666._o for_o stephen_n heddi_n express_o tell_v we_o in_o his_o life_n reges_fw-la deindè_fw-la concilium_fw-la cum_fw-la sapientibus_fw-la suae_fw-la gentis_fw-la post_fw-la spatium_fw-la inierunt_fw-la quem_fw-la eligerent_fw-la in_o sedem_fw-la vacantem_fw-la etc._n etc._n responderunt_fw-la omnes_fw-la uno_fw-la consensu_fw-la neminem_fw-la habemus_fw-la meliorem_fw-la &_o digniorem_fw-la nostrae_fw-la gentis_fw-la quam_fw-la wilfridum_n presbyterum_fw-la &_o abbatem_fw-la then_o the_o two_o king_n i._n e._n of_o northumberland_n after_o some_o time_n hold_v a_o council_n with_o the_o wiseman_n of_o their_o own_o nation_n to_o consider_v who_o they_o shall_v choose_v to_o fill_v up_o the_o vacant_a see_v etc._n etc._n and_o they_o all_o unanimous_o answer_v we_o have_v none_o fit_a nor_o more_o worthy_a in_o our_o nation_n than_o wilfrid_n the_o presbyter_n and_o abbot_n and_o thereupon_o be_v present_o elect_v he_o be_v consecrate_v bishop_n the_o next_o authority_n of_o much_o 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and_o which_o though_o it_o look_v very_o much_o like_o a_o monkish_a legend_n yet_o since_o it_o be_v relate_v by_o so_o grave_a a_o author_n as_o bede_n i_o shall_v here_o from_o he_o set_v down_o so_o soon_o as_o ethelfrid_n hear_v where_o edwin_n be_v he_o send_v ambassador_n to_o redwald_n offer_v he_o a_o great_a sum_n of_o money_n to_o put_v he_o to_o death_n which_o be_v refuse_v he_o still_o repeat_v and_o increase_v his_o offer_n twice_o or_o thrice_o threaten_a war_n if_o he_o be_v refuse_v till_o at_o last_o the_o king_n be_v either_o prevail_v upon_o by_o his_o great_a proffer_n or_o terrify_v by_o his_o threaten_n yield_v promise_v either_o to_o kill_v edwin_n or_o to_o deliver_v he_o to_o his_o ambassador_n which_o when_o a_o certain_a friend_n of_o edwin_n then_o near_o the_o king_n come_v to_o know_v dcxvi_o the_o first_o hour_n of_o the_o night_n he_o go_v in_o haste_n to_o his_o chamber_n and_o call_v he_o forth_o for_o better_a secrecy_n reveal_v to_o he_o his_o danger_n and_o offer_v he_o his_o aid_n to_o make_v his_o escape_n where_o neither_o redwald_n nor_o ethelfrid_n shall_v ever_o find_v he_o but_o he_o not_o approve_v of_o that_o course_n as_o seem_v dishonourable_a without_o more_o manifest_a cause_n to_o begin_v first_o to_o distrust_v one_o who_o so_o long_o have_v be_v his_o only_a refuge_n choose_v rather_o to_o die_v by_o his_o hand_n than_o by_o any_o other_o more_o ignoble_a whereupon_o his_o friend_n depart_v edwin_n be_v thus_o leave_v alone_o without_o the_o palace-gate_n full_a of_o sad_a and_o perplex_a thought_n discern_v about_o the_o dead_a of_o night_n a_o man_n approach_v towards_o he_o neither_o by_o countenance_n nor_o habit_n to_o he_o know_v who_o after_o a_o short_a salutation_n ask_v he_o why_o at_o this_o hour_n when_o all_o other_o be_v at_o rest_n he_o alone_o sit_v so_o sad_o wake_v on_o
dicitur_fw-la convocati_fw-la i_o e._n beside_o many_o other_o very_o eminent_a person_n and_o chief_a man_n of_o the_o kingdom_n of_o divers_a order_n be_v omit_v who_o with_o most_o pious_a affection_n be_v witness_n and_o approver_n to_o this_o confirmation_n and_o these_o be_v summon_v at_o that_o time_n by_o the_o royal_a authority_n from_o divers_a province_n and_o city_n to_o the_o general_n synod_n hold_v at_o the_o famous_a abbey_n of_o westminster_n for_o the_o hear_n and_o determine_v of_o the_o cause_n of_o