CONTENTS.

PART I.

Social and Local Development of the Constitution.

CHAPTER I.

ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH INSTITUTIONS.

Sources of our Institutions-Early Teutonic Institutions-Feu-

dalism

1-4

CHAPTER II.

THE PEOPLE.

1. Classes of the People-Slavery-Defence of the Realm. 2. Feu-

dalism-Villenage-Aliens-Barons or Peers-Purveyance and

Pre-emption-Forest Laws-Clergy-Defence of the Realm-

Magna Carta-Charter of the Forest.

3. Peers-Decay of

Feudalism-Villenage-Liberty of the Subject-Restraint on

Religious Opinions-Restriction on Printing-Aliens-Defence

of the Realm-Impressment for the Navy. 4. Villenage and

Slavery-Extinction of Feudalism-Billeting-Abolition of

Feudal Courts-Religious Penalties and Disabilities-Liberty

of the Subject-Monopolies and Patents-Restrictions on the

Press-Control over the Post-Aliens-Defence of the Realm

-Army and Navy. 5. Slavery-Religious Disabilities-Mar-

riage Law-Roman Catholics--Progress of Toleration-Liberty

of the Subject-General Warrants-Revenue Laws-Debtors

-Political Rights-The Six Acts-Liberty of the Press-

Control over the Post-Aliens-Defence of the Realm-Stand-

ing Army-Militia. 6. Extension of Freedom-Religious Dis-

abilities-Political Agitation-The Press-Libel-Control over

the Post-Aliens-Reserve Forces-Navy

4-69

CHAPTER III.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

1. Local Institutions-Early Local Divisions -Tithings-Townships

-Hundreds-Courts-leet-Shire-moots-Ealdormen-Muni-

cipal Government-Encroachments of the Central Authority.

2. Effects of the Conquest-Counties Palatine-Franchises-

Control of the Crown-Decline of the old Courts-The Charters
-Coroners-Sheriffs-High Constables-Borough Charters-

Special Jurisdictions. 3. Sheriffs-Parish Constables-Justices

of the Peace-Custos Rotulorum-Power of the Central Autho-

rity-Municipal Government. 4. Local Rates-Justices of the

Peace-Highways-Poor Law-Decline of old Institutions.

5. County Rates-Lunatic Asylums-Highways-Poor Law--

Local Courts-Municipal Government-Vestries-Preserva-

tion of the Peace. 6. Local Courts-Constables-Justices of

the Peace-Municipal Government-Poor Law-Highways—

Public Health-Metropolis-Education

PART II.

Constituents of the Central Authority.

CHAPTER IV.

THE KING.

69-124

1. Origin of Royalty-Pre-Norman Kings. 2. Early Norman

Kings. 3. Growth of the Hereditary Principle-Disposition

of the Crown by Parliament. 4. Successors of Henry VIII-

The Stuart Monarchs. 5. Acts of Settlement. 6. Present

Succession.

125-135

CHAPTER V.

PARLIAMENT.

I. THE WITENAGEMOT, GREAT COUNCIL AND PARLIAMENT.

1. Witenagemot. 2. Great Council-Representation-The Clergy.

3. Parliament—Meeting of Parliament-Privilege-Freedom

of Debate. 4. Meeting of Parliament-Irregular Assemblies-

Privilege-Punishment of Members-Publication of Debates.

5. Meeting of Parliament-Privilege--Privilege of Debate.

6. Presence of Strangers-Publication of Proceedings—Privi-

lege

136 153

II. THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

3. Members-Number of Peers-Chancellor.

Protests and Proxies.

4. Status of Peers-

5. Increase of Peerage-Creation of

Peers. 6. Spiritual Peers-Life Peerages-Proxies-Number

of Peers

153-159

III. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

3. Early Composition-Imperfect Representation. 4. Members-

New Boroughs. 5. Members-Exclusion-Elections—Acts of

Union-Representation.

6. Members-Exclusion-Repre-

sentation

CHAPTER VI.

THE KING'S COUNCIL.

159-175

1. Pre-Norman Period. 2. Concilium Ordinarium. 3. Origin of

Privy Council. 4. The Council under the Tudors and

Stuarts. 5. The Council since the Revolution. 6. Com-

mittees of the Council

PART III.

