Records that they powred out their Sighs and Groans with constant Success and when in Cases of high Nature the Common Law was arrested and stopt in her Proceedings Parliaments evermore ran into their Rescue and in dutiful ways discharged those Locks and Bars which had been unjustly sastned on the Exchequer The Right of the Crown of England Stat. Provis 25 Ed. 3. Rast Stat. 99. and the Law of the said Realm is such that upon the Mischiefs and Damages which happen to the Realm the King ought and is bound by his Oath of the Accord of his People in Parliament thereof to make Remedy c. To conclude this Chapter Le Parliament ad Absolute poiar en touts Cases come a faire Leys d'adjuger Matiers en Ley à trier vie del home à reverser Errors en Bank le Roy especialment lou est ascun Commune Mischief que l'ordinary Course del Ley n'ad ascun means à remedier en tiel Case ceo est le proper Court Et touts choses que ils font

sont come Judgments Et si le Parliament mesme erre Fincht's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 2. c. 1. f. 21. b. 22. a come il poet ceo ne poet estre reverse en ascun Lieu forsque en le Parliament Which because it is omitted as several other things are in the Book translated into English I will thus give it the Reader that does not understand French The Parliament hath Absolute Power in all Cases as to make Laws to adjudge Matters in Law to try men upon their Lives to reverse Errors in the King's Bench especially where there is any Common Mischief which the ordinary Course of the Law hath not any means to remedy in such Case this is the proper Court And all things which they do are as Judgments And if the Parliament it self errs as it may that cannot be reversed in any place but in Parliament CHAP. III. House of Lords THere certainly cannot in the whole World be seen a more Illustrious Court 2 Nalson 366. than this High and Honorable Assembly of Peers in Parliament nor any Thing of greater Benefit and Advantage to the Subjects of this Monarchy No Lord of Parliament can sit there Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 11. Col. 1. till he be full One and twenty years unless by special Grace of the Prince and that very rarely unless they be near upon the Age of Twenty years at least A Bishop elect may sit in Parliament Ibid. as a Lord thereof If the King by his Writ calleth any Knight or Esquire to be a Lord of the Parliament 4 Inst 44. he cannot refuse to serve the King there in Communi illo Consilio for the Good of his Country It lies in the Favour of the Prince to make Heirs of Earldoms Members of the Vpper House Sir Simon d'Ewes Journal 〈◊〉 Col. 2. by Summoning them thither by Writ but then they take not their Place there as the Sons of Earls but according to the Antiquity of their Fathers Baronies The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury is the first Peer of the Realm Id. 140. Col. 1. The Earl-Marshals Place in Parliament is betwixt the Lord Chamberlain Id. 535. Col. 2. and the Lord Steward No man ought to sit in that High Court of Parliament 4 Inst 45. but he that hath Right to sit there If a Lord depart from Parliament without licence Id. 44. it is an Offence done out of the Parliament and is finable by the Law Any Lord of the Parliament Id. 12. by License of the King upon just Cause to be absent may make a Proxy 43 Eliz. 1601. Towns Coll. 135. Agreed by the Lords That the ancient Course of the House is Vide Sir Simon d'Ewes Journal 605. that the Excuses of such Lords as shou'd happen to be absent from the House upon reasonable Occasions ought to be done by some of the Peers and not by other Information All the Priviledges which do belong to those of the Commons House of Parliament Hakewell 82. à fortiori do appertain to all the Lords of the Vpper House for their Persons are not only free from Arrests during the Parliament but during their Lives nevertheless the original Cause is by reason they have Place and Voice in Parliament And this is manifest by express Authorities grounded upon excellent Reasons in the Books of Law A Proxy is no more than the constituting of some one or more by an absent Lord Sir Simon d'Ewes Journals 5. Col. 2. to give his Voice in the Vpper House when any difference of Opinion and Division of the House shall happen for otherwise if no such Division fall out it never cometh to be question'd or known to whom such Proxies are directed nor is there any the least use of them save only to shew prove and continue the Right which the Lords of the Vpper House have both to be Summon'd and to give their Voices in the same House either in their Persons or by their Proxies As many Proxies as any Peer hath Ibid. Col. 2. so many Voices he hath beside his own and if there be two or three Proxies constituted by one absent Lord as is frequent then alway the first named in the same is to give the Voice if he be present and if absent then the second sic de reliquis It is plain by the ancient Treatise Id. 6. Col. 1. Modus tenendi Parliamentum that if a Peer neither came to the Parliament nor sent a Proxy upon his Writ of Summons he forfeited 100 l. if an Earl 100 Marks if a Baron c. Towns Coll. 4.39 40 42. It seldom happeneth that any Bishop doth nominate fewer than three or two Proctors nor any Temporal Lord more than one John Arch-Bishop of Canterbury had this Parliament five Proxies Id. 34. 1 Eliz. 4 Inst 12 13. A Lord of Parliament by License obtained of the Queen to be absent made a Proxy to three Lords of Parliament one of which gave Consent to a Bill the other two said Not Content And it was by order of the Lords debated among the Judges and Civilians Attendants and conceiv'd by them that this was no Voice and the Opinion was affirmed by all the Lords That it was no Voice 2 Car. 1. 1626. Rush Coll. 269. The House of Peers made an Order That after this Session no Lord of this House shall be capable of receiving above two Proxies or more to be numbred in any Cause voted In the Lords House Arc. Parl. 12. Smith's Common-wealth 87. the Lords give their Voices from the Puisne Lord seriatìm by the Word Content or Not Content 4 Inst 34. First for himself and then severally for so many as he hath Letters and Proxies A Bill had three Readings in one Forenoon Towns Coll. 11. in the House of Lords Where a Committee of Lords is selected out to meet with another Committee of the House of Commons Towns Coll. 9. neither the Judges being but Assistants nor the Queens Council being but Attendants of and upon the House were ever nominated as Joynt-Committees with the Lords But when the Lords among themselves do appoint a Committee to consider of some ordinary Bill especially if it concern Matter of Law it hath been anciently used and may still without Prejudice to the Honour of the House that the King 's learned Council but especially the Judges may be nominated as Committees alone or as Joynt-Committees with the Lords January 19. 1597. 39 Eliz. It was resolved Towns Coll. 94. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour That the Order and Usage of this House was and is that when any Bills or Messages are brought from the Lower House to be preferr'd to the Vpper House the Lord Keeper and the rest of the Lords are to rise from their Places and to go down to the Bar there to meet such as come from the Lower House and from them to receive in that Place their Messages

or Bills Contrariwise when any Answer is to be delivered by the Lord Keeper c. In passing of Bills Arc. Parl. 5. if the Not Contents be most then the Bill is dash't i. e. the Law is annihilated and goeth no further If the Contents be the most then the Clerk writeth underneath Soit baile aux Commons 3 Car. 1. 1626. Rash Coll. 365. Resolved upon the Question That the Priviledge of this House is that no Lord of Parliament the Parliament sitting or within the usual Time of Priviledges of Parliament is to be imprison'd or restrain'd without Sentence or Decree of the House unless it be for Treason or Felony or refusing to give Surety of the Peace Giving the Lye to a Peer is a Breach of Priviledge 2 Nalson 380. Ever since the Conquest the Arch-Bishops Hakewel 84. Vide Kelwey 184. Vide Lord Hollis's Letter Vide Lord Hollis's Remains Vid. contra Hunt's Argument for the Bishops Right c. Vid. Grand Question concerning Bishops Right per. totum and Bishops have no Title to have Voice and Place in Parliament but only in respect of their Temporal Baronies where they are present quousque perveniatur ad Diminutionem c. When a Question is had of the Attainder of any Peer Hakewel 84. Vid. contra Hunt ut suprà per tot Vid. Grand Question concerning Bishops Right c. per totum Selden of Judicature c. p. 150. or other in Parliament the Arch-Bishops and Bishops depart the Higher House and do make their Proxies for by the Decrees of the Church they may not be Judges of Life and Death 11 Rich. 2. Divers Lords and others being appealed of Treason and other Misdemeanors the Prelates absented themselves during the Trial having first made Protestation saving their Right to be present in Parliament * Vid. there the Protestation of the Bishops for ever Id. 151. The Protestation I think intends That they could not be present by reason of the Common Law and by reason of an Ordinance made at the Council at Westminster in 21 Hen. 2. by which all Clergy-men were forbidden agitare Judicium Sanguinis upon Pain to be deprived both of Dignities and Orders For surely as I think they might otherwise have been present both by the Common Law and by the Law of God All the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Selden's Judicature c. 39. 11 Rich. 2. claimed as their Liberty and Franchise that the great Matters moved in this Parliament and to be moved in other Parliaments in Time to come touching the Peers of the Land ought to be admeasured adjudged and discussed by the Course of the Parliament and not by the Civil Law nor by the Law of the Land used in the more base Courts of the Realm which the King granted in full Parliament The Proceeding against a Peer in Parliament is not necessary Id. 53. It appears that the Lords cannot of themselves judge a Common Person for an Offence Id. 61. for he is no Peer according to that of 4 E. 3. Numb 26. 1 Rich. 2. Id. 123. The Lord Beauchamp was sworn and examined and the Duke of Lancaster being one of the Committee was diligently examin'd before the rest of the said Committee but not sworn ad testificandum Earls and Dukes are not sworn In Judgments on Delinquents in Parliament Id. 132. the Commons might accusare petere Judicium the King assentire and the Lords only did judicare The King's Assent ought to be to Capital Judgments Id. 141. Vid. id 144 147 148 154 158. and the Lords Temporal to be only Judges therein and not the Lords Spiritual but in Misdemeanors the Lords Spiritual and Temporal are equal Judges and the King's Assent is not necessary Id. 136. yet it seemeth to me that the King's Assent is necessarily required in Capital Causes and Judgments If a Peer be committed to Prison the Gentleman Vsher hath the Charge of him thither and the Serjeant attending on the Great Seal How Lords of Parliament shall be placed in the Parliament Vide Stat. 31 Hen. 8. c. 10 Vid. 4 Inst 362. Rot. Parl. 3 H. 6. n. 10. and other Assemblies and Conferences of Council A Peer of the Realm shall be tried in an Appeal by Knights c. and not by his Peers Arcana Parl. 70. because it is at the Suit of the Party Brook 142 153. Otherwise it is in an Indictment of Treason or Felony for that it is at the Suit of the King Id. 71. The Duke of Somerset in the Time of Ed. 6. was tried for Felony and Treason by his Peers upon an Indictment for it is the Suit of the King When a Lord of Parliament is tried by his Peers 1 Hen. 4.1 Id. 72. they shall not be sworn to say their Verdict but they shall give their Verdict upon their Honor and are not charged but upon their Honors A Lord of Parliament shall have Knights upon his Trial in every Action 27 Hen. 8. f. 27. A Lord of Parliament may be Outlawed for Murder 27 Hen. 8. f. 17. If a Lord of Parliament makes a Rescous 27 H. 8.27 a Capias shall be taken out against him if the Sheriff return the Rescous otherwise it is in Case of Debt A Capias ad Satisfaciendum does not lye against a Lord of Parliament 11 H. 4.15 27 Hen. 8.27 for the Law presumes that he has Assets An Attachment is not grantable by the Common Law Dyer 316. Statute Law Custom or Precedent against a Lord of Parliament and the Lord Cromwel by Order in the Parliament-Chamber was discharged of such Process In a Praemunire against a Lord of Parliament Arc. Parl. 98. he ought to appeear in his proper Person and not by Attorny unless he has a special Writ of Chancery CHAP. IV. Power of the House of Lords A Peer of the Realm being Indicted of Treason 4 Inst 23. or Felony or Misprision of Treason may be Arraigned thereof in Parliament a Lord Steward being appointed and then the Lords Spiritual shall make a Procurator for them and the Lords as Peers of the Realm during the Parliament are Judges whether the Offence be Treason c. that is supposed to be committed by any Peer of the Realm and not the Justices Many notable Judgments by the Lords Ibid. Vide Rush Coll. passim Vid. Nalson at the Prosecution of the Commons and in later Times Error serra sue in Parliament Vid. Crompton 18. b. Parliament poet prendre Recognizance Brook 137. Error Error shall be sued in Parliament and the Parliament may take Recognizance If a Judgment be given in the King's Bench 4 Inst 21. either upon a Writ of Error or otherwise the Party grieved may upon a Petition of Right made to the King in English or in French and his Answer thereto Fiat Justitia have a Writ of Error directed to the Chief Justice of the

King's Bench for removing of the Record in praesens Parliamentum c. When one sueth in Parliament to Reverse a Judgment in the King's Bench Id. 22. he sheweth in his Bill which he exhibiteth to the Parliament some Error or Errors whereupon he prayeth a Scire Facias The Proceeding upon the Writ of Error is only before the Lords in the Vpper House Id. Secundùm Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti The Case between Smith and Busby in a Writ of Error 2 Nalson 716. decidable in no other Court but in Parliament If any Question be moved in Parliament for Priviledge 4 Inst 363. or Precedency of any Lord of Parliament it is to be decided by the Lords of Parliament in the House of Lords as all Priviledges and other Matters concerning the Lords House of Parliament are November 1641. Resolved by the House Nemine contradicente 2 Nalson 625. That it belongs to the House of Peers by the ancient Laws and Constitutions of this Kingdom to interpret Acts of Parliament in Time of Parliament in any Cause that shall be brought before them Julij 12 2 Nalson 381. 1641. An Order of the Lords for Relief of a Feme-Covert and her Children against a Husband refusing to Cohabit The Sentence pronounced by the Lords upon Sir Giles Mompesson Rushw Col. 27 28. and Sir Fancis Michel for Projectors Upon Complaints and Accusations of the Commons Selden's Judicature c 6 7. the Lords may proceed in Judgment against the Delinquents of what Degree soever and what Nature soever the Offence be For where the Commons complain the Lords do not assume to themselves Trial at Common Law Neither do the Lords at the Trial of a Common Impeachment by the Commons decedere de June suo for the Commons are then instead of a Jury And the Parties Answer and Examination of Witnesses are to be in their Presence or they to have Copies thereof and the Judgment is not to be given but upon their Demand which is instead of a Verdict so the Lords do only judge not try the Delinquent 28 Hen. 6. Tho' the Lords refused to commit the Duke of Suffolk upon the Commons complaint of him of a common Fame of Treason Id. 98. yet when they accused him of particular Treason he was Committed and brought Prisoner to his Answer But in Cases of Misdemeanors it is otherwise then the Party Accused whether Lord or Commoner answers as a Freeman The Lord within his Place Ibid. the Commoner at the Bar and they are not committed till Judgment unless upon the Answer of a Commoner the Lords find Cause to commit him till he find Sureties to attend c. lest he should fly Prout Jo. Cavendish upon the Lord Chancellor's demand of Justice against him for his false Accusation was Committed after his Answer until he put in Bail Anno 7 Rich. 2. and before Judgment In Cases of Misdemeanors only Id. 105. the Party accused was never deny'd Counsel If the Commons do only complain Id. 163. and do neither impeach the Party in Writing nor by Word of Mouth in open House nor demand Trial to be in their Presence in these Cases it is in the Election of the Lords whether the Commons shall be present or not In Complaints of Extortion Id. 173. and Oppression the Lords awarded Satisfaction to the Parties wronged which sometime was certain sometime general but alway secundùm non ultra Legem It appeareth plainly by many Precedents Id 176 177. That all Judgments for Life and Death are to be render'd by the Steward of England or by the Steward of the King's House and this is the Reason why at every Parliament the King makes a Lord Steward of his House tho' he hath none out of Parliament And at such Arraignment the Steward is to sit in the Chancellor's Place and all Judgments for Misdemeanors by the Chancellor or by him who supplies the Chancellor's Place In Case of Recovery of Damages Id. 187. or Restitution the Parties are to have their Remedy the Parliament being ended in the Chancery and not in any other inferior Court at the Common Law But the Lords in Parliament may direct how it shall be levied The Judges who are but Assistants to the Vpper House have leave from the Lord Chancellor or Keeper to sit covered in the House Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 527. Col. 2. but are alway uncovered at a Committee 3 Car. 1. The Sentence of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Petyt 's Miscel Parliament 212 213. pronounced by the Lord Keeper against Ensign Henry Reynde for ignominious Speeches uttered by him against the Lord Say and Seal and for his Contempt of the High Court of Parliament was thus 1. That he never bear Arms hereafter but be accounted unworthy to be a Soldier 2. To be imprisoned during Pleasure 3. To stand under the Pillory with Papers on his Head shewing his Offence at Cheapside London and at Banbury 4. To be fined at 200 l. to the King 5 To ask Forgiveness here of all the Lords of Parliament in general and of the Lord Say and his Son both here and at Banbury The Court of Star-Chamber ordered by the Lords to put the said Sentence in Execution Id. 213. out of Time of Parliament CHAP. V. House of Commons THE House of Commons was originally Sir R. Atkyns Argument c. p. 13. and from the first Constitution of the Nation the Representative of one of the Three Estates of the Realm and a part of the Parliament It is affirmed by Mr. Lambard Lambard 's Archeion 257 258. That Burgesses were chosen to the Parliament before the Conquest The ancient Towns call'd Boroughs Littleton Sect. 164. are the most ancient Towns that are in England for the Towns that now are Cities or Counties in old time were Boroughs and call'd Boroughs for that of such old Towns came the Burgesses to the Parliaments Knights of the Shire to serve in Parliament Sir Rob. Atkyns 18. and the paying Wages to them for their Service has been Time out of Mind and did not begin 49 Hen. 3. for that is within Time of Memory in a Legal Sense The House of Commons Id. 34. as a Member of the High Court of Parliament have been as ancient as the Nation it self and may in the Sense of Julius Caesar be accounted among the Aborigenes and that they have had a perpetual Being to speak in the Language of the Law a Tempore cujus Contraria memoria Hominum non existit and that they are therefore capable by Law together with the rest of the Three Estates in Parliament to prescribe and claim a share in all Parliamentary Powers and Priviledges I do not mean separately but in conjunction with those other Estates which they could not otherwise legally have done Petyt's Preface to the ancient Rights of the Commons c. p. 3. if their Original and

