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
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
puzled so many and none else have hitherto fully or truly explained which I humbly submit to the Readers consideration The 3. Writ I have found in our Records touching the election of any Knights of Counties to a Parliamentary Council before 49 H. 3. is this of Claus. 38 H. 3. m. 7. 12. dorso not mentioned in any Treatises of our Parliaments or Collection of Parliamentary Writs of Summons I have seen transcribed with my own hand out of the Roll it self as worthy observation Rex Vic. Bed et Berks salutem Cum Comites Barones caeteri Magnates Regni nostri Nobis firmiter promiserunt quod erunt London à die Pasche prox futur in tres Septimanas cum equis et armis parati et benè muniti ad tendendum sine ulla dilatione versus Portesmouth ad transfretand ad Nos in Vasconiam contra Regem Castell qui terram nostram Vasconiae in manuforti in aestate prox futura hostiliter est ingressurus Et tibi mandavimus quod omnes illâ—…s de Balliva tua qui tenent 20 librat terrae de Nobis in Capite vel de aliis qui sunt infra aetatem et in custodia nostra ad idem distringas Tibi districtè praecipimus quod praeter omnes praedictos venire faciatis coram Consilio nostro apud Westmon in Quindena Paschae prox futur Ouatuor Legales et Discretos Milites de Comitatibus praedictis quos iidem Comitatus ad hoc eligerint vice omnium et singulorum eorundem videlicet Duos de uno Comitatu et duos de alio ad providendum una cum Militibus aliorum Comitatuum quos ad eundem diem vocari fecimus quale Auxilium Nobis in tanta necessitate impendere voluerint Et tu ipse Militibus et aliis de Comitatu praedicto necessitatem nostram et tam urgens negotium nostrum diligenter exponas et ad competens auxilium Nobis ad praesens impendend efficaciter inducas Ita quod praefati Ouatuor Milites praefato Consilio nostro ad praedictum terminum Pasche respondere possint super praedicto auxilio pro singulis Com praedictorum Firmiter etiam tibi praecipimus quod omnia debita quae Nobis aretro sunt in Balliva tua et solvi debuerint ad Scaccarium nostrum ante Pasch. jam instans vel solvi debent ad Scace ejusdem Pasche habeas ad idem Scac. in quindena praedict Pasche Scientes quod nisi praedicta debita tunc ibidem babueris non solum corpus tuum arrestari faciemus set debita illa de terris et tenementis tuis levari faciemus ad dampnum tuum non modicum Teste A. Regina et C. Com. Cornub apud Windesore xi die Febr. Consimilia Brevia diriguntur omnibus Vicecomitibus Angliae These Writs though at first view they look like Writs for electing Knights of Shires to a Parliamentary Council yet in truth they are no such Writs but onely command the Sheriffs to cause two Knights to be elected in every County by the Counties themselves in their steads to appear before the Kings Counsel not Parl. at Westminster on Quindena Pasche following to inform the Counsel what voluntary ayde each particular County would grant the King in his great necessity towards the Defence of Gascoigne against the intended invasion of the King of Castell Which Neceâ—…ity and Business the Sheriffs themselves were commanded diligently to declare to the elected Knights and others of the County and effectually to induce them to grant the King a present competent ayde So as the Knights of each County might answer upon their appearance before the Kings Counsil at the day prefixed what they would doe concerning this ayde thus required of them This appears 1. By that very Clause of these Writs which is most pertinent which requires not the Sheriffs to elect two Knights to come to any Great Council or Parliament there to advise and consult together touching the granting of a Subsidie or ayde to the King but only 2ly By the very Prologue of the Writ which recites That the Earls Barons and the rest of the Great men of the Realm had firmly promised the King to be at London 3. weeks after Easter with their horses and arms not to hold a Parliament or Great Council but to march from thence to Portsmouth without any delay and to cross the Seas to the King in Gascoigne to ayd him against the King of Castell and that he should distrain all who held 20 l. lands a year of the King in Capite or of any of his Wards within their respective Counties to accompany the Lords and Great men in this Expedition And thereupon it requires a voluntarie ayde of the rest of the Freeholders and Inhabitants in each County towards this expedition in manner aforsaid for which end they were to elect 2 knights in each County to appear before the Kings Privy Counsil not the Earls Barons and other Great men of the Realm 15 dayes after Easter a week before the Nobles and Great men appointed to meet 3ly By the whole frame of the Writ differing much from the Writs of Summons here ensuing and commanding