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Parliament of England

legislature of the Kingdom of England (1215-1707)

100 dated entries naming Parliament of England, drawn from 72 separate years between 1264 CE and 1708 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

Also written as English Parliament in the source articles; Wikipedia redirects those to the same subject, so their entries are on this page.

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13th century

  • 1264June – Simon de Montfort summons Parliament in London to confirm new constitutional arrangements. Two knights are summoned for each county, and are allowed to comment on general matters of state – the first time this has occurred. In France, Queen Eleanor of Provence, wife of Henry III, makes plans for an invasion of England with the support of Louis IX OF France.source
  • 1266May 15 – Second Barons' War: Battle of Chesterfield: English forces led by Henry of Almain, son of Richard of Cornwall, defeat rebels under Robert de Ferrers in a minor skirmish at Chesterfield. Robert is taken as a prisoner to London, and at the Parliament of England disinherits. In July, he is forced to surrender land and Liverpool Castle to Edmund Crouchback, second son of King Henry III of England.source
  • 1275April 22 – The first Statute of Westminster, drawn up between Parliament and Edward I, defines the legal privileges that landowners are allowed. These are based on the investigations carried out in 1274 into the landowner's rights to own their land. Establishing a series of laws into 51 chapters, including equal treatment of rich and poor, free and fair elections, and definition of Bailable and non-bailable offenses.source
  • 1285The Second Statute of Westminster is accepted in parliament, reforming various laws; it includes the clause de donis conditionalibus, considered one of the fundamental institutes of medieval law.source

14th century

  • 1308June 25 – Piers Gaveston is exiled for the second time by the Parliament, due to possible corruption and exploited personal gains. As compensation for the loss of the Earldom of Cornwall, which is another condition of his exile, Gaveston is granted land worth 3,000 marks annually in Gascony. Further to this, he is appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland – so that a certain amount of honour can be maintained despite the humiliation of the exile. Gaveston is also threatened with ex-communication by Pope Clement V. Edward II accompanies him to Bristol, from where he sets sail for Ireland.source
  • 1308October 20 – The English Parliament begins its fourth session of the reign of King Edward II and meets at Westminster.source
  • 1311August 16 – The Parliament of England presents the Ordinances of 1311 to King Edward II (document dated 5 October; published on 11 October); these substitute the 21 Lord Ordainers for the King as the effective government of the country.source
  • 1313September 23 – The English Parliament is called into session for the fourth time in less than 12 months, after three unsuccessful attempts to assemble members. King Edward II persuades the session to pass a tax bill for revenues to be collected by the following June in order to finance a new campaign against Scotland.source
  • 1325October 10 – King Edward II calls for representatives of the three estates (including the knights representative) to meet at Westminster for a session of the English Parliament, beginning on November 18 to discuss the matter of the failure of his wife, Queen Isabella, to return from France.source
  • 1369April 6 – King Edward III summons the members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to assemble on June 3 for a session of the English Parliament.source
  • 1371January 8 – King Edward II summons the members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to assemble at Westminster for a one-month session of the English Parliament.source
  • 1378September 3 – As regent for the 11-year-old King Richard II of England, his mother Joan of Kent summons the English Parliament, directing the members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords to assemble at Gloucester on October 20.source
  • 1380August 26 – King Richard II of England summons the English Parliament five months after the dissolution of the previous meeting, and directs the members of the House of Commons and House of Lords to assemble on November 5 at Westminster.source
  • 1383January 7 – King Richard II issues a summons for the Lords and members of the House of Commons to assemble for the English Parliament, to convene on February 23.source

