Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 180, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1920 — FIRST PARLIAMENT IN 1265 [ARTICLE]

FIRST PARLIAMENT IN 1265

Frohi That Tima Dates Dm Entry of the Commons Into Power In the State. Tbs 20th of Jannaxy, 1268, was a great, day not only for the Englishspeaking people but the world; it was the time appointed for the meeting of the first parliament in England. Mathew of Parts in his chronicles first uses the word Id reference to a council of the barons In 1246, but it was fa the year 1265. during ,a civil war which very much resembled that Of the seventeenth century, being for law against an arbitrary power as expressed by royalty, that tbe first parliaments. properly so-called, were assembled. ft was at thig time tirat Simon de Montfbrt held King Henry in his power. r This parliament was spmmoned in such a manner that there should be two knighta for each county, and two citizens for every borough; the first clear acknowledgment of the commons । element tn the state. The meeting was , held in that magnificent hall at Westminster and the representatives of the commons sat tn the same place with their noble associates, probably at the bottom of the hall, little disposed to assert a controlling 'voice nor joining tn any vote. But there they were and, notwithstanding the fact that De Montfort was shortly’-’ overpowered and he ana nearly all of bls associates slaughtered, the commons were never again left but. ft was an admitted power entitled to be consulted in all great national movements and to have , a .'directing voice In the . matter of taxation. . *