A Brief Register Part 2, Part 2 · Section 4

A Brief Register Part 2 · Part 2 · Section 4

p. 3SECTION IV.

Of the several varieties, forms of Writs, for electing Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses for Parliaments and great Councils, issued to the Sheriffs of Counties, intermixed with some of their ancientest Retorns by Sheriffs; and some writs of Prorogation and Resummons; with special usefull Annotations on, and Observations from them, after most of these VVrits recitals.

VVHen and in what Kings Reign, Writs for electing Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses to serve in our great Councils & Parliaments were first issued, and they upon the peoples free choice admitted into them as Members, is a great yet undecided Countroversie amongst Antiquaries, and Writers of our English Parliaments. aaMr. William Lambard his Archaion. p. 242. to 273. Mr. Nathaniel Bacon.Some conceit, that there were Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Commons in the Reigns of our Saxon Kings, before the Conquest, summoned as Members to their grand Councils, and included together with the Nobles, under the name of Sapientes, and the like; for proof whereof they much insist upon the pretended ancient Treatise, stiled, Modus tenendi Parliamentum, which in truth is but a late absurd Imposture, though cried up by bb4 Inst. p. 12. 349. 1 Instit. p. 110. 2 Inst. p. 7, 8.Sir Edw. Cook (who over doted on it) for a most ancient Record, beyond ccPage 18, 19, 20, 40, 85, 87.all exceptions, relying upon it as an undoubted Oracle. Others refer their original to the Parliamentarie Council held at Salisbury, in the sixteenth year of King Henry the 1. to which opinion Polydor Virgil, Holingshed, Speed, in their Histories, Anno 1216. Justice Dodderidg, Mr. Cambden, Mr. Agar, and Joseph Holland, in their Treatises of the (c) Antiquity of the Parliaments of England. ddThe Prerogative of the Parliament of England. p. 2, 3.Sir Walter Raleigh, eeThe Freeholders Grand Inquest. p. 12, 13.and p. 4others incline, as most probable; Which I have at large refuted in My Plea for the Lords, p. 165. to 183. by unanswerable evidences. Sir ffPosthuma, p. 346, 347, 348.Rob: Cotton, and ggTitles of Honor, p. 712. 713, 717.Mr. Selden, two of our learnedest most judicious Antiquaries, do rather incline, that the writs for electing Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, began but about the later end of King Henry the 3. and that the first Writ of this kinde now extant, is that in Cl. 49 H. 3. before which time, I conceive, it can hardly be made good by Historie or Records, that anie Knights, Citizens, Burgesses or Commons elected by the people, or others, were called to our Great Councils or Parliaments, as Members of them. That which induceth me to adhere to this opinion, are not onelyonly the Histories and Records I have hhPlea for the Lords, p. 30, to 35. 57, to 128, 203, to 262. The Supplement to it, p. 401. to 417. And Epistle before the 1. Part of The Register, &c.elswhere cited during the reigns of King Henry the 1. King Stephen, Henry the 2. Richard 1. King Iohn, and Henry the 3. of all the Parliamentarie Councils held under them before this year; which make no mention of anie such Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, or Commons summoned to, or present in them, as Members; but only of the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Nobles, and Great men of the Realm; but these memorable Writs entred in the Clause Roll of 48 H. 3. which assure us, that there was a Parliamentarie Council summoned & held this year, by the King, his Prelates, Lords, Nobles, & Barons, and a Tenth granted him by the Prelates & Lords, ordained how to be levied & expended for the common benefit of the Realm & Church of England, by their unanimous Counsil and advice; without the least mention at all of anie Knights, Citizens, Burgesses or Commons called to, or acting in it in anie kinde.

