AN ABSTRACT OF THOSE ANSWERS Which were given in the ASSEMBLY of the LORDS in the High Court of PARLIAMENT, UNTO THE NINE REASONS, SENT UP FROM THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, Against the VOTING of BISHOPS in PARLIAMENT.  
Printed Anno Dom. 1641.   

That Bishops ought not to vote in PARLIAMENT.  
Reason 1 BEcause it is a very great hindrance to the exercise of their Ministerial Function.  
Answ IT is not so much hindrance as their conveening to general Councils, Synods, Convocations, Assemblies, Classes, and the like, in all the Churches Reform or otherwise.  
2 It is propter majus bonum Ecclesiae.  
3 The Apostles unnecessarily put themselves to more hindrances, to work for their livelihood, Act. 20.24. 1. Thes. 2.9. 2. Thes. 3.8.  
4 What hindrance can it be to their calling, that once in three years, when they must necessarily attend the Convocation, they divide some part of that short time to the attendance of Parliament?  
Reason 2 Because they do vow and undertake it at their Ordination, when they enter into holy Orders, that they will give themselves wholly to that Vocation.  
Answ. This vow and undertaking in Minister's Ordination is quite mistaken: The words are in the Bishop's Exhortation, not in the Ministers Answer.  
2 The Bishop hopes they will give themselves wholly to that, and not to any other Trade or Vocation.  
3 Wholly, in a Moral and not in a Mathematical sense, that will admit no Latitude: Else, there might the same exception be taken against their just care of provision for their household affairs.  
Reason 3 Because Councils and Canons in several Ages do forbid them to meddle in secular affairs.  
Answ. 1 Councils and Canons against Bishop's Votes in Parliament, were never in use in this Kingdom, and therefore they are abolished by the Statute of 25. H. 8.  
2 So are they by the same Statute, because the Lords have declared, that the Bishops vote here by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm: And all Canons that cross with those, are there abolished.  
3 So are they by the same Statute, as thwarting the King's Prerogative to call Bishops by Summons to Vote in Parliament.  
4 So they are by the Vote in the House of Commons, 21. Maii 1641. because they are not confirmed by Act of Parliament.  
5 This Argument was in a sort deserte● by Mr. Perpoint, and confessed to be but an Argumentum ad hominem.  
Reason 4 Because the 24. Bishops have a dependency upon the Archbishops, and because of their Canonical obedience to them.  
Answ. 1 They have no Dependency upon the Arch-Bishops, but in points of Appeal, and Visitation only: And own them no Obedience but in these two points. None at all in Parliament, where they are Pares, their Equals: And as Bracton tells us, Parin Parem non habet imperium. What hath Canonical Obedience to do with a Vote in Parliament, declared in this Bill to be no Ecclesiastical, but a secular affair?  
2 This Argument reacheth not the two Arch-Bishops, discharged in the Rubric from this Oath, and therefore is no reason for the passing of this bill.  
Reason 5 Because they are but for their lives, and therefore are not fit to have Legislative power over the honours, inheritances, persons, and liberties of others.  
Answ. 1 Bishops are not for their lives only, but for their successors also in the Land and Honour that pertain to their places: as the Earls and Barons also are for their successors in their own Lands and Honours: And, holding their Lands in Fee simple, may with as good Reason vote in the Honours, inheritance, persons, and liberties of others, as others may, and do in theirs.  
2 Many Peers have been created for their lives only, and the Earl of Surrey for the life of his Father, who yet voted in this house.  
3 The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, are chosen for one Parliament only, and yet use their Legislative power. Nor will their being elected difference their Cause; for the Lords use that power, in a greater Eminence, who are not elected.  
4 A Burgess, that hath freehold but for term of life only, may vote and assent to a law in Parliament.  
5 No such exception was ever heard of in the Diets of Germany, the Corteses of Spain, or the three Estates of France, where the Prelates vote in all these Points, with the Nobility and the Commons.  
Reason 6 Because of Bishop's dependency and expectance of Translations to places of greater profit.  
Answ. 1 This Argument supposeth all Kings, and all Bishops to be very faulty, if they take the time of their votes in Parliament, from these dependences, and expectances.  
2 This may be said of all the Kings great Officers, of all the noble members of both Houses, who may be conceived, as well as Bishops, to have their expectances, and consequently to be deprived by this Reason of voting in Parliament.  
3 This Argument reacheth not at the two Archbishops, and so falls short of the votes, which are to be taken away by this Bill.  
Reason 7 That several Bishops have of late much encroached upon the Consciences, and properties of the Subject. And they and their successors will be much encouraged still to encroach, and the subject will be much discouraged from complaining against such encroachments, if 26. of that Order be to be Judges upon these complaints. The same Reason extends to their Legislative power, in any Bill to pass for the Regulation of their power, upon any emergent inconveniency by it.  
Answ. 1 This Argument fights not against Bishop's votes in Parliament, but against their votes in Convocation, where (if any where) they have encroached upon the Consciences and properties of the Subject: Nor yet at the votes of such Bishops there, as are not guilty of this offence. Nor need the Subject to be discouraged in complaining against the like Grievances, though 26. of that Order continue Judges: For they shall not vote as Judges in their own cause, when they are legally charged: And if they should vote, what were that to the purpose, when the Lay-Peeres are still four to one? The Bishops (assisted with a double number of Mitred Abbots, and Priors) could not hinder the Laws made against the Court of Rome, the Alien Cardinals, and Prelates, the Provisors, the Suitors to the Pope's Consistory under Ed. 3. Rich. 2. and Hen. 4. much more may those emergent exorbitances of the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction be soon kerbed and redressed in this inequality of votes between the Temporal and Spiritual Lords. So as this Argument doth not so much hurt the votes, as it quails the courage of the Bishops, who may justly fear, by this and the next Argument, that the taking away of their votes is but a kind of forerunner to the abolishing of their jurisdiction.  
Reason 8 Because the whole number of them is interessed to maintain the jurisdiction of Bishops; which hath been found so grievous to the three Kingdoms, that Scotland hath utterly abolished it, and multitudes in England and Ireland have petitioned against it.  
Answ. 1 This Argument is not against the Votes of Bishops, but against Episcopacy itself, which must be removed, because Scotland hath done so, and some in England and Ireland would have it so: And yet peradventure ten times as great a some as these desire the contrary.  
2 There will be found Peers enough in the Upper House to reform any thing that is amiss in the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, although the 26. Prelate's should be so wicked as to oppose it: as there were found Peers enough in that noble House, to curb the Court of Rome, and the Revenues of the Cardinals under Ed. 3. To meet with the Provisors under Rich. 2. To put all the Clergy into a Praemunire under Hen. 8. And to reform the Religion, 1. Eliz. notwithstanding the opposition of all the Bishops.  
Reason 9 Because Bishops being Lords of Parliament, it setteth too great a distance between them and therest of their Brethren in the Ministry, which occasioneth pride in them, discontent in others, and disquiet in the Church.  
Answ. This is an Argument from Moral Philosophy, which affords no Demonstrations. All are not proud that vote in Parliament, nor discontented, that are not so employed. This Argument fights only against the title of being Lords, which is not the Question at this time. And were those Brethren so wise and well affected as they might be, they would rejoice rather that some of their own profession are advanced to those places, wherein they may be capable, upon all occasions, of doing good offices to them, and to this whole Church.  
FINIS.