Jus parliamentarium: or, the antient power, jurisdiction, rights, liberties, and privileges, of the most high court of Parliament. In two parts. Part I. I. Concerning Annual Parliaments, called for redressing such Things as required Amendment, and finally determining such Cases where the Law failed, and the Judges differed in their Opinions. II. Several Authorities to prove that in any difficult Cases arising in Westminster-Hall the Judges adjourned such Causes propter difficultatem usque ad Parliamentum. III. Several curious Precedents, proving that an Award in Parliament was in so high a Regard in the Law, that it could not be altered or changed by any Interpretation of the Judges. IV. Where any Doubts arose amongst Lawyers, what the Common Law was in Cases of great Importance, that they were by the antient Course and Practice not settled by the Judges only, but by the Law-Making Power of the Kingdom. V. Where former Statutes have seemed dark and dubious, and, by the Subtilty of learned Lawyers, made liable to different Constructions, the Parliament wisely provided explanatory Acts to guide and direct the Judges, and did not leave it in their Power to interpret Laws contrary to the Design of the Makers thereof. VI. Several Statutes of Jeofsailes and Amendments were antiently made as the Parliament saw Cause, to enable and authorise the Judges to amend several Defects in Records and Process of Law, &c. which could not be done before by their Judiciary Power. Vii. The Original of Non Obstantes, and how they came first into the Courts of Justice; and that the Judges did not imagine in former Times, that they could invest such a Prerogative in the Crown as that the King might suspend general Statutes, and dispense with Acts of Parliament. Also the Proceedings against Michael de la Poole, Earl of Suffolk. Viii. A summary Account of the Impeachments of several Judges and Serjeants in misinterpreting the Law, and the Judgments against them as Traitors to their King and Kingdom. IX. An Apology for the House of Commons, made in the first Parliament of King James II. touching Privileges, with Notes thereon. Part II. A Short History or Seties of the Invasions upon the Privileges of Parliaments, as to the Freedom of Speech for the Redress of Grievances. First, Begun in the Reign of Richard II. Secondly, Revived by Queen Elizabeth. Thirdly, Continued and Improved in the Reign of King James I. And, Fourthly, Compleated in that of King Charles I. by the bold Resolutions of the Judges of the King's-Bench, which was one main and principal Cause of those direful Calamities which afterwards fell both upon King and Kingdom. With may other Curious Particulars By William Petyt, Esq; late of the Inner-Temple, and Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London.

Date:

MDCCXLI. [1741]