4Ç2 Constitutional History. [chap.
Different many as he hath proxy. When the chancellor hath demanded
form of x j
voting. of them whether they will go to the question after the bill hath
been thrice read, they saying only Content or Non-Content
without further reasoning or replying, and as the more number
doth agree so it is agreed on or dashed.
Noproxies <Jn the nether house none of them that is elected, either
in the coin-
ɪɪɪθɪɪs. knight or burgess, can give his voice to another, nor his con-
sent or dissent by proxy. The more part of them that be
present only maketh the consent or dissent.
Secondand ‘After the bill hath been twice read and then ingrossed and
ings, eftsoones read and disputed on enough as is thought, the
speaker asketh if they will go to the question. And, if they
agree, he holdeth the bill up in his hand and saith, “ As many
as will that this bill go forward, which is concerning such a
Fmaiijues- matter, say ‘Yea.’” Then they which allow the bill cry “Yea,”
and as many as will not say “ No ; ” as the cry of yea or no
is bigger, so the bill is allowed or dashed. If it be a doubt
which cry is bigger they divide the house, the speaker saying
“ As many as do allow the bill go down with the bill, and as
many as do not, sit still.” So they divide themselves, and
being so divided they are numbered who made the more part,
and so the bill doth speed. It chanceth sometime that some
part of the bill is allowed, some other part hath much contra-
riety and doubt made of it ; and it is thought if it were
Committals amended it would go forward. Then they choose certain
mittais. committees of them who have spoken with the bill and against
it to amend it and bring it in again so amended as they
amongst them shall think meet : and this is before it is in-
grossed ; yea and sometime after. But the agreement of these
committees is no prejudice to the house. For at the last
question they will either accept it or dash it as it shall seem
good1, notwithstanding that whatsoever the committees have
done.
‘ Thus no bill is an act of parliament, ordinance, or edict of
1 Dec. 8, 1548 : ‘ L. 3. The hill for the assurance of the earl of Bath’s
lands : vacat per majorera numeruɪn super quaestione Conimoiis’ Journals,
ɪ- 5-
XX.] Parliamentary Forms. 493
law until both the houses severally have agreed unto it after
the order aforesaid ; no nor then neither. But the last day of Close of the
that parliament or session the prince cometh in person in his scss'on'
parliament robes and sitteth in his state ; all the upper house
sitteth about the prince in their states and order in their robes.
The speaker with all the common house cometh to the bar, and
there after thanksgiving first in the lords’ name by the chan-
cellor and in the commons’ name by the speaker to the prince
for that he hath so great care of the good government of his
people, and for calling them together to advise of such things
as should be for the reformation, establishing, and ornament of
the commonwealth ; the chancellor in the prince’s name giveth Speeches at
thanks to the lords and commons for their pains and travails ti0nfls°°'u^
taken, which he saith the prince will remember and recompense
when time and occasion shall serve; and that he for his part
is ready to declare his pleasure concerning their proceedings,
whereby the same may have perfect life and accomplishment
by his princely authority, and so have the whole consent of the
realm. Then one readeth the titles of every act which hath
passed at that session, but only in this fashion, “ An act con-
cerning such a thing,” &c. It is marked there what the prince
doth allow and to such he saith “ Le roy ” or “ La roync Ie
veult1.” And those be taken now as perfect laws and ordi-
l The form by which the act of subsidy was authorised ran thus:—‘Le
roi remercie ses communes de lor boons cuers en faisant les grauntes suis-
dietz, mesmes les grants accepte, et tout le content en Fendenture avandit
especifie graunte et approve, avesque Fact et les provisions a cest indenture
annexez;’ Lords’ Journals,!. 9; Rot. Pari. v. 510. The endorsement on
the legislative acts was added after the last act of the session : t Qua qui-
dem perlecta et ad plenum inteɪleeta eidem per dictum dominum regem
de advisamento et assensu dominorum Spiritualium et temporalium ас
Communitatis in parliament© praedicto existentium, auctoritateque ejusdem
parliament! sequens fiebat responsio ffLe roi Ie veult Lords’ Journals,
i. 9. The process by which the form i le roi s’avisera ’ acquired the meaning
of refusal, may be worked out on the Rolls : Edward I could say t rex non
habet consilium mutandi Consuetudinem . . . nec statuta sua revocandi ; ’
Rot. Parl. i. 51 : but he generally gives reasons. Under Edward II we
find i rex habebit advisamentum ’ in a natural sense, p. 394 : i injusta est,’
PP∙ 393? 4°$? ‘nihil/p. 435∙ Edward ITI has ‘le roi s’avisera de faire
Feese a son peuple q’il pourra bonement/ ii. 142 ; ‘soit le roi avise/
p. 169 ; i le roi s’avisera queux/ &c., pp. i66, 169 ; and simply i le roi
s’avisera/ p. 172; ‘ce n’est pas rcsonable/ p. 240; ‘est noun resonable,’
p. 241; ‘les seigneurs se aviseront,’ p. 318; after the accession of
Richard II it seems to have its modern meaning.