Page:A History and Defence of Magna Charta.djvu/294

parliaments for twelve years and created a diſtruſt of him in the breaſts of his people, which was juſt; (for if a prince ſpoil the government for twelve years together, who ſhall truſt him in the thirteenth?) the nation found a neceſſity of having a cautionary parliament every third year, to ſecure their annual parliaments for the two years immediately foregoing. That is the true reaſon of the act for a triennial parliament, which was a perfect innovation both name and thing. For I challenge any antiquary, lawyer, or perſon whatſoever that has turned over books, to ſhew me the word triennial joined to the word parliament, from the foundation of this government till the year 1640. A triennial parliament therefore is ſo far from being the conſtitution of this government, that if it were ſo, the conſtitution is not ſo antient as has been ſuppoſed, but firſt drew its breath under Charles I. But as I ſaid before, that act was only a cautionary act, as a town or gate of a city is taken in caution, for performance of articles. This appears by the firſt thing which is enacted in that law, namely, That the laws for a parliament to be holden at leaſt once a year, ſhall hereafter be duly kept and obſerved. Scobel’s collect. 16 Car. I. cap. i.

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