Note 7 — A DISCOURSE concerning the LAWS and GOVERNMENT of ENGLAND.

The lay lords were the earls, thanes, and other nobility of the kingdom. The spiritual lords were the bishops and dignitaries of the church, whose possessions were held in Frankalmoigne. After the conquest, they were subjected to military service and held by barony. What may seem extraordinary, Abesses were also in use to sit in the Saxon Wittenagemots. In Wightred’s great council at Beconceld, anno 694. the Abesses sat and deliberated, and several of them subscribed the decrees made in it. Spel. conc. vol. I. The abesses appeared also in Ethelwolf’s parliament at Winchester anno 855. Ingulph, edit. Savil. 862. And king Edward’s charter to the abbay of Croyland was subscribed by an abbess. Even in the time of Henry III. and in that of Edward I. it appears that four abbesses were summoned to parliament; those of Shaftsbury, Berking, St. Mary of Winchester, and of Wilton. Tit. hon. p. 729, and Whitelock’s notes upon the king’s writ for choosing members of Parliament, vol. I. p. 479. 480.