A Brief Register Calendar Part 1, To the reader

A Brief Register Calendar Part 1 · To the reader

To the Ingenuous Readers, especicially those of the Long Robe, and more Noble or Generous English Extraction.

THere are 5. grand Defects of very publike concernment, highly tending if not to the dishonor, yet certainly to the great disservice, prejudice of our Kingdom, Parliaments, great Officers of State, Nobility, Gentry, Nation, and more especially of the Professors and Profession of the municipall Laws, which I have for many years last past, not only much admired at, and exceedingly deplored, but also used my best endeavors to get supplied, so farr as there was …ny probability to effect it.

The 1. is the irreparable losse of all the Parliament …olls during the Reigns of our antient…t Kings, from William the 1. till 5 E. 2. … the first Roll of that kind now extant) and of many other of those Rolls since, during the Reigns of Edw. 2. and 3. with the not publishing in Print those Parliamentary Rolls and Records yet extant by publike Order, for the benefit of Posterity, to prevent their suppression, destruction, Embezelling by fire, warr, casualties, t…e negligence, or present malice of some Iesuitical Furies, or illit…rate Animals, instigated thereunto by Hugh Peters his misintituled Pamphlet, Good work for a good Magistrate, printed 1651. p. 96. Where after his proposal of a short new Modell for the Law, he subjoyns, This being done, I… IS VERY ADVISABLE TO BURN ALL THE OLD RECORDS, YEA EVEN THOSE IN THE TOWER, THE MONVMENTS OF TYRANNY: Which desperate bedlam advise of his, I haveaaThe 2. p…rt of a short De…urrer to the lews long discontinued Remitter into England, p. 136, &c. elsewhere at large refuted, as most pernicious to the publike, and to all Corporations and Landed men.

The 2. is the great want of an Exact Collection out of the Clause, Parliament, and Statu'e Rolls, of all Statutes, Ordinances and Acts of Parliament made before the use of Printing them immediately after the Parliaments conclusion, or during their Sessions, came in fashion: all our Statutes at large, and the Abridgments of them, (even Ferdinando Pultons of Lincolns Inne Esq. the best & most refined) having sundrybbSee the Exact Abridgment of the Records in the Tower, and my Table there, to Title Statutes. Spurious Impostures printed in them, under the Titles of Acts, Statutes, and Ordinances of Parliament, which in ver…ty are neither of them, but only particular Writs or Instuctions of the King to the Iustices and other Officers by advise of his Coun…l out of Parliament: Such are the St… tutes, De circumspecte agatis, said to be made in 13. E. 1. (resolved to be no Statute, but made by the Prelates alone. M. 19. E. 3. Fitz. Jur. 28.) The Statutes of Protections, Champerty, and Conspirators, in 33 E. 1. De conjunctim feoffatis, in 34 E. 1. Ne rector prosternat arbores in caemiterio, in 35 E. 1. The Statute for Knights, 1 E. 2. of Gavelet, 10 E. 2. with sundry others, as the very form, words, & penning of them demonstrate, being transcribed only out of the Clause or Patents not Parliament or Statute Rolls. Besides these there are some forged Acts and Statutes printed in these Statute Books not extant in the Statute Rolls that remain intire: yea, there are sundry misprisions in printed Statutes, varying both in form & substance from the Statute Rolls wherein they are recorded, omitting some material words and clauses, adding and altering others; most of the publishers of our Statutes taking them upon meer trust, as they found them transcribed by others, but never examining them by the Statute Rolls & Original Records, as is most apparent by their ccSee the fi…st part of my short Demurrer to the Iews long discontinued Remitter into England, p. 36, 37, 49. 53, 54, &c.mistakes of the very times and dates of some Statutes, by their printing others of them without any date, as ddSee Pultons Statutes at large, Lond. 1618. p. 115. Rastals kalendar of Statutes in the end of his Abridgment; and Tottles Magna Char…ta, out of which they transcribed them.made during the reign of King H. 3. Ed. the 1. or 2. BUTUNCERTAIN WHEN, ORIN WHICH OF THEIR TIMES, & by the manifold variances between their Printed Books, and the Statute Rolls, of which I have given you a particular account in my Table to the E…act. Abridgement of the Records in the Tower; the Compiler whereof was mistaken in this, That the Statute of 2 R. 2. c. 5. touching tellers of News (or Lyes) of Noblemen, or Counsellors, is not in the Record, nor any mention thereof; it being recorded at large in French in the Statute Roll of the first Parliament that year, wherein it is printed, though not in the second, as I can attest upon my own view of the Statute Roll it self. Besides these Impostures, and Variances, there are many useful Acts in the Parliament and Clause Rolls totally omitted out of all our Printed Statute-Books, some whereof I have heretofore published in my Irenarches Redivivus.

The 3. is the Grand deplorable Deficiency of such an Exact Chronological History of all the Great Councils, Synods, Parliaments of England, with their several Canons, Acts, Ordinances, Proceedings, as I have formerly mentioned in the Epistle to my Plea for the Lords, my Preface to an Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower; and in a printed Title three year since, by which I endeavoured to promote it; which would supply all the three precedent Defects.

The 4. is the great lack of diligent faithfull Collections and Publications of all the choicest Records, Proclamations, Writs, Letters, Charters, Patents, Commissions, &c. in the Tower, or elsewhere, which concern the Liberties and Properties of the Subject; The just antient Duties, Customs, Revenues, Jurisdictions of the Kings and Crown of England in times of Warre and peace; the Coin, Merchandize, Manufactures, Trade, Government, Navy, Forts, Militia of England and Ireland; and the Negotiations, Leagues, Treaties with forein States: or at leastwise the want of an Exact Table, Repertory to them, whereby they might be readily found out, and made u…e of upon all emergent occasions.

The 5. is a Compleat Register or Kalendar of all Parliamentary Writs extant in our Records, which those who have formerly written Discourses touching our English Parliaments, were either totally ignorant of, or not well acquainted with, or else took no care or pains at all to communicate to others, though the very foundations of all our Parliaments and their proceedings; The omission or ignorance whereof hath made most of their Treatises of this subject very imperfect, unsatisfactory, and full of gross misprisions, which pass for current Truths.

