[1] [2] [3] King Henrie wanting monie in the feast of saint Faith the virgine, Anno Reg. 6. assembled at Couentrie his high [page 526] court of parlement, in the which, the lord Stephan Scroope of Masham, and the lord Henrie Fitz Hugh obteined first to haue places of barons. Moreouer, it is to be noted,The l [...]ymens parlement. that this was called The laie mans parlement, bicause the shiriffes were appointed to haue a speciall regard, that none should be chosen knights for the counties, nor burgesses for the cities and townes, that had any skill in the lawes of the land. This was doone, and when they came togither to talke of the weightie affaires of the realme, spe|ciallie how the king might be relieued with monie, to beare such charges as he was knowen to be at, as well in defending the realme from the Scots and Welshmen at home, as from the Britains, Fle|mings, and Frenchmen abroad, it was thought most expedient,Strife be|twixt the lai|tie and spiri|tualtie. that the spiritualtie should be depriued of their temporall possessions, to the reliefe of the kings necessitie. Herevpon rose great altercation betwixt the cleargie and the laitie; the knights affirming, that they had oftentimes serued the king, not onelie with their goods, but also with their persons in great dangers and ieopardies, whilest the spiritualtie sat at home,The archbi|shop of Can|turburie an|swereth for his brethren. and holp the king nothing at all. Thomas A|rundell archbishop of Canturburie stoutlie answe|red herevnto, that the cleargie had alwaie giuen to the king as much as the laitie had doone, conside|ring they had oftener giuen their tenths to him than the laitie their fiftéens: also, that more of their te|nants went forth into the kings warres, than the tenants of them of the laie fée: beside this, they prai|ed day and night for the kings good successe against his enimies.