334 TRACTS RELATING TO 



more where they had the king s express command 

 ment, without fear of any man s face, to proceed or 

 declare against any the greatest peer or subject of 

 the kingdom ; and not only any subject in parti 

 cular, but any body of subjects or persons, were 

 they judges, or were they of an upper or lower 

 house of parliament, in case they exceed the limits 

 of their authority, or took any thing from his 

 majesty s royal power or prerogative ; and so con 

 cluded, that this challenge, and that in his majesty s 

 presence, was a wrong to their places, for which 

 he and his fellows did appeal to his majesty for 

 reparation. And thereupon his majesty did affirm, 

 that it was their duty so to do, and that he would 

 maintain them therein, and took occasion afterward 

 again to speak of it; for when the lord chief justice 

 said, he would not dispute with his majesty, the 

 king replied, That the judges would not dispute 

 with him, nor his learned counsel might not dispute 

 with them : so whether they did well or ill, it must 

 not be disputed. 



After this the lord chancellor declared his mind 

 plainly and clearly, that the stay that had been by 

 his majesty required, was not against the law, nor a 

 breach of the judges oath, and required that the 

 judges oath itself might be read out of the statute, 

 which was done by the king s solicitor, and all the 

 words thereof weighed and considered. 



Thereupon his majesty and the lords thought 

 good to ask the judges severally their opinions ; the 



