Page:An Essay Concerning Parliaments.djvu/25

 After this comes the Act 16 Car. 2. cap. 1. and repeals this Triennial Ad, becauſe ſay they, “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.

I wiſh it 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.

Well now let us fee what Alteration is made by this New Act, 16 Car. 2. which follows in theſe words, Sect. 3. “And becauſe by the Ancient Laws and Statutes of this Realm, made in the Reign of K. Edward the 3d, Parliaments are to be held very often,” (that is once or twice a Year) Therefore they ſhall not be Diſcontinued above Three Years at the moſt. I do not uſe to Admire Conſequences which I do not underſtand. But under favour, I would be taken right. I ſay, that the Recital of the Ancient Laws of this Realm does not Repeal them, Diſannul them, anneantir, any thing, nothing; when there is not one Repealing Word concerning them in that Statute. Rh