The FIRST PART of a Brief Register , Kalendar and Survey of the several Kinds , Forms of all Parliamentary VVrits :

COMPRISING In 3. Sections , all Writs , Forms of Summons to Great Councils , Parliaments , Convocations in the Tower , from the 5th of King Iohn ( 1203 ) till 23 Edw. 4. ( 1483 ) to all sorts of Spiritual and Temporal Lords , Great-men ( Members of , ) and the Kings Counsil ( Assistants to ) THE HOUSE OF LORDS : With other Rare Writs , and 4. Exact Alphabetical , Chronological Tables : 1. Of all Abbols , Priors , Masters of Orders , Clergy-men , ( except Bishops : ) 2. Of all Dukes , Earls , Forreign Kings , Marquesses , Princes of Wales : 3 Of all Lay - Barons , Lords , Vicounts , Great men : 4. Of all the Kings Counsil ( Justices , Clerks , or other Officers ) with the several numbers of each of them , and of Bishops , summoned to every Council , Parliament , and the Years , Rolls , Dorses in every Kings reign , wherein their names are recorded .

Illustrated with choice , usefull Annotations , Observations concerning these Writs differences , alterations , entries in the Clause Rolls : the Stiles , Titles , Additions of Patriarcha , Cardinalis , Electus , Confirmatus , Magister , &c. given in them to Spiritual ; of Baro , Miles , Dominus , &c. to Temporal Lords ; with their Baronies , Fealty , Homage , Oaths , right of Session , Iudicature : The Clergies forms of Procurations ; Exemption from Taxes by the Laity : Our Kings Prerogative to call , prorogue , dissolve Parliaments , hold them by a Custos Regni , or Commissioners , by Patents ( here cited ; ) to create Peers , Barons by Patent , special ( not general ) Writs ( here registred ; ) to summon extraordinary Members , Assistants ; Their propriety in Parliaments , dissolved by their deaths ; The Power of their Counsil in , and out of them ; The Constitution , Jurisdiction , Proceedings , Privileges , Ends , Duties of English Parliaments , Lords , Commons ; Their inconsistence with armed guards , seclusion of Members ( by force , oathes , menaces ) and with Scotish , or Irish Intruders ; Their late differences from Councils . Parliamentum , when first used in Writs , Acts , Histories , &c. With other particulars . Publishing more Rarities , rectifying more Errors in vulgar Writers , touching our Parliaments , than any former Treatises of this Subject .

By WILLIAM PRYNNE Esq a Bencher of Lincolnes Inne .

Mercurius Trismegistus . In unaquaque arte tanta ducimur caecitatis caligine , ut maxima part eorum quae scimus , sit minima pars eorum quae ignoramus .

LONDON Printed for the Author , and sold by Edward Thomas in Little Britain , and Henry Brome in Ivy Lane , 1659.

THere are 5. grand Defects of very publike concernment , highly tending if not to the dishonor , yet certainly to the great disservice , prejudice of our Kingdom , Parliaments , great Officers of State , Nobility , Gentry , Nation , and more especially of the Professors and Profession of the municipall Laws , which I have for many years last past , not only much admired at , and exceedingly deplored , but also used my best endeavors to get supplied , so farr as there was ●ny probability to effect it .

The 1. is the irreparable losse of all the Parliament ●olls during the Reigns of our antient●●t Kings , from William the 1. till 5 E. 2. ● the first Roll of that kind now extant ) and of many other of those Rolls since , during the Reigns of Edw. 2. and 3. with the not publishing in Print those Parliamentary Rolls and Records yet extant by publike Order , for the benefit of Posterity , to prevent their suppression , destruction , Embezelling by fire , warr , casualties , t●e negligence , or present malice of some Iesuitical Furies , or illit●rate Animals , instigated thereunto by Hugh Peters his misintituled Pamphlet , Good work for a good Magistrate , printed 1651. p. 96. Where after his proposal of a short new Modell for the Law , he subjoyns , This being done , I● IS VERY ADVISABLE TO BURN ALL THE OLD RECORDS , YEA EVEN THOSE IN THE TOWER , THE MONVMENTS OF TYRANNY : Which desperate bedlam advise of his , I have a a The 2. p●rt of a short De●urrer to the lews long discontinued Remitter into England , p. 136 , &c. elsewhere at large refuted , as most pernicious to the publike , and to all Corporations and Landed men .