Claus. 48 H. 3. m. 5. dorso. Rex Johanni de Balliolo salutem. Cum jam sedata turbatione nuper habita in Regno nostro, Pax inter Nos et Barones nostros, divina cooperante gratia ordinata sit ac firmata; Et quaedam ardua negocia Nos et Regnum nostrum tangentia Vobiscum communicanda habeamus, quae sine praesentia p. 5vestra & aliorum Fidelium nostrorum nequeunt expediri, Vobis de Consilio Baronum nostrorum mandamus in fide et homagio quibus Nobis tenemini firmiter injungentes, quatinus statim visis literis istis omnibus aliis praetermissis sitis ad Nos London, sine armis, cum summa festinatione veniatis, super praemissis consilium vestrum impensuri. Et hoc sicut nos honorem nostrum, necnon et tranquilitatem Regni nostri diligitis, nullatenus omittatis. T. Rege apud Sanctum Paulum London 4. die Junii.

Eodem modo mandatum est Rogero de Clifford, Rogero de Leyburn, Hamoni Lestraung, Roberto de Nevill, Ade de Gesmuch.

These parties were **See Mat. Paris, p. 961. and the Catalogue of Barons in the London Edition of him, 1640. after the Table.all Lords and Barons of the Realm (not Commoners) & summoned by particular Writs by name, not elected by the people; and the Aliorum fidelium nostrorum, were the rest of the Prelates, Barons and Nobles, as these ensuing Writs resolve us.

Claus. 48 H. 3. m. 3. dorso. Rex M. Episcopo Norwicen. salutem. Cum per Praelatos et Magnates Regni nostri provisum sit, et unanimiter conceslum, quod Decimae proventuum omnium beneficiorum Ecclesiasticorum in regno nostro conferantur, ad communem utilitatem ejusdem Regni et Ecclesiae Anglicanae, et quod hujusmodi Decimae per locorum Episcopos leventur, et ad Nos mittantur. Vobis mandamus, quod hujusmodi Decimas, quas juxta provisionem praedictam in vestra Dioc. de beneficiis Ecclesiasticis levari fecistis ad Nos sine dilatione mittatis, convertendas in communem utilitatem Regni nostri et Ecclesiae praedictae. Et hoc nullatenus omittatis. Scitote, quod nisi hoc ad mandatum nostrum facere volueritis, De Consilio Magnatum qui sunt de Consilio nostro mandamus Vic. nostro Norff: & Suff: ad dictam Decimam, ob defectum vestri, quod vellemus levari, et ad Nos mitti fac. indilate. T. Rege apud Cantuar. primo die Septembr.

p. 6Rex Vic. Norff. & Suff. salutem. Cum per Pr…latos et Magnates regni no…ri Provisum sit, et unanimiter Concessunr, quod Decimae proventuum, &c. (as in the former W…it) & ad Nos mittantur; Et jam mandaverimus M. Norwich Episcopo, quod hujusmodi Decimas, quas juxta provisionem praedictam de beneficiis Ecclesiasticis in Dioc. sua levari fecit, et ad Nos sine dilatione mittat, convertend…s in commun…m …tilitatem regni nostri, et Ecclesiae praedictae, et hoc nullatenus omittat. Nos indempnita…i Ecclesiasticae libertatis quatinus fieri poterit providere volentes, tibi De Consilio Magnatum qui sunt de Consilio nostro praecipimus injungentes, quod in propria persona tua accedas ad praedictū Episcopum, et ipsum ex parte nostra diligenter moneas et inducas, ut negotium istud juxta mandatum nostrum expleat cum effectu. Et si ipse propter hujusmodi monitionem hoc facere neglexerit, tu ex tun… per negligentiam ipsius praedictam Decimam de hujusmodi benesiciis Ecclesiasticis levari, et ad Nos mitti fac. indilate. T. ut supra.

