Reasons of the House of Commons why Bishops ought not to have votes in Parliament.
1 BEcause it is a very great hinderance to the exercise of their Ministeriall Function.
2 Because they doe vow and undertake at their Ordination, when they enter into holy Orders, that they will give themselves wholly to that Vocation.
3 Because Councels and Canons in severall Ages do forbid them to meddle with Secular affaires.
4 Because the twenty foure Bishops have a dependancie on the two Archbishops, and because of their Canonicall Obedience to them.
5 Because they are but for their lives, and therefore are not fit to have Legislative power over the Honours, Inheritances, Persons, and Liberties of others.
6 Because of Bishops dependancy and expectancy of Translations to places of great profit.
7 That severall Bishops have of late much encroacht upon the Consciences and Liberties of the Subjects, and they and their Successours will be much encourag'd still to encroach, and the Subjects will be much discouraged from complayning against such encouragements, if twenty sixe of that Order bee to bee Judges upon those complaints; the same reason extends to their Legislative power in any Bill to passe for the regulation of their power upon any emergent inconvenience by it.
8 Because the whole number of them is interessed to maintain the Jurisdiction of Bishops, which hath been found so grievous to the three Kingdomes, that Scotland hath utterly abolished it, and Multitudes in England and Ireland have petitioned against it.
9 Because the Bishops being Lords of Parliament, it setteth too great a distance between them and the rest of their Brethren in the Ministery, which occasioneth pride in them, discontent in others, and disquiet in the Church.
To their having Votes a long time.
Answ. IF in convenient time and usage are not to be considered with Lawmakers.
Some Abbots voted as anciently in Parliament as Bishops, yet are taken away.
That for the Bishops Certificate to plenary of Benefice, and Loyalty of Mariage the Bill extends not to them.
For the Secular Jurisdictions of the Dean of Westminster, the Bishops of Durham, and Ely, and Archbishop of Yorke, which they are to execute in their own persons the former Reasons shew the inconveniences therein.
For their temporal Courts and Jurisdictions which are executed by their temporall Offices, the Bill doth not concern them.