View of the State of Europe During the Middle Ages, Volume 2John Murray, 1818 - 654 pages |
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ancient Anglo-Saxon appear archbishop asserted authority barons bishops Boniface boroughs burgesses canon law canons century Charlemagne charter church civil clergy common law conquest consent constitution council court crown declared Du Cange duke earl ECCLES ecclesiastical Edward III Edward the Confessor election emperor England ENGLISH CHAP ENGLISH CONST estates favour feudal Fleury France freeholders Glocester granted Gregory Henry II Hist historians honour instances jurisdiction justice king king's kingdom knights land Latin latter Leges liberty lords Madox ment Muratori nobility papal Parl parlia parliament passage peers perhaps persons petition pope prelates prerogative prince principles privilege probably Prynne reign of Edward reign of Henry Richard Richard II roll of parliament Roman Rome royal Rymer Saxon Schmidt seems sheriff SOCIETY sovereign spirit statute subsidy summoned tallages temporal tenure thanes tion towns usurpation VIII villein villenage writ writ of summons writers
Popular passages
Page 175 - But it is still the key-stone of English liberty. All that has since been obtained is little more than as confirmation or commentary ; and if every subsequent law were to be swept away, there would still remain the bold features that distinguish a free from a despotic monarchy.
Page 177 - ... subject to demand it. That writ, rendered more actively remedial by the statute of Charles II., but founded upon the broad basis of Magna Charta, is the principal bulwark of English liberty ; and if ever temporary circumstances, or the doubtful plea of political necessity, shall lead men to look on its denial with apathy, the most distinguishing characteristic of our constitution will be effaced.
Page 439 - An army marching under the Emperor Otho I. was so terrified by an eclipse of the sun, which it conceived to announce this consummation, as to disperse hastily on all sides. As this notion seems to have been founded on some confused theory of the millenium, it naturally died away when the seasons proceeded in the eleventh century with their usual regularity.
Page 242 - But in the very second year of the son's reign, they granted the twenty-fifth penny of their goods, " upon this condition, that the king should take advice and grant redress upon certain articles, wherein they are aggrieved.
Page 501 - There appear to have been not less than ten beds, and glass windows are specially noticed as movable furniture. No mention, however, is made of chairs or lookingglasses. If we compare this account, however trifling in our estimation, with a similar inventory of furniture in Skipton castle, the great honour of the earls of Cumberland, and among the most splendid mansions of the north...
Page 177 - No FREEMAN SHALL BE TAKEN OR IMPRISONED, OR BE DISSEISED OF HIS FREEHOLD, OR LIBERTIES, OR FREE CUSTOMS, OR BE OUTLAWED, OR EXILED, OR ANY OTHERWISE DESTROYED ; NOR WILL WE PASS UPON HIM, NOR SEND UPON HIM, BUT BY LAWFUL JUDGMENT OF HIS PEERS, OR BY THE LAW OF THE LAND.
Page 214 - In the close roll of the same year, we have a writ directed to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors, earls, barons, knights, and freeholders (liberi homines), of Ireland; in which an aid is desired of them, and it is urged, that one had been granted by his...
Page 519 - There is one very unpleasing remark which every one who attends to the subject of prices will be induced to make, that the labouring classes, especially those engaged in agriculture, were better provided -with the means of subsistence in the reign of Edward III. or of Henry VI. than they are at present. In the fourteenth century, Sir John Cullum observes, a harvest man had...
Page 354 - ... to others, and not to those which he enjoys in common with any of his subjects: for if once any one prerogative of the crown could be held in common with the subject, it would cease to be prerogative any longer. And therefore Finch lays it down as a maxim, that the prerogative is that law in case of the king, which is law in no case of the subject.
Page 456 - ... and comfort, as well as the luxury of the table depended. Before the natural pastures were improved, and new kinds of fodder for cattle discovered, it was impossible to maintain the summer stock during the cold season. Hence a portion of it was regularly slaughtered and salted for winter provision. We may suppose that, when no alternative was offered but these salted meats, even the leanest venison was devoured with relish.