A Brief Register Part 2, Part 2 · Section 4 · Subsection 33
Eodem modo mandatum est Majoribus & Ballivis Civitatum & Burgorum subscriptorum, de duobus Civibus sive Burgensibus mittendis, sub eadem data, viz.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Karliol.
Majori & Ballivis villae Novi Castri super Tynam.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Eborum.
Majori & Ballivis Villae de Kingeston super Hull,
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Lincoln.
Majori & Ballivis Villae Cauntebrigg.
Ballivis Villae de santo Botho (Botolph.)
Ballivis Civitatis Norwich.
Majori & Ballivis de Bristol.
Majori & Ballivis Villae Southampton.
Majori & Ballivis Cicestr.
Ballivis Magna Jernemuth.
Ballivis de Gippewico.
Majori & Ballivis de Lenn.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Wynton.
Majori & Ballivis Gloucestr.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Sarum.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Exon.
Majori & Ballivis Bathon.
Majori & Ballivis Wellen.
Majori & Ballivis de Coventr.
Majori & Ballivis de Lichefeld.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Wigorn.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Hereford.
Mojori & Ballivis Villae Northampton.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Cantuar.
Majori & Ballivis Civitatis Roffen.
Majori & Ballivis Bedford.
Majori & Ballivis de Bokingham.
Majori & Ballivis Oxon.
Majori & Ballivis Elien.
Majori & Ballivis Notingham.
Majori & Ballivis Derb.
Majori & Ballivis Salop.
Majori & Ballivis Stafford.
Majori & Ballivis Warwick.
Majori & Ballivis Leicestr.
The things most observable from these writs are these.
1. That in the margin of the Roll, these writs are stied Summonitio Consilii: that the word Parliamentum is not mentioned in them, but Colloqu. & Tractatum, and in the Prologue to the printed Statute of the Staple, 27 E. 3. it is styled, Dur great Counsel at Wettminster.
2ly. That both the Arch-bishops, all the Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Earls, Temporal Lords, and Kings Counsel usually summoned to former Parliaments, were summoned to this Great Council, and 2 Citizens and Burgesses out of every City, and chief, (but not *Not one … of Cornwall.petty) Borough, by special Writs issued to their Maiors and Bayliffs only, not to the Sheriffs of Counties as usually; and yet but one Knight out of every County, and one Baron out of every of the Cinqueports was summoned thereunto: which is thus expressed in the very printed Prologue to the Statute of the Staple made therein, Anno 27 E. 3. 1353. Whereas good deliberation had with the Prelates, Dukes, Earls, Barons, and Great men of the Counties, that is to say, of every County one (Knight) for all the County, and of the Commons of Cities, and Boroughs of our Realm, of England summoned to our Great Counsel, &c.
3ly. That the principal cause of summoning this Great Counsel, was the setling of the Staple for England, Wales, and Ireland, and making Laws and Ordinances for the same, by the Counsel and common assent of the said Prelates, Dukes, Earls, and Barons, Knights and Commons, as the Prologue to the Statute of the Staple made therein, and the Statute it self resolves us: which principally concerned Cities and Boroughs.
4ly. That the Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Barons to be elected and sent thereto, were limited to be, De discretioribus & magis expertis Militibus, &c. and to have plenam & sufficientem potestatem ad tractand. consulend. & consentiend. &c. as in the precedent writs.
5ly. That the number of the Cities and Boroughs to which special writs issued were 37. besides London, and the Cinque-ports, entred promiscuously without any alphabetical or other order, as the Clerks pleased, but none out of Cornwall or small Boroughs.
6ly. That in 28 E. 3. a Parliament was summoned for confirmation of the Ordinances and Statutes for establishing the Staple made in this Great Councel, wherein they were confirmed, with certain Declarations and Additions, to be firmly kept and holden for a Statute to endure for ever, as the printed Act of 28 E. 3. c. 13. the Parliament, and Statute rolls inform us. Therefore no binding Acts till then.
The next Writs for electing Knights, Citizens and Burgesses, are in Claus. 28 E. 3. dors. 26. the writs to the Sheriffs are, duos Milites, duos Cives, & duos Burgens. de discretioribus, & provect. & ad laborand. potentioribus, qui non sunt placitatores, quaerelarum manutentores, aut ex hujusmodi questu viventes, sed homines valentes & bonae fidei, ac. publicum commodum diligentes eligi, &c. (as in claus. 24 E. 3. pars 2 dors. 3. forecited,) and those in claus. 29 E. 3. dors. 8. are both the same with these in all clauses, except in their dates, and the dayes, places of the Pailiament, though the writs of Prorogation Dors. 7. vary from them, having duos Milites gladiis cinctos, &c de discretioribus, & probioribus Militibus, &c. & ad laborand. potentioribus, only in them.
Clause 31 E. 3. dors. 21. The writs, to the Sheriffs are only, Duos Milites, duos Cives, & duos Burgenses, de discretioribus, probioribus Militibus, Civibus, & Burgensibus, & ad laborand. potentioribus, with a seu propter improvidam electionem, &c. in the Ita quod, &c. which clause is in the writ to the Warden of the Cinqueports, entred after those to Sheriffs. But the writs to the Sheriffs, dors. 2. of this Roll run thus.
Rex, Vic. Kanc. &c. Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod de Com. tuo duos Milites, gladiis cinctos, & de qualibet Civitate com. illius duos Cives, & de quolibet Burgo. duos Burgenses, de discretioribus & probioribus Militibus, Civibus, & Burgensibus, com. comitatuum & Burgorum eorundem, et de elegantioribus personis eligi, &c. Ita quod, &c. seu propter improvidam electionem Militum, Civium, aut Burgensium praedictorum, dicta negotia nostra infecta nō remaneant, &c. Et habeas ibi nomina praedictorum, Militum, Civium & Burgensium, & hoc breve. Et scire facias eisdem, quod propter arduitatem negotiorum praedictorum & celeriorem expeditionem eorundem, volumus primo die Parliamenti personaliter interesse, per quod nolumus, nec intervimus aliquem No…,ad dictum Parliamentum summonitum quin eodem primo die personaliter intersint, habere ullo modo excusatum, seu excusationem inde admittere aliqualem. Teste ut supra.