The serpent salve, or, A remedie for the biting of an aspe wherein the observators grounds are discussed and plainly discovered to be unsound, seditious, not warranted by the laws of God, of nature, or of nations, and most repugnant to the known laws and customs of this realm : for the reducing of such of His Majesties well-meaning subjects into the right way who have been mis-led by that ignis fatuus.

Observer.

Two things are aimed at in Parliaments, not to be at∣•…•…eined to by ot•…•…er meanes. First, that the interest of the People might be satisfied, Secondly, that Kings might •…•…e better counsailed. In the summons of Edward the first (claus. 7. 111. 3. dors.) we see the first end of Parli∣aments expressed: for he inserts in the writ, that what∣soever affaire is of publick concernment, ought to receive •…•…ublicke approbation, quod omnes tang 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ab omnibus approba•…•…i debet or tract•…•…ri. And in the same writ he sith, this is Lex notissima & provida circumspecti∣one stabilita, there is not a word here but it is obser∣vable, publicke approbation, consent or treaty is necessary in all publicke expedients, and this is not a meere usage in England but a Law, and this Law is not subject to any doubt or disp•…•…e, there is nothing more known, neither is this known Law extorted from Kings, by the viole•…•…ce and injustice of the people, it is duely and formally esta∣blish't, and that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a great deal of •…•…eason, not with∣•…•…t the providence and circumspection of all the States.

Were there no further Antiquity then the Raigne d•…•… Edward the first to recommend this to us, certainly s•…•… there ought to be no reverence with-held from it, fo•…•… this Prince was Wise, Fortunate, just and valiant b•…•…∣yond all his Predecessors, if not Successors also, and there∣fore it is more glory to our Freedomes that as weake and peevish Princes have most opposed them, so that he first repaired the breaches, which the conquest had made upon them. And yet it is very probable, that this La•…•… was farr ancienter then his Raigne, and the words Le•…•… stabilita & notissima seemes to intimate, that the Con∣quest it selfe had never wholly buried this in the publicke ruine and confusion of the State. It should seem at this time Llewellins troubles in Wales were not quite suppressed, and the French King was upon a designe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 invade some pieces of ours in France, and ther•…•…∣fore he sends out his summons, ad tr•…•…ctandum, ordinan∣dum, faciendum, cum prelatis 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & aliis inco∣lis Regni, for the prevention of these dangers. Thes•…•… words tractandum, ordinandum, faciendum, doe fully prove that the people in those dayes were summoned ad consensum as well as consilium, and this Law quod omnes tangit &c. shews the reason and ground upon which that consent and approbation is founded.