[409] "For some folks," says he, "might say and make the people believe things that were not true." By some folks, "acuns gentz," he means Bohun and Bigod. Proclamation of 1297, in Rymer, "Fœdera", 1705, vol. ii. p. 783.
[410] Rymer, "Fœdera," 1705, vol. ii. p. 783, year 1297; original in French.
[411] "Monsieur Thomas de Hungerford, chivaler, qui avoit les paroles pour les Communes d'Engleterre en cest Parlement." Parliament of 1376-7, 51 Ed. III. "Rotuli," vol. ii. p. 374.
[412] Examples: that the deputies of the counties "soient esluz par commune élection de les meillours gentz des dity countées et nemye certifiez par le viscont (sheriff) soul, saunz due élection." Good Parliament of 1376.—Petition that the sheriffs shall not be able to stand for the counties while they continue in office, 1372, 46 Ed. III., "Rotuli Parliamentorum," vol. ii. p. 310; that no representative "ne soit viscont ou autre ministre," 13 Ed. III., year 1339.—Petition of the members of Parliament to be allowed to return and consult their constituents: "Ils n'oseront assentir tant qu'ils eussent conseillez et avysez les communes de lour pais." 1339, "Rot. Parl.", vol. ii. p. 104; see below, p. 418.
[413] "Return of the names of every member returned to serve in each Parliament," London, 1878, fol. (a Blue Book).—There is no doubt in several cases that by such descriptions was meant the actual profession of the member. Ex.: "Johannes Kent, mercer," p. 217.
[414] "Rot. Parl.," vol. ii. p. 262.
[415] Petition of the "poverail" of Greenwich and Lewisham on whom alms are no longer bestowed (one maille a week to every beggar that came) to the "grant damage des poores entour, et des almes les fondours que sont en Purgatorie." 4 Ed. III. "Rotuli Parliamentorum," vol. ii. p. 49.
[416] 4 Ed. III., "Rotuli Parliamentorum," vol. ii. p. 33.
[417] Good Parliament of 1376.
[418] The Commons had been bold enough to complain of the expenses of the king and of the too great number of prelates and ladies he supported: "de la multitude d'Evesques qui ont seigneuries et sont avancez par le Roy et leur meignée; et aussi de pluseurs dames et leur meignée qui demuront en l'ostel du Roy et sont à ses costages." Richard replies in an angry manner that he "voet avoir sa régalie et la libertée roiale de sa corone," as heir to the throne of England "del doun de Dieu." 1397, "Rotuli Parliamentorum," vol. iii. p. 339. The Commons say nothing more, but they mark the words, to remember them in due time.