Political Disquisitions, Or, an Inquiry Into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1774 Excerpt: ...in the course of my reading, of parliamentary prosecutions, very much unworthy the dignity of parliament, which will Ihew, that it is not easy for men going out of their proper sphere to act suitably, nor to excludej/i. fun and prejudice from their decisions in their owt cause.; In fact, the liberty and property of freerborn Englijhmen are things of too facred a nature to lie open to invasion, from the sudden resolutions of any set of men whatever. And yet greater depredations have not been committed, than those which the liberty and property of Englijhmen have suffered, at the hands pf kings and ministers, who have been artful enough to prevail with parliaments (naturally friendly to liberty) to become the instruments of their tyranny. Some members of parliament, in the time of Philip and Mary, A. D. 1555, made a secession. Some were indicted and fined; others traversed; but the point was not decided, when the queen died. Mr. Taylor, barrister at law, a member, was brought on his knees in the house, A. D. 1631, for faying, that the parliament had committed murder with the sword of justice, in the case of Strafford. He was expelled the house, and voted incapable of ever sitting more. He was committed to the Tower during pleasure of the house; and afterwards carried to Windsor to make his recantation In the time of Jam. I. the year not mentioned, a member, for seeming to reflect on another member, as puritanical and factious, was called to the bar, and en his knees discharged the service of the house, with an intimation, that his sentence was very merciful, because they might have imprisoned him besides b. The commons, afraid of Lilburne's party and the levellers, made them close prisoners in the Tower but this severe order was countermanded afterwards-c. Hi...