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the Second’s Time, then I would fain know in what King’s Reign it was afterwards that the Conſtitution was altered.
In ſhort, the Folk Choſe the Laws; and I believe the Engliſh Folkmote and Wittenagemote will be found to be old Homer’s River,
Ὃν Ξάνθον καλέουσι Θεοὶ, Θνητοί δε Σχαμάνδρον.
Which the Gods call Xanthus, but mortal Men call Scamander. Now though Scamander be the homelier Name, yet it is the ſame River.
I cannot but ſay there was ſome Difference betwixt the Folkmote upon the Kalends of May, and the Folkmotes which the King always called for his Ardua Contingentia or Contingencies of State: But the Difference lay only in this, that the Folkmote of the Kalends of May was a Parliament de more, and of Courſe, who Aſſembled themſelves, ſub initio Kalendarum Maii, ſays Spelman, and were bound to do ſo, in Capite Kal. Maii, ſay the Laws of Edward the Confeſſor, cap. 35. de Greve; (and out of that Chapter has Sir H. Spelman extracted his true Account of a Gerneral Folkmote, which was Anniverſary:) whereas a Wittenagemote or Extraordinary Parliament or Folkmote was Summoned at the King’s Pleaſure, and was ever at his Call both for Time and Place. Other Difference I can find none. For as for the Conſtituent Parts of a Folkmote, if the Princes of the