It seemed very strange and monstrous to me, that none of our Kings, Parliaments, Great Officers of State, Nobles, but especially none of our reverend Iudges, learned Lawye…s, nor any of the M…sters of the Rolls (to whose beneficial Office, care, diligence, it most prope…ly appertained) in so large a tract of time since Printing first grew common, have not hitherto put to their own helping hands, nor incouraged others by Honorary Salaries, to supply these depl…rable, prejudicial Defects, (especially the 3. first) which so much concern the publike Government, Justice, Honor, welfare, Laws, Interest of the whole English Nation; when as forein Kings Parliaments, Statesmen, Lawyers, Advocates (especially in France, Spain, Germany, Denmark) have been very diligent and laborious in later ages, in searching out, transcribing, publishing to posterity all the Antiquities, Records, Councils, Parliaments, Laws, Edicts, Ordinances, Histories, Transactions of th…ir Predecessors, and encouraged their learnedest Scholars by great Offices, Honors, Salaries, and bountiful rewards, to collections and publications of this Nature, to their eternal honor. VVhereupon I endeavoured the last long Parliament by an Epistle to the Lords to excite them to contribute their best assistance towards the speedy Publication of all our Parliamentary Rolls and Records, profering my best endeavors to promote it; but I neither then nor since received the least incouragement from them or others towards this beneficial publike undertaking, from which soon after I was both discouraged and disabled by near 3. years close Imprisonment in 3. remote Castles, under armed, strictest guards by Mr. Iohn Bradshaws and his Whitehall Associates warrant, without any accusation, hearing, or particular cause either then or since expressed, of purpose to debarr me from publishing any thing of this Nature, or against their New Tyrannical usurpations, transcending all in former ages. After my enlargement from these 3. years expensive, as well as tedious restraints, (superadded to my former Imprisonments and Losses under the Prelates and Army-Officers,) I endeavored to revive this Heroick work, and to encourage all publike-Spirited Noblemen, Gentlemen, Lawyers to promote it; both by the publication of many unknown rare Records, in the second Part of my Demurrer to the Iews long discontinued Remitter into England; and Discoveries therein of the Vsefulness and excellency of our Records in general, and of those relating to our Parliaments, Laws, Liberties, Properties in particular: Since which, by a printed Paper, I proposed a way, how, in what manner, and by what time this usefull Design might probably be effected with no loss at all, but certain gain to those who should contribute only 10 … a piece towards it, for a year or two at most, and should then certainly receive their principal again, together with Books in the interval amounting to treble the interest; which, though some of my friends to whom I communicated these papers, highly approved of, seeming forwards to contribute towards it, yet I found such a general lukewar…nness, or rather absolute coldness (in others) really to advance it, as caused me totally to desist from any further prosecution thereof; Whereupon to supply those defects in some degree as much as in me lay, I did with no little pains and cost upon my own private account alone, (without the least assistance, contribution from any others) collect, compile, print and publish to the world, in the 3. First Parts of my Seasonable Historical Vindication, and Chronological Collection of the good old Fundamental Liberties, Rights, Franchises, Laws … all English Freemen; an Exquisite Epitome of all the Parliamentary Councils, Synods, and State-assemblies held within our Realms upon several Occasions, extant in our Historians, from the Britons first arival therein, till the Coronation of King William the first Anno 1066. conteining the space of 2390. years. Which though very usefull, seasonable, profitable, containing sundry rarities in them; were looked upon by most men with contempt, like old Almanacks, Clothes or Fashions quite out of d…te; whence most of them lye moulding in Warehouses for want of sale. After which in pursute of these beginnings; I freely contributed my labors, to the publishing of A…xact Abridgment of the Parli…ment Rolls and Records in the Tower of London; from King Edward the 2. till 1 R. 3. rectifying sundry mistakes, supplying divers defects therein, adorning it with a necessary Preface, usefull Tables and Marginal Notes, without which it had been in a manner altogether useless▪ Since which, I much enlarged and reprinted …pon my own Account alone (for want of assistance by others) my Plea for the Lords and House of Peers; Wherein I have communicated to the world out of Records and Histories, more Presidents, knowledge, touching the Judicature, Jurisdiction and Proceedings of our Great Councils and Parliaments in former ages, and more fully vindicated the just, antient Privilege and Hereditary right of the Lords and Barons of this Realm, to sit, vote, judge in all our English Parliaments, than any others have done in former ages, without the least incouragement, ayde, or retribution from any of their Lordships, notwithstanding my manifold sufferings by, from, and under some of them and their ancesters heretofore both in person and estate, without the smallest voted recompence.

These last publications, together with my Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms, my Historical Collection of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England; and new published Argument of the Case of the Lord Magwire, having in some measure (though not so fully as I desire) supplied the 4. first premised De…ects, I have endeavored by this present… Brief Regist…, … and Survey of the s…veral …, (the only Basis whereon Parliaments are founded, by which they are supported, directed, as well as convened) and by my usefull Observations on them, more compleatly to supply the 5. de…ect, than any of the former, so farr as my present leisure and ability will extend, without supplies from others; wherein I have with no little pains and diligence, given you a most exact and faithfull Account of all the Writs of Summons to Parliaments, Great Councils, and most Convocations in England, extant in the Clause Rolls and Records of the Tower, from the 5. year of King Iohn, till the 23. of Edward the 4th, that I have hitherto met with upon my best search after them, digested into several Sections in a Chronological method, with usefull Observations on them; Wherein you have a compendious, yet full and satisfactory Account of all the several Forms and Varieties of writs of Summons during all this tract of time issued to Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Masters of Religious Orders, and all Spiritual Lords; to the Prince of Wales, Forein Kings, Dukes, Earls, Marquesses, Vicounts, Barons, Temporal Lords and Great men; to the Kings Counsil, Judges and other Assistants to the House of Lords; the Sheriffs of Counties, and particular Corporations made Counties, for electing Knights, Citizens and Burgesses to serve in Parliament, and to the Constable of Dover Castle, Warden of the Cinque-ports, and Ports themselves for electing Barons of those Ports; with the particular Rolls, membranaes, dorses, wherein every of these summons are recorded: Together with a general Account in gross summ…, how many Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Barons, Great men, and Assistants of the Kings Counsil were summoned to every of these Parliaments and Great Councils, & 4 most usefull, acurate, short Alphabetical & Chronological …ables, inserted into my Observations on the 3. first Sections of these Different writs: 1. Of the Names of all the Abbots, Priors, Masters of Religious Orders, and other Clergymen (except Bishops) summoned to any Parliament or Great Council from 49 H. 3. till 23 E. 4. with the years, rolls, dorses in each Kings reign, wherein you shall find them summoned, and how oft any of them were summoned, and consequently when omitted out of the lists of summons. 2ly. Of the Names of all the Dukes, Earls, Marquesses, and Princes of Wales. 3ly. Of all the Temporal Viscounts, Lords, Barons, Peers, and Great men. 4ly. Of all the Kings Counsil, Judges, Justices, and other Great Officers summoned as Assistants to the Lords, in every Parliament and Great Council held in England from 49 H. 3. to 23 E. 4. with the particular Roll, year, dorse in every Kings reign, wherein you may find their names and summons entred, and when and how oft any of them or their posterity were thus summoned. Which Tables, as they were very painfull and troublesom to me exactly to collect, being inforced to transcribe most of them three times over, before I could digest them into that form as here you find them, consisting of very many figures (which I examined near five times over, to prevent mistakes in any of them) so being thus compleated, will be the most usefull and delightfull Kalender to all Antiquaries, Heraulds, Law…ers, Noblemen, Gentlemen and others delighting in Antiquities, or Pedegrees, ever yet communicated to the English Nation; rectifying all those mistakes in names, & supplying those manifold defects in my Table of this nature to the Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower. If any Noblemen. Lawyers, Gentlemen, or others, would find out and know in a moment, when or how often, or in what Roll and dorse any of their Ancestors, Family, Name, were summoned to any Parliament or Great Council; or when or how often any Abbot or Prior (whose lands they or their Clients now enjoy) were summoned to Parliaments, or of what Order they were, these Tables, compared with the printed Lists before them, will presently resolve them, better than all the Tables and Kalendars to the Records in the Tower, which are very defective, and if they have cause to make use of the Records upon any occasion, these Tables will punctually direct them both to the Number Roll and Dorse too wherein they are recorded, without further search: So as I may conclude them to be greatly beneficial, as well to the Keepers of those Records, as to all those who shall have future occasion to make use of them in any kind.

