Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/295

Rh act was gently drawn up, and had more of a proſpect than a retroſpect, and does not look back into thoſe oppreſſions which King  himſelf in his large declaration of Auguſt 12th does acknowledge were inſupportable; which were wholly owing to their long intermiſſion of parliaments: but it wiſely provides, that in caſe the two firſt years parliaments ſhould fail, then came a preremptory parliament, which the King and keeper might call if they pleaſed, but if they did not the counties and boroughs of England were forced to ſend.

er this comes the act 16 II. cap. i. and repeals this triennial act, becauſe they ſay, “It is in derogation of his majeſty’s juſt rights and prerogative, inherent to the imperial crown of this realm, for the calling and aſſembling of parliaments;” whereupon the triennial act is annulled as if it had never been made.

had never been made; but we will ſtop there firſt. It is annulled as if it had never been made. There is nothing loſt by that; for then our parliaments are where they were, which was due annual.