To the King and Queenes Maiesties highnesse the Lordes spiritual and temporall, and the com∣mons of this present Parliament assembled.
IN most humble wise complayneth vnto this honorable Courte of Parliament Iohn Philpot Clarke,* 1.1 that where there was by the Queenes highnesse a parliament called in the first yeare of her gracious raygne, and after the olde custome a Couocation of the Clergy, your suppliant then being one of the sayd Conuo∣cation house, and matters there rising vppon the vsing of the Sa∣cramentes, did dispute in the same, knowing that there all men had and hath had free speach, and ought not to be after troubled for any thinge there spoken, and yet, that notwithstanding, not long after the sayd Parliament, your sayd suppliant (without any acte or matter) was commaunded to prison to the kings Benche by the late Lord Chauncellour, where he hath remayned euer si∣thens, vntil now of late that my Lord the B. of London, hath sent for your sayd suppliant to examine him, (being none of his Dio∣ces) vpon certayn matters, wherein they would haue your Ora∣tour to declare his conscience▪ whiche the sayd bishop sayth hee hath authoritie to do, by reason of an Acte of Parliament made in the first and second yeares of the king and queeenes Maiesties raignes, for the reuiuing of three Satutes made agaynst thē that hold any opinion agaynst the Catholicke fayth: whereby he affir∣meth that euery Ordinary may Ex Officio examine euery mans conscience:* 1.2 and for that your sayde Oratour hath and doth re∣fuse, that the sayd Bish. of London hath any authoritie ouer your sayd Oratour, for that he is neyther Diocesane, nor hath publy∣shed, preached▪ nor held any opinion against the Catholicke faith (notwithstanding the said Bishop of London deteineth him in the Colehouse in the stockes, without eyther bed, or any other thing to lye vpon, but straw) and for that your sayde Oratour cannot appeale for his reliefe from the sayd Bishop, to anye other Iudge, but the same bishop may refuse the same by theyr law, and there∣fore hath no succour and helpe, but by this high Courte of Parlia∣ment, for the explanatiō of the sayd Acte: therefore it may please you, that it may be enacted by the kinge and Queenes Maiesties the Lordes spirituall and temporall, and the Commons of this present Parliament assembled, and by the authoritie of the same, that no Byshop nor Ordinary shall committe nor detayne in pri∣son, any suspect person or persones for the Catholicke fayth, ex∣cept he or they haue spoken, written, or done some manifest Act against the Catholicke fayth, and the same to be lawfully proued agaynst euery such person and persons, by the testimony of two lawfull witnesses, to be brought afore the sayd person or persons so accused before he or they shal eyther be committed to prison or conuict for any such offence or offences: the sayd former sta∣tute, made in the sayd first & second yeare of our said soueraigne Lord and Lady notwithstanding. Whereby your sayde Oratour shal not only bee set at libertie, & diuers other mo remayning in prison: but also the bloude of diuers of the Quueenes Maiesties true and faythfull subiectes preserued.