certain ſums of money unto your majeſty, and many of them, upon their refuſal ſo to do, have had an oath adminiſtered unto them, not warrantable by the laws and ſtatutes of this realm, and have been conſtrained to become bound to make appearance, and give attendance before your privy-council and in other places, and others of them have been therefore impriſoned, confined, and ſundry other ways moleſted and diſquieted: and divers other charges have been laid and levied upon your people in ſeveral counties, by lord lieutenants, deputy lieutenants, commiſſioners for muſters, Juſtices of peace, and others, by command or direction from your majeſty, or your privy-council, againſt the laws and free cuſtoms of the realm. And where, alſo, by the ſtatute called, The Great Charter of the liberties of England; it is declared and enacted, That no freeman may be taken or impriſoned, or be diſſeized of his freehold of liberties, or his free cuſtoms, or be outlawed or exiled, or in any manner deſtroyed, but by lawful judgement of his Peers, or by the law of the land.
“And in the eight and twentieth year of the reign of King Edward III. it was declared and enacted by authority of parliament, That no