The 2. is the great want of an Exact Collection out of the Clause , Parliament , and Statu'e Rolls , of all Statutes , Ordinances and Acts of Parliament made before the use of Printing them immediately after the Parliaments conclusion , or during their Sessions , came in fashion : all our Statutes at large , and the Abridgments of them , ( even Ferdinando Pultons of Lincolns Inne Esq. the best & most refined ) having sundry b b See the Exact Abridgment of the Records in the Tower , and my Table there , to Title Statutes . Spurious Impostures printed in them , under the Titles of Acts , Statutes , and Ordinances of Parliament , which in ver●ty are neither of them , but only particular Writs or Instuctions of the King to the Iustices and other Officers by advise of his Coun●l out of Parliament : Such are the St●tutes , De circumspecte agatis , said to be made in 13. E. 1. ( resolved to be no Statute , but made by the Prelates alone . M. 19. E. 3. Fitz. Jur. 28. ) The Statutes of Protections , Champerty , and Conspirators , in 33 E. 1. De conjunctim feoffatis , in 34 E. 1. Ne rector prosternat arbores in caemiterio , in 35 E. 1. The Statute for Knights , 1 E. 2. of Gavelet , 10 E. 2. with sundry others , as the very form , words , & penning of them demonstrate , being transcribed only out of the Clause or Patents not Parliament or Statute Rolls . Besides these there are some forged Acts and Statutes printed in these Statute Books not extant in the Statute Rolls that remain intire : yea , there are sundry misprisions in printed Statutes , varying both in form & substance from the Statute Rolls wherein they are recorded , omitting some material words and clauses , adding and altering others ; most of the publishers of our Statutes taking them upon meer trust , as they found them transcribed by others , but never examining them by the Statute Rolls & Original Records , as is most apparent by their c c See the fi●st part of my short Demurrer to the Iews long discontinued Remitter into England , p. 36 , 37 , 49. 53 , 54 , &c. mistakes of the very times and dates of some Statutes , by their printing others of them without any date , as d d See Pultons Statutes at large , Lond. 1618. p. 115. Rastals kalendar of Statutes in the end of his Abridgment ; and Tottles Magna Char●ta , out of which they transcribed them . made during the reign of King H. 3. Ed. the 1. or 2. BUTUNCERTAIN WHEN , ORIN WHICH OF THEIR TIMES , & by the manifold variances between their Printed Books , and the Statute Rolls , of which I have given you a particular account in my Table to the E●act . Abridgement of the Records in the Tower ; the Compiler whereof was mistaken in this , That the Statute of 2 R. 2. c. 5. touching tellers of News ( or Lyes ) of Noblemen , or Counsellors , is not in the Record , nor any mention thereof ; it being recorded at large in French in the Statute Roll of the first Parliament that year , wherein it is printed , though not in the second , as I can attest upon my own view of the Statute Roll it self . Besides these Impostures , and Variances , there are many useful Acts in the Parliament and Clause Rolls totally omitted out of all our Printed Statute-Books , some whereof I have heretofore published in my Irenarches Redivivus .

The 3. is the Grand deplorable Deficiency of such an Exact Chronological History of all the Great Councils , Synods , Parliaments of England , with their several Canons , Acts , Ordinances , Proceedings , as I have formerly mentioned in the Epistle to my Plea for the Lords , my Preface to an Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower ; and in a printed Title three year since , by which I endeavoured to promote it ; which would supply all the three precedent Defects .

The 4. is the great lack of diligent faithfull Collections and Publications of all the choicest Records , Proclamations , Writs , Letters , Charters , Patents , Commissions , &c. in the Tower , or elsewhere , which concern the Liberties and Properties of the Subject ; The just antient Duties , Customs , Revenues , Jurisdictions of the Kings and Crown of England in times of Warre and peace ; the Coin , Merchandize , Manufactures , Trade , Government , Navy , Forts , Militia of England and Ireland ; and the Negotiations , Leagues , Treaties with forein States : or at leastwise the want of an Exact Table , Repertory to them , whereby they might be readily found out , and made u●e of upon all emergent occasions .

The 5. is a Compleat Register or Kalendar of all Parliamentary Writs extant in our Records , which those who have formerly written Discourses touching our English Parliaments , were either totally ignorant of , or not well acquainted with , or else took no care or pains at all to communicate to others , though the very foundations of all our Parliaments and their proceedings ; The omission or ignorance whereof hath made most of their Treatises of this subject very imperfect , unsatisfactory , and full of gross misprisions , which pass for current Truths .

