other Lieges of the King assembled in a Parliamentary Council since the Provisions and penalties mentioned in this Proclamation were all made by their common consent and that upon this occasion King John in the year 1203. passing out of England into Normandy with a great Army giving himself over to luxurie sleep and carelesness suffered the King of France to take many Towns and Castles from him without the least resistance Being frequently informed thereof by complaints from all parts he gave no other answer but this to the Complainants Suffer him to do what he pleaseth I will one day recover whatever he now violently surpriseth Hereupon Comites et Barones et alii de regno Angliae Nobiles qui ei eatenus fideliter adbaeserant talia audientes ejusque desidiam incorrigibilem intelligentes impetrata licentia quasi illico reversuri remearunt ad propria returning no more but leaving the King in Normandie with very few Soldiers Upon which he returning into England the King of France came before most of King Johns Castles and Towns there and perswaded them to submit themselves to him as their Chief Lord seeing King John their immediate Lord had quite deserted them who accordingly submitted King Iohn upon this occasion raising a puissant Army intended to cross the Sea with them to regain his lost Townes and Castles from the French Whereupon by the common assent of his Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Lieges assembled in a Parliamentary Council he made the precedent provisions Proclamation for the Defence of the Realm of England in case the French or any forein Enemies should invade it during his absence After which Anno 1205. he took ship at Portsmouth against the prohibition of the Archbishop of Canterbury and many other of his Nobles who refusing to follow him he was inforced to return after he had continued at Sea two dayes Reversus autem Rex coepit de Comitibus Baronibus Militibus et viris religiosis pecuniam infinitam occasiones praetendens quod noluerunt eum sequi in partes transmarinas ut haereditatem amissam recuperet And so much touching the contents occasion issue of these Provisions and Proclamation The 2. Writ is that of Rot. Claus. Anno 15. Johannis Regis pars 2. m. 7. dorso which I have examined by the Record Rex Vicecomiti Oxon. salutem Praecipimus tibi quod omnes Milites Ballivae tuae qui summoniti fuerunt esse apud Oxoniam ad Nos à die Omnium Sanctorum in quindecim dies venire facias cum armis suis corpora vero Baronum sine armis singulariter et IV. Discretos Milites de Comitatu tuo illuc venire facias ad Nos ad eundem terminum ad loquendum Nobiscum de Negotiis regni nostri Teste meipso apud Witten 11 die Novembr Eodem modo scribitur omnibus Vicecomitibus This unusual form of Writ the later part whereof sounds like a kinde of Summons of Knights out of every County to a Parliament at Oxford hath much perplexed many learned men who knew not well what to determin thereof being without parallel But under correction of others I conceive it rather a Summons to a Military Camp of Warr than to a Parliament or Parliamentary Council at Oxford and these Quatuor discretos Milites out of every County were not summoned as Knights of the Shire to a Parliament then held but rather as Inquisitors or Grand-Jury-men upon a special occasion thus related by Matthew Paris which in my apprehension will very satisfactorily explain this obscure Writ King Iohn being both injuriously excommunicated deposed from his Throne his whole kingdom interdicted given by the Pope to the French King who thereupon prepared a great Army and Navy to possess himself therof he did upon this occasion to resist the French and defend his Crown and kingdom against their intended invasion by two several Writs recorded at large in this Historian summon all the Ships of England able to carry six horses to meet together at Portsmouth well furnished with victuals and Mariners to resist these Enemies by Sea and all Earls Barons Knights Freehold Tenants and others who were bound by tenure or able of bodie to bear arms to meet him at Dover to withstand them by Land After which having reconciled himself to the Pope by resigning his Kingdom of England and Ireland to and retaking them from him under an yearly Tribute he was by the Popes Legate absolved from his Excommunication and the kingdom from its long-continued interdict at Winchester swearing upon the Holy Evangelists in this his Absolution Quod Sanctam Ecclesiam ejusque ordinatos diligeret defenderet et manuteneret contra omnes adversarios pro posse suo Quodque bonas leges Antecessorum suorum praecipue Leges Edwardi Regis revocaret et iniquas destrueret et omnes homines suos secundum justa Curiae suae judicia judicaret quodque singulis redderet jura sua Juravit etiam quod omnibus ad Interdicti negotium pertingentibus inter proximum Pascha plenariam restitutionem faceret obtatorum c. In pursuance whereof In crastino misit Rex literas ad omnes Vicecomites regni Angliae ut de singulis Dominicorum suorum villis Quatuor legales homines cum praeposito apud Sanctum Albanum pridie nonas Augusti fecerent convâ—…nire ut per illos et alios ministros suos de damnis singulorum Episcoporum ut ablatis certitudinem inquireret et quid singulis deberetur Dum haec agerentur interfuerunt Concilio apud Sanctum Albanum Galfridus filius Petri et Episcopus Winton cum Archiepiscopo et Episcopis et Magnatibus Regni Ubi cunctis pace Regis denunciata ex ejusdem Regis parte firmiter praeceptum est quatenus leges Henrici avi sui ab omnibus in regno suo custodirentur et omnes leges iniquae penitus enerventur Denunciatum est praeterea Vicecomitibus Forestariis aliisque Ministris Regis sicut vitam et membra sua diligunt ne à quoquam aliquid violenter extorquerent vel alicui injuriam irrogare praesumant aut scotalla alicubi in regno faciant sicut facere consueverant After which Rex verò Johannis cum se à quibusdam Magnatibus who deserted him in Poytiers quasi derelictum cognovisset magnum Congregabit Exercitum ut rebelles ad consuetum obsequium revocaret Cumque arma movere incepisset venit ad eum Archiepiscopus apud Northamtonam dicens plurimum in injuriam sui Sacramenti quod in absolutione sua praestiterat redundare Si absque Iudicio Curiae suae contra quempiam bella moveret Quod audiens Rex cum ingenti strepitu dixit Se regni negocia propter Episcopum non differre cum laica judicia ad ipsum non pertineant In crastino autem summo diluculo iter furibundus arripiens versus Notingham properavit Secutus est quoque Regem Archiepiscopus memoratus constanter affirmans quod
sine aliqua occasione dilatione audit is rumoribus de eorum adventu Et si quis Miles vel serviens vel alius terram tenens conventus suerit qui se inde retraxerit dummodo tanta non fuerit gravatus infirmitate quod illuc venire non possit Ipse haeredes sui imperpetuum exheredantur dabuntur feodum suum remanebit Domino fundi ad faciend inde voluntatem suam ita quod exhaeredatus vel haeredes sui nunquam inde aliquam habeant recuperationem Si quis vero Milites servientes vel alii qui terram non habent inventi fuerint qui se similiter retraxerint ipsi haeredes sui Serbi fient imperpetuum reddendo singulis annis iiij d. de capitibus suis nec pro paupertate omittant ad praedictum negotium venire cum illud audierint quare ex quo ad exercitum venerint providebitur unde sufficienter in servicio nostro poterant sustentare Si vero Vic. vel Ball. vel Praepositus illos quise retraxerint Nobis per breve vel per scriptum vel viva voce non ostenderint dict Vic. vel Ballivus vel Praepositus remanebit in misericordia nostra de vita membris Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod sub sestinatione Proclamari facias in foris per totam Ballivam tuam in Mercatis Nundinis alibi ita te de negotio illo faciendo intromittas quod ad te pro defectu tui capere non debeamus Et tu ipse sis apud London ad praefatum terminum vel aliquem discretum ex parte tua mittas facias tunc Nobis sciret nomina decimorum Militum Et habeas ibi hoc Breve Teste meipso apud Wint. 3 die Aprilis Sed Nota Vic. Eborum Northumberland Cumberland Westmerland scribitur in eadem forma hoc adjecto Quod Rob. fil Rog. Const. Cestr. retineat de Militibus praedictis quos judicat expedire necessario ad defenfionem partium suarum Haee Brevia liberata sunt subscriptis Eborum per Ric. Anglicum Clericum Rob. fil Rog. Northumbr Westmerl Cumberl Bucks Bedf. per Spaine Norf. Suff. Essex Herif. Cantebr Hunt Oxon. Berks. Northt Glouc. Rad. de Chumbras Honor. de Glouc. Worcester Hereford Leic. Warwic Salop. Staff Lancastr Wiltes per Laurentium Somerset Dorset Devon Cornub. Sutht Linc. per Rog Bastard hominē Senescalli Roteland Not Derb. Kent per Thom fil Nigell Clericum Willielmi de Wroth. Surr. Midds Sussex From the Prologue of this Proclamation Provisum est communi assensu Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Comitum Baronum et omnium fidelium nostrorum Angliae Mr. Lambard inferrs that the Commonaltie of the Realm both at this time and long before were summoned to our Great Councils and Parliaments and present in assenting to whatever was ordained in them as well as the Spiritual and Temporal Lords this being in truth the probablest evidence and Authority he produceth to prove this assertion But under his correction I aver First neither this rectal nor any other testimonie alleged by him doth clearly evidence that these omnes fideles nostri Angliae were Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons of the Realm chosen by the people by virtue of the Kings writs and sent by them to Parliaments and Great Councils in that or former ages as Knights Citizens and Burgesses have been of later times no Histories nor Records making express mention of any such Writs or Elections of such Knights Citizens Burgesses of Parliament before 49 H. 3. 