the Sherifs to levy and pay in all the Kings debts under strictest penalties into his Exchequer by a certain day which no other Writ of Summons to Parliament doth 4ly By comparing it with a like Writ to both the Archbishops and all Bishops of Engl. forecited Part 1. p. 4 5. to summon all their Chapters Archdeacons Clergy and other Religious persons before them in their respective Diocesses and to excite them to a free and liberal contribution of an ayde to the King upon the same necessity and occasion whereof they were to certifie the Kings Counsil by certain discreet men â—…hosen by them at the same time as the Knights of Counties were both which Writs are entred together in the same membrana differ but two dayes in their date and fully explain each other 5ly By parallelling it with this writ in Claus. 19 H. 3. m. 8. dorso Rex Vic. Sussex salutem Scias quod Archiepiscopi Episcopi Abbates Priores Comites Barones omnes alii de Regno nostro Angliae qui de Nobis tenent in Capite spontanea voluntate sua et sine consuetudine Concesserunt Nobis efficax Auxilium ad magna negotia nostra expedienda unde provisum est De Constlio illorum quod habeant de singulis feodis Militum Ward quae de Nobis tenent in Capite duas Marcas ad praedictum Auxilium Nobis faciendum et unde providerint reddere Nobis unam medietatem ante festum Sancti Michaelis Anno regni nostri 19. aliam medietatem ad Pasch. Anno regni nostri 20. Ideo tibi praecipimus quod ad mandatum Venerabilis Patris R. Cicestr Episcopi Cancellarii nostri sine dilatione distringas omnes Milites et liberè tenentes qui de eo tenent per Servicium
Militare in Balliva tua ad reddendum ei de singulis feodis Wardis duas Marcas ad praedictum Auxilium Nobis per manum suam reddendum in terminis praedictis Sic scribitur pro aliis Episcopis Abbatibus Prioribus et Magnatibus to the number of 23. And dors 6. of the former Roll there is the like Writ for other Temporal Barons By which it is apparent that in this Kings reign as well as in succeeding ages all Publike Aydes granted in Parliamentarie Councils were granted by the common consent of the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons and others who held of the King in Capite by Act of Parliament according to the forecited Clause of the Great Charter of King John and the subsequent Statutes of 25 E. 1. c. 5 6. De Tallagio non concedendo 14 E. 3. c. 21. Stat. 2. c. 1. the Petition of Right 3 Caroli and other Acts Therefore this Ayde which these Knights were chosen and summoned to grant for their respective Counties without the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons and Great men of the Realm or without any Citizens or Burgesses summoned together with them was doubtless no Parliamentary Ayde but a voluntarie free Contribution of their own without common consent in Parliament and so this Writ no Writ of Summons or election to a Parliament though not impertinent to my Theam and worthy observation The 4th sort of Writs I have found in my search which have any Analogie to a Summons of Knights to a Parliamentary Council is this memorable Writ of Claus. 45 H. 3 â—…m 6. dorso not taken notice of by others Rex Vic. Norff. Suff. salutem Cum ex parte Episcopi Wigorn Comitem Leic. et Glouo ac quorundam aliorum Procerum Regni nostri vocati sunt tres Milites de singulis Comitatibus nostris quod sint coram ipsis ad Sanctum Albanum in instanti festo Sancti Matthaei Apostoll secum Tractaturi super communibus Negotiis Regni Nostri Et Nos praedicti Proceres nostri in eundem diem apud Windesore convenimus ad Tractandum de Pace inter Nos et ipsos Tibi praecipimus quod illis Militlbus de Balliva tua qui vocati sunt coram ets ad diem praedictum firmiter injungentes ex parte nostra ut omni occasione postposita ad Nos die praedicto veniant apud Windesore et eis etiam districte inhibeas ne dicto die alibi quam ad Nos accedant sed eos modis omnibus venire fac coram Nobis ad diem praedict Nobiscum super praemissis Colloquium habituros ut ipsi per effectum operis videant et intelligant quod nihil attemptare proponimus nisi quod honori atque utilitati Regni nostri tendere noverimus querere T. Rege apud Windesor xi die Septemb. Eodem modo mandatum est singulis Vicomitibus citra Trentam Our Historians relate that a little before this writ there fell out a Great Difference between King Henry and his Barons concerning the Provisions made at Oxford and his Oath for their Observation from which he held himself absolved because it was compulsory The King and his partie objected against the Barons who pretended the profit of the Realm that they sought only their own bonor and gain contrary to their pretences and decrees They on the other side spread abroad rumors among the people that the King intended to introduce forein forces and impose Taxes at his pleasure c. to the subversion of the State of the Realm and oppression of the people Which the King by his Proclamations protested against as false and scandalous to undeceive his seduced Subjects whose affections and assistance the Barons by these false suggestions endeavoured to alienate from him as Claus. 