to defend the king's right to the kingdom of Scotland. 1 Prynne.

[119] Rot. Parl. ii. 206.

[120] Rot. Parl. ii 253, 257.

[121] Id. p. 131.

[122] Rot. Parl. ii. p. 128.

[123] Rymer, t. v. p. 282. This instrument betrays in its language
Edward's consciousness of the violent step he was taking; and his wish
to excuse it as much as possible.

[124] The commons in the 17th of Edw. III. petition that the statutes
made two years before be maintained in their force, having granted for
them the subsidies which they enumerate, "which was a great spoiling
(rancon) and grievous charge for them." But the king answered that,
"perceiving the said statute to be against his oath, and to the blemish
of his crown and royalty, and against the law of the land in many
points, he had repealed it. But he would have the articles of the said
statute examined, and what should be found honourable and profitable to
the king and his people put into a new statute, and observed in future."
Rot. Parl. ii. 139. But though this is inserted among the petitions, it
appears from the roll a little before (p. 139, n. 23), that the statute
was actually repealed by common consent; such consent at least being
recited, whether truly or not.

[125] Rymer, t. v. p. 165.

[126] p. 148.

[127] 21 E. III. p. 165.

[128] 28 E. III. p. 261.

[129] 28 E. III. p. 295. Carte says, "the lords and commons, giving this
advice separately, declared," &c. Hist. of England, vol. ii. p. 518. I
can find no mention of the commons doing this in the roll of parliament.

[130] Rymer, p. 269.

[131] p. 114.

[132] p. 304.

[133] Most of our general historians have slurred over this important
session. The best view, perhaps, of its secret history will be found in
Lowth's Life of Wykeham; an instructive and elegant work, only to be
blamed for marks of that academical point of honour which makes a fellow
of a college too indiscriminate an encomiast of its founder. Another
modern book may be named with some commendation, though very inferior in
its execution, Godwin's Life of Chaucer of which the duke of Lancaster
is the political hero.

[134] Rymer, p. 322.

[135] Rymer, p. 322.

[136] p. 329.

[137] Anonym. Hist. Edw. III. ad calcem Hemingford, p. 444, 448.
Walsingham gives a different reason, p. 192.

[138] Rot. Parl. p. 374. Not more than six or seven of the knights who
had sat in the last parliament were returned to this, as appears by the
writs in Pry