Category: 15th Century History

Medieval, 15th Century History, Legal history, Parliamentary Life

Too few lawyers? The ‘Unlearned Parliament’ of October 1404

Following Dr Hannes Kleineke’s two part piece on the Good, the Bad, the Wonderful and the Merciless Parliaments of the late fourteenth century in June, Dr Simon Payling of our House of Commons 1422-1504 project discusses the ‘Unlearned Parliament’ of 1404… In the modern Parliament lawyers are the best represented of the professions with between about 10% and 15% of MPs qualified as barristers or … Continue reading Too few lawyers? The ‘Unlearned Parliament’ of October 1404

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Medieval, 15th Century History

The Knight’s Daughter: a newly discovered child of an old MP

Dr Hannes Kleineke of our House of Commons 1422-1504 project discusses the significance of a new archaeological discovery in Norfolk to medieval parliamentary history… A comment with which the medieval historian is all too frequently confronted is ‘I thought it has all been done.’ This might indeed be so, were it not for the singular wealth of evidence, mainly in unpublished manuscripts, but also in … Continue reading The Knight’s Daughter: a newly discovered child of an old MP

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Medieval, 15th Century History, Legal history

Medieval MP of the Month: The sea hawk – Robert Wenyngton alias Cane

June’s medieval MP of the month is the swashbuckling Robert Wenyngton of Dartmouth. Dr Hannes Kleineke, of our House of Commons 1422-1504 Section, discusses this fifteenth century pirate (and politician) below… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing information,  visit the Cambridge University Press website, here. Long before Queen Elizabeth’s … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: The sea hawk – Robert Wenyngton alias Cane

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Medieval, 15th Century History, Parliamentary Life

Medieval MP of the Month: George Ashby

For this month’s installment from our House of Commons 1422-1461 Section we hear from Dr Simon Payling about poet and long-time servant to the Lancastrians, George Ashby of Warwickshire… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing information,  visit the Cambridge University Press website, here. George Ashby, MP for Warwick in … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: George Ashby

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Medieval, 15th Century History, Legal history

Medieval MP of the Month: ‘Please Sir, can I have one more?’ The marriages and murders of the Harcourt brothers of Oxfordshire 

Further tales of murder and scandal from Dr Hannes Kleineke for April’s medieval MP, or rather MPs of the Month. Today we hear of the murderous Harcourt brothers … THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing information,  visit the Cambridge University Press website, here. Among the most distinguished families in … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: ‘Please Sir, can I have one more?’ The marriages and murders of the Harcourt brothers of Oxfordshire 

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Medieval, 15th Century History, Parliamentary Life, Social history

MP of the Month: Geoffrey Paynell, accusations of incest and the fall of the house of Paynell

For March’s medieval MP of the month we hear about Geoffrey Paynell and accusations of incest amid the family’s land dispute in fifteenth century Lincolnshire, brought to you by Senior Research Fellow, Dr Simon Payling of the House of Commons 1422-1504 project. THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing … Continue reading MP of the Month: Geoffrey Paynell, accusations of incest and the fall of the house of Paynell

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Medieval, 15th Century History, Constituencies, Local History, Parliamentary Life

Medieval MP of the Month: Walter Rich – a tryst gone wrong?

Rather appropriately on Valentine’s Day, February’s Medieval MP of the month blog is concerned with affairs of the heart (among other less romantic things). Hannes Kleineke of our House of Commons 1422-1461 Section tells of the MPs, marriage and murder in medieval Bath… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: Walter Rich – a tryst gone wrong?

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Medieval, 15th Century History, Military history, Speakers of the House

Sir John Popham: A Speaker-Elect Makes a Quick Escape from the Parliamentary Turmoil caused by England’s Precipitous Exit from Europe

In light of the recent controversy surrounding the current Speaker of the House of Commons and his position on Brexit, Dr Linda Clark, Editor of the House of Commons 1422-1504 Section discusses how Agincourt veteran, Sir John Popham narrowly escaped assuming the daunting task of Speaker nearing the turbulent end of the Hundred Years’ War… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited … Continue reading Sir John Popham: A Speaker-Elect Makes a Quick Escape from the Parliamentary Turmoil caused by England’s Precipitous Exit from Europe

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Medieval, 15th Century History

Medieval MP of the Month: Santa Claus in Parliament

Here’s a seasonal offering from Hannes Kleineke of the House of Commons 1422-1504 Section for our Medieval MP of Month… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing information,  visit the Cambridge University Press website, here. While much has rightly been made this year of the career and legacy of Col. … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: Santa Claus in Parliament

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Medieval, 14th Century history, 15th Century History, Parliamentary Life

Medieval MP of the Month: An MP Struck by Lightning

Today we hear from House of Commons 1422-1504 Section Editor, Dr Linda Clark for the next instalment in our series ‘Medieval MP of the Month’. Today’s blog explores Sir James Berners, an MP struck by lightning whilst on a pilgrimage with the King… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: An MP Struck by Lightning

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