It seemed very strange and monstrous to me , that none of our Kings , Parliaments , Great Officers of State , Nobles , but especially none of our reverend Iudges , learned Lawye●s , nor any of the M●sters of the Rolls ( to whose beneficial Office , care , diligence , it most prope●ly appertained ) in so large a tract of time since Printing first grew common , have not hitherto put to their own helping hands , nor incouraged others by Honorary Salaries , to supply these depl●rable , prejudicial Defects , ( especially the 3. first ) which so much concern the publike Government , Justice , Honor , welfare , Laws , Interest of the whole English Nation ; when as forein Kings Parliaments , Statesmen , Lawyers , Advocates ( especially in France , Spain , Germany , Denmark ) have been very diligent and laborious in later ages , in searching out , transcribing , publishing to posterity all the Antiquities , Records , Councils , Parliaments , Laws , Edicts , Ordinances , Histories , Transactions of th●ir Predecessors , and encouraged their learnedest Scholars by great Offices , Honors , Salaries , and bountiful rewards , to collections and publications of this Nature , to their eternal honor . VVhereupon I endeavoured the last long Parliament by an Epistle to the Lords to excite them to contribute their best assistance towards the speedy Publication of all our Parliamentary Rolls and Records , profering my best endeavors to promote it ; but I neither then nor since received the least incouragement from them or others towards this beneficial publike undertaking , from which soon after I was both discouraged and disabled by near 3. years close Imprisonment in 3. remote Castles , under armed , strictest guards by Mr. Iohn Bradshaws and his Whitehall Associates warrant , without any accusation , hearing , or particular cause either then or since expressed , of purpose to debarr me from publishing any thing of this Nature , or against their New Tyrannical usurpations , transcending all in former ages . After my enlargement from these 3. years expensive , as well as tedious restraints , ( superadded to my former Imprisonments and Losses under the Prelates and Army-Officers , ) I endeavored to revive this Heroick work , and to encourage all publike-Spirited Noblemen , Gentlemen , Lawyers to promote it ; both by the publication of many unknown rare Records , in the second Part of my Demurrer to the Iews long discontinued Remitter into England ; and Discoveries therein of the Vsefulness and excellency of our Records in general , and of those relating to our Parliaments , Laws , Liberties , Properties in particular : Since which , by a printed Paper , I proposed a way , how , in what manner , and by what time this usefull Design might probably be effected with no loss at all , but certain gain to those who should contribute only 10 〈◊〉 a piece towards it , for a year or two at most , and should then certainly receive their principal again , together with Books in the interval amounting to treble the interest ; which , though some of my friends to whom I communicated these papers , highly approved of , seeming forwards to contribute towards it , yet I found such a general lukewar●nness , or rather absolute coldness ( in others ) really to advance it , as caused me totally to desist from any further prosecution thereof ; Whereupon to supply those defects in some degree as much as in me lay , I did with no little pains and cost upon my own private account alone , ( without the least assistance , contribution from any others ) collect , compile , print and publish to the world , in the 3. First Parts of my Seasonable Historical Vindication , and Chronological Collection of the good old Fundamental Liberties , Rights , Franchises , Laws 〈◊〉 all English Freemen ; an Exquisite Epitome of all the Parliamentary Councils , Synods , and State-assemblies held within our Realms upon several Occasions , extant in our Historians , from the Britons first arival therein , till the Coronation of King William the first Anno 1066. conteining the space of 2390. years . Which though very usefull , seasonable , profitable , containing sundry rarities in them ; were looked upon by most men with contempt , like old Almanacks , Clothes or Fashions quite out of d●te ; whence most of them lye moulding in Warehouses for want of sale . After which in pursute of these beginnings ; I freely contributed my labors , to the publishing of A●●xact Abridgment of the Parli●ment Rolls and Records in the Tower of London ; from King Edward the 2. till 1 R. 3. rectifying sundry mistakes , supplying divers defects therein , adorning it with a necessary Preface , usefull Tables and Marginal Notes , without which it had been in a manner altogether useless ▪ Since which , I much enlarged and reprinted ●pon my own Account alone ( for want of assistance by others ) my Plea for the Lords and House of Peers ; Wherein I have communicated to the world out of Records and Histories , more Presidents , knowledge , touching the Judicature , Jurisdiction and Proceedings of our Great Councils and Parliaments in former ages , and more fully vindicated the just , antient Privilege and Hereditary right of the Lords and Barons of this Realm , to sit , vote , judge in all our English Parliaments , than any others have done in former ages , without the least incouragement , ayde , or retribution from any of their Lordships , notwithstanding my manifold sufferings by , from , and under some of them and their ancesters heretofore both in person and estate , without the smallest voted recompence .

