by the customs of the same realm or by Acts of Parliament: and
whereas no offender of what kind soever is exempted from the
proceedings to be used, and punishments to be inflicted by th elaws
and statutes of this your realm; nevertheless of late divers
commissions under your Majesty's Great Seal have issued forth, by
which certain persons have been assigned and appointed Commissioners
with power and authority to proceed within the land, according to the
justice of martial law against such soldiers and mariners, or other
dissolute persons joining with them, as should commit any murder,
robbery, felony, mutiny, or other outrage or misdemeanour whatsoever,
and by such summary course and order, as is agreeable to martial law,
and is used in armies in time of war, to proceed to the trial and
condemnation of such offenders, and them to cause to be executed and
put to death, according to the law martial:

By pretext whereof, some of your Majesty's subjects have been by some
of the said Commissioners put to death, when and where, if by the laws
and statutes of the land they had deserved death, by the same laws and
statutes also they might, and by no other ought to have been, adjudged
and executed.

And also sundry grievous offenders by colour thereof, claiming an
exemption, have escaped the punishments due to them by the laws and
statutes of this your realm, by reason that divers of your officers
and ministers of justice have unjustly refused, or forborne to proceed
against such offenders according to the same laws and statutes, upon
pretence that the said offenders were punishable only by martial law,
and by authority of such commissions as aforesaid, which commissions,
and all other of like nature, are wholly and directly contrary to the
said laws and statutes of this your realm:

They do therefore humbly pray your Most Excellent Majesty, that no man
hereafter be compelled to make or yield any gift, loan, benevolence,
tax, or such like charge, without common consent by Act of Parliament;
and that none be called to make answer, or take such oath, or to give
attendance, or be confined, or otherwise molested or disquieted
concerning the same, or for refusal thereof; and that no freeman, in
any such manner as is before-mentioned, be imprisoned or detained; and
that your Majesty will be pleased to remove the said soldiers and
mariners, and that your people may not be so burdened in time to come;
and that the foresaid commission