For the extraordinary writs of summons and others here published at large, I dare averr, that most of the Nobility, Gentry, Lawyers, and Parliament men of the English Nation▪ never so much as once saw, or heard of most of them before this publication; and those few Antiquaries, Lawyers, Gentlemen, who have gottenauy transcripts and Collections of the writs of summons in the Tower, shall meet with many memorable rare writs in this Abridgement, which are totally omitted out of their Folio Volumes, collected to their hands by others; which I have here supplied by my own industry, and likewise digested into method: all those large Coll…ctions of writs which I have yet seen, being both defective, confused, fraught with a tedious repetition of those names of Abbots, Priors, Dukes, Earls, Lords, Barons, which I have contracted into four short Tables in an orderly method. So as I may justly stile this Register, Kalendar and Survey, a rich Cabinet, and Compendious Treasury of the chiefest, and most precious Parliamentary Iewels, Rarities, Records, ever yet presented to the world in print.

As for my Observations on, and Collections from these writs, I dare affirm without vainglory, they are for the most part such, as were never yet known nor communicated to the world; and will be of excellent use, not only for the searching, but understanding of Records, and of the true constitution, proceedings, Privileges, Affairs, Ends of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England, and duties of their respective Members; wherein I have discovered, refuted many oversights and mistakes in Sir Edward Cook, and other pretended Antiquaries, who have written of our English Parliaments, and given clearer evidences of the original, beginning, use of the name Parliament in England; of the Authority, Power, use of the Kings Counsil, Iudges in Parliaments; of the Kings general writs of Summons to Temporal as well as Spiritual persons who held not by Barony, not making themselves, nor their Successors, nor posterities, Lords or Barons, and of sundry other materiall particulars, relating to the Freedom, Fulness, Summons, Affairs & Proceedings of our Parliaments, than any hitherto have done; out of an unfeigned desire of communicating more knowledg to the present & succeeding Generations, touching our Parliaments, and their affairs, than former times have been publikely acquainted with, that thereby I might restore our Parliaments to their primitive institution, use, splendor, freedom, Honor, that so the… may be made medicinal Restoratives, Blessing not Grievances, or Diseases to our … Church and State, oraa… Physicians of no value. We read ofbb… a woman in the Gospel, which had a… issue of bloud for 12 years, and had suff…ed many thi…gs of many Physicians, and spent all that she had upon them, even all her living, and yet was nothing better, but rather worse, and could not be heated by any of them. This woman is a true Emble… of England, ly…g for so many years, or more, si…k of a bloudy issue under the hands of several Physicians, under the Name and Disguise of Parliaments of several Forms and Modells, who (with their armed supporters) have put her to infinite expences, sufferings, and exhausted all she hath; and yet they have neither healed nor amended her in any kinde, but left her in a …arr worse condition then they found her,cc…er. 30. 13. for want of healing skil, or medicins; applying nothing but new corrosives & causticks of steel, instead of astringents and incar…natives to her bleeding wounds: yea those very Physicians are now so full of man…fold infirmities, distempers, if not gross corruptions, that we may surely say unto them this Proverb, ddLu. 4. 23.PHYSICIAN HEAL THY SELF, before we can possibly expect any publike healing from them either in Church or State. If these few leaves, through Gods blessing on them, shall becomeeeRev. 22. 2.Rev 22:2 like to the leaves of the tree of life, for the healing of these Physicians, & our Nations, (one prime end of their publication) I shall bless God for it, and deem my cost and labour well bestowed; however this shall be my comfort;ffPropertius p. 134. In magnis et voluisse sat est: ggPliny Praefatio in com. 1. Nat. Hist.Etiam non assecutis voluisse abunde pulchrum atque magnisicum est, in such a case as this.

One chief means to make our future Parliaments beneficial, medicinal and restorative to our Nation, is, to restore them to their antient freedom, and secure them and their Members from all future force and violence; which may be easily effected, 1.**7 E. 1. Rastal, Armor 1. By removing all armed Forces, and Souldiers a good distance from the places where they shall be kept, and prohibiting them under severest penalties, not to approach near unto them during their Sessions. 2ly.**Cook 4. Instit. p. 14. By defending the wearing of any offensive arms or weapons in or near the Cities where the Parliaments convene. 3ly. By inhibiting all tumultuous popular addresses to them, under colour of Petitions or otherwise, and ordering, that no Petitions or Addresses shal be tendred unto them from any County, City, Corporation, or Fraternity upon any occasion by above 12. grave selected persons at most, under pain of being questioned and proceeded against as tumultuous. 4ly. By declaring and enacting all Persons whatsoever to be actual Traytors, and Enemies to the Nation, (as they are by**4 E. 3. rot. Parl. n. 1. 21R. 2. c. 12. 31H. 6. c. 1. 3 …ac. c. 1, 2. Exact Collection, p. 200. &c. A Collection, P. 201, 202. Law) and to be effectually proceeded against as such; who shall offer any force, violence, assault to the Parliament, or any Member or Members thereof during their attending therein, or in going to or returning from the same, or violently interrupt their proceeding…. And that all who shall hereafter be peccant in this kind, &**21 R. 2. c. …. their heirs males shall be for ever hereafter disabled to sit in Parliament, or bear any Office whatsoever, Civil or military, or to purchase or re-ceive any Lands, Chattels, Gift, Legacy or bequest whatsoever, or to enjoy the privileges of an English Freeman.

My chief design in this & other late publications, hath been to inform the English Nation of the true Original constitution, uses, ends, Rights, Privileges, Judicarure, and Proceedings of the Great Councils and Parliaments held within our Island, from its original plantation by the Britons, till the Normans ruling in it, which I have already published in a Brief **In my Summary Collections, &c. and Breviate,Chr…nological manner, and from thence to the end of King Edward the 4th his reign, which I have likewi…e in a good measure accomplished in my late inlarged Plea for the Lords and House of Peers; wherein I have given the Readers a large account of most of the Great Councils held under King Henry the 1. and 2. proving, there were no Knights, Citizens or Burgesses summoned to them in their reigns, as they have been of later times; which may be further evidenced by these Historical Passages and Great Councils which I there omitted.

