Anno Gratiae â172 King Henry the 2d Venit OXENFORD IN GENERALI CONCILIO ibidem celebrato CONSTITUIT Iohannem filium suum REGEM IN HYBERNIA concessione confirmatione Alexandri summi pontificis Et in eodem Concilio venerunt ad Regem Resus filius Griphini regulus de Suâhwales David filâs Oâain regulus de Northwales qui sororem ejusdem regis Angliae in uxorem duxerat Cadwelanus regulus de Delnain Owanus de Keuillian Gâiffinus de Brunfeld Madacusâilius âilius Gervetrog alii multi de nobilioribus Gualliae et omnes devenerunt homines regis Angliae patris fidelitatem ei contra omnes homines pacem sibi regno suo servandam juraverunt In eodem autem Concilio dedit dominuâ Rex Angliae praedicto Reso filio Grifsini terram de Meronith David filio Owain terram de Ellesmare Deditque dominus âex Hugoni de Lasci ut supradictum est in Hybernia totam Midam cum pertinentiis suis pro servitio 100. militum tenendam de ipso et Iohanne filio suo chartam suam ei inde fecit Deditque ibidem Roberto filio Stephani Miloni de Cogham regnum de Coâch pro servitio 60. militum tenendum de ipso et Iohanne filio suo excepta civitate de Corch cum uno cantredo quae dominus rex sibi et haeredibus suis retinuit Deditque ibidem Hereberto filio Hereberti et Willielmo fratri Comitis Reginaldi Iollano de la Primerai nepoti eorum regnum de Limeric pro servitio 60. militum tenendum de ipso et Iohanne filio suo excepta civitate de Limeric cum uno cantredo quae dominus sibi et haeredibus suis retinuit Tradâdit autem dominus rex Willielmo filio Aldelini dapifero suo civitatem Wesesordiae in custodia cum omnâbus pertinentiis suis statuit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad servicium Wesefordiae Harkelou cum pertinentiis suis Glascarric cum pertinentiis suis terram Gilberti de Boisrohard Ferneg Winal cum pertinentiis suis Fernes cum pertinentiis suis totam terram de Hervei inter Weseforde aquam de Waterâorde Servitium Raimundi de Druna Servitium de Frodrevelan Servitium Vimoâthi de Leighlerin Tenementum etiam Machtaloe cum pertinentiis suis. Et Leis terram Gaufridi de Costentin cum pertinentiis suis totam terram Orueldi Tradidit etiam ibidem dominus rex Roberto le Poer marescallo suo in custodia civitatem Waterâordiae cum omnibus pertinentiis suis et statuit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad servitium Waterfordiae totam terram quae est inter Waterforde aquam quae est ultra Lismors totam terram de Oiseric cum pertinentiis suis. Tradidit etiam ibidem dominus rex Hugoni de Laci civitatem Diveliniae cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in custodia staâit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad Servitium Diveliniae totam terram de Offelana cum pertinentiis suis Kildaran cum pertinentiis suis totam terram de Offalaia cum pertinentiis suis Wikechelon cum pertinentiis suis servitium de Mida servitium quatuor militum quod Robeâtus Poer debet de castello suo de Dunaver Postquam autem dominus rex apud Oxeneford in praedicto modo terras Hyberniae et earum servitia divisisset secit omnes quibus earunâemcustodias commisârat homines suos Iohannis silii sui devenire et jurare eâs ligantias et fidelitates de terris Hyberniae Et ieâde m Concilio dedit dominus rex Richardo Priori de Kiteby abbatiam de Witebi Et Benedicto Priori Ecclesiae sanctae Trinitatis Cantuariae abbatiam de Burgo Richardus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus benedixit cum in abbatem Eodem anno praedictus Vivianus Presbyter Cardinalis Apostolicae sedis legatus peracta legatione sua in Hybârnia rediit in Angliam per conductum domini râgis rediit in Scotiam celebrato Concilio apuâ castellum puellarum susspendit a pontificali officio Christianum Episcopum Candidae casae quia ad Concilium suum venire noluit sed Episc. suspensionem illam non tenuit septus munimine Rogeri Eboracensis Archiepise cujus suffraganeus ipse erat Deinde venit dominus Rex usque Merleberge ubi Rex dedit Philippo de Brensa totum regnum de Limeric pro servitio