it self The Commission of Adjournment we never read but say this House adjourns it self If the King write to an Abbot for a Corody for a Vallet if it be ex rogatu tho' the Abbot yields to it it binds not Therefore I desire that it be entred that this be done ex Rogatu Regis And this Matter touching his Majesties pleasure about the Recess Rush Coll. 537. was referred to a Committee and to consider the Power of the House to adjourn it self The Soveraign may adjourn the Parliament Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 318. Col. 2. as well as the Parliament adjourns it self When a Parliament is call'd 4 Inst 28. Hutton 61. Vid. Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 407. Col. 1. and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act of Parliament passed or Judgment given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention 18 Rich. 2. 4 Inst 28. The Petitions of the Commons were answered and a Judgment given in the King's Bench reversed but no Act pass't yet without Question it was a Session else the Judgment should not be of force Many times Judgments given in Parliament have been executed Ibid. the Parliament continuing before any Bill Pass't If divers Statutes be continued till the next Parliament Hutton 61. or next Session and there is a Parliament or Session and nothing done therein as to Continuance all the said Statutes are discontinued and gone 8 Apr. 1604. Hakewel 180. In the last Session of the first Parliament of K. James the first the House being desirous to have a Bill forthwith pass't declared That the Royal Assent to one Bill or more did not dissolve the Session without some special Declaration of his Majesties Pleasure to that purpose 1 2 Phil. Mar. Ibid. The King and Queen came of purpose into the Parliament House to give their Assent to Cardinal Pool's Bill and Resolved upon the Question by the whole House That the Session was not thereby concluded but they might proceed in their Business notwithstanding the Royal Assent given But for more Security it is usual to insert a Proviso to that purpose If there be divers Sessions in one Parliament Are. Parl. 93. Crompton 's Jour 7. b. 12 b. and the King signs not a Bill till the last there all is but one and the same day and all shall have relation to the first day of the first Session and the first day and the last are but one Parliament and one and the same day unless special mention be made in the Act when it shall take its force CHAP. XXI The proper Laws and Customs of Parliament THE Laws Customs Liberties 4 Inst 50. and Priviledges of Parliament are better to be learn'd out of the Rolls of Parliament and other Records and by Precedents and continual Experience then can be expressed by any one mans Pen. As every Court of Justice hath Laws and Customs for its Direction 4 Inst 15. some by the Common Law some by the Civil and Canon Law some by peculiar Laws and Customs c. so the High Court of Parliament suis propriis Legibus Consuetudinibus subsistit It is Lex Consuetudo Parliamenti Ibid. that all weighty Matters in any Parliament moved concerning the Peers of the Realm or Commons in Parliament assembled ought to be determin'd adjudged and discussed by the Course of Parliament and not by the Civil Law nor yet by the Common Laws of this Realm used in more Inferior Courts which was so declared to be secundùm Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti concerning the Peers of the Realm by the King and all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the like pari Ratione is for the Commons for any thing moved or done in the House of Commons and the rather for that by another Law and Custom of Parliament the King cannot take notice of any thing said or done in the House of Commons but by the Report of the House of Commons and every Member of Parliament hath a Judicial Place and can be no Withess And this is the Reason that Judges ought not to give any Opinion of a Matter of Parliament because it is not to be decided by the Common Laws but secundùm Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti and so the Judges in divers Parliaments have confessed And some hold That every Offence committed in any Court punishable by that Court must be punish'd proceeding criminally in the same Court or in some higher and not in any Inferior Court and the Court of Parliament hath no higher By the ancient Law and Custom of Parliament Id. 14. a Proclamation ought to be made against being arm'd against Games Plays and strange Shows c. during the Parliament that the Parliament may not be disturbed nor the Members thereof who are to attend arduous and urgent Business be not withdrawn Dec. 15. 1597. Towns Coll. 116 Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 505. Col. 1. Resolv'd according to the ancient Custom of the House that all the Members of the same which did speak against passing of the Bill shou'd go forth of the House to bring the Bill into the House again together with the residue of the Members which went out before with the passing of the said Bill All the Members of the House being gone forth except Mr. Speaker and the Clerk Mr. Controller brought in the Bill in his hand accompany'd with all the Members of the House and deliver'd the said Bill to Mr. Speaker 17 Dec. 1597. Id. 117. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 574. Col. 2. The same Ceremony on the like Occasion omitted upon a Motion of the Speaker and order'd accordingly upon the Question 18 Dec. 1601. Towns 332. As the Speaker was coming to the House in the Morning the Pardon was deliver'd unto him which he took and deliver'd it to the House which they sent back again because it was not brought according to Course The Subsidy of the Clergy was sent in a Roll Id. 333. according to the usual Acts to which Sir Edward Hobby took Exceptions because it was not sent in a long Skin of Parchment under the Queens Hand and Seal so it was sent back and then the other was sent Si les Commons grant Poundage pur quatre Ans Brook 119.4 Crompt 8. les Seigneurs grant nisi pur deux Ans le Bill ne serra re-bayl al Commons mes si les Commons grant nisi pur deux Ans les Seigneurs pur 4 Ans la ceo serra redeliver al Commmons Et in cest case les Seigneurs doient fair un Scedule de lour Entent ou d'endorcer le Bill en cest Form Les Seigneurs ceo assentont pur durer pur quatuor Ans Et quant les Commons ount le Bill arere ne volent assenter a ceo ceo ne poet estre un Act mes si les Commons volent assenter donques ils endorce lour Respons sur le Margent de bass deins le

in Parliament are the King or Queen Sir Tho. Smith's Common-wealth 74. the Lords Temporal and Spiritual the Commons represented by the Knights and Burgesses of every Shire and Borough-Town These all or the greater Part of them and that with the Consent of the Prince for the time being must agree to the making of Laws The King of England Fortescue c. 36. p. 84. b. neither by himself or his Ministers imposeth Tallages or any other Burdens on his Subjects or alter their Laws or make new Laws without Assent of the whole Kingdom in Parliament No Parliament no Penny Turner's Case of Bankers 95. hath been always taken notice of as a principal Foundation of this Government even by our Neighbour Princes and States who have in all Ages made their Approaches upon this Realm and evermore valued us in Proportion to the Correspondency they observed between our Kings and their Parliaments For seeing the Power of every Prince is computed from his Treasure and Martial Men and those again by the Love of his People they well enough knew that as long as a good Understanding was maintain'd there our Princes could never want the Sinews either of the Purse or of valiant mens Arms. L'Assemblie de Troys Estates Finch's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 2. c. 1. so 21. b. Cestascavoir Roy Nobility Commons qui font le Corps del Realm est appel un Parliament lour Decree un Act de Parliament Car sans touts troys come si soit fait per Roy Seigneurs mes rien parle del Commons nest Ascun Act de Parliament i.e. The Assembly of the three Estates to wit the King the Nobility and the Commons which make the Body of the Realm is called a Parliament and their Decree an Act of Parliament for without all three as if it be done by the King and Lords but speaks nothing of the Commons there is not any Act of Parliament The word Parliament is used in a double sense 1. English Liberties p. 78. Strictly as it includes the Legislative Power of England as when we say an Act of Parliament and in this Acceptation it necessarily includes the King the Lords and the Commons each of which have a Negative Voice in making Laws and without their Joint Consent no new Laws can pass that be obligatory to the Subject 2. Vulgarly the Word is used for the two Houses the Lords and Commons as when we say The King will call a Parliament his Majesty has dissolved his Parliament c. This Court consists of the King's Majesty 4 Inst 1. sitting there as in his Royal Politic Capacity and of the three Estates of the Realm viz. the Lords Spiritual Arch-Bishops and Bishops who sit there by Succession in respect of their Counties or Baronies parcel of their Bishopricks The Lords Temporal Dukes Marquesses Earls Viscounts and Barons who sit there by reason of their Dignities which they hold by Discent or Creation every one of which both Spiritual and Temporal ought to have a Writ of Summons ex debito Justitiae And the Commons of the Realm whereof there be Knights of Shires or Counties Citizens of Cities and Burgesses of Boroughs all which are respectively elected by the Shires or Counties Cities and Boroughs by force of the King 's Writ ex Debito Justitiae and none of them ought to be omitted and these represent all the Commons of the whole Realm and are trusted for them The King Id. 2. and these three Estates are the great Corporation or Body Politic of the Kingdom and do sit in two Houses the King and Lords in one House called The Lords House the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in another House called The House of Commons That which is done by this Consent Arc. Parl. 2. is called firm stable and sanctum and is taken for Law All the Judges of the Realm Towns Collect 5 6. Vid. Crompton 1. b. Barons of the Exchequer of the Coif the King 's Learned Councel and the Civilians Masters of the Chancery are called to give their Assistance and Attendance in the Upper House of Parliament but they have no Voices in Parliament 4 Inst 4. But are made sometimes joynt Committees with the Lords Every English-man is intended to be there present either in Person Arc. Parl. 3. Smyth's Common-wealth 74. or Procuration and Attorny of what Pre-eminence State Dignity or Quality soever he be from the Prince be it King or Queen to the lowest Person in England And the Consent of the Parliament is taken to be every man's Consent No man ought to sit in the High Court of Parliament 4 Inst 45. but he that hath Right to sit there for it is not only a personal Offence in him that sitteth there without Authority but a public Offence to the Court of Parliament and consequently to the whole Realm It is to be observed 4 Inst 2. That when there is best Appearance there is the best Success in Parliament At a Parliament 7 Hen. 5. of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal there appeared but Thirty and there was but one Act pass't of no great weight In 50 Ed. 3. all the Lords appeared in Person and not one by Proxy and so many excellent Things were done that it was called Bonum Parliamentum At the Return of the Writs the Parliament cannot begin Id. 6. but by the Royal Presence of the King either in Person or Representation The King's Person may be represented by Commission under the Great Seal to certain Lords in Parliament Id. 7. authorizing them to begin the Parliament or to prorogue it c. When a Parliament is call'd Id. 28. and doth sit and is dissolved without any Act of Parliament passed or Judgment given it is no Session of Parliament but a Convention It is an Observation proved by a great Number of Precedents Id. 32. that never any good Bill was preferred or good Motion made in Parliament whereof any Memorial was made in the Journal-Book or otherwise Tho' sometimes it succeeded not at the first yet it hath never dy'd but at one Time or other hath taken effect Matters of Parliament are not to be ruled by the Common-Law Id. 17. If Offences done in Parliament might have been punish'd elsewhere Ibid. Vid. 1 Inst §. 108. it shall be intended that at some Time it would have been put in Ure It doth not belong to the Judges to judge of any Law Custom Id. 50. or Priviledge of Parliament It is the just and constant Course of Parliament to bring the Party accused to his Answer yea Seld. Judic 95. tho' he fly Justice yet to send out Proclamation into the Countries that he appear at a Day or else such and such Judgments shall be given against him What is done by either House according to the Law and Usage of Parliament Sir R. Atkyns Argument c. 14. is properly and in the Judgment of the

Law the Act of the whole Parliament and what concerns the one must of necessity concern the whole not meerly by Consequence but by an immediate Concernment as being one and entire The three Estates of Parliament are one entire Body Id. 34 41 51 55. and Corporation all their Powers and Priviledges in the Right of them and in the Title to them are entire per my per tout and belonging to the whole Body of the Parliament tho' in the Exercise of those Powers and sometime in the Claim of them they are distinguish'd and in the Practise of their Powers they are in many Things distributed into Parts All the Estates in Parliament are all call'd by one common Name Ibid. as Commune Concilium Regni Magna Curia they are one Body Politic It is said by Fineux Chief Justice That the Parliament at the common-Common-Law consists of the King Lords and Commons and they are but one Body Corporate The Liberties and Franchises of the Parliament Id. 55. in the Right of them are entire and due to both Houses for both make up the Parliament Knighton one of our best Historians doth notably disclose the ancient ends of calling Parliaments Knyghton de Eventibus Angliae l. 5. f. 2681. Col. 1 2. Petyt's Rights c. in Pref. p. 43 44. in saying Quod ex Antiquo Statuto Consuetudine laudabili approbata c. That by an ancient Statute and Custome laudable and approved which no man could deny the King was once in the year to convene his Lords and Commons to his Court of Parliament as to the highest Court in the whole Realm In qua omnis Aequitas relucere deberet absque qualibet Scrupulositate vel nota tanquam Sol in Ascensu Meridiei ubi Pauperes Divites pro Refrigerio Tranquilitatis Pacis Repulsione Injuriarum Refugium Infallibile quaerere possent ac etiam Errata Regni reformare de Statu Gubernatione Regis Regni cum Sapientiori Concilio tractare ut Inimici Regis Regni Intrinseci Hostes Extrinseci destruantur repellantur qualiter quoque Onera incumbentia Regi Regno levius ad Ediam Communitatis Supportari potuerunt i. e. In which Court all Equity ought to shine forth without the least Cloud or Shadow like the Sun in its Meridian Glory where Poor and Rich refreshed with Peace and Ease of their Oppressions may always find infallible and sure Refuge and Succour the Grievances of the Kingdom redressed and the state of the King and Government of the Realm debated with wiser Councels the Domestick and Foreign Enemies of the King and Kingdom destroy'd and repelled and to consider how the Charges and Burthens of both may be sustained with more Ease to the People The House of Lords cannot exercise any Power Sir R. Atkin's Argument f. 51. as an House of Parliament or as a Court for Errors without the House of Commons be in Being at the same Time Both Houses must be prorogued together and dissolved together By the Law Parliaments ought to be very frequent Id. 59. Before the Conquest as it is untruly call'd by the Law Parliaments were to be held twice a year as appears by King Edgar's Laws So it was ordained by King Alfred By the Stat. of 4 Ed. 3. c. 14. Parliaments ought to be once a year and oftner if need be And in 36 Ed. 3. c. 10. to be once a year without Restriction if need be By 16 Car. 2. c. 1. these Acts are declared to be in Force and further it is declared and enacted That the holding of Parliaments shall not be discontinued above three years at the most The Parliament is a Court of very great Honour and Justice Plow Com. 398. of which no man ought to imagine a Thing dishonourable An Offence committed in Parliament is a very high Offence Sir R. Atkyns Arg. 60. but the higher it is the more proper it is for their Judicature and that Court is arm'd with a Power to punish the highest Offences and the highest Offenders A Parliament may err Ibid. for they are not infallible but the Law hath provided a Remedy against those Errors and a way to reform them A subsequent Parliament may reform the Errors of a preceding Parliament But to say that they will be Partial Ibid. or Unjust or Corrupt or do any Thing out of Malice is to raise a Scandal upon the whole Nation whose Representative they are If any Offence whatever be committed in the Parliament by any particular Members Ibid. it is an high Infringment of the Right and Priviledge of Parliament for any Person or Court to take the least Notice of it till the House it self either has punish'd the Offender or referred them to a due or proper Course of Punishment To do otherwise would be to make the Highest Court an Offender and to charge them with Injustice Their Right and Priviledge so far extends Id 61. that not only what is done in the very House sitting the Parliament but whatever is done relating to them or in pursuance of their Order during the Parliament is no where else to be punish'd but by Themselves or a succeeding Parliament tho' done out of the House Either House doth ever for the most part shew it self so careful to keep firm Correspondence with the other Sir Simon d'Ewes Journal 186. as that when a Bill hath pass't either of the said Houses and is sent to the other it doth for the most part pass and is neither dash'd nor alter'd without very great Cause upon mature deliberation and usually also not without Conference desir'd and had thereupon that so full Satisfaction may be given to that House from which the Bill so rejected or alter'd was sent Pessima Gens humani Generis always abhorr'd a Parliament Preface to Petyt's Miscel Parlementar and the reason thereof is demonstrative because they all knew they shou'd then be call'd to an impartial and strict Account and be punish'd according to their Demerits It was said by the Lord Bacon to Sir Lionel Cranfeild Ibid. newly made Lord Treasurer That he would recommend to his Lordship and in him to all other great Officers of the Crown one considerable Rule to be carefully observ'd which was Remember a Parliament will come The King at no Time stands so highly in his Estate Royal Petyt's Miscel Parliament 9. Vid. Cromp. Jur. 10. as in the Time of Parliament wherein the King as Head and they as Members are conjoyn'd and knit together into one Body Politic so as whatsoever Injury during that Time is offer'd to the meanest Members of the House is to be judged as done against the King's Person and the whole Court of Parliament The Prerogative of Parliament is so great Ibid. That all Acts and Processes coming out of any inferior Courts must cease and give place to the highest Statutes in England are made