In the year of Christ 1109. in ahhEadmerus Hist. Novor. l. 3. p. 67, 68. Great Council of the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, ET PRINCIPVM totius Regni, there was this Canon made amongst others; Vt nullus Archidiaconus Presbyter, Diaconus, Canonicus uxorem ducat, vel ductam retineat, &c. Vt Presbyter quamdiu illicitam conversationem mulieris habuerit, non sit legalis, nec missam celebret, nec si celebraverit, ejus miss a audiatur: After Anselms banishment very many Priests reteining or resuming their wives contrary to these Decrees,iiEadmerus l. 4. p. 83, 84, 85. King Henry the 1. thereupon caused his Ministers to indict, and prosecute many Priests for this contempt, only to extort monies from them: but their fines not amounting to so great a summ as the King expected, there was a general Sentence given against all the Priests, as well innocent as nocent, and a fine set upon every Parish Church, which the Priest thereof was to redeem; which some Priests having no money, and others refusing to pay, because it was an unjust innovation, they were thereupon contumeliously seised upon by force, imprisoned and tortured; and when neer 200 of them in their Surplisses and Priests habits came all together to the Kings place in London barefoot, imploring him with one voice to take pity on them, Ille ad preces …orum nulla miseratione permotus est, vel saltem quavis eos, sicut homin…s omnis religionis expertes, responsi honestate dignatus, suis obtutibus festine abegi praecepit: whereupon they repaired to the Queen, who only wept in pity towards them, but could not relieve them. Anselm upon the other Bishops Letter to him, writ an Epistle to the King touching this proceeding of his, as an innovation, Quod hactenus inauditum et inusitatum est in Ecclesia Dei de ullo Rege, et de aliquo Principe. No… enim pertinet secundum legem Dei hujusmodi culpam vindicare …isi ad singulos Episcopos per suas parochias, …ut si & ipsi Episcopi in hoc negligentes fuerint, ad Archiepiscopum & Primatem, &c. Adding, Dico enim vobis quod valde timere debetis, quod pecunia taliter accepta, ut taceam quantum noceat animae, non tamen cum expendetur, adjuvabit terrena negoti…, quantum postea perturbabit. To which the King returned this answer.

kkEadmeru… …. 4. p. 86.Henricus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum, Anselmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariae salutem. In die Sancti Gregorii apud Tunebrigge, mihi fuerunt delatae literae repostae sub tuo sigillo. Et per …a mihi mandasti talia unde multum miror, quia quod feci credo me per te fecisse. Et in die Ascensionis Domini HABEBO OMNES BARONES MEOS (without Knights, Citizens or Burgesses) MECUM CONGREGATOS, & PER CONSILIUM EORUM ita convenienter tibi respondebo quod cum tecum loquar non credo te me inde blasphematurum. Et quicquid fiat alias, scito quod tui, quicquid ipsi fecerint, per omnes terras tuas in pace permanserint.

llHoveden, Annal. pars p…sterior, p. 56…, 567.Anno Gratiae …172. King Henry the 2d. Venit OXENFORD, & IN GENERALI CONCILIO ibidem celebrato CONSTITUIT Iohannem filium suum REGEM IN HYBERNIA, concessione & confirmatione Alexandri summi pontificis. Et in eodem Concilio venerunt ad Regem Resus filius Griphini regulus de Su…hwales, & David fil…s O…ain regulus de Northwales; qui sororem ejusdem regis Angliae in uxorem duxerat, & Cadwelanus regulus de Delnain, & Owanus de Keuillian, & G…iffinus de Brunfeld, & Madacus …ilius Gervetrog: & alii multi de nobilioribus Gualliae, et omnes devenerunt homines regis Angliae patris, & fidelitatem ei contra omnes homines, & pacem sibi & regno suo servandam juraverunt. In eodem autem Concilio dedit dominu… Rex Angliae praedicto Reso filio Grifsini terram de Meronith: & David filio Owain terram de Ellesmare. Deditque dominus …ex Hugoni de Lasci (ut supradictum est) in Hybernia totam Midam cum pertinentiis suis pro servitio 100. militum, tenendam de ipso et Iohanne filio suo, & chartam suam ei inde fecit. Deditque ibidem Roberto filio Stephani & Miloni de Cogham regnum de Co…ch, pro servitio 60. militum, tenendum de ipso et Iohanne filio suo, excepta civitate de Corch, cum uno cantredo, quae dominus rex sibi et haeredibus suis retinuit. Deditque ibidem Hereberto filio Hereberti, et Willielmo fratri Comitis Reginaldi, & Iollano de la Primerai nepoti eorum regnum de Limeric, pro servitio 60. militum, tenendum de ipso et Iohanne filio suo: excepta civitate de Limeric, cum uno cantredo, quae dominus sibi et haeredibus suis retinuit. Trad…dit autem dominus rex Willielmo filio Aldelini dapifero suo civitatem Wesesordiae in custodia, cum omn…bus pertinentiis suis; & statuit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad servicium Wesefordiae: Harkelou cum pertinentiis suis, Glascarric cum pertinentiis suis; & terram Gilberti de Boisrohard, Ferneg Winal cum pertinentiis suis, Fernes cum pertinentiis suis: & totam terram de Hervei inter Weseforde & aquam de Water…orde. Servitium Raimundi de Druna. Servitium de Frodrevelan. Servitium Vimo…thi de Leighlerin. Tenementum etiam Machtaloe cum pertinentiis suis. Et Leis terram Gaufridi de Costentin cum pertinentiis suis: & totam terram Orueldi. Tradidit etiam ibidem dominus rex Roberto le Poer marescallo suo in custodia civitatem Water…ordiae: cum omnibus pertinentiis suis: et statuit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad servitium Waterfordiae: totam terram quae est inter Waterforde & aquam quae est ultra Lismors, & totam terram de Oiseric cum pertinentiis suis. Tradidit etiam ibidem dominus rex Hugoni de Laci civitatem Diveliniae cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in custodia: & sta…it haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad Servitium Diveliniae; totam terram de Offelana cum pertinentiis suis, & Kildaran cum pertinentiis suis, & totam terram de Offalaia, cum pertinentiis suis, & Wikechelon cum pertinentiis suis, & servitium de Mida, & servitium quatuor militum, quod Robe…tus Poer debet de castello suo de Dunaver. Postquam autem dominus rex apud Oxeneford in praedicto modo terras Hyberniae, et earum servitia divisisset, secit omnes quibus earun…emcustodias commis…rat homines suos & Iohannis silii sui devenire: et jurare e…s ligantias et fidelitates de terris Hyberniae. Et ie…de m Concilio dedit dominus rex Richardo Priori de Kiteby abbatiam de Witebi. Et Benedicto Priori Ecclesiae sanctae Trinitatis Cantuariae, abbatiam de Burgo, & Richardus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus benedixit cum in abbatem. Eodem anno praedictus Vivianus Presbyter Cardinalis & Apostolicae sedis legatus, peracta legatione sua in Hyb…rnia, rediit in Angliam, & per conductum domini r…gis rediit in Scotiam, & celebrato Concilio apu… castellum puellarum, susspendit a pontificali officio Christianum Episcopum Candidae casae, quia ad Concilium suum venire noluit; sed Episc. suspensionem illam non tenuit, septus munimine Rogeri Eboracensis Archiepise. cujus suffraganeus ipse erat. Deinde venit dominus Rex us que Merleberge: ubi Rex dedit Philippo de Brensa totum regnum de Limeric pro servitio sexaginta mili…um, tenendum de ipso & de Iohanne filio suo. Nam Herebertus & Willielmus fratres Reginaldi Comi…is Cornubiae, & Ioslanus de la Pumerai nepos eorum, regnum illud habere noluerunt, eo quod nondum perquisitum erat: nam occiso a regalibus rege Monodero, qui Rex erat de Limeric, & homo regis Angliae inde suerat, quidam de progenie illius, vir potens et fortis, regnum de Limeric invasit, cepit, et potenter rexit, nullam subjectionem faciens Regi Angliae, nec suis obedire voluit propter infidelitatem eorum, & mala quae faciebant populo Hyberniae sine merito. Rex vero Corcensis & alii multi divites Hyberniae insurrexerunt in Regem Angliae, & suos: & erant novissima eorum pejora prioribus, & se mutuo interfecerunt.