Rex C. Ebor. Archiepiscopo Angliae Primati salutem. Cum Nos, una cum Regni nostri Pra latis et Proceribus Cl. 48 H. 3. d. 3.super alienigenarum Inimicorum nostrorum adventu nuper praemuniti, de Consilio eorundem Prelatorum et Procerum provida deliberatirne duxerimus sta…uendum, ut ab hujus defensionis auxilio nullus excusatur sexus aut ordo, nullius personae laboribus, nullis rerum parcatur impendiis; illa tamen devotio debita quam ad sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam gerimus nos induxit, ut virorum Ecclesiasticorum in hac parte subsidium de Pr…latorum ordinaretur assen…u; qui ut suae et Clericorum suorum tranquilitati pros…cerent et bellorum clades personaliter evitaren…. Decimam omnium Ecclesiasticorum proventuum in …uis Diocaesibus non solum nobis, set ad utilitatem rei publicae Regni et Ecclesiae Anglicanae Concesserunt. Quia verò non tantùm Ecclesiasticis Ecclesiae Eborum. Suffraganeis et eorum Clericis, sed et ipsi Ebor. Ecclesiae vestrae ejusque Cl…ricis et toti Clero regni nostri prospicietur in hac p. 7parte. Vobis mandamus firmiter injungendo, quod Decimam omnium Ecclesiasticorum proventuum in Dioc. Ebor. existentium, nullo ab hac praestatione exempto, per vos vel ministros vestros citra festum Sancti Michaelis levari, et ad Nos micti facias. In hoc enim non modicum, Ecclesiasticae libertati deferimus, quod non per Ballivos nostros in tam ardua necessitate, set per vestros Ecclesiasticos hujusmodi subsidia ad opus reipublicae Regni et Ecclesiae Anglicanae co…ligi demandemus Et sciatis, quod nisi hoc mandatum nostrum cum summa celeritate fueritis executi, quantumcunque libertates Ecclesiae tueri totis viribus nostris intendimus, omittere non possumus nec debemus, quin pro securitate regni nostri ejusque defensione et communi utilitate, dictam Decimam per Ballivos nostros levari faciamus. T. Rege apud Cantuar. 3. die Septembris.

**Claus. 48 H. 3. d. 2.Rex Vic. Linc. salutem. Quia Magister Ordinis de Sempl…gham satisfecit Nobis de SUBSIDIO nobis praestando ad defensionē Regni nostri contra hostiū adventum alienigenarū in regnū praedictū. Tibi praecipimus quod districtionem quam fac. in terris et tenementis ipsius Magistri in balliva tua occasione praedicta penitus relaxes, donec ali id inde tibi praeceperimus. T. Rege apud Cantuar. 28 die Octobr.

Had the Commons, Knights, Citizens and Burgesses been present in, or parties to the Ayds, or Ordinances, mentiond in these writs of 48 H. 3. it is very probable w… should have found som footste …s or hints of it in them; but their silence herin, & frequent mention only of the Prelates, Lords and Barons, concludes, they were not summoned to this Parliamentary Council.

If any Object, That the Knights and others who held of the King by Knight service, were summoned to appear Objection.with their horses, … and service in the Kings presence at Oxford, as well as the Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots Priors, Farls and Barons, and that to assist him in his present necessity as well with their COUNSEL as ARMS: p. 8Therefore it is probable they were summoned to this Parliamentarie Council, as well as the Spiritual and Temporal Lords, as these Writs import.

Claus 48. H. 3. M. 6. Dorso. Rex Reginaldo silio Petri. Vic. Suthampt. salutem. Cum nuper propter salvationem Regni nostri, ac etiam propter guerram in eodem Regno jam subortum, summoneri fecissemus Archiepiscopos, Episcopos, Abbates, Priores, Comites, Barones, Milites & alios qui servicium Nobis debent, ut essent ad Nos apud Oxon ad mediam Quadriges. prox. praeteritam, cum equis & armis, & toto servicio suo Nobis debito, in hujusmodi necessitatis articulo Consilium & auxilium essicax super praemissis impensuri: ac quidam ex eis servicium suum Nobis debitum ad mandatum nostrum facere noluerint; propter quod De Baronum consilio & Magnatum Nobiscum existentium provisum est, quod Baroniae, terrae & tenementa eorum qui de Nobis tenent in capite, & qui Nobis serviciū 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 …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.

p. 9Which 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. Answ.as the Writs recite. 2. That the Counsil mentioned in it was onelyonly Military, not Parliamentary, as the aid p. 10and 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 onelyonly 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 onelyonly 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 onelyonly 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, **The one 3. Aprilis, the other 4. Iunii, & 1 Septemb. following after the Wars ended and Army dissolved, which preceeded this Parliament.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 onelyonly the Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Barons.

