Note (37) — Chapter II

These first glimmerings of parliamentary representation were carefully traced out by Hallam (Middle Ages, ii. 146-152). They can now be more fully studied in the work of Professor Stubbs. On the summons in 1213 of four men for each shire besides “milites et barones” (“quatuor discretos homines de comitatu tuo illuc venire facias”), the Professor remarks [278]: “It is the first writ in which the ‘four discreet men’ of the county appear as representatives; the first instance of the summoning of the folkmoot to a general assembly by the machinery already used for judicial purposes.”