118 HISTORY OF KING HENRY VII. 



whereof, exception was taken to divers persons in the 

 house of commons, for that they were attainted, and 

 thereby not legal nor habilitate to serve in parlia 

 ment, being disabled in the highest degree , and that 

 it should be a great incongruity to have them to 

 make laws who themselves were not inlawed. The 

 truth was, that divers of those which had in the time 

 of King Richard been strongest, and most declared 

 for the king s party, were returned knights and bur 

 gesses for the parliament, whether by care or recom 

 mendation from the state, or the voluntary inclina 

 tion of the people ; many of which had been by 

 Richard the Third attainted by outlawries or other 

 wise. The king was somewhat troubled with this ; 

 for though it had a grave and specious shew, yet it 

 reflected upon his party. But wisely not shewing 

 himself at all moved therewith, he would not under 

 stand it but as a case in law, and wished the judges 

 -to be advised thereupon ; who for that purpose were 

 forthwith assembled in the Exchequer chamber, which 

 is the council chamber of the judges, and upon deli 

 beration they gave a grave and safe opinion and ad 

 vice, mixed with law and convenience ; which was, 

 that the knights and burgesses attainted by the 

 course of law should forbear to come into the house 

 till a law were passed for the reversal of their 

 attainders. 



It was at that time incidently moved amongst 

 the judges in their consultation, what should be done 

 for the king himself, who likewise was attainted ? 

 But it was with unanimous consent resolved, &quot; That 