By which president it is evident; that King Henry by the advice of his Great Council of Prelates and Nobles of & in England, disposed both of the Kingdoms, Crowns and Lands in Ireland to his Son, and other subjects of England. The same KingmmR…d…lph. de Diceto, Ymagines Histor. col. 613. Henry the 2. Anno Dom. 1182. aetatis annum inchoans quadragesimum nonum, dum mentis et corporis incolumitate vigeret, dum regnum suum undique tranquillae pacis commoditatibus frueretur, apud Waltham Episcopi Winton, REGNI CONVOCAVIT MAJORES. Itaque pr…sentibus illis et approbantibus quandam pecuniae partem in causas pias procurans, Qua…raginta siquidem duo mili…a marcorum argenti, quingentas marcas auri distribuit, &c. After thisnnHov… Anna. … P 6…8, 629. Pope Lucius An. 1185. sending a Letter to King Henry the 2d. to take the Cross upon him and succour the holy Land, by the P… triarch and Master of the Hospital of Hierusalem, who presented it to him, together with the toy. al banner, and Keyes of the Lords Scpulcher, and of the Tower of David, and City of Ierusalem, on the behalf of the King and Princes of the Land, importuning his answer to their requests: Domi…us Rex statuit eis terminum suae responsionis primam Dominicam Quadragesimae apud Londonias. Ad quam Dominicam, Dominus Rex & Patriarcha et Episcopi, et Abbates, et COMITES et BARONES ANGLIAE (but no Knights, Citizens or Burgesses thereof, & Willielm. REX SCOTIAE, & David frater ejus, CUM COMITIBUS ET BARONIBUS TERRAE SUAE … Londoniis: et habito inde cum deliberatione consslio, PLACUIT VNIVERSIS, quod Dominus Rex consuleret inde Dominum suum Philippum Regem Franciae: et sic soluto CONCILIO, Dominus Rex dedit universis hominibus suis, tam Clericis quam Lacis, licentiam capiendi crucem. Unde factum est quod Baldwinus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus, et Ranulphus Iusticiarius Angliae, & Walterus Rothomagensis Archiepiscopus, et Hugo Dunelmensis Episcopus, et alii quamplures Episcopi transmarini et cismarini: et fere omnes Comites et Barones et Milites Angliae, & Normanniae, & Aquitaniae, & Britanniae, & Andegaviae, & Cenomanniae & Turoniae Crucem ceperunt. Deinde Dominus Rex venit usque Windleshoures et ibi in Dominica ubi cantatur, Laetare Jerusal…m, fecit Johannem silium suum militem, & statim misit eum in Hyberniam, & INDE EVM REGEM CONSTITVIT.

To pretermit the Parliamentary Councils under King… Richard the 1. of which I have given you some account in my Plea …or the Lords, p. 234. to 242. I shall proceed to those in the beginning of King Iohns reign.

In the 1. year of King Iohn Anno Dom. 1199. there was a Great Council of the Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Barons summoned to his Coronation, thus related byaaFlores H…st. pa…s 2. Anno 1199. p. Matthew Westminster, though there be no writs of Summons thereunto extant on record; Dux Normanniae Johannes in vigilia Ascensionis Domini London venit, ibi CONGREGATIS ANGLIAE NOBILIBVS, ab H…b…rto Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo coronatus est, die… Ascensionis Domini; whichbbAnnalium pars posterior Ann. 119. p. 793. Roger de Hov…den thus relates, Congregatis igitnr apud Lundonias in advent… praedicti ducis Huberto Cantuariensi, Johanne Dublinensi, et de Raguse Archiepiscopus, Willielmo Lundoniensi, Gilberto Roffensi, Johanne Norwicensi, Hugone Lincolnensi, Eustachio Eliensi, Godfrido Wintoniensi, Henrico Exoniensi, Sefrido Cicestrensi, Gau…rido Coventrensi, Savarico Bathoniensi, Hereberto Salesburiensi, Philippo Dunelmensi, Rogero de sancto Andrea in Scotia, Henrico de Landas Episcopis, Roberto de Leicestre, Richardo de Clare, Willielmo de Tutesburie, Hamelino de Warenne, Willielmo de Salisbirie, Willielmo de Striguil, Walranno de Warewic, Rogero Bigot, Willielmo de Arundel, Ranulfo de Cestre Comitibus, & Baronibus multis: Hubertus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus coronoavit, et consecravit in regem Angliae prefatum Johannem ducem Normanniae, in Ecclesia sancti Petri Apostoli Westminstriae, sexto Calen…. Iunii, feria 5. die Ascensionis Domini; Philippo Dunelmensi Episcopo appellante, ne coronatio illa fieret in absentia Gaufridi Eboracensis Archiepiscopi, totius Angliae Primatis. ccH…st. A…g p. 1…9. 1…0.Matthew Paris thus records the manner of his Coronation more fully. CONGREGATIS ita que in adventu ejus, Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Comitibus et Baronibus atque aliis omnibus, qui ejus coronationi interesse debuerant, Archiepiscopus staus in medio omnium, dixit; Audite universi. Noverit discretio vestra, quod nullus praevia ratione alii succedere habet regnum, nisi ab universitate Regni unanimiter, invocata Spiritus gratia electus, & secundum morum suorum eminentiam praeelectus, ad exemplum et similitudinem Saul primi Regis inuncti, quem praeposuit Dominus populo suo, non Regis filium, nec de Regali stirpe procreatum. Similiter post eum David Sem ei filium: hunc quia strenuum et aptum dignitati regiae, illum quia sanctum et humilem, ut sic qui cunctos in regno supereminet strenuitate, omnibus praesit et potestate et regimine. Verum si quis ex stirpe Regis defuncti aliis praepolleret, pronius et promptius in electionem ejus est consentiendum. Haec idcirco diximus pro inclyto Comite Iohanne, qui praesens est, frater illustrissimi Regis nostri Richardi jam defuncti, qui haerede caruit ab eo egrediente, qui providus et strenuus & manifeste nobilis, qnem nos, invocata Spiritus sanctigratia, ratione tam meritorum quam sanguinis Regii unanimiter elegimus universi. Erat autem Archiepiscopus vir prosundi pectoris, et in regno singularis columna stabilicatis et sapientiae incomparabilis. Nec ausi erant alii super his adhuc ambigere; scientes quod sine causa hoc non sic diffiniverat. Verum Comes Iohannes et omnes hoc acceptaban…, ipsumque Comitem in Regem eligentes et assumentes, exclamant dicentes: Vivat rex. Interrogatus autem postea Archiepiscopus Hubertus, quare haec dixisset? respondit se praesaga mente conjecturare, et quibusdam oraculis edoctum & certificatum fuisse, quod ipse Johannes Regnum & Coronam Angliae foret aliquando corrupturus, & in magnam confusionem precipitaturus. Et ne haberet liberas habenas hoc faciendi, ipsum electione non successione haereditaria, eligi debere affirmabat. Archiepiscopus autem imponens capiti ejus coronam, unxit eum in regem ap…d Westmor a…t…rium, sc. in Ecclesia principis Apostolorum, Dominicae ascensionis die, sexto kalendas Junii, Philippo Dunelmensi Episcopo appellante, sed non obtinen…e, ne coronatio illa fieret in absentia G. Archiepiscopi Eboracensis. In hac coronatione Rex Iohannes triplici involutus est sacramento: Quod videlicet sanctam Ecclesiam et ejus ordinatos diligeret, et eam ab incursione malignantium indemnem conservaret: et quod perversis legibus destructis, bonas substitueret, et rectam justitiam in regno Angliae exerceret. Deinde adjuratus est ab eodem Archiepisc opo ex parte Dei, et districte prohibitus, ne honorem hunc accipere praesumeret, nisi in mente habeat opere, quod juraverat, adimplere. Ad hoc ille respondens, promisit se per auxilium Dei, bona fide, ea quae juraverat, servaturum. In crastino autem, homagiis et fidelitatibus acceptis, beatum Albanum Protomartyrem Angliae, orationis gratia, devotus petivit. Et sic brevissimam in Anglia moram faciens, ea quae statuenda erant in regno, cum consilio Magnatum rite peregit.

