Page images
PDF
EPUB

INTRODUCTORY SKETCH

OF THE

HISTORY AND CONSTITUTION

OF

PARLIAMENT.

THE BRITISH KYFR-Y-THEN.

Ix inquiring into the origin of Parliaments in England, we would fain begin at the beginning; but it is impossible, at this time of day, from want of records, to state accurately what was the constitution of the Grand Council of the Ancient Britons. That they had Parliaments we are assured beyond a doubt. From Gildas we learn that Parliaments existed in England, during its occupation by the Romans; although we have every reason to believe that not only they, but the Kings, also, were merely instruments in the hands of these conquerors, for the collection of tribute:-in other words, that they were tax-gatherers to the Roman Emperors for upwards of three hundred years. The same author informs us, that a British Parliament, sunk in the imbecility of luxury and long continued dependence, despatched letters to the Senate of Rome, beseeching assistance against the Scots and Picts who made incursions beyond the wall of Severus, as soon as the Roman legions had quitted the island to defend their own states against the invasion of the barbarians of the North. Upon the Senate's refusal, on the plea that they were otherwise engaged, but

с

advising them to help themselves, Vortigern and " his Thaynes" sent an embassy to the warlike Saxons, with a similar request,— little supposing that as soon as the common enemy was overcome, they, themselves, should have to pass under the yoke of military despotism, and become "hewers of wood and drawers of water" to their new guests. Those who opposed the treacherous Saxons were driven out of their country, and thus almost all the ancient records of the nation were for ever lost.

Regarding the origin of this ancient British Parliament, we know little farther than what is recited in the laws of the good King Edward, otherwise styled the Confessor, which were confirmed by William the First, and sworn to by all succeeding kings. Under the title De Greve, chap. 35, we find the famous King Arthur celebrated as the inventor and founder of the yearly Folkmote of the Calends of May:-"Hanc legem invenit Arthurus, qui quondam fuit Inclytissimus Rex Brytonum, et ita consolidavit et confæderavit regnum Britanniæ universum semper in unum."-This law of the anniversary Folkmote, Arthur invented, who was heretofore the most renowned King of the Britons; and, thereby, he consolidated and confederated together the whole realm of Britain for ever,

as one man.

On this passage it is necessary to make two observations; first, in regard to Folkmote, which being a Saxon word, signifying a general meeting of the Folks or people, could not be the designation of the ancient British Parliament of King Arthur and his successors, any more than the word Parliament itself, introduced by the Normans several hundred years afterwards, could be supposed to designate the Folkmote of the Saxons. The ancient Britons, therefore, must have used some other expression to denote the annual or occasional meetings of themselves or their representatives, for the public weal; and this expression we find from Spelman and others

to have been "Kyfr-y-then” (Kyfr-y-Thayne?), that is,—the assembly of the Lawgivers;—which institution, or its designation, we have no reason to suppose to have been changed whilst the Romans remained; for it is well known, that whenever that domineering people appointed a consul or military governor over a distant and conquered province, they took care to support his authority by aid of the national assembly of chiefs already subsisting.

Secondly, as to the general assembly of the people on the Calends of May, being the invention of Arthur, it may be observed, without derogating from the merit of that illustrious statesman and hero, that similar institutions existed in neighbouring countries, as well as in England; and that too, long before the middle of the sixth century, when Arthur flourished. Whether the annual convention of ancient Irish kings, princes, and Olam or learned men, took place at this season of the year on Mount Tobhra*; or whether such was the case in the periodical assemblages of the chieftains and people of Scotland, is uncertain: but we have the authority of Radulphus de Diceto (a celebrated and authentic historian, and dean of St. Paul's, in the reign of King John), for stating that an institution in every respect similar to the Folkmote, existed in France in the year 662, and no doubt many centuries earlier; for he speaks of it as being then an ancient custom, which had survived the executive part of the government, already fallen into decay through the imbecility of the Merovingian family. His words are these:-"From henceforward, the French Kings degenenating from their accustomed valour and learning, the governTent was administered by the Masters of the Palace; the kings themselves reigning only by name. It was their custom, indeed, to succeed to the crown, according to their descent; but they neither did, nor ordered, any thing of themselves: their whole

Now Tara Hill.

« PreviousContinue »