45 H. 3. pars 1. d. 15. and Claus. 48 H 3. d. 9. Pat. 48 H. 3. d. 20. record Whiles the King and Barons thus banded against each other it appears by this Writ the Barons summoned 3. Knights out of every Connty to come before them at St. Albans on St. Matthews day to treat with them concerning the common affairs of the Realm But whether these 3. Knights were elected by the Inhabitants of each County or such only as the Barons themselves nominated which is most probable appears not certainly by the Writ of which our Histories make no mention The King being informed hereof to prevent this intended Assembly at St. Albans by his writs commands these Lords and Barons to repair to him at Windsore the self-sameday on which they appointed these Knights to meet them to treat of a Peace between him and them and by this Writ commanded this and all other Sheriffs on this side Trent to whom like writs were sent to summon those very Knights the Barons had called to St. Albans to appear before him the same day at Windesore strictly prohibiting them to appear that day at any other place than before himself and to cause them by all possible means then to come before him to conferr with him about the premises to wit the peace and reconciliation between him and the Barons that so thèy might by the effect of that Treaty both see and understand that he purposed to attempt or seek nothing but what he knew was for the honor and profit of his Realnt So as these Writs in reality were no proper legal Summons of any Knights of Shires to a Parliament or Great Council but rather an inhibition to divert them from confederating and meeting with the Barons by summoning them all at the same time to appear before the King at Windsore to be witnesses of his fair proceedings and publike intentions in the Treatie of Peace then intended between him and his Barons And that which further clears it is somwhat a like Writ in the same Roll to the Barons and Bailiffs of Sandwich about 3. weeks after the precedent Writ which for its raritie I shall here insert Rex Baronibus et Ballivis suis de Sandwic salutem Cum Vos et Progenitores vestri Nobis et Progenitoribus nostris et Coronae nostrae semper extitistis prompti et fideles jam per quosdam Nobis adversarios protenus sicut audivimus quod hac die quindena post festum S. Michaelis sub specie reformandae pacis inter Vos et Barones nostros de Wincheles apud Bradhull convenire debeatis ubi in dampnum nostrum colligationes requirere et eos quos poterint à nostra fidelitate avertere proponunt Vobis mandamus sub debito fidelitatis et dilectionis quibus Nobis tenemini specialiter injungentes ne ibi aliquo modo accedatis aut animos vestros eorum suggestionibus aliquo modo inclinetis et super contentionibus inter vos et dictos Barones nostros de Wincheles subortis in pace vos habeatis usque ad festum Nativitatis Domini ut tunc ad vos Custodem Portuum nostrorum aut
eadem data viz. Majori Ballivis de Norwich pro uno Cive Majori et Ballivis de Kingeston super Hull pro uno Burgense Ballivis de Sancto Botho pro uno Burgense Majori Ballivis Bristoll pro uno Burgense Majori Ballivis de Villa Southampton pro uno Burgense Majori Ballivis Cicestr pro uno Cive Ballivis Villae magnae Jernmutb pro uno Burgense Majori Ballivis Villae de Lenn pro uno Burgense Majori Ballivis Lincoln pro uno Cive Rex dilecto fideli suo Bartho de Burghershe Constabulario Castri sui Dovor Custodi Quinque Portuum suorum vel ejus 〈◊〉 Tenenti salutem Quia pro magnis urgentilus negotiis c. Vobis mandamus firmiter injungentes Quod de Quinque Portubus praedictis duos Barones de Provectoribus discretioribus magis expertis Baronibus Portuum praedictorum eligi eos ad diem locum venire faciatis Ita quod iidem Barones plenam sufficientem potest pro se commun Portuum babeant ad tract and. consulend consentiend biis quae tunc divina favente clementia de communi Consilio contiger it ordinari Et ut homines ab ista occupatione Autumpnalibus quo minus possumus retrabamus duos tantum Barones de Portubus prae dictis ad dictum Consilium mittend habere volumus ista vic Nos de die receptionis praesentium per quem vobis dilatae fuerint certificantes tunc ibid. Test. ut supra In these Writs there are these several things remarkable 1. The occasions of them Pro magnis urgentibus negotiis novis subitis ad nos perlatis nos statum ac jura Regni nostri Angliae summe concernentibus super quibus festinum providum oportet exhiberi remedium as the Writ to the Arch-bishop recites and the ut supra in these writs refers to 2ly The title given to this Convention