These last publications , together with my Soveraign Power of Parliaments and Kingdoms , my Historical Collection of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England ; and new published Argument of the Case of the Lord Magwire , having in some measure ( though not so fully as I desire ) supplied the 4. first premised De●ects , I have endeavored by this present● Brief Regist●● , 〈◊〉 and Survey of the s●veral 〈…〉 , ( the only Basis whereon Parliaments are founded , by which they are supported , directed , as well as convened ) and by my usefull Observations on them , more compleatly to supply the 5. de●ect , than any of the former , so farr as my present leisure and ability will extend , without supplies from others ; wherein I have with no little pains and diligence , given you a most exact and faithfull Account of all the Writs of Summons to Parliaments , Great Councils , and most Convocations in England , extant in the Clause Rolls and Records of the Tower , from the 5. year of King Iohn , till the 23. of Edward the 4th , that I have hitherto met with upon my best search after them , digested into several Sections in a Chronological method , with usefull Observations on them ; Wherein you have a compendious , yet full and satisfactory Account of all the several Forms and Varieties of writs of Summons during all this tract of time issued to Archbishops , Bishops , Abbots , Priors , Masters of Religious Orders , and all Spiritual Lords ; to the Prince of Wales , Forein Kings , Dukes , Earls , Marquesses , Vicounts , Barons , Temporal Lords and Great men ; to the Kings Counsil , Judges and other Assistants to the House of Lords ; the Sheriffs of Counties , and particular Corporations made Counties , for electing Knights , Citizens and Burgesses to serve in Parliament , and to the Constable of Dover Castle , Warden of the Cinque-ports , and Ports themselves for electing Barons of those Ports ; with the particular Rolls , membranaes , dorses , wherein every of these summons are recorded : Together with a general Account in gross summ● , how many Bishops , Abbots , Priors , Earls , Barons , Great men , and Assistants of the Kings Counsil were summoned to every of these Parliaments and Great Councils , & 4 most usefull , acurate , short Alphabetical & Chronological ●ables , inserted into my Observations on the 3. first Sections of these Different writs : 1. Of the Names of all the Abbots , Priors , Masters of Religious Orders , and other Clergymen ( except Bishops ) summoned to any Parliament or Great Council from 49 H. 3. till 23 E. 4. with the years , rolls , dorses in each Kings reign , wherein you shall find them summoned , and how oft any of them were summoned , and consequently when omitted out of the lists of summons . 2ly . Of the Names of all the Dukes , Earls , Marquesses , and Princes of Wales . 3ly . Of all the Temporal Viscounts , Lords , Barons , Peers , and Great men . 4ly . Of all the Kings Counsil , Judges , Justices , and other Great Officers summoned as Assistants to the Lords , in every Parliament and Great Council held in England from 49 H. 3. to 23 E. 4. with the particular Roll , year , dorse in every Kings reign , wherein you may find their names and summons entred , and when and how oft any of them or their posterity were thus summoned . Which Tables , as they were very painfull and troublesom to me exactly to collect , being inforced to transcribe most of them three times over , before I could digest them into that form as here you find them , consisting of very many figures ( which I examined near five times over , to prevent mistakes in any of them ) so being thus compleated , will be the most usefull and delightfull Kalender to all Antiquaries , Heraulds , Law●ers , Noblemen , Gentlemen and others delighting in Antiquities , or Pedegrees , ever yet communicated to the English Nation ; rectifying all those mistakes in names , & supplying those manifold defects in my Table of this nature to the Exact Abridgement of the Records in the Tower . If any Noblemen . Lawyers , Gentlemen , or others , would find out and know in a moment , when or how often , or in what Roll and dorse any of their Ancestors , Family , Name , were summoned to any Parliament or Great Council ; or when or how often any Abbot or Prior ( whose lands they or their Clients now enjoy ) were summoned to Parliaments , or of what Order they were , these Tables , compared with the printed Lists before them , will presently resolve them , better than all the Tables and Kalendars to the Records in the Tower , which are very defective , and if they have cause to make use of the Records upon any occasion , these Tables will punctually direct them both to the Number Roll and Dorse too wherein they are recorded , without further search : So as I may conclude them to be greatly beneficial , as well to the Keepers of those Records , as to all those who shall have future occasion to make use of them in any kind .

For the extraordinary writs of summons and others here published at large , I dare averr , that most of the Nobility , Gentry , Lawyers , and Parliament men of the English Nation ▪ never so much as once saw , or heard of most of them before this publication ; and those few Antiquaries , Lawyers , Gentlemen , who have gottenauy transcripts and Collections of the writs of summons in the Tower , shall meet with many memorable rare writs in this Abridgement , which are totally omitted out of their Folio Volumes , collected to their hands by others ; which I have here supplied by my own industry , and likewise digested into method : all those large Coll●ctions of writs which I have yet seen , being both defective , confused , fraught with a tedious repetition of those names of Abbots , Priors , Dukes , Earls , Lords , Barons , which I have contracted into four short Tables in an orderly method . So as I may justly stile this Register , Kalendar and Survey , a rich Cabinet , and Compendious Treasury of the chiefest , and most precious Parliamentary Iewels , Rarities , Records , ever yet presented to the world in print .

As for my Observations on , and Collections from these writs , I dare affirm without vain-glory , they are for the most part such , as were never yet known nor communicated to the world ; and will be of excellent use , not only for the searching , but understanding of Records , and of the true constitution , proceedings , Privileges , Affairs , Ends of the Great Councils and Parliaments of England , and duties of their respective Members ; wherein I have discovered , refuted many oversights and mistakes in Sir Edward Cook , and other pretended Antiquaries , who have written of our English Parliaments , and given clearer evidences of the original , beginning , use of the name Parliament in England ; of the Authority , Power , use of the Kings Counsil , Iudges in Parliaments ; of the Kings general writs of Summons to Temporal as well as Spiritual persons who held not by Barony , not making themselves , nor their Successors , nor posterities , Lords or Barons , and of sundry other materiall particulars , relating to the Freedom , Fulness , Summons , Affairs & Proceedings of our Parliaments , than any hitherto have done ; out of an unfeigned desire of communicating more knowledg to the present & succeeding Generations , touching our Parliaments , and their affairs , than former times have been publikely acquainted with , that thereby I might restore our Parliaments to their primitive institution , use , splendor , freedom , Honor , that so the● may be made medicinal Restoratives , Blessing not Grievances , or Diseases to our 〈◊〉 Church and State , or a a 〈…〉 Physicians of no value . We read of b b 〈…〉 a woman in the Gospel , which had a● issue of bloud for 12 years , and had suff●ed many thi●gs of many Physicians , and spent all that she had upon them , even all her living , and yet was nothing better , but rather worse , and could not be heated by any of them . This woman is a true Emble● of England , ly●●g for so many years , or more , si●k of a bloudy issue under the hands of several Physicians , under the Name and Disguise of Parliaments of several Forms and Modells , who ( with their armed supporters ) have put her to infinite expences , sufferings , and exhausted all she hath ; and yet they have neither healed nor amended her in any kinde , but left her in a ●arr worse condition then they found her , c c ●er. 30. 13. for want of healing skil , or medicins ; applying nothing but new corrosives & causticks of steel , instead of astringents and incar●natives to her bleeding wounds : yea those very Physicians are now so full of man●fold infirmities , distempers , if not gross corruptions , that we may surely say unto them this Proverb , d d Lu. 4. 23. PHYSICIAN HEAL THY SELF , before we can possibly expect any publike healing from them either in Church or State . If these few leaves , through Gods blessing on them , shall become e e Rev. 22. 2. like to the leaves of the tree of life , for the healing of these Physicians , & our Nations , ( one prime end of their publication ) I shall bless God for it , and deem my cost and labour well bestowed ; however this shall be my comfort ; f f Propertius p. 134. In magnis et voluisse sat est : g g Pliny Praefatio in com . 1. Nat. Hist. Etiam non assecutis voluisse abunde pulchrum atque magnisicum est , in such a case as this .