2ly The Writ of Summons extant in the Clause Roll of 6. Johan Regis dors 3. this very year to the Parliamentary Council at London wherein this provision for defence of the kingdom against forein Enemies was made as I conjecture makes mention only of Magnatum terrae nostrae Quos ad diem illum et locum fecimus convocari not of any Commons Knights of Shires Citizens or Burgesses summoned to it 3ly Matthew Paris and Mat. Westminster who inform us of another Parliamentary Council held under King John at Oxford this very year express it thus Deinde in crastino Circumcisionis convenerunt ad Colloquium the word Parliamentum not being then in use apud Oxon. Rex et Magnates Angliae ubi concessa sunt Regi auxilia militaria de quolibet Scuto duae marcae et dimidia Nec etiam Episcopi et Abbates sive Ecclesiae personae sine promissione recesserunt without mentioning any Knights Citizens Commons or Burgesses present at this Council or parties to this grant Wherefore if the Ordinance mentioned in this Writ was made at Oxford these Omnium fidelium nostrorum Angliae as I conceiue cannot properly be meant of them but of the Abbots Priors Kings Counsil or those Omnes alios qui de Capite tenent de Nobis who were not Majores Barones Regni mentioned in the Great Charter of King John some few years after in this memorable Clause which best explains this in the Proclamation Ad habendum Commune Consiltum Regni de auxiliis assidendis submoneri faciemus Archiepiscopos Episcopos Abbates Comites Majores Barones sigillatim per literas nostras Et praeterea faoiemus in Generali per Vicecomites Ballivos nostros omnes alios qui de Capite tenent de Nobis ad certum diem scilicet ad terminū Quadraginta dierum ad minimum et ad certum locum in omnibus literis summonitionis illius Causam submonitionis illius exponemus which was accordingly expressed in the writ of Summons 6 Johannis and in all writs of like nature since this Great Charter extant in our Records 4ly The very contents of the Provision mentioned in this Proclamation Quod novem Milites to wit those who held Lands by a Knights fee and Knight-service per totam Angliam invenient decimum Militem bene paratum equis et armis c. compared with Clause 19 H. 3. m. 1 3 6 8. Prove these lesser Barons and Tenants of the King to be the persons intended in this Clause not any elected Knights Citizens and Burgesses who were either summoned in general to this Council and consented to this provision therein when passed or else assented thereto after the Lords and Great men had passed and communicated it to them in the Countrie 5ly Though this Provision and Proclamation doe not clearly prove the Summons of any elected Knights Citizens and Burgesses to this Parliamentary Council yet they are a clear euidence That Ordinances for raising Men Forces Taxes and Impositions for the ne◅ie defence of the King and Realm against forein Enemies with forfeitures of Lands other severe penalties for defaults therein cannot nor may not be made nor imposed on the Freeholders or Subjects of England by the King or his Counsil but onely by the common consent grant and provision of the Spiritual and Temporal Lords Great men and
nisi ab inceptis celerius desisterit omnes qui versus quempiam ante relaxationem interdicti hostiliter arma gesserunt praeter ipsum solum anathematis vinculo innodaret Sicque ab inceptis Regem revocans Archiepiscopus non prius abe recessit donec Diem conipetentem ad Curiam Regis veniendi et ibidem Iuri parendi Baronibus impetrasset The 8. of September following the Archbishop Bishops Abbots Priors and Barons of the Realm assembling together at Pauls the Archbishop calling some of the Barons to him apart from the rest secretly acquainted them with the Kings forecited Oath taken at his absolution and produced before them the Charter of Liberties granted by King Henry the first by which they might if they would reduce their long lost Liberties to their pristine estate At which the Barons greatly rejoycing juraverunt omnes in praesentia Archiepiscopi quod viso tempore congruo pro hiis libertatibus si necesse fuerit decertabunt usque ad mortem Archiepiscopus autem promisit eis fidelissimum auxilium suum pro posse suo Et sic confoederatione facta inter eos Colloquium solutum est The King hereupon as I conjecture issued out the precedent writ the 3. of November following whereon it bears date to all the Sheriffs of England consisting of 3. distinct parts sutable to that time and occasion The first is to new summon Omnes Milites all who held of him by Knight-service with those Souldiers not knights or knights of Shires in their respective Bailiwicks they had formerly summoned by some such writ as this to repair to Oxford to come to the Kings person ad Nos without naming any certain place 15 daies after All Souls day cum armis with their arms the usual form and clause in precedent and subsequent writs of Summons of an Army and forces to aid the King not to a Parliament or Great Council of State and that to defend and assist him against the precedent confederacy of the Archbishop Bishops Abbots Priors and Barons then newly entred into at London against whom he had raised a great Army by like Writs but a few Monethâ—… before to reduce these Rebels to obedience which Armie the Archbishop caused him to dissolve as Matthew Paris relates The 2. Clause is Corpora vero Baronum singulariter sine armis to summon and bring to the King the Bodies of the Barons in their respective Counties apart one from another without arms as in the said writ not two or more of them together with their arms and armed attendants to prevent all dangers tumults insurrections and intended rebellions if they should come armed to his Court being now thus summoned to appear before him not to treat and advise with him and the rest of the Prelates Earls and Nobles of any urgent affairs concerning the King or Realm of which there is no mention at all in this writ in relation to the Barons as there is in all Writs of Summons to Parliaments or Great Councils issued to them extant in our Records But rather according to the Archbishops engagement to the King at Nottingham a little before this writ to submit themselves to the Iustice of his Court and a legal trial concerning the crimes he should there object against them upon their appearance on the day prefixed in the writ the same I conceive the King and Archbishop had formerly agreed upon at Notingham And that this was the reason why they were to appear without armour is evident by the like Summons hertofore to Earl Godwin and his Sons to appear in the Kings Court to answer the Kings charge against them attended only with 〈◊〉 men without any force or arms by the subsequent Statutes of 7 E. 1. Rastal Armour 1 2 E. 3. c 3. expresly resolving that in all Assemblies which should be made within the Realm of England for ever every man should come without all force and armour well and peaceably And that no man Great or Small of whatsoever condition he be except the Kings Servants in his presence and his Ministers and their Assistants in executing his precepts or their Office or upon a cry made for arms to keep the peace in such places where such acts happen should be so hardy to come before the King or his Iustices or other his Ministers doing their office with force and arms nor bring no