Vox Populi: Or, The Peoples Claim to their Parliament's Sitting, to Redress Grievances, and to provide for the Common Safety, by the known Laws and Con∣stitutions of the Nation.
SInce the wonderful Discovery, and undeniable Confirmation of that horrid Popish Plot, which designed so much ruine and mischief to these Nations, in all things both Civil and Sacred; and the unanimous Sense and Censure of so many Parliaments upon it, toge∣ther with so many publick Acts of Justice upon so many of the Traytors; it was comfortably hoped before thirty Months should have past over, after the detection thereof, some effectual Remedies might have been applied to prevent the further Attempts of the Papists upon us, and better to have secured the Protestants in their Religion, Lives and Properties. But by sad experience we have found, that notwithstanding the vigorous Endeavours of three of our Parliaments to provide proper and wholsome Laws to answer both ends: Yet so preva∣lent has this Interest been, under so potent a Head the D. of Y. as to stifle in the birth all those hopeful Parliament-Endeavours; by those many surprizing and astonishing Proroga∣tions and Dissolutions which they have procured, whereby our Fears and Dangers have ma∣nifestly increased, and their Spirits heightned and incouraged to renew and multiply fresh Plottings and Designs upon us.
But that our approaching Parliament may be more successful for our Relief before it be too late, by being permitted to sit to Redress our Grievances, and to perfect those Good Bills which have been prepared by the former Parliaments to this purpose; these following Com∣mon-Law Maxims respecting King and Parliament, and the Common and Statute-Laws themselves (to prevent such unnatural Disappointments and Mischiefs) providing for the fitting of Parliaments till Grievances be redress'd, and publick Safety secured and provided for, are tendered to consideration.
Some known Maxims taken out of the Law-Books.
- That the Kings of England can do nothing as Kings but what of right they ought to do.
- That the King can do no wrong, nor can he dye.
- ...That the King's Prerogative and the Subjects Liberty are determined by Law.
- ...That the King hath no Power but what the Law gives him.
- That the King is so called from Ruling well, Rex à bene Regendo [viz. according to Law] Be∣cause be is a King whilst be Rules well, but a Tyrant when he Oppresses.
- That Kings of England never appear more in their glory, splendor, and Majestick Sovereignty, than in Parliaments.
- That the Prerogative of the King cannot do wrong, nor be a Warrant to do wrong to any. Plowd. Comment. fol. 246.
- ...That Parliaments constitute, and are laid in the Essence of the Government.
- ...That a Parliament is that to the Common-Wealth, which the Soul is to the Body, which is only able 〈…〉〈…〉 and understand the symptoms of all Diseafes which threaten the Body-politick.