Page 179. (Book p. 179)
Fol. Ibid. By a new Commission from the King.] No such matter verily; the new Commission which he speaks of, gave them no such power; The writ by which they were first called and made to be a Convocation, gave them power to sit, and by that writ they were to sit as a Convocation, til by another writ proceeding from the same Authority they were dissolved.
Answer. I shall here deliver the true state of this businesse, and then submit to the judgement of standers by. Feb. the 20th. 1639. the Convocation writs went forth to the several Archbishops of Canterbury and York for the Election of Clerks to the Convocation; in which writs though there were these words ad tractandum, consentiendum, & concludendum, &c. Yet could not the Convocation Treat, consent, or conclude any thing without a special Commission enabling them thereto. This Commission therefore was issued out April the 15. two dayes after the Parliament sate and impowred the Houses of Con∣vocation [to alter, amend and change the old Canons, and to make new during the Parliament.] So that the Parliament being dissolved May the 5. by consequence this Commission expired by the Observators own concession; but though the Commission was nulled, it was a question still whither the Convocation was so also: In the ensuing Parliament it was agreed that it was; and if it was not, yet was it beheld to have so little life in it, as the King thought fit to re-animate it with a new Commission, bearing date May 12, Authorizing it to make Canons, &c. And to continue during his Majesties pleasure. Notwithstanding this Commission, the Observator tells us [That the King for satisfation of some scrupulous members of the lower house, propounded the Question to some eminent Lawyers, who resolved under their hands [That the Convocation being called by the Kings writ, was to continue until it were dissolved by the Kings writ, not∣withstanding the dissolution of the Parliament.] All which