Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/21

Rh them to ſojourn, againſt the laws and cuſtoms of this realm, and to the great grievance and vexation of the people.

“ whereas alſo by authority of parliament in the twenty fifth year of the reign of King III. it is declared and enacted, that no man ſhould be fore-judged of life or limb, againſt the form of the Great Charter, and the laws of the land, and by the ſaid Great Charter, and other the laws and ſtatutes of this your realm, no man ought to be adjudged to death, but by the laws eſtabliſhed in this your realm, either by the cuſtoms of the ſame realm or by acts of parliament: and whereas no offender of what kind ſoever is exempted from the proceedings to be uſed, and puniſhments to be inflicted by the laws and ſtatutes of this your realm; nevertheleſs of late time, divers commiſſions under your majeſty’s great ſeal have iſſued forth, by which certain perſons have been aſſigned and appointed commiſſioners, with power and authority to proceed within the land, according to the juſtice of martial law againſt ſuch ſoldiers, and mariners, or other diſſolute perſons joining with them, as ſhould commit any murder, robbery, felony, mutiny, or other outrage or miſdemeanor, whatſoever; and by