any election of Knights by any of your seid Shires made or done by vertue of your seid Writ or Writs to every of your seid Beseechers direct And that your seid Beseechers and their Under-Sheriffs and Clarks and every of them be quite and discharged against your Liege-people of the penalties and forfeitures that they or eny of them be fellyn or may be chargeable by force of a Statute made the 23 year of your noble Reign as for occupying or exercising their seid Office longer than a year for every maner elections of Knights as well by force of your Writs as by force of your letters of Privy-seal as otherwise and for retorns of the same and for all maner retorns of Citizens and Burgesses in their several Shires for this present Parliament by every of them retorned before the last day of this present Parliament Provided alway that by this Act they nor none of them be excused or discharged of eny other offence or thing done by them in eny of their seyd Offices Alway forseyn that no man be amerced for eny suyt begon by him against eny of your seyd Beseechers to recover the seyd penalties for eny occupation of the seyd Office for the premises Le Roy le voet The occasion of this Petition and Act then passed is thus expressed in the printed Statute of 39 H. 6. c. 1. That divers Knights of Counties Citizens and Burgesses were named retorned accepted in this Parliament of 38 H. 6. some of them without any due or free election others without any election at all against the course of the Kings Laws and the liberties of the Commons of this Realm by vertue of the Kings Letters of Privyâ—…eal without any free election and that by the means labours of divers seditious and evil-disposed Persons only to destroy certain of the great faithfull Lords and Nobles and other faithfull Liege-people of the Realm out of hatred malice greedy unsatiable covetousness to gain their Lands Inheritances Offices and Estates For which undue elections the Sheriffs being purposely kept longer in their Offices than they otherwise should have been and fearing to be exemplarily punished by Actions upon the Statute brought against them thereupon they petitioned the King and procured this Act of Parl. for them and their Under-sheriffs present and future indemnities for these illegal Elections and retorns of persons unduly elected or nominated by the King alone without any election by the people for which misdemeanor of theirs this whole Parliament and all Acts made therein were repealed and made void the very next year and Parliament following 39 H. 6. c. 1. from whence I shall observe 1. That no Sheriffs or Officers can be secured in dempnified against undue elections and retorns of Knights Citizens and Burgesses nominated to them by the King or any others but only by Act of Parliament 2. That such undue elections retorns as these are usually made by the procurement and labour of seditious and evil-disposed persons out of malice hatred or insatiable covetousness and for pernitious ends and designs 3ly That Parliaments unduly elected and packed by policy or power prove alwaies abortive and are repealed as void and pernitious in conclusion of which we have seen pregnant instances in this and other late Parliaments worthy our saddest considerations Vsefull Observations in and from the precedent Section FRom these recited Writs I conceive it to be most clearly and satisfactorily evidenced 1. That there were no Knights Citizens or Burgesses elected and summoned by Writs to our Great Councils and Parliaments before 49 H. 3. which I shall here further demonstrate by these punctual irrefragable Testimonies Presidents and Records under his Reign till this very year Anno 1221. the 5 of Henry 3d. Convenerunt Magnates Angliae ad Regem apud Westmonasterium ut de negotiis regni tractarent After which the King having suppressed the Welsh the same year and built a strong Castle at Montgomery disbanded his Army Concedentibus Magnatibus de quolibet scuto duo marcas argenti Anno 1223. the 7th of his Reign Rex Henricus in Octavis Epiphaniae apud Londonias veniens cum Baronibus ad Colloquium requisitus est ab Archiepiscopo Cantuariensi Magnatibus aliis ut libertates liberas consuetudines pro quibus guerra mota suit contra patrom suum confirmaret Anno 1224. 8 H. 3. Per idem tempus convenerunt ad Colloquium in Octavis sanctae Trinitatis apud Norâ—…amptonam Rex cum Archiepiscopis Episcopis Comitibus Baronibus aliis multis Lords Peers and others of his Counsel de regni negotiis tractaturi voluit enim Rex uti Consilio Magnatum suorum de terris transmarinis quas Rex Francorum paulatim occupaverat Anno 1229. 