The constitution of parliaments in England deduced from the time of King Edward the Second, illustrated by King Charles the Second in his Parliament summon'd the 18 of February 1660/1, and dissolved the 24 of January 1678/9 : with an appendix of its sessions / observed by Sr. John Pettus ... Knight.

SECT. VI. Observations on these Consimilars.

1. FIrst in most of the Clause-Rolls and Pawns from the 15. of Edw. the 2. to this time, after the Exemplar Writs are set down, these words following are in the Clause-Rolls and Pawns, viz. Consi∣milia Brevia diriguntur Subscriptis, and in some, Consimiles Literae (instead of Bre∣via) directae Subscriptis, and in some, Consimiles Literae directae Conscriptis, thereby seeming to retain the ancient words of Patres Conscripti, which the Ro∣mans did usually apply to their Elected Senators. But here it is only Consimile Breve, in the singular, Dirigitur praecha∣rissimo, &c. Ruperto, there being no other of the Bloud in England.

2. Princes of the Bloud have been Con∣similars, when Princes of the Bloud have been Exemplars, as in the 25 Edw. 3d. Edward Prince of Wales was Consimilar to Henry Earl of Lancaster his Uncle, of the Bloud; but not where any were Exemplars who were not of the Bloud: and so many more might be cited, which may be seen in Cottons Collections of the Tower Records.

3. In this Consimilar Writ, Prince Ru∣perts Foraign Titles are omitted, because none of the Peers do sit in the Lords House but in respect of their English Titles; yet in the Proxy-writs which they allow to others, their Foraign Titles are recited without scruple, as will be shewn in the 10th. Section of the 12th. Chapter.

4. I cannot but take notice here, that till the Union with Scotland, there was a Chair plac'd in the Lords House on the right hand of the Kings Chair, for the King of Scots, and call'd the King of Scots Chair. Yet I cannot find by any Records of the House of Lords or elsewhere, that the King of Scots did ever sit there, or was Summon'd, or had any proxy to sit there for him, by vertue of any Exem∣plar or Consimilar Writ.

And now I shall proceed to the Exem∣lar for Bishops.