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.

CHAP. XV. Of Returns of Writs relating to the Summoning of such as are to Sit in the Lords House.

IN all Judicial Courts from whence Writs do issue, there is care taken for their due Returns, as may be seen in Fitz Herbert, and such Authors who have treated of the nature of Writs and their Returns; but none of them giving a full account of Parliament Writs and Returns, gives me occasion to insert this Chapter.

As to the Return of the Writs to the Lords Spiritual, and Temporal and Assi∣stants, they ought (by every individual Person who had a Writ) to be deliver'd to the Clerk of the Parliament before the House Sit, or immediately upon their Entrance into the House, at the Table, and by the said Clerk they are to be kept with the Records of that House.

By the omission of this method many inconveniencies have and may happen to their Successors or Posterity, and there∣fore it is wisht there were more care ta∣ken in their due Returns; to which they may be incourag'd, being of so little

trouble in the performance. But as to the return of Writs concerning the House of Commons, the method consists of much trouble and perplexity, not only from the time of the executing the Writs, but in undue returns, as will be shewn in their proper place.

This Chapter concluding all the Patents and Writs of Summons, and Returns which concern the Lords House, (by vertue of which the Persons so Summon'd by Writ do sit there) now I must speak of such as sit there without Patent or Writ of Summons; and first of the Masters of Chancery.