15th century

  • 1409October 26 – King Henry IV of England summons the English Parliament to assemble, starting on January 27.source
  • 1411November 3 – The English Parliament is assembled after being summoned by King Henry IV, and again elects Thomas Chaucer as Speaker of the House of Commons.source
  • 1415November 4 – The English Parliament is opened by King Henry V for an 8-day session.source
  • 1419October 16 – The first session, in almost two years, of the English Parliament is opened by King Henry V. The House of Commons re-elects Roger Flower as its speaker.source
  • 1421October 20–King Henry V summons the English Parliament for the last time in his life, directing the members to assemble at Westminster on December 1.source
  • 1422September 29 – The Duke of Bedford Regent for King Henry VI of England, summons the members of Parliament to assemble at Westminster on November 9.source
  • 1432May 12 – The new English Parliament session is opened at Westminster by the regents for King Henry VI of England, and Sir John Russell is elected by his peers as Speaker of the House of Commons.source
  • 1433July 8 – The English Parliament assembles at Westminster, and Roger Hunt is elected as Speaker of the House of Commons.source
  • 1436October 29 – The regents for King Henry VI summon members of the English Parliament to assemble on January 21 at Westminster.source
  • 1437January 21– The English Parliament, summoned in the name of King Henry VI on October 29, assembles at Westminster. The House of Commons elects the ailing John Tyrrell as its Speaker.source
  • 1456March 12 – After a session of eight months that had started on July 9, 1455, the English Parliament adjourns at Westminster. Royal assent is given by King Henry VI to bills passed, including the Importation Act 1455, banning the import for the next five years of woven silk goods (including ribbons and girdles) that had been manufactured outside of England, and subjecting importers to heavy fines. and the Embezzlement Act, allowing civil remedies by executors of estates to recover goods that had been stolen by servants from their masters.source
  • 1464January 21 – The English Parliament opens its second session during the reign of King Edward IV, gathering at Westminster, and will remain in session until March 28, 1465.source
  • 1465March 28 – King Edward IV gives royal assent to acts passed by the English Parliament, including the Pattens Act 1464, regulating the manufacture of pattens, shoes with wooden soles and heels, and leather covering, declaring that "Patten-makers may make pattens of such asp as is not fit for shafts." The law is among several given royal assent to regulate clothing, including the Cloths Act, the Exportation of Wool Act and Contracting for Wool Act and the Shoemakers Act. The parliament, in session since April 29, 1463, closes.source
  • 1484January 23 – King Richard III of England assembles his first, and only Parliament, opening a 29-day session.source
  • 1489January 13 – The English Parliament opens at Westminster, with Thomas Fitzwilliam as the Speaker of the House of Commons. The day after its opening, the Treason Act 1488 and the Collusive Actions Act 1488 go into effect on resolution of the English Parliament.source
  • 1495Poynings' Law comes into effect, placing the Parliament of Ireland under the authority of the Parliament of England.source
  • 1497January 16 – At Westminster, King Henry VII opens his sixth English Parliament for a two-month session. The House of Commons elects Sir Thomas Englefield as its speaker.source

16th century

  • 1534January 15 – The Parliament of England passes the Act Respecting the Oath to the Succession, recognising the marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and their children as the legitimate heirs to the throne.source
  • 1536November 13 – On "a great misty morning such as hath seldom been seen", Robert Pakington, a London merchant and a member of the English Parliament, becomes the first person in Britain to be murdered with a handgun, while he is walking across the street from his home at Soper's Lane toward the Mercers' Chapel. His assailant is never caught, despite the offer of a large reward.source
  • 1539April 28 – The English Parliament meets for the first time since 1536, after being summoned by King Henry VIII as his seventh Parliament.source
  • 1539June 28 – The Six Articles, an Act of the Parliament of England, is given royal assent reaffirms certain Catholic principles in Henry VIII's Church of England.source
  • 1543July 12 – King Henry VIII of England marries Catherine Parr. It is Henry's sixth and last marriage and Catherine's third. Princess Elizabeth attends the wedding. This month, the Parliament of England passes the Third Succession Act, restoring the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth, Henry's daughters, to the line of succession to the English throne.source
  • 1545November 23 – King Henry VIII opens the Parliament of England for the ninth time, in a session that lasts until December 24.source
  • 1549January 21 – The Act of Uniformity 1548 is passed by the Parliament of England and establishes the 1549 version of the Book of Common Prayer as the sole legal prayer book in England, replacing the use of different versions of the Latin-language Missal.source
  • 1576February 8 – Peter Wentworth, a Puritan M.P. of the Parliament of England, is arrested in the middle of giving an address criticizing "rumours and messages" given to suppress freedom of speech. When he says that "the devil was the first author of them, from whom proceedeth nothing but wickedness", he is interrupted and taken to the Tower of London for imprisonment.source
  • 1581March 18 – The Parliament of England's Act against Reconciliation to Rome imposes heavy fines, for practising Roman Catholicism.source
  • 1598The Parliament of England passes the Vagabonds Act, that allows transportation of convicts to colonies.source

