Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/288

242 “ the good eſtate of the realm, King cauſed the counties to aſſemble, and ordained it for a perpetual uſage, that at two times yearly, or oftener if need were, in time of peace, they ſhould aſſemble at London, to ſit in parliament, for the guidance of God’s people, how the nation ſhould keep themſelves from ſin, live in quiet, and receive right by certain uſages and holy judgments. By this eſtate were made many ordinances by ſeveral Kings, down to the King that is now, (which, ſays the margin, was the firſt) which ordinances are diſuſed by ſome that are not ſo wiſe, and for want that they are not put into writing and publiſhed in certain.”

this paſſage the two times a year ſeem to be ſtationary; the calling a parliament oftener than two times a year, if need were, is plainly intended for contingencies of ſtate, and when the ardua regni, or extraordinary affairs of the nation required an extraordinary parliament. I ſay, and will make it out to all the world, by laws and declarations of parliament, that the King has a power of