neist's "English Constitution,"
II, 9.
[2] This article is regarded by some authorities as the prototype of
the statute of Habeas Corpus; others consider that it is implied in
Articles 39-40.

Confirmation of the Charters by Edward I, 1297.

In 1297 Edward I confirmed Magna Carta and the Forest Charter granted
by Henry III in 1217 by letters patent. The document consists of
sevent articles, of which the following, namely, the sixth and
seventh, are the most important.

6. Moreover we have granted for us and our heirs, as well to
archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, and other folk of holy Church,
as also to eaarls, barons, and to all the commonalty of the land, that
*for no business from henceforth will we take such manner of aids,
tasks, nor prises but by the common consent of the realm,* and for the
common profit thereof, saving the ancient aids and prises due and
accustomed.

7. And for so much as the more part of the commonalty of the realm
find themselves sore grieved with the maletote [i.e. an unjust tax or
duty] of wools, that is to wit, a toll of forty shillings for every
sack of wool, and have made petition to us to release the same; we, at
their requests, have clearly released it, and have granted for us and
our heirs that we shall not take such thing nor any other without
their common assent and good will; saving to us and our heirs the
custom of wools, skins, and leather, granted before by the commonalty
aforesaid. In witness of which things we have caused these our
letters to be made patents. Witness Edward our son, at London, the
10th day of October, the five-and-twentieth of our reign.

And be it remembered that this same Charter, in the same terms, word
for word, was sealed in Flanders under the King's Great Seal, that is
to say, at Ghent, the 5th day of November, in the 25th year of the
reign of our aforesaid Lord the King, and sent into England.

THE PETITION OF RIGHT

June 7, 1628

The Petition exhibited to His Majesty by the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, concerning
divers Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, with the King's Majesty's
Royal Answer thereunto in full. Parliament.

TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY: Humbly show unto our Sovereign
Lord the King, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in
Parliament assembled, that whereas it is declared and enacted by a
statute m