sexaginta miliâum tenendum de ipso de Iohanne filio suo Nam Herebertus Willielmus fratres Reginaldi Comiâis Cornubiae Ioslanus de la Pumerai nepos eorum regnum illud habere noluerunt eo quod nondum perquisitum erat nam occiso a regalibus rege Monodero qui Rex erat de Limeric homo regis Angliae inde suerat quidam de progenie illius vir potens et fortis regnum de Limeric invasit cepit et potenter rexit nullam subjectionem faciens Regi Angliae nec suis obedire voluit propter infidelitatem eorum mala quae faciebant populo Hyberniae sine merito Rex vero Corcensis alii multi divites Hyberniae insurrexerunt in Regem Angliae suos erant novissima eorum pejora prioribus se mutuo interfecerunt By which president it is evident that King Henry by the advice of his Great Council of Prelates and Nobles of in England disposed both of the Kingdoms Crowns and Lands in Ireland to his Son and other subjects of England The same King Henry the 2. Anno Dom. 1182. aetatis annum inchoans quadragesimum nonum dum mentis et corporis incolumitate vigeret dum regnum suum undique tranquillae pacis commoditatibus frueretur apud Waltham Episcopi Winton REGNI CONVOCAVIT MAJORES Itaque prââsentibus illis et approbantibus quandam pecuniae partem in causas pias procurans Quaâraginta siquidem duo miliâa marcorum argenti quingentas marcas auri distribuit c. After this Pope Lucius An. 1185. sending a Letter to King Henry the 2d to take the Cross upon him and succour the holy Land by the Pâtriarch and Master of the Hospital of Hierusalem who presented it to him together with the toy al banner and Keyes of the Lords Scpulcher and of the Tower of David and City of Ierusalem on the behalf of the King and Princes of the Land importuning his answer to their requests Domiâus Rex statuit eis terminum suae responsionis primam Dominicam Quadragesimae apud Londonias Ad quam Dominicam Dominus Rex Patriarcha et Episcopi et Abbates et COMITES et BARONES ANGLIAE but no Knights Citizens or Burgesses thereof Willielm REX SCOTIAE David frater ejus CUM COMITIBUS ET BARONIBUS TERRAE SUAE ãâã Londoniis et habito inde cum deliberatione consslio PLACUIT VNIVERSIS quod Dominus Rex consuleret inde Dominum suum Philippum Regem Franciae
praeter Regni consuetudinem ab Anselmo factiâatum indignè ferentes asserebant sese nunquam tam iniquo Papae decreto assensos vel assensuros et potius tam Anselmum regno exterminaturos et ab Ecclesia Romana penitus discesâuros quam hanc Papae sententiam A IURE REGIO REGNIQUE CONSUETUDINE PRORSUS ALIENAM ratam haberent After many publike meetings and debates between the King Prelates Nobles and Anselm about this business it was agreed that Anselm and William Werelast the Kings Ambassadour should goe to Rome to Pope Paschal the 2. and debate this business before him where the said William appearing and vehemently urging before the Pope in the Kings behalf Dedecus ei et videri et esse si Antecessorum suorum jura perderet quos ipse et animi magniâudine et opum affluentia longe praerivit c. Adding in the close Quod Dominus meus nec pro amissione Regni patietur sibi Ecclesiarum investituras auferri To which the insolent Pope presently replied with a stern countenance Nec ego pro capitis sui redemptione eum investituras permittam impune habere Whereupon they decreed the cause for Anselm against the King and in a Synod at Lateran ratified the former Decree of Pope Urban in the Council at Rome which this Pope by his consolatory Epistle to Anselm informed him of incouraging him openly and boldly to appear and speak in this cause for the Churches divine Liberty Anselm hereupon wrote thus to King Henry inviting him to return into England and to doe him that service as his predecessors had done to his Ancestors Ut autem sim vobiscum ita ut Antecessor meus erat cum patre vestro facere non possum quia NEC VOBIS HOMAGIVMFACERE nec accipientibus de manu vestra Investituras Ecclesiarum propter praedictam Papae Prohibitionem me audiente factam audeo communicare