each_o christian_a church_n this_o be_v a_o authority_n which_o seem_v so_o convince_a that_o sir_n william_n dugdale_n have_v make_v use_n of_o it_o in_o his_o origines_fw-la juridiciales_fw-la to_o prove_v the_o antiquity_n of_o the_o commons_o of_o england_n in_o parliament_n yet_o dr._n brady_n in_o the_o conclusion_n of_o his_o answer_n to_o mr._n cook_n be_v argumentum_fw-la antinormanicum_n accuse_v that_o gentleman_n of_o be_v both_o ignorant_a and_o mistake_v in_o the_o meaning_n of_o city_n and_o province_n and_o the_o person_n that_o come_v from_o they_o who_o he_o indeed_o will_v have_v to_o be_v not_o any_o representative_n of_o county_n and_o city_n but_o only_o dean_n arch-deacon_n and_o other_o dignify_a person_n and_o church-officer_n as_o well_o of_o the_o laity_n as_o clergy_n who_o be_v summon_v by_o the_o king_n to_o this_o synod_n from_o province_n and_o city_n to_o advise_v and_o inform_v the_o king_n of_o the_o conveniency_n of_o the_o place_n whither_o the_o bishop_n see_v then_o about_o to_o be_v remove_v from_o village_n to_o city_n be_v to_o be_v transfer_v but_o since_o there_o be_v not_o one_o word_n in_o this_o charter_n say_v of_o any_o such_o thing_n and_o that_o sir_n henry_n spelman_n in_o his_o glossary_n render_v the_o word_n provincia_n for_o a_o county_n and_o not_o a_o bishop_n see_v i_o myself_o not_o now_o have_v leisure_n to_o pursue_v such_o nicety_n shall_v refer_v the_o curious_a for_o their_o far_a satisfaction_n to_o the_o eight_o dialogue_n of_o bibliotheca_fw-la politica_fw-la 568._o where_o they_o may_v read_v whatsoever_o he_o have_v say_v against_o it_o sufficient_o answer_v these_o be_v the_o only_a authority_n i_o shall_v make_v use_n of_o at_o this_o time_n to_o prove_v that_o the_o city_n and_o borough_n have_v then_o their_o delegate_n or_o representative_n in_o the_o saxon_a witenagemotes_a i_o will_v now_o conclude_v this_o point_n with_o the_o judgement_n of_o that_o learned_a antiquary_n mr._n lambard_n etc._n who_o certain_o understand_v the_o constitution_n of_o this_o ancient_a government_n as_o well_o at_o least_o if_o not_o better_o than_o dr._n brady_n and_o he_o tell_v we_o that_o whereas_o in_o the_o begin_n of_o each_o law_n viz._n those_o make_v by_o the_o saxon_a king_n he_o there_o mention_n all_o the_o act_n be_v say_v to_o pass_v from_o the_o king_n and_o his_o wise_a man_n both_o of_o the_o clergy_n and_o laity_n in_o the_o body_n of_o the_o law_n each_o statute_n be_v thus_o and_o it_o be_v the_o advice_n of_o our_o lord_n and_o his_o wiseman_n so_o as_o it_o appear_v that_o it_o be_v then_o a_o receive_a form_n of_o speech_n to_o signify_v both_o the_o spirituality_n and_o the_o laity_n that_o be_v to_o say_v the_o great_a nobility_n and_o the_o less_o or_o commons_o by_o this_o one_o word_n witan_n i._n e._n wiseman_n now_o as_o those_o write_a authority_n do_v undoubted_o confirm_v our_o assertion_n of_o the_o continuance_n of_o this_o manner_n of_o parliament_n so_o be_v there_o also_o unwritten_a law_n or_o prescription_n that_o do_v no_o less_o infallible_o uphold_v the_o same_o for_o it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o in_o every_o quarter_n of_o the_o realm_n a_o great_a many_o borough_n do_v yet_o send_v burgess_n to_o the_o parliament_n which_o be_v nevertheless_o so_o couâ—â—iâ—s_n ancient_a and_o so_o long_o since_o decay_v and_o go_v to_o nought_o that_o it_o can_v be_v show_v that_o