not only by the Princes Pleasure Fortescue 40. a. but also by Assent of the whole Realm so that of Necessity they must procure the Wealth of the People and in no wise tend to their hindrance It cannot otherwise be thought Ibid. but that they are replenish'd with much Wit and Wisdom seeing they are ordain'd not by the Device of one man alone or of a hundred wise Counsellors only but of five hundred and odd Men that ought to be freely Elected by the People CHAP. II. Power of Parliament THE most High and Absolute Power of the Realm of England Sir Tho. Smith's Common-wealth l. 2. c. 2. p. 72. Arcana Parl. 1. consisteth in the Parliament For as in War where the King himself in person the Nobility the rest of the Gentility and the Yeomanry are is the Force and Power of England So in Peace and Consultation where the Prince is to give Life and the last and highest Commandment the Barony or Nobility for the higher the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and Commons for the lower part of the Commonwealth the Bishops for the Clergy be present to advertise consult and shew what is good and necessary for the Commonwealth and to consult together and upon mature deliberation every Bill or Law being thrice read and disputed in either House the other two parts first each a part and after the Prince himself in presence of both the Parties doth consent unto and alloweth that is Ibid. p. 73. the Prince's and whole Realm's Deed whereupon justly no man can complain but must accommodate himself to find it good and obey it That which is done by this Consent is called firm stable and sanctum and is taken for Law The Parliament abrogateth old Laws 2. Maketh new Sir Tho. Smith ibid. Arc. Parl. 2. Vide Crompt Jur. 3. 3. Giveth order for things past and for things hereafter to be followed 4. Changeth Right and Possessions of private Men. 5. Legittimateth Bastards 6. Establisheth Forms of Religion 7. Altereth Weights and Measures 8. Giveth Form of Succession to the Crown 9. Defineth of doubtful Rights whereof is no Law already made 10. Appointeth Subsidies Tallies Taxes and Impositions 11. Giveth most free Pardons and Absolutions 12. Restoreth in Blood and Name 13. As the highest Court condemneth or absolveth them who are put upon their Trial. And to be short 14. All that ever the People of Rome might do either Centuriatis Comitiis or Tributis the same may be done by the Parliament of England which representeth and hath the Power of the whole Realm both the Head and Body For every English-man is intended to be there present either in Person or by Procuration and Attorny of what preheminence state dignity or quality soever he be from the Prince be he King or Queen to the lowest Person of England And the Consent of the Parliament is taken to be every man's consent As for the Power of Parliaments over both the Statute and Common Law of this Realm Rastal's Statutes fol 546. 25 H. 8. c 21. you will be best informed of it from the memorable words of an Act of Parliament it self which are as followeth viz. Whereas this Realm recognizing no Superiour under God but only the King hath been and is free from Subjection to any Man's Laws but only to such as have been devised made and ordained within this Realm for the Wealth of the same or to such other as by Sufferance of the King and his Progenitors the People of this Realm have taken at their free Liberty by their own Consent to be used amongst them and have bound themselves by long Vse and Custom to the Observance of the same not as to the Observance of the Laws of any Foreign Prince Potentate or Prelate but as to the Custom and ancient Laws of this Realm originally established as Laws of the same by the said Sufferance Consents and Custom and none otherwise It standeth therefore with Natural Equity and Good Reason that all and every such Laws Humane made within this Realm by the said Sufferance Consents and Custom the King and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons representing the whole State of this Realm in the most High Court of Parliament have full Power and Authority not only to dispence but also to authorize some Elect person or persons to dispence with those and all other Human Laws of this Realm and with every one of them as the Quality of the persons and Matter shall require And also the said Laws and every of them to abrogate adnul amplifie or diminish as it shall be seen to the King and the Nobles and Commons of this Realm present in Parliament meet and convenient for the Wealth of this Realm The Power and Jurisdiction of the Parliament for making of Laws in proceeding by Bill 4 Inst 36. is so transcendent and absolute as it cannot be confined either for Causes or Persons within any Bounds Si Antiquitatem spectes est vetutissima si Dignitatem est honoratissima si Jurisdictionem est capacissima The whole Parliament which should best know its own Power affirms Speed's Hist f. 914. Rot. Parl. 1 R. 3. In Cotton's Abridgment f. 713 714. That the Court of Parliament is of such Authority and the People of this Land of such a Nature and Disposition as Experience teacheth that the Manifestation and Declaration of any Truth or Right made by the Three Estates of this Realm assembled in Parliament and by Authority of the same maketh before all other things most Faith and certain quieting of mens Minds and removeth the Occasion of Doubts Parliamentum omnia potest says the 4 Leon. 174 176. The Parliament is of an absolute and unlimited Power in things Temporal within this Nation Sir Rob. Atkyns's Argument c. 50. The Parliament hath the highest and most sacred Authority of any Court Ibid. it hath an absolute Power it is the highest Court in the Realm as is acknowledged by our most learned and gravest Writers and Historians A man gives Land to one Crompton 20. b. and to his Heirs Males in that Case his Heirs Females also inherit and this was adjudged in Parliament One of the fundamental and principal Ends of Parliaments was Petyt's Preface to Ancient Rights c. p. 41. for the Redress of Grievances and easing the Oppressions of the People And the Mirror of Justices says c. 1. p. 9. That Parliaments were instituted to hear and determine the Complaints of the wrongful Acts of the King the Queen and their Children and especially of those persons against whom the Subjects otherwise could not have common Justice The greater the Persons are Sir Rob. Atkyns Argument p. 45. if they are in the Rank of Subjects they must be subject to the King's Laws and they are the more proper for the Undertaking and Encounter of this High Court It will not be impar congressus King John had resign'd up the Crown of

England to the Pope Id. 37. by the Hand of Pandulphus his Legat and sordidly submitted to take the Crown at his Hand again at a yearly Tribute In the Reign of our Noble King Edward the Third the Pope demanded his Rent and all the Arrears The Prelates Dukes Counts Barons and Commons resolved That neither the King nor any other could put the Realm nor the People thereof into Subjection sans l'assent de eux without their Assent This intimates Ibid. that with their joynt Consent the Crown may be disposed of And it was the highest Resolution in Law in one of the highest Points in Law concerning the King's claim of an Absolute Power and in a Time when the Pope was in his height It is the proper Work of this Supreme Court to deal with such Delinquents Ibid. as are too high for the Court of King's Bench or other ordinary Courts Daughters 4 Inst 36. and Heirs apparent of a Man or Woman may by Act of Parliament inherit during the Life of the Ancestor It may adjudge an Infant or Minor to be of full Age. Ibid. It may Attaint a Man of Treason Ibid. after his Death It may Naturalize a meer Alien Ibid. and make him a Subject born It may bastard a Child Ibid. that by Law is Legitimate viz. begotten by an Adulterer the Husband being within the four Seas It may Legitimate one that is Illegitimate Ibid. and born before Marriage absolutely it may Legitimate secundùm quid and not simplicitèr 21 Rich. 2. The Lords Appellants accused the Duke of Glocester of Treason Selden's Judicature 91. and tho' they knew he was dead they pray'd the King that he might be brought to his Answer The King sent his Writ c. they desired Judgment and had it So Robert Possington was impeached at the Parliament at Westminster Id. 95. and found Guilty long Time after he was dead and so forfeited his Estate John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster had by Catherine Swinford 4 Inst 36. before Marriage four illegitimate Children Henry John Thomas and Joan. At the Parliament holden 20 Rich. 2. the King by Act of Parliament in Form of a Charter doth Legitimate these three Sons and Joan the Daughter Thomas Cromwel Earl of Essex was attainted by Parliament Ibid. and forth-coming to be heard and yet never call'd to answer in any of the Houses of Parliament and resolved by the Judges That if one be Attainted by Parliament it can never come in question after whether he were call'd or not call'd to answer for the Act of Attainder being pass't by Parliament did bind Where by Order of Law a man cannot be Attainted of High-Treason Id. 39. unless the Offence be in Law High-Treason he ought not to be Attainted by general Words of High-Treason by Authority of Parliament as sometimes hath been used but the High-Treason ought to be specially exprest seeing that the Court of Parliament is the highest and most honourable Court of Justice and ought to give Example to inferior Courts Acts against the Power of the Parliament subsequent bind not Id. 42. It is against the Power and Jurisdiction of the Parliament the Liberty of the Subject and unreasonable The Stat. Id. 42. 11 Rich. 2. c. 5. That no Person should attempt to revoke any Ordinance then made repealed for that such Restraint is unreasonable An Act 11 Rich. 2. c. 3. Ibid. That no man against whom any Judgment or Forfeiture was given shou'd sue for Pardon or Grace c. was holden to be unreasonable without Example and against the Law and Custom of Parliament and therefore void The High Court of Parliament to be committed to a few as in 21 Rich. 2. c. 16. Ibid. is holden to be against the Dignity of a Parliament and that no such Commission ought to be granted Tho' it be apparent Id. 43. what transcendent Power and Authority this Parliament hath and tho' divers Parliaments have attempted to bar restrain suspend qualifie or make void subsequent Parliaments yet could they never effect it for the latter Parliament hath ever Power to abrogate suspend qualifie explain or make void the former in the Whole or in any Part thereof notwithstanding any Words of Restraint Prohibition or Penalty in the former For it is a Maxim in the Law of Parliament Quòd Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant An Act of Parliament doth include every man's Consent Hobart 256. as well to come as present The Soveraign Power of this High Court of Parliament is such Hakewel 86. That altho' the King's Majesty hath many great Priviledges and Prerogatives yet many Things are not effectual in Law to pass under the great Seal by the King's Charter without Parliament The King by his Letters Patents may make a Denizen Id. 87. but cannot Naturalize him to all purposes as an Act of Parliament may do If a man be Attainted of Felony Id 89. or Treason by Verdict Outlawry Confession c. his Blood is corrupted which is a perpetual and absolute Disability for him or his Posterity to claim any Hereditament in Fee-simple either as Heir to him or any Ancestor paramount him and he shall not be restored to his Blood without Parliament And the King may give to any attainted Person his Life by this Charter of Parliament Id 90. The King cannot alter the Common Law or the general Customs of the Realm as Gavelkind Borough-English or the like without Parliament If a King have a Kingdom by Discent Ibid seeing by the Law of that Kingdom he doth inherit that Kingdom he cannot change those Laws of himself without Consent of Parliament By the Laws of this Kingdom Ibid. the King cannot by his Proclamation alter the Law but the King may make Proclamation That he shall incur the Indignation of his Majesty that withstands it But the Penalty of not obeying his Proclamation may not be upon Forfeiture of his Goods his Lands or his Life without Parliament Brook 123.98 Vide 20 H. 6.9 Crompton 22. b. Le Parliament d Engleterre ne lia Ireland quoad Terras suas quar ils ont Parliament la mes il poient eux lier quant al Choses transitory come eskipper de Lane ou Merchandize al intent de ceo carrier al auter Lieu ultra Mare The Parliament of England cannot bind Ireland as to their Lands for they have a Parliament there but they may bind them as to Things transitory as the shipping of Wool or Merchandize to the intent to carry it to another Place beyond the Sea Sometimes the King of England call'd his Nobles of Ireland to come to his Parliament of England 4 Inst 350. c. And by special Words the Parliament of England may bind the Subjects of Ireland The Lords in their House have Power of Judicature Id 23. and the Commons in their House have Power

Merchants the Commons pray'd a general Inquiry might be made of the Residue whereof they complained Ibid. which the Lords granted When the Lord Nevil answered Id. 163. the Commons required that one Richard Love might be examined to prove that which the said Lord deny'd and so departed but two of the Commons remained and heard the Examinations and told the Lords That the said Richard had related otherwise to the Commons the day before which the said Richard deny'd Then all the Commons came and justify'd it again and thereupon the said Richard Love confessed it and on their Demands was committed In the 10 Rich. 2. Ibid. when the Commons had Impeached the Lord Chancellor they were present at his Answer and so often reply'd and enforced his Oath against him and required him to be committed and so he was before Judgment If the Commons do only complain Ibid. and do neither impeach the Party in Writing nor by Word of Mouth in open House nor demand Trial to be in their Presence in these Cases it is in the Election of the Lords Whether the Commons shall be present or not Issuing of Quo Warranto's out of the Court of King's Bench Nalson 588. Court of Exchequer or any Court against Boroughs that anciently or recently sent Burgesses to Parliament to shew cause why they sent Burgesses of Parliament and all the Proceedings thereupon are Coram non Judice illegal and void And the Right of sending Burgesses to the Parliament is questionable in Parliament only and the Occasioners Procurers and Judges in such Quo Warranto's and Proceedings are punishable as in Parliament shall be thought consonant to Law and Justice Where the Articles against the Delinquents are ex Parte Domini Regis Selden 's Judicature 118. there the Commons cannot reply nor demand Judgment for the Suit is the King 's and not theirs In Trewinnard's Case Id. 39. Dyer 60 61. The Priviledge of the Commons is termed the Priviledge of Parliament and the Judgment given in that Case by the House of Commons is there said to be The Judgment of the most High Court of Parliament Sir Robert Atkyns's Argument 35. which proves they are not without a Judicial Power The King cannot take notice of what is done in the Commons House Id. 53. or deliver'd to them but by the House it self and that is one of the Laws and Customs of Parliament In 31. Hen. 6. Id. 55. when the Commons requested the King and Lords to restore their Speaker to them c. The Judges being demanded of their Counsel therein after mature deliberation they answer'd It was not their part to judge of the Parliament which may judge of the Law The Reason Ibid. to judge of the Law signifies that they can judge whether a Law be good or not in order to approve it and to enact it or to repeal a Law In 1621. Ibid. the House of Commons made a Protestation against all Impeachments other than in the House for any thing there said or done It was said by Mr. Justice Crook Id. 58. Rush Coll. Vol. 1. f. 663. That regularly a Parliament-man cannot be compelled out of Parliament to answer Things done in Parliament in a Parliamentary Course If it be done in a Parliamentary Course what Occasion can there be to answer for it But who shall judge what is a Parliamentary Course but a Parliament not Judges of the Common Law for the Parliamentary Course differs from the Rules of the Common Law 27 Eliz. 1584. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 347. Col. 2. Ordered That the Serjeant of this House do forthwith go to the Common Pleas Bar and charge the Recorder then pleading there to make his present Repair unto this House for his Attendance Eodem Anno Id. 367. Col. 1. John Bland a Currier for making dishonourable Reflections on the House of Commons brought to the Bar and pardoned upon his Submission paying twenty shillings Fee to the Serjeant and taking the Oath of Supremacy Eodem An. Id. 368. Col. 1. A Warrant for a Writ of Priviledge awarded for setting at Liberty John Pepler Servant to Sir Philip Sidney a Member of this House now Prisoner for Debt in the Compter in London 28 29 Eliz. 1586. Id. 397. Col. 1. Resolved by the whole Body of the House That the discussing and adjudging of Differences about Elections only belonged to the said House That tho' the Lord Chancellor and Judges were competent Judges in their proper Courts yet they were not in Parliament 31 Eliz. 1588. Id 451. Col. 1. Thomas Drury committed to the Serjeant's Custody brought to the Bar and discharged paying his Fees for speaking dishonourably of the Proceedings of the House 23 Eliz. 1580. Id. 283. Col. 1. A Member of the House stood Indicted of Felony Adjudged That he ought to remain of the House till he were Convicted for it may be any man's case who is guiltless to be Accused and thereupon Indicted of Felony or a like Crime 18 Eliz. 1575. Petyt 's Miscel Parl. 16 18 Edward Smalley was upon the Question adjudged by the House to be Guilty of Contempt and abusing the House by fraudulent Practise of procuring himself to be Arrested upon Execution of his own Assent and Intention to be discharged as well of his Imprisonment as of the said Execution And Matthew Kirtleton adjudged Guilty of Confederacy with the said Smalley Whereupon they were both ordered to be committed to the Tower And the said Smalley to remain there for a Month and after till he gave sufficient Assurance for payment of a hundred pounds to the Creditor and forty shillings for the Serjeant's Fees 4 Ed. 6. Criketoft Id. 96. for the confederating in the Escape of one Floud committed to the Tower and afterwards discharged paying his Fees 1 Jac. 1. Bryan Tash Id. 98. a Yeoman of his Majesties Guard for keeping the Door of the Lobby of the Vpper House against several Members of the House of Commons brought to the Bar of the House and upon his Submission and Confession of his Fault dismissed paying the ordinary Fees to the Clerk and Serjeant 20 Jac. 1. Dr. Harris Id. 104. for misbehaving himself in preaching and otherwise with respect to Election of Members of Parliament call'd to the Bar as a Delinquent and admonish'd to confess his Fault there and in the Country and in the Pulpit of his Parish Church 3 Car. 1. Mr. Burgess a Minister Id. 104 105. for abusing his Function in the Duty of Catechising c. sent for by a Messenger committed to the Tower and upon humble Submission deliver'd In the same Parliament Id. 105 106. Sir William Wray Mr. Langton Mr. John Trelawny and Mr. Edward Trelawny Deputy Lieutenants for Cornwal for assuming to themselves a Power to make Knights of the Shire defaming such as stood to be chosen sending for the Train'd Bands menacing the Country c.