One chief means to make our future Parliaments beneficial , medicinal and restorative to our Nation , is , to restore them to their antient freedom , and secure them and their Members from all future force and violence ; which may be easily effected , 1. * * 7 E. 1. Rastal , Armor 1. By removing all armed Forces , and Souldiers a good distance from the places where they shall be kept , and prohibiting them under severest penalties , not to approach near unto them during their Sessions . 2ly . * * Cook 4. Instit. p. 14. By defending the wearing of any offensive arms or weapons in or near the Cities where the Parliaments convene . 3ly . By inhibiting all tumultuous popular addresses to them , under colour of Petitions or otherwise , and ordering , that no Petitions or Addresses shal be tendred unto them from any County , City , Corporation , or Fraternity upon any occasion by above 12. grave selected persons at most , under pain of being questioned and proceeded against as tumultuous . 4ly . By declaring and enacting all Persons whatsoever to be actual Traytors , and Enemies to the Nation , ( as they are by * * 4 E. 3. rot. Parl. n. 1. 21R . 2. c. 12. 31H . 6. c. 1. 3 ●ac . c. 1 , 2. Exact Collection , p. 200. &c. A Collection , P. 201 , 202. Law ) and to be effectually proceeded against as such ; who shall offer any force , violence , assault to the Parliament , or any Member or Members thereof during their attending therein , or in going to or returning from the same , or violently interrupt their proceeding● . And that all who shall hereafter be peccant in this kind , & * * 21 R. 2. c. ● . their heirs males shall be for ever hereafter disabled to sit in Parliament , or bear any Office whatsoever , Civil or military , or to purchase or re-ceive any Lands , Chattels , Gift , Legacy or bequest whatsoever , or to enjoy the privileges of an English Freeman .

My chief design in this & other late publications , hath been to inform the English Nation of the true Original constitution , uses , ends , Rights , Privileges , Judicarure , and Proceedings of the Great Councils and Parliaments held within our Island , from its original plantation by the Britons , till the Normans ruling in it , which I have already published in a Brief * * In my Summary Collections , &c. and Breviate , Chr●nological manner , and from thence to the end of King Edward the 4th his reign , which I have likewi●e in a good measure accomplished in my late inlarged Plea for the Lords and House of Peers ; wherein I have given the Readers a large account of most of the Great Councils held under King Henry the 1. and 2. proving , there were no Knights , Citizens or Burgesses summoned to them in their reigns , as they have been of later times ; which may be further evidenced by these Historical Passages and Great Councils which I there omitted .

In the year of Christ 1109. in a h h Eadmerus Hist. Novor . l. 3. p. 67 , 68. Great Council of the Archbishops , Bishops , Abbots , ET PRINCIPVM totius Regni , there was this Canon made amongst others ; Vt nullus Archidiaconus Presbyter , Diaconus , Canonicus uxorem ducat , vel ductam retineat , &c. Vt Presbyter quamdiu illicitam conversationem mulieris habuerit , non sit legalis , nec missam celebret , nec si celebraverit , ejus miss a audiatur : After Anselms banishment very many Priests reteining or resuming their wives contrary to these Decrees , i i Eadmerus l. 4. p. 83 , 84 , 85. King Henry the 1. thereupon caused his Ministers to indict , and prosecute many Priests for this contempt , only to extort monies from them : but their fines not amounting to so great a summ as the King expected , there was a general Sentence given against all the Priests , as well innocent as nocent , and a fine set upon every Parish Church , which the Priest thereof was to redeem ; which some Priests having no money , and others refusing to pay , because it was an unjust innovation , they were thereupon contumeliously seised upon by force , imprisoned and tortured ; and when neer 200 of them in their Surplisses and Priests habits came all together to the Kings place in London barefoot , imploring him with one voice to take pity on them , Ille ad preces ●orum nulla miseratione permotus est , vel saltem quavis eos , sicut homin●s omnis religionis expertes , responsi honestate dignatus , suis obtutibus festine abegi praecepit : whereupon they repaired to the Queen , who only wept in pity towards them , but could not relieve them . Anselm upon the other Bishops Letter to him , writ an Epistle to the King touching this proceeding of his , as an innovation , Quod hactenus inauditum et inusitatum est in Ecclesia Dei de ullo Rege , et de aliquo Principe . No● enim pertinet secundum legem Dei hujusmodi culpam vindicare ●isi ad singulos Episcopos per suas parochias , ●ut si & ipsi Episcopi in hoc negligentes fuerint , ad Archiepiscopum & Primatem , &c. Adding , Dico enim vobis quod valde timere debetis , quod pecunia taliter accepta , ut taceam quantum noceat animae , non tamen cum expendetur , adjuvabit terrena negoti● , quantum postea perturbabit . To which the King returned this answer .

