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Anno Vndecimo Henrici Quarti. The Parliament holden at Westminster, the Quin∣dene of Hillary, in the eleventh year of King Henry the fourth.
[unspec 1] ON Monday the twenty seventh of Ianuary, being in the Quin∣dene of Hillary, for that there was then no Chancellor,* 1.1 the Bi∣shop of VVinchester the Kings Brother, in the presence of the King, Lords, and Commons, declared the cause of the said Parliament,* 1.2 and namely, that the King would that Holy Church, all persons and Corporations should enjoy all their Liberties.* 1.3
[unspec 2] He then took his Proposition, Decet nos implere omnem justitiam, and shewed that the Parliament was summoned for two causes; the first, for the inward government,* 1.4 as for the due observation of Laws; the second, for outward governance,* 1.5 and defence against the forreign enemy, wherein he touched how the Duke of Burgundy, (who then was Governour of France) meant by all force to besiege Callis,* 1.6 and to enjoy the Realm.
[unspec 3] And among other things he touched two kinds of government, namely, jus regiminis, & jus subjectionis; allowing jus regiminis to be better, according to the answer of Aristotle to King Alexander, who being demanded in what wise the same Alexander might most strongly fortifie the walls of a new Propugnacle, or Frontier Town, answered, that the most assured walls were the hearty good will of his Subjects,* 1.7 and obeisance to Laws.
[unspec 4] * 1.8He then sheweth that all true Subjects ow to their Soveraigns three chief points, viz. honour and obedience, reverence and benevolence, and hearty assistance.
[unspec 5] And for that the present necessity required ready assistance,* 1.9 and spee∣dy dispatch the King had called this Assembly for a full consultati∣on, the which he wished might redound to the glory of God, honour of the King, and safety of the whole Realm, to which end he willed the Commons to go to the election of their Speaker, and to present him to the King the next day.
[unspec 6] Receivers of Petitions for England,* 1.10 Ireland, Wales; and Scot∣land.
[unspec 7] Receivers of Petitions for Gascoin, and other places beyond the Seas, and of the Isles.
[unspec 8] Tryers of Petitions for England, &c. as above.
[unspec 9] Tryers of Petitions for Gascoin, &c. as above.
[unspec 10] On Wednesday the twenty eighth of Ianuary, the Commons coming before the King, presented to be their Speaker Thomas Chaucer,* 1.11 after whose excuse therein made, he was willed by the King to take the same upon him: After which, he made the