9 H. 3. the King demanding advice and an ayd of the fifteenth part of his peoples Goods to recover his forrein Territories Archiepiscopus Concio tota apud Westm. Episcoporum Comitum et Baronum Abbatum Priorum habita deliberatione Regi dedere responsum quod regiis petitioibus gratanter adquiescerent si illis diu petitas libertates concedere voluisset Whereupon he granted and confirmed the great Charter The same year Martio mense convenerunt apud Westmonasterium ad Colloquium Rex Angliae cum Magnatibus suis ubi Rex sententialiter jussit diffinire quid de proditore suo Falcatio suit agendum Proceres vero in hoc pariter consenserunt eo quod patri suo multis fideliter servierat annis ne de vita periclitaretur vel membris sed ut Angliam aeternaliter abjuraret omnes communiter addixerunt which was accordingly executed forthwith Anno 1226. 10 H. 3. venit interea terminus Concilii ad festum sancti Hillarii apud Westm. praesixus ubi Rex cum Clero Magnatibus Regni comparere debuerat ut Domini Papae mandatum audiret c. They meeting again the same year after Easter Rex convocatis seorsum Praelatis quibusdam Magnatibus hoc Archiepiscopo dedit responsum c. Anno 1229. 13 H. 3. fecit Rex conveniâ—… apud Westm. Dominica qua contatur misericordia Domini Archiepiscopos Episcopos Abbates Priores Templarios Hospitilarios Comites Barones Ecclesiarum rectores et qui de eo tenebant in capite but no Knights of Counties Citizens and Burgesses we read of ut audirent negotia memorata of Stephenâ—…ho â—…ho Popes Chaplain and Nuncio demanding an ayd against the Emperour from England Et de rerum exigentiis communiter tractarent ibidem h Anno 1231. 15 H. 3. convenerunt ad Colloquium apud Westm. Rex cum Praelatis et aliis Magnatibus Regni c. The King this year intending to mary the King of Scots Daughter indignantibus Comitibus et Baronibus suis unmersis because Hubert who was chief Iustice had maried the eldest Daughter he thereupon desisted from his purpose Anno 1232. convenerunt
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
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
consilio Magnatum Nobiscum existentium provisum est quod Baroniae terrae tenementa eorum qui de Nobis tenent in capite qui Nobis serviciuÌ„ suum Nobis debitum juxta mandatum nostrum facere noluerunt capiantur in manum nostram donec tam de dicto servicio quam de hujusmodi Transgressione nobis satisfecerint Vobis mandamus sirmiter injungentes quod Baronias Ven. Patris S Winton Episcopi Abbatis de Abindon qui servicium suum Nobis debitum ad mandatum nostrum facere noluerunt capias in manum nostram catalla sua cum bonis catallis in ipsis inventis sine distractione seu dilapidatione aliqua inde facienda salvo custodiri facias Ita quod de bonis catallis ipsis vel â—…e precio eorundem de exitibus Baroniarum praedictarum Nobis sufficienter respondeas donec aliud inde praeceperimus T. Rege apud Oxon. 3 die Aprilis Eodem modo mandatum est Ade de Grennuill Vic. Norht quod capiat in manum Rs. Baronias Episcopi Elien Abbatis de Ramisey Eodem modo mand est Vic. Notingh Derb. quod capiat in manum Rs. Baronias Archepiscop Ebor. Episcopi Linc. Which Writs were accordingly executed by some of these Sheriffs even beyond the Kings instructions as is evident by this Writ to the Sheriff of Yorkshire upon the Archbishop of Yorks complaint Cl. 48. H. 3. m. 6. dorso Rex Roberto de Nevil Vic. Ebor. salutem Cum Baronias quorundum Praelatorum regni nostri nuper ceperimus in manum nostram eo quod servicia sua nobis debita nobis minimè fecerunt ad mandatum nostrum ac vobis mandaverimus quod Baroniam Ven. Patris G. Ebor. Archiepiscopi caperetis in manum nostram pro eo quod servicium suum Nobis tempore competenti non exhibuit quod eam salvo absque destructione aliqua bonorum ejusdem Baroniae custodiri faceretis vos ut accepimus bonorum illorum dissipationem non modicam fieri permittitis ad gravissimum dampnum Archiepiscopi sic praedicti super quo nec immerito movemur Verum quia demandam nostram servicii dicti Archiepiscopi jam in suspenso posuimus ad tempus vobis mandamus quatenus Baroniam suam cum omnibus inde perceptis à tempore captionis ejusdem in manum nostram sine dilatione restituatis eidem Quià etiam datum est Nobis intelligi quod Milites servientes Archiepiscopi praedicti versus Nos nuper venientes cum equis armativis ad faciend Nobis servicium praedictum per viam arestavistis quosdam ex eis adhuc in carcere detenetis à quibusdam eorum graves redemptiones cepistis quod grave gerimus indignemus Vobis firmiter injungimus quatinus dictos incarceratos sine mora deliberetis tam eis quam aliis à quibus redemptiones cepistis omnia per vos aut vestros sibi ablata plenarie restitui faciatis Ne super hoc oporteat Nos gravius sollicitari propter quod ad vos graviter capere debeamus T. Rege apud Sutton 26 die Maii. I answer 1. That these were Writs of Summons not to a Parliament but Camp cum equis armis c. as the Writs recite 2. That the Counsil mentioned in it was onely Military not Parliamentary as the aid and assistance with Horses Arms and military services coupled with it resolve and