A Brief Register Part 2, Part 2 · Section 4 · Subsection 30
Consimilia Brevia diriguntur singulis Vio per Angliam, sub eadem data.
This last Clause (which would now be very welcom and seasonable to all Sheriffs, Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Ports in writs for elections) shewes the true, proper, genuine principal end of summoning Parliaments, and what they should principally intend: The calling of them heretofore, & in latter ages, changes, only to grant Ayds, raise monies, advance the ambitious or covetous designs of others, instead of the peoples ease, profit, and redress of their grievances, damages, oppressions, being a grand Abuse, as Andrew Horne long since resolved under Edward the 1. in his Mirrour of Iustices, ch. 5. p. 282.
Claus. 22 E. 3. pars 1. d. 32. The Writ to the Warden of the Cinque ports is registred before that to the Sheriffs, (as it is likewise in dorso 7. and sundry other succeeding Rolls) which is only, Duos Milites, &c. de discretioribus & probioribus &c. But the writs to the Sheriffs, dors. 7. are thus varied. Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod de Comitatu tuo duos Milites Gladio cinctos, et Ordinein Pilitarem habentes, et non alios (in the Negative as well as Affirmative) Et de qualibet Civitate Com: illius duos Cives, et de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de Aptioribus, discretioribus, probioribus, et fide dignis Militibus, Cibibus et Burgenssbus Com: Civitatum et Burgorum eorundem eligi, &c. Ita quod pro defectu potestatis hujusmodi, aut propter improvidam electionem Militum, Civium & Burgensium praedictorum, dicta negotia infecta non remaneant quovis mode: Per quod ad se (te) tanquam ad impedimentum negotiorum nostrorū praedictorum materiam babeamus graviter capiend. Et habeas ibi nomina, &c.
The like Clauses are in the Writs of Prorogation Claus. 22 E. 3. pars 2. d. 3. But there is no alteration or new clause at all in any of the Writs to the Cinqueports, which still retains, Duos Barones de discretioribus, & ad laborand. potentioribus, &c. having only seu propter improvidam electionem Baronum praedictorum, &c. added sometimes in the last Ita quod, &c. where the Writs to Sheriffs have it.
In Claus. 24 E. 3. pars 2. m. 3. dorso, there is this addition and limitation in the writs then issued to all the Sherifs through England, Quod de Comitatu tuo duos Milites, &c. de discretioribus et probioribus Militibus, Civibus, et Burgensibus, & ad laborand. potentioribus, Dut non sunt placitorum aut querel arum manutentores, aut ex hujusmodi questu viventes, &c. (in the Negative) Sed homines valentes et bonae fidet, & publicum commodum diligentes eligi, &c. (in the Affirmative.) Very necessary and just general limitations, directions both for the Electors and Sheriffs to observe, with a seu propter improvidam electionem Militum, Civium, aut Burgensium praedictorum negotia nostra infecta non remaneant quovis modo.
The self same Limitations are in the Writs to all Sheriffs in Claus. 25 E 3. pars 1. dors. 5. cl. 28. E. 3. d 26. & Claus. 29 E. 3. dors. 8. but not in those to the Cinque ports in these or other Rolls.
I meet with these unusual Writs both to Sherifs of Counties, Mayors, and Bailifs of Cities, Burroughs, and to the Warden of the Cinque ports, in Claus. 26 E. 3. m. 14. dorso, worthy special observation.
Rex Vic. Kanc: salutem. Quia per magnis et urgentibus negotiis, &c. (ut supra, Part 1. p. 57) usque ibi remedium et tunc sic, cum Praelatis et Magnatibus, ut supra usque ibi tractatum. Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod unum Militem de provectioribus, discretioribus, et magia expertis Militibus Com. praedicti, De assensu ejusdem Com. eligi, et eum ad diem et locum praedictum venire facias. Ita quod idem Miles pro se et Communitate Com. praedicti plenam et sufficientem potestatem habeat ad tractand. consulend. et consentiend. hiis quae tunc divina favente clementia contigerit ordinari super negotiis antedictis. Et ut homines ab ista occupatione autumpnalibus qu… minus possumus retrabamus, unum tantum Militem de quolibet Comitatu ad dictum Consilium Mittend. habere volumus ista vice. Nos de die receptionis praesentium, & per quem tibi delatae fuerint certificans tunc ibidem. Teste ut supra.
Consimilia Brevia diriguntur singulis Vic. per Angliam sub eadem data.
Consimile Breve dirigitur Henrico Com. Lancastr. mutatis mutandis, sub eadem data.
Rex Uicomitibus London salutem. Quia pro magnis & urgentibus negotiis, &c. ut supra usque tractatum: & tunc sic. Vobis firmiter injungentes quod duos Cives de provectioribus, discretioribus, & magis expertis Civibus Civitatis praedictae De assensu ejusdem Civitatis, &c. ut supra. mutandis mutandis, usque ad amedictis: et tunc sic; Nos de die receptionis, &c. ut supra. Teste ut supra.
Rex Majori et Ballivis Civitatis suae Eborum, salutem. Quia, &c. ut supra usque ibi tractatum: et tunc sic. Vobis praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod unum Civem de provectioribus, discretioribus, &c. ut supra, usque ibi antedictis: & tunc sic. Et ut homines ab istis occupationibus autumpnalibus quo minus possumus retrabamus, unum tantum Civem de qualibet Civitate ad dictum Con…lium miltend. habere volumus, ista vice. Nos de die, &c. ut supra. Teste ut supra.