Commons 1386-1421

The composition of the Cambridge Parliament of September 1388

Introduction

Medieval Parliaments were generally summoned in order that taxes could be levied with the consent of the representatives of the local communities. Naturally enough, the Members of the House of Commons who granted the subsidies of fifteenths and tenths were often reluctant to accept the task of collection, especially if the impost was likely to prove unpopular in their constituencies.

The Parliament of 1372 passed an ordinance forbidding the election of sheriffs as shire knights, its purpose being primarily to ensure that sheriffs would be available in the localities to carry out their administrative functions efficiently, since they were ‘communes Ministres au People, & deivent demurer sur lour office pur droit faire a checuny’.

From 1375 onwards the writs of summons sent to the sheriffs stated in general terms that those elected as knights of the shire should be ‘of the county’ concerned.

Men of law as Members of Parliament

On five earlier occasions in the 14th century the writs of summons sent to the sheriffs had specifically required that all those elected as representatives of the counties should be belted knights (‘milites gladio cinctos’) well versed in the profession of arms. This directive was not to be re-iterated after 1373 (when, indeed, the election of armigeri was permitted, provided they, too, were qualified by expertise in military matters),J.S. Roskell, Introductory Survey, above, pp.

Sources for names of Members

Speakers

Dates of Parliaments