the recital in the Writs ac etiam propter guerram in eodem regno jam subortam c. 3. It is most apparent by the ensuing Clause Propter quod de Baronum consilio Magnatum Nobiscum existentium provisum est c. that the Baronies of these Bishops and others who refused to do their services should be seised into the Kings hands That the Barons and great men onely who were then present with the King at Oxford did counsel and advise him as Members of his Military and Parliamentary Council notthe Knights and others of inferiour condition holding of him by Knight service who then assisted him onely with their Horses Arms and military services 4. These Knights and others then summoned to Oxford were no Knights Citizens or Burgesses elected by the People and Kings Writs to serve in any Parliament then held at Oxford but onely such who held Lands of the King by Knight service which they were then summoned actually to perform as his Tenants for his defence in the Wars against foreign and domestick Enemies as the Writs resolve 5. The Writs of Summons to the Parliamentary Council held this year mentioned in the forecited Writs were different in form date time place from the objected Writs and in the manner of appearing The one summoning them to appear at Oxford cum equis armis c. the other to appear at London sine armis consilium vestrum impensuri c. Therefore there being no mention of any Knights and others of inferiour condition summoned together with the Barons and Nobles to appear at London in the Parliamentary Council there held as there is in the other Writs of Summons to the Kings Camp and Armie It is a most clear convincing argument that in 48 H. 3. there were no Knights Citizens or Burgesses summoned to the Parliament but onely the Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Barons Now because I meet with some other memorable Writs which may seem in some mens judgment to prove that there were Knights Citizens Burgesses and Commons summoned to Parliaments or Councils before 49 H. 3. I shall present you with them in order with my Answers to and Observations on them The first and ancientest of them is this notable Writ of Proclamation much insisted on and imperfectly cited by Mr. William Lambard an eminent Antiquarie of Lincolns Inne in his Archaion p. 261 262 263. which I have faithfully transcribed out of the Patent Roll it self Pat. 6 Johan Rs. m. 2. dorso as a raritie not formerly printed Rex c. Vic. Roteland c. Scias quod provisum est Communi assensu Archiepiscoporum Episcoporum Comitum Baronum omnium fidelium nostrorum Angliae quod novem Milites per totam Angliam invenient decimum Militem benè paratum equis armis ad defensionem Regni nostri quod illi novem Milites inveniant decimo Militi qualibet die ij Sol ad liberationem suam Et ideo tibi praecipimus quod sicut teipsum omnia tua diligis provideas quod decem Milites de Balliva tua sint apud London à die Pasche in tres septimanas bene parati equis armis cum liberationibus suis sicut praedictum est parati ire in servicium nostrum quo praeceperimus existere in servicio nostro ad defensionem Regni nostri quantum opus suerit Provisum est etiam quod si Alienigenae in terram nostram venerint omnes unanimiter eis occurrant cum fortia armis
and commission for themselves and the several Comminalties of the Counties Cities Boroughs for which they serve to hear do and consent to such things as shall happen to be ordained by common advice and counsel in those Parliaments which ought to be comprised in the returns of their elections 6. That all old and new Knights Citizens and Burgesses elected for this Parliament were enforced to put in Manucaptors to appear at the day prefixed who are expressed in all the Sheriffs returns 7. That these old Knights Citizens and Burgesses summoned to this new Parliament are by a special Clause in the writ of Summons it self ordered to receive their reasonable expences in coming to abiding at and returning from the Parliament from the Commonalties of the Counties Cities and Burroughs for which they served for which they usually had special writs only at the conclusions of Parliaments there being no such clause in any writ of Summons I have seen but thiâ—… alone That no Sheriffs in their returns make any mention what they had done touching the levying of their wages but the Sheriff of Glâ—…cester only Of which more in its proper place 8. That the Sheriffs of those Counties wherein there were Forests had one Clause in their writs to make publike proclamation in their Counties that all such who had lands or tenements within the bounds of any Forest should appear before the King in Parliament to shâ—…w their reasons and exceptions against the perambulation if they had any which was accordingly executed by such Sheriffs which Clause was totally omitted out of the Writs to those Sheriffs within whose Counties