Page:An Essay Concerning Parliaments.djvu/40

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ſure upon Emergencies of State and for the ſake of making Laws.

Now let us ſee what the Learned Antiquary ſays concerning Folkmotes by themſelves in the ſame place, p. 315. “In Folcmoto ſemel quotannis ſub initio Kalendarum Maii (tanquam in annuo Parliamento) convenere Regni Principes, tam Epiſcopi quam Magiſtratus Liberiq.; homines. Jurantur Laici omnes coram Epiſcopis in mutuum fœdus, in fidelitatem Regis, & in Jura Regni Conſervanda. Conſulitur de Communi Salute, de Pace, de Bello, & de Utilitate publicâ Promovendâ. In a Folkmote Once every Year at the beginning of the Kalends of May (as in an Yearly Parliament) there Met together the Princes of the Realm, as well Biſhops as Magiſtrates, and the Freemen. All the Laymen are ſworn in the Preſence of the Biſhops into a Mutual Covenant with one another, into their Fealty to the King, and to Preſerve the Rights of the Kingdom. They Conſult of the Common Safety, of Peace, of War, and of Promoting the Publick Profit.

It follows in the next words, “Adhibetur præterea Folcmotum in repentino omni diſcrimine, exigente etiam neceſſitate, ſub Aldermanno (hoc eſt Comite) cujuſlibet Comitatus. Beſides a

Folkmote