Parliamentary Elections Act 1444
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1444 c. 14 |
| Year | 1444 |
(23 Hen. 6) C A P. XIV.
‘ITEM, Whereas by Authority of a Parliament holden atWestminster the first Year of the Reign of King Henry , Father to the King that now is, amongst other Things it was ordained, That the Citizens and Burgesses of Cities and Boroughs, coming to the Parliament, should be chosen Men Citizens and Burgesses resident, abiding, and free in the same Cities and Boroughs, and none other, as in the same Statute more fully is contained; (2) which Citizens and Burgesses *have always in Cities and Boroughs been chosen by Citizens and Burgesses, and no other, and to the Sheriff of the Countiesreturned, and upon their Returns received and accepted by the Parliaments before this holden. (3)And also, whereas by Authority of a Parliament holden atWestminster , the eighth Year of the Reign of the King that now is, it was ordained in what Manner and Form the Knights of the Shires coming to the Parliaments from thenceforth to be holden should be chosen, and how the Sheriffs of the same Counties thereupon should make their Returns, as in the same Statue more fully appeareth; (4)by force of which Statute Elections of Knights to come to the Parliaments sometimes have been duly made, and lawfully returned, until now of late, that divers Sheriffs of the Counties of the Realm ofEngland , for their singular Avail and Lucre, have not made due Elections of the Knights, nor in convenient Time, nor good Men and true returned, and sometime no Return of the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses lawfully chosen to come to the Parliaments; (5) but such Knights,
* Addand no other.
Citizens, and Burgesses have been returned, which were never duly chosen, and other Citizens and Burgesses than those which by the Mayors and Bailiffs were to the said Sheriffs returned; (6) and sometimes the Sheriffs have not returned the Writs which they had to make Election of Knights to come to the Parliaments, but the said Writs have imbesiled, and moreover made no Precept to the Mayor and Bailiff, or to the Bailiffs or Bailiff where no Mayor is, of Cities and Boroughs, for the Election of Citizens and Burgesses to come to the Parliament, by the Colour of these Words contained in the same Writs;Quod in Pleno comitatu tuo eligi facias pro comitatu tuo duos Milites, et pro qualibet civitate in...To continue reading
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