Some Factors in the Beginnings of Parliament

J. E. A. Jolliffe

doi:10.2307/3678583

Some Factors in the Beginnings of Parliament

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009

J. E. A. Jolliffe

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I must begin this paper by disclaiming any intention of entering into the detail of parliamentary procedure, a matter with which I am not qualified to deal. It has, however, occurred to me that certain changes in the administration of law, changes which begin early in the reign of Henry III, have some relevance to the origin of parliamentary jurisdiction. These changes arise from a new and more severe attitude on the part of the Crown towards franchise, and make necessary important modifications in the exchequer's methods of dealing with it. In time, I think, the many disputes between the Crown and the magnates about privilege, debt, and so forth, gave rise to a volume of petitions and subsequent trials which called for some tribunal in the nature of parliament, and these trials found a nucleus about the exchequer and the council. That is my thesis, and it is with these legal changes and their reaction upon the constitution that I propose to deal. The greater part of this paper is, therefore, concerned with the period before direct parliamentary record, and, indeed, before there is any true court of parliament. It goes very little beyond matters of law, and, if I am forced here and there to refer to the structure and procedure of parliament in later days, I do so very much subject to correction. Even for the early period with which I am concerned, I cannot attempt to assess the importance of that part of parliament which came from the commune consilium of the realm.

Type: Research Article
Information: Transactions of the Royal Historical Society , Volume 22 , December 1940 , pp. 101 - 139

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3678583 [Opens in a new window]
Copyright: Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1940

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^{page 103 note 1} Memoranda de Parliamento (Rolls series), ed. F. W. Maitland, p. 131.

^{page 103 note 2} Ibid., p. 129.

^{page 103 note 3} Ibid., p. 153.

^{page 103 note 4} Ibid., p. 12.

^{page 103 note 5} Ibid., p. 14. Tam regi quam praefato Rogero secundum consuetudinem regni inde fieri faciant debitum et festinum justitiae complementum.

^{page 105 note 1} T. Madox, History and Antiquities of the Exchequer, ii. 7.

^{page 106 note 1} F. W. Maitland, Memoranda de Parliamento, p. lxxxiv: “It is a new thing that they should see a yet higher court above that court which is held in theory coram ipso domino rege. The competence of this highest court is as yet indefinite.”

^{page 107 note 1} Ibid., p. lxvii.“At present ‘ parliament ’ or ‘ a parliament ’ is not conceived as a body that can be petitioned. A parliament is rather an act than a body of persons. One cannot present a petition to a colloquy or a debate.”

^{page 107 note 2} Calendar of Close Rolls 1272–1279, p. 167.

^{page 107 note 3} Ibid., p. 200.

^{page 107 note 4} Ibid., p. 203.

^{page 107 note 5} F. W. Maitland, Memoranda de Parliamento, p. lxvii: “Petitions are not addressed to parliament … They are addressed either simply to the king or to the king and his council. The formal title for them which is in use in the chancery is ‘petitiones de consilio’, ‘council petitions’.”

^{page 108 note 1} Ibid., p. 166.

^{page 109 note 1} Close Rolls 1247–1251, p. 107.

^{page 109 note 2} Close Rolls 1264–1268, p. 36. Peter of Savoy, John de Warenne, and others summoned to appear “coram nobis et consilio nostro in proximo parliamento nostro … justiciam facturi et recepturi ”.

^{page 109 note 3} Close Rolls 1259–1261, p. 343. The action for debt between John de Berners and Cok fitz Aaron adjourned” usque ad parliamentum regis a die Purificacionis Beate Marie in tres septimanas ut tunc coram baronibus regis de scaccario et eis discutiatur”.

^{page 109 note 4} Ibid., p. 287. The men of Faversham given respite from all distraints on account of their quarrel with the abbot “ad parleamentum proximo venturum. Et scire faciat (vicecomes) quod tunc sint coram prefato justiciario justiciam inde recepturi”.