force in â—…ffray of Peace Which was but the antient Common and Statute Law of England The 3. Clause of the Writ which only hath some resemblance of a writ of Summons is to summon not two but quatuor Discretos Milites de Comitatu tuo being more than we read summoned in succeeding Rolls out of every County as Knights of Shires to our Parliament and those not to come to any Parliament or Great Council at any certain place of which there is no mention at all in this Writ but ad Nos to the King himself at the time there specified and that only Ad loquendum Nobiscum de negotiis regni nostri not ad tractandum Nobiscum et cum Praelatis Proceribus or Magnatibus or aliis or caeteris fidelibus regni nostri de arduis et urgentissimis negotiis Nos et statum Regni nostri contingentibus or ad faciendum et consentiendum hiis quae tunc ibidem de Communi Consilio regni nostri Deo propitio contigerit ordinari the usual Clauses in all Writs of Summons of Barons or Knights of Counties to Parliaments and Great Parliamentary Councils Therefore certainly this Writ was no Summons of Knights of Shires to a Parliament or Great Council the rather because there is no clause in it for electing these 4. knights nor yet of any Citizens or Burgesses as is usual in the Writs for electing Knights of Counties and because no Writs of Summons ever prescribed the Summons of Barous and Knights together like this Upon all which considerations I conceive this ad loquendum Nobiscum de negotiis regni nostri for which these 4. Knights were summoned was the very same or the like business for which Matthew Paris relates the King some few Moneths before sent Letters to the Sherifs of every County throughout England to cause Quatuor legales homines the same with those this Writ stiles Quatuor Discretos Milites out of every of their Counties to come to St. Albanes the 8. of August following to inquire of and inform the King what dammages and losses any of the Bishops had sustained by the King and his Officers during the Interdict and their banishments and what was due to every one of them that so he might satisfie them according to his premised Oath as Chart. 16 Iohann Regis m. 9. n. 67. the next year after this compared with Pat. 15 Iohan. Regis nu 3. De Interdicto relaxando c. clearly intimate if not resolve This I am fully perswaded was the true scope nature and intention of this Writ which hath
faciendum quod et tunc ibidem plenius injungemus Et hoc nullo modo omittas Et habeas ibi hoc Breve Teste Rege apud Westm. 9. die Octobr. Eodem modo mandatum est singulis Vicecom Angliae mutatis mutandis T. ut supra In these two Writs there are many things worthy our special observation 1. That the word Parliamentum is not used in them but only Colloquium et Tractatum 2ly That there is no mention in these Writs of any Colloquium or Tractatum cum Praelatis but only cum Comitibus caeteris Magnatibus de regno nostro 3ly That the Sheriffs are required only Duos Milites de Com. praedicto eligi fac c. without any Citizens or Burgesses of the Cities or Boroughs within their respective Counties 4ly That these two Knights were to be thus qualified De discretioribus et ad laborandum potentioribus magis legales and to be de Com. praedicto not of any other County 5ly That they were to be elected De consensu ejusdem Comitatus not without or against their consents 6ly That they were to appear at the day and place prescribed in the Writs Cum plena potestate pro se et tota Communitate Com. praedict ad consulend et consentiend and that only hiis quae Comites Barones Pr◅eres praedicti concorditer ordinaverint in praemissis not what the Knights themselves should ordain or prescribe who could then vote order determin nothing but what the Earls Barons Nobles and the King did first ordain and advise much less ordain or order any thing without and against their wills order and assents as some of late most insolently and unparliamentarily have presumed to doe without the least ground warrant reason president As is further evident by this in the later Writ ad audiendum et faciendum quod et tunc ibidem plenius injungemus 7ly That there is but one days difference between the dates of both these Writs and that they issued in the self-same form mutatis mutandis to all the Sheriffs of England 8ly which is most observable That the King by these Writs enjoyns every Sheriff in each County of England quod praeter duos illos Milites which they were to elect by virtue of the first Writs eligi facias Duos alios Milites legales c. et eos una cum dictis duobus Militibus usque Westm. venire facias c. So that they were to elect no less than 4. Knights by these two Writs for every County with equal power and authority who were all to appear and serve in this Parliament A clear evidence that the King in this age was not confined to any certain Number of Knights nor yet of Citizens or Burgesses in any County but might then summ◅n so many Knights as he thought most expedient and necessary since reduced to a certainty by the subsequent Statutes of 5 R. 2. c. 4. 7 H. 4. c. 15. 11 H. 4. c. 1. 1 H. 5. c. 1. 6 H. 6. c. 4. 8 H. 6. c. 7. 10 H. 6. c. 2. 23 H. 6. c. 11. 15. 27 H. 8. c. 26. 34 H. 8. c. 13. 35 H. 8. c. 11. 9ly That the King by his Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes hoc nullo modo omittatis manifests that the Sheriffs were bound at their peril to obey execute both these Writs without disputing or disobeying them 10ly That though the Writs enjoin the Sheriff only habeas ihi hoc breve yet the Sheriff was to return the names of the Knights elected together with the Writ as the practise and returns in those times resolve The next Writs I have met with for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses are those in Claus. 23 E. 1. m' 4. dorso Rex Vic. Northt salutem Quia cum Comitibus Baronibus caeteris Proceribus regni nostri super remediis contra pericula quae eidem regno hiis diebus imminent providend Colloquium habere volumus et Tractatum per quod eis mandavimus quod sint ad Nos die Dominica prox post sestum Sancti Martini in yeme prox futur apud Westm. ad tractand ordinand faciend qualiter sit hujusmodi periculis obviand Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod de Com. praevicto Duos Milites de quolibet Civitate ejusdem Com. Duos Cives de quolibet Burgo Duos Burgenses de discretioribus et ad laborand potentioribus sine dilatione eligi et eos ad Nos ad praedictos diem locum venire fac Ita quod dicti Milites plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se Communitate Com. praedicti dicti Cives et Burgenses pro se et Communitate Civitatum et Burgo◅um praedictorum divisim ab ipsis tunc ibidem habeant ad faciend tunc quod de Communi Consilio ordinabitur in praemissis Ita quod pro defectu hujusmodi potestatis negotium praedictum infectum non remaneat quoquo modo Et babeas ibi nomina Militum Civium Burgenfium hoc breve Teste Rege apud Cantuar. tertio die Octobr. Consimiles literae diriguntur singulis Vicecom per Angliam et de eadem data The next Writs of this kind now extant are those of Claus. 24 E. 1. m. 7. dors little different from the former Rex Vic. Linc. salutem Quia cum Comitibus c. as in the former Writ quod sint ad Nos in crastino Animarum prox futur apud Sanctum Edmundum ad tractand ordinand et faciend qualiter sit periculis obviand hujusmodi et statui ejusdem Regni tutius et utilius consulend Tibi praecipimus quod de Com. praedicto duos Milites et de qualibet Civitate ejusdem Com. duos Cives et de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus et ad laborand potentioribus sine dilatione eligi et cos ad Nos ad praedictos diem et locū venire facias Ita quod dicti Milites plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se et Communitate Com. praedicti habeant in praemissis Ita quod pro defectu potestatis hujusmodi negotium praedictum non remaneat quoquo modo inane Et habeas ibi nomina Militum Civium et Burgensium et hoc breve T. ut supra Consimiles literae diriguntur singulis Vicecomitibus per Angliam T. ut supra There is nothing remarkable in this Writ but only that it differs somewhat in words but not in substance from the ordinary Writs succeeding it in the Ita quod c. I shall therefore proceed to the next Writs of this kind The next are these notable Writs unobserved by others which I meet with in 25 E. 1. when the great Charter of the Liberties and of the Forest were to be confirmed in respect of a great ayd given to the King against the French thus entred in Claus. 25 E. 1. d. 6. after the Writ de Parliamento tenendo to the Archbishop of Cant.
