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.
SEE BIBLIOGRAPHY SECTIONS:
JSI /20/10/99
School of History and Welsh History - University of Wales Bangor