That the said Earl of Strafford the 21th day of March, in the Eighth Year of His Majesties Reign, was President of the King's Council in the Northern parts of England.
That the said Earl being President of the said Council on the 21th of March, a Commission under the Great Seal of England, with certain Schedules of Instructions thereunto annexed, was directed to the said Earl, or others the Commissioners therein named, whereby, among other things, Power and Authority is limitted to the said Earl, and others the Commissioners therein named, to hear and determine all Offences, and Misdemeanors, Suits, Debates, Controversies and De∣mands, Causes, Things and Matters, whatsoever therein contained, and within certain Precincts in the said Northern Parts therein spe∣cified, and in such manner as by the said Schedule is limitted and appointed.
That, amongst other things, in the said Instructions, it is directed, That the said President, and others therein appointed, shall hear and determine according to the course of Procéedings in the Court of Star-Chamber, divers Offences, Deceits and Falsities therein mentioned, whether the same be provided for by Acts of Parliament or not, so that the Fines imposed be not less than by the Act or Acts of Parliament pro∣vided against those Offences is appointed.
That also amongst other things in the said Instructions, it is directed, That the said President, and others therein appointed, have Power to examine, hear, and determine, according to the course of Proceedings in the Court of Chancery, all manner of Complaints, for any matter, within the said Precincts, as well concerning Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, either Free-hold, Customary, or Copy-hold, as Leases, and other things therein mentioned, and to stay Proceedings in the Court of Common Law by Injunction, or otherwise, by all ways and means, as is used in the Court of Chancery.
And although the former Presidents of the said Council had never put in practise such Instructions, nor had they any such Instructions, yet the said Earl in the month of May in the said Eighth Year, and divers years following, did put in practice, exercise and use, and caused to be used and put in practice the said Commission and Instructions, and did direct and exercise an exorbitant and unlawful Power and Iurisdiction over the Persons and Estates of His Majesties Subjects, in those parts,