But though Ludovicus Crassus K. of France was so pusillanimous as by his Charter dated An. 1137. to exempt his Archbishops Bishops and Clergy from doing any Homage or Fealty to him for their temporalties before or after their Consecrations granting them Quod canonicam omnino gauderent libertatem ABSQVE HOMAGII IURAMENTI seu fidei primum datae obligatione Yet K. Hen. the first though he were contented at last to part with his investitures to Bishopricks and Abbies yet he would upon no terms exempt any Bishops or Abbots from the homage due unto him for their temporalties after their elections and before their Consecrations not from the Oath of Fealty they alwayes doing homage to him and his Successors at least wise before their consecrations though seldom after them and that in the self-same form as Laymen did without omitting this Clause I become your man as appears by Glanvil l. 9. c. 1. Bracton l. 2. c. 35. Fleta l. 3. c. 16. Britton ch 66 of Homages and 17 E. 2. Of the manner of doing Homage and Fealty prescribing only one and the self-same form of homage as well to the Clergy as Laity as well as the same Oath of Fealty which they equally performed though Littleton and he alone makes a difference between their forms of Homage Hence in the Parliament at Salisbury Anno Dom. 1116. Comites Barones CUM CLERO TOTIUS REGNI in praesentia Regis Henrici 1. sibi et Willielmo filio suo HOMAGIUM FECERUNT FIDELITATEM IURAVERUNT as the Chronicle of Bromton and other of our Historians record I shall illustrate this discourse touching Homage and Fealty with these memorable clauses in the Charter of King Stephen touching the agreement made between him and Henry Duke of Normandy c. in a Parliamentary Assembly of the Bishops and others of the Realm at Wallingford Anno Gratiae 1153. wherein King Stephen declaring him the right hereditary heir to the Crown of England after his death and he reciprocally agreeing that Stephen should enjoy the Crown and Kingdom quietly without interruption by him during his life thereupon Dux propter hunc honorem et donationem et confirmationem sibâ à me factam HOMAGIUM michi et Sacramento securitatem fecit scilicet quod fidelis michi erit et vitam et honorem meum pro suo posâe custodier per conventiones inter Nos praelocutas Ego etiam secuâitatem Sacramento Duci feci quod vitam et honorem ei pro posse meo custodiam et sicut fiâium haeredem meum in omnibus in quibus potero eum manuâenebo et custodiam contra omnes quos poâero Willielms autem filius meus HOMAGIUM et securitatem Duci fecit c. Comites Barones Ducis qui homines mei nunquam fuerunt pro honore quem Domino suo fâci Homagium et Sacramentum michi fecerunt salvis conventionibus inter me et Ducem factis Coeteri vero qui ante Homagium michi fecerant fideliâatem michi fecerunt sicut Domino Et si Dux à praemissis receâerit omnino a servicio ipsius cessarent quousque errara corrigeret c. Comites etiam et Barones mei LIGIUM HOMAGIUM DUCI FECERUNT salva mea fidelitate quamdiu vixero et regnum tenuero Simili lege quod si âgo à praedictis recederem omnino à servicio meo cestarent quousque errata corrigerem Cives etiam Civiâatum et homines Castrorum quae in Dominio meo habeo ex praecepto meo homagium et securitatem Duci fecerunt salva fidelitate mea quamdiu vixero et regnum tenuero Archiepiscopi Episcopi atque Abbates de regno Angliae ex praecepto meo FIDELITATEM SACRAMENTO DUCI FECERUNT Illi quoque qui in regno Angliae Episcopi deinceps fiânt vel Abbates IDEM FACIENT In the Recognition of the antient Customs of the Realm of England used in the reign of King Henry the 1. and his Ancestors quae observari debebant in regno ab omnibus teneri drawen up and agreed upon Febr. 8. Anno Dom. 1164. in the famous Parliamentary Council of Clarindon in the presence of the King and of all the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons and Great men of the Realm who all juraverunt firmiter in verbo veritatis promiserunt viva voce tenendas et observandas Domino