Edward I: Easter 1278

Parliament Rolls of Medieval England. Originally published by Boydell, Woodbridge, 2005.

This premium content was digitised by double rekeying. All rights reserved.

'Edward I: Easter 1278', in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, (Woodbridge, 2005) pp. . British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/parliament-rolls-medieval/easter-1278 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

1278 Easter

Introduction Easter 1278

Westminster

Easter parliament (May-June)

Although it had been planned to hold a parliament after Michaelmas in 1277, the king's campaign in Wales almost certainly precluded one from taking place. (fn. e1278-foot--1) The normal pattern, however, resumed in 1278 with a parliament held at Westminster after Easter. In Michaelmas term 1277 it seems to have been expected that it would be in session by three weeks after Easter (the week beginning 8 May). (fn. e1278-foot--2) The king did not indeed reach Westminster till 14 May. However, a mandate issued in August 1278 refers back to proceedings allegedly heard before the king and his council in parliament at Westminster two weeks after Easter (on or shortly after 1 May) and this may mean that parliament started without him. (fn. e1278-foot--3) It is unclear when it ended as the king did not leave Westminster till late June.

There is no surviving official record of business done at this parliament. An entry on the Close Roll of 18 June does, however, record a mandate issued as the result of the reversal of a judgment given in an assize of novel disseisin by king and council that was probably the result of a hearing at this parliament; (fn. e1278-foot--4) and the order for distraint of knighthood issued on 26 June probably followed some discussion at parliament. (fn. e1278-foot--5) Council may also have given approval at this session of parliament to the form of a writ alleging (falsely) a breach of the provisions of the statute of Marlborough by the abbot of Croxton in acquiring property in mortmain without the consent of the lord of whom it was held. (fn. e1278-foot--6) It was also probably at parliament that the abbot of Vale Royal made the quitclaim to the king dated 26 May that is witnessed by various official witnesses and enrolled on the Charter Roll. (fn. e1278-foot--7)

Footnotes

  • e1278-foot--1. For evidence that one had been planned to take place then see CCR 1272-9 , 380; KB 27/34, m. 7d; E 368/50, m. 5.
  • e1278-foot--2. KB 27/34, m. 5: litigation between the king and the mayor, bailiffs and citizens of York in respect of the wapentake of Ainsty was adjourned to the next parliament after Easter, namely to three weeks after Easter.
  • e1278-foot--3. CPR 1272-81 , 275. For other legal business dealt with at this parliament see Sayles, Functions of the Medieval Parliament , 151 and for a financial demand on the barons of Sandwich respited till this parliament (but for which the sheriff of Kent had allegedly continued to distrain and then taken a fine for releasing the distresses) see E 368/52, m. 3d (and E 159/52, m. 5).
  • e1278-foot--4. CCR 1272-9 , 463.
  • e1278-foot--5. CCR 1272-9 , 500.
  • e1278-foot--6. CCR 1272-9 , 500-1.
  • e1278-foot--7. CChR 1257-1300 , 207.