17th century

  • 1610Dr. Bonham's Case, a landmark decision, is decided by Edward Coke, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas of England. Coke affirms the supremacy of the common law, which limits the power of Parliament as well as the king.source
  • 1613Arthur Chichester, Lord Deputy of Ireland, is created 1st Baron Chichester of Belfast. Belfast is constituted a municipal corporation, comprising a Sovereign, twelve burgesses and a commonalty, with the privilege of sending two representatives to the Parliament of England. The first Sovereign appointed is Thomas Vesey, and the first representatives to parliament are Sir John Blennerhasset, Baron of the Exchequer of Ireland, and George Trevillian.source
  • 1622February 8 – King James I of England dissolves the English Parliament.source
  • 1629March 10 – Charles I of England dissolves Parliament, starting the Eleven Years' Tyrannysource
  • 16405 January – Parliament fixes a quorum of 40 for its proceedings to be transacted.source
  • 164325 September – the Solemn League and Covenant is signed between the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland.source
  • 1644October 24 – the Long Parliament of England passes an Ordinance of no quarter to the Irish.source
  • 164425 December – Christmas falls on a date set aside for fasting by Parliament, whose supporters are enjoined to observe the fast.source
  • 1645April 3 – The House of Lords passes the Self-denying Ordinance, requiring members of the Parliament of England to resign commissions in the armed services.source
  • 16453 April – the House of Lords passes the Self-denying ordinance, requiring members of the Parliament of England to resign commissions in the armed services.source
  • 1646July 30 – Commissioners of the Parliament of England and Scottish Covenanters meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne set out the Heads of Proposals ("Newcastle Propositions") demanding that King Charles I gives up control of the army and place restrictions on Catholics, as the basis for a constitutional settlement.source
  • 164630 July – Commissioners of Parliament and Scottish Covenanters meeting in Newcastle upon Tyne set out the Heads of Proposals ("Newcastle Propositions") demanding that the King gives up control of the army and place restrictions on Catholics, as the basis for a constitutional settlement.source
  • 16477 August – Oliver Cromwell takes control of Parliament with the New Model Army, an attempt by Presbyterian MPs to raise the City of London having been unsuccessful.source
  • 1647November – Battle of Knocknanuss, Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin's Parliamentarian army inflicts crushing defeat on Confederate Ireland's Munster army.source
  • 16482 May – The Parliament of England passes an act against blasphemy.source
  • 1652August 12 – the Parliament of England passes the Act for the Settlement of Ireland.source
  • 1654April 12 – Oliver Cromwell creates a union between England and Scotland, with Scottish representation in the Parliament of England.source
  • 16578 June – the Parliament of England passes the Act of Settlement for the Assuring, Confirming and Settling of lands and estates in Ireland, confirming legal arrangements made under the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652.source
  • 1660January 1 – Samuel Pepys, a 36-year-old member of the Parliament of England, begins keeping a diary that later provides a detailed insight into daily life and events in 17th century England. He continues until May 31, 1669, when worsening eyesight leads him to quit. Pepys starts with a preliminary note, "Blessed be God, at the end of the last year I was in very good health, without any sense of my old pain but upon taking of cold. I lived in Axe-yard, having my wife and servant Jane, and no more in family than us three." For his first note on "January 1. 1659/60 Lords-day", he notes "This morning (we lying lately in the garret) I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other clothes but them," followed by recounting his attendance at the Exeter-house church in London.source
  • 1660May 8 – In exile in the Netherlands, Prince Charles Stuart receives word that the Parliament of England has declared his elevation to the throne as King Charles II of England.source