Regi et HAEREDIBUS SVIS bona fide et absque malo ingenio in perpetuum I finde these Articles pertinent to my purpose Archiepiscopi Episcopi et universae personae regni qui de Rege tenent in capite habeant possessiones suas de Rege sicut Baroniam et inde respondeant Justiciariis et Ministris Regiis et fequentur et faciant OMNES CONSUETUDINES REGIAS et sicut caeteri Barones debent interesse judiciis Curiae regis cum Baronibus quousque pervenitur ad diminutionem membrorum vel ad mortem Cum vacaverit Archieplscopatus Episcopatus vel Abbatia vel Prioratus in dominio Regiâ esse debet in manu ipsius
of which we have a late memorable president in m Thomas Arundel of Wardour who being created by the Charter of the Emperour Rodolph the 2. COMES SACRI IMPERII una cum universa prole atque posteritate legitima mascula et faeminea in infinitum both for his eminent service in the wars against the Turks and the Nobleness of his Family yet it was with this special saving in his Paten Serenissimae tamen Principis et Dominae Elizabethae Reginae Angliae c. IURIBUS AC SVPERIORIT ATIBUS SEMPER ILLAESIS ET SALVIS yet the Queen with the English Barons would not acknowledg him for an Earl nor Baron in England upon any terms the Queen resolving That she would by no means permit any of her sheep or subjects to wear the badge or follow the whistle of any forein Shepherd or Prince but only her own In the dâbate of which case it was alleged by the English Peers Soâius Principis esse NON ALTEâRIUS CUIUSCUNQUE suis Subditis dignitates destribuere juxta illud Valeriani Imperatoris Ea sit tantum dignitas quae nobis jubentibus sustinetur Ejusmodi titulos honorarios nec à Subditis accipiendos nec à Principe admittendos Principis enim Majestati et Subditorum obsequio multum detrahi si honores ab exteris accipere permittantur tacitum enim sidei pactum inter honorantem et honoratum intercedere videri Hujusmodi titulos illecebras esse occultas ad animos subditorum à suis principibus abstrahendos c. That Reginald Mohun created Earl of Somerset by the Pope in the reign of Henry the 3. was never acknowledged to be an Earl by the King and Lords nor Robert Curson created a Baron of the sacred Empire by Maximilian the Emperor acknowledged to be a Baron in England by King Henry the 8. or his Nobles till he created him a Baron himself by his Charter without giving him a voice in Parliament as King Iames created this Thomas Arundel such a Baron by Patent ut unbratâlem Baronis et Comitis Sacri Imperii titulum maturè obrueret Some say the Queen committed Arundel for receiving this dignity from the Emperor but William Marâyn assures us that Sir Nicholas Clifford and Sir Anth Shirley whom the French King for their Service in the wars received into the Order of S. Michael were laid in prison at their coming home charged to resign their robes and see that their names were blotted out of the French Commentaries It is the general received opinion of all Lawyers Civil Canon Commonâ Heraulds and others who have written of Nobility that none but Emperors or Kings can create Dukes Earls Marquesses Lords Barons and Peers and that only within their own Dominions A Rege enimemanââ it origo Dâgâitaâum Temporalium A Rege et Principe prostâuât ât derivantur tanquam a fonte omâ es Magistratus et Dignitates qâia in eo sunt omnes dignitatum thesauri recondâi Ad Regem solum spect at creare Comites Barones Princeps solus magnas Dignitates confer at Non dicâur vera Nobilitas vel Baro ex infâudationâ nisi â Principe as they all unanimously resolve Hence Baldus and Alciat define a Baron to be one who hath merum justumquâ imperium in aliquo Castro Oppidione CONCESSIONE PRINCIPIS In Bâhâmia Moravia âilesia Lusatia and other Provinces iâcorporated to it Summam pâtestâem obtinet Rex et non solum NOBILES ãâ¦ã ET BARONES CREAT quemadmodum in Silesia ad quatuor primarios BARONATUS nâmo admittitur nisi vel ab IMPERATORE VEL REGE BOHEMIAE BARO CREATUS âVERIT writes Nolden and Dubravius informs