not Parliamentum but Consilium as the latter clauses of these writs ad dictum Consilium and the marginal Note in the Roll summonitio Consilii import 3ly The persons summoned to it namely the Arch-bishops Bishops one Prior one Abbot the Earls and temporal Lords and Barons the Kings Justices and Counsil as well of the Clergy as Laity but one Knight only and no more out of every Shire for the whole Shire 2 Citizens out of London only but one Citizen and Burgesse alone out of every other Citie and Borough and 2 Barons but no more out of all the Cinque-ports 4ly The extraordinary qualification of the Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons to be elected who are limited to be de provectioribus discretioribus magis expertis Militibus Civibus Burgensibus Baronibus 5ly The reason rendered why one only in each of these was at this time prescribed to be elected and no more was ut homines ab ista occupatione autumpnalibus quo minus possumus retrabamus 6ly The clause of the plenary and sufficient power they were to have for themselves and the Commonaltyes who elected them ad tractand consulend consentiend hiis quae tunc divina favente clementia de communi consilio contigerit ordinari super negotiis ante dictis varyes from former clauses 7ly The Certificate required from all to whom these writs issued Nos de die acceptionis praesentium per quem tibi dilatae fuerint certificans tunc ibidem not usual in other writs 8ly That writs issued to Sheriffs only to choose one Knight but not to elect any Citizen or Burgess within their Counties the writs for their elections now issuing to the Maiors Sheriffs Bayliffs of each City and Borough not to the Sheriffs There are other forms of Writs somewhat like unto these last recited thus registred in Claus. 21 E. 3. m. 12. dors not unworthy special observation issued to Sheriffs of Counties Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs ' of Corporations Cities which I shall present you with Rex Vic. Lanc. salutem Quia pro magnis urgentibus negotiis Nos statum Regni nostri Angliae concernentibus cum Prelatis Magnatibus Proceribus aliis fildelibus dicti Regni nostri apud Westm. die Lunae prox post festum sancti Mathaei Apostoli prox futur Colloquium habere volumus tractatum Tibi prâ—…imus firmites injungentes quod unum Militem gladio Cinctum de discretioribus magis expertis Militibus Com praedicti de assensu ejusdem Comitatus sine dilastone eligi eum ad dtem locum praedictos venire facias Ita quod idem Miles pro se pro communitate Com. praedicti plenâ—…n sufficientem petestatem habeat ad tractand consulend consentiend hiis quae tunc divina favente clementia contigerit ordinari super negotiis antedictis hoc nullatenus omittatisi Teste ut supra Eodem modo mandatum est singulla Vicecomitibus per Angliam sub eadem data Rex dilecto fideli suo Bartho de Burghersh Constabulario Castri sui Dov c. vobis mandamus c. quod de quolibet Portuum praedictorum unum Baronem de discretionibus magis expertis Baronibus Portuum eorundem eligi c. Ita quod iidem Barones plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se communitate Portuum praedictorum habeant ad tractand c. ut supra Rex Majori Vicecomitibus London c. ut supra Quod duos Cives de provectioribus discretioribus magis expertis Civibus Civitatis predictae de assensu ejusdem Civitatis sine dilatione eligi c. Ita quod lidem Cives pro se c. hoc nullatenus omittatis Eodem modo mandatum est Majoribus Ballivis Civitatum Burgorum subscriptorum de duobus Civibus sive Burgensibus mittendis sub eadem data viz. Majori Ballivis Civitatis Karliol Majori Ballivis villae Novi Castri super Tynam Majori Ballivis Civitatis Eborum Majori Ballivis Villae de Kingeston super Hull Majori Ballivis Civitatis Lincoln Majori Ballivis Villae Cauntebrigg Ballivis Villae de santo Botho Botolph Ballivis Civitatis Norwich Majori Ballivis de Bristol Majori Ballivis Villae Southampton Majori Ballivis Cicestr Ballivis Magna Jernemuth Ballivis de Gippewico Majori Ballivis de Lenn Majori Ballivis Civitatis Wynton Majori Ballivis Gloucestr Majori Ballivis Civitatis Sarum Majori Ballivis Civitatis Exon. Majori Ballivis Bathon Majori Ballivis Wellen. Majori Ballivis de Coventr Majori Ballivis de Lichefeld Majori Ballivis Civitatis Wigorn. Majori Ballivis Civitatis Hereford Mojori Ballivis Villae Northampton Majori Ballivis Civitatis Cantuar. Majori Ballivis Civitatis Roffen Majori Ballivis Bedford Majori Ballivis de Bokingham Majori Ballivis Oxon. Majori Ballivis Elien Majori Ballivis Notingham Majori Ballivis Derb. Majori Ballivis Salop. Majori
