thirdly, the rights and priviledges in the continuance thereof, being freely called and affembled by his Majefties royall authority, not to be diffolved or broken off till all things agitated therein for the good both of Church and Common-wealth, be fully concluded and determined.

First, M. Speaker, concerning the priviledges of a Parliament belonging to the free votes and judicature thereof, I fhall obferve these particulars: first, to fpeake freely without interruption or contradiction in any debate, difpute, or argument, upon any bufineffe agitated in the fame being a member. thereof, I conceive to be one priviledge of a Parliament.

Secondly, not to be queftioned, for any fuch free difpute, argument, or debate, to be taxed or accufed for the fame, either during the free fitting thereof, or after, is another priviledge of Parliament.

Thirdly, freely to give vote, judgement, or fentence, upon the reading of any Bill, to be made a law, or any bill, either of Attainder, or other charge against Delinquents and Criminous perfons of the State at their triall upon the fame, is a third priviledge of Parliament.

Fourthly, to defend and maintain, the free votes, judgements, and fentences of the whole House, by Proteftation, Remonftrance, or other Declaration, if not confented unto or opposed by the House of Lords, is a fourth priviledge.

Fifthly, for any member of the Houfe not to be accused of any crime, or impeached for treafon by any perfon whatsoever, during the continuance of the Parliament for things done in the fame, without legall accufation and profecution of any fuch member by the whole Houfe, is another priviledge of Parliament.

Sixthly, not to be apprehended upon fuch impeachment, or arrested by any officer, or to have upon fuch accufation their Chambers, Trunks, and Studies broken open, their bookes and writings feiazed upon, without confent or warrant of the whole Parliament, is another priviledge of the fame. And thus much Mr. Speaker fhall fuffice to be fpoken concerning the priviledges and rites of Parliament, pertinent to the fubject, of which I am to fpeake. I come now to the fecond thing I propofed to your audience, which was the rites and priviledges belonging to the power and jurifdiction of the Parliament: In which I shall observe these particulars. First, to confult and confider of what lawes are fit to be made and enacted in this kingdome for the good government thereof, is one priviledge belonging to the power and jurifdiction of this High Court.

Secondly, to nullifie and abrogate, repeale, make voide, to ratifie and confirme, establish, and maintaine lawes, ftatutes, and ordinances, made and enacted by precedent Parliament, by Councels of State, or other Courts of judicature, is a fecond priviledge pertaining to the power and jurifdiction of the Parliament.

Thirdly, to give fubfidies, to raise taxes, to impofe loanes and other charges upon the fubject, is another priviledge belonging to the power and jurifdiction of the Parliament.

Fourthly,

Fourthly, to accufe or impeach any Incendiaries or Delinquents in this kingdome of any crime notorious, tending to the prejudice of his Majefty or any of his loyall Subjects, whether it be for treafon or otherwife, be they members of the Parliament or no, is another priviledge belonging to the power and jurifdiction of the Parliament.

Fifthly, and laftly, to proceed and bring to judgement fuch perfons fo accufed or impeached for any crime whatsoever, is another priviledge belonging to the power and jurifdiction of this Court, and thus much of the rites: and priviledges belonging to the power and jurifdiction of a Parliament.

And now Mr. Speaker, I come to the laft things I mentioned to you, con cerning the priviledges belonging to the continuance and free fitting till alt things be concluded of for the good government both of Church and state, in which I fhall alfo obferve thefe particulars. First, that for a Parliament when freely called and affembled by royall authority, not to be tyed to debate, or argue any one particular bufineffe appointed by any perfon whatsoever, is one priviledge belonging to the free continuance of a Parliament.

Secondly, not to break off or diffolve a free Parliament, untill all the grievances and oppreffions of all his Majefties loyall fubjects bee fully redreffed and remedied, is a fecond priviledge belonging to the continuance of a Parliament.

Thirdly, not to breake off or diffolve a Parliament, till all Incendiaries. and Delinquents in the state be brought to condigne punishment for their crimes.

Fourthly and laftly, not to accufe or impeach any member of the Parliament thereby to hinder and interrupt the legall proceedings thereof in the waighty affaires of the Common-wealth, is another priviledge belonging to the continuance of a Parliament.