as that one Honora primum inter BARONES autoritate Caesaris Henâici H. the 1. adâum PROCERUM gradum proveb batur quae nunc BARONES a quercu in Bohemia appellantur Franciscus Capiblancus resolves BARONUM nomine Comites aliâsque Titularios compraehendi nos dicimus Nam istud verbum BARO est scala et caput DIGNITAIV MREGALIUM And thence he inferrs Dignitas BARONALIS cum sit Dignitas et caput dignitatum sp cificè est tribuenda A PRINCIPE cujus est eas confââre cum ab eo fluant et refluant In France such Feiffs as are at the Kings pleasure and by his license erected into Baronies are the only Territories that give the Title of a BARON and the Lord thereof is stiled A BARON per le Conge du Prince as Mr. Selden proves out of Simon Marion Pâoydey 9â who addes That when A BARONY came to the King of France by escheat or otherwise the Kings giât of the BARONY by Charter made the Patentee A BARON without other Rules of Creation After which he proves by the Code of King Henry the 4. that the Titles and Honours of a Duke Marquess Earls and BARONY and their prerogatâve A SOLO REGE TRIââI POSSVNT And in Spain all their great Dignitie and Titles of Nobility are not only originally derived from the King but most of them upon every death are received again FROM THE KING though not by any Charter of new Creation yet by the Kings acknowledgement of them by adding the titular Name to the heir who by his own name only without the addition of his Title signifies to the King the death of his Ancestor Therefore doubtless none but our Kings and Queens alone can create Earls Lords or Baronâ of Parliament in England there being no one presidânt in Anâiquity nor in any Emâire or Kingdom in the world that I remember to the contrary and this I conceive to be most clearly resolved in and by the Statuâes âf 27 H. c. 24 31 H. 8. c. 10. 28. That one of the first Bârons created by Patent whose Patent is yet exâant waâ Iâhn de Beauchamp Stewârd of the Houshold to King Râchard the 2. whose Patent runs in this form Richardus c. Sciatis quod pro bonis et gratuitis servitiis quae dilectus et fidelis Mâles noster Iohannes de Beauchamp de HOLT Senescallus hospitii nostri nobis impendit ac loco per ipsum tempore Coronationis nostrae hucusque impensis et quem pro Nobis tenere poterit in fururum IN NOSTRIS CONSILIIS PARLIAMENTIS necnon pro Nobili et fideli genere unde dâscendiâ et pro suis magnisicis sensu et circumspectione ipsum Iohannem INUNUM PARIUM Aâ BARONVM REGNI NOSTRI ANGLIAE PRAEFECIMUS Volentes quod IDEM IOHANNES HAEREDES MASCULI DE CORPORE SUO EXEUNTES STATVM BARONIS SVSTINEANT DOMINI DE BEAUCHAMP BARONES DE KIDERMINSTER NUNCUPENTUR In cujus c. datum 10 Octobris I finde this Iohn Beauchamp only once mentioned in the List of Summons in Claus. 11 R. 2. dors 24. dated 27 die Decembris within 3. moneths of his creation where he is stiled only Iohanni Beauchamp de Kiderminster but neither Dominus de Beauchamp nor
Neubrigeusis Simeon Richardus Hagustaldensis Radulphus de Diceto Roger VVendover Thomas Spotte Gervasius Doroberniensis Tilburiensis VVillielmus Stephanides Gualterus Mapes Gualterus Coventriensis Richardus Heliensis Thomas Stubs Petrus Henâam nor yet Glanvill Bracton Andrew Horn and other Lawyers flourishing under H. the 2. and 3. do once use or apply this word Parliamentum to any one Grand parliamentary Council which they alwayes call by other Names for ought I can yet discover upon my best search and inquiry The very first of all our Writers or Historians in my Observation who made use of this word and applyed it to the Common Councils of our Realm is Matthew Paris flourishing about the midsts and dying before the end of King Henry the 3d. Anno. 1259. the 43. of his Reign He in his Historia Angliae from the beginning of the Conquerors Reign till the year 1246. the 30th of Henry the 3d. alwayes made use of the words Concilium Concilium magnum Colloquium Tractatus and the like to expresse all Parliamentary Great Councils and State Assemblies