In the 2. year of (d) King Iohn, Anno 1200. Hub…rt Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England, Generale celebravit Concilium Londini apud Westmona sterium, contra prohibitionem Gawfridi silii Petri, Comitis Essex, tunc temporis summi Iusticiarij Angl…ae; In which many Laws and Canons were made touching Ecclesiastical persons and businesses, recorded at large ineeAnnal. pars post…rior P. 806. to 810. Roger de Hoveden. And in the same year the sameggPag. …803. Author writes, the long su…e between William de Stutevil, and William de Moubray, touching the Barony of Moubray, was compremised and ended by an agreement made between them CONSILIO REGNI, & VOLVNTATE REGIS. In which Council of the Realm, it is most probable, Statuta quaedam Johannis Regis, concerning the prises of Wine, registred byggIbid. p. 795, 796. Hoveden, were made. Sed hoc PRIMUM Regis STATUTUM vix inchoatum, statim est adnihilatum, quiae Mercatores hanc Assisam sustinere non poterunt, & data est eis licentia vendendi sextertium de vino albo pro octo denariis, & vini rubri pro sex denariis, & sic repleta est terra potu, & potatoribus. The Writs of Summons for these two General Councils of the Church and Realm this year, are not found extant on record.

The Patent Roll in the 5 ofhhPat. 5. Johan Regis m. 1. n. 3. Seldens Title of Honor p. 707. King Iohn, makes mention of an Assise of Beer and Wine, made per Commune Consilium Baronum nostrorum, held the year before at Winchester.

Rex, &c. sciatis, Nos Communi Cons…lio Baronum nostrorum constituisse, Quod albus panis factus in Civitate nostra Winton. fit ponderis 3 c Sol. &c. Et unusquisque Pistor sigillum suum pani suo apponat, &c. Et volumus et firmiter praecipimus, quod haec constitutio firmiter teneatur. Facta est autem haec constitutio ad Pascham proximam post obitum Alienorae Reginae matris nostrae, anno regni nostri quinto, Teste G. fil. Petri Com. Essex. apud Freitemnel 15 die Aprilis.

This Ordinance for the Assise of Bread, with the Proclamation and proceedings thereupon, is more at large recorded in Matthew Paris Hist. Angl. Anno 1262, Editione Tyguri 1589. p. 200. where you may peruse it at leasure.

In the 5th. year of his reign (as xx…ist. Ang. p. 204.Met. Paris relates) Rex Johannes in COMITES & BARONES occasiones praetendens, quod ipsuminter hostes reliquerant in partibus transmarinis, unde Castella, & terras suas pro eorum defectu amiserat, caepit ab eis septimam partem omnium mobilium suorum (by grant, as I conceive in a Parliamentary Council) nec etiam ab hac rapina in Ecclesiis conuentualibns manus coercuit violentas. Yet I find no Writ of Summons to this Council in the Rolls of this year.

In the 6 year of his reign, yyMat. Paris, p. 201. Ma…. Westm. p. 83.An. 1204. In crastino circumcisionis venerunt ad Colloquium apud Oxoniam Rex & MAGNATES Angliae, ubi concessa sunt Regi auxilia militaria de quolibet scuto, scilcet duae marcae & dimidia. Nec etiam Episcopi & Abbates, sive Ecclesiasticae personae, sine promiss one recesserunt.

In the 8 year of his Regality, aszzMat. Paris p. 204. M…t. Westm. p. 83. King Iohn celebrated the day of our Saviours Na…ivity at Oxford; So it appears he likewise held a Parliamentary Council there, which granted him an ayd toward the recovery of his lands in France, and defence of the Realm of England, by these two Records that year.

Claus. 8. Iohan. Regis dors. 2. Rex Iustic. auxilii assidendi & Vic. Berks salutem: Sciatis quod Abbas de Abbendon finivit nobiscum pro sexties cent. mar. pro habenda quietantia de dominicis feodis & hominibus omnibus tenentibus suis in Balliva vestra de anxilio Nobis proviso PER CONCILIUM NOSTRUM OXON: et ideo vobis mandamus quod ipse inde quietus sit. Et si quid inde per Nos inc…oatum suerit, penitus relax. Tu autem Vic. videas quod securus sis quod habeamus unam medietatem finis illius ad proximum clausum Pasche: Et aliam medi…tatem ad ptoximum festum Sancti Iohannis Baptistae. Alioquin capietur de firma tua. Et Justitiariis mandatum est & libere tenentibus suis in ballivia tua quod faciant ei praedictum auxilium. Et si quid inde cepisti, id ei sine dilatione reddi fac. T.

Pat. 8. Iohan. Rs. m. 1. Rex Archidiacon…, Officiali & toti Clero Archiepiscopatus Cantuar. Salutem. Notum satis, quod Archiepiscopi, Episcopi, Abbates, Priores, & Magnates regni nostri auxilium Nobis fecerunt ad defensionem regni nostri & recuperationem terrarum nostrarum. Verum quia de vobis confidimns, quod Nos & …onorem nostrum diligitis, & defensionem regni nostri, & recuperationem terrarum nostrarum affectatis, vos rogamus attentius, quatenus tale axilium Nobis exemplo accepto ex parte vestra faciatis, ut inde vobis gratias dare debeamus: Et quod alii Rectores Ecclesiarum intuitu vestri ad auxilium Nobis faciendum exempio vestro facilius inuitentur: …t quantitat…m auxilii quod nobis quilibet ipsorum sac…re voluer it, quilibet vestrum seperatim faciat. Ita quod per ipsos in octabis Sanctae circumcisionis inde possimus testificari. Teste me ipso apud Ebor. 26. die Maii.

This same year the Arch-bishops, Bishops, Abbots, Archdeacons, and Clergy of England by command from Pope Innocent, without the Kings Writ or consent, were called to, and resolved to hold a Council at Saint Albans, to pay Romescot in an unusual manner, and many other unaccustomed exactions, to the great prejudice of the Kingdom, and oppression of the people; whereupon the King upon the general complaint of the universality of the Earls, Barons, Knights, and other Subjects against those exactions & this Council, issued forth this memorable Writ and Prohibirion, in preservation of the rights of the Crown, Kingdom, People, against this Papal usurpation and innovation.