Bill en tiel Form les Commons sont assentuz al Scedule les Seigneurs a mesme cestuy Bill annex donques serra bayl al Clerk del Parliament If the Commons grant Poundage for four years and the Lords grant but for two years the Bill shall not be sent back to the Commons but if the Commons grant but for two years and the Lords for four years there it shall be redelivered to the Commons And in that Case the Lords may make a Schedule of their intent or Endorse the Bill in this Form The Lords do assent to the continuing for four years And when the Commons have the Bill again and will not assent to it that cannot be an Act but if the Commons will assent then they endorse their Answer on the Margin below within the Bill in this Form The Commons do assent to the Schedule of the Lords annexed to this Bill and then it shall be sent to the Clerk of the Parliament The Custom and Priviledge of this House hath always been Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Journ 483. Col. 2. first to make offer of the Subsidies from hence then to the upper House except it were that they present a Bill unto this House with desire of their Assent thereto and then to send it up again And Reason it is that we shou'd stand upon our Priviledge seeing the Burden resteth upon us as the greatest Number per Francis Bacon 35 Eliz 1592. The Lord Chancellor in Parliament offer'd the Commons a Writ to deliver their Burgess Petyt 's Miscell Parl. 4. in Margin but they refused it as being clear of Opinion That all their Commandments and Acts were to be done and executed by their Serjeant without Writ It is the Law and Custom of Parliament 4 Inst 14 34 Rot. Parl. 13 E. 3. n. Cott. Records f. 17. n. 6 9. That when any new Device is moved on the King's behalf in Parliament for his Aid or the like the Commons may answer That they tender the Kings Estate and are ready to aid the same only in this Device they dare not agree without Conference with their Countreys whereby it appeareth That such Conference is warrantable by the Law and Custom of Parliament It is to be observed 4 Inst 14. tho' one be chosen for one particular County or Borough yet when he is return'd and sits in Parliament he serveth for the whole Realm for the End of his coming thither as in the Writ of his Election appeareth is general ad faciendum consent iendum c. If Offences done in Parliament might have been punish'd elsewhere 4 Inst 17. it shall be intended that at some time it would have been put in ure As Usage is a good Interpreter of Laws Coke Litt. 81. b. so Non-usage where there is no Example is a great Intendment that the Law will not bear it Not that an Act of Parliament by Non-user can be antiquated or lose his force Co. Lit. 81. b. but that it may be expounded or declared how the Act is to be understood There is no Act of Parliament but must have the Consent of the Lords 4 Inst 25. the Commons and the Royal Assent of the King and whatsoever passeth in Parliament by this threefold Consent hath the Force of an Act of Parliament The Difference between an Act of Parliament Ibid. and an Ordinance in Parliament is for that the Ordinance wanteth the threefold Consent and is ordained by one or two of them Some Acts of Parliament are introductory of a new Law Ibid. and some be declaratory of the ancient Law and some be of both kinds by addition of greater Penalties or the like Some Acts are general and some private or particular All Acts of Parliament relate to the first day of Parliament Ibid. 33 H. 6. f. 18. a. 33 H. 8. Brook Parl 86. Relation 35. if it be not otherwise provided by the Act. The House of Commons is to many Purposes a distinct Court 4 Inst 28. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 550. Col. 1 2. and therefore is not prorogued or adjourned by the Prorogation or Adjournment of the Lords House but the Speaker upon signification of the King's Pleasure by the Assent of the House of Commons doth say This Court doth Prorogue or Adjourn it self And then it is Prorogued or Adjourned and not before 39 Eliz. 1597. Towns Coll. 101 102. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 550. Col. 1 2. Nov. 5. Through a meer Mistake and Error of the Speaker and themselves the House conceived themselves to have been Adjourned by the Lord Keeper the first day of this Parliament to this present day When it is dissolved Ibid. the House of Commons are sent for up to the higher House and there the Lord Keeper by the King's Commandment dissolveth the Parliament and not before A Parliament cannot be discontinued or dissolved but by Matter of Record Hutton 62. and that by the King alone The King at the time of the Dissolution 4 Inst 28. ought to be there in Person or by Representation for as it cannot begin without the Presence of the King either in Person or by Representation so it cannot end or be dissolved without his Presence either in Person or by Representation Nihil enim tam Conveniens est naturali aequitati Bracton unumquodque dissolvi eo ligamine quo lagatum est By the Statute of 33 H. 8. c. 21. it is declared by Act of Parliament Ibid. That the King 's Letters Patents under his great Seal and signed with his Hand and declared and notified in his Absence to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons assembled in the higher House of Parliament is and ever was of as good strength and force as if the King 's Person had been there personally present and had assented openly and publickly to the same In the Lords House 4 Inst 34 35. the Lords give their Voices from puisne Lord seriatim by the word of Content or Not Content The Commons give their Voices upon the Question by Yea or No. Every Lord Spiritual and Temporal 4 Inst 43. Crompton 4. b. and every Knight Citizen and Burgess shall upon Summons come to the Parliament except he can reasonably and honestly excuse himself or else he shall be amerced c that is respectively a Lord by the Lords and one of the Commons by the Commons By the Statute of 6 Hen. 8. c. 16. No Knight Ibid. Crompton 4 b. Citizen or Burgess of the House of Commons shall depart from the Parliament without Licence of the Speaker and Commons the same to be entred of Record in the Book of the Clerk of the Parliament upon pain to loose their Wages Sickness is no cause to remove any Knight Citizen 4 Inst 8. or Burgess of the House of Commons 18 Eliz. 1575. Sir Simon d'Ewes Journ 244. Col. 2. Resolved by the House That any person being

Purveyors and also they sent to the King to inform him of it but before their Messengers came to the King two of the Privy Council scilicet Sir John Stanhope and Sir John Herbert were sent to the King by the Lower House to inform him that they had heard that his Grace was displeased with the House for their Sentence given for Sir Francis Goodwyn as well as in the Matter of the Sentence which was as they heard said to be against Law as also for the manner of their Proceedings being done hastily without Calling to it either Sir John Fortescue or his Council or without making his Grace acquainted with it And therefore they desired his Grace to understand the Truth of this Matter and also told him that They were ready with his good leave with their Speaker to attend his Majesty to give him Satisfaction about their Proceedings But the King told them they came too late and that it ought to have been done sooner calling the House Rash and Inconsiderate but yet notwithstanding he was content to hear their Speaker in the Morning at Eight of the Clock Upon this Message Committees were chosen to consider of the Things and Matters aforesaid which should be delivered to the King in Satisfaction of the Sentence given by the House which afterwards were consider'd of and digested by the Speaker and Committees in Three Points viz. 1. In the Reasons and Motives of their Resolutions 2. In the Presidents which were those I before have reported 3. And in Matters of Law Which were those Matters of Law also before reported by me with another Addition That in the time of Henry the Sixth the Speaker of the Parliament was Arrested in Execution at the Suit of the Duke of York and the Question being put to the Judges at that time Whether the Speaker ought to have his Priviledge It was said by them That they were Judges of the Law and not Judges of Parliament The Reasons and Motives were the free Election of the County the Request of one of the House the double Return of the Sheriff with a Commemoration of the length of the time since the Outlawries and with that the Payment of the Debts To this Report the King answered That he now ought to change his Tune which he used in his first Oration scilicet Thanksgiving to Grief and Reproof But he said That it was as necessary they should be Reproved as Congratulated and therefore he cited a parcel of Scriptures wherein God had so done with his People Israel nay with King David the People whom he tendered as the Apple of his Eye and David who was a Man after his own Heart He said That since Sir Francis Goodwyn was received by the House upon Reasons and Motives inducing the House thereunto so the King upon Reason too took consideration of Sir John Fortescue being one of the Council an ancient Counsellor a Counsellor not chosen by the King but by his Predecessors and so he found him and therefore he endeavoured to grace him being the only Man of them that had been disgraced the King protesting that he would not for any thing in the World offer unjustly any Disgrace to any Man in the Nation Besides he did not proceed Rashly as they had proceeded but upon Deliberation with double Advice as well with that of his Council as with that of his Judges And in his Answering the Presidents he said That those were his own proper Records and to use them against Himself was over-great Weenings But in Presidents he said that they ought to respect Times and Persons and therefore said That Henry the Sixth's Time was troublesome he himself Weak and Impotent And as for the other Presidents they were in the Time of a Woman which Sex was not capable of Mature Deliberation and so he said where Infants are Kings whom he called Minors For the Law part he referred to the Answer of his Judges who by the Lord Chief Justice gave these Resolutions they all unanimously agreeing in Them 1. That the King alone and not the Parliament House had to do with the Returns of the Members of Parliament for from him the Writs issued and to him the Sheriff is commanded to make his Returns but when a Man is Returned and Sworn the Parliament House hath to do with Him and the Sheriff ought to Return the Outlawry if he knew it before his Return 2. They Resolved clearly That an Outlawed Person cannot by the Law be a Member of the Parliament House but for that Cause the King might Refuse the Return of Him and for that Cause he was removable out of the House And therefore the Lord Chief Justice said That in the 35th of Henry the Sixth it was so Adjudged in Parliament which answers the Presidents vouched by the Commons of that time And also he said That in the first year of Henry the Seventh it was Adjudged in Parliament That Persons Outlawed or Attainted could not sit in Parliament without Restitution by Act of Parliament And he said That though the Books do not warrant his saying yet the Parliament Roll which he had seen does warrant it which any Man might see 3. They Resolved at the Instance of the King Himself That the Party could not be Discharged from the Outlawry without a Scire Facias sued against the Party Creditor Plaintiff in Debt and Justice Windam for that purpose recanting his former Opinion said That he upon perusing of his Books and by the Reasons of the Law was of Opinion with his Companions 4. As for the Statute of the 31th of the Queen concerning Proclamation to be made in the County c. they all Resolved as before times it had been Resolved That no Outlawry by that Statute was void until Judgment Declaring That here was no Proclamation issued forth to the County where the Party was Resiant at the time of the awarding of the Exigent 5. As for the Statute of 7 Hen. 4. which Enacts That the Indenture shall be only the Return of the Sheriff the Judges said That was true that such was the Statute and that that was his Return for so much but that Statute doth not restrain the Sheriff from Returning any other thing Material which Disables the Parties chosen 6. It was held That the Indorsment of the Writ comprehending the Matter of the Outlawry was Material and not a Nugation 7. And lastly They Resolved that by the Return of the Sheriff it appeared that Sir Francis Goodwyn was the same Person who was Outlawed 31 Eliz. by the Name of Francis Goodwyn Esquire and 39 Eliz. by the Name of Francis Goodwyn Gentleman and that by the Words of the Return scilicet Idem Franciscus Goodwyn Miles Vtlagatus existit c. And They also agreed That no Person Outlawed ought to have his Priviledge of the Parliament House and that all the Presidents vouched by the Commons were after the Parties were Members of the House and not before they were

Vide Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 212. for publishing and discovering the Conferences of the House and writing a Book to the dishonour of the House was upon due Examination secundùm Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti adjudged by the House of Commons to be committed to the Tower for six Months fined at Five hundred Marks and expelled the House 23 Apr. 1 Mariae Ibid. Call'd Monington by Scobel 113. Muncton struck William Johnson a Burgess of B. return'd into the Chancery of Record for which upon due Examination in the House of Commons it was resolved That secundum Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti every man must take Notice of all the Members of the House returned of Record at his peril And the House adjudged Muncton to the Tower Injuries offer'd to the Members Scobel 113. and their Servants during the Session have been usually punish'd by the House upon Complaint 29 Febr. 1575. Ibid. Vide Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 251. Col. 2. One Williams for assaulting a Burgess of this House was upon complaint sent for by the Serjeant and brought to the Bar and committed to the Serjeant's Ward 28 Nov. 1601. Ibid. Complaint being made by Mr. Fleetwood a Member of the House that one Holland a Scrivener and one Brooks his Servant had evil entreated and beaten the Servant of the said Mr. Fleetwood in his Presence they were both sent for by the Serjeant and brought to the Bar and for the said Offence committed for five days to the Serjeant 12 Febr. 18. Id. 114. Jac. 1. Mr. Lovel a Member of the House informed That one Darryel threatned his Person that for a Speech spoken by him in the House he shou'd be sent to the Tower during the Parliament or presently after Darryel was sent for by the Serjeant to answer it to the House and upon Testimony of it he was committed to the Serjeant till Thursday following and then to acknowledge his Fault or to be committed to the Tower 16 Junij 1604. Ibid. Complaint being made of one Thomas Rogers a Currier dwelling in Coleman-street for abusing Sir John Savil in slanderous and unseemly Terms upon his Proceedings at a Committee in the Bill touching Tanners c. he was sent for by the Serjeant at Arms to the Bar to Answer his Offence Sir William Aston Sheriff of London Rush Coll. 656. Vid. Petyt's Miscell Parl. 108. Acton's Case being Examined before the Committee concerning some Matters about the Customs and not giving that clear Answer which he ought and as the House conceived he might have done was therefore committed to the Tower of London And a Question was made in the House at the Time Whether the House had at any Time before committed a Sheriff of London to Prison To which Mr. Selden made Answer That he could not call to mind a Precedent of sending one Sheriff of London to Prison but he well remembred a Precedent of sending both the Sheriffs of London to the Tower and instanced the Case One Trussel being in Execution in one of the Compters in London Towns Coll. 20. Vide Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 438. Col. 1. was Order'd to be brought before the Committee with his Keeper without Danger of an Escape in the Execution 4 Novemb. 1640. Scobel 16. Upon a Report from the Committee for Priviledges That several Indentures were returned for Burgesses for the Borough of Bossinny in the County of Cornwal the one by the Mayor of the Town the other promiscuously The Committee were of Opinion upon view of the bare Indenture That Sir Charles Harbord who was return'd by the Mayor was well return'd but the House declar'd he shou'd not sit till the Election were decided 44 Eliz. 1601. Towns Coll. 297. The Course hath been if the House hath been desirous to see any Record the Speaker shou'd send a Warrant to the Lord Keeper to grant a Certiorari to have the Record brought into the House Decemb. 1641. Ordered 2 Nalson 753. That Mr. Speaker do write his Letters to the Mayor of Berwick enjoyning him to require such Papists and suspected Persons as reside there or make their constant Repair thither forthwith to depart the Town and to tender the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance to such as shall refuse and to proceed against them according to Law and to require him that a Guard be kept at the several Gates and that the Arms of that Place be in readiness The like to the Mayor of Newcastle and of Hull The Commons upon Imprisonment of their Members Rush Coll. 358. and the Offence taken by the King resolved to proceed in no other Business till they were righted in their Liberties Dec. 1641. 2 Nalson 732. Mr. Long a Justice of the Peace sent to the Tower for setting a Guard without Consent of the Parliament A Knight 4 Inst 12. Citizen or Burgess of the House of Commons cannot by any Means make a Proxy because he is elected and trusted by Multitudes of People If the Commons accuse a Commoner of Misdemeanors Selden 's Jud. 101. in such a State of Liberty or Restraint as he is in when the Commons complain of him in such he is to answer Sir Francis Michel Seld. Jud. Ibid. and Sir John Bennet were both committed by the Commons before their Complaint to the Lords and so they answered as Prisoners but that in a sort may be call'd Judicium parium suorum If the Commons impeach any man they are in loco proprio Id. 124. and there no Jury ought to be only Witnesses are to be examined in their Presence or they to have Copies thereof and the Judgment not to be given until the Commons demand it The Presence of the Commons is necessary at the Parties Answer Id. 158. and Judgment in Cases Capital Now one Reason for the King's Assent and the Commons Presence in such Judgments may be this Both King and People are to be satisfied for the Death of the Subject therefore all Trials for Life and Death are publick in the full Assembly of the Court and how can it be said in full Parliament when the Commons one of the States are absent Tho' the Commons are not present when the Lords do consider of the Delinquents Answer Id. 159. and the Proofs and do determine of their Judgment yet at their Return to their own Assembly they consider among themselves if the Proceedings were legal and may come again and shew it and require a Re-hearing of the Cause as they did at the Judgment of the Duke of Clarence in 18 Ed. 3. In Judgment on Misdemeanors Id. 162. the Presence of the Commons is not necessary unless they Impeach a Delinquent prout 50 E. 3. and then they are present at all the Answers of those whom they Impeach and demanded Judgment When the Lords had determin'd one part of the Complaint of the Commons against William Ellis touching the wrong done to certain Scottish