^{page 109 note 5} Close Rolls 1264–1268, p. 39. The men of Brigstock and Stonor have paid tallage and it is being exacted a second time. They are given respite to the quindene of Easter “ut tunc coram baronibus nostris de scaccario eis inde plena justicia exhibeatur ibidem”.

Close Rolls 1254–1256, p. 107. The Prior of Northampton's claim to immunity from tallage adjourned to the quindene of Michaelmas “ut tunc discutiatur coram baronibus regis de scaccario”.

^{page 110 note 1} Close Rolls 1259–1261, p. 287.

^{page 110 note 2} Ibid., p. 136.

^{page 110 note 3} “Mandatum est baronibus de scaccario quod demandas quod faciunt abbati de Sancto Edmundo de quibusdam libertatibus quas idem abbasdicit ad se pertinere, ponant in respectum usque ad quindenam Pasche, quia rex propter transfretacionem suam discussioni illius negocii ad presens non potest intendere.” Ibid., p. 137.

^{page 110 note 4} Ibid., p. 32. “Ut rex tunc de consilio vestro quod justum fuerit eifieri faciat in premissis.” So, also, the executors of Henry de la Mare were given respite of debts “usque in quindenam Pasche proximo futuram ut tune discutiatur ad scaccarium regis utrum predicti executores de predictis debitis regi respondere debeant necne.”

^{page 110 note 5} “Ponant in respectum usque in quindenam Pasche proximo sequentem: et quod idem justiciarii scire faciant predictis Roberto etc … quod tunc sint ibi apellum illud versus prefatos Johannem etc … prosecuturi si voluerint.” Ibid, p. 224.

^{page 110 note 6} Ibid., p. 25.

^{page 111 note 1} Ibid., p. 340.

^{page 111 note 2} Ibid., p. 356.

^{page 111 note 3} Ibid., p. 465.

^{page 111 note 4} Ibid., p. 370.

^{page 111 note 5} Ibid., p. 464. This was for the morrow of Clausum Pasche.

^{page 111 note 6} Close Rolls 1254–1256, p. 429.

^{page 111 note 7} Ibid., p. 435.

^{page 111 note 8} Ibid., p. 440.

^{page 111 note 9} Ibid., p. 414.

^{page 112 note 1} “Johannes de Baillol venit coram … consilio regis et petiit considerationem baronum de Scaccario … et mandatum est baronibus de Scaccario quod judicium inde ei reddi faciant.” Close Rolls 1242–1247, p. 104. In 1262 a doubtful assize is respited until the quindene of Michaelmas “ut tunc de consilio discretorum virorum fieri faciamus justicie complementum”. Close Rolls 1261–1264, p. 149.

^{page 112 note 2} So, at the quindene of Hilary 1258, the cause of the city of London against its tallagers was tried in the exchequer in the presence of the barons of the exchequer, the earls of Warwick and Gloucester, John Mansel, Henry de Bathonia, the constable of the Tower, and others of the king's council. Liber de Antiquis Legibus, p. 33.

^{page 112 note 3} Respite to the quindene of Michaelmas “ut tunc eorundem baronum et aliorum fidelium regis consilio mediante jus regis et ipsius abbatis in libertatibus predictis discutiatur.” Close Rolls 1254–1256, p. 83.

^{page 112 note 4} Peter de Maulay's debts respited until the quindene of Michaelmas “ut tunc per consilium baronum regis de scaccario et aliorum rex indefaciat quod de jure fuerit faciendum”. Ibid., p. 132.