Pat. 8. Iohan. Rs. m. 1. Rex Archiepiscopis, Episcopis, Abbatibus, Archidiaconis, & omni clero apud Sanctum Albanum AD CONCILIVM convocato salutem. Conquerente universitate Comitum Baronum, Militum, & aliorum-fidelium nostrorum, audivimus, quod non solum in lai…orum grave praejudicium, sed etiam in totius Regni nostri intolerabile dispendium, super Romescotto praeter consuetudinem soluendo, & aliis pluribus inconsuetis exac…ionibus, Autoritate summi Pontisicis CONCILIUM inire, & CONCILIUM celebrare decrevistis. Nos vero licet ob honorem sidie nostrae & debitum reverentiae quod sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae impendere tenemur, voluntatem sancti Patris vestri Domini Papae Innocentiae obtemperare cupimus, tamen omittere non possumus quin quaerelis fidelium & subditorum nostrorum clamantium de jactura sua & timentium, prout necesse est, sibi subveniamus, & …mergentib…scausis quae indempnitati pacis & unitati regni nostri obviare possunt, quanta decet celeritate & diligentia occurramus. Vobis igitur praecise mandamus & expresse prohibemus, ne super praedictis vel aliquibus aliis CONCILIUM ALIQUOD anthoritate aliqua in fide qua nobis tenemini teneatis, vel contra regni nostri consuetudinem aliquod novum statuatis, et sicut Nos & honorem nostrum, & communem regni tranquillitatem diligitis à celebratione hujusmodi CONCILII & à praedictis taxationibus ad praesens supersedeatis, quousque cum universitate nostra super hoc COLLOQUIUM habuerimus. Scientes per certo, quod expediet honori sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae & domino Papae & Nobis & Vobis quod istud ad praesens negotium differatur, donec generalem habuimus conferrentiam commodius & honestius explicari. Et quod vobis hoc mandamus pro honore, & commodo sacrosanctae Ecclesiae, & vestri & regni nostri id fecimus: Quia talia audivimus quod hoc ita fieri necessario expedit, sicut vobis dicemus cum vobiscum locuti fuerimus. Teste me ipso apud Ebor. 26. die Maii.

Now because all Elections of Knights of Shiers, are and ought to be made in the next **7. H. 4. c. 15. 8. H. 4. Rot. Pa…l. 83. 139.County Court after the Writs for Elections come to the Sheriffs hands; I shall adde this memorable exposition of the Statute of Magna Charta, c. 35. made by the King and greater part of the Bishops, Earls, and Barons of the Realm without the Commons, touching the holding of Hundred Courts, Wapentakes, & Court Leets, omitted by Sir Edward Cook in his Commentary thereon, which it better explains than his Annotations upon it.

Claus. 18. H. 3. m. 10. Rex Vic. Linc. salutem. Quia audivimus quod tu & Ballivi tui, & Ballivi aliorum qui Hundredum habent in Comitatu tuo, non intelligitis qualiter Hundreda & Wapentake teneri debeant in Com. tuo, postquam concessimus omnibus de Regno nostro Libertates in cartis nostris quas indo fecimus, dum f…imus infra aetatem. Nos eandem Ca…am nuper legi fecimus in praesentia Dom. CANIUAR. ARCHIEP. & MAJORIS & SANIORIS PARTIS OMNIUM EPISCOPORUM, COMITUM ET BARONUM TO TIUS REGNI NOSTRI, UT CORAM EIS ET PER EOS EXPONERETUR haec clausula contenta in**Mag Carta c. 35. Carta nostra de Libertatibus, viz. Quod nullus Vicecomes vel Ballivus faciat Turnum suum per Hundredum, nisi …is in anno, & non nisi loco debito & consueto; viz. semel post Pascham, & iterum post festum sancti Michaelis. Ita scilicet quod qui libet habeat …ibertates suas quas habuit & habere consuevit tempore H. Regis avi nostri, vel quas postea perquisivit. Unde à multis ibi dictum suit, quod t…pore H. Regis avi nostri tam Hundreda et Wapentac, quam curi… Magnatum Angliae solebant teneri de Quindena in Quindenam; Et licet multum placeret communi utilitati totius regni & indempnitati pauperum providere, quia tamen illi duo Turnii plene non sufficient ad pacem regni nostri conservandam, & ad excessus tam divitibus quam pauperibus illatis corrigendos quae ad Hundredum pertinent, De COMMVNI CONSILIO praedict. Dom. CANTUAR. & OMNIUM praedict. EPISCOPORUM COMITUM, ET BARONUM, ET ALIORUM, ITA PROVISUM EST. Quod inter praedictos duos Turnos teneantur Hundredum & Wapentakia, & etiam curiae Magnatum de Tribus septimanis in Tres septimanas, ubi prius teneri solent de Quindena in Quindenam. Ita tamen, quod ad illa Hundred a & VVapentakia & Curias non fiat generalis summonitio, si…ut ad Turnos praedictos; set ad hujusmodi illa VVapentakia & Curias convenient conquerentes & adversarii sui, & illi qui sectas debent, per quos teneantur placita & fiant judicia, nisi ita sit quod ad Hundreda illa & VVapentakia fieri debeat Inquisitio de placitis Coronae, sicut de morte hominis, Thesauro invento, & hujusmodi: ad quae inquirenda conveniant cum praedictis sectariis quatuor villatae proximae; scilicet omnes de illis villis qui necessarii fuerint ad Inquisitiones illas faciendas. Et ideo tibi praecipimus, quod praedicta Hundreda VVapentakia & Curias tam Nostras quam aliorum teneri facias de cetero secundum quod praedictum e…t de tribus sepeimanis in tres septimanas, exceptis praedictis duobus Turnit, qui de caetero teneantur secundum quod prius teneri solebant. T. R. apud VVestm. 11. Octobris.

I shall only adde this one Record more, proving, that matters concerning Truces, were resolved by King H. 3. the Spiritual and Temporal Lords in Parliamentary Councils, without any Knights, Citizens, or Burgesses.

Claus. 19. H. 3. m. 20. Rex Roberto de Langeton, Archidiacono Cant. & Abbati de sancta Radegunda, salute…, Super sollicitudine & diligentia laudabili simul & laboribus sumptuosis quas circa negotium nostrum expediendum quod vobis injunximus apposuistis, urrique vestrum copiosas referrimus gratiarum actiones, vobis quidem magister S. praecipuas & speciales, utpote ei cujus fidelitatem & prudentiam plurimum commendamus. Sciatis autem quod CONGREGATIS apud VVestmon. in octabis sancti Hillarii vener: patribus G. Cantuar Archiepiscopo, EPISCOPIS, COMITIBUS, ET ALIIS FIDELIBUS NOSTRIS. (to wit, the Barons and Great men, not Commons, as the subsequent clause attests.) Post diligentem tractatum habitum CUM IPSIS DE NEGOTIO TREVGARVM inter Nos & Regem Franciae & aliis agendis nostris, visum fuit iisdem fidelibus nostris, quod nullo modo sine verecundia & opprobrio nostris Insulam de Olerone … potuimus Comiti Marchiae pro cōsensu suo adhibendo ad treugas inter nos ineundas, nec in co consilium Nobis praestare vel consentire voluerint. Sic enim praeter verecundiam quam inde consequeremus ab omnibus quibus factum nostrum innotesceret teneremur et pro remissis, et minus valentibus haberemur, et etiam pessimum & perniciosum exemplum aliis qui in casu consimili ad similia petenda per hoc moverentur. Vnde si per d…centas libras annuas Treugis durantibus ad consensum Treugarum possit…idem Comes induci pro Insula praedicta sicut alias locutum suit, bene placeret tam Nobis quam praedictis MAGNATIBVS NOSTRIS; et ad hoc laborare velitis, quia priori conditioni consentire non esset honestum, vel expediens, &c. T. Rege apud Westm. 27. Januarii.

