H3H03 MEDIEVAL ENGLAND 1066-1399 TUTORIAL TOPICS

10 THE ORIGINS OF PARLIAMENT

a)   Which  historians have particularly specialised in the  study  of
     medieval parliaments ? How have their views developed ? Where  do
     they disagree, and why ?

b)   What  are  the principal sources available for the study  of  the
     medieval parliaments ? What difficulties do they raise ?

c)   How  was Parliament used during the reign of Henry III ? How  did
     it  differ from other similar assemblies ? What was the  role  of
     the Great Council in this period ?

d)   How  did  Edward  I use his Parliaments  ?  Which  categories  of
     subjects were summoned to attend them and why ?

e)   Are  we justified in regarding thirteenth century parliaments  as
     being primarily judicial assemblies ?

f)   What  developments took place in parliamentary  procedure  during
     the reign of Edward II ? What was the significance of  Keighley's
     petition in 1301 ?  What was the function of 'commune  petitions'
     ?  To what extent were the parliaments of Edward I and Edward  II
     used against these kings ?

g)   How  successful was Parliament in gaining control of finance  and
     supply during the reign of Edward III ? What was the role of  the
     Estate of Merchants, and the Staple ? How were they brought under
     the control of Parliament ?

h)   What importance did the 'commons' have in medieval Parliaments  ?
     What kinds of people attended the Commons ? How were they elected
     ?  At  what point is it possible to identify a genuine  House  of
     Commons.

i)   What  was the significance for Parliament of the  development  of
     the concept of hereditary peerage in the later middle ages ?

j)   What is the significance of political trials in Parliament ?  Why
     did  medieval kings develop the concept of treason, and  how  did
     this affect the powers of Parliament
k)  What factors encouraged the development of impeachment ?

Using the  sources recommended find, read and annotate  the  following
     documents:

a)   Earliest official use of the word Parliament Spufford P.  Origins
     of Parliament. p.28
b)   Summons to the first parliament of Edward I 1274
c)   Summons to the Parliament at Shrewsbury 1283 Spufford P.  Origins
     of Parliament. pp.178-9
d)   Petitions in Parliament Wilkinson B. Constitutional History.  Vol
     III pp-144-5.
e)   Plena Potestas in Parliament Wilkinson B. Constitutional  History
     Vol III. p.308.
f)   Bill presented at the Lincoln Parliament 1301
g)   The Council in the Parliament of 1305 Wilkinson B. Constitutional
     History Vol 111. p.305.