Star.
London, England, 1830-08-05 00:00:00

USAGES OF PARLIAMENT.

Proem.—To the passing of a Bill the assent of the Knights Ci.
tisens and Burgesses must be in person ; but the Lords may give
their votes by proxy r and the reason is, that the Barons always sat
in Parliament in their own right as part of the pares eurtis of the
King ; and, therefore, as they were allowed to serve by proxy in the
wan, so had they leave to make proxies in Parliament ; but the
Commons coming only as representing the Barents Minores, and
the soccage tenants In the country, and as representing the men of
the cities, &c. they could not constitute proxies, because they them.
selves are not proxies, or representatives of others, according to that
maxim of law, Ds:le:iota pantos non polest delegari.
PARLIAMENT.—The word Parliament was tint used in 1205,
and the Commons were admitted at this time, though not regularly
represented. In 1283 the English Parliament consisted of Knights,
Citizens, and Burgesses, as well as of Lords spiritual and temporal ;
but the Representatives of cities and towns sat in a chamber separate
from the Barons and Knights. Several counties, however, paid no
Parliament Tax.

In all old papers, and even so late as by Pennant in his " His-
tory of London," the word Parliament is invariably spelt Pa:le-
mon.

The Ant writ of summons to Parliament was in 1204, when
those national assemblies were held in an open field, and they so
continued foe some years afterwards, as witness the Parliament of
King John, at itunnimede, near Staines. They became triennial
from the reign of Edward 111, but not until 1894 had any Act
passed to render such duration legal. In 1716, owing to the
somewhat unsettled state of the nation, on account of the rebel-
lion the preceding year, a plea was offered to the Administra-
tion to repeal the Act, and substitute another, to make them
' endure seven years. " And very thankful we ought to be,"
&metres Mr. Low, in his History of Stamford, " that they did not
extend the period to twenty years, since they had the same right
I MI to do."

PAYMENT TO Alzmazas.—Though the Representatives in
Parliament were, at an early period, allowed their fees and wages for
attendance, yet the allowance was made on a plan so strictly econo.
mica'. that the Knights of Berkshire were only allowed for six days,
and those for Bedfordshire for only five days, and those for Cornwall
for only 11 days, when called to a Parliament at York.

THE XING'S CHAMPION.
-rpm.-

Respecting the origin of this spendid office, we have no account
absolutely authentic; but Sir W. Dugdale, as well in his" Baron-
age of England." as in his History of Werwickahlre," asserts
that William the Conqueror, to reward the services of those emi-
nent commanders who accompanied him in his expedition to Eng.
lend, bestowed on them various grants of divers manors and lands
throughout the kingdom.
Among these highly distinguished persons was Robert de Mar.
mion, on whom the Conqueror, amongst other gifts, conferred
the Castle of Tamworth, in the county of Warwick, to bold by
Knight's service, and the manor of Scrivelsby, in the county of
Lincoln, to hold per Baroniane, or by Barony, with the peculiar
service of performing the office of Champion to the Kings of Eng-
land on the days of their Coronation. From this period the Mar-
miens became Barons of the realm per Gammas, or by tenure, and
continued to flourish among the Nobles for several generations with
great lustre and renown, intermarrying with the heiresses of some
of the most powerful Barons of the age. But, about the 20th of
Edward 1, Philip de Alarmion, the fifth in descent from the first Ro-
bert, died. leaving female issue only, whereby his great inheritance
became divided, and the Castle of Tamworth at length fell to the Fre-
vine family, and the manor of Scrivelaby to the Ludlow., by the
marriage of whose daughter and heiress Margaret with Sir John
Dymoke, Knight, the same came into that ancient and ho.
nourable name. This Sir Jobn Dymoke, at the Coronation
of Richard IL claimed to execute the said office of King's
Champion, but it was counter-claimed by Baldwin de Fre.
vine, who rested his pretensions on the tenure of Tamworth
Castle. After great deliberation it was found that the said
Castle was only holden by Knignt's service, and that this
high office was attached to the manor of Scrivelaby, which was
holden per barmiest, end was the cupid baron* or head of the
baron of the Mannino family; and it moreover appearing that the
late King Edward 111. and his son Edward Prince of Wales, sur-
named the Black Prince, had often been heard to say that the office
belonged to Sir John Dymoke, the question of right was decided is
his favour. From which period to the present, a lapse of nearly
MO years, the office has been executed by the Dymoke family at the
several Coronations for the Kings and Queens of England. At
that of Richard 11. by Sir Jelin Dymoke before mentioned,;
at that of Henry IV. by his son Sir Thomas Dymoke, who'
was one of the forty-six Esquires crested by that King
Knights of the Bath en the day of his Coronation, they
having watched all the night before. and bathed them.
selves. This Sir Thomas also performed the same office at the Co-
notation of Henry V. as his son, Sir Philip Dymoke, did at that of
Henry VI. and his grandson, Sir Robt. Dymoke, Knight BaDDerti;
did also at the same solemnities of Richard ill. and 'Kings Henry
VII. end V ill. to which last he was one of the Generals who com-
mended at the siege and capture of Boulogne. Sir Edward, son of Sir
Robt. Dyniuke, was champion to Queen • isabeth, as was Sir Robt.
Dymoke, his son, to King James I. end Charles I. end his son, Sir
Ed w. to Chariot 11. and his am, Sir C. Dymoke, to James 11. which
son, another Charles, was champion to Queen Anne, and, dying
without issue, was succeeded by his brother, Lewis Dynieke,
who executed this office at the Cormadoo of tiro. 1. and 11. On
the Coronation of George 111. Juba Dymoke, Seq. had the like
hamar ; and it must be flesh is the meniawy et ewe readies that
the ellen was perfumed by a am et the peseta head of the ppm&
family at the Coronation either*. IV. It was dose by proxy,
bemuse the present hereditary champion is a Clergyman, sad she
Committee of Privileges allowed firearm to be executed by hie sea
on his petition to that enact. The motto of the Dynielte family is
Pro Hey titmice ;^ a specimen of eassties literality very seat.
moo a few corturies back.