主题：陷于议会/政府困境之中的英国人 -- 燕人

查理一世的法律原文：

As to the time of dissolving or proroguing Parliament after its First Meeting.

And it is further enacted that noe Parliament henceforth to bee assembled shall be dissolved or prorogued within fiftie dayes att the least after the time appointed for the meeting thereof unlesse it be by assent of his Majesty his heires or successours and of both Houses in Parliament assembled.

And that neither the House of Peers nor the House of Commons shall be adjourned within fifty dayes att least after the meeting thereof unlesse it bee by the free consent of every the said houses respectively.

译文：

在议会第一次开会后的解散或休会时间。

这里进一步决议--从此之后，议会在召开后五十天内不得解散或休会，除非得到国王陛下或太子或其他继承人以及上议院和下议院一致许可。

不论是上议院还是下议院都不得在议会召开后五十天内休会，除非得到了以上各方的完全许可。

评论： 这个法案其实只是说议会在召开后五十天内不得解散，除非得到国王（含其继承人）和上下议院的一致许可才能解散或休会。但这里并没有硬性规定国王在五十天后不得解散议会。这里要看到的背景是查理一世长期不召开国会。好不容易重开国会后，议员们希望至少给国王套个笼头，加个五十天的限制。但并没有从根本上取消国王解散议会的权利。

但是这个法案在查理二世复辟后于1664年被当时的议会废除了。议会通过的决议如下：

原文：

Whereas the Act made in the Parliament begun at Westminster the Third day of November in the Sixteenth Yeare of the Raigne of our late Soveraigne Lord King Charles of blessed Memory entituled An Act for the preventing of Inconveniencies happening by the long Intermission of Parliaments is in Derogation of His Majestyes just Rights and Prerogative inherent to the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme for the calling and assembling of Parliaments, And may be an occasion of manifold mischeifes and inconveniences, and much endanger the Peace and Safety of His Majestie, and all His Leidge People of this Realme, Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Co[m]mons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That the said Act entituled An Act for the preventing of Inconveniencies happening by the long Intermission of Parliaments And all and every the Articles Clauses and Things therein contained is, shall be and are hereby wholly repealed annulled and utterly made void, And are hereby declared to be null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever as if the said Act had never beene had or made, Any thing in the said Act contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

译文：

敬爱的先王查理执政第十六年的十一月十三日，威斯敏斯特举行的议会制定了关于防止国会长期休会之不便的法律。该法削弱了陛下的自君权神授而来的召开议会的特权和权威，并且可能危及陛下和他王国内所有封臣的安全和安宁。故特此以最伟大的国王陛下的名义和本届以此法案组织的议会之上下两院建议和认可宣布：该关于防止国会长期休会之不便的法律及其内含一切条款全部作废，所有该法的目的和意图均予以作废，视作此法从未存在，不得疑问。

评论：这里复辟后的议会一副奴才相，彻底废除了查理一世的法律。对于议会的召开则通过了新法如下：

原文：

II. No longer Intermission of Parliaments than Three Years.

And because by the auntient Lawes and Statutes of this Realme made in the Raigne of King Edward the Third Parliaments are to be held very often Your Majesties humble and loyall Subjects the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and the Co[m]mons in this present Parliament assembled most humbly doe beseech Your most Excellent Majestie, That it may be declared and enacted And bee it declared and enacted by the Authority aforesaid That hereafter the sitting and holding of Parliaments shall not be intermitted or discontinued above three yeares at the most, but that within three yeares from and after the determination of this present Parliament and soe from time to time within three yeares after the determination of any other Parliament or Parliaments, or if there be occasion more often, Your Majestie Your Heires and Successors doe issue out Your Writts for calling, assembling and holding of another Parliament to the end there may be a frequent calling assembling and holding of Parliaments once in Three yeares at the least.

译文：

II 议会休会不超过三年

根据爱德华三世为此王国制定的法规，议会应经常召开。在本届议会中聚集的国王陛下卑微而忠诚的上下议院的臣民们谦卑得恳求最伟大的国王陛下宣布和制定如下政策：议会的召开和举行最多不得在三年以上的时间间隔或中断。在本届议会之后的三年内或在任何其他议会之后的三年之内，或更短的时间内，由陛下或陛下的继承人下达诏书，召开另一届议会。召集议会可以更频繁，但至少三年一届。

评论：这里虽然要求至少三年召开一次议会（原来的法案要求每年都召开，如果国王连续三年不召开就自动召开）。但是把召开的权力完全交给国王。议会的召开必须由国王或国王的继承人下达诏书。所以历史上查理二世可以连续四年不召开议会。注意这里的措辞是“恳请”不不是“必须”。所以对国王事实上没有任何约束力。

更重要的是，与上个法案不同，这次连议会召开后五十天内不得休会的规定都没有。所以国王即使召开议会也可以随时解散。