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that Gap he promiſes to call Another Parliament at Michaelmaſs. Then it ſeems they did not underſtand the Method of Prorogations, and it is unknown to me by what Law it came in. If there be ſuch a Law, I never minded it, for I am ſpeaking of the Conſtitution, and not of Innovations.
But I believe the true Reaſon of the Abrupt Diſſolution of that Summer Parliament in Conjunction with the King’s Sickneſs, was this, That if they had been held till Michaelmaſs, though there was then to be Another Parliament, it muſt have been at the King’s Charge. For I am of Opinion by what I have ſeen even as low as Richard the 2d’s Time, that the Sitting of a Parliament was uſually Forty Days; and that the Quarantain was not duly kept in this Parliament 3. Ed. 1. of the Octaves of Eaſter. But there was a Concern in holding a Parliament above Forty Days about the Knights and Burgeſſes Wages. As appears by that Memorable Record which is in Knython p. 2682. being. the Meſſage ſent by both Houſes to K. Rich 2. at Eltham. The words are theſe. “Dicunt etiam quod habent ex antiquo Statuto quod ſi Rex a Parliamento ſuo ſe alienaverit ſua ſponte, non aliqua infirmitate aut aliqua alia de cauſa neseſſitatis, ſet per immoderatam voluntatem pro-
