his ancestors, and as he may reasonably do."[101]

These concluding words are of dangerous implication; and certainly it
was not the intention of Edward, inferior to none of his predecessors in
the love of power, to divest himself of that eminent prerogative, which,
however illegally since the Confirmatio Chartarum, had been exercised by
them all. But the parliament took no notice of this reservation, and
continued with unshaken perseverance to insist on this incontestable and
fundamental right, which he was prone enough to violate.

In the thirteenth year of this reign the lords gave their answer to
commissioners sent to open the parliament, and to treat with them on the
king's part, in a sealed roll. This contained a grant of the tenth
sheaf, fleece, and lamb. But before they gave it they took care to have
letters patent showed them, by which the commissioners had power "to
grant some graces to the great and small of the kingdom." "And the said
lords," the roll proceeds to say, "will that the imposition (maletoste)
which now again has been levied upon wool be entirely abolished, that
the old customary duty be kept, and that they may have it by charter,
and by enrolment in parliament, that such custom be never more levied,
and that this grant now made to the king, or any other made in time
past, shall not turn hereafter to their charge, nor be drawn into
precedent." The commons, who gave their answer in a separate roll,
declared that they could grant no subsidy without consulting their
constituents; and therefore begged that another parliament might be
summoned, and in the mean time they would endeavour, by using persuasion
with the people of their respective counties, to procure the grant of a
reasonable aid in the next parliament.[102] They demanded also that the
imposition on wool and lead should be taken as it used to be in former
times, "inasmuch as it is enhanced without assent of the commons, or of
the lords, as we understand; and if it be otherwise demanded, that any
one of the commons may refuse it (le puisse arester), without being
troubled on that account (saunz estre chalange.)"[103]

Wool, however, the staple export of that age, was too easy and tempting
a prey to be relinquished by a prince engaged in an impoverishing war.
Seven years afterwards, in 20 E. III., we find the commons praying that
the great subsidy of forty shillings upon the sack of wool be taken off;
and the old custom paid as heretofore w