they_o have_v be_v of_o any_o reputation_n at_o any_o time_n since_o the_o conquest_n and_o much_o less_o that_o they_o have_v obtain_v this_o privilege_n by_o the_o grant_n of_o any_o king_n succeed_v the_o same_o so_o that_o the_o interest_n which_o they_o have_v in_o parliament_n grow_v by_o a_o ancient_a usage_n before_o the_o conquest_n whereof_o they_o can_v show_v any_o beginning_n which_o thing_n be_v also_o confirm_v by_o a_o contrary_a usage_n in_o the_o selfsame_a thing_n for_o it_o be_v likewise_o know_v that_o they_o of_o ancient_n demesne_n do_v prescribe_v in_o not_o send_v to_o the_o parliament_n for_o which_o reason_n also_o they_o be_v neither_o contributor_n to_o the_o wage_n of_o the_o knight_n of_o shire_n neither_o be_v they_o bind_v by_o sundry_a act_n of_o parliament_n though_o the_o same_o be_v general_o pen_v and_o do_v make_v no_o exception_n of_o they_o but_o there_o be_v no_o ancient_a demesne_n save_v that_o only_a which_o be_v describe_v in_o the_o book_n of_o doomsday_n under_o the_o title_n of_o terra_fw-la regis_fw-la which_o of_o necessity_n must_v be_v such_o as_o either_o be_v in_o the_o hand_n of_o the_o conqueror_n himself_o who_o make_v the_o book_n or_o of_o edward_n the_o confessor_n that_o be_v before_o he_o and_o so_o again_o if_o they_o of_o ancient_a demesne_n have_v ever_o since_o the_o conquest_n prescribe_v not_o to_o elect_v burgess_n to_o parliament_n than_o no_o doubt_n there_o be_v a_o parliament_n before_o the_o conquest_n to_o the_o which_o they_o of_o other_o place_n do_v send_v their_o burgess_n i_o shall_v here_o crave_v leave_n to_o add_v one_o record_n though_o after_o the_o conquest_n in_o confirmation_n of_o what_o mr._n lambard_n have_v here_o learned_o assert_v for_o that_o several_a borough_n claim_v to_o send_v member_n to_o parliament_n by_o prescription_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o reign_n of_o edward_n the_o three_o appear_v by_o a_o 20._o petition_n put_v in_o to_o that_o king_n an._n 17_o edw._n 3._o wherein_o the_o burgess_n of_o the_o town_n of_o barnstaple_n in_o devonshire_n set_v forth_o that_o it_o be_v a_o free_a borough_n have_v by_o charter_n from_o king_n athelstan_n among_o other_o privilege_n a_o right_a of_o send_v two_o burgess_n to_o all_o parliament_n for_o the_o say_a borough_n upon_o which_o the_o king_n and_o his_o council_n order_v a_o writ_n of_o inquiry_n which_o certain_o will_v never_o have_v be_v do_v if_o dr._n brady_n notion_n be_v true_a that_o the_o city_n and_o borough_n never_o send_v any_o representatives_n to_o parliament_n but_o once_o in_o the_o 49_o the_o of_o hen._n 3._o and_o then_o no_o more_o till_o the_o 18_o the_o of_o edward_n the_o first_o which_o be_v but_o a_o little_a above_o 50_o year_n to_o the_o time_n of_o this_o petition_n which_o be_v within_o the_o memory_n of_o so_o many_o then_o live_v the_o king_n and_o his_o council_n will_v never_o have_v order_v a_o writ_n of_o inquiry_n about_o such_o a_o vain_a and_o idle_a pretence_n from_o all_o which_o i_o think_v it_o may_v safe_o be_v conclude_v that_o this_o learned_a antiquary_n abovementioned_a i_o mean_v mr._n lambard_n do_v not_o without_o good_a authority_n believe_v that_o not_o only_o the_o great_a lord_n or_o peer_n but_o also_o the_o inferior_a nobility_n and_o representative_n of_o city_n and_o town_n be_v include_v under_o the_o word_n witan_n and_o likewise_o that_o those_o place_n