The Irish Parliament in the Middle Ages

H. G. Richardson, G. O. Sayles

• Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press Anniversary Collection
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9781512806007
  9781512806007
• eBook ISBN:
  9781512806014
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: European Medieval History
• Index: History

Based largely on manuscript material, this comprehensive account of the Irish Parliament in the Middle Ages shows that early Irish parliaments cannot be identified either in form or function with their modern namesake and, consequently, demonstrates that the concept of governmental democracy had a much slower, more gradual development than historians have heretofore believed.The history of the Irish Parliaments proper begins with that held at Castledermot in mid-June 1264. During the reign of Edward II and the early years of Edward III significant changes took place—changes, the authors, point out, similar to those taking place in the development of the English Parliament, though there were important differences.The book continues with a description of the Irish Parliament in the middle years of Edward III's reign and concludes with an account of the parliament at Drogheda held in 1494, when the passing of Poyning's Law brought the period of medieval parliaments to a close. The appendices include an almost complete list of the meetings convened between 1264 and 1494, as well as copies of documents that, the authors say, are the only means whereby a close glimpse may be had of the personnel and deliberations of the Privy Council.

Table of contents

• FOREWORD
• CONTENTS
• LIST OF REFERENCES TO MANUSCRIPTS
• 1. INTRODUCTION
• 2. COMMUNE CONSILIUM
• 3. SECRETUM CONSILIUM
• 4. TAXATION IN A FEUDAL STATE
• 5. THE BEGINNINGS OF PARLIAMENT
• 6. PARLIAMENT IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
• 7. AFFORCED COUNCILS
• 8. TAXATION IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY
• 9. PEERAGE AND PEERS OF PARLIAMENT
• 10. ABSENCE AND AMERCEMENT
• 11. PARLIAMENT IN TRANSITION
• 12. THE PRIVY COUNCIL IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY
• 13. THE LAST PHASE OF THE MEDIEVAL PARLIAMENT
• 14. BILLS AND STATUTES
• 15. TAXATION IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY
• 16. IRELAND AND THE ENGLISH CROWN
• 17. POYNINGS’ LAW
• APPENDICES
• I. The Irish Magnates in 1213
• II. Legislation in 1278
• III. The Parliament of September 1279
• IV. The Dublin Parliament of Easter 1281
• V. Writs of Summons
• VI. Parliamentary Petitions
• VII. The Meeting of the Privy Council at Drogheda in 1423
• VIII. The Speaker's Protestation
• IX. The Statute of Assent and Disassent
• X. The Statute of Henry fitz Empress
• PARLIAMENTS AND COUNCILS 1264-1495
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES
• INDEX OF SUBJECTS