k k Eadmeru●● . 4. p. 86. Henricus Dei gratia Rex Anglorum , Anselmo Archiepiscopo Cantuariae salutem . In die Sancti Gregorii apud Tunebrigge , mihi fuerunt delatae literae repostae sub tuo sigillo . Et per ●a mihi mandasti talia unde multum miror , quia quod feci credo me per te fecisse . Et in die Ascensionis Domini HABEBO OMNES BARONES MEOS ( without Knights , Citizens or Burgesses ) MECUM CONGREGATOS , & PER CONSILIUM EORUM ita convenienter tibi respondebo quod cum tecum loquar non credo te me inde blasphematurum . Et quicquid fiat alias , scito quod tui , quicquid ipsi fecerint , per omnes terras tuas in pace permanserint .

l l Hoveden , Annal. pars p●sterior , p. 56● , 567. Anno Gratiae ●172 . King Henry the 2d . Venit OXENFORD , & IN GENERALI CONCILIO ibidem celebrato CONSTITUIT Iohannem filium suum REGEM IN HYBERNIA , concessione & confirmatione Alexandri summi pontificis . Et in eodem Concilio venerunt ad Regem Resus filius Griphini regulus de Su●hwales , & David fil●s O●ain regulus de Northwales ; qui sororem ejusdem regis Angliae in uxorem duxerat , & Cadwelanus regulus de Delnain , & Owanus de Keuillian , & G●iffinus de Brunfeld , & Madacus●ilius ●ilius Gervetrog : & alii multi de nobilioribus Gualliae , et omnes devenerunt homines regis Angliae patris , & fidelitatem ei contra omnes homines , & pacem sibi & regno suo servandam juraverunt . In eodem autem Concilio dedit dominu● Rex Angliae praedicto Reso filio Grifsini terram de Meronith : & David filio Owain terram de Ellesmare . Deditque dominus ●ex Hugoni de Lasci ( ut supradictum est ) in Hybernia totam Midam cum pertinentiis suis pro servitio 100. militum , tenendam de ipso et Iohanne filio suo , & chartam suam ei inde fecit . Deditque ibidem Roberto filio Stephani & Miloni de Cogham regnum de Co●ch , pro servitio 60. militum , tenendum de ipso et Iohanne filio suo , excepta civitate de Corch , cum uno cantredo , quae dominus rex sibi et haeredibus suis retinuit . Deditque ibidem Hereberto filio Hereberti , et Willielmo fratri Comitis Reginaldi , & Iollano de la Primerai nepoti eorum regnum de Limeric , pro servitio 60. militum , tenendum de ipso et Iohanne filio suo : excepta civitate de Limeric , cum uno cantredo , quae dominus sibi et haeredibus suis retinuit . Trad●dit autem dominus rex Willielmo filio Aldelini dapifero suo civitatem Wesesordiae in custodia , cum omn●bus pertinentiis suis ; & statuit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad servicium Wesefordiae : Harkelou cum pertinentiis suis , Glascarric cum pertinentiis suis ; & terram Gilberti de Boisrohard , Ferneg Winal cum pertinentiis suis , Fernes cum pertinentiis suis : & totam terram de Hervei inter Weseforde & aquam de Water●orde . Servitium Raimundi de Druna . Servitium de Frodrevelan . Servitium Vimo●thi de Leighlerin . Tenementum etiam Machtaloe cum pertinentiis suis. Et Leis terram Gaufridi de Costentin cum pertinentiis suis : & totam terram Orueldi . Tradidit etiam ibidem dominus rex Roberto le Poer marescallo suo in custodia civitatem Water●ordiae : cum omnibus pertinentiis suis : et statuit haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad servitium Waterfordiae : totam terram quae est inter Waterforde & aquam quae est ultra Lismors , & totam terram de Oiseric cum pertinentiis suis. Tradidit etiam ibidem dominus rex Hugoni de Laci civitatem Diveliniae cum omnibus pertinentiis suis in custodia : & sta●it haec subscripta in posterum pertinenda ad Servitium Diveliniae ; totam terram de Offelana cum pertinentiis suis , & Kildaran cum pertinentiis suis , & totam terram de Offalaia , cum pertinentiis suis , & Wikechelon cum pertinentiis suis , & servitium de Mida , & servitium quatuor militum , quod Robe●tus Poer debet de castello suo de Dunaver . Postquam autem dominus rex apud Oxeneford in praedicto modo terras Hyberniae , et earum servitia divisisset , secit omnes quibus earun●emcustodias commis●rat homines suos & Iohannis silii sui devenire : et jurare e●s ligantias et fidelitates de terris Hyberniae . Et ie●de m Concilio dedit dominus rex Richardo Priori de Kiteby abbatiam de Witebi . Et Benedicto Priori Ecclesiae sanctae Trinitatis Cantuariae , abbatiam de Burgo , & Richardus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus benedixit cum in abbatem . Eodem anno praedictus Vivianus Presbyter Cardinalis & Apostolicae sedis legatus , peracta legatione sua in Hyb●rnia , rediit in Angliam , & per conductum domini r●gis rediit in Scotiam , & celebrato Concilio apu● castellum puellarum , susspendit a pontificali officio Christianum Episcopum Candidae casae , quia ad Concilium suum venire noluit ; sed Episc. suspensionem illam non tenuit , septus munimine Rogeri Eboracensis Archiepise . cujus suffraganeus ipse erat . Deinde venit dominus Rex usque Merleberge : ubi Rex dedit Philippo de Brensa totum regnum de Limeric pro servitio sexaginta mili●um , tenendum de ipso & de Iohanne filio suo . Nam Herebertus & Willielmus fratres Reginaldi Comi●is Cornubiae , & Ioslanus de la Pumerai nepos eorum , regnum illud habere noluerunt , eo quod nondum perquisitum erat : nam occiso a regalibus rege Monodero , qui Rex erat de Limeric , & homo regis Angliae inde suerat , quidam de progenie illius , vir potens et fortis , regnum de Limeric invasit , cepit , et potenter rexit , nullam subjectionem faciens Regi Angliae , nec suis obedire voluit propter infidelitatem eorum , & mala quae faciebant populo Hyberniae sine merito . Rex vero Corcensis & alii multi divites Hyberniae insurrexerunt in Regem Angliae , & suos : & erant novissima eorum pejora prioribus , & se mutuo interfecerunt .