  • 166120 December – Parliament passes the Corporation Act 1661 restricting public office to members of the Church of England.source
  • 1663July 27 – The English Parliament passes the second Navigation Act, requiring that all goods bound for the American colonies have to be sent in English ships from English ports.source
  • 1663July 27 – the Parliament of England passes the second Navigation Act, restricting Irish trade with colonies and the cattle trade with England.source
  • 1663August 21 – Concerned about the wintry weather, the Parliament of England holds an intercessory fast.source
  • 1664May – Parliament passes the Conventicle Act 1664 preventing groups of more than five non-followers of the Church of England from assembling (comes into effect 1 July). Jews will be excluded from its operation.source
  • 16666 September – Cestui que Vie Act passed by Parliament to provide for disposal of the property of missing persons.source
  • 1666September 6 – The Cestui Que Vie Act 1666 is passed by the Parliament of England, to provide for the disposal of the property of missing persons.source
  • 167113 March – The Parliament of England addresses the King against the growth of popery.source
  • 1671March 13 – the Parliament of England addresses the King against the growth of popery.source
  • 1672March 15 – Charles II of England issues the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, suspending execution of Penal Laws against Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics in his realms; this will be withdrawn the following year under pressure from the Parliament of England.source
  • 1672March 15 – King Charles II of England issues a Royal Declaration of Indulgence, suspending execution of Penal Laws against Roman Catholics in his realms; this is withdrawn the following year under pressure from the Parliament of England.source
  • 1673Parliament of England votes an annual Regium Donum to augment the stipends of Presbyterian clergy in Ireland.source
  • 1679May 27 – The Parliament of England passes the Habeas Corpus Act, "for the better securing the liberty of the subject" and then adjourns.source
  • 1694July 27 – The Bank of England is founded through Royal charter by the Whig-dominated Parliament of England, following a proposal by Scottish merchant William Paterson to raise capital, by offering safe and steady returns of interest guaranteed by future taxes. A total of £1.2 million is raised for the war effort against Louis XIV of France by the end of the year, to establish the first-ever government debt.source
  • 1694December 3 – The Parliament of England passes the Triennial Act 1694, requiring general elections every three years.source
  • 16943 December – Parliament passes the Meeting of Parliament Act (Triennial Act) requiring general elections every three years and an annual meeting.source
  • 16953 May – Parliament passes the Corrupt Practices Act to tackle bribery in general elections.source
  • 1695June 24 – The Commission of Enquiry into the Massacre of Glencoe in Scotland in 1692 reports to the Parliament of England, blaming Sir John Dalrymple, Secretary of State over Scotland, and declares that a soldier should refuse to obey a "command against the law of nature".source
  • 1696Great Recoinage of 1696: The Parliament of England passes the Recoinage Act.source
  • 1696January 21 – The Recoinage Act, passed by the Parliament of England to pull counterfeit silver coins out of circulation, becomes law.source
  • 1696April 27 – an act of the Parliament of England for encouraging linen manufacture in Ireland allows plain linen to be exported to England without an import tariff being applied.source
  • 1697The Parliament of England passes the Trade with Africa Act 1697 (An Act to settle the Trade to Africa), which end the Royal African Company's monopoly on all English trade with Africa.source
  • 1699January 20 – The Parliament of England (under Tory dominance) limits the size of the country's standing army to 7,000 'native born' men; hence, King William III's Dutch Blue Guards cannot serve in the line. By an Act of February 1, it also requires disbandment of foreign troops in Ireland.source
  • 1699February 1 – the Parliament of England requires the disbandment of foreign troops in Ireland.source