Now because I meet with some other memorable p. 11Writs, 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 * Pat. 6. Johan. Regis m 2. dorso.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 sine aliqua occasione & dilatione, audit is rumoribus de eorum adventu. Et si quis Miles, vel serviens, vel alius terram tenens **Convictus.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, Feodi.ad faciend. inde voluntatem suam; ita quod exhaeredatus vel haeredes sui nunquam inde aliquam habeant recuperationem. Si quis vero, Milites servientes vel alii p. 12qui 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.

From the Prologue of this Proclamation: Provisum est communi assensu Archiepiscoporum, Episcoporum, Comitum, Baronum, et omnium fidelium nostrorum Angliae: aaArchaion, p. 261, 262, 263,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 bbSee here, p. 2, 3.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: p. 14not of any Commons, Knights of Shires, Citizens or Burgesses summoned to it.

3ly. ccHist. Angl. p. 201.Matthew Paris, and ddFlores Hist. pars 2. Ann. 1204. p. 80. Seldens Titles of Honor' p. 707.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, **7 E. 1. Stat. of Mortmain. See part 1. p. 383.Kings Counsil, or those Omnes alios qui de Capite tenent de Nobis, who were not Majores Barones Regni, mentioned in the eeMat. Paris, 247.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 p. 15Clause 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 onelyonly by the common consent, grant and provision of the Spiritual and Temporal Lords, Great men, and other Lieges of the King, assembled in a Parliamentary Council; since the Provisions and penalties mentioned in this Proclamation were all made by their common consent, and that upon this occasion.

King ffMat. Paris, Hist. Angliae, p. 200, 201, 202.John in the year 1203. passing out of England into Normandy with a great Army, giving himself over to luxurie, sleep and carelesness, suffered the King of France to take many Towns and Castles from him, without the least resistance. Being frequently informed thereof by complaints from all parts, he gave no other answer but this to the Complainants; Suffer him to do what he pleaseth, I will one day recover whatever he now violently surpriseth. Hereupon Comites et Barones, et alii de regno Angliae Nobiles,, qui ei eatenus fideliter adbaeserant talia audientes, ejusque desidiam incorrigibilem intelligentes, impetrata licentia quasi illico reversuri, remearunt ad propria; returning no more, but leaving the King in Normandie with very few Soldiers; Upon which he returning into p. 16England, the King of France came before most of King Johns Castles and Towns there, and perswaded them to submit themselves to him as their Chief Lord, seeing King John their immediate Lord had quite deserted them: who accordingly submitted. King Iohn upon this occasion raising a puissant Army, intended to cross the Sea with them to regain his lost Townes and Castles from the French; Whereupon by the common assent of his Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Lieges assembled in a Parliamentary Council, he made the precedent provisions & Proclamation for the Defence of the Realm of England in case the French or any forein Enemies should invade it during his absence: After which Anno 1205. he took ship at Portsmouth against the prohibition of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and many other of his Nobles, who refusing to follow him, he was inforced to return after he had continued at Sea two dayes. Reversus autem Rex coepit de Comitibus, Baronibus, Militibus, et viris religiosis, pecuniam infinitam, occasiones praetendens, quod noluerunt eum sequi in partes transmarinas, ut haereditatem amissam recuperet. And so much touching the contents, occasion, issue of these Provisions and Proclamation.

The 2. Writ is that of Rot. Claus. Anno 15. Johannis Regis, pars 2. m. 7. dorso, which I have examined by the Record.

Rex Vicecomiti Oxon. salutem. Praecipimus tibi quod omnes Milites, Ballivae tuae qui summoniti fuerunt esse apud Oxoniam ad Nos à die Omnium Sanctorum in quindecim dies, venire facias cum armis suis: corpora vero Baronum sine **See here, p. 4, 5.armis singulariter, et IV. Discretos Milites de Comitatu tuo, illuc venire facias ad Nos ad eundem terminum, ad loquendum Nobiscum de Negotiis regni nostri. Teste meipso apud Witten. 11 die Novembr.