Ballivis Stafford Majori Ballivis Warwick Majori Ballivis Leicestr The things most observable from these writs are these 1. That in the margin of the Roll these writs are stied Summonitio Consilii that the word Parliamentum is not mentioned in them but Colloqu Tractatum and in the Prologue to the printed Statute of the Staple 27 E. 3. it is styled Dur great Counsel at Wettminster 2ly That both the Arch-bishops all the Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Temporal Lords and Kings Counsel usually summoned to former Parliaments were summoned to this Great Council and 2 Citizens and Burgesses out of every City and chief but not petty Borough by special Writs issued to their Maiors and Bayliffs only not to the Sheriffs of Counties as usually and yet but one Knight out of every County and one Baron out of every of the Cinqueports was summoned thereunto which is thus expressed in the very printed Prologue to the Statute of the Staple made therein Anno 27 E. 3. 1353. Whereas good deliberation had with the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and Great men of the Counties that is to say of every County one Knight for all the County and of the Commons of Cities and Boroughs of our Realm of England summoned to our Great Counsel c. 3ly That the principal cause of summoning this Great Counsel was the setling of the Staple for England Wales and Ireland and making Laws and Ordinances for the same by the Counsel and common assent of the said Prelates Dukes Earls and Barons Knights and Commons as the Prologue to the Statute of the Staple made therein and the Statute it self resolves us which principally concerned Cities and Boroughs 4ly That the Knights Citizens Burgesses and Barons to be elected and sent thereto were limited to be De discretioribus magis expertis Militibus c. and to have plenam sufficientem potestatem ad tractand consulend consentiend c. as in the precedent writs 5ly That the number of the Cities and Boroughs to which special writs issued were 37. besides London and the Cinque-ports entred promiscuously without any alphabetical or other order as the Clerks pleased but none out of Cornwall or small Boroughs 6ly That in 28 E. 3. a Parliament was summoned for confirmation of the Ordinances and Statutes for establishing the Staple made in this Great Councel wherein they were confirmed with certain Declarations and Additions to be firmly kept and holden for a Statute to endure for ever as the printed Act of 28 E. 3. c. 13. the Parliament and Statute rolls inform us Therefore no binding Acts till then The next Writs for electing Knights Citizens and Burgesses are in Claus. 28 E. 3. dors 26. the writs to the Sheriffs are duos Milites duos Cives duos Burgens de discretioribus provect ad laborand potentioribus qui non sunt placitatores quaerelarum manutentores aut ex hujusmodi questu viventes sed homines valentes bonae fidei ac publicum commodum diligentes eligi c. as in claus 24 E. 3. pars 2 dors 3. forecited and those in claus 29 E. 3. dors 8. are both the same with these in all clauses except in their dates and the dayes places of the Pailiament though the writs of Prorogation Dors. 7. vary from them having duos Milites gladiis cinctos c de discretioribus probioribus Militibus c. ad laborand potentioribus only in them Clause 31 E. 3. dors 21. The writs to the Sheriffs are only Duos Milites duos Cives duos Burgenses de discretioribus probioribus Militibus Civibus Burgensibus ad laborand potentioribus with a seu propter improvidam electionem c. in the Ita quod c. which clause is in the writ to the Warden of the Cinque-ports entred after those to Sheriffs But the writs to the Sheriffs dors 2. of this Roll run thus Rex Vic. Kanc. c. Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod de Com. tuo duos Milites gladiis cinctos de qualibet Civitate com illius duos Cives de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus probioribus Militibus Civibus Burgensibus com comitatuum Burgorum eorundem et de elegantioribus personis eligi c. Ita quod c. seu propter improvidam electionem Militum Civium aut Burgensium praedictorum dicta negotia nostra infecta nō remaneant c. Et habeas ibi nomina praedictorum Militum Civium Burgensium hoc breve Et scire facias eisdem quod propter arduitatem negotiorum praedictorum celeriorem expeditionem eorundem volumus primo die Parliamenti personaliter interesse per quod nolumus nec intervimus aliquem ad dictum Parliamentum summonitum quin eodem primo die personaliter intersint habere ullo modo excusatum seu excusationem inde admittere aliqualem Teste ut supra Consimilia brevia diriguntur fingulis Vicecomitibus per Angliam nec non Henrico Duo ci Lancastr vel ejus locum tenenti sub eadem data In these writs I observe 1. A new qualification De elegantioribus personis in no writs else before or after 2ly An unusual clause in the close of them strictly requiring every person summoned to this Parliament to be personally present at it on the very first day thereof without any excuse An infallible Argument and clear evidence that all Members of Parliament duly elected or summoned ought personally to appear therein at the very first day and none of them to be suspended secluded ejected by their Fellow-Members or others 3ly That no excuses ought to be admitted for the non-attendance of Persons duly summoned to Parliaments 4ly That the King alone is and ought to be the principal Judge of Members excuses for absenting from Parliament the only Person who can and ought to dispence with their non-attendance since the Parliament is his Parliament Court Council summoned only by his Writs and Precepts for his and the publick businesses not the Lords or Commons who cannot dispence with absent Members without or against his consent In Claus. 