^{page 114 note 1} Thus writs promising enquiry at the parliament of St. Edward 1255 were issued in answer to petition on the 14th May from Ludgershall, quia abbas Sancti Edmundi regi supplicavit (Ibid., p. 83), from Woodstock on 31st May for the Hospital of Oxford (Ibid., p. 196), from same place on 20th June, quia abbas de Sancto Edmundo clamavit (Ibid., p. 101), from Nottingham on 20th July, monstravit nobis Willelmus (Ibid., p. 212), from Northampton on 30th July, quia prior Sancti Andree Norhampt' clamat (Ibid., p. 107), from Nottingham on the 1st August, quia decanus et canonici ecclesie Sancti Martini London' vendicant (Ibid., p. 215), from Wark on 13th September, ostensum estregi ex parte Johannis le Poer (Ibid., p. 132), and from Alnwick on 23rd September, ex gravi querela venerabilis patris L. Roffensis episcope (Ibid., p. 223).

^{page 114 note 2} The petitions granted trial at Michaelmas 1255 were variously allocated to the council, to the king himself, to the king after scrutiny of the exchequer rolls, to the counsel of Earl Richard and other magnates, to the king with further counsel, to the exchequer and other faithful men, or to the exchequer alone, cf. the preceding note.

^{page 117 note 1} P.R.O., Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's Memoranda, 20 m. 5. (References are to the new numbering of the membranes.)

^{page 117 note 2} Close Rolls 1247–1251, p. 104.

^{page 117 note 3} Ibid., p. 31.

^{page 117 note 4} Matthew Paris, Chronica Majora, sub anno.

^{page 118 note 1} Ibid.

^{page 118 note 2} Matthew of Westminster, sub anno.

^{page 118 note 3} Close Rolls 1253–1254, p. 43.

^{page 118 note 4} Close Rolls 1254–1256, p. 61. Annals of Burton, in Annales Monastici, i. sub anno.

^{page 119 note 1} Calendar of Patent Rolls 1247–1258, p. 451.

^{page 121 note 1} Close Rolls 1237–1242, pp. 86, 99, 101.

^{page 121 note 2} The plea of the abbot of Reading for the amercements of his men.

^{page 121 note 3} “Ut tunc inquiratur apud scaccarium Judeorum.”

^{page 121 note 4} Close Rolls 1242–1247, p. 444.

^{page 121 note 5} Ibid., pp. 429 and 479.

^{page 121 note 6} I exclude the chancery's reference to parleys with the Welsh and Scotch as parliaments, its according of the name of parliament to John's council of Runneymede and the use of the term outside official record.

^{page 122 note 1} Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum 1204–1224, ed. T. D. Hardy, p. 3836. Rex Justiciariis itinerantibus in Comitatu Kancie salutem … Omnes autem demandas quas coram nobis fuerint quas homines exigunt de libertatibus videlicet quas dominus Cantuar' Archiepiscopus, G. comes de clara, vel alii exigunt in respectum ponatis usque in XV dies post festum Sancti Hyllarii coram consilio nostro apud Westmon'.

At Hilary 4 Hen. Ill, the council was sitting in the exchequer together with the justices of the Jews, and hearing pleas of debt. Ibid., p. 410.

^{page 123 note 1} Close Rolls 1242–1247, p. 242.

^{page 123 note 2} Close Rolls 1247–1251, p. 421.

^{page 123 note 3} Ibid., p. 446.

^{page 123 note 4} Close Rolls 1253–1254, p. 8. Ibid., p. 272. Henry de Bathonia and his brethren justiciarii ad privata placita regis assignati.

^{page 124 note 1} Calendar of Patent Rolls 1247–1258, p. 438.

^{page 124 note 2} Especially in the unprincipled use of the quo warranto in claims of land by the Crown against subjects. Abbreviatio Placitorum, pp. 105, 107, 118. It seems to have been realised as early as 1200 that this process might be used to challenge land right and that such a use would be objectionable. Cf. the Countess of Gloucester's disclaimer of having so used it in her court. Curia Regis Rolls of the reigns of Richard I and John, i. 186 (Trinity Term 2 John). Henry was compelled to denounce this use of the writ when the steward of Haughley applied it to the prior of Normanbury in 1253: ab hujusmodi vexacione penitus desistens regi scire faciat si quod jus rex habeat in terra predicta ut ipsam rex perbreve suum versus predictum priorem secundum consuetudinem regnipetat. Close Rolls 1251–1233, p. 484.