claim_v that_o privilege_n by_o prescription_n i_o shall_v therefore_o desire_v the_o doctor_n that_o when_o he_o write_v next_o upon_o this_o subject_a he_o will_v please_v to_o crave_v in_o aid_n some_o gentleman_n of_o the_o long_a robe_n of_o his_o opinion_n to_o help_v he_o to_o answer_v this_o argument_n of_o mr._n lambard_n from_o general_a prescription_n as_o also_o what_o have_v be_v already_o say_v concern_v this_o matter_n in_o the_o same_o dialogue_n of_o bibliotheca_fw-la politica_fw-la abovementioned_a begin_v at_o pag._n 483_o and_o end_v at_o pag._n 593_o inclusive_o and_o if_o he_o can_v then_o with_o his_o assistance_n prove_v all_o our_o ancient_a lawyer_n to_o have_v be_v mistake_v in_o this_o memorable_a point_n i_o shall_v own_v myself_o to_o have_v be_v so_o too_o but_o i_o desire_v this_o may_v be_v take_v notice_n of_o that_o no_o prescription_n whatsoever_o in_o law_n can_v be_v lay_v of_o late_a date_n than_o the_o first_o year_n of_o king_n richard_n the_o first_o which_o begin_v almost_o fourscore_o year_n before_o the_o 49_o the_o of_o hen._n 3._o when_o he_o fancy_v the_o commons_o be_v first_o summon_v to_o parliament_n but_o that_o i_o may_v be_v as_o brief_a as_o i_o can_v i_o shall_v reduce_v what_o i_o have_v further_o to_o say_v upon_o this_o head_n to_o a_o few_o query_n as_o first_o whether_o in_o all_o the_o kingdom_n of_o europe_n of_o the_o gothic_a model_n begin_v with_o sweden_n and_o denmark_n and_o end_v with_o scotland_n there_o can_v
the_o meat_n shall_v be_v take_v away_o untouched_a from_o such_o as_o be_v invite_v than_o that_o those_o who_o be_v not_o invite_v shall_v complain_v for_o want_v of_o victual_n whereas_o say_v he_o the_o custom_n of_o our_o time_n be_v either_o out_o of_o covetousness_n or_o as_o they_o pretend_v because_o their_o people_n can_v eat_v for_o great_a man_n to_o allow_v their_o follower_n but_o one_o meal_n a_o day_n which_o show_v that_o the_o custom_n of_o set_a supper_n have_v have_v divers_a vicissitudeâ—_n be_v not_o common_o use_v in_o england_n in_o great_a man_n family_n at_o the_o time_n when_o h._n huntingdon_n write_v and_o therefore_o be_v a_o english_a custom_n prevail_v since_o that_o time_n the_o norman_a fashion_n be_v then_o most_o use_v john_n rouse_v also_o in_o his_o manuscript_n treatise_n de_fw-fr regibus_fw-la ang._n already_o cite_v relate_v that_o the_o day_n of_o king_n hardâ—cnute's_n death_n be_v in_o his_o time_n keep_v by_o the_o english_a as_o a_o holiday_n be_v call_v hock-wednesday_n on_o which_o they_o dance_v and_o draw_v cord_n across_o the_o way_n as_o they_o do_v in_o several_a parish_n in_o england_n even_o at_o this_o day_n to_o stop_v people_n till_o they_o will_v pay_v they_o some_o money_n king_n edward_n call_v the_o confessor_n before_o king_n hardecnute_n be_v bury_v mxli_o all_o the_o people_n choose_v edward_n aethâ—ling_v king_n at_o london_n who_o reign_v as_o long_o as_o god_n permit_v he_o but_o william_n of_o malmesbury_n with_o great_a probability_n say_v that_o this_o king_n do_v not_o come_v to_o the_o crown_n without_o some_o difficulty_n for_o when_o he_o have_v receive_v the_o news_n of_o his_o brother_n hardecnute_n death_n he_o be_v in_o great_a perplexity_n what_o be_v most_o advisable_a for_o he_o to_o do_v at_o last_o after_o mature_a deliberation_n he_o think_v it_o the_o safe_a course_n to_o trust_v his_o fortune_n to_o earl_n godwin_n advice_n who_o