Benson a Member of the House Id. 596. having granted many Protections for Money taking for some sixteen seventeen forty shillings and twenty for ten shillings a piece Resolved upon the Question That Mr. Hugh Benson is unworthy and unfit to be a Member of this House and shall sit no longer as a Member of this House That he be forthwith sent for as a Delinquent by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House Mr. Jervase Hollis expell'd the House for a Speech made with great strength of Reason and Courage Id. 710. but more Heat than the Times would bear was restored to his Place to sit as a Member of the House of Commons Sir William Widdrington and Sir Herbert Price sent to the Tower for bringing in Candles against the Desire of the House Id 272. 23 Eliz. 1580. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 309. Col. 2. Order'd and Resolved by the House That every Knight for the Shire that hath been absent this whole Session of Parliament without Excuse allowed by this House shall have a Fine of Twenty pounds set upon him to her Majesties Vse and upon every Citizen or Burgess for the like Ten pounds 1 Jac. 1. 1603. Petyt's Miscell Parl. 147. Mr. Lawrence Hide pretending Business of his Clients c. made known to the House that he would go out of Town and so took his leave in open Audience without the Assent or Leave of this House which was taxed and Mr. Speaker warranted to write to him It was also moved and resolved Id. 149. That Mr Speaker shou'd write another Letter to other Lawyers being gone down in the same Circuit where Mr. Lawrence Hide was advising them to attend it CHAP. VIII Concerning Elections of Members ALL Persons and Commonalties who shall be Summon'd to the Parliament 5 R. 2. St. 2. c 4. shall come as hath been accustomed of old time and he that cometh not having no reasonable Excuse shall be amerced and otherwise punish'd The King sendeth Writs to the Sheriffs of every Shire Arc. Parl. 4 Vide the Form of the Writ Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 37. to admonish the whole Shire to choose two Knights of the Parliament in the Name of the Shire to hear and reason and to give their Advice and Consult in the Name of the Shire and to be present at the day At every County Hakewel 47. Vid. Crompton's Juris 3. after the Delivery of the Parliament-Writ to the Sheriffs Proclamation shall be made in the full County of the Day and Place of the Parliament and that all Men shall attend for the Election of the Knights for the same County for the Parliament Where the Parliament Writ speaks de qualibet Civitate Comitatûs illius Arc Parl. 22 Vid. Cromp. 3. this intended where the City is not a County in it self If it be the Writ shall be directed to them c. as it is to Sheriffs of other Countries 28 Eliz. 1586. Resolved That the House of Commons are the only competent Judges concerning Elections Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 396 397. which are duly made which not 18 Jac. 1. Petyt's Miscell Parl. 111. The Mayor of Winchelsey for mis-behaving himself at the Election of Parliament-men for their Town and making a false Return ordered to be committed to the Serjeant and to make a Submission at the Bar and an Acknowledgment in the Town before the new Election 20 Jac. 1. Id. 112. The Mayor of Arundel for mis-behaving himself in the Election by putting the Town to a great deal of Charges not giving a due and general Warning and packing a number of Electors ordered to be sent for and adjudged to pay the Charge to be set down by three of the Members Likewise to every City and Town Arc. Parl. 4. Smith 's Common-wealth 76. which of ancient Time hath been wont to find Burgesses of the Parliament so to make Election that they might be present there at the first day of the Parliament In 7 Hen. 4. 4 Inst 10. 2 Inst 169. it is enacted That Elections shou'd be freely and indifferently made notwithstanding any Prayer or Commandment to the contrary sine Praece without any Prayer or Gift and sine Praecepto without Commandment of the King by Writ or otherwise or of any other The King 4 Inst 4. de advisamento Concilii resolving to have a Parliament doth out of the Court of Chancery send out Writs of Summons at the least Forty days before the Parliament begin The third Estate is the Commons of the Realm 4 Inst 1. Crompton's Juris 2 b. whereof there be Knights of the Shires or Counties Citizens of Cities and Burgesses of Boroughs All which are respectively elected by the Shires or Counties Cities and Boroughs by Force of the King 's Writ ex debito Justitiae and none of them ought to be omitted These Represent all the Commons of the whole Realm Ibid. are trusted for them and are in Number at this Time 493. Now above 500. Whosoever is not a Lord of Parliament Id. 2. and of the Lord's House is of the House of Commons either in Person or by Representation partly coagmentativè and partly representativè Every Member of the House being a Counseller Id. 3. shou'd have three Properties First to be without Malice or Envy Secondly to be constant and inflexible Thirdly to be of ripe and perfect memory as appeareth in a Parliament Roll Rot. Parl. 3 H. 6. n. 3. The Knights of the Shire are chosen by all the Gentlemen and Teoman i. e. Freeholders of the Shire Arc. Parl. 5. Smyth 's Common-wealth 77. present at the Day assign'd for the Election The Voice of any absent can be counted for none Concerning the Writs for Summoning the Knights and Burgesses and the Return of the Sheriff Vide Crompton's Juris 1 2. Every English-man is intended to be there present Arc. Parl. 3. either in Person or by Procuration and Attorny and the Consent of the Parliament is taken to be every mans Consent These meeting at one Day Id. 10. Smyth 's Common-wealth 77. the two have most of their Voices are chosen Knights of the Shire for that Parliament Likewise by the Plurality of the Voices of the Citizens and Burgesses the Burgesses are elected The Election ought to be in full County 4 Inst 48. between Eight and Nine says the Statute of 23 Hen. 6. c. 15. No Election can be made of any Knight of the Shire but between Eight and Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon says the Lord Coke But if the Election be begun within the Time and cannot be determined within those hours the Election may be made after Any Election or Voices given Id. 49. before the Precept be read and published are void and of no Force for the same Electors after the Precept read and published may make a new Election and alter their Voices Secundùm Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti For

the Election of the Knights Id. 48. if the Party or Freeholders demand the Poll the Sheriff cannot deny the Scrutiny for he cannot discern who be Freeholders by the view and tho' the Party would wave the Poll yet the Sheriff must proceed in the Scrutiny The Knights shall be returned into Chancery by Indenture seal'd betwixt the Sheriff and the Choosers of Knights for the Parliament St. 8 H. 6. c. 7. 7 H. 4. c. 1. 23 H. 6. c. 15. Vid Crompton's Juris 3. 2 Nalson 870. Jan. 1641. In the Case of Mr. Downs return'd a Burgess for Arundel Order'd That he be presently sworn and admitted as a Member into the House until such Time as the Election be determin'd A Burgess elected for two several Boroughs may choose for which he will serve Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 430 622. passim Petyt 's Miscel Parliament 112 113. 21 Jac. 1. Edward Ingry Under-sheriff of Cambridgeshire for refusing the Poll declaring that Sir Thomas Steward promised to defend him against Sir John Cutts was brought to the Bar and kneeling upon his Knees adjudg'd to be committed to the Serjeant's Custody and to make a Submission at the Bar and at the next Quarter-Sessions and to acknowledge his Faults 3 Car. 1. Id. 113. to 120. Thomson Sheriff of York for his hasty and precipitate Judgment of an Election and denying the Poll being requir'd and Alderman Henlow for advising and abetting the same adjudged to stand committed to the Serjeant during Pleasure to acknowledge their Offences at the Bar to pay all due Fees to defray the Charge of Witnesses to be assessed by four of the Committee to acknowledge their Faults on their Knees at the Bar and read a Submission After the Precept of the Sheriff directed to the City or Berough for making of Election Id. 49. there ought secundùm Legem Consuetudinem Parliamenti to be given a convenient Time for the Day of Election and sufficient Warning given to the Citizens and Burgesses that have Voices that they may be present otherwise the Election is not good unless such as have Voices do take Notice of themselves and be present at the Election Hobart 15. Dungannon 's Case in Ireland When there is a Corporation made by Charter and by the same an Ordinance that the Provost and Burgesses only shall choose c. The Law shall vest this Priviledge in the whole Corporation in point of Interest tho' the Execution of it be committed to some Persons Members of the same Corporation The King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any man 4 Inst 49. to be freed from Election of Knight Citizen or Burgess of Parliament as he may do of some inferior Office or Places because the Election of them ought to be free and his Attendance is for the Service of the whole Realm and for the Benefit of the King and his People and the whole Common-wealth hath an Interest therein 18 Eliz. 1575. Sir Simon d'Ewes 244. Col. 2. Vide contra Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 281 282. Resolved That any Person being a Member of the House and being either in Service of Ambassage or else in Execution or visited with Sickness shall not in any wise be amoved from their Place in this House nor any other to be during such Time of Service Execution or Sickness elected CHAP. IX Who may be Electors THE Choosers of the Knights for the Parliament ought to be only of such Persons as are resiant and dwelling within the said Shire St. 1 H. 50. 1. 8 H. 6. c. 7. 10 H. 6. c. 2. No Person shall be a Chooser of the Knights for the Parliament St. 8 H. 6. c. 7. 33 H 8. c. 1. in Ireland except he hath Freehold Lands or Tenements within the same County to the value of Forty shillings per Annum at the least above all Charges The Sheriff hath Power given him by the said Statute to examine upon Oath every such Chooser St. 8 H. 6. c. 7. how much he may expend by the year Crompt Juris 3. if he doubt the value of it In many Cases Multitudes are bound by Acts of Parliament 4 Inst 4 5. which are not Parties to the Elections of Knights Citizens and Burgesses as all they that have no Freehold or have Freehold in ancient Demesne and all Women having Freehold or no Freehold and Men within the Age of One and twenty years c. Every Inhabitant choosing or electing in any other manner than is prescribed by the Statute to forfeit an hundred shillings St. 33 H 8. c. 1. Ireland half to the King and half to him that will sue for it If any man keeps a Houshold in one County Arc. Parl. 25. and remains in Service with another Family in another County yet he may be at the choosing of Knights of the Shire where he keeps his Family Crompton 's Juris 3. b. for it shall be said in Law a Dwelling in either of those Counties St. 23 H. 6. c. 15. Vid. Cromptons Jur. 3. b. 4 a. If the Mayor and Bayliffs or other Officer where no Mayor is shall return other than those which be chosen by the Citizens and Burgesses of the Cities or Boroughs where such Elections be shall incur and forfeit to the King Forty pounds and moreover shall forfeit to every person hereafter chosen Citizen or Burgess to come to Parliament and not by the same Mayor or Bayliff c. return'd or to any other Person that will sue for it Forty pounds CHAP. X. Who may be Elected 5 Eliz. c. 1. NO Knight Citizen 4 Inst 48. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 39 40. or Burgess can sit in Parliament before he hath taken the Oath of Supremacy and since the 7 Jac. 1. the Oath of Allegiance Because the words of the Writ for Election of Knights 4 Inst 10. c. were duos Milites gladiis cinctos c. it required an Act of Parliament that notable Esquires might be eligible Therefore the Statute says St. 23 H. 6. c. 15. The Knights of the Shires for the Parliament must be notable Knights or such Esquires or Gentlemen born of the same County as be able to be Knights Any man may be chosen Knight St. 18 Ed. 4. c. 2. in Ireland Citizen or Burgess tho' he be not dwelling within the same Every Knight St. 33 H. 8. c. 1. in Ireland Citizen and Burgess shall be resiant and dwelling within the Counties Cities and Towns Every Knight Citizen or Burgess taking it upon him and not chosen in the manner prescribed by the Act of Parliament to forfeit an hundred pounds Si home n'esteant Inhabitant Moor fo 551 n. 741. ne free del un Borough poit Eslier s'il voit seruer à lour Election ou nemy pur le Borough If a man be not an Inhabitant nor free of a Borough he may choose if he will serve at their Election or not

for the Borough By the Statute none ought to be chosen a Burgess of a Town Rush Coll. Vol. 1. 689. in which he doth not inhabit but the usage of Parliament is contrary But if Information be brought upon the said Statute against such a Burgess I think that the Statute is a good Warrant for us to give Judgment against him by Whitlock The King cannot grant a Charter of Exemption to any Man to be freed from Election of Knight 4 Inst 49. Citizen or Burgess of the Parliament A Person Outlawed in a Personal Cause may be a Burgess Towns Coll. 63 64. Vide John Smiths Ca. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 48. Col. 2. 480. Col. 1. Vide Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 481. Col. 2. If Exception be taken to such an Election and an Outlawry alledged to disinable him the Stat. 23 Hen. 6. c. 15. will disinable most of this House for they ought to be Burgesses resident Tho' the Common Law doth disinable the Party Sir Simon d'Ewes Journal 482. Col. 1 yet the Priviledge of the House being urged that prevaileth over the Law A man Attainted Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 482. Col. 1. Outlawed or Excommunicated or not lawfully elected if he be returned out of all doubt is a lawful Burgess A Knight Banneret 4 Inst 46. being no Lord of Parliament is eligible to be Knight Citizen or Burgess of the House of Commons being under the Degree of a Baron who is the lowest Degree of the Lord's House An Earl's Son may be a Member of the House of Commons Sir Simon d'Ewes Journal 244. Col. 2. One under the Age of One and twenty years is not eligible 4 Inst 47. Neither can any Lord of Parliament sit there till he be full One and and twenty years An Alien cannot be elected of the Parliament Ibid. because he is not the King's Liege Subject and so it is albeit he be made Denizon by Letters Patents c. But if an Alien be naturaliz'd by Parliament then he is eligible to this or any other Place of Judicature No Alien denizated ought to sit here Petyt 's Miscel Parl. 175. per Sir Edward Coke Resolved upon the Question Ibid. That the Election of Mr. Walter Steward being no natural born Subject is void and a Warrant to go for a new Writ None of the Judges of the Kings Bench or Common Pleas 4 Inst 47. or Barons of the Exchequer that have Judicial Places can be chosen Knight Citizen or Burgess of Parliament as it is now holden because they are Assistants in the Lord's House Yet read Parl Roll 31 H. 6. But any that have Judicial Places in other Courts Ecclesiastical or Civil being no Lords of Parliament Ibid. are eligible None of the Clergy Moor fo 783. n. 1083. 4 Inst 47. tho' he be of the lowest Order is eligible to be Knight Citizen or Burgess of Parliament because they are of another Body viz. of the Convocation The Clergy of the Convocation-House are no Part or Member of the Parliament Hakewel 59. Vide Fox's Book of Martyrs f 1639. A man Attainted of Treason or Felony 4 Inst 48. c. is not eligible For he ought to be magìs idoneus discretus sufficiens Mayors and Bayliffs of Towns Corporate are eligible 4 Inst 48. Vide contra Brook Abridg tit Parl. 7. At a Parliament holden 38 H. 8. it was admitted and accepted That if a Burgess of Parliament be made a Mayor of a Town Crompt 16. or have Judicial Jurisdiction or another is sick that these are Causes sufficient to choose others Any of the Profession of the Common Law 4 Inst 48. and which is in Practise of the same is eligible By special Order of the House of Commons the Attorny General is not eligible to be a Member of the House of Commons Ibid. Egerton Solicitor la Roign fuit command d'Attender en l'Vpper House Moor f. 551 n 741. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 441. Col 2 442. Col. 1. attend 3 Jours apres fuit eslie Burgess pur Reading Et fuit reteign quia il fuit primes attendant en l'Vpper Meson devant que il fuit eslie un Member de lower Meson Egerton the Queen's Solicitor was commanded to attend in the Vpper House and did attend three days afterward was chosen Burgess for Reading And he was retained because he was first attendant in the Vpper House before he was chosen a Member of the Lower House Onslow Solicitor esteant Burgess de lower Meson Moor f. 551 n 741. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 121. Col. 1 2. fuit command d'attend en upper Le lower Meson vient luy challenge demand d'aver luy fuit grant quia il fuit Member de lower Meson devant que il fuit command per Breve d'attend en le upper Onslow the Solicitor being a Burgess of the Lower House was commanded to attend in the Vpper The Lower House come and challenge him and demand to have him and it was granted because he was a Member of the Lower House before he was commanded by Writ to serve in the Vpper 18 Eliz. 1585. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 249. Col. 1. Concluded by the House That Mr. Serjeant Jeffreys being one of the Knights returned for Sussex may have Voice or give his Attendance in this House as a Member of the same notwithstanding his Attendance in the Upper House as one of the Queen's Serjeants for his Counsel there where he hath no Voice indeed nor is any Member of the same 23 Eliz. 1580. Id. 281. Col. 1. Popham Solicitor General upon demand made by the House was restored to them by the Lords because he was a Member of the House of Commons and they possessed of him before he was So licitor or had any Place of Attendance in the Vpper House No Sheriff shall be chosen for a Knight of Parliament Book of Extr. 411. Crompton 's Jur. 3. b. nor for a Burgess 1 Car. 1. 4 Inst 48. The Sheriff of the County of Buckingham was chosen Knight for the County of Norfolk and returned into the Chancery and had the Priviledge of Parliament allow'd to him by the Judgment of the whole House of Commons Vide de hoc Pro Con Sir Simon d'Ewes Journal 38 436 624 625. 1 Jac. 1. Sess 2. Scobel 96. Sir John Peyton Kt. returned the last Session and since chosen Sheriff Resolved upon the Question That he shall attend his Service here The personal Residence and Attendance of Sheriffs is required within their Bailywicks Rush Coll. Vol. 1. 684 685. during the Time of their Sheriffwick Mr. Walter Long being Sheriff of Wilts was after chosen Citizen for Bath and for that Offence was committed and fined viz. because he sate and served in Parliament Sir Andrew Noel Kt Towns Coll. 185. Vid. de hoc Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 38. Col. 1 2.