^{page 124 note 3} Sparsimque jam tales literae, in quibus inserta est haec detestabilis adjectio: non obstante antiqua libertate procedat negotium, suscitabantur. Matthew Paris, Chronica Majora, sub anno 1251.

^{page 124 note 4} The exchequer has enforced a change of usage as to the abbot of Glastonbury's immunity of return of writs: et quia hoc non pertinet ad ipsos faciendum, mandatum est eisdem baronibus ut de returno illo nichil de cetero attemptent. Close Rolls 1247–1251, p. 403. Rex baronibus suis de scaccario. Meminimus nos semel et secundo dedisse in mandatis quod liberos homines magistri et fratrum milicie Templi in Anglia in singulis burgis et villis Anglie quietos esse faceretis de tallagio. Close Rolls 1251–1253, p. 428. Cf. Ibid., pp. 476 and 490.

^{page 125 note 1} Et si praelatus compulsus comparens chartam donatoris exhibeat, licet contineatur in ea quod donator tales et tales dederit libertates … nil proderit ei nisi in charta de eadem libertate expresse fiat mentio. Matthew Paris, Chronica Majora, Additamenta, sub anno 1257.

^{page 125 note 2} John de Ore and others “accesserunt ad nos … nuper querentes, cum teneant de serjeancia … quedam extenta facta fuit super eos … occasione cujus extenta exigitur ab eis per summonicionem scaccarii plus quam reddendum pertinet ad tenementa sua.” The king orders the barons “quod per legem et consuetudinem scaccarii nostri, sicut expedire videritis, per inquisicionam vel novam extentam hoc faciatis emendari.” Close Rolls 1251–1253, p. 427.

^{page 126 note 1} In 1248 the abbot of Strata Florida was being distrained upon for a tallage of the reign of John. Close Rolls I247–I251, p. 48.

^{page 126 note 2} “Si clarum fuerit debitum illud, ad judicium in eodem procedant: si vero aliquid ambiguitatis invenerint in eodem prefatam loquelam venire faciant certo die coram rege terminandam.” Ibid., p. 284.

^{page 126 note 3} P.R.O., Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's Memoranda (Transcripts), 18 m. 3. Abatement of the farm of Dunwich. Loquendum cum rege. Ibid., 21 m. id. Tenure of manors beyond the term of their farm. Loquendum. I am indebted to Professor Julius Goebel for calling my attention to this point.

^{page 127 note 1} Abbreviatio Placitorum, p. 135. Richard de la Mere before the justices coram rege “quod hoc sit verum trahit inde ad warantum rotulos de scaccario et petit quod rotuli videantur”.

^{page 128 note 1} P.R.O., Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer's Memoranda Roll, 10.

^{page 128 note 2} Ibid., 12 m.10d.

^{page 128 note 3} Ibid., 12 m. 10. “Mandatum est vicecomiti quod ponat in respectu ad quindenam Sancti Michaelis demandam murdri quam facit … super Wapentach' de Newerk quia episcopus Lincolnie clamat inde quietanciam.”

^{page 128 note 4} Ibid., 12 m. 10d.

^{page 128 note 5} Ibid, 12 m. 11d.

^{page 128 note 6} Ibid., 13 m. 2d. to 13 m. 4d.

^{page 128 note 7} Ibid., 13 m. 5 to 13 m. 5d.

^{page 129 note 1} , 13 m. 6d. to 13 m. 11d.

^{page 129 note 2} , 13 m. 6d. “De pluribus libertatibus. Omnes qui clamant libertates per cartas habeant diem ad audiendum judicium suum de libertatibus illis … in quindena Sancti Michaelis.”

