The Petition.
ITem, Because that many of your Commons are hurt and destroyed by false Accusers, who make their Accusations, more for revenge and particular gain, than for the profit of the King or his People; and those that are accused by them, some have been taken, and others are made to come before the King's Council, by Writ or other Commandment of the King, upon grievous pains, contrary to the Law, That it would please the Lord our King, and his good Council, for the just government, to ordain, That if hereafter any Ac∣cuser purpose any matter for the profit of the King, that the same matter be sent to the Justices of the one Bench or the other, or the Assizes, to be enquired and determined according to the Law. And if it concern the Accuser or Party, that he take his Suit at the Com∣mon Law, and that no man be put to Answer without Presentment before Justices, or matter of Record, and by due Writ, according to the ancient Law of the Land. And if any thing henceforward be done to the contrary, that it be void in Law, and held for Error.
Here by due Process and Original Writ, ac∣cording to the ancient Law of the Land, is meant the same thing as per Legemterrae in Magna Charta. And the like abuse was, that they were put to an∣swer to the Commandment of the King.