624. Col. 2. Sheriff of Rutland returned himself Knight and adjudged a void Return and a Warrant ordered for a new Election For said Serjeant Harris we know in Law that a man cannot make an Indenture to himself no more can he here between himself and the County for there are required two Persons Yet Sir Edward Hobby said That the House might well receive him and vouched a Precedent when the Bayliffs of Southwark returned themselves Burgesses and were received The Fee for the Knight of any County is 4 Inst 46. four shillings per diem and every Citizen or Burgess is to have two shillings per diem Where one Person is chosen and returned to serve in several Places Scobel 18. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour passim it is in his Election to make his Choice in the House in his own Person for what Place he will serve and wave the other Election so as a Writ may issue for a new Election that the number may be full CHAP. XI Returns of Sheriffs c. And Amendments of Returns COncerning the Punishment of Sheriffs for their Negligence in returning of Writs 5 R. 2. Stat. 2. c. 4. or for leaving out of their Returns any City or Borough which ought to send Citizens and Burgesses See the Stat. Every Sheriff St. 8 H. 6. c. 7. 23 H. 6. c. 15. Vid. Cromton's Juris 3. Hakewel 48. who doth not make true Return of Elections of Knights Citizens and Burgesses to come to Parliament shall forfeit an hundred pounds to the King and an hundred pounds to the Party injured and be imprison'd for a Year without Bail or Mainprize And every Mayor or Magistrate of a Town so oftending shall pay Forty pounds to the King and Forty pounds to the Party This Action to be within Three months after the Parliament commenced or by any other man who will If he so do not Hakewel 49. Vid. Crompton's Juris 3. b. and prosecute his Suit with Effect and without Fraud any other man who will may have the said Suit for the said hundred pounds as the Knight had and Costs of Suit also shall be awarded to the said Knight or any other who will sue in his behalf The Sheriff shall make a good Return of his Writ Hakew. 51. and of every Return of the Mayor and Bayliff or Bayliffs where no Mayor is to him made The Burgesses of Leskard in Cornwal being elected Towns Coll. 63. the Town refused to deliver up their Indenture to the Sheriff but the Party elected made his Indenture and deliver'd it to the Clerk of the Crown who filed it with the rest of the Indentures returned by the Sheriff the Sheriff having endorsed it upon his Writ but this Indenture was never executed by the Sheriff nor returned and yet this Return was held by the Committees to be good Jan. 1641. Ordered 2 Nalson 870. That the High-Sheriff of the County of Sussex who has return'd two Indentures for the Town of Arundel shall be summon'd to appear here at the Bar to amend his Return 35 Eliz. 1592. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 490. Col. 2. It was said by the Speaker No Return can be amended in this House For the Writ and the Return are in Chancery and must be amended there Every Sheriff or other Officer St. 33 H. 8. c. 1. in Ireland returning any Knight Citizen or Burgess chosen in any other manner than is prescribed in the Statute to forfeit an hundred pounds If one be duly elected Knight 4 Inst 49. It cites in the Margin Rot. Parl. 5 H. 4. n. 38. Citizen or Burgess and the Sheriff return another the Return must be reformed and amended by the Sheriff and he that is duly elected must be inserted for the Election in these Cases is the Foundation and not the Return 18 Jac. 1. Scobel 115. The Sheriff of Leicestershire having returned Sir Thomas Beaumont upon Report from the Committee for Elections that Sir George Hastings was duly chosen the Sheriff was ordered to return Sir George Hastings to the Clerk of the Crown and he to accept it and file it 21 Jac. 1. Ibid. Upon Report from the Committee of Priviledges That in the Election of Mr. John Maynard for Chippingham John Maynard was chosen but by a Mistake Charles was afterward written in stead of John It was Resolved The Return shou'd be amended without a new Writ and that the Bayliff shou'd do it and not the Clerk of the Crown and that it shou'd be sent down to the Bayliff in the Country and he to Return John Maynard Esq the first Burgess 1 Febr. 1640. It being Resolved Ibid. That the Election of Mr. Erle for one of the Burgesses of Wareham is a good Election Ordered That the Officer who was the Officer when the Return was made or his Deputy or the Electors shou'd amend the Return But the next day it was Ordered That Edward Harbin the late Mayor of Wareham 's Deputy shou'd come to the Bar of the House and amend the Return 20 Febr. 1640. Id. 116. The Bayliff of Midhurst in Sussex came to the Bar being sent for by Order of the House and amended one of the Indentures of Return of Burgesses for that Town and the other was taken off the File If a Sheriff shall return one for a Knight of the Shire Sir Simon d'Ewes Journ 283. Col. 2. who was unduly or not at all elected yet he that is so return'd remains a Member of the House till his Election be declared void CHAP. XII Election of the Speaker THE Speaker is he that doth prefer and commend the Bills exhibited into the Parliament Arc. Parl. 3. Smyth's Common-wealth 75. and is the Mouth of the Parliament It is true 4 Inst 8. Smyth's Common-wealth 75. the Commons are to choose their Speaker but seeing that after their Choice the King may refuse him for avoiding of expense of Time and Contestation the Use is as in the Conje d'Eslier of a Bishop that the King doth name a difereet and learned Man whom the Commons elect But without their Election no Speaker can be appointed for them 4 Inst 8. because he is their Mouth and trusted by them and so necessary as the House of Commons cannot sit without him And therefore a grievous Sickness is a good Cause to remove the Speaker and choose another Id. 8. So in 1 Hen. 4. Sir John Cheyny discharged and so William Sturton So in 15 Hen. 6. Sir John Tyrrel removed The first Day each Member is called by his Name Modus tenend Parl. 35. every one answering for what Place he serveth that done they are willed to choose their Speaker who tho' nominated by the King's Majesty is to be a Member of that House Their Election being made he is presented by them to the King sitting in Parliament 35. So Sir Thomas Gargrave 1 Eliz. So Christopher Wray 13 Eliz. So Robert Bell

That they may have Power to Correct any of their own Members that are Offenders And some make a Fifth Id. 62. That the Members their Servants Chattels and Goods necessary may be free from all Arrests Tho' the Speaker does upon his being approv'd of by the King make it his humble Petition to have Liberty of Speech allow'd the Commons Sir R. Atkin's Argument c. 33. from whence Dr. Heylin and Sir Robert Filmer and others infer That the Commons enjoy that Liberty by the King's Grace and Favour yet they are clearly answered by the words that accompany that humble Petition he prays That they may be allowed that Freedom as of Right and Custom they have used and all their ancient and just Priviledges and Liberties So that this from the Speaker is a Petition of Right The Speaker having ended his Oration Elsyng 165 the Lord Chancellor confers again with the King and makes Answer thereunto in his Majesties Name granting his Requests c. That humble and modest way of the Peoples addressing to their Soveraign Sir R. Atkyns Argument 33. either for the making Laws which has been very ancient or for granting Priviledges by the Speaker of the Commons shews great Reverence and becomes the Majesty of the Prince so to be addressed to but let it not be made an Argument that either the Laws thereupon made or the Priviledges so allow'd are precarious and meerly of Favour and may be refused them The Oration being answered by the Lord Chancellor Co. 12.115 4 Inst 10. and his Petitions allow'd the Speaker and the Commons shall depart to the House of Commons where the Speaker in the Chair shall request the Commons That inasmuch as they have chosen him for their Mouth they would assist him and favourably accept his Proceedings which do proceed out of an unfeigned and sincere Heart to do them service Scobel 5. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 43 44. The first Business in the House is ordinarily to read a Bill that was not pass't in the last Parliament preceeding or some new Bill as in that of 10 Jac. 1. But on that Day before that was done there was a Motion made for Priviledge of Sir Thomas Shirley who was chosen a Member to serve in that Parliament but detained by an Arrest Upon which a Habeas Corpus was awarded and the Serjeant that Arrested him and his Yeoman sent for and a Committee for Elections and Priviledges chosen CHAP. XIII Business of the Speaker THE Mace is not carried before the Speaker Elsyng 153. until his Return being presented to the King and allow'd of Modus tenend Part. 36. Smith's Common-wealth 84. The Speaker sits in a Chair placed somewhat high to be seen and heard the better of all the Clerks of the House sit before him in a lower Seat who read Bills c. The Speaker's Office is Modus tenend Parl. 37. Smyth's Common-wealth 86. when a Bill is read as briefly as he may to declare the Effects thereof to the House That Day that the Speaker being approved by the King Haktwel 138 139. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 43 44. cometh down into the Commons House to take his Place the Custom is to read for that time only one Bill left unpast the last Sessions and no more to give him Seisin as it were of his Place 1 Jac. 1. Scobel 19. Sir Edward Philips was chosen Speaker and the same Day before he was presented to the King he signed a Warrant as Speaker by Command of the House for Election of another Person in the Place of Sir Francis Bacon being chosen in two Places A general Order hath usually been made in the Beginning of the Session Id. 20. to authorize the Speaker to give Warrants for new Writs in Case of Death of any Member or of double Returns where the Party makes his Choice openly in the House during that Session Where such general Order is not made Ibid. Writs have issued by Warrant of the Speaker by Vertue of Special Order upon Motion in the House Oftentimes on the first Day of the Meeting of the House Scobel 18. as soon as the Speaker hath been approv'd and sometime before such Persons as have been doubly return'd have made their Choice 43 Eliz. Mr. Johnson said Towns 191 192. The Speaker may ex Officio send a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown who is to certifie the Lord Keeper and so make a new Warrant The Speaker said Ibid. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 627. Col. 2. That I may inform you of the Order of the House the Warrant must go from the Speaker to the Clerk of the Crown who is to inform the Lord Keeper and then to make a new Writ This Proposition I hold Ibid. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Journ 627. Col. 2. That our Speaker is to be commanded by none neither to attend any but the Queen per Sir Edward Hobby The Warrant is to be directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery Socbel 20. Vid. Towns Coll. 216 217. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour passim Scobel 65. Petyt's Miscell Parl. 140. by Order of Parliament 13 Novemb. 1601. May 1604. Resolved That no Speaker from henceforth shall deliver a Bill of which the House is possessed to any whosoever without leave and allowance of the House but a Copy only It is no Possession of a Bill except the same be delivered to the Clerk to be read or that the Speaker read the Title of it in the Chair 5 Car. 11. 1628. Rush Coll. 660. The Speaker being moved to put the Question then proposed by the House he refused to do it and said That he was otherwise Commanded from the King 2 Martij The Speaker was urged to put the Question who said I have a Command from the King to adjourn till the Tenth of March and to put no Question and endeavouring to go out of the Chair was notwithstanding held by some Members the House foreseeing a Dissolution till a Protestation was publish'd When the Queen made an Answer to the Speaker's Speech he Towns Coll. 263. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Journ 659. Col. 1 2. with the whole House fell upon their Knees and so continued till she bid them stand up 35 Eliz. Mr. Speaker was sent for to the Court Towns Coll. 61. where the Queens Majesty her self gave him Commandment what to deliver to the House The Speaker commanded upon his Allegiance not to read any Bills touching Matters of State or Reformation in Causes Ecclesiastical Id. 63. 16 Car. 1. 1640. Apr. 16. Rush Coll. 1127. The Speaker received Command from the King That his Majesties Speech shou'd be Entred in the Journal of the Commons House of Parliament whereupon the House passed a declarative Vote That they did not expect that this shou'd be performed by other Speakers but upon the like special Command or by the Order of the House Eodem Id. 1137.

and Courts of Justice are always Grand Committees of the House which are to sit in the Afternoon upon such days as the House doth appoint to them respectively The Committee for Trade hath sometimes been a select Committee Ibid. particularly named and all such Members as shou'd come to it to have Voices as in Nov. 1640. Sometimes a Grand Committee of the whole House as 21 Jac. 1. The Committee for Priviledges and Elections hath always had the Precedence of all other Committees Id. 10. being commonly the first Committee appointed and ordinarily the first day after or the same day the Speaker did take his Place This Committee is constituted of particular Numbers named by the House Ibid. 21 Jac. 1. Ibid. Upon naming a Committee for Priviledges and Elections a Motion was made that all that come shou'd have Voices but insisted on to be contrary to all former Precedents A Question was put Whether all that come should have Voices at the Committee and pass't in the Negative Another Question being put Whether the Persons nominated only shou'd be of the Committee it was resolved in the Affirmative ters questionable touching Priviledges and Returns and to acquaint the House with their Proceedings from Time to Time so as Order may be taken according to the Occasion and agreeable with ancient Customs and Precedents And to the end these Questions may be speedily determin'd Ibid. and the House may know their Members Days are usually assign'd beyond which there shall be no Questioning a former Election So in the Parliament 21 Jac. 1. it was order'd Ibid. That all Petitions about Elections and Returns shou'd be preserred to the Committee of Priviledges within a Fortnight from that day or else to be silenced for that Session 16 Apr. 1640. Id. 13. Order'd That those who would question Elections shou'd do it within ten days by Petition 6 Nov. 1640. Ibid. Order'd That all such as will question Elections now return'd shall do it in fourteen days and so within fourteen days after any new Return Some Questions have been where there have been double Indentures return'd for several Persons for the same Place whether all or any or which shall sit Id. 13. The general Rule and Practise hath been in such Case that neither one nor other shall sit in the House till it were either decided or order'd by the House 17 Apr. 19 Jac. 1. Order'd Id. 16. That no Petition shall be received by a Committee but openly at a Committee and read at the Committee before the Party go that preferred it and the Parties Name that preferred it be subscribed In the Parliament 21 Jac. 1. Id. 17. Resolved That all Affidavits to be taken in any Court concerning Elections Returns or any Thing depending thereupon shou'd be rejected and not hereafter to be used Tho' the Committee examine not upon Oath Ibid. yet they may punish any that shall testifie untruly of which there was an Instance in the Case of one Damport Sir Francis Popham Id. 14. being return'd a Burgess for Chippenham by one Indenture and another Person return'd for the same Place by another Indenture it was moved he might be admitted into the House till the Matter were determin'd But he was not so admitted and it was referred to the Committee for Priviledges 21 Jac 1. Id. 15. Two Indentures were return'd for Southwark the one returned Yarrow and Mingy the other Yarrow and Bromfeild Upon a Report from the Committee of Elections it was Resolved That the Election and Return for Yarrow shou'd stand good and that he shou'd sit in the House 22 Martij 21 Jac. 1. Ibid. Sir John Jackson and Sir Thomas Beaumont were both return'd for one Bargesses Place for Pontefract Order'd That the Committee take the Election into consideration to morrow and that in the mean time the Parties forbear to come into the House CHAP. XX. A Session of Parliament THE Passing of any Bill 4 Inst 27. or Bills by giving the Royal Assent thereto or the giving any Judgment in Parliament doth not make a Session but the Session doth continue till that Session be prorogued or dissolved And this is evident by many Presidents in Parliament ancient and late 14 Ed. 3. Ibid. On the first Monday a Grant of c. being given to the King was made a Statute and pass't both Houses and had the Royal Assent thereunto yet after this the Parliament continued and divers Acts made and Petitions granted 3 Rich. 2. Ibid. Declared by Act of Parliament That the killing of John Imperial Ambassador of Genoa was High Treason yet the Parliament continued long after and divers Acts made c. 7 Hen. 4. Ibid. An Act made for certain Strangers departing the Realm c. yet the Parliament continued till Dec. 8 Hen. 4. 1 Hen. 7. Ibid. The Attainders of such as were returned Knights Citizens and Burgesses were reversed by Act of Parliament before they could sit in the House of Commons and the Parliament continued and divers Acts made 33 Hen. 8. Ibid. At the beginning of the Parliament the Bill of Attainder against Queen Catherine Howard pass't both Houses yet the Parliament continued and divers Acts pass't Tho' Bills pass both Houses Ibid. and the Royal Assent be given thereto there is no Session until a Prorogation or a Dissolution The Diversity between a Prorogation and an Adjournment Ibid. or Continuance of the Parliament is that by the Prorogation in open Court there is a Session and then such Bills as pass't either or both Houses and had no Royal Assent to them must at the next Assembly begin again Every several Session of Parliament is in Law a several Parliament Ibid. Hutton 61. Brook tit Parl. 86. but if it be but adjourned or continued then there is no Session and consequently all things continue in the same state they were in before the Adjournment or Continuance The Titles of divers Acts of Parliament be 4 Inst 27. At the Session holden by Prorogation or by Adjournment and Prorogation but never by Continuance or Adjournment tantùm And the usual Form of Pleading is ad Sessionem tentam c. per Prorogationem The Adjournment or Continuance is much more beneficial for the Commonwealth for expediting of Causes 4 Inst 28. than a Prorogation The King desired the House of Commons not to make a Recess in the Easter Holy-days This Message for Non-recess was not well-pleasing to the House Sir Robert Philips first resented it and took Notice Rush Coll. 537. that in 12 and 18 Jac. 1. upon the like Intimation the House Resolved It was in their power to adjourn or sit Hereafter said he this may be put upon us by Princes of less Piety Let a Committee consider hereof and of out Right herein and to make a Declaration Sir Edward Coke said The King makes a Prorogation but this House Adjourns

