Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/13

 Tlie Privy Council of the Time of Richai'd II 3 asked to know the names of those who were to be the great officers and councillors of the king, and it was answered that they should be so informed.' But as the Parliament ended abruptly, the names were not read, nor were they placed upon the Parliament roll. For this omission apologies were made to the commons at their next meeting.^ The council nevertheless was said to have been " chosen with the assent of the prelates and magnates at the parliament of Gloucester ". In other years when Parliamentary councils were chosen, the procedure was not far different except as the king him- self took a larger part. 2. As regards the composition of the council, it was the intention of Parliament that it should be a smaller and more definable body than heretofore. In the reign of Edward III. its membership had extended to a large number; it included several honorary mem- bers, minor officials, clerks, and even foreigners, while in practice it fell largely into the hands of royal favorites, to the great disgust of the nobles. In combating this tendency the commons supported the nobles, as in the Good Parliament of 1376, when they petitioned that " the council be enforced with the presence of lords, prelates, and others to the number of ten or twelve ".' In the reign of Richard II. the number desired ranged from twelve to fifteen. This number included as ex officio members at least three great officers, namely, the chancellor, the treasurer, and the keeper of the privy seal. Although there was once a suggestion that the steward of the royal household be added,* and once we are told that the chief chamberlain was likewise a member,^ it was not until the next reign that the five officers were regularly included. As to the personnel, the men now preferred were of Parliamentary rank, with a strong preponderance in favor of the lords. Thus the council named in the fiftieth year of Edward III. included three bishops, three earls, and three lords, besides the three officers." Generally with a view to balancing the estates, there was a representation also of knights if not of commoners. The first council of Richard was composed of two bishops, two earls, two barons, two bannerets, and four knights,^ which was changed in the same year to consist of three bishops, two earls, two bannerets, and two knights, besides the officers.^ In the ' Ibid., 35- ■'Ibid.. 55. 'Ibid., II. 322. In the same year twelve cushions were provided in the council chamber for the lords there to consult. Issue Roll (Pells), 50 Ed. III., Mich., m. 22. ^Chronicon Angliae (Rolls Series, 1874). Ixviii. T Rot. Pari., III. 386: Calendar of Patent Rolls, i Ric. II., 19; Stubbs, Con- stitutional History, II. 463. ^Rot. Pari., III. 6; Stubbs. op. fit., II. 465.
 * Rot. Pari., III. 221. Uhid.. 73-