be_v send_v for_o to_o a_o friendly_a conference_n for_o some_o time_n he_o be_v consider_v whether_o he_o shall_v come_v to_o he_o or_o not_o but_o at_o length_n he_o agree_v to_o speak_v with_o he_o and_o upon_o the_o interview_n edward_n be_v about_o to_o lay_v himself_o at_o his_o foot_n but_o that_o he_o will_v by_o no_o mean_n suffer_v then_o the_o prince_n earnest_o desire_v he_o will_v assist_v he_o in_o his_o safe_a return_n to_o normandy_n when_o immediate_o godwin_n give_v he_o this_o unexpected_a answer_n that_o he_o have_v better_o live_v glorious_o king_n of_o england_n than_o die_v ignominious_o in_o exile_n that_o the_o crown_n do_v of_o right_o belong_v to_o he_o as_o son_n of_o ethelred_n and_o grandchild_n of_o edgar_n that_o he_o be_v one_o of_o mature_a age_n inure_v to_o labour_n and_o who_o have_v learn_v by_o experience_n how_o to_o order_v public_a affair_n with_o justice_n and_o have_v be_v teach_v by_o his_o own_o late_a affliction_n how_o to_o remove_v and_o prevent_v the_o misery_n of_o the_o people_n that_o to_o bring_v this_o about_o there_o will_v be_v no_o great_a obstacle_n for_o if_o he_o will_v but_o trust_v himself_o to_o he_o he_o shall_v find_v that_o his_o interest_n be_v very_o powerful_a in_o the_o nation_n and_o that_o fortune_n will_v be_v favourable_a to_o his_o just_a pretension_n and_o if_o he_o will_v accept_v of_o the_o royal_a dignity_n he_o be_v confident_a there_o will_v be_v none_o to_o oppose_v it_o but_o on_o condition_n that_o he_o will_v establish_v a_o firm_a friendship_n with_o he_o and_o his_o family_n by_o promise_v to_o prefer_v his_o son_n and_o marry_v his_o daughter_n that_o then_o he_o shall_v soon_o find_v himself_o asleep_o king_n edward_n case_n at_o this_o time_n be_v such_o as_o not_o to_o reject_v so_o fair_a proposal_n but_o rather_o agree_v to_o any_o condition_n and_o comply_v with_o the_o present_a state_n of_o affair_n whatsoever_o therefore_o godwin_n require_v he_o promise_v and_o swear_v to_o perform_v now_o the_o earl_n be_v a_o man_n fit_v by_o nature_n for_o manage_v such_o a_o intrigue_n have_v a_o very_a smooth_a and_o plausible_a tongue_n so_o eloquent_a that_o he_o can_v move_v and_o charm_v the_o affection_n of_o the_o people_n insinuate_v into_o they_o whatsoever_o he_o please_v and_o bring_v they_o entire_o over_o to_o his_o interest_n and_o service_n upon_o this_o he_o procure_v a_o great_a council_n to_o be_v summon_v at_o gillingham_n some_o copy_n have_v it_o at_o london_n and_o there_o he_o influence_v some_o by_o his_o own_o authority_n gain_v over_o other_o by_o his_o promise_n and_o those_o who_o be_v incline_v before_o to_o prince_n edward_n cause_n he_o full_o settle_v and_o confirm_v to_o his_o party_n the_o rest_n that_o make_v opposition_n be_v overpower_a be_v first_o of_o all_o turn_v out_o of_o their_o place_n and_o then_o banish_v the_o land_n the_o annal_n of_o the_o abbey_n of_o winchester_n print_v in_o the_o monast._n ang._n from_o the_o manuscript_n in_o the_o cottonian_a library_n not_o only_o agree_v with_o william_n of_o malmesbury_n in_o this_o relation_n but_o be_v also_o much_o more_o particular_a viz._n that_o prince_n edward_n come_v to_o godwin_n one_o morning_n in_o disguise_n to_o london_n mxli_o fall_v at_o his_o foot_n beg_v he_o to_o preserve_v his_o life_n but_o the_o earl_n take_v he_o up_o promise_v to_o use_v he_o like_o his_o son_n and_o also_o give_v he_o far_o