A Brief Register Part 2, Part 2 · Section 4 · Subsection 35
Consimilia brevia diriguntur fingulis Vicec. per Angliam.
From whence it is observable, 1. That in times of war and danger when Parliaments are summoned for the necessary defence of the Realm, and Rights of the Crown; Knights who are most approved, skilfull, circumspect, and discreet in matters of Arms and war, and the best, ablest, and wisest men may be prescribed by the Kings writs to be elected in such general terms as these, and are fittest to be chosen by the Commonalty in all Counties. 2ly. That Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses when elected and summoned to Parliaments, ought not only to be admitted freely into, but to continue constantly in them without suspention, ejectiō by their fellow Members, or others, & not to depart from them 3ly. That none can licenso or dispence with their departures from Parliament but the King, or at least with his privity or consent. 4ly. That Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, are to consult and advise well together of all publick businesses propounded to them, or ordained by the King and Lords, before they assent unto them. 5. That they ought to have full and sufficient power from the Commonalty as well to consult of as consent to them.
There are no writs of Summons to a new Parliament extant in the Rolls of 45 E. 3. but this memorable Summons only of half the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses elected and retorned the last Parliament before, pertinent to my Theam, and very observable, which I shall here transcribe at large for its rarity, out of claus. 45 E. 3 m. 21 dors.
Rex Vic. Kanc. salutem, Cum Comites, Barones, Magnates & Communitas Regni nostri Angliae in ultimo De venire faciend. Milites, Cives & Burgenses apud Wynton.Parliamento nostro apud Westm. tento, in auxilium expensarum quas tam pro salvatione & defensione Regni nostri Angliae & Navigii ejusdem Regni, quam pro expeditione guerrae nostrae Franciae no… facere oportebit, concesserint nobis quoddam subsidium viginti & duorum solidorum & trium denariorum levand. & percipiend. de qualibet Parochia dicti Regni. Ita quod quaelibet Parochia majoris valoris auxilians sit & contributoria alteri Parochiae minoris valoris juxta ratum; ea intensione quod dictum subsidium ad summam, quinquaginta millium librarum se attingeret. Et quia habita super levatione subsidii praedicti per Nos & Consilium nostrum deliberatione diligenti, videtur eidem Consilio, quod dicti viginti et duo solidi, & tres denarii de qualibet parochia dicti Regni sic levandi, ad dictam summam quinquaginta millium librarum per multum non attingunt; & sic verisimiliter formidatur, quod nobis de dicta summa quinquaginta millium librarum ad terminos statutos juxta intentionem concessionis praedictae responderi non potest. Nos volentes plenius informari super declaratione intentionis concessionis subsidii praedicti, qualiter levatio ejusdem celerius fieri possit, & considerantes, quod onerosum esset omnes Magnates, Milites, Cives & Burgenses, qui ad dictum Parliamentum nostrum de mandato nostro venerant, iterum ex hac causa conveniri; ordinavimus, ut laboribus parcatur et expensis, cum quibusdam eorundem Magnatum, Civium et Burgensium praedictorum super praemissis Colloquium habere et Tractatum. Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod Thomam Apuldrefeld unum Militum Com. praedicti, Edmundum Horne, Vnum Civium Civitatis Cantuar. et Johan. Fynchenfeld unum Civium Civitatis Roffen, qui pro communitate Com. & Civitatum praedict. ad dictum Parliamentum de mandato nostro venerunt, si superstites fuerint, alioquin socios suos qui cum eis de veniendo ad Parliamentum praedictum electi fuerunt, praemunire facias; quod ipsi omnibus aliis praetermissis, & quacunque excusatione cessante, in propriis personis suis sint apud Wynton, in Octabis sanctae Trinitatis prox. futur. ad informand. Nos & dictum Confilium nostrum, super modo & forma quibus Nobis de de dicta summa quinquaginta millium librarum celerius & commodius, juxta intentionem concessionis praedictae poterit responderi. Et interim diligenter inquires de numero Ecclesiarum Parochialium & Capellarum & Praebendarum in Com. praedicto, tam in manibus Secularium quam religiosorum existentium, et Nobis de nominibus eorundem, ac de nominibus Militum et Civium praedictorum ad dictos diem et locum distincte et aperte certifices, hoc breve Nobis remittens. Et hoc nullatenus omittas. T. R. apud Westm. 27 die Aprilis.