apeece Nomina Burg de Appleby 2. with two manucaptors The return is torn and unlegible together with the most of the writ The Writs to the Sheriffs of 4 Counties mentioned in the Clause Rolls and their returns are missing in this Bundle and there is no mention at all in the roll of any Writs then issued to the Sheriffs of Cornwall or London nor any such writs to them in the Bundle whatever was the reason of this omission I have for brevity recited only the names of the Knights for these Counties omitting the names of the Citizens Burgesses and Manucaptors for the most part which those who please may peruse in the returns In this Parliament of 28 E. 1. the Great Charter of the liberties of England and the Forest were specially confirmed and not only several writs issued to Sheriffs through all Counties of England for their reading publishing and due observation recorded in the Cl. Roll of 28 E. 1. d. 7 8. but likewise certain Knights or other Freeholders were publikely elected by the Sheriff Coroners and Commonalty of every County throughout England for the punishing of all Trespasses and Offences committed against the same by special Patents issued to them by the King and his Counsil whom they were personally to attend concerning the same as is apparent by these two memorable writs not hither to taken notice of by any to my knowledge and not improper for this Section being grounded on the printed Statute of 28 E. 1. ch 1. Rex Vic. Lincoln et Coronatoribus et Communitati ejusdem Com. salutem Quia propter communem utilitatem Praelatorum Procerum et Magnatum ac populi regni nostri concessimus pro Nobis et haeredibus nostris quod Magna Charta de Libertatibus Angliae et Carta de Foresta in singulis suis Articulis de caetero teneantur et firmiter observentur Vobis mandamus quod tres Milites vel alios tres de probioribus legalioribus et discretioribus liberis hominibus Com. praedicti de assensu ejusdem Com sine dilatione eligi et cos usque Ebor venire faciatis Ita quod sint ibidem in Crastino Ascensionis Domini coram Nobis vel Consilio nostro ad faciend et exequend ea quae tunc eis ibidem injungetur ex parte nostra pro observatione Cartarum predictarum et habeatis ibi nomina praedictorum Militum vel liberor hominum et hoc breve Teste Rege apud Westm. 26. die Martii Consimiles literae diriguntur singulis Vic. Coronatoribus et Communitatibus singulorum Comitat. per Angliam Claus. 28 E. 1. d. 7. Rex Vic. Nortbt salutem Quia Philippus de Geyton unus illorum de Balliva tua quos nuper de speciali praecepto nostro de tuo et Coronatorum ac Communitatis Comitatus praedicti communi assensu eligi et usque Eborum in Crastino Ascenfionis Domini venire fecisti ad facienda et exequenda ea quae eis ibidem injungerentur ex parte nostra pro obserbatione magnae Cartae de Libertatibus Angliae et Cartae similiter de Foresta electus est in Com. Warr. per Nos una cum quibusdam aliis fidelibus nostris de eodem Com. assignatus ad Transgressiones quas contra tenores praedictarum Cartarum ibidem fieri contingat audiend et terminand per quod ad praemissa facienda in Com. tuo prout erat electus nequit intendere quoquo modo Tibi praecipimus quod loco ipfius Philippi de assensu Coronatorum et Communitatis Comitatus tui praedicti eligi facias unum alium de probioribus legalioribus et discretioribus ejusdem Comitatus qui ad hoc in eodem Com. tuo una cum ipsis ad hoc ibidem electis et coram nobis juratis intendat juxta formam potestatis ipsis electis et sibi per Nos tradendae Et cum eum fic eligi feceris Nobis de ipsius nomine constare facias sine mora ut tunc dictis electis et sibi literas nostras Patentes de potestate sua in hac parte fieri faciamus Teste Rege apud Sanctum Edmundum 10 die Ju. In and from the former Writs and their various returns there are sundry things very observable which I shall note before I pass to the next ensuing 1. The occasion of these Writs and last Parliament wit the examination confirmation and establishment of the New Perambulation of the Forests then made and returned to the King by the Commissioners specially appointed thereunto for the Common profit of the people of the Realm upon the Lords and Commons earnest requests in former Parliaments as you may read at large in Thomas Walsingham Hist. Angliae p. 35. 37 38 42 44 48. Ypodigm Neustriae p. 84 85 86 87 88. Mat. Westm. Ann. 1297 1299. My Plea for the Lords p. 98. to 104. Claus. 28 E. 1. d. 13. and Claus. 9 E. 2. d. 6. Schedula 2. The excellent principle of right and justice comprised in them That Perambulations of Forests though made and returned by speciall Commissioners appointed by the King and Parliament ought not to be ratified as binding till the reasons exceptions and complaints of all persons concerned therein were publikely heard and descided before the Lords in Parliament and they publikely summoned by Proclamations in each County to propound their exceptions and reasons against them if they had any Which rule ought to be still observed in all other like publike cases both in and out of Parliaments 3. The special command and limitation of the King in and by these writs commanding all Sheriffes throughout England to summon to this New Parliament at Lincolne no new elected Knights Citizens or Burgesses except only in the places of such who were dead sick or unable to com to it but only those Knights Citizens and Burgesses who were elected and sent to the last Parliament before it by the Kings precept Which was accordingly executed as appears by the Sheriffs returns 4. A Resolution and Declaration of the King himself by special writs out of Parliament without the petition vote or privity of the Commons themselves That if any Knights of Shires Citizens or Burgesses elected and returned to Parliament be sick or unable to serve and discharge their duties the King himself may by general or special writs command other fitting persons to be elected and sent to Parliament in their places as well as when they are actually dead which was accordingly practised this year as the Sheriffs returns attest And since that resolved and practised in the Parliament Anno 38 H. 8. Brooke Parliament 7. and Cromptons Jurisdiction of Courts f. 16. against the erronious opinion of Sir Edward Cooke to the contrary 4 Instit p. 8. And one Knight is discharged because made a Sheriff and another chosen in his place 5. That all Knights Citizens and Burgesses elected and sent to Parliaments ought to have full and sufficient power
which they served And that without the vote order ejection or privity of the Commons in Parliament who had then no power to remove eject imprison suspend their own Members or issue writs for new elections as of late they do Claus. 6 E. 2. d. 31. I meet with this writ of Prorogation but not with the Original writ of Summons issued to the Sheriff Rex Vic. Ebor. salutem Licet nuper Parliamentum nostrum apud Lincoln ut supra Archiepiscopo usque ordinavimus Tibi praecipimus quod de Com. tuo duos Milites de qualibet Civitate duos Cives de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus ad laborand potentioribus eligi eos ad Nos ad dictos diem et locum venire faceres Ita quod Milites plenam et sufficientem potestatem pro se Communitate Com praedicti et dicti Cives et Burgenses pro se et Communitate Civium et Burgorum praedictorum divisim ab ipsis haberent tunc ibidem ad faciend quod de Communi Consilio nostro ordinari contigerit in praemissis Ita quod pro defectu hujusmodi potestatis negotia praedicta infacta non remaneant Quia tamen versus partes London c. usque tractabuntur Et ideo tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod Milites Cives Burgenses praedictos sine dilatione eligi eos ad Nos usque Westm. ad dictam diem Dominicam post dictum festum Assumptionis venire facias in forma praedicta Et babeas ibi nomina dictorum Militum Civium Burgensium hoc breve Teste ut supra Eodem modo mandatum est singulls Vic. per Angliam Also in Claus. 