〈…〉 manner of propounding, diſcuſsing, and enacting of Lawes in both Houſes.

〈…〉 •… ation-Houſe of the Clergie.

〈…〉 Coppe •• and explained with an hiſtoricall Diſcourſe thereupon.

〈…〉 •… light to underſtand theſe ſtate and gravitie uſed in the Parliamentary proceedings.

〈…〉 ſpoken in a Bil, & is confuted ſtraight, 〈…〉 aine; no not though hee change his 〈…〉 •… an ſpeaks but once in one day to the 〈…〉 •… oyd altercation betweene parties, and 〈…〉 •… s to ſpeake, without which order two or 〈…〉 whole time. If any man reply with bitter 〈…〉 •… tings againſt another, or ſpeake unreverently 〈…〉 Privy Counſell, the whole Houſe will cry, It is 〈…〉 or a Barre a Barre, ſometimes ſending him to 〈…〉 Thus are the arguments made pithy, ſtrong and 〈…〉 not violent.

〈…〉 Bill hath been ſufficiently diſcuſſed, amended and 〈…〉 (as before in the Vpper-houſe) then the Speaker askes 〈…〉 go to the Queſtion? If they agree, he holdeth up the Bill in 〈…〉 and ſaith, As many as will have this Bill go forward (naming 〈…〉 yea; And as many as will not, ſay, No. They that allow it 〈…〉 and as many as will not, cry No: and as the Cry of No or 〈…〉 •… eater, ſo is the Bill paſſed or daſhed. If the Cryes be 〈…〉 , then they divide the Houſe, the Speaker ſaying, As 〈…〉 doe allow the Bill, goe downe with the Bill, and as many as doe not, ſit ſtill: Thus dividing the • • s they are numbred, and the moſt voyces carries it. If ſome • art of the Bill be allowed, and ſome part diſliked, then c • uſe they certaine Committees, of thoſe who have ſpoken both for and againſt it, to alter or amend it amongſt themſelves: yet the reſolution of the Committees takes not away the liberty from the reſt of the houſe, who at the laſt Queſtion have f •… •… wer againe, either to paſſe or daſh it by pluralitie of voyces.

Here is to be underſtood that the Speaker ha •• no voyce in the Houſe; neither will they ſuffer him • o diſſwade or perſwade, with or againſt any thing. Neither hath any member of the Commons-houſe the libertie of Proxie as in the Vpper-houſe; but each man anſwers for himſelfe, and for no 〈…〉 : Each houſe hath equall power of propounding lawes 〈…〉 •… g themſelves: and what the Commons-houſe hath paſſ •… 〈…〉 to the Vpperhouſe; and there the Lords canvaſſe the Bi •… 〈…〉 ſeverall times, as the Commons had done theirs: the ſame •••• er being uſed, by ſending from one houſe to another, and by giving Meetings and Conferences to one another, as was before mentioned. If the Lords agree, then they ſend the 〈…〉 to the Speaker preſentative of the Clergie. All thoſe of the Province of Canterburie, meete every Wedneſday and Friday after dinner in Weſtminſter Abbey; and thoſe of the Province of Yorke, meete in that Cathedrall on the ſame dayes. Their meeting is to pray for the good ſucceſſe of the Parliament; to be neere at hand to give their Iudgement concerning ſuch Controverſies in Religion as ariſe in the Houſes. And when ſpeciall Command is directed to them by the King, to conſult about the making of new Canons and Orders of the Church. They give Subſidies and Aydes to the King for the whole Clergy: in which commonly they are more exemplary then the Laitie.

Their Prolocutor is commonly ſome Deane of more eminent note, learning, and language. But though the times have beene, that the Parliament thought nothing ſure enough ratified by them, until it were ſolemnly bleſſed by the Church-men: yet now plainly the Convocation-houſe hath not much to doe in Parliament.