Page:An Essay Concerning Parliaments.djvu/23

 The King’s Anſwer is. “It ſhall be as it hath been uſed.”

In the 2. R. 2. p. 173. By the King’s Commandment one Cauſe of opening the Parliament is Declared ta be this. “Secondly, for that it was enacted, that a Parliament ſhould Yearly be holden.”

Nay, if the Court inſiſt upon a Yearly Parliament, the Country may and ought.

Thus ſtood the Law of England till the 16 Caroli 1. when that King having diſcontinued Parliaments for Twelve Years, and created a Diſtruſt of him: in the Breaſts of his People which was Juſt; (for if a Prince ſpoil the Government for Twelve Years together, who ſhall Truſt him in the Thirteenth?) The Nation found a Neceſſity of having a Cautionary Parliament every Third Year, to ſecure their Annual Parliaments for the Two Years immediately foregoing. This is the true Reaſon of the Act for a Triennial Parliament, which was a perfect Innovation both Name and Thing. For I challenge any Antiquary, Lawyer, or Perſon whatſoever that has turned over Books, to ſhew me the word Triennial joined to the word Parliament, from the Foundation of this Government till the Year 1640. A Triennial Parliament therefore is ſo far from being the