A history of parliament : the Middle Ages

Abstract

This history describes in narrative form, the way in which Parliament evolved from politics through the Middle Ages, taking the reader to what can be regarded as the end of the English medieval period in 1485. The parliamentary idea of government by consultation pre-dated the birth of Parliament and is as old as the English people. The author therefore begins by discussing the extent to which parliamentary functions were performed by the Anglo-Saxon Witan and by the enlarged councils of the early Plantagenet kings, the forerunners of Parliament. The core of the book, however, is the political development of Parliament during the 14th century when it first assumed its characteristic features. In particular, the 50-year reign of Edward II finally established the Commons as an indispensable part of Parliament as a result of Edward's dependence on them for money to pay for his war in France. By making taxation conditional on the redress of their grievances, the Commons laid the foundations for their future power. During the 15th century, the Commons' position and achievements were consolidated against the background of the strife between York and Lancaster which often erupted in Parliament. The author uses a chronological framework to explain and describe the political impetus for each stage of the development of Parliament, as kings, magnates and Commons all used it for their own purposes, thus furthering its growth. Parliament was often the scene of dramatic action and such episodes are brought to life by descriptions and quotations from contemporary sources.

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