To the Honourable the Commons of England in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of many well-affected citizens, and other the free-born people of England.

1648

To the Honourable the Commons of ENGLAND in Parliament assembled.
The humble Petition of many well-affected Citizens, and other the free-born People of ENGLAND,

Sheweth,

THat as Your Petitioners conceive it to be farre beneath the Authority and Honour of this House to be the Executors of the Law; so likewise wee apprehend it to be contrary to the cleare fundamentall Lawes of England, for the Lords (in criminall Cases) to exercise any jurisdiction over Commoners.

That we collect from the Common and Statute Law, that no Free-man ought to be taken, and imprisoned, passed upon, censured or condemned, but by the Lawfull judgement of his Equals, and whatsoever judgement shall be otherwise given is to be holden for nought.

That neverthelesse Sir John Maynard, Sir John Gayre, Alderman Bunce, Alderman Langham, Alderman Adams, Com. Copley, Master John Wildman, and many other Commoners have been and are imprisoned, and the Lords have assumed to themselves a jurisdiction over Sir John Maynard, and many other Commoners.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray, That no Commonerbe henceforthimprisoned during pleasure;but onely untill the time of a Legall Tryall. That the Lordsdoe not henceforth exercise any jurisdiction over Commonersin matters criminall; but that Sir John Maynard,and all other Commonersmay enjoy our Ancient Freedome of indifferent Tryalsby our Equals:And that all Caseselsewhere determinable (according to the Declaration of this Honourable House) be left to the ordinary courts of Justice unto which they legally appertain.

And we shall daily pray, &c.

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