Appendix C6: The composition of the Parliament of 1411

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993
Available from Boydell and Brewer

The composition of the Parliament of 1411

The domination of the government by Henry of Monmouth and his allies in the Council nominated at the close of the Parliament of 1410, came to an end during its successor, summoned on 21 Sept. to meet on 3 Nov. 1411. Shortly before, the prince had decided to intervene in the French civil war on the side of the duke of Burgundy against the Orléanists and had sent an army to France under the earl of Arundel, his fellow councillor. To all appearances the King disapproved of this pro-Burgundian policy; in any case, he had good reason to resent the prince’s independence and ascendancy, especially as rumours were circulating that Bishop Beaufort and some of the prince’s other personal advisors wanted him to abdicate. When Parliament met he made every effort to redress the political balance in his favour. As with the previous Parliament, by no means all of the Members can now be identified: the names of only 147 have been preserved on the surviving returns, leaving a deficit of nearly half. Whether or not any attempt was made at electoral management (and there is no explicit evidence that this happened), 18 of the men taking their seats in the Lower House were closely associated with the prince and his allies the Beauforts, or else with his friends the earls of Arundel and Warwick; and his adherent, Thomas Chaucer, was re-elected Speaker for the third time running. The beginning of the session proved inauspicious, however, for when, on 5 Nov., Chaucer made the normal request that he might speak in the Upper House ‘under protestation’, the King, having allowed what was customary, spiritedly asserted that he would not countenance any ‘novelties’ in this Parliament, and insisted to the full on his own historic prerogatives. Throughout the rest of the month an obscure struggle was played out in which the Commons urged the need for good governance and commended the Council under the leadership of the prince of Wales, while the latter in a veiled reproach to the Lower House for its parsimony, declared that he could have done more had the representatives been more liberal in the previous Parliament. But the Council had lost the King’s confidence, and on 30 Nov. it was dismissed. The Commons, acknowledging that the King bore a heavy heart towards some of those who had attended the assembly of 1410, as well as those now present, sought an assurance that he held them loyal and faithful subjects.1 At the same time they purchased his forgiveness with the grant of a novel tax on all net income from lands and rents held by the laity worth over £20 p.a. A change of ministry followed immediately after the dissolution, with Archbishop Arundel returning to the chancellorship and (Sir) John Pelham*, the King’s friend, being promoted treasurer of the Exchequer. The new Council, unlike the old, was not nominated in Parliament, nor made to take an oath before the assembled Lords and Commons. It may be assumed that the Members of the Lower House who were appointed sheriffs and escheators a few days later (seven, all told), or customs officials (five), j.p.s (four) and royal commissioners (11) shortly afterwards, had done nothing there deemed disloyal to the King.

 

RETAINERS OF HENRY IV

Assheton, Sir John II                                               
£40                    
household knight to Joan of Navarre
Bagot, Sir John40 marks
Barre, Sir Thomas de la80 marks
Berkeley, Sir John II‘knight bachelor’ to the King
Booth, John£23 6s.8d.
Etton, Sir John£40
Francis, Sir Robert£40
Frye, Robert II£10
Hobildod, John£20
Lucy, (Sir) Thomasmember of the Household
Montgomery, Sir Nicholas I£26 13s.4d.
Newport, Sir William£53 6s.8d.
Rigmaiden, William20 marks
St. John, Sir John100 marks
Spencer, John£30 6s.8d.
Whittington, Robert£12

 

OFFICE-HOLDERS

1. Central government
Chaucer, Thomaschief butler
Frye, Robert IIclerk of the King’s Council
Mosdale, Johnserjeant-at-arms
Pole, Sir Walter de laconstable of Ireland
2. Constables etc. of royal castles
Chaucer, ThomasWallingford
Francis, Sir RobertCastle Donington
Godstone, Thomashigh bailiff and victualler of the castle, Guînes
Hungerford, Sir WalterMarlborough
Mosdale, JohnScarborough and Newcastle-upon-Tyne
3. Officials on crown estates
Booth, Johnduchy of Lancaster receiver, Cheshire and Bowland
Etton, Sir Johnsteward, Galtres forest, Yorks.
Oldhall, Edmundduchy of Lancaster receiver, Cambs., Norf., Suff.
Wynter, Johnduchy of Lancaster steward, Norf., Suff.
4. Customs officials
Faire, Mark lealnager, Hants
Landford, Rogertronager and pesager, Sandwich; alnager, Kent
Thornton, Rogercollector of customs, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
5. Sheriffs
Montgomery, Sir Nicholas INotts. and Derbys.
6. Justices of the peace
Arundell, (Sir) John ICornw.
Barre, Sir Thomas de laHerts.
Berkeley, Sir John IILeics.
Burley, John ISalop
Carter, John IIScarborough
Cary, RobertDevon
Chaucer, ThomasOxon.
Francis, Sir AdamMdx.
Hungerford, Sir WalterSom.
Maureward, Sir ThomasLeics.
Mille, ThomasGlos., Herefs.
Newport, RobertHerts.
Nutbeam, WilliamKent
Oldhall, EdmundNorf.
Rigmaiden, WilliamNotts.
Scott, RobertHunts.
Thorpe, HenryWilts.
Weston, JohnWarws.
Whittington, RobertGlos.
Wynter, JohnNorf.