sont discharge de Contribution al Gages de Chivaliers del Parliament Moor fol. 768. quia lour Seigneurs servent pur eux in Parliament Tenants of ancient Baronies are discharged from Contribution to the Wages of Knights of Parliament because their Lords serve for them in Parliament Apr. 1640. Scobel 14. It was ordered in that Parliament That if any sit in that House that are return'd by more Indentures than usual they should withdraw till the Committee for Priviledges had further order'd In the beginning of every Parliament Id 40. some Persons have been appointed to consider of such Laws as had continuance to the present Session whether they were fit to be continued or determin'd as also of former Statutes repealed or discontinued whether fit to be reviewed and what are fit to be repealed Any Member of the House may offer a Bill for publick good Ibid. except it be for imposing a Tax which is not to be done but by Order of the House first had A private Bill that concerns a particular Person Id. 41. is not to be offer'd to the House till the leave of the House be desired and the Substance of such Bill made known either by Motion or Petition It hath at some times been order'd Hakewel 135. That every one that preferreth a private Bill shou'd pay five pounds to the poor as in 43 Eliz. towards the end of the Parliament when they were troubled with much Business but it holdeth not in other Parliaments Scobel 41. Nevertheless the Speaker had liberty to call for a private Bill to be read every Morning and usually the Morning is spent in the first reading of Bills until the House grow full If any publick Bill be tender'd Ibid. the Person who tenders the Bill must first open the Matter of the Bill to the House and offer the Reasons for admitting thereof and thereupon the House will either admit or deny it 7 Martij 1606. Id. 46. Mr. Hadley being assigned of a Committee to confer with the Lords desired to be spared he being in Opinion against the Matter it self And it was conceived for a Rule That no man was to be imploy'd in any Matter that had declared himself against it and the Question being put it was resolved Mr. Hadley was not to be imploy'd CHAP. XXII Priviledge of Parliament THE Priviledge of Tenants in Ancient Demesne must be as ancient as their Tenure and Service Sir R. Atkin's Argument 18. Vide Coke 9 Rep. in Pres for their Priviledge comes by reason of their Service and their Service is known by all to be before the Conquest in the time of Edward the Confessor and in the time of the Conqueror Every man must take notice of all the Members of the House return'd of Record 4 Inst 23 24. at his Peril Otherwise it is of the Servant of any of the Members of the House Id. 24. A Member of Parliament shall have Priviledge of Parliament Id. 42. Hakewel 62. not only for his Servants but for his Horses c. or other Goods distrainable The Priviledge is due eundo Scobel 88. morando redeundo for the Persons of Members and their necessary Servants and in some Cases for their Goods and Estates also during that time For their own Persons Ibid. they have been priviledged from Suits Arrests Imprisonments Attendance on Trials Serving on Juries and the like yea from being summoned or call'd to attend upon any Suit in other Courts by Subpaena served on them He that doth Arrest any Member of either House Hakew. 62. Vide Dyer 60. during the Session of Parliament shall be imprison'd in the Tower by the nether House of which he is and shall be put to his Fine and the Keeper also if he will not deliver him when the Serjeant at Arms doth come for him by Command of the House The Servants tending upon their Masters during Parliament Ibid. Crompton's Juris 11. who are necessary and also such Officers as attend the Parliament as the Serjeant at Arms the Porter of the Door Clerks and such like and also their Chattels and Goods necessary are priviledged so that they shall not be taken or arrested by any Officer if it be not in case of Treason or Felony Generally the Priviledges of Parliament do hold 4 Inst 25 unless it be in three Cases viz. Treason Felony and the Peace No Priviledge is allowable in case of the Peace 2 Nalson 450. nor in Case of Conviction or disarming of Recusants No Minister of the Parliament St. 3 Ed. 4. in Ireland during forty days before and forty days after the Parliament finish'd shall be impleaded vexed or troubled by no means That every Minister Ibid. as well Lords Proctors as Commons be discharged and quitted of all manner of Actions had or moved against them or any of them during the time aforesaid and this to endure for ever Apres que Members sont returns Dyer 16. a. pl. 19. lour personal Attendance est cy necessary al Parliament que ils ne doient pur ascum Business estre absents nul un Person poit estre bien mis eo que il est un necessary Member pur ceo si ascun morust devant le Parliament un novel serra eslieu en son lieu issint que l'entire Number ne doit failer donque il ensue que le Person de chescun tiel Member doit estre privilege d'arrest al Suit d'ascun privat Person durant cel temps que il est embusyd entour les Affairs del Roy son Realm tiel privilege ad estre touts foits grant per le Roy a les Commoners al Request del Prolocutor del Parliament le primer Jour c. After that the Members are returned their Attendance is so necessary to the Parliament that they ought not for any Business to be absent and no one Person can well be mist so that he is a necessary Member and therefore if any die before the Parliament a new one shall be chosen in his place so that the entire Number may not fail and then it follows that the Person of every such Member ought to be priviledged from Arrest at the Suit of any private Person during the time that he is busied in the Affairs of the King and the Realm and such Priviledge has used to be granted at all times by the King to the Commons at the Request of the Speaker of the Parliament the first Day c. Common Reson voit Ibid. que intant que le Roy tout son Realm ad un Interest en le Corps de chescun de dits Members il semble que le privat Commodity d'ascun particular home ne doit estre regard Common Reason will have it that forasmuch as the King and his whole Realm have an Interest in the Body of every one of its Members it seems that the private Commodity of

the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament sit there any longer without a full Vindication of so high a Breach of Priviledge and a sufficient Guard wherein they might confide The Lords cannot proceed against a Commoner Selden 's Jud. p. 84. but upon a Complaint of the Commons APPENDIX The Report of a Case happening in Parliament in the first year of K. James the First which was the Case of Sir Francis Goodwyn and Sir John Fortescue for the Knights Place in Parliament for the County of Bucks Translated out of the French IN this Case after that Sir Francis Goodwyn was elected Knight with one Sir William Fleetwood for the said County which Election was freely made for him in the County and Sir John Fortescue refused notwithstanding that the Gentlemen of the best Rank put him up The said Sir John Fortescue complained to the King and Council Table he being one of them to wit one of the Privy Council that he had been injuriously dealt with in that Election which does not appear to be true But to exclude Sir Francis Goodwyn from being one of the Parliament it was objected against him that he was Outlawed in Debt which was true scilicet He was Outlawed for 60 l. 31th of Queen Elizabeth at the Suit of one Johnson which Debt was paid and also the 39th of Eliz. at the Suit of one Hacker for 16 l. which Debt was also paid and that notwithstanding the King by the Advice of his Councel at Law and by the Advice of his Judges took Cognisance of these Outlawries and directed another Writ to the Sheriff of the said County to elect another Knight in the place of the said Sir Francis Goodwyn which Writ bore Date before the Return of the former And this Writ recites That because the said Sir Francis was Outlawed prout Domino Regi constabat de Recordo and for other good Considerations which were well cognisant to the King and because he was Inidonious for the Business of the Parliament therefore the King commanded him to elect one other Knight in his room which Writ was executed accordingly and Sir John Fortescue elected And at the day to wit the first day of the Parliament both Writs were return'd the first with the Indenture sealed between the Sheriff and the Freeholders of Bucks in which Sir Francis Goodwyn and Sir William Fleetwood were elected Knights for the Parliament and also the Sheriff returned upon the Dorse of the Writ that the said Sir Francis was Outlawed in two several Outlawries and therefore was not a meet Person to be a Member of the Parliament House The second Writ was returned with an Indenture only in which it was recited That Sir John Fortescue by reason of the second Writ was elected Knight Both these Returns were brought the third sitting of the Parliament to the Parliament House by Sir George Copping being Clerk of the Crown And after that the Writs and Returns of them were read it was debated in Parliament Whether Sir Francis Goodwyn should be received as Knight for the Parliament or Sir John Fortescue And the Court of Parliament after a long Debate thereupon gave Judgment That Sir Francis Goodwyn should be received and their Reasons were these First Because they took the Law to be that an Outlawry in Personal Actions was no Cause to Disable any Person from being a Member of Parliament and it was said That this was Ruled in Parliament 35th of Queen Elizabeth in the Parliament House in a Case for one Fitz-Herbert Another President was 39 H. 6. Secondly The Pardons of the 39th of Queen Eliz. and 43 Eliz. had pardoned those Outlawries and therefore as they said he was a Man able against all the World but against the Party Creditor and against him he was not But in this Case the Parties were paid Also Thirdly It was said that Sir Francis Goodwyn was not Outlawed because no Proclamation was issued forth to the County of Bucks where he was Commorant and Resiant And therefore the Outlawry being in the Hustings in London and Sir Francis Goodwyn being Commoran in Bucks the Outlawry no Proclamation issuing to the County of Buks was void by the Statute of the 31th of the Queen which in such Cases makes the Outlawries void Fourthly It was said that the Outlawries were 1. Against Francis Goodwyn Esq 2. Against Francis Goodwyn Gent. and 3. The Return was of Francis Goodwyn Kt. Et quomodo constat that those Outlawries were against the said Sir Francis Goodwyn for these Reasons also they Resolved that the Outlawries were not any matter against Sir Francis Goodwyn to disenable him to be a Knight for the County of Bucks Fifthly It was said That by the Statute of 7 H. 4. which prescribes the manner of the Election of Knights and Burgesses it is Enacted That the Election shall be by Indenture between the Sheriff and the Freeholders c. that the Indenture shall be the Return of the Sheriff It was also said That the Presidents do warrant this Judgment videlicet 1. One President of the 39 H. 6. where Person Outlawed was adjudged a sufficient Member of Parliament Another 1 Eliz. and ot that time one Gargrave who was a man learned in the Law was Speaker and of the Queens Council 2. Another was the Case of one Fludd in the 23th of the Queen who being Outlaived was ●●●udged that he should be Priviledged by Parliament and at that time the Lord Chief Justice Popham was Speaer And 3. In the 35th of Elizabeth there were three Presidents scil one of Fitzherbert another of one Killegrew being Outlawed in 52 Outlawries and the third of Sir Walter Harecourt being outlawed in eighteen Outlawries But after this Sentence and Judgment of the Parliament the King's Highness was displeased with it because the second Writ emanavit by his Assent and by the Advice of his Council And therefore it was moved to the Judges in the Vpper House Whether a Person Outlawed could be a Member of Parliament who gave their Opinions that he could not And they all except Williams agreed that the Pardon without a Scire facias did not help him but that he was Outlawed to that purpose as if no Pardon had been granted And upon this the Lords sent to the Lower House Desiring a Conference with them concerning this Matter which Conference the Lower House after some deliberation denied for these Reasons 1. Because they had given their Judgment before and therefore they could not have Conference de re Judicata as in like manner they did 27 Queen Eliz. upon a Bill which came from the Lords and was rejected by Sentence upon the first Reading Sir Walter Mildmay being then of the Privy Council and of the House 2. Because they ought not to give any Accompt of their Actions to any other Person but to the King himself This Answer the Lords did ill resent and therefore refused Conference in other Matters concerning Wards and Respite of Homages and

Returned And notwithstanding their Resolutions scilicet the Resolution of the Judges the Commons House hold clearly that Sir Francis Goodwyn was well Received into Parliament and the King commanded them to Confer together and Resolve if they could of Themselves and if they could not Resolve to Confer with the Judges and then to Resolve and when they were Resolved then to deliver their Resolution to his Councel not as Parliament men but as his Privy Council by whose hands he would receive the Resolution and for that purpose he left them behind him he himself being to ride to Royston a hunting And to pursue the Commandment of the King the Commons House clearly Resolved That what they had done was well and duly done and they were of Opinion clearly against the Judges as to the Matter of the Outlawry and that Ratione of the Presidents And also that the Parliament only had to do with the Sheriff's Returns of Members of Parliament and that the Returns ought not to be made till the first day of the Parliament and therefore They would not confer with the Judges But they appointed a Committee to consider of the Reasons to be delivered to the Council for the Satisfaction of the King which Committee by the Assent of All the House of Commons sent to the Lords this Resolution following videlicet As to what the King taxed the House for That they medled with the Sheriff's Return of Members of Parliament Note This Resolution was written in Parchment and so delivered to the Council of the King not as Parliament men but Representing the King's Person and a Copy thereof was kept in the House being but one half of the Body the Lords being one and the Principal Part of the Parliaments Body As to that They Answered That all Writs for the Election of Members of Parliament were returned into the Parliament House before 7 Hen. 4. at which time it was Enacted That all such Returns ought to be made in Chancery and that appeared by the Records from the Time of Edward the First until the said Year of the Seventh of Henry the Fourth And therefore the Parliament must of Necessity have only medled with the Returns till the making of the said Statute of the Seventh of Henry the Fourth at which time the place of the Return was alter'd and Enacted to be in Chancery but yet that did not take away the Jurisdiction of the Parliament to meddle with the Returns of the Members of Parliament but that remained as it was before And this was manifest as well by Reason as by Vse For that Court is to meddle with Returns where the Appearance and Service of Members is to be made and used But in the Parliament only the Appearance and Service are to be made and used and therefore in the Parliament only are the Returns to be examined and censured Likewise ever since the making of the said Statute of the Seventh of Henry the Fourth the Clerk of the Crown attends the Parliament every day till the end of it with all the Writs and Returns and at the end of the Parliament he brings them into the Petty Bag. The Presidents also do warrant this intermedling with Returns for the Parliament as in the Twenty ninth of the Queen a Writ issued forth to the Sheriff of _____ who made a Return before the day into Chancery and the Chancellour upon that Return containing such matter as this Writ now contains sent a second Writ to the said Sheriff who thereupon made a new Election and that second Writ was also returned and both the Writs and Returns brought into Parliament and there Censured by the Parliament That the first should stand and that the second Election was void and that the Chancellour hath no Power to award a second Writ nor to meddle with the Return of it and divers other Presidents were shewn by the Commons to the same Effect videlicet In the Nine and twentieth of Queen Elizabeth One. And in the Three and fortieth of Queen Elizabeth another And in the Thrity fifth of the Queen two Whereof one was upon the Return of the Sheriff that the Party first elected was Lunatick and thereupon the Parlament examined it and upon Examination thereof they found the Return true and gave a Warrant for another Writ As to the Matter that they were but One half of the Body to that they said That though in the making of Laws they were but an Half Body yet as to Censuring of Priviledges Customs Orders and Returns of their House They were an Entire Body as the Vpper House was for their Priviledges Customs and Orders which Continual and Common Vsage hath Approved of As to their Charge of having used Precipitancy and Rashness they Answered That they used it in such a Manner as in all Other Cases they were wont to do scilicet To have first a Motion of the Matter in Controversie and then they caused the Clerk of the Crown to bring the second day the Writs and Returns and They being thrice read they proceed to the Examination of them and upon Examination gave Judgment which was the true Proper Course of the Place As to the House's not having used the King well the thing being done by his Command they say That they had no Notice before their Sentence that the King himself took any special Regard of that Case but only that his Officer the Chancellour had directed the second Writ as formerly had been done As to the Matter of the Outlawry They said That they understand by his Royal Person more strength and light of Reason from it than ever before and yet it was without Example That any Member of the House was put out of the House for any such Cause but to prevent that they had prepared a Law That no Outlawed Person for the time to come should be of the Parliament nor any Person in Execution should have the Priviledge of Parliament But they said further That Sir Francis Goodwyn was not Outlawed at the Day of his Election for he was not Quinto Exactus the five Prolamations never had been made which Proclamation they in London always spare except the Party or any for him require it and that Exigent was never Returned nor any Writ of Certiorari directed to the Coroners to certifie it but after his Election which was a thing unusual the Money being paid the Sheriffs being long since dead to Disenable the said Goodwyn to serve in Parliament that the Exigent was returned and the Names of the deceased Sheriffs put thereto Et ex hoc fuit without doubt that Goodwyn could not have a Scire Facias for there was no Outlawry against him and by Consequence the Pardons had discharged him And They farther shewed to the King That if the Chancellour only could examine Returns then upon every Surmise whether it were True or False the Chancellour might send a Second Writ and cause a New Election to be made And thus the Free Election of the County should be Abrogated which would be too Dangerous to the Commonwealth For by such means the King and his Council might make Any Man whom they would to be of the Parliament House against the great Charter and the Liberties of England FINIS BOOKS Printed for and sold by Timothy Goodwin at the Maiden-head against St. Dunstan 's Church in Fleetstreet 1. AN Enquiry into the Power of Dispensing with Penal Statutes together with some Animadversions upon a Book writ by the late Lord Ch. Justice Herbert Entituled A short Account of the Authorities in Law upon which Judgment was given in Sir Edw. Hales Case 2. The Power Jurisdiction and Priviledge of Parliament and the Antiquity of the House of Commons asserted occasioned by an Information in the Kings Bench by the Attorney-General against the then Speaker of the House of Commons As also A Discourse concerning the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in the Realm of England occasioned by the late High Commission in Ecclesiastical Causes in King James II. 3. A Defence of the late Lord Russel's Innocency Together with an Argument in the great Case concerning Elections of Members to Parliament between Sir Sam. Bernardiston Bar. Plaintiff and Sir Wil. Soames Sheriff of Suffolk Defendant in the Court of Kings Bench in an Action upon the Case and afterwards by Error sued in the Exchequer Chamber 4. The Lord Russel's Innocency further defended by way of Reply to an Answer Intituled The Magistracy and Government of England Vindicated These four writ by the Rt. Hon. Sir R. Atkyns Knight of the Bath and Lord Chief Baron of their Majesties Court of Exchequer 5. A New Declaration of the Confederate Princes and States against Lewis XIV King of France and Navar Deliver'd in a late Audience at Versailles July 5. 1689. 6. Politica Sacra Civilis or a Model of Civil and Ecclesiastical Government wherein besides the Positive Doctrine concerning the State and Church in General are debated the Principal Controversies of the Times concerning the Constitution of the State and Church of England By George Lawson Rector of More in Salop. 7. The Parsons Councellor with the Law of Tythes and Tything In two Books The fourth Edition with the Addition of a Table Written by Sir Simon Degge 8. The Gentleman's Jockey and Approved Farrier instructing in the Natures Causes and Cures of all Diseases incident to Horses The Eighth Edition Enlarged 9. Popery or the Principles and Positions approved by the Church of Rome dangerous to all And to Protestant Kings and Supreme Powers more especially pernicious By Thomas Lord Bishop of Lincoln 10. A Modest Vindication of the Protestants of Ireland in Answer to the Character of the Protestants of Ireland 11. Sir St. John Broderick's Vindication of himself from the Aspersions cast on him in a Pamphlet written by Sir Richard Buckley Entituled Proposals for sending back the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland 12. Animadversions on Sir R.B. Proposals for sending back the Nobility and Gentry of Ireland 13. The Justice of Parliament in Inflicting Penalties subsequent to Offences vindicated and the lawfulness of the present Government asserted