34 E. 3. dors 4. there is this new addition in the Writs to Sheriffs Rex Vic. Kanc. c. Quod de Com. tuo duos Milites c. de discretioribus probioribus Militibus Civibus Burgensibus c. Ita quod iidem Milites in pleno Comitatu tuo eligentur plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se c. Ita quod c. seu propter improvidam electionem Militum c. with a Scire facias eisdem quod propter arduitatem negotiorum praedictorum celeriorem expeditionem eorundem c. as in the last preceding Writs but in the writs in this Roll Dorse 35. to another Parliament this year these new clauses are left out In the Clause roll anno 36 E. 3. d. 16. there is this observable variation in the writs to
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
sequentibus habuerunt diligentem Tractatum Rex Magnates quomodo conterrerent Wallensium tam intollerabilem cum irruptionibus suis crebris insolentiam Submonetur igitur generaliter tota Angliae militia ut omnes qui tenentur ad servitia militaria Domâ—…no Regi sint prompti parati sequi Regem profecturum in Walliam cum equis armis die Lunae ante nativitatem B. Johannis Baptistae apud Cestriam c. Eodemque tempore cum instanter constanter respondissent Magnates Regni communiter Regi qui cum magna instantia in memorato Parliamento urgenter pecuniam insinitam sibi dari postulasset pro negotio Apuliae expediendo aliis arduis promovendis quod nullo modo potuerunt sine eorum irrestaurabili subversione toties inaniter substantiolas suas usque ad exinanitionem effundere c. Cum constanter praecisè respondissent quasi uno ore Magnates Regni in Parliamento Regi cum urgenter ab eis postulasset auxilium pecuniare quòd nec voluerunt nec potuerunt amplius sustinere tales extortiones Rex iratus ad alia se conuertit aslutiae argumenta c. Duravit adhuc praelibati Parliamenti altercatio inter Regem Regni Magnates usque diem Dominicam proximam post ascensionem multiplicabantur contra Regem variae diatim querimoniae c. Et quia nesciebant adhuc Magnates quomodo suum Prothea tenere voluissent quia arduum fuerat negotium difficile dilatum est Parliamentum usque ad festum sancti Barnabae apud Oxoniam diligen ter celebrandum Interim Optimates Angliae fibi praecaventes providentes consoederati sunt c. Instante vero festo sancti Barnabae Apostoli Magnates et Nobiles terrae ad Parliamentum quod Oxoniae tenendum suit properabant praeceperuntque omnibus qui eisdem servitium militare debuerant quatenus cum ipsis venirent parati veluti ad corpora sua contra hostiles insoltus defensuri c. Parliamento autem incipiente solidabatur Magnatum propositum Confilium Immutabile c. In all the debates and transactions of this Parliament recited at large in our Historians there is no mention of any Knights Citizens Burgesses Commons but only of Comites Magnates Barones Nobiles who acted and spake all who are stiled Universitas Regni and the Statutes and Ordinances they made at Oxford Statuta Baronum to which the Londiners and others assented Cirea festum sancti Leonardi tale iniit Consilium Universitas Baronagii quod tunc Londinierat Anno 1259. 42 H. 3 Fuit Rex ad Natale domini Londini ubi magna sollicitudine tractatum est inter Nobiles Regni quomodo conservato suo salubri proposito satisfacerent defiderio Regis Richardi de Alemannia c. Proposuerunt igitur Magnates accipere juramentum ab ipso Rege Aleman antequam applicuisset ne Regno Angliae quomodolibet noceret vel provisionem communem impediret Comes autem Legriae Simon non sine multoram admiratione in partibus adhuc transmarinis morabatur Unde in magna parte suit Consilium Baronagii mutilatum c. In crastino autem intraverunt Magnates Angliae capitulum Cantuariense where King Richard took a solemne Oath before them which they prescribed and administred to him In octavis purificationis congregati sunt Nobiles Angliae Londini prous inter se prius condixerant c. over against which is printed in the Margin Parliamentum Londini habitum After which the Historian informs us William de Hortuna was sent into Scotland Negotia enim ardua sed secreta Regi Reginae as Scotioe Magnatibus sibi injuncta fuerunt ex parte Regis Reginae Magnatium Angliae Quicum illoâ—… veniret Regem