 

ASSOCIATES OF HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES

Arundell, (Sir) John I                                                                               
steward of the duchy of Cornw.
Chaucer, Thomassteward of his honours of Walingford and St. Valery
Corp, Johnwater bailiff, Dartmouth, by his appointment
Hawley, John IIfeodary and escheator, duchy of Cornw.; dep. sheriff, Cornw.
Jayet, Thomascontroller, coinage of tin, duchy of Cornw.
Newport, Sir Williamcampaigns in Wales; granted by him the manor of Aber, worth 40 marks p.a.
Paderda, Thomasformer dep. sheriff, Cornw.
Pellour, Thomasformer under sheriff, Cornw.
St. John, Sir Johnannuity of £40; campaigns in Wales; dep. justiciar, S. Wales; dep. chamberlain S. Wales
Spencer, Johncontroller of the prince’s household; annuity of £20; campaigns in Wales
Staunton, Thomascampaigns in Wales; poss. already master forester, Dartmoor, by his appointment
Wonston, Alfredformer bailiff, stannary of Chagford, Devon; later forester, Dartmoor
Wynter, Johnreceiver-general of the prince’s estates with £50 p.a. fee; councillor; campaigns in Wales

 

ASSOCIATES OF BISHOP BEAUFORT

Chaucer, Thomas                                               
constable of Taunton castle by Beaufort’s appointment
Fauconer, WilliamBeaufort’s bailiff of Highclere, Hants
Plumpton, Sir Robertgranted in 1412 an annual rent of £20 for good service to Beaufort in the past

 

ASSOCIATES OF THOMAS CHAUCER, THE SPEAKER

Corp, John                    
dep. butler, Dartmouth, by his nomination
Wynter, Johndep. butler, Gt. Yarmouth and Cromer, by his nomination

 

ASSOCIATES OF THOMAS FITZALAN, EARL OF ARUNDEL

Burley, John IF, M, O, R; campaigns in Wales

 

ASSOCIATES OF RICHARD BEAUCHAMP, EARL OF WARWICK

Lucy, (Sir) Thomas£20 annuity
Weston, Johnlegal advisor

 

APPPOINTMENTS MADE DURING OR SHORTLY AFTER THE PARLIAMENT

1. Sheriffs (appointed on 10 Dec.)                                          
Coggeshall, Sir WilliamEssex and Herts.
Nutbeam, WilliamKent
Scott, RobertCambs. and Hunts.
2. Escheators (appointed on 10 Dec.)
Broomford, NicholasDevon and Cornw.
Oldhall, EdmundNorf. and Suff.
Pympe, ReynoldKent and Mdx.
Styuecle, NicholasCambs. and Hunts.
3. Customs officials
Corp, Johncontroller, Exeter and Dartmouth 3 Feb. 1412
Fauconer, Thomascollector, wool custom London 13 Feb. 1412
Fenn, Petersearcher, Gt. Yarmouth 17 Dec. 1411
Shipton, Johncollector, Melcombe Regis 21 Jan. 1412
Urban, Johncollector, Exeter and Dartmouth 23 Jan. 1412
4. Justices of the peace
Assheton, Sir John IILancs. 17 Dec. 1411
Booth, JohnLancs. 17 Dec. 1411
Hungerford, Sir WalterWilts. 14 Feb. 1412
Willoughby, Sir ThomasLincs. 14 Feb. 1412
5 Commissions
Burley, John Iinquiry Feb. 1412
Cary, Robertoyer and terminer July 1412
Etton, Sir Johnoyer and terminer Dec. 1411
Maureward, Sir Thomasraise royal loans Jan. 1412
Mille, Thomassewers Apr. 1412
Newport, Sir Williamarrest Dec. 1411
Oldhall, Edmundoyer and terminer Dec. 1411; inquiry June 1412
Peshale, Sir Adamarrest Dec. 1411
Plumpton, Sir Robertoyer and terminer Dec. 1411
Weston, Johnassessment and collection of the novel income tax Jan. 1412
Willoughby, Sir Thomassewers Feb. 1412

 

GRANT MADE DURING THE PARLIAMENT

Etton, Sir John            
pardoned outlawry in a suit for debt

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: J. S. Roskell

End Notes

  • 1. RP, iii. 647-8, 658.