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
settlement of our 3. Kingdoms reduced to the brink of utter ruine by their dangerous 〈◊〉 Innovations and Usurpations over their fellow-Members â—…cers and Kings and restore our Parliaments to their antient Constitution Rights Privileges without any injurious Incroachments upon the Peoples Liberties or one House upon the other I shall 〈◊〉 God for it and by his assistance proceed to publish the remaining Sections for the benifit of Posterity In the mean time I hope this Fragment will demerit thy thanks too and thy servent Prayers for thy friend The unfeined unmercinary Servant of his Native Country in his generation William Prynn Lincolns-Inne Jan. 7. 1659. THE SECOND PART OF A Brief Register Kalendar and Survey of the several Kindes Forms of PARLIAMENTARY WRITS HAving already presented the world with the First Part of my Brief Register Kalendar and Survey of the several kinds forms of Parliamentary Writs in 3. distinct Sections with Special General Choise useful Annotations on and Observations from them relating principally to the Members and Assistants of the LORDS HOUSE I shall now proceed in this Second Part by Gods assistance to communicate to this present age and Posteritie in several Sections the manifold varieties forms of Writs issued to Sheriffs of Shires and particular Corporations made Counties within themselves Wardens of the Cinqueports Mayors of Towns Burroughs and Officers of the Ports for electing Knights Citizens Burgesses Barons of the Ports and other Members to serve in our Great Councils Parliaments or attend upon or appear before them as Assistants or otherwise upon Extraordinarie Occasions with the different Forms of Writs for Proroguing Adjourning Superseding Parliaments or Councils after the first Writs of Summons issued to Spiritual and Temporal Lords of all ranks the Kings Counsil Sheriffs and other Officers with extraordinarie Writs directed to the King Nobles Officers and others of Scotland and to some Lords Officers and others in Ireland as likewise to Merchants Masters Owners of Ships and other private persons to appear at or before the Parliament or Kings Counsil in England upon urgent occasions relating to the respective Lands affairs defences of Scotland or Ireland or to the Guarding of the Seas Merchandize trade and the like with sundrie kinds of Writs issued to the Arch-bishops Bishops Convocations Clergy of England besides other rare Writs relating to our Parliamentarie affairs and proceedings not hitherto published or insisted on by any Writers of our Parliaments though most worthie the knowledg of all Noble-men States-men Parliament-men Lawyers Gentlemen of qualitie Antiquaries Historians hitherto for the most part totally unacquainted with them or the majoritie of them almost quite buried in the grave of oblivion many of our Records being now overspread with dust cobwebs and eaten up with rust cankers moths worms in their over-much neglected Cells for want of industrie care in those who should preserve and reduce them into better order for the publike benefit of the present and succeeding ages A Work fit to be speedily executed promoted and no longer deferred by those whom it most concerns and by persons in highest Authoritie as worthy their superintendent eye and countenance being the richest Treasures of the whole English Nation SECTION IV. Of the several varieties forms of Writs for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses for Parliaments and great Councils issued to the Sheriffs of Counties intermixed with some of their ancientest Retorns by Sheriffs and some writs of Prorogation and Resummons with special usefull Annotations on and Observations from them after most of these VVrits recitals VVHen and in what Kings Reign Writs for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses to serve in our great Councils Parliaments were first issued and they upon the peoples free choice admitted into them as Members is a great yet undecided Countroversie amongst Antiquaries and Writers of our English Parliaments Some conceit that there were Knights Citizens Burgesses and Commons in the Reigns of our Saxon Kings before the Conquest summoned as Members to their grand Councils and included together with the Nobles under the name of Sapientes and the like for proof whereof they much insist upon the pretended ancient Treatise stiled Modus tenendi Parliamentum which in truth is but a late absurd Imposture though cried up by Sir Edw. Cook who over doted on it for a most ancient Record beyond all exceptions relying upon it as an undoubted Oracle Others refer their original to the Parliamentarie Council held at Salisbury in the sixteenth year of King Henry the 1. to which opinion Polydor Virgil Holingshed Speed in their Histories Anno 1216. Justice Dodderidg Mr. Cambden Mr. Agar and Joseph Holland in their Treatises of the c Antiquity of the Parliaments of England Sir Walter Raleigh and others incline as most probable Which I have at large refuted in My Plea for the Lords p. 165. to 183. by unanswerable evidences Sir Rob Cotton and Mr. Selden two of our learnedest most judicious Antiquaries do rather incline that the writs for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses began but about the later end of King Henry the 3. and that the first Writ of this kinde now extant is that in Cl. 49 H. 3. before which time I conceive it can hardly be made good by Historie or Records that anie Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons elected by the people or others were called to our Great Councils or Parliaments as Members of them That which induceth me to adhere to this opinion are not onely the Histories and Records I have elswhere cited during the reigns of King Henry the 1. King Stephen Henry the 2. Richard 1. King Iohn and Henry the 3. of all the Parliamentarie Councils held under them before this year which make no mention of anie such Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons summoned to or present in them as Members but only of the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Nobles and Great men of the Realm but these memorable Writs entred in the Clause Roll of 48 H. 3. which assure us that there was a Parliamentarie Council summoned held this year by the King his Prelates Lords Nobles Barons and a Tenth granted him by the Prelates Lords ordained how to be levied expended for the common benefit of the Realm Church of England by their unanimous Counsil and advice without the least mention at all of anie Knights Citizens Burgesses or Commons called to or acting in it in anie kinde Claus. 48 H. 3. m. 5. dorso Rex Johanni de Balliolo salutem Cum jam sedata turbatione nuper habita in Regno nostro Pax inter Nos et Barones nostros divina cooperante gratia ordinata sit ac firmata Et quaedam ardua negocia Nos et Regnum nostrum tangentia Vobiscum communicanda habeamus quae sine praesentia vestra aliorum Fidelium nostrorum nequeunt expediri Vobis de Consilio Baronum nostrorum mandamus in fide et homagio quibus Nobis tenemini
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
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