encouragement_n and_o assurance_n so_o that_o edward_n return_v again_o to_o winchester_n to_o his_o mother_n godwin_n short_o after_o summon_v all_o the_o great_a man_n of_o the_o kingdom_n to_o meet_v there_o to_o consult_v about_o make_v a_o new_a king_n then_o these_o annal_n proceed_v to_o relate_v the_o manner_n of_o this_o election_n viz._n that_o earl_n godwin_n raise_v the_o prince_n from_o the_o place_n where_o he_o sit_v at_o his_o foot_n be_v then_o incognito_o have_v his_o hood_n over_o his_o face_n say_v thus_o behold_v your_o king_n this_o be_v prince_n edward_n the_o son_n of_o king_n ethelred_n and_o queen_n emma_n this_o be_v he_o who_o i_o elect_v &c._n &c._n and_o so_o first_o do_v he_o homage_n then_o after_o some_o debate_n among_o themselves_o they_o all_o at_o last_o consent_v to_o his_o election_n so_o that_o if_o it_o displease_v any_o there_o they_o dare_v not_o show_v their_o discontent_n since_o earl_n godwin_n will_v have_v it_o so_o and_o edward_n be_v thus_o elect_v be_v not_o long_o after_o crown_v at_o westminster_n which_o be_v also_o confirm_v by_o a_o ancient_a chronicle_n 7._o in_o the_o cottonian_a library_n already_o cite_v end_v with_o this_o prince_n which_o say_v that_o hardecnute_n be_v dead_a eadward_n be_v advance_v to_o the_o crown_n by_o the_o endeavour_n chief_o of_o earl_n godwin_n and_o live_v bishop_n of_o worcester_n bromton_n chronicle_n far_o add_v that_o at_o this_o grand_a council_n all_o the_o great_a man_n of_o england_n agree_v and_o swear_v with_o one_o consent_n that_o no_o danes_n shall_v reign_v over_o they_o any_o more_o because_o of_o the_o great_a affront_v and_o contempt_n they_o have_v receive_v from_o that_o nation_n for_o they_o hold_v the_o english_a in_o such_o servile_a subjection_n that_o if_o a_o englishman_n have_v meet_v a_o dane_n upon_o a_o bridge_n he_o be_v oblige_v to_o stand_v still_o till_o the_o other_o have_v pass_v by_o and_o if_o he_o have_v not_o bow_v to_o the_o dane_n he_o be_v sure_a to_o be_v well_o baste_v for_o his_o neglect_n so_o that_o as_o soon_o as_o king_n hardecnute_n be_v dead_a the_o english_a drive_v all_o the_o dane_n out_o of_o the_o kingdom_n but_o notwithstanding_o the_o great_a happiness_n the_o english_a now_o receive_v by_o have_v a_o king_n of_o their_o own_o nation_n yet_o it_o seem_v this_o year_n be_v unfortunate_a for_o the_o intemperance_n of_o the_o season_n which_o as_o our_o annal_n relate_v destroy_v the_o fruit_n of_o the_o earth_n so_o that_o a_o great_a number_n of_o cattle_n die_v also_o about_o this_o time_n aelf_n abbot_n of_o burgh_n decease_v and_o arnwi_n a_o monk_n be_v choose_v abbot_n be_v a_o mild_a and_o good_a man_n about_o the_o same_o time_n also_o according_a to_o the_o welsh_a chronicle_n prince_n conan_n the_o son_n of_o jago_n who_o have_v flee_v into_o ireland_n to_o save_v his_o life_n and_o come_v now_o over_o from_o thence_o be_v assist_v with_o the_o force_n of_o alfred_n the_o danish_a king_n of_o dublin_n enter_v north-wales_n by_o surprise_n take_v prince_n griffyth_v prisoner_n and_o be_v carry_v he_o away_o to_o his_o ship_n but_o the_o people_n of_o the_o country_n hear_v of_o it_o they_o immediate_o rise_v and_o pursue_v the_o irishman_n and_o at_o last_o overtake_v they_o rescue_v their_o prince_n and_o make_v a_o great_a slaughter_n among_o they_o the_o rest_n with_o much_o difficulty_n get_v to_o their_o ship_n and_o return_v with_o