By which president it is evident ; that King Henry by the advice of his Great Council of Prelates and Nobles of & in England , disposed both of the Kingdoms , Crowns and Lands in Ireland to his Son , and other subjects of England . The same King m m R●d●lph . de Diceto , Ymagines Histor. col. 613. Henry the 2. Anno Dom. 1182. aetatis annum inchoans quadragesimum nonum , dum mentis et corporis incolumitate vigeret , dum regnum suum undique tranquillae pacis commoditatibus frueretur , apud Waltham Episcopi Winton , REGNI CONVOCAVIT MAJORES . Itaque pr●●sentibus illis et approbantibus quandam pecuniae partem in causas pias procurans , Qua●raginta siquidem duo mili●a marcorum argenti , quingentas marcas auri distribuit , &c. After this n n Hov● Anna. 〈◊〉 P 6●8 , 629. Pope Lucius An. 1185. sending a Letter to King Henry the 2d . to take the Cross upon him and succour the holy Land , by the P●triarch and Master of the Hospital of Hierusalem , who presented it to him , together with the toy . al banner , and Keyes of the Lords Scpulcher , and of the Tower of David , and City of Ierusalem , on the behalf of the King and Princes of the Land , importuning his answer to their requests : Domi●us Rex statuit eis terminum suae responsionis primam Dominicam Quadragesimae apud Londonias . Ad quam Dominicam , Dominus Rex & Patriarcha et Episcopi , et Abbates , et COMITES et BARONES ANGLIAE ( but no Knights , Citizens or Burgesses thereof , & Willielm . REX SCOTIAE , & David frater ejus , CUM COMITIBUS ET BARONIBUS TERRAE SUAE 〈◊〉 Londoniis : et habito inde cum deliberatione consslio , PLACUIT VNIVERSIS , quod Dominus Rex consuleret inde Dominum suum Philippum Regem Franciae : et sic soluto CONCILIO , Dominus Rex dedit universis hominibus suis , tam Clericis quam Lacis , licentiam capiendi crucem . Unde factum est quod Baldwinus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus , et Ranulphus Iusticiarius Angliae , & Walterus Rothomagensis Archiepiscopus , et Hugo Dunelmensis Episcopus , et alii quamplures Episcopi transmarini et cismarini : et fere omnes Comites et Barones et Milites Angliae , & Normanniae , & Aquitaniae , & Britanniae , & Andegaviae , & Cenomanniae & Turoniae Crucem ceperunt . Deinde Dominus Rex venit usque Windleshoures et ibi in Dominica ubi cantatur , Laetare Jerusal●m , fecit Johannem silium suum militem , & statim misit eum in Hyberniam , & INDE EVM REGEM CONSTITVIT .

To pretermit the Parliamentary Councils under King● Richard the 1. of which I have given you some account in my Plea ●or the Lords , p. 234. to 242. I shall proceed to those in the beginning of King Iohns reign .