6. E. 2. m. 27. dorso I finde this special Memorial entred Memorandum quod die Lunae prox ante festum decollationis Sancti Johannis Baptistae Anno Regis Edwardi fil Regis Edwardi sexto Dom. Rex apud Westm. praecepit quod Milites Cives Burgenses qui ad Parliamentum Regis ibidem summonitum converant pro Communitatibus Civibus et Burgis Angliae ad propria remearent Ita quod reverterent ibidem in Crastino Sancti Michaelis prox futur sub paena quae decet T. Rege apud Westm. 28 die Augusti A clear evidence that the Knights Citizens and Burgesses then summoned and sent to the Parliament could neither prorogue nor adjourn themselves nor depart thence without the Kings special license which was entred on record and were liable to a fitting penalty if they returned not upon the day of prorogation prefixed by the King I shall only observe by the way that whereas the King in his answer to the second Article of the Commons Petition in the Parliament of 3 E. 2. suspended the Petit Customs upon Wines Cloth and other Merchandize that the very next year he issued out writs to the Collectors of the Customs and Officers in England and to the Chief Justice Treasurer and Barons of the Exchequer in Ireland De nova Custuma colligenda to collect these new Customs again not withstanding this his Ordinance in the Parliament at Stamford because there was nulla utilitas regno by the ceasing and abating thereof as appears by the writs of 2. 6. Augusti rot Finium An. 4 E. 2. But in Claus. 5 E. 2. m. 23. there came this Countermand by Order from the Prelates Earls and Barons of the Realm appointed by Commission to reform the abuses of the Kings Houshold and Realm against the collecting of them and any other new customs and Maltots Rex Collectoribus novae Custumae lanarum coriorum pellium lanatorum et aliarum rerum venalium in portu London salutem Cum Praelati Comites Barones dicti regni nostri quibus nuper per literas nostras Patentes commissimus potestatem ordinandi de statu Hospitii nostri et Regni praedicti inter caeteras Ordinationes quas super praemissis fecerant et quas acceptavimus et per totum regnum fecimus publicari ordinaverint Quod omnimodo Custumae Maletot levatae post Coronationem Domini E. quondam Regis Angliae patris nostri integrè amoveantur et penitus extinguantur Salvis Custumis lanarum coriorum pellium lanatorum ult vid. de quolibet Sacco lanae dimid marc de 300. pellibus lanat dimid marc de lasto Coriorum unam marcam Vobis mandamus quod de nova Custuma praedicta in Portu praedicto percipiend supersedeatis omnino T. R. apud London 9. Octobr. Per ipsum Regem totum Consilium The like writs then issued to most Port Towns in England If we could see the like president now against all new excessive Imposts and Excises issued to all Collectors and other Officers after so many years continuance of them to the ruine of trade and impoverishing of the Nation only to enslave them to a New Military tyrannical usurping power and keep on their iron yoaks upon their over-galled necks it vvould be a most joyfull spectacle to their eyes and blessed tydings to their ears vvhich they have long in vain expected from late publike Conventions which instead of easing do still renew and continue these heavy yokes and burdens upon them though a thousand times more grievous than those then complained against and redressed In Claus. 5 E. 2. m. 31. 22. I finde a Writ issued by the King Willo de Marescall Mich de Segrave prohibiting that they come not armed to the Parliament seu alio modo quam tempore clarae memoriae E. quondam Regis Angl. Patris nostri fieri consuevit there being a quarrel between them and Dorse 30. 27. 25. 8. m. 30. there are sundry other particulars concerning passages and proceedings in that Parliament worthy perusal though not proper for this Section And so in Cl. 7 E. 2. m. 2. 8. 25. Cl. 8 E. 2. dors 7 8. Claus. 9 E. 2. dors 27. 26. 20. 17. 6. Cl. 7 E. 2. m. 7. dorso the Writ of election entred at large is thus directed to the Sheriff of Hertf. and Essex Rex Vic. Hertf. Essex salutem Cum diversa ardua negotia as in the Writ to the Archbishop Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod de utroque Com. Comitatuum praedictorum duos Milites et de qualibet Civitate duos Cives de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus et ad laborandum potentioribus eligi et eos ad Nos ad dictos diem et locum venire facias Ita quod Milites plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se Communitate Com. praedictorum et dicti Cives Burgenses pro se Communitate Civitatum Burgornm praedictorum divisim ab ipsis babeant and faciend consentiend biis quae tunc de Communi Consilto favente Domino ordinari contigerit Ita quod c. Consimiles literae diriguntur singulis Uicecom per Angliam The like writs issued to the
noster terreri seu dicta negotia nostra retardari valeant quovis modo Teste Rege apud Eborum 5 die Marcii Eodem modo mandatum est singulis Vic. per Angliam From which Writ I shall observe 1. That the Writs of Summons to Parliaments may be altered and enlarged with necessary Prologues and clauses according to the times and emergent occasions by the King and his Counsel without consent or Act of Parliament 2ly That the absence of some Prelates Lords and Great men from the Parliament is a just cause to adjourn or dissolve it 3ly That no weighty affairs ought to be concluded but in a full Parliament when all the Lords and Members are present and not in an empty House when any considerable number of Lords and other Members are absent or secluded 4ly That no Lords nor other persons whatsoever though summoned as Members ought to come to Parliaments with a tumultuous multitude of people followers and armed men it being inconsistent with the freedom and privileges of Parliaments a grand disturbance to their proceedings touching the weighty affairs of the King and Kingdom therein propounded and a great terror and oppression to the people in those places where the Parliaments are held Much less then ought Petitioners or those who are no Members to draw up whole Troops Regiments of armed Souldiers to terrifie force seclude secure dissolve the very Lords Members Houses and Parliaments themselves 5ly That the King and his Counsil alone may by publick Writs and Proclamations lawfully prohibit the resort of any persons of what condition soever to Parliaments with any tumultuous multitude or armed men under the pain of forseiting all they have and that by the antient Common-law of England as well as by the Statute of 7 E. 1. Rastal Armer 1. it being a chief branch of the Kings antient royal Prerogative and Office as the Act declares 6ly That they may insert this Prohibition and Proclamation into the very Writs of Summons themselves when there is just occasion as there was never so much cause as now to do it after so many unparallel'd eumults and violences offered to Members and raised against Parliaments themselves by tumultuous wultitudes of rude people and whole Troops Regiments Armies of Sword-men raised for their defence to the total if not final subversion of the antient Rights Liberties and constitution of our English Parliaments In the Parliaments of 5 E. 2. some Noblemen and Earls by reason of dissentions between them and other fears and jealousies intended to resort to those Parliaments with a great number of armed men of their friends and retainers which the King being informed of thereupon issued these memorable writs unto them expressing the manifold mischiefs and inconveniences thence ensuing and prohibiting them to come to these Parliaments with any arms horses of warr or multitudes of people or to disturb the peace