18th century

  • 1701June 24 – The Act of Settlement 1701 is passed by the Parliament of England, to exclude the Catholic Stuarts from the British monarchy. Under its terms, King William III, childless, will be succeeded by Queen Mary II's sister Princess Anne and her descendants. If Anne should have no descendants, she will be succeeded by Sophia of Hanover and her descendants (hence the Hanoverian Succession in 1714).source
  • 170124 June — the Act of Settlement 1701, by the Parliament of England, becomes law; the crown of Great Britain passes to Sophia, Electress of Hanover and her Protestant descendants on the death of Princess Anne, the heiress presumptive to the throne after her brother-in-law, King William III.source
  • 1701June 24 – the Act of Settlement 1701, passed by the Parliament of England, becomes law. Sophia of Hanover and her Protestant descendants are next in line to the throne following Anne, the heir apparent to her brother-in-law King William III, ensuring that no Catholic will inherit the throne.source
  • 17045 August – the Parliament of Scotland passes the Act of Security 1704 in response to the Parliament of England's Act of Settlement 1701, allowing the Scottish Parliament to select its own successor to the monarch.source
  • 1705March – the Parliament of England passes the Alien Act in response to the Parliament of Scotland's Act of Security 1704; it is repealed in December without taking effect.source
  • 1705March 14 – Queen Anne gives royal assent to the Parliament of England's Alien Act 1705, setting a deadline of December 25, 1705, for Scotland's parliament to authorize negotiations for a Treaty of Union with England to create the Kingdom of Great Britain and threatening that unless Scotland agrees to negotiate terms for union and accepts the Hanoverian succession by December 25, there would be a ban on the import of all Scottish staple products into England and Scots would also lose the privileges of Englishmen under English law – thus endangering rights to any property they held in England.source
  • 1705December 21 – The Sophia Naturalization Act is passed by the Parliament of England, which naturalizes Sophia of Hanover (next in succession to the British throne) and the Protestant "issue of her body" as British subjects.source
  • 170521 December – The Sophia Naturalization Act is passed by Parliament, which naturalizes Sophia of Hanover (next in succession to the British throne) and the Protestant "issue of her body" as British subjects.source
  • 1707The English Parliament establishes the first turnpike trusts, which place a length of road under the control of trustees, drawn from local landowners and traders. The trusts borrow capital for road maintenance against the security of tolls, and this arrangement becomes the common method of road maintenance for the next 150 years.source
  • 1707March 19 – The Act of Union with Scotland is ratified by the Parliament of England; the Parliament of Scotland is adjourned for the last time on May 1, 1707.source
  • 170719 March – The Act of Union with Scotland is passed by the Parliament of England.source
  • 17071 May – the new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being as a result of the Acts of Union which combine the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into a single united Kingdom of Great Britain and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland to form the Parliament of Great Britain. The Equivalent, a sum of £398,000, is paid to Scotland by the English government. The Honours of Scotland are locked away in Edinburgh Castle.source
  • 1707May 12 (May 1 Old Style) – The new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being, as a result of the Acts of Union, which combine the Kingdoms of Scotland and England into a single united Kingdom of Great Britain, and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland, to form the Parliament of Great Britain.source
  • 170712 May (1 May Old Style) – The new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being as a result of the Acts of Union which ratified the Treaty of Union: the kingdoms of England and Scotland are combined into a single, United Kingdom and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland to form the Parliament of Great Britain. The Equivalent, a sum of £398,000, is paid to Scotland by the English government due to Scotland now taking on shared responsibility for England’s national debt.source
  • 170830 April–7 July – general election held to return members to serve in the House of Commons of the second Parliament of Great Britain, the first after the merger of the Parliaments of England and Scotland in 1707. The election results in a victory for the Whigs.source

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