A Brief Register Part 2, Part 2 · Section 4 · Subsection 37
Consimilia brevia diriguntur singulis Vicecomitibus per Angliam.
In the writ to the Warden of the Cinqueports this new clause of qualification is inserted: Et de quolibet Portu Portuum praedictorum duos Barones de melioribus, & in navigio et exercitio mercandizarum discretioribus eligi, without any other alteration.
It is observable, that these Writs issuing in times of war both by Land and Sea with *An exact abridgment, p. 116. Walfing. Fabian, Speed and others.France, as is evident by Rot. parl. 47 E. 3. num. 2, 3, 4. thereupon these new qualifications of Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, and Barons of the Cinqueports were inserted into these writs, that the first shall be Knights by order, or at least Armigeros digniores & probiores, & in actibus armorum magis expertos & discretos. The later of them such, qui in navigio & exercitio mercandizarum notitiam habent meliorem; which were fitting qualifications, considering the times wherein they were inserted into these Writs. 2ly. That there were express prohibitory clauses in these writs, to inhibite the elections of any persons not thus qualified, & non alterius conditionis, relating to the Knights and Esquires; and last clause in the Writ. Nolumus tamen quid tu, &c. aut aliquis alterius conditionis, quam superius specificatur aliqualiter sit electus: which was grounded on the *Mere p. 114.Ordinance of Parliament, in 46 E. 3. and manifests the antient power and Prerogatiue of our Kings, to prescribe to their Subjects what kind of fit persons they ought to elect, and to prohibite the choyce of any others not so qualified, when they are proner to make undue elections of mean, indiscreet, unable, and unfitting Knights, Citizens, Burgesses, Barons, to the prejudice of the publick, 5ly. That though our Kings cannot prescribe to their subjects what particular persons they shall elect, being inconsistent with the freeness of elections, the Stat. of 3 E. 1. c. 5. an apparent incroachment on their liberty, and a ready means to pack Parliaments at their pleasure, to effect their own private end, & oppres, enslave their subjects, yet their prescribing of just and fitting qualifications in the general in all persons to be elected, and inhibiting the choyce of any not so qualified, is no incroachment upon their libertyes and freedom in elections, as this Writ and others, and the forecited Ordinance doth evidence.
The next Writs to Sheriffs for electing Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, are those in Clause 47 E. 3. dors. 13. cl. 49 E. 3. d. 4, 6. cl. 50 E. 3. p. 1. d. 6. running all in this form. Rex Vic. Kanc. &c. Quod de comitatu tuo duos Milites gladiis cinctos, magis idoneos et discretos, & de qualibet Civitate Com. illius duos Cives, & de quolibet Burgo duos Burgenses de discretioribus, & magis sufficientibus eligi, &c. with this prohibition in the close of all these Writs Nolumus autem quod tu, vel aliquis alius Vicecomes Regni noctri praedicti, aut aliquis altertus Conditionis quam superius specificatur aliqualiter sit electus. Et babeas ibi nomina praedictorum Militum, Civium, & Burgensium, & hoc breve.
The writs to Sheriffs for the election of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in cl. 1 R. 2, d. 37. cl. 2 R. 2. d. 13. 29. cl. 3 R. 2. d. 27, 32. cl. 4 R. 2. d. 32. cl. 5 R. 2. d. 12. 40. cl. 6 R 2. p. 1. d. 4, 17, 37. cl. 7 R. 2. d. 10, 37. cl. 8 R. 2. d. 35. cl. 9 R. 2. d. 45. cl. 10 R. 2. d. 42. cl. 11 R. 2. d. 13. 24. have all the same prohibitory clause, & nolumus autem, &c. as the last writs in King Edward the third his Reign. But in the writ of claus. 12 R. 2. d. 42. these words aut alterius conditionis quam superius specificatur, are omitted out of the Nolumus autem: In all the Writs of Claus. 13 R. 2. pars 1. d. 6. they are again inserted. But in the writs of Cl. 14 R. 2. d. 42. cl. 15 R. 2. d. 37. cl. 16 R. 2. d. 32. cl. 17 R. 2: d. 30. cl. 18 R. 2. d. 23. cl. 20 R. 2. p. 1. d. 15. cl. 21 R. 2. p. 1. d. 27. cl. 23 R. 2. d: 3. and in all Writs under H. 4, 5, 6. & E. 4. they are also totally omitted.: and Nolumus autem quod tu, aut aliquis alius Vicecomes Regni praedicti aliqualiter sit electus, only reteined. In all these Writs under Richard the 2d. there is this clause added, not extant in those of Edward the 3d. Tibi praecipimus firmiter injungentes, quod in pleno Comitatu tuo de communt assensu ejusdem, duos Milites gladiis cinctos, magis idoneos & discretos, &c. eligi, &c. facias: which clause most clearly evidenceth, that all Knights ought to be elected in a full County-Court, by the common assent of the County, & not to be nominated, elected by the King, or any others without or against the Counties consent & approbation. There are 5 bundles of Writs in Ann. 3, 10, 11, 13, 16 Rich. 2d, yet extant, for elections of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, issued to Sheriffs, and others; with their retotns indorsed on or annexed to them, which I shall pretermit.
There are only two extraordinary unusual Writs, concerning the election of Knights, during the Reign of King Richard the 2d. worthy special observation, which I shall present you with at large. The first of them thus recorded in Claus. 7 R. 2. m. 32. De Militibus venientibus ad Parliamentum loco aliorum eligendis.
Rex Vic. Surry. salatem. Quia ut accepimus, tu Thomam Mr. Seldens Titles of Honor, p. 737. & my Plea for the Lords, p. 143.Camoys Chivaler, qui Baronettus est, sicut quamplures antecessorum suorum extiterunt, ad essendum unum Militum venientiam ad proximum Parliamentum nostrum pro Comunitate Comitatus praedicti, de assensu ejusdem Comitatus, eligisti: Nos advententes, quod hujusd. Baronetti ante haec tempora, Milit. Comit. ratione alicujus Parl. eligi, minime consuev. ipsum de officio Militis, ad dictum Parliamentum pro comunitate Comitatus praedicti venturi, exonerari volumus Et ideo tibi praecipimus, quod quendam alium Militem idoneum et discretum gladio cinctum, in loco ipsius Thomae eligi, & eum ad diem & locum Parliamenti praedicti venire facias. Cum plena & sufficienti potestate ad consentiend. hiis quae in Parliamento praedicto fient, juxta tenorem prioris brevis nostri tibi pro electione hujusmodi Militum directi, & nomen ejus Nobis scire facias. Teste Rege apud Westm. octavo die Octobris.