Angliæ notitia, or The present state of England together with divers reflections upon the antient state thereof.

Liberties and Properties.

As the Clergy and Nobili∣ty have certain Priviledges pe∣culiar to themselves, so they have Liberties and Properties common to the Commonalty of England.

The Commons of England for hereditary fundamental Li∣berties and Properties are blest above and beyond the Sub∣jects of any Monarch in the World.

First, No Freemen of Eng∣land ought to be imprisoned or otherwise restrained, without cause shewn for which by Law he ought to be so imprisoned.

Secondly, To him that is imprisoned, may not be denied a Writ of Habeas Corpus, if it be desired.

Thirdly, If no cause of Im∣prisonment be alledged, and the same be returned upon an Habeas Corpus, then the Pri∣soner ought to be set at Li∣berty.

Fourthly, No Soldiers can be quartered in the House of any Freeman in time of Peace, without his will; though they pay for their quarters.

Fifthly, Every Freeman hath such a full and absolute propriety in Goods, that no Taxes, Loans, or Benevolen∣ces can be imposed upon them, without their own consent by their Representative in Parlia∣ment. Moreover, They have such an absolute Power, that they can dispose of all they have how they please, even from their own Children, and

to them in what inequality they will; without shewing any cause: which other Nations governed by the Civil Law, can∣not do.

Sixthly, No Englishman may be prest or compelled, (unless bound by his Tenure) to march forth of his Coun∣ty, to serve as a Souldier in the wars, except in case of a Forreign. Enemy invading, or a Rebellion at home. Nor may he be sent out of the Realm against his will upon any for∣reign Employment, by way of an honourable Banishment.

Seventhly, No Freeman can be tried but by his Peers, nor condemned but by the Laws of the Land, or by an Act of Parliament.

Eighthly, No Freeman may be fined for any Crime, but according to the merit of the Offence, alwayes, salvo sib•• contenemente suo, in such man∣ner that he may continue and go on in his Calling.

Briefly, If it be considered only that they are subject to no Laws but what they make themselves, nor no Taxes but what they impose themselves, and pray the King and Lords to consent unto, their Liberties and Properties must be ac∣knowledged to be transcendent, and their worldly condition most happy and blessed; and so far above that of the sub∣jects of any of our Neighbour Nations, that as all the Wo∣men of Europe would run into England (the Paradise of Wo∣men)

if there were a Bridge made over the Sea: so all the Men too, if there were but an Act for a general Naturalizati-of all Aliens.