And thus Master Speaker, having briefly declared unto you the power and jurifdiction of a Parliament above all other Courts of Iudicature in this land, the wifdome and policy of a Parliament above all other Councells, the rights and priviledges of a Parliament, in refpect of the free votes and judicature thereof, the power and jurifdiction thereof, and the free continuance thereof; I humbly leave to the confideration of this House, whether the accufation of thefe Gentlemen accufed by his Majefty, and the illegall breaking open upon this their accufation of their Chambers, Trunks, and studies, be not a breach. of fome of the Priviledges of Parliament which I have mentioned unto you..

VOL. II.

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MASTER

MASTER MEYNARD his SPEECH at the Committee

at GUILD HALL in LONDON on Thursday, IANUARY 6. Concerning the breaches of Priviledges of Parliament. A N. DOM. 1641.

Mafter Speaker,

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He intermiffion of Parliaments fo long together hath been the onely cause, I confidently beleeve, of all thofe evils and troubles. that have happened upon this and the other His Majesties Kingdomes; the perverse nature of man is fo froward and crooked, that it is alwayes inclined and bent to do nothing but that which is evill; without restriction either by the powerfull preaching of the Word of God, wholesome and pious difcipline in the exercife of Religion, and good Lawes made for the strict obfervance and performance of the fame, under paine of fevere punishment for not obeying thereof, I fay without restraint by fuch meanes, the corrupt nature of the flesh is not to be curbed, but will goe on to the committing of all manner of wickednesse, both against God, his King, and Country; And Mafter Speaker, the onely meanes to preferve and injoyne the fincere and pure teaching of Gods word and pious difcipline by wholfome Lawes enacted and made for that purpose, is by a Parliament, by that, great and wife Councell expert in all the fciences, of good government either of a Church or common-Wealth.

A Parliament Mafter Speaker, is the cleareft looking-Glaffe for a ftate perfectly to fee it felfe in, that ever was made; there is no difeafe, infirmity, mifery that it groanes under the burthen, if but in this Glaffe it may be perfpicuoufly perceaved, and the originall and prime caufes that have produced the fame: this glaffe is not onely cleere and bright to looke in; but it is medicinall of that foveraigne power and effiicacy; that it can cure and remedy all the grievances of the fpectatours therein, of what perfonage, degree or dignity foever they be, of what condition or quality foever the disease be they are infected withall; of what profeffion or function fo ever, whether spirituall or temporall they are of, if they do but looke herein.

Be they infected with pride, hautineffe of heart, (if in places of authority) exercifing tyranny over the Kings good people and loyall fubjects, let them be but brought to looke in this glaffe, they may have remedy.

Be they infected with too much eafe, idleneffe and plenty, (if of the Clergie) whereby is produced covetoufneffe, luxury, wantonneffe, avarice and all manner of lascivioufneffe, neglecting their duties in their feverall places in the Church, as ordinary teachers and difpenfers of the word of God, or being in authority and places of Government in the Church; becoming hoarfe and dumbe in their preaching and difpenfation of the truth of God according to the fpirituall and pure meaning thereof; or elfe corrupt in their doctrine, teaching falfe doctrine, not the word of God, but their owne inventions or

the

the inventions or traditions of other, turning the truth into a lye, joyning and adding to the fame their owne devices, as they are teachers and inftructors of the people and Children of God; or as they are in authority, becomming proud, highminded, not contented with their fpirituall offices, but ufurping to themselves temporall jurifdiction, exercifing cruelty, and those that are faithfull and painfull teachers of the word, holy in their lives and conversations, incouraging vaine and idle perfons, fcandalous both in their teaching and in their lives. Thefe I fay Mafter Speaker infected with all these fores and dangerous ulcers, looking but into this glaffe may receave cure.

Be they infected, with Bribery, Jnjuftice and oppreffions, (Be they judges or other officers in places of judicature in this Kingdome) in their feverall Courts over his Majefties fubjects, by viewing themselves in this glaffe may receave remedy.

Be they infected with fubtle plots, Monopolizing devifes, (Be they Courtiers, officers, customers, or whatsoever elfe) thereby procuring Graunts, Pattents, Monopolies, by them oppreffing and exceffively charging the fubject, raising and increafing the rates and prices of all commodities either imported or exported in this land, if they looke in this profpective, may be cured.