held in England near the space of 200. years before he Writ and never of Parliamentum But in Anno gratiae 1246. and 1247. and in no other years before or after he useth this word five or six times only in these insuing passages Anno 1246. Convenit ad Parliamentum Generalissimum totius Regni Angliae totalis Nobilitas Londini c Over against which the Publisher not he adds in the Margin Parliamentum habitum Londini After which he subjoynes Convenientibus igitur ad Parliamentum mâmoratum totius Regni Magnatibus Then followes Et postea in Anglia in Parliamento Regis ubi congregata fuerat totius Regni tam Cleri quam Militiae Generalis Vniversitas deliberatum c. Yet in the very next page he returns to his old term again Die vero translationis Thomae Martyris habitum est magnum Concilium inter Regem Regni Magnates apud VVintoniam Over against which his continuer or publisher hath placed this marginal Note Parliamentum habitum apud VVinton The like he doth in p. 560. 561 687 714. and elsewere inserting in the Margin Parliamentum Generale c. When as Matthew Paris useth it not but Concilium only or the like in his Text. In his History of the next yeer 1â47 He proceeds thus Dominus Rex Francorum Regni sui Nobiles tam Cleri quam Populi generaliter Edicto Regio fecit convocari ut Ad Parliamentum communiter convenientes ardu negocia Regni sui statum contingentia diligenter deliberando contrectarent And Five pages after Dominus Rex H. 3. jussit omnem totius Regni Nobilitatem convocari c. Oxoniis Praelatosautem maxime Ad hoc Parliamentum vocavit arctius Applying the word Parliamentum to these Assemblies of the King Lords and Nobles both in France and England held this year about the weighty affairs of their respective Kingdoms In his Additamenta to the last Addition of his History printed at London p. 170. he useth the word Parliamentum only once and that in another sense For the conference and discourse of Monkes with one another after their repasts then prohibited the black Monkes by special Order as an impediment to their contemplations and prayers In no places else of his History or other printed pieces do I find he made use of this word Indeed the continuer of his History from the yeer 1258. to the end of King Henries Reign 1273. whom Iohn Bale informâ us to be VVilliam Rishanger flourishing under King Edward the 1. 2. when this word Parliamentum grew coÌmon both in Writs of Sommons Statutes vulgar Speech makes frequent use thereof in his History applying it to great Councils of the Realm in the latter end of Henry the 3d. both in the Text and Margin as in Page 788 933. 935. 938. 940. 948. 960. 967. 974. of his continuation Editione Tiguri 1589 and so doth Matthew Westminster who continued the History of Matthew Paris flourishing under the Reign of King Edward the third when this word Parliamentum was commonly used in all Writs of Summons Statutes Writers and Vulgar speech makes frequent use thereof applying it to the Great Councils of State towards the latter end of King Henry the third in his Flores Historiarum Londini 1570. pars 2. p. 206 207 223 254. 261. 280 296 300 317 345. and in subsequent Pages to the Parliaments held under King Edward the first Henry de Knyghton a Canon of Leicester flourishing under King Richard the 2. de Eventibus Angliae l. 1. c. 3. l. 2. c. 10 12 15. Col. 2318 2387 3446 2455. applies this word to the Great Councils held under the Danish and other Kings before the Reign of Edward the 1. Canutus vixit per 20. annos postea celebravit Parliamentum apud Oxoniam c. Ranulfus Consul Cestriae cum Rege Stephano concordatus est Set tito post in Parliamento apud Northamptoniam delose captus est c. Anno 1261. Rex Hen. 3. convocato Parliamento suo Oxoniae questionem movit Magnatibus suis. Tenuit Rex H. 3. Parliamentum suum apud Merleberg Anno Regni sui 52. ad exhibitionem communis justitiae multa fecit statuta quae dicuntur statuta de Marleberg The Author of the Chronicle of Brompton who writ after the beginning