Scotiae Reginam Regni Magnates ibi ad parliameutum in vâ—…nit prout desideravit congregatos c. By which it is evident That in this Age the King Queen and Nobles of England and Scotland constituted and made up the Parliaments of both kingdoms without any elected Knights of Shires Citizens or Burgesses introduced in succeeding times The same year circa Kalend. Apr. ex praecepto et consilio Domini Regis Angliae et totius Baronagii arripuerunt iter transmarinum ad Parliamentum magnum Regis Francorum tenendum in Francia pro pluribus arduis negotiis Regna Franciae Angliae de resignatione Normanniae et literas credentiae c. Magnates vero Angliae statutis quae inceperant salubriter intendebant ad malas consuetudines injurias et corruptelas amodo delendas omnino assidui et confederati Anno 1265. 49 H. 3. after the battel of Evesham wherein the Barons were slaine and routed on the Nativity of our Ladie Septemb. 8. Rex potestati Regiae restitutus de consilio filii victoris Wintoniam Parliamentum convocavit ubi consilio inito Civitatem Londinensem ob suam rebellionem privavit suis privilegiis libertatibus antiquis Capitaneos etiam factionis contra Regem juxta voluntatem ejus plectendos jubet carceri mancipari Rex et Regni Proceres writes Matthew Westminster apud Winton ordinarunt quod ditiores civitatis Londinensis in carcerem truderentur quod Cives antiquis libertatibus privarentur et quod stipites et cathenae quibus Civitas fuerat roborata de medio tollerentur pro eo quod Simoni de Monteforti Comiti Leicestriae in regis contemptum et etiam damnum regni fortiter adhaeserunt quo totum factumest By all these Historical passages in Matthew Paris Rishanger his Continuer and Mat. Westminster it is most apparent beyond contradiction that as there were many writs of summons under K. Henry 3. to Parliamentarie Councils issued to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords before 49 H. 3. not extant in the Clause Rolls or other Records so there were no Knights of Shires Citizens Burgesses or Commons elected or summoned by writ or Charter to these Great Councils or Parliaments during all the reign of King Henry the 〈◊〉 until the Parliament held at London in Octabis Sancti Hillarii the 49. year of his reign when they were first elected summoned by writ for ought appears by Historie or Record there being none but the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Nobles Barons Spiritual and Temporal Lords of the Realm summoned to consulting acting debating ordering enacting Lawes or Ordinances or granting refusing aydes subsidies or expostulating with the King or Pope in any of them as all these transcribed passages evidence with the Records of Claus. 18 H. 3. m. 10. Vic. Lincoln Claus. 19 H. 3 m. 20. cited in my Epistle before the first part of this Brief Register Kalendar and Survey and those of 48 H. 3. here cited p. 4. to 10. To which I shall superadde for further confirmation of this truth Claus. 18 H. 3 m. 27. Rex Majori et Civibus suis Dublin c. where the King reciting the death of the Earl Marshal slain in
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
hujus brevis prout continetur in praedicta Cedula which follows in this form Nomina Militum Com. Somerset et eorum manucaptores Robertus de Brent Miles Johannes de Wyk Miles To whose names he returns severally manucaptus est per two there named Nomina Civium Civitatis Bathon eorum manucaptores Henricus Baton Thomas le Mesteer who have 2. manucaptors ' apeece Nomina Burgensium ejusdem Com. de Burgo Taunton 2. with two manucaptors for each De Burgo de Brigges Walteri 2. with two manucaptors De Burgo de Welles 2. with two manucaptors De Burgo de Ivelcester 2. with two manncaptors De Burgo de Milleburne-port 2. with two manucaptors apeece The Writt to the Sheriff of Hertford and the return thereof is wanting in this Bundle and I have here for brevitie left out the names of most Citizens and Burgesses returned with their manucaptors names It is observable from these Writs issued to the Sheriffs 1 That there is no mention at all of the Bishops Abbots or Clergie summoned to this Convention at Yorke touching any Conference or Treaty there to be held with them but only cum Comitibus Baronibus Proceribus regni nostri who were only summoned thither as this writ imports the Clergy being then in a Praemunire and under the Kings displeasure as I conceive 2. That the Earls Barons and Nobles of the Realm were the only persons summoned Nobiscum locuturi super praedictis negotiis tractaturi And the Knights Citizens and Burgesses elected required and impowred only ad faciend quod tunc de communi Consilio ordinabitur in praemissis which full and sufficient power they were every of them to receive for themselves and the whole Commonalties who elected them from the said respective Commonalties by vertue of the Kings writ 