Be they infected with Treachery confpiracy or with any other divellish practife or defigne against his Majefty or his Kingdomes, as they are either Papists, Recufants, Priests and Jefuits, or diffolute and difaffected Protestants; or Baals Priefts, that halt betweene divers opinions, in part Protestants, in part Papifts, and in part Arminians, if they will but look into this glaffe, it will cleerly difcover and cure them.

And thus Mafter Speaker, having spoken fomewhat of the nature of a Parliament, and of the foveraignty thereof in discovering and curing all diseases in a Common-Wealth, I come to fpeak a word or two of the Rights and Priviledges appertaining and belonging to a Parliament. I know right well these gentlemen that fpake yesterday, have fet forth clearely and learnedly the priviledges thereof, fufficiently ferving as I conceive, for this days businesse : shall onely speake concerning that priviledge, which one of them have already mentioned not to be queftioned or accufed, for or concerning any Vote, Argument or Difpute, as Members of a Parliament in the fame during the free fitting thereof, either in the continuance of Parliament, or after the fame be diffolved or broken off either Legally or illegally that which I shall onely Speake of, is the breach of this grand Priviledge of Parliament as I conceave, by the accufing of high treason, thofe fix worthy Members of the fame, during the continuance thereof, for matters debated of and done in the fame as Members thereof, and upon this accufation to breake open their chambers, trunkes, and studies, and feyfing on their bookes and writings; Thefe I con.ceave are great Breaches of this Priviledge, for thefe reafons.

If to be queftioned for free debating or Arguing in Parliament be no breach of this Privilege, then can we not fafely intermeddle and agitate any bufines whatsoever either concerning Church or State, but what shall be appointed and nominated by his Majefty, and his Privy Councell, which is a

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restriction

restriction of the power of Parliament, given unto the fame by the royall confirmation of his Majefty, confirming to us at our meeting all our Rights and Priviledges.

2 Secondly, if to accufe the Members of the Parliament of treafon for things done in the Houfe, be not a breach of this Priviledge, then is it dangerous to fit in Parliament upon any bufineffe of diforders in the State, and grievances of the fubject, Committed by great perfonages, as Lords and Bishops which may by their fubtle inventions induce his Majefty to favour their actions, they pretending all they do is for His honour, Maintenance of his Prerogative and royall power, and the like.

3 And lastly, if upon any fuch accufation, the Chambers Trunkes and Studies of fuch accufed Members may be broken open and their writings feyfed on be not a breach of this Priviledge, then will it altogether discourage any man to undertake any service for the good of his Country; when he fhall perceave he may at pleasure be bereaved of fuch meanes and helps as may inable and make him fit for the fame.

And now Master Speaker, having added to the former fpeeches what I conceave neceffary to the bufineffe we have now in debate, My humble motion is, that a declaration may be forthwith drawne and fet forth in print, giving notice to all His Majefties loyall fubjects of the Priviledges of Parliament and breaches thereof, by the accufing of thefe Gentlemen, breaking open their Chambers, &c. and endeavouring to apprehend and commit them to prifon, under a certaine punishment to be inflicted upon those that shall obftinately refuse to obferve the fame.

The Two PETITIONS of the County of Buckingham: As they were prefented to both Houfes, by Knights, Efquires, Captaines, and Gentlemen, with a very great number of Freeholders, being the true Copy as it was prefented to the Houses of Parliament, IANUARY II. 1641.

As Alfo The humble Petition of the Mariners and Sea-men, Inhabitants in and about the ports of LONDON, and the River THAMES.

Together with The Petition of the foure Innes of COURT.

The humble Petition of the Gentlemen of the four Innes of Court, to the House

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of COMMONS.

Hat you will be pleased to reflect upon the Honourable fervice of God, to behold him in his Throne and dignity, that thereby the poore Proteftants of this Kingdome, between the two extremities of zeale, may not suffer a distraction in Religion.

That you will be pleased to serve Gods annointed, his immediate Vicegerent, our true and lawfull Soveraigne Lord the King, in his perfon and

all