there were no Forests 9. That there is no mention of any writs of Summons in this Roll issued to the Warden of the Cinque-ports to summon and elect any Barons of those Ports to come to this nor to the two precedent Parliaments 10. That though there is special mention made in the writs to the Clergie of the Kings Counsil and other Assistants summoned to this Parliament at Lincoln of a Conference and Treaty to be had in this Parliament at Lincoln concerning the right and dominion of the King and his Ancestors Kings of England to and over the Realm of Scotland yet there is no recital of it in these writs to the Sheriffs nor in those to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords There were two special writs more issued to the two Justices of the Forests beyond and on this side Trent to summon all the Foresters under them to this Parliament Of which in its proper Section in due time I find no more Bundles of Writs for elections issued to Sheriffes now extant in the Tower during the reign of Edward the 1. only the transcripts of some of them are in the Clause Rolls ensuing The next writ of this nature is that of Clause 30 E. 1. dorse 9. Rex Vic. Ebor. salutem Quia super diversis arduis negotiis Nos et Statum Regni nostri ac pro commodo securitate ejusdem Regni Parliamentum in prox festo Sancti Michis London duximus statuend Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes quod de Com. praedicto duos Milites et de qualibet Civitate duos Cives et de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus ipsius Comitatus sine dilationeeligi et ad Nos venire faciatis ad diem et lâ—…cum praedictos Ita quod dicti Milites pro Communitate Com. praedicti c. tunc ibidem habeant sufficientem potestatem ad faciend quod tunc de Communi consilio ordinabitur in praemissis Et habeas ibi nomina Militum Civium Burgensium et hoc breve Teste Rege apud Westm. 20 die Julii 28 die August Consimiles Literae diriguntur singulis Vicâ—…omit per Angliam Et ubi est unus Vic. duorum Com. dicitur sic quod de utroque Com. praedictorum duos Milites c. ut supra It is observable First That this Parliament was called as well for the benefit and security of the people of the Realm as for the weighty affairs of the King and kingdom 2ly That de discretioribus is the only qualification required in the Knights Citizens and Burgesses to be elected 3ly That they were to have sufficient power for the Commonalty of the Counties Cities and Burroughs for which they were chosen only ad faciend quod tunc de Communi Consilio ordinabitur in praemissis 4ly That some were Sheriffs of two Counties at once usual in former times and that they had only one writ issued to them to elect two Knights c. in each County c. which they severally returned Claus. 30 E. 1. dors 7. There are other writs issued Uic Ebor. singulis Vicecom per Aâ—…gliam T. Rege apud Lewes 13. die Septembr agreeing in form with the precedent The next is entred Claus. 32 E. 1. dors 2. Rex Vic. Ebor. c. Quia pro quibusdam c. usque tractatum Tibi praecipimus c. quod de Com. praedict duos Milites de c. de discretioribus ad laborand potentioribus sine dilatione eligi c. Ita quod dicti Milites plenam sufficientem potestatem pro se et Communitate Com. praedicti c. divisim ab ipsis tunc ibidem habeant ad faciend quod tunc de Communi Consilio ordinabitur in praemissis Ita quod pro defectu hujusmâ—…di potestatis negotia praedicta non remaneant infacta Et habeas c. Teste ut supra Consimiles literae diriguntur singulis Uic per Angliam Claus. 33 E. 1. dors 10. 20. There are no writs to Sheriffs entred with the rest to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords either of Summons or Prorogation but a space left for their entry with other Writs then omitted Cl. 34 E. 1. d. 2. There is a writ at large entred Vicecom Ebor. agreeing in form with the last recited with like writs singulis Vicecom per Angliam but in Cl. 35 E. 1. d. 13. there are no writs to the Sheriffs entred nor yet to the Spiritual but only to the Temporal Lords Claus. 1 E. 2. dors 19. Claus. 2. E. 2. dors 11. there are writs entred at large Vic. Ebor. and Claus. 4 E. 2. dors 2. Vic. Kanc. with Consimiles literae singulis Vic. per Angliam after every of them agreeing all in form with the precedent writs and their dates recitals are the same with those to the Spiritual Lords forecited Part 1. Sect. 1 2. In the Parliament of 2 E. 2. at Westminster the King requesting an Ayde from the Commons then elected by his writs they granted him the 25 part of their goods upon this Condition that he would answer and redress their grievances which they then presented and reduced to 11. Articles and prayed the King in a modest manner to redress if he pleased who thereupon promised them relief therein and accordingly gave answers to them in his next Parliament at Stanford thus recorded in Claus. 3