affright the people of the Realm or hinder the publike affairs of Parliament in any kinde under pain of forfeiting all their lands tenements and whatever else they might forfeit to him worthy the consideration and imitation of present and future ages upon the like occasions Clause 5 E. 2. dors 31. Rex dilecto et fideli sno Nicho de Segrave falutem Datum est nobis intelligi quod vos occasione quarundam dissensionum inter vos et dilectum fidelem nostrum Willielmum Mareschal nuper subortarum ad arma vos paratis amicos confederatos vesttos se parare similiter procuratis quodque ad Parliamentum nostrum quod apud London die Dominica proxima post festum Sti. Laurentii proximo futur fecimus summoneri accedere intenditis cum multitudine armatorum unde in immensum non immerito commovemur Et quia accessus bujusmodi si fieret in nostri contemptum et expeditionis negotiorum nostrorum impedimentum ac terrorem populi regni nostri et lesionem pacis nostrae cederet manifestè Uobis mandamus in fide et bomagio quibus Nobis tenemini sub forisfactura terrarum ac tenementorum ac omnium aliorum quae Nobis forisfacere poteritis districtè inhibentes ne ad dictum Parliamentum cum armis seu alio modo quam tempore clarae memoriae Domini E. quondam Regis Angl. patris nostri consuevit accedere aut aliqua alia per quae expeditio negotiorum nostrorum in dicto Parliamento retardari aut pax nostra turbari seu populus dicti regni nostri quovis modo terreri valeat facere praesumatis Consimilia mandata et Inhibitionem fecimus praefato Willielmo super negotio antedicto Teste Rege apud Berwic super Twed. 20 die Julii Eodem modo mandatum est praefato Willielmo de Mareschal T. ut supra Cl. 5 E. 2. dors 22. Rex dilecto et fideli suo Gilberto de Clare Comiti Glouc. Hereford salutem Intelleximus quod ad praesens Parliamentum nostrum apud Westm. continuatum estis cum equis et armis more non debito venientes unde admiramur non immerito et turbamur praesertim cum per hujusmodi accessum vestrum ibidem expeditio negotiorum Nos et statum regni nostri tangentium in dicto Parliamento nostro tractandorum impediri et populus partirum illarum ac alibl in regno nostro terreri posset non modicum et pax nostra turbari Vobis igitur mandamus in fide et homagio quibus Nobis tenemini firmiter injungedtes quod ad dictum Parliamentum nostrum ad tractandum Nobiscum et cum Praelatis ac Magnatibus de regno nostro super dictis negotiis veniatis prout tempore clarae memoriae Domini E. quondam Regis Angl. patris nostri fieri consuevit equis pro armis vobiscum ibidem nullatenus adducentes nec aliquid aliud attemptantes per quod pax nostra turbari aut populus noster terreri valeat quovis modo T. apud Westm. 28 die Novemb Per ipsum Regem Eodem modo mandatum subscriptis viz. Thomae Comiti Lancastr Humfr. de Bohun Comiti Heref. Essex Adamaro de Ualenc Com Pembroke Guidoni de Bello-Campo Com Warr. Edmundo Com. Arundell It seems notwithstanding those Writs there were some forces raised by these Earls and Nobles principally against Peter Gaveston which produced these ill effects 1. It terrified most of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses and caused them to depart home and desert the Parliament so as the King was enforced to issue out new Writs to resummon them and to command the Sheriff to elect others in their places in case they would not or could not come as is evident by the Writs in dorse 26 of Cl. 5. E. 2. forecited p. 73. 2ly It frighted away most of the Kings Justices and Counsil from the Parliament so that he was constrained to resummon and command them not to depart from the Parliament during its continuance without his special license as appears by this ensuing memorable Writ Cl. 5 E. 2.
Angliae Archiepiscopi Episcopi et majores Abbates et quidam Magnates regni Papalo mandatum à Domino Legato explicanduÌ„ audituri c. Comes vero Ricardus alii Magnates Crucesignati ibidem existentes c. Anno 1242. 26 H. 3. scripsit Rex Anglorum omnibus regni sui Magnatibus Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Comitibus Baronibus without mentioning any Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons districtè praecipiens ut omnes Generaliter Londinum die Martis ante Purificationem beatae Virginis convenirent de arduis negotiis regni dilationem non capientibus cum summa deliberatione tractaturi Imminente vero Purificatione beatae Mariae totius Angliae Nobilitas tam Praelatorum quam Comitum et Baronum secundum Regium praeceptum est Londini congregatum c. Responderunt Magnates cum magna cordium amaritudine c. There being no mention of any Commons Knights Citizens or Burgesses therein though writ in the margin Convocatur Generale Parliamentum Londini c. Postea verò ne oblivio tenorem responsionis Baronum deleret in scriptum taliter sunt haec redacta Cum Dominus Eboracensis Archiepiscopus et omnes Episcopi Angliae Abbates et Priores per se vel per Procuratores suos necnon et omnes Comiteg et ferè omnes Barones Angliae ad mandatum Domini Regis convenissent apud Westm. c. Anno Dom. 1242. regni Henrici 3. Regis 26. audituri Domini Regis voluntatem et negotium pro quo ipsos mandaverat Et idem Dominus Rex c. per eosdem solennes nuncios omnes Magnates de Regno suo rogasset de consilio ei dando et auxilio faciendo c. tandem dicti Episcopi Abbates et Priores Comites et Barones magno inter eos tractatu praehabito in primis Domino Regi per praedictos Magnates dederunt consilium c. Et cum dicti Magnates nuncii istud Domino Regi nunciassent responsum redeuntes ad Barnagium dixerunt quod in parte sufficiens dederunt Domino Regi responsum Anno 1244. 28 H. 3. convenerunt Regia submonitione convocati Londinum Magnates totius Regni Archiepiscopi Episcopi Abbates Priores Comites Barones without Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons In quo Concilio petiit Rex ore proprio in praesentia Magnatum auxilium sibi fieri pecuniare c. Recedentesque Magnates de refectorio convenerunt Archiepiscopi Episcopi Abbates Priores seorsim per se super hoc diligenter tractaruri Tandem requisiti ex parte eorum Comites Barones si vellent suis Consiliis unanimiter consentire in responfione et provisione super hiis facienda Qui responderunt quod sine commnni universitate nihil facerent Whereupon the Spiritual and Temporal Lords appointing a Committee agreed in an Answer and Ordinance there being no mention of any but of these Magnatum Magnates Magnatibus et Praelatis in all the passages of this Parliamentary Council which are large and notable a The same year Convenientibus autem iterum Magnatibus cum Praelatis generaliter Londini a die purificationis beatae Mariae in tres Septimanas Concilium super praedictis negotiis et tractatum habuerunt diligentem where they granting the King an ayde to marrie his daughter of xx 8. upon every Knights fee upon condition to ratifie the Great Charter cum novisset Martinus Nuncius Domini Papae quod Magnates Angliae Regiae contributioni generaliter consensissent inhiabat avidius ad negotium suum ad quod missus fuerat consummandum c. After which the same year Rex edicto publicè proposito summonitione generaliter facta fecit notificare per totam Angliam ut quilibet Baro tenens de Rege in capite haberet prompta parata Regali praecepto omnia servitia militaria quae ei debentur tam Episcopi et Abbates quam Laici Barones Congregata igitur universitate totius Angliae Nobilium apud Novum Castrum super fluvium Thynam tractatum est diligenter super tam arduo negotio concerning the differences and an accord between Alexander King of Scots and King Henry Concilio habito circa Assumptionem beatae Mariae diligentissimo where peace was concluded between the Kings and ratified by the Charter of the King of Scots and the Seals of his Prelates Earls and Barons The same year in crastino Omnium Animarum convenientes Magnates Angliae Rex cùm instantissimè ne dicâ—…m impudentissimè auxilium pecuniare ab eis iterum postularet toties laesi et illusi contradixerunt ei unanimiter et uno ore in facie Anno 1246. 