this realm, without the good will and
assent of the archbishops, bishops, earls, barons, knights, burgesses,
and other the freemen of the commonalty of this realm; and, by authority
of parliament holden in the five and twentieth year of the reign of King
Edward III., it is declared and enacted, That, from thenceforth, no
person shall be compelled to make any loans to the king against his
will, because such loans were against reason, and the franchise of the
land; and, by other laws of this realm, it is provided, That none should
be charged by any charge or imposition called a benevolence, or by such
like charge; by which the statutes before mentioned, and other the good
laws and statutes of this realm, your subjects have inherited this
freedom, that they should not be compelled to contribute to any tax,
tallage, aid, or other like charge, not set by common consent in
parliament.

II. Yet, nevertheless, of late divers commissions, directed to sundry
commissioners in several counties, with instructions, have issued; by
means whereof your people have been in divers places assembled, and
required to lend certain sums of money unto your majesty; and many of
them, upon their refusal to do so, have had an oath administered unto
them not warrantable by the laws or 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 this realm.

III. And whereas 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 or liberties, or
his free customs, or be outlawed or exiled, or in any manner destroyed,
but by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.

IV. 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
man, of what estate or condition that he be, should be put out of his
land or tenements, nor taken, nor imprisoned, nor disp