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.