Central Government.

CHAPTER VII.

LEGISLATION.

175-180

1. Pre-Norman Legislation. 2. Early Norman Legislation-

Early Parliamentary Legislation. 3. Growth of Power of

Parliament-Bills-Legislation by King in Council-Sus-

pending and Dispensing Powers of the King-Ecclesiastical

Legislation. 4. Limitation of the King's Powers-Passing of

Bills Ecclesiastical Legislation. 5. Bill of Rights-Abuse

of Power by House of Commons-Royal Assent-Classifica-

tion of Acts. 6. Power of House of Commons-Delegation

of Legislative Functions - Simplified Form of Legisla-

tion
181-197

CHAPTER VIII.

JUDICATURE.

1. Judicial power of King-Procedure. 2. Jurisdiction of King
-Severance of Common Law Courts-Jurisdiction of Chan-
cellor, &c.-Justices in Eyre-Ecclesiastical Courts-Pro-

cedure-Hue and Cry-English Common Law. 3. Jurisdiction
of Courts-Trial by Jury. 4. Ecclesiastical Courts-Star
Chamber-Courts of Law and Equity-Parliament-House of
Lords Judges Juries. 5. Bill of Rights-Judges—Juries—
Parliament-Impeachment. 6. Privy Council-Central Cri-
minal Court-Probate and Divorce Court-Parliament-Con-
tempt-Supreme Court of Judicature

CHAPTER IX.

THE EXECUTIVE.

197-232

2. Power of the

1. Power of the King-Control of the Witan.

King-Officers of State-Advice of the Great Council-Magna

Carta. 3. Regencies-Control of Parliament - Power of

Council - Privy Council - Growing Power of Commoners.

4. Ecclesiastical Supremacy-Power of the Crown in Civil

Matters-Control of Parliament-Cabinet Council-Political

Parties. 5. The Ministry-Control of Parliament-Increased

Power of Executive-Personal Influence of the Sovereign-

Regencies-Substitution for Royal Sign-Manual. 6. Personal

Influence of the Sovereign-Ministers-Growth of Executive

Power-Military Forces
232-264

CHAPTER X.

TAXATION.

1. Early English Finance. 2. Feudal Sources of Revenue-

Crown Lands-Imposition and Collection of Taxes-Magna

Charta-Control of the Great Council. 3. Control of Parlia-

ment-Taxation of the Clergy-Relative Power of the two

Houses Subsidies-Increase of Taxation-Loans and Bene-

volences. 4. Reigns of Elizabeth and James I.-Post-Office

-Reign of Charles I.—Reign of Charles II.-Control of

the Commons-Taxation of the Clergy-National Debt-

Reign of James II. 5. Control of Commons-Public Reve-

nue--Civil List-Crown Lands-Duties-Direct Taxation-

Legacy Duty-Income Tax - Penal Taxation - Lotteries--

National Debt. 6. House of Lords-Civil List-Public Ex-

penditure-Sources of Revenue

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

INDEX AND GLOSSARY

264-293

295

296

LIST OF AUTHORITIES.

The following, among others, may be mentioned as leading works on the English Institutions, during the different periods into which their history is divided in the present volume:

First Period.-Hallam's Middle Ages (vol. 2), ch. viii. pt. 1. -Freeman's Norman Conquest (vol. 1), ch. iii.—Stubbs' Illustrations of English Constitutional History.

Second Period. Hallam's Middle Ages (vols. 2, 3), ch. viii. pts. 2, 3.-Stubbs' Illustrations of English Constitutional History.

Third Period. Hallam's Middle Ages (vol. 3), ch. viii. pt. 3. -Hallam's Constitutional History of England (vol. 1), ch. i. ii. Fourth Period. -Hallam's Constitutional History of England (vols. 1-3), ch. iii.-xiv.

Fifth Period.-Hallam's Constitutional History of England (vol. 3), ch. xv. xvi.-May's Constitutional History of England, 3 vols.

Sixth Period.-May's Constitutional History of England, 3 vols.

Our political Institutions also form the subject of various chapters in Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England, and the more recent Commentaries by Stephen, and by Broom and Hadley. Some useful statistics as to the present condition of the country are furnished in the Statesman's Year Book, by Fred. Martin (published annually).