^{page 130 note 1} Abbreviatio Placitorum, p. 131. “Sicut continetur in cedula que est ligula brevium de quindena Sancti Michaelis anno 37.” This was, however, of very old standing and its only principle was not that which prompted the exchequer. Cf. Curia Regis Rolls, i. 128 (Hilary Term 1 John), etc.

^{page 131 note 1} “Rex baronibus suis de scaccario, salutem. Quia protestatum estcoram nobis per viros fidedignos quod quando recepimus in manum nostram castrum de Corf a fideli et dilecto nostro Petro de Malo Lacu, perdonavimus ei triginta libras … vobis mandamus quod predictum Petrum de omnibus denariis predictis quietum esse faciatis.” Close Rolls 1237–1242, p. 211.

^{page 131 note 2} Close Rolls 1242–1247, p. 292.

^{page 132 note 1} “Mandatum est baronibus de scaccario quod statim ex quo facta fuerit inquisitio de feodis militum de Fednes … eidem Willelmo faciant habere rationabile judicium suum secundum considerationem scaccarii regis.” Close Rolls 1237–1242, p. 21.

^{page 132 note 2} Mandatum est baronibus de scaccario quod si inquirere poterint per rotulos scaccarii quod manerium de Hertford tailliatum fuit quando rex dominica sua tailliare precepit, tunc hominibus ejusdem manerii pacem faciant de tricesima.”, p. 64.

^{page 132 note 3} , p. 43.

^{page 132 note 4} “Rex baronibus de scaccario, salutem. Mandamus vobis quod, inspectis diligenter rotulis de tempore Johannis regis, patris nostri et de tempore nostro, inquiratis diligenter si predecessores dilecti et fidelis nostri Willelmi de Bello Campo, vicecomitis nostri Wygornie, tenuerint comitatum ilium in feodo … et si inveneritis quod comitatum ilium sic tenuerunt permittatis predictum Willelmum eodem modo comitatum ilium tenere quo predicti predecessores sui ipsum tenuerunt.” , p. 70.

^{page 132 note 5} , p. 404.

^{page 133 note 1} “Propter minorem expressionem eorundem.” Close Rolls 1254–1256, p. 83.

^{page 133 note 2} “Demandam quam ei faciunt de xx marcis per summonicionem scaccarii … que xx marce jam extiterunt in demanda xv annis elapsis.” Ibid., p. 101. 20 marks was the sum for which the barons were ready to quit the abbot of the arrears.

^{page 133 note 3} At Michaelmas 1255. Loc. cit.

^{page 133 note 4} The golden shrine of the Confessor was completed in that year.

^{page 134 note 1} As it was said in a case of the previous year: “ostensum est regi ex parte Ricardi de Grey quod G. de Langel' justiciarius foreste, ipsum et homines suos facit distringi pro quibusdam feris … de quibus vocat rotulos regis ad warantum. Et ideo mandatum est eidem G. quod eundem Ricardum … usque ad instans festumBeati Edwardi pacem inde faciat habere.” Close Rolls 1247–1251, p. 315.

^{page 135 note 1} Ibid., pp. 407, 428, 416.

^{page 135 note 2} Ibid., p. 409.

^{page 135 note 3} Ibid, pp. 261 and 421.

^{page 135 note 4} Ibid, p. 539.

^{page 135 note 5} Ibid, p. 514.

^{page 135 note 6} Ibid, p. 452.

^{page 135 note 7} “Alii quamplures ejusdem comitatus sunt in consimili querimonia.” Ibid, p. 542.

^{page 135 note 8} Ibid, p. 441.

^{page 135 note 9} Loc. cit.

^{page 136 note 1} Ibid, p. 500. “Ut tunc ostendat quietanciam quam inde habet coram baronibus de scaccario.”

^{page 136 note 2} Ibid, p. 541. “Quia tunc de consilio nostro in presencia nostra et quorundam ex hominibus illis de premissis volumus habere tractatum.”

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