things vnto them that are to be talked of, and asketh euerie mans
opinion concerning the conclusion thereof. In like sort, when any thing
is agreed vpon, and decreed by them in this place (which they call the
lower house in respect of their estate) he declareth it againe to the
lords that sit in the other chamber called the higher house, demanding
likewise their iudgments touching the same. For nothing is ratified
there, except it be agreed vpon by the consent of the more part of both
those houses. Now when they haue said their minds, and yeelded their
confirmation therevnto, the finall ratification is referred to the
prince; so that if he thinke good that it shall passe for a law, he
confirmeth also by the mouth of the lord Chancelor of the realme, who is
prolocutor to the lords alwaies by the custome of that house.

The same order is vsed also by the bishops and spiritualtie in their
conuocation houses. For the bishops sit in one place by themselues as in
the higher house, and the deanes, archdeacons, and other procurators of
the spiritualtie in an other, as in the lower house, whose prolocutor
declareth to the bishops what is agreed vpon by them. Then the
archbishop (by consent of the more part of them that are assembled in
both those conuocation houses) ratifieth and pronounceth their decrees
for lawes, remitting (notwithstanding) the finall ratification of them
to the temporall houses.

This is the order of the lawgiuing of England; and in such decrees
(established by authoritie of the prince, the lords spirituall and
temporall, and the commons of this realme thus assembled in parlement)
consisteth the whole force of our English lawes. Which decrees are
called statutes, meaning by that name, that the same should stand firme
and stable, and not be repealed without the consent of an other
parlement, and that vpon good and great consideration.