at the foot of the Bill A cest Bill les Commons sont assentus 19 Dec. 1584. 27 Eliz. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 344. Col. 2. The House of Commons taking Exceptions about endorsing of Bills in the upper part of them whereas it ought to be done at the neither and lower part the Lords did very respectfully take away their said Grievance by the alteration of the Indorsments aforesaid according to the usual and ancient Form No Bill upon the third Reading Hak. 156. for the Matter or Body thereof may be recommitted but for some particular Clause or Proviso it hath been sometimes suffered but it is to be observed as a thing unusual after the third Reading It hath been much doubted Hakewel 157. whether when a Bill is in Debate for the Passage it ought not to receive the Resolution of the House the same day wherein it is first offer'd to the Passage but Precedents are where the Case being of some Importance and the Debate growing long the Argument hath been put over to the next day in which Case he that hath already spoken to the Bill the first day may not again speak the second no more than he may speak twice in one day where the Argument is not deferred to another day If a Bill be rejected Id 158. the same Bill may not be offer'd to the House again the same Session but if it be alter'd in any Point material both in the body and in the title it may be received the second time In the time of the Reading of a Bill Ibid. the House shou'd not be interrupted with any other Business and yet in 1 El. the House adjourn'd it self till the next day after the Bill for Sealing Clothes was half read only to be present at the Conference about Religion in Westminster-Abby Sometimes the House conceiving much Offence against some Bills Ibid. doth not only order them to be rejected but to be torn in the House When a Bill is thrice read Id. 159. and pass't in the House there ought to be no further Alteration thereof in any Point When the Speaker hath in his hands a convenient number of Bills ready passed as five or six Id. 175. or thereabouts he then putteth the House in mind of sending them up to the Lords and desireth the House to appoint Messengers who accordingly do appoint some one principal Member of the House for that purpose to whom the Bills are delivered in such order as he ought to present them to the Lords which is done by direction of the Speaker except the House be pleas'd to give special direction therein The Order which hath usually been observed in ranking of them Id. 176. is First to place them that came originally from the Lords Secondly those that being sent up to the Lords from the Commons House were sent back to be amended Thirdly publick Bills originally coming from the Commons House and they to be marshall'd according to their Degrees in Consequence Lastly are to be placed private Bills in such Order as the Speaker pleaseth Many times the House with a purpose especially to grace some one Bill sendeth it alone with a special Re-commendation thereof Ibid. the Messenger for this purpose is usually attended by thirty or forty of the House as they please and are affected to the Business The principal Messenger Id. 177. who delivers the Bills to the Lords coming in the first Rank of his Company to the Bar of the Lords House with three Congies telleth the Lords That the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House have sent unto their Lordships certain Bills and then reading the Title of every Bill as it lyeth in order so delivereth the same in an humble manner to the Lord Chancellor who of purpose cometh to receive them Bills sent from the Lords to the Commons House Ibid. if they be ordinary Bills are sent down by Serjeants at Law or by two Doctors of the Civil Law being Masters of the Chancery and Attendants in the upper House accompanied sometimes with the Clerk of the Crown an Attendant there Id. 178. Bills of greater moment are usually sent down by some of the Judges Assistants there accompanied with some of the Masters of the Chancery who being admitted Entrance do come up close to the Table where the Clerk sits making three Congies and there acquainting the Speaker That the Lords have sent unto the House certain Bills doth read the Titles and deliver the Bills to the Speaker and so again departeth with three Congies when they are out of the House the Speaker holds the Bills in his hands and acquaints the House That the Lords by their Messengers have sent to the House certain Bills and then reading the Title of every Bill delivereth them to the Clerk to be safely kept and to be read when they shall be call'd for When Bills are thus pass't by both Houses Id. 179. upon three several Readings in either House they ought for their last Approbation to have the Royal Assent which is usually deferr'd till the last day of the Session The Royal Assent is given in this sort Id. 181. Vid. Towns Coll. 12 49. Vide Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 467. After some Solemnities ended the Clerk of the Crown readeth the Title of the Bills in such Order as they are in Consequence after the Title of every Bill is read the Clerk of the Parliament pronounceth the Royal Assent according to certain Instructions given him from his Majesty in that behalf To the Subsidy Bill Towns Coll. 49. because it is the meer Gift of the Subject the Quens Consent is not required for the passing it but as it is joyn'd with her thankful Acceptance nor to the Bill of Pardon because it is originally her free Gift no other Circumstance is required than that the thankful acceptance thereof by the Lords and Commons be likewise expressed it being but once read in either House before it comes at last to be thus expedited To all other Bills either private or publick the Queens express Consent tho' in different words is always requisite Febr. 9. 1597. 39 Eliz. Id. 127. Her Majesty gave her Royal Assent to twenty four publick Acts and nineteen private and refused forty eight which had pass't both Houses If it be a Publick Bill Towns 13. to which the King assenteth the Answer is Le Roy le veult The King wills it If a private Bill allow'd by the King the Answer is Soit fait come il est desire Be it done as is desired If a Publick Bill which the King forbears to allow Le Roy se avisera The King will consider To the Subsidy Bill Id. 12. Le Roy remercie ses loyaux Subjets accept lour Benevolence ainsi le veult The King thanks his loyal Subjects accepts their Benevolence and so wills it To the General Pardon Towns Coll. 13 49. Les

Prelates Seigneurs Commons en cest Parliament assembles au nom de toutes vous autres Subjets remercient tres-humblement vostre Majestie Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 467. Col. 2. prient à Dieu que il vous donne en sante bon vie longue The Prelates Lords and Commons in this Parliament assembled in the Name of all other your Subjects do most humbly thank your Majesty and do pray God to give you Health and a good and long Life A private or particular Act is always filed Sir R. Atkin's Argument 57. Arc Parl. 45. but never enrolled Every Bill that passeth the Parliament shall have Relation to the first day of the Parliament tho' it come in at the end of the Parliament unless a Time be specially appointed by the Statute when it shall commence If a Bill be admitted to be read Scobel 41. it is to be presented fairly written without any razure or interlineation together with a Breviat of the Heads of the Bill and unless it be so tender'd the Speaker may refuse it Until the Bill be open'd Id. 42. no man may speak to it An Act was read Towns Coll. 187. to which no man offer'd to speak whereupon Mr. Speaker stood up and said That if no man speak it must be ingrossed It is the usual Rule of the Law Towns Coll. 134. That where the Numbers of the Affirmative and Negative are equal Semper presumetur pro negante The Negatives by Custom are to carry it When Votes are digested into a Bill Scobel 45. and that comes to be read or passed it is lawful to Debate or Argue against all or any part thereof to alter or reject it because Votes in order to a Bill are no further binding but that the Bill is to be presented containing those Votes and because the Bill gives occasion of a more large Debate and being to pass into a Law every Member hath Liberty to offer his Reasons against it as well as give his Vote as often as it comes to a Question When a Bill has been read the second time Ibid. and open'd any Member may move to have it amended but must speak but once to it and therefore must take all his Exceptions to it and every part of it at one time for in the Debate of a Bill no man may speak but once the same day except the Bill be read more than once that day and then he may speak as often as it is read 23 Junij 1604. It was agreed for a Rule Id. 58. If a Bill be continued in Speech from day to day one may not speak twice to the Matter of the same Bill CHAP. XVII Concerning Committees COmmittees are such Sir Tho. Smyth 's Common-wealth 75. as either the Lords in the higher House or Burgesses in the lower House do choose to frame the Laws upon such Bills as are agreed upon and afterward to be ratified by the same Houses The proceeding in a Committee is more honourable and advantagious to the King Rush Coll. 557. and the House for that way leads most to the Truth and it is a more open way and where every man may add his Reason and make Answer upon the hearing of other mens Reasons and Arguments For Referring a Bill to Committees Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 186. it is chiefly for Amendment or Alteration thereof after it hath been penned and put into the House by some one or more private men June 1641. In the Afternoon 2 Nalson 319. it being a considerable time before there were forty Members to make a House Ordered That so soon as the House sits and that the Serjeant comes to any Committee then sitting to signisie to them that the House is sitting that the Chair-man shalt immediately come away to attend the Service of the House 35 Eliz. 1592. Towns Coll. 61. Sir Simon d'Ewes Journ 476. Col. 1. Id. 189. It was held to be against the Order of the House That a Bill should be committed before it was read 43 Eliz. 1601. By Order of the House agreed When a Bill is return'd from Commitment the words must be twice read which are amended before the ingrossing thereof Eodem tempore Id. 190. By Order of the House it was agreed upon That a Committee once made and agreed upon there shall not hereafter be more Committees joyn'd unto them for the same Bill but for any other there may Eodem Id. 198. Vid. Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 630. Col. 1. Sir Walter Raleigh speaking at a Committee Sir Edward Hobby told him He shou'd speak standing that the House might hear him to which Sir Walter Rawleigh reply'd That being a Committee he might speak sitting or standing Eodem Id. 208. Vid. Sir S. d'Ewes Journ 634. Col. 2. It is a Rule in the House That they who have given their Voice against the Body of a Bill cannot be Committees And it was said by Mr. Wiseman That by committing of a Bill the House allow'd of the Body thereof tho' they disallow'd of some Imperfectious in the same and therefore committed it to some chosen men in trust to reform and amend any thing therein which they found imperfect And it is presumed That he who will give his No to the committing of a Bill at the Commitment will be wholly against the Bill and therefore the House allowing of this Bill to be committed are in my Opinion to disallow any that will be against the Body of the Bill for being Committees And so Resolved upon the Question Eodem Towns 208. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 635. Col. 1. Resolved upon the Question If any Committee speak against a Bill at the Commitment he may speak again at the ingrossing thereof in the House and have his free Voice 11 Nov. 1601. Ordered Memorials 60 61. Vid. Towns Coll. That any Member of this House that hath been or shall be a Committee in any Bill may afterwards speak or argue negatively to any such Bill without Impeachment or Imputation of Breach of former Order Sometimes the House upon Debate doth pass some Votes to be the Heads of a Bill Scobel 44. or refer it to a Committee of the whole House to prepare such Heads If the Exceptions to a Bill be such Id. 46. that it may not be amended at the Table then the Question is for committing the Bill But no Bill is to be committed without some Exceptions taken to it In the House of Commons Towns Coll. 138. as well as in the upper House after any Bill is committed upon the second Reading it may be deliver'd indifferently to any of the said Committees No Proviso or Clauses are to be tender'd to a Bill upon a second Reading Scobel 46. because if it be committed it is proper to offer them to the Committee without troubling the House as 16 Jun. 1604. It was moved That sundry Proviso's then tender'd be offer'd to the

any particular man ought not to be regarded Cest Court de Parliament est Ibid. Crompt 7. b. pluis haut Court ad plusors Priviledges que ascun auter Court del Realm pur que semble que en chescun Case sans ascun Exception chescun Burgess est privilege quant l'Arrest n'est forsque al Suit d'un Subject The Court of Parliament is the highest Court and has more Priviledges than any Court of the Realm for which it seems that in every Case without any Exception every Burgess is priviledged as to Arrest only at the Suit of the Subject Coment que le Parliament erra en le grant del Brief de Privilege Id. 61. uncore ceo n'est reversible en auter Court Tho' the Parliament do err in the Grant of a Writ of Priviledge yet it is not reversible in another Court Fuit dit per Dyer Moor f. 57. n. 163. que si home soit condemne en Debt ou Trespass est eslieu un des Burgesses ou Chivalers del Parliament puis soit prise en Exeoution il ne poet aver le privilege del Parliament issint fuit tenus per les Sages del Ley en le Case d'un Ferres en temps le Roy H. 8. coment que le privilege à ceo temps fuit à luy allowe Crompton's Jur. p 7 8 9 10 11. 34 H. 8. ceo fuit minus just It was said by Dyer That if a Man be condemned in Debt or Trespass and is chosen one of the Burgesses or Knights of Parliament and afterwards is taken in Execution he cannot have the Priviledge of Parliament and so it was held by the Sages of the Law in the Case of one Ferrers in the time of King Henry the Eighth Petyt's Miscel Parl. p. 1. c. and tho' the Priviledge at that time was allowed him yet it was unjust Hill Stukely les Viscounts de Londres fueront commit al Tower pur lour Contemts Dyer 61. pl. 28. pur ceo que ils ne voil lesser George Ferrers que fuit arrest sur un Execution d'aler alarge quant les Serjeants del Arms vient pur luy sans ascun Brief Hill and Stukely the Sheriffs of London were committed to the Tower for their Contempts for that they would not suffer George Ferrers who was Arrested upon an Execution to go at large when the Serjeant at Arms came for him without any Writ Le lower Meson del Parliament agree Fitzherberts case Moor so 340 n 461. que entant que un fuit arrest devant que il fuit eslie Burgess que il ne doit aver le privilege del Meson The lower House of Parliament agreed that in regard one was arrested before he was chosen Burgess that he ought not to have the Priviledge of the House Vide Fitz-Geralds Case Anno 1640. in Ireland Vide 39 Hen. 6. Walter Clerks Case 5 Hen. 4. Richard Chidder 38 Hen. 8. Tyneman's Case 43 Eliz. Belgrave's Case 39 Hen. 6. Ferrer's Case in Holinshead f. 1584. Debt upon an Obligation Brownl 91. Jackson versus Kirton whereof the Condition was That if A. would render himself to an Arrest in such a place c. A. pleads priviledge of Parliament and that being Servant to such a Member he could not render himself to be arrested Upon Demurrer the Opinion of the Court was for the Plaintiff for A. might render himself and let it be at their Peril if they will arrest him Magister Militiae Templi petit 4 Inst 24. quòd distringat Catalla unius de Concilio tempore Parliamenti pro Reditu unius Domûs in London Rex respondet non videtur honestum quòd illi de Concilio suo distringantur Tempore Parliamenti sed alio Tempore c. Bogo de Clare Ibid. Towns Coll. 255. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 655. Col. 1 says he was fined 20000 Marks and the Prior of Trinity for serving a Citation on the Earl of Cornwal in the Time of the Parliament committed to the Tower and Bogo at whose Procurement it was done fined in 2000 Marks to the King and a thousand pounds to be paid to the Earl 4 Inst 24. And yet the serving of the said Citation did not arrest or restain his Body and the same Priviledge holdeth in Case of Subpoena or other Process out of any Court of Equity Rex mandavit Justiciariis suis ad Assisas Ibid. c. quod supersedeant captioni eorundem ubi Comites Barones alii Summoniti ad Parliamentum Regis sunt Partes quamdiù dictum Parliamentum duraverit A Citation shall not be served on any Member Ibid. Vid. Sir S. d'Ewes Jour 435. Col. 1. nor Subpoena Divers Persons committed to Prison for serving a Citation on John de Thorsby Ibid. Clerk of the Parliament 22 Febr. 6 Ed. 6. Scobel 110 Vid. Sir S. d'Ewes Journ 249. Col. 2. Order'd If any Burgess require Priviledge for himself or his Servant upon Declaration thereof to the Speaker he shall have a Warrant sign'd by the Speaker to obtain the Writ 22 Martij 18 Jac. 1. Scobel 110 It was resolved That no Protection under any Mans hand of this House is good 29 Jan. 1557. Id. 89. 4 5 Ph. Mar. Thomas Ennys Burgess for the Borough of Thusk complained that a Subpoena was deliver'd him to appear in Chancery and required the Priviledge of the House whereupon Sir Clement Higham and Mr. Recorder of London were sent to the Lord Chancellor to revoke the Process 27 Eliz. Id. 90. Vid. Towns Coll. 213. Sir Simon d'Ewes Jour 438. Col. 1 2. One Kyrl having caus'd a Subpoena out of the Star-Chamber to be served on a Member of the House of Commons and for want of Appearance taken out an Attachment and inforced the Payment of Money to discharge the same the said Kyrl was committed till he had paid Costs to the Party served and made a Submission to the House on his Knees at the Bar. 15 Maij 1604. Scobel 90. The Serjeant was sent to Attach the Body of one who served a Subpoena on the Person of Sir Robert Needham a Member 7 Maij 1607. Ibid. The Serjeant was sent for Edward Throgmorton for serving a Subpoena on Sir Oliver Cromwel 14 Maij 19 Jac. 1. Id. 91. Upon Complaint of the Service of a Subpoena on a Member of this House Sir Edward Coke vouched a Precedent 10 Ed. 3. That a Subpoena being served on the Clerk of this House the Party was committed for breaking the Priviledge of this House 4 Maij 1607. Ibid. A Subpoena out of the Exchequer being served on Sir R. Pawlet a Member the House granted Priviledge and order'd the Serjeant by his Mace to attach the Parties delinquent and to bring them to the Bar to receive the judgment of the House And the next day Mr. Speaker writ a Letter to the Lord Chief Baron That no further Process