In the 1. year of King Iohn Anno Dom. 1199. there was a Great Council of the Spiritual and Temporal Lords and Barons summoned to his Coronation , thus related by a a Flores H●st . pa●s 2. Anno 1199. p. Matthew Westminster , though there be no writs of Summons thereunto extant on record ; Dux Normanniae Johannes in vigilia Ascensionis Domini London venit , ibi CONGREGATIS ANGLIAE NOBILIBVS , ab H●b●rto Cantuariensi Archiepiscopo coronatus est , die● Ascensionis Domini ; which b b Annalium pars posterior Ann. 119. p. 793. Roger de Hov●den thus relates , Congregatis igitnr apud Lundonias in advent● praedicti ducis Huberto Cantuariensi , Johanne Dublinensi , et de Raguse Archiepiscopus , Willielmo Lundoniensi , Gilberto Roffensi , Johanne Norwicensi , Hugone Lincolnensi , Eustachio Eliensi , Godfrido Wintoniensi , Henrico Exoniensi , Sefrido Cicestrensi , Gau●rido Coventrensi , Savarico Bathoniensi , Hereberto Salesburiensi , Philippo Dunelmensi , Rogero de sancto Andrea in Scotia , Henrico de Landas Episcopis , Roberto de Leicestre , Richardo de Clare , Willielmo de Tutesburie , Hamelino de Warenne , Willielmo de Salisbirie , Willielmo de Striguil , Walranno de Warewic , Rogero Bigot , Willielmo de Arundel , Ranulfo de Cestre Comitibus , & Baronibus multis : Hubertus Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus coronoavit , et consecravit in regem Angliae prefatum Johannem ducem Normanniae , in Ecclesia sancti Petri Apostoli Westminstriae , sexto Calen● . Iunii , feria 5. die Ascensionis Domini ; Philippo Dunelmensi Episcopo appellante , ne coronatio illa fieret in absentia Gaufridi Eboracensis Archiepiscopi , totius Angliae Primatis . c c H●st . A●g p. 1●9 . 1●0 . Matthew Paris thus records the manner of his Coronation more fully . CONGREGATIS ita que in adventu ejus , Archiepiscopis , Episcopis , Comitibus et Baronibus atque aliis omnibus , qui ejus coronationi interesse debuerant , Archiepiscopus staus in medio omnium , dixit ; Audite universi . Noverit discretio vestra , quod nullus praevia ratione alii succedere habet regnum , nisi ab universitate Regni unanimiter , invocata Spiritus gratia electus , & secundum morum suorum eminentiam praeelectus , ad exemplum et similitudinem Saul primi Regis inuncti , quem praeposuit Dominus populo suo , non Regis filium , nec de Regali stirpe procreatum . Similiter post eum David Sem ei filium : hunc quia strenuum et aptum dignitati regiae , illum quia sanctum et humilem , ut sic qui cunctos in regno supereminet strenuitate , omnibus praesit et potestate et regimine . Verum si quis ex stirpe Regis defuncti aliis praepolleret , pronius et promptius in electionem ejus est consentiendum . Haec idcirco diximus pro inclyto Comite Iohanne , qui praesens est , frater illustrissimi Regis nostri Richardi jam defuncti , qui haerede caruit ab eo egrediente , qui providus et strenuus & manifeste nobilis , qnem nos , invocata Spiritus sanctigratia , ratione tam meritorum quam sanguinis Regii unanimiter elegimus universi . Erat autem Archiepiscopus vir prosundi pectoris , et in regno singularis columna stabilicatis et sapientiae incomparabilis . Nec ausi erant alii super his adhuc ambigere ; scientes quod sine causa hoc non sic diffiniverat . Verum Comes Iohannes et omnes hoc acceptaban● , ipsumque Comitem in Regem eligentes et assumentes , exclamant dicentes : Vivat rex . Interrogatus autem postea Archiepiscopus Hubertus , quare haec dixisset ? respondit se praesaga mente conjecturare , et quibusdam oraculis edoctum & certificatum fuisse , quod ipse Johannes Regnum & Coronam Angliae foret aliquando corrupturus , & in magnam confusionem precipitaturus . Et ne haberet liberas habenas hoc faciendi , ipsum electione non successione haereditaria , eligi debere affirmabat . Archiepiscopus autem imponens capiti ejus coronam , unxit eum in regem ap●d Westmor a●t●rium , sc. in Ecclesia principis Apostolorum , Dominicae ascensionis die , sexto kalendas Junii , Philippo Dunelmensi Episcopo appellante , sed non obtinen●e , ne coronatio illa fieret in absentia G. Archiepiscopi Eboracensis . In hac coronatione Rex Iohannes triplici involutus est sacramento : Quod videlicet sanctam Ecclesiam et ejus ordinatos diligeret , et eam ab incursione malignantium indemnem conservaret : et quod perversis legibus destructis , bonas substitueret , et rectam justitiam in regno Angliae exerceret . Deinde adjuratus est ab eodem Archiepisc opo ex parte Dei , et districte prohibitus , ne honorem hunc accipere praesumeret , nisi in mente habeat opere , quod juraverat , adimplere . Ad hoc ille respondens , promisit se per auxilium Dei , bona fide , ea quae juraverat , servaturum . In crastino autem , homagiis et fidelitatibus acceptis , beatum Albanum Protomartyrem Angliae , orationis gratia , devotus petivit . Et sic brevissimam in Anglia moram faciens , ea quae statuenda erant in regno , cum consilio Magnatum rite peregit .