of King Edward the 3. doth the like in these passages according to the language of the age wherein hee writ Edgarvis Rex Parliamentum suum apud Salisbiriam convocavit Post haec Canutus apud Oxoniam Parliamentum tânuit c. cito post in Parliamento suo apud Wintoniam Rex Edwardus Confessor omnes Magnates ad Parliamentum tunc fuerunt Anno 1164. Rex Henricus 2. Parliamentum apud Westâinst tenuit Rex Angliae Richardus 1. congregatus Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus Regni sui Parliamentum Londoniae super hoc habuit Tractatum Rex Johannes Parliamentum suum usque Lincolniam convocaverat So doth Radulphus Cicestrensis Thomas of Walâângham who writ under K. Henry the 6. and after them Fabian Caxton Polydor Virgil Grafton Speed Stow Holinshed Daniel Baker and other of our late Historians Whereupon their injudicious credulous Readers of all sorts conceit not onely the words Parliamentum Parliament but even the thing it self as since constituted of Knights Citizens and Burgesses as well as of the King spiritual and temporal Lords Nobles Barons and Great Men to have been in common use both under our Saxon Danish Norman and English Kings long before the Reign or 49. year of King Henry the 3. when as neither the name nor thing it self as now compacted was either known to or used by any Aniquaries Councils Records Historians or English Writers before Mat. Paris that I have yet seen or heard of From whence to omit other Arguments with the Writs de Expensis Militum
regne du Roy Henry Sisme pâis le conquest primerement unâ Commission du Roy fait desoutz son grande Seal directâz al Honorable puissent Prince Humphry Duc de Glocestre son-Uncle per la quell le Roy avâiâ done poiar a mesme son Uncle a tenit le dit Parlement en le nom du Roy folonâ laffect la contenuz de mesme la Commission en la preseucâ de'l dit Duc seant en la Chambre de peinte deinz In Palayes de Westm. anxy de les Seignieurs espuelz temperelz les Chivalers des Countees des Citeins Burgeois del Roialme Deingleterre pur toute lay Comme de mesme la Rolalmâ au dit Parlement tenuzilleoqes alors esteantz âuit overtement le eâz dont le tenure-cy ensuyt Heâritus Dei gratia Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae omnibus ad quos praesentes litetrae pervenerint salutem Sciatis quod cum de avisamento Concilii nostri pro quibusdam arduis urgentibus negociis nos statum defensionem Regni nostri Angliae ac Ecclesiae Anglicanae contingentibus quoddam Parliamentum nostrum apud Westm. Die Lunae prox ante sestum Sti. Martini prox futur teneri ordinavimus Et quia vero propter certas causas ad Parliamentum Praedictum personaliter non poterimus interesse Nos de circumspectione industria carissimi Avuncuâi nostri Humfredi Ducâs Gloucestr plenam fiduciam reportantes eidem Avunculo nostro ad Parliamentum praedict nomine nostro iâchoand in eo procedend ad facienda omnia singula quae pro Nobis per Nos pro bono regimiâe gubernatione Râgni nostripraedicti ac aliorum Uominiorum nostrorum eidens Regno nestro pertinentâum ibâdem suerint faciend Nec non ad Parliamentum illud âââiendum dissolvendum de assensu Concilii nostri plenam tenore praesentium committimus potestaâeâs Dante 's ultârâus de assensu ejusdem Concilii nostri tam universis singulis Archiepiscopis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus Dusibus Comitibus Baronibus Militibus quam omnibus aliis quorum interest ad Parliamentum nostrum praedictâ conventuris similiter tenore prâsentum in mundatis quod eideââ Avââculo nostrâ intendantâââ praemissiâââ forma supraâ dictâ In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes T. mâipsa apud Westm. 