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1587

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Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶ Here is to be noted,The first vse of parlements in England. that before this time, the kings of England vsed but sel|dome to call togither the states of the realme after any certeine maner or gene|rall kind of processe, to haue their consents in matters to be decreed. But as the lords of the priuie councell in our time doo sit on|lie when necessitie requireth, so did they whensoeuer it pleased the king to haue any conference with them. So that from this Henrie it may be thought the first vse of the parlement to haue proceeded, which sith that time hath remained in force, and is continued vnto our times, insomuch that whatsoeuer is to be decreed touching the state of the commonwealth and conser|uation thereof, is now referred to that councell. And furthermore, if any thing be appointed by the king or any other person to be vsed for the wealth of the realme, it shall not yet be receiued as law, till by au|thoritie of this assemblie it be established.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Now bicause the house should not be troubled with multitude of vnlearned cõ|moners, whose propertie is to vnderstand little reason, and yet to conceiue well of their owne dooings: there was a certeine order taken, what maner of ecclesiasticall persons, and what number and sort of tem|porall men should be called vnto the same, and how they should be chosen by voices of EEBO page image 39 free holders, that being as atturnies for their countries, that which they confessed or denied, should bind the residue of the realme to receiue it as a law. This coun|sell is called a parlement, by the French word, for so the Frenchmen call their pub|like assemblies.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The maner of the parlement in England.The maner of their consulting heere in England in their said assemblies of parle|ment is on this wise. Whereas they haue to intreat of matters touching the com|moditie both of the prince and of the peo|ple, that euerie man may haue free libertie to vtter what he thinketh, they are ap|pointed to sit in seuerall chambers, the king, the bishops, and lords of the realme sit in one chamber to conferre togither by themselues; and the commoners called knights for the shires, citizens of cities, and burgesses of good townes in another. These choose some wise, eloquent, and lear|ned man to be their prolocutor or speaker (as they terme him) who propoundeth those things vnto them that are to be tal|ked of, and asketh euerie mans opinion concerning the conclusion thereof. In like sort, when any thing is agreed vpon, and decreed by them in this place (which they call the lower house in respect of their e|state) he declareth it againe to the lords that sit in the other chamber called the higher house, demanding likewise their iudgements touching the same. For no|thing is ratified there, except it be agreed vpon by the consent of the more part of both those houses. Now when they haue said their minds, and yeelded their confir|mation therevnto, the finall ratification is referred to the prince; so that if he thinke good that it shall passe for a law, he confir|meth also by the mouth of the lord Chan|celor of the realme, who is prolocutor to the lords alwaies by the custome of that house.

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