of the king on one side, and the poverty of his people on the
other, no less aid could be sufficient than one tenth and a half from
cities and towns, and one fifteenth and a half from all other lay
persons; and, besides, to grant a continuance of the subsidy on wool,
woolfells, and leather, and of three shillings on the tun (of wine),
and twelve pence on the pound (of other merchandise), from Michaelmas
next ensuing for two years thenceforth. Whereupon, by command of our
said lord the king, a message was sent to the commons of this parliament
to cause a certain number of their body to come before our said lord the
king and the lords, in order to hear and report to their companions what
they should be commanded by our said lord the king. And upon this the
said commons sent into the presence of our said lord the king and the
said lords twelve of their companions; to whom, by command of our said
lord the king, the said question was declared, with the answer by the
said lords severally given to it. Which answer it was the pleasure of
our said lord the king that they should report to the rest of their
fellows, to the end that they might take the shortest course to comply
with the intention of the said lords. Which report being thus made to
the said commons, they were greatly disturbed at it, saying and
asserting it to be much to the prejudice and derogation of their
liberties. And after that our said lord the king had heard this, not
willing that anything should be done at present, or in time to come,
that might anywise turn against the liberty of the estate for which they
are come to parliament, nor against the liberties of the said lords,
wills and grants and declares, by the advice and consent of the said
lords, as follows: to wit, that it shall be lawful for the lords to
debate together in this present parliament, and in every other for time
to come, in the king's absence, concerning the condition of the kingdom,
and the remedies necessary for it. And in like manner it shall be lawful
for the commons, on their part, to debate together concerning the said
condition and remedies. Provided always that neither the lords on their
part, nor the commons on theirs, do make any report to our said lord the
king of any grant granted by the commons, and agreed to by the lords,
nor of the communications of the said grant, before that the said lords
and commons are of one accord and agreement in this matter, and then in
manner and form