I shall trouble you with no more Presidents or Records of this nature, by way of Preface to this first part of my Register, Kalender and Survey of Parliamentary Writs: In which I have presented you onelyonly with the several Writs of Summons directed to the Spiritual and Temporal Lords, and Kings Counsil (their ordinary Assistants) intermixed with some other Writs, and several forms of Procurations, in my Observations on them; which relate wholly, or principally to the House of Lords, Convocations, and Clergy, amounting to a just vendible Volume. The several forms, varieties of Writs issued to Sheriffs of Counties, Wardens, or Officers of the Cinque-Ports, Dukes of Lancaster, their Lieutenants, or Chancellors, and Sheriffs of particular Cities, Towns, Boroughs …made Counties within …emselves) for electing Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Barons of the Ports (peculiar to the House of Commons) with all sorts of Writs for proroguing, continuing, adjourning Parliaments, or superseding them after summons to them upon extraordinary occasions, (relating equally to both Houses of Parliament, and their Members) together with some special Writs of Summons to the Kings, Prelates, Nobles, Barons, Great Officers, and others of the Realms, Lands of Scotland and Ireland, to appear in, at, or before the Parliaments, Great Councils, Kings, or Privy Counsil in England, concerning the affairs, or defence of Scotland and Ireland onelyonly: as likewise to particular Merchants, Masters of Ships, Forresters, Lawyers, learned men of both Universities, and other Persons upon special occasions, to attend the Parliament, King, Counsil; with my particular Observations on them, (which I at first intended to have published in this Piece) I shall (if God send health, life, oportunity, and incouragement by a grateful acceptance of these First-fruits) with all convenient speed, communicate to the World in A Second Part. After which, I shall in two or more distinct Volumes, present unto publick view several other kinds of Writs, relating to the Parliaments, Great Councils, Convocations and Clergy of England, to all sorts of proceedings in them, Criminal, or Civil; the assessing, levying of the expences of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of Parliament: of Dismes, Quidismes, Aids, Subsidies, Customs, Imposts, granted by them; with the disposing, releasing of them; the defence of the Realm by Land or Sea in times of danger; the proclaming, observing of the Great Charters, Laws, and Liberties of England; and of Acts and Ordinances of Parliament newly enacted; with sundry other Rarities, which all former Writers of our English Parliaments have either totally omitted, or but briefly touched, and that very slightly; though of excellent use, and most necessary to be insisted on, for the information of their Readers, and benefit of Posterity.

Not to detain you with any longer Preface, I shall now leave you to the perusal of this First Part, distinct from those Parts I intend shall follow it; if embraced with that respect, affection, and desire as it may justly expect and hope for from the Nobility, Gentry, Lawyers, Antiquaries and Heralds of the English nation. But if slighted, vilified, neglected, like old Almanacks or fashions grown quite out of use and request (though meer Novelties in their discovery & communication to the world, hitherto unacquainted with them) I shall then resolve to cast no more such precious ancient**Mat. 7. 6.Matt 7:6 Pearls and Rarities be…ore swine; who wil neglect & trample them under their feet; but reserve them for my own private Cabinet, use, ornament, benefit, delight, and such learned Friends to whom I shal hereafter bequeath them, who will estimate them according to their true intrinsecal worth, and prefer them before the most orient Pearls and Diamonds, which are only for shew, when as these are of greatest publick use, and will be so esteemed in future generations, how much soever slighted by the Athenians of this age, who like the old ones, Acts 17. 20, 21. spend their ti…e in nothing else but to tell or hear some new thing; preferring new Gloworms, Ignes fatui, and Prodigious Comets, shining onelyonly in the night, before the Sun, Moon, and fixed Planets, which ten thousand times outshine, transcend them both in splendor, magnitude, use, excellency, and publick benefit. It isaaAd herenicum: p. 21. Cicero his observation of old, Solis exortus, cursus, occasus nemo admiratur propterea quod quotidie …iunt; at …cclypses solis mirantur, quia raro accidunt. Nulla nisi rara aut admirabili re commovetur animus. Which bbNatural. quaest. l. 7. p. 933.Seneca thus seconds, Ita cōpositi sumus, ut nos quotidiana, etiam si admiratione digna sunt, transeant: contra, minimarum quoque rerum, si insolitae prodierunt, spectaculum dulce fiat. Hic quoque caetus astrorum, quibus immensi corporis pulchritudo distringuitur, populum non convocat, sed cum aliquid ex more mutatum est, omnium vultus in coelo est. Nemo observat lunam nisi laborantem. Tunc urbes clamant, tunc pro se superstitione vana trepidant. Quanta illa majora sunt, quod Sol totidem gradus quotidie habet & annum suo circuitu claudit; quod à solstitio diem inclinat, & noctibus spacium dat, quod sydera abscondit, quod terras cum tanto major sit illis, non urit, sed calorem suum intentionibus & remissionibus temperando fovet; quod lunam nunquam implet, nisi adversam sibi, nec obscurat; haec tamen non annotamus quamdiu ordo servatur. Si quid turbatum est, aut praeter consuetudinem emicuit, spectamus, interrogamus, ostendimus. Idem in comae: is fit, &c. Adeo naturale est, nova, magis quā magna mirari: w^ch. is in truth both the sin & folly of our present fantastick childish age, affecting, studying, delighting, admiring nothing but Novelties, as well in Theology, all kinds of Arts, Sciences, publick Government, and Parliaments themselves, as …ell as Fashions or Apparel, though never so prodigious, Heterodox, ridiculous or destructive. But however vertiginous Scepticks, and fantastick Gallants having more hair than brains, are wholly enamored, infatuated with New-Nothings, yet all judicious Christians, Lawyers, Statesmen, (with holy and prudent KingccPsal. 77. 5.Ps 77:5 David (a man after Gods own heart) will consider the dayes of old, the years of ancient times: And according to Gods own precept, ddJer. 6. 16.Jer 6:16stand in the wayes and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, that they may find ease for their souls: Concluding with holy Iob▪ eeJob 12. 12.Job 12:12with the ancient is wisdom and understanding: And with our Saviours own resolution, wherwith I shall close up this Epistle,ffLuk. 5. 39.Luke 5:39 No man having drunk old wine, straitway desireth new; for he saith, THE OLD IS BETTER. Which is the experimental resolution of.

Your unfeined Friend and Servant, as well in relation to private as publick good, WILL. PRYNNE. From my Study in Lincolns Inne, Ian. 26. 1658/1659.