6 dis Novembris Anno Regni nostri primo The like Commission I finde made to the same Duke in the Parliamant Roll of 2. H. 6. n. 1. word for word except in those additional words and clauses in the Commission it self Nos de circumspectione fidelitate industria c. Eidem Avunculo nostro ad Parliamentum praedict nomine nostro inchoand negociaque praedicta exponend ac declarand ac exponi declarari faciend necnon in negociis illis Parliamento praedicto ac omnibus singulis in eo emergentibus procedeâd c. Neânon ad Parliamentum illud si necesse fuerit continuand prorogand ac ad idem Parliamentum finiend c. plenam committimus potestatem quam in eventu praedicto Parliamento nostro tempore aliquo forsan in persona nostra adessâ contigerit revocare intendimus Dante 's c. Ut supra with the like in other Parliaments during this Kings Minority and in 33 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 30. It is observeable that none of these Custodes Regni or Protectors had any power given them to summon or hold Parliaments in their own Names or by their own inherent Authority as Protectors nor to create new Peers or Barons of the Realm by Writs or Patents for ought I finde the very words of their Patents and the Parliaments of 1. H. 4. rot Parl. n. 24 25 26 2 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 15 16. 6 H. 6 rot Parl. n. 22 23 24. a notable Record 8 H. 6. rot Parl. â 13. 33 H. 6. rot Parl. n. 30. to 42. resolving the contrary By all these forecited Commissions Patents and the Patent to the Protectors themselves during the Kings Minoritie enrolled in the Parliament Roll of 1. H. 6. Num. 24 which I have elsewhere published it is most apparent That as the Scripture and New Testament it self in express terms resolve The King alone to be the Supream Magistrate So the Common and Statute Laws Lawyers Writs Records and Parliaments of England have alwaies hitherto resolved declared proclaimed as Bracton l. 1. c. 8. l. 3. c. 16. f. 134. l. 3. c. 3. 9. Fleta l. 1. c. 5. 17. The Parliament of Lincolne 29 E. 1. 16 R. 2. â 5. 25. H. 8. c. 19 21. 22. 26 H. 8. c. 1. 27. H. 8. c. 15. 28 H. 8. c. 7 10. 31 H. 8. c. 10 15. 32 H. 8. c. 22 24 26. 33 H. 8. c. 29. 35 H. 8. c. 1. 3 27 19 37 H. 8. c. 15. 1. E. 6. c. 2. 1. Eliz. 5. 1. 3. 4. 5 Eliz. c. 1. 8 Eliz. c. 1. 1 Iac. c. 1. 2. 3. Iac. c. 4. 7 Iac. c. 6. The Prologues of all ancient Parliaments and the very words of the Oathes of Supremacy and Allegiance prescribed to all Members of the Common House Judges Justices Officers Barristers Attornies Sheriffs Graduates Ministers and School-Masters by our Parliaments abundantly evidence The King of England alone not the Custos Regni Protector nor any other person whatsoever nor the Pope himself to be the onely Supream Governour Head Magistrate of the Realm of England and the Dominions thereunto annexed and that in and over all spiritual and ecclesiastical persons things causes as well as temporal without recognizing any other Soveraign Lord Governour Magistrate for ought I finde in History or Record 10. That the causes of summoning and proroging all Parliaments ought to be generally or particularly expressed in the Writs of Summons and Prorogation together with the precise daies whereon and places wherein they are to meet upon the Summons or Prorogation that so all may know âertainly at what time and place to meet That the daies and places of their meeting and prorogation were absolutely in the power of our Kings who varied them according to emergent occasions and the places of their necessary residence For instance When the wars or affairs of Scotland drew our Kings and Nobles towards the Northern parts they usually summoned or prorogued their Parliaments to York Karlisle Newcastle Stanford Lincolne Leycester Northampton Cambridge Stainford Conventry Nottingham When the wars and businesses of France called them towards the South they frequently summoned their Parliaments to Winton Salisbury Southampton Canterbury When the wars or negotiations of Wales or Ireland occasioned their removal towards them they convened their Parliaments at Gloucester Worcester Salop Hereford Bristol Oxford or Malborough But most usually they were summoned and prorogued to Westminster or London as the center and Metropolis of the Realm and the most indifferent and convenient place of meeting as