3ly That the want of such a full and sufficient power might hinder and disappoint the execution of such businesses as were there appointed and ordained by common consent of the King and Lords 4ly That the word Parliamentum is not used in any of these writs 5ly That there is no Writ in this Bundle to the Constable of Dover and Warden of the Cinque-ports for electing any Barons for those Ports nor any returns made of them 6ly That the City of London had then a particular Writ directed to the Sheriffs thereof for the election only of two Citizens and no more I shall observe also from the Sheriffs returns of these writs 1. That the Knights in every shire were elected in the full County by and for the whole County from whom they received full and sufficient power ad faciend quod tunc ordinabitur secundum tenorem hujus brevis and that the Citizens and Burgesses were then elected and impowred by the respective Commonalties of the Cities and Burroughs for whom they served 2. That all the Sheriffs did then exact and receive from every Knight Citizen Burgesse thus elected and returned special manucaptors for his appearing at the day and place appointed by the writ whose names they returned some of them requiring they putting in 6. others 4. most of them two manucaptors apeece of good qualitie for their appearing though the writs particularly enjoyned them not to take any manucaptors ' from them And that by vertue only of this geueral clause in the writs Et eos ad nos ad praedictos diem et locum venire facias it being the usual legal way to cause them to repair to the King and Parliament at the day usual place prefixed in other writs which practice afterwards continued there being manucaptors returnd sound by most Knights Citizens Burgesses that I hav seen after the reign of King Edw. the 1. 2. till 12 E. 4. though many had none in later times 3. That of all the Knights Citizens and Burgesses elected and returned this year one or two of them only refused to finde manucaptors to wit John de Umfravill chosen one of the Knights for Devon which the Sheriff specially returns And Sir William Rous one of the knights for Bedfordshire as it seems whom the Sheriff thereupon distrained per octo boves et quatuor afros veniend coram vobis ad diem in brevi 4ly That the Sheriffs returns are various and different in their forms some more general brief some more full and punctual according to the contents of the writ some with Cedules annexed others on the dorse of the writs yet all accepted as sufficient and legal 5ly That some Counties in after times at this day have many more Boroughs sending 2. Burgesses apeece to Parliaments than they had in 26 E. 1. by new Charters fince purchased as appears by comparing these returns with those of later and present times 6ly That such Cities and Boroughs who had returns of writs made their own returns of their Citizens and Burgesses elected with their manucaptors to the Sheriffs and that such of them who made no elections nor returns upon the writs were returned as defalters by the Sheriffs 7ly That Bristoll was within the County of Gloueester and its Burgesses and manucaptors returned amongst others of that County till afterwards made a County within it self 8ly That Bath in 26 E. 1. was a City and elected two Citizens with manucaptors and Wells then only a Borough electing and returning two Burgesses 9ly That some of the Knights returned have the word Dominus prefixed before not following after their names which shews they were only titular not real Lords perchance the sons of Lords which are so stiled As none of the writs to the Sheriffs are entred in the Clause Roll of 26 E. 1. so I finde no other writ of Summons to the Spiritual or Temporal Lords registred therein but only this to the Archbishop of York which I omitted in the first Section and shall here insert Claus. 26 E. l. d. 12. Rex Ven. in Christo Patri W. eadem gratia Archiep. Ebor. salutem Quia super quibusdam arduis negotiis Nos et statum Regni nostri tangentibus Vobiscum habere volumus Colloquium et Tractatum Vobis mandamus in fide et dilectione quibus Nobis tenemini firmiter injungentes quod ad Nos usque Westm. personaliter accedatis Ita quod omnibus modis sitis ibidem die Dominica in Ramis Palmarum prox futur ad ultimum super dictis negotiis locuturi et etiam tractaturi Et hoc nullo modo omittatis Teste Rege apud Sandwycum 15 die Martii Consimiles literae diriguntur subscriptis viz. Sc. London Episcopo Magistro Roberto de Radeswell Archidiac Cestr. and 20 others of the Kings Counsil without any other Spiritual or Temporal Lords In 27 E. 1. I finde a writ issued to the Archbishop of Canterbury with a De Parliamento tenendo in the margin of the Roll though the writ and Postscript declare it to be but a private Counsil which I have already presented you with Part 1. p. 10 11. there