30 H. 3. Rex missis literis suis totius Regni Magnates convocavit ut Londini die qua cantatur Letare Hierusalem de statu regni generaliter convenirent tractaturi On which day Edicto Regio convocata convenit ad Parliamentum generalissimum totius Regni Anglicani totalis Nobilitas Londini videlicet Praelatorum tam Abbatum Priorum quà m Episcoporum Comitum quoque Baronum without any mention or intimation of Knights Citixens Burgesses Commoners ut de statu Regni jam vacillante efficaciter prout exigit urgens necessitas consulerent Convenientibus igitur ad Parliamentum memoratum totius Regni Magnatibus in primis aggressus est Dominus Rex ore proprio Episcopos per se posteà verò Comites Barones deinde autem Abbates Priores videlicet super his pro quibus miserat nuncios suos solennes ad Concilium Lugdunense Then shewing them the Oppressions and grievances of the Church and Realm of England by the Pope drawn into Articles which they all consented unto the Bishops by themselves the Abbâ—…s by themselves the Earls Nobles and Barons by themselves in their own names and in the name of all the Clergy and people of England and the King by himself writ several Letters to the Pope and Cardinals for their redress The King in the mean time sending forth Prohibitions under his Seal to all the Bishops not to pay any tax or tallage to the Pope Contra provisionem per Magnates nostros tam Praelatos quà m Comites Barones factam in Concilio nostro Londinensi c. After which die Translationis beati Thomae Martyris habitum est Magnum Concilium inter Regem et regni Magnates apud Wintoniam where receiving the Popes answer to their messengers sent to the Council of Lyons touching their grievances and his carriage towards them Haec autem cum audisset Dominus Rex cum Magnatibus suis commotus est vehementer et meritò c. Anno 1247. 31 H. 3. urgente mandato Papali redivivo de importabili contributione c. fecit Dominus Rex Magnates suos necnon et Angliae Archidiaconos but no Knights Citizens or Burgesses per scripta suâ—… Regia Londinum convocari Quo cum pervenissent die praefixo Episcopi
Ireland subjoyns Nos vero ea occasione convocavimus Archiepiscopos Episcopos Comites Barones et omnes Magnates nostros Angliae quod sint ad Nos apud London die Dominica prox post instanteâ—… mediam Quadragesimam ad tractandum Nobiscum ibidem super hiis aliis Statum nostrum terrae nostrae Angliae Hiberniae tangentibus Nos Domino concedente de Consilio praedictorum ibidem providebimus secundum quod Nobis et indempnitati tâ—…rrae nostrae Angliae Hiberniae viderimus expedire Quod verò ad diem illum actum fuerit et provisum vobis sine mora dispendio et significari curabimâ—… T. Rege apud Westm. 27 die Martii Plac. 18 H. 3. rot 15. dorso Claus. 19 H. 3. dorso 1. dorso 9. Fitzberbert Darrein presentment 23. Provisum est coram Domino Rege Archtepiscopis Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus Consilio Domini Regis quod nulla Assisa ultimae praesentationis de caetero capiatur de Ecclesiiis praebendatis nec de Praebendis c. Pat. 20 H. 3. d. 13. 18. Rex Vic. Norff. Suff. Scias quod die Merc. in crastino Sancti Vinc. in Curia nostra coram Nobis et coram venerabili Patre E. Cantuar. Archiepiscopo Coepiscopis sulâ—… et coram majori parte Comitum et Baronum nostrorum Angliae pro communi utilitate totius regni nostri provisum suit tam à praedictis Archiepiscopis Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus quà m à Nobis conâ—…ssum quod de caetero Omnes viduae c. râ—…citing the Statute of Merton made that year according to the Printed Latin Prologue thereof Claus. 37 H. 3. dorso 9. De Magna Carta tenenda ad inâ—…antiam Pâ—…latorum Magnatum regm nostri c. And Claus. 43 H. 3. dors 9. where the Pope by his Letters earnestly pressing King Henry the 3d to restore his brother Adomar to his Bishoprick of Winchester being enforced to relinquish it and England too by the Barons prosecution the King in his Letter to the Pope there recorded alleged that though he was readie to graâ—…fie his Holiness in any thing he might yet he could not consent to Adomars restitution Adding Your Nuntio who brought this Letter Preces et praecepta vestra coram Nobis Praelatis regni nostri qui tunc Nobiscum aderant ac alia Universitate Comitum Baronum ac Procerume regni nostri plenè et diligenter exposuit et diebus pluribus nitebamur Nos Consilium nostrum et Universitatem praedictam to give their assents for Adomars restitution Tamen mandatis hujusmodi quod non solum personam nostram verum etiam Universitatem regni nostri contingit non possumus absque gravi dispendio et subversione jurium et consuetudinum Regni ejusdem et contra juramentum proprium adimplere Et quanquam hoc facere vellemus praedicta Universitas in hac parte quae unius confilii et voluntatis existit propter graves et notabiles excessus praedicto fratri nostro objectas id nullatenus sustineret c. Which passages with others in this memorable Letter of the Kings compared with that Letter sent about the same time by the Lords against Adomars restitution to the Pope ex parte Regni et totius Angliae Universitata scriptum a Barnagio mentioned by Matthew Paris Anno 1258. and printed in his Additamenta p. 215 216 217. beginning thus Sanctissimo patri in Christo Alexandro c. Communitas Comitum Procerum Magnatum aliorumque Regni Angliâ—… c. reâ—…iting that the King by the Popes power and assistance could not without their counsel and assent much lesse against their wills effect what he desired nor reform his Kingdom but de Procerum Magnatum suorum Consilio Caeterum praefatus Dominus Rex attendens impossibile pondus negotii memorati et Statum Regni sui imbecillum voluit et expressè concessit ut de Procerum Magnatum Consilio sinè quibus Regnum suum gubernare non poterat nec negotium prosequi memoratum dicta reformatio promoveret which Adomar breaking his Oath and receding from his promises opposed to the great disturbance and almost total subversion of the whole Realm c. His unbrideled rapines tyrannies and oppâ—…ssions which they there expresâ—… at large being such and rendring him so odious that Scituri pro certo quod etiamsi Dominus Rex Regni Majores assembled in a Parliamentary Councill hoc vellent Communitas tamen out of Parliament ipsius ingressum in Angliam jam nullatenus sustineret Which Letter was subscribed and sealed by 6. Earls and 4. Noblemen vice totius Communitatis Barnagit in testimonium praedictorum Being likewise compared with the Popes Answer thereunto Literae Papales missae Communitati Angliae Alexander Episcopuâ—… c. Dilectis filiis Nobilibus Uiris Consiliariis charissimi in Christo filii nostri illustris Regis Angliae ac caeteris Proceribus et Magnatibus Regni Angiiae salutem et Apostolicam benedictionem c. will infallibly evidence First that the King Prelats Earls Spiritual Temporal Barons and Nobles of the Realm were our only Parliament Members without any Knights Citizens or Burgesses annexed to or prâ—…t with them before 49 H. 3. 2ly That they were then usually stiled the Communitas or Universitas Regni or Barnagii Baronagii or Communitas Comitum Procerum et Magnatum regni Anggliae and only intended denoted by these Titles and phrases not the Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons in Parl. as e Sir Rob Cotton and others of Note as well as some injudicious Antiquaries have mistaken which having elsewhere at large evinced beyond all contradiction I shall not here further insist upon but proceed to some other general Observations on the precedent Writs 2ly From the manifold Varieties and differences of these recited writs both of Election and Prorogation before and since the Statutes of Henry 4. 5 6. touching elections the Readers may discern the Gross oversight and mistake of Sir Edward Cook in his 4. Institutes p. 10. That these Writs of Summons and Election can receive no alteration but by Act of Parliament Which having elsewhere touched and at large refuted Register Part 1. p. 395. 396 397. I shall prosecute no further 3ly I shall observe from the precedent Writs that no persons ought of right to be elected Knights of any County nor Citizens Burgesses or Barons of any City Borough or Port wherein they are elected but such as are real actual Members of the said respective Counties Cities Boroughs Ports residing or inhabiting within them as this Clause in all the recited Writs De Comitatu tuo duos Milites et de qualibet Civitate duos Milites et de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de quolibet Portu duos Barones c. de discretioribus ad laborandum potentioribus eligi c. clearly import and the Statutes of 7 H. 4. c. 15. 1
