4<S8 C'onstitIitional History. [chap.
pleasetlɪ the prince to appoint, into another great house or
4κSer°f ehaɪiiher, by name, to which they answer ; and. declaring for
what shire or town they answer, then they are willed to
choose an able and discreet man to be as it were the mouth of
them all, and to speak for and in the name of them, and to
present him so chosen by them to the prince : which done, they
coming all with him to a bar which is at the nether end of
the upper house, there he first praiseth the prince, then maketh
his excuse of inability, and prayeth the prince that he would
Hisadmis- command the commons to choose another. The chancellor in
the prince’s name doth so much declare him as able as he did
declare himself unable, and thanketh the commons for choosing
so wise, discreet and eloquent a man, and willeth them to go
Privileges and consult of laws for the commonwealth. Then the speaker
claimed by . ....
the speaker, maketh certain requests to the prince in the name of the
commons; first that his majesty would be content that they
may use and enjoy all their liberties and privileges that the
common house was wont to enjoy ; secondly, that they might
frankly and freely say their minds in disputing of such matters
as may come in question and that without offence to his majesty;
thirdly, that if any should chance of that lower house to offend,
or not to do or say as should become him, or if any should
offend any of them being called to make his highness’ court,
that they themselves might, according to the ancient custom,
have the punishment of them : and fourthly, that, if there come
any doubt whereupon they shall desire to have the advice or
conference with his majesty or with any of the lords, they
Smith and that of Fortescue were in Henry VIIΓs reign the knights of
the shire for Cheshire, Monmouthshire, and the Welsh counties; and
burgesses for Buckingham, Chester, Berwick, Orford, Calais, and the
Welsh county towns ; under Edward VI, eight towns in Cornwali, Maid-
stone, Boston, Westminster, Thetford, Peterborough, and Brackley were
added, and S. Albans, Lancaster, Preston, Wigan, Liverpool, Petersfield,
Lichfield, Thirsk, and Hedon, which had sent members to the early parlia-
ments, were revived as parliamentary boroughs; under Mary, Abingdon,
Aylesbury, S. Ives, Castlerising, Higham Ferrers, Morpeth, Banbury,
Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, and Aldborough were added, and Wood-
stock, Bipon, and Droitwich revived ; under Elizabeth twenty-four new
boroughs weɪe added and seven revived. See Browne Willis, Not. Parl.
iii. 92-101.
XX.] Parliamentary Forms. 489
might do it ɪ ; all which he promiseth in the commons’ names
that they shall not abuse but have such regard as most faithful
true and loving subjects ought to have to their prince.
, The chancellor answereth in the prince’s name as apper-
taineth. And this is all that is done for one day and some-
time for two.
‘ Besides the chancellor there is one in the upper house who Process
is called the clerk of the parliament, who readeth the bills, ɪ'ɔ'ɪ
For all that cometh in consultation either in the upper house
or in the nether house is put in writing first in paper 2 : which
being once read, he that will riseth up and speaketh with it or
against it ∙ and so one after another so long as they shall think
good. That done they go to another, and so another bill. After
it hath been once or twice read 3, and doth appear that it is
somewhat liked as reasonable, with such amendment in words
and peradventure some sentences as by disputation seemeth to
be amended ; in the upper house the chancellor asketh if they Form of
. . . . . passing bills,
will have it ingrossed, that is to say, put into parchment4 ;
which done and read the third time, and that eftsoones, if any
be disposed to object, disputed again among them, the chancellor
asketh if they will go to the question. And, if they agree to
go to the question, then he ɛaith, “ Here is such a law or act
concerning such a matter, which hath been thrice read here in
this house; are ye content that it be enacted or no?” If the
Non-Contents be more, then the bill is dashed ; that is to say,
the law is annihilated and goeth no farther. If the Contents
1 This form does not exactly agree with any of those recorded, but it
gives the general spirit of the petition. See above, pp. 470, 471 ; Lex
Parliainentaria, pp. 137, 13S ; Coke, 4th Inst. p. 8.
2 Lords’ Journals, i. 4: 1510, Jan. 25, t Billa de apparatu, in papiro,
Iccta est jam primo et tradita attornato et Sollieitatori domini regis emen-
danda.’
3 Bills of general pardon and of clerical subsidies were read but once in
each house; Lex Pailiamentaria, p. 178.
4 See above, p. 480, note. In 1401 the commons pray that the business
of parliament may be ingrossed before the departure of the justices ; Rot.
Parl. iii. 457, 458 : and in 1420 that the petitions may not be ingrossed
until they have been sent to the king in France; ib. iv. 128. In 1404
they allege that an error had been made in the ingrossing of the grant of
subsidy; ib. iii. 556. None of these passages seem to refer to anything
like the ingrossing after second reading. See Coke, 4tl1 Inst. p. 25 ; Lex
Parliameutaria, p. 185.