_Wory of the Puritans, examin'd. 3 25 cal Riddle perplexed many ; who, notwithftanding the defperate Confequence they faw muff refult from fuch Logick, taking the firft Propofition for true, which being rightly underftood, is fo, have not been able to wind themfelves out of the Labyrinthof the Conclufion: I f<iy,thePropofition rightly underftood ; they are the only Judges of their own Privileges, that is, upon the breach of thofe Privileges, which the Law bath declared to he their own, and what Punifhment is to be in- , fliaed upon fuch Breach. But there can be no ' Privilege of which the Law doth not take notice, which is not pleadable by, andat Law. The Truth and Clearnefs of this will beft ap- pear by Inftance : IfI am arrefted by Procefs out of any Court, I am to plead in the Court, that I am a Member of Parliament, and that by Privilege of Parliament my Perron ought to be free from Arrefts. Upon this Plea, the Judge is bound to difcharge me ; and if he does not, he is a Crimi- na], as for any other Trefpafs againft the Law. But the punifhing this Perfon,who bath made this ' Infringement, is not within his power, but pro- per to that Jurifdittion, againft which the Con- ' tempt is ; therefore that Houle, of which I am a Member, upon Complaint made of fuch an Air- , refl, ufually fends for the Perfons culpable, the Party at whole Suit the Arre/l is made, and the Officers which executed it, and commits them to Prifon, till they make acknowledgment of their Offence. But that Houfe never fends, at leaft never did till this Parliament, any Order to the Court, out of which the Procefs iffued, to flay the Proceedings at Law, becaufe the Privilege ought to be legally pleaded. So that after the diffo- lution of Parliament, if I am arrefted within the Days ofPrivilege, upon any Plea of Privilege, the Court difcharges me; but then the Party Y 3 ' that
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