Burgensium levandis sued to them or the Sheriffs aâ—…ter most Parliaments ended by many Burgesses of Boroughs as well as by Knights of Shires and Citizens of Cities as I shall if God say Amen demonstrate at large in its due place and shall hereno further insist upon 4ly That of late times some of these antient long-discontinued Boroughs have been revived and new Writs or Warrants for electing Burgesses sent unto them sometimes upon their own Petitions now and then upon some Courtiers Petition to the King in hopes by Letters from the Court and Feasting or Bribing the Burgesses to be elected and retorned Burgesses for the revived Boroughs sometimes by motion or order of some Members of the Commons House who had a design to bring in some Burgesses and made sure of the Burgesses Voyces before hand the Burgesses being now very willing to have their Boroughs revived because many times instead of giving wages to their Burgesses for their service in Parliament as of old they receive not only thanks Feasts but Rewards and Boons if not underhand Bribes for their Voyces from their elected Burgesses who assure them before their choyce they will neither expect nor exact any expences from them which many of them scarce deserve since they do neither them nor their Country any service at all in Parl. promoting only their own private interests or ends or their friends Finally though I shall readily subscribe to Mr. Littletons opinions Section 194. That the antient Towns called Boroughs be the most antient Towns that be within England For the Towns that now be Cities or Counties in old time were Boroughs and called Boroughs for of such old Towns called Boroughs come the Burgesses of the Parliament to the Parliament when the King hath summoned his Parliament which I shall further clear in the next Sections yet I can by no means assent to Mr. William Lambard of Lincolns Inne his Judgement though a learned Antiquary or some others inferences thence who thus argues Now as those written Authorities do undoubtedly confirm Our assertion of this manner of Parliament so is there also an unwritten Law or Prescription that doth no less infallibly uphold the same For it is well known that ln everie quarter of the Realmâ—… a great many of Boroughs do send their Burgesses to the Parliament which are neverthelesse so antient and so long since decayed and gone to nought that it cannot be shewed that they have been of any reputation at any time since the Conquest and much lesse that they haue obtained the Privileges by the Grant of any King succeeding the same so that the interest which they have in Parliament groweth by an antient usage before the Conquest whereof they cannot shew any begining Which thing is also confirmed by contrarie usage in the self same thing For it is likewise known that they of antient Demesn do prescribe in not sending to the Parliament For which reason also they are neither Contributors to the Wages of Knights there neither are they bound to sundry Acts of Parliament though the same be generally penned and do make no exception of them But there is no antient Demesn saving that only which is described in the Book of Domesday under the Title of Terra Regis which of necessity must be such as either was in the hands of the Conqueror himself who made the Book or of Edw. the Confessor that was before him And so again if they of Antient Demesne have ever since the Conquest prescribed not to send Burgesses to Parliament then no doubt there was a Parliament before the Conquest to the vhich they of other places did send their Burgesses To which I answer that this Argument is fallacious and no waies conclusive For 1. these antient decayod Burroughs that now in many places send Burgesses to the Parliament were in no such great reputation at all at or before the Conquest as is insâ—…uated for ought appears by the Book of Dooms-day or any other Record or Historie but as mean and inconsiderable as now they are 2ly There is no Historie or Record that any of these Boroughs whether decayed or not decayed yea though much enlarged enrichd since the Conquest did ever send Burgesses to any one Parliament either before or after the Conquest till 49 H. 3. And I challenge all the Antiquaries in England to demonstrate the contrarie by History or Records 3ly It is irrefragable by the forementioned returns of Sheriffs that all or most of those poor or decayed Boroughs in Cornwall Devonshire Wiltshire Southampton Sussex and some other Counties did in 26 E. 1. and some years after send no Burgesses at all to our Parliament as Camelford Foway Grantpount St. Germins St. Ives St. Maries or Maws St. Michael Portlow Saltash Trebonny Tregony in Cornwall Bearalston in Devon Christchurch Newport Newtown Stockbridge Whitechurch Yermouth in the Countie of Southampton Midhurst and Horsham in Sussex Crickland Henden Old Sarum Heytesbury Westbury Wotton Basset in Wiltshire with others in other Counties as the precedent Table clearly demonstrates all or most of them being enabled to send Burgesses to Parliament since the reign of Edw. the 1. and not before much less by prescription before the Conquest as M. Lambard and others conceit and that percliance not by any special Charters of our Kings creating them Boroughs or Corporations but by private directions of the King and Counsil to the Sheriffs of Counties wherein they were to issue out Precepts to them to elect and retorn Burgesses when they saw any just cause not by antient usage or prescription before the Conquest which none of these Boroughs ever yet pretended or insisted on for ought I can find upon my best inquiry after their Original 3ly The antientest writs for Knights wages extant are those of 28 E. 1. Rot. Claus. dors 3 12 cl 29 E. 1. dors 17. 32 E. 1. dors 3. and no Records Histories or Law-books I have seen derive their original higher than the Reign of King Edward the first The first Statute concerning them is that of 12 R. 2. c. 12. on which the writ in the Register is grounded which enacts only That the levying of the expences of Knights shall be as hath been used before this time the next Statute of 11 H. 4. c. 1. enacts That Knights of Shires unduly retorned shall lose their wages of the Parliament of old time accustomed not at or before the Conquest accustomed The first printed case concerning them in our Lawbooks is but in M. 12 H. 4. f. 3. a. Fitzh Avowry 52. Br. 42. and the first Petitions in Parliament concerning them are those of 28 51 E. 3. Yea no man can prove there were any Knights for Counties elected and sent to Parliaments by the Kings Writs before 49 H. 3. Therefore the prescription to be discharged from contributing to their wages cannot be extended higher than 49 H. 3. not to the Reign of the Conqueror or before the Conquest