1114.

The Princess Maud being now marriageable, was delivered to the Emperor’s ambassador; and for a portion to the young lady a tax was imposed of three shillings upon every hide of land in England, which grew afterwards into a custom,[19] and was in succeeding times confirmed by Acts of Parliament, under the name of “Reasonable Aid for marrying the King’s Daughter,” although levied after a different manner.

[Footnote 19:  This was the first occasion of the feudal tax called scutage being levied in England. [W.S.J.]]

As the institution of Parliaments in England is agreed by several writers to be owing to this King, so the date of the first hath been assigned by some to the fifteenth year of his reign; which however is not to be affirmed with any certainty:  for great councils were convoked not only in the two preceding reigns, but for time immemorial by the Saxon princes, who first introduced them into this island, from the same original with the other Gothic forms of government in most parts of Europe.  These councils or assemblies were composed according to the pleasure of the prince who convened them, generally of nobles and bishops, sometimes were added some considerable commoners; but they seldom met, except in the beginning of a reign, or in times of war, until this King came to the crown; who being a wise and popular prince, called these great assemblies upon most important affairs of his reign, and ever followed their advice, which, if it proved successful, the honour and advantage redounded to him, and if otherwise, he was free from the blame:  thus when he chose a wife for himself, and a husband for his daughter, when he designed his expedition against Robert, and even for the election of an archbishop to the see of Canterbury, he proceeded wholly by the advice of such general assemblies, summoned for the purpose.  But the style of these conventions, as delivered by several authors, is very various; sometimes it is comites, barones, et cleri;[20] his marriage was agreed on, consilio majorum natu et magnatum terrae.  One author[21] calls it concilium principum, sacerdotum, et reliqui populi. And for the election of an archbishop, the Saxon Chronicle says, That he commanded by letters all bishops, abbots, and thanes to meet him at Gloucester ad procerum conventum.  Lastly, some affirm these assemblies to have been an imitation of the three estates in Normandy.  I am very sensible how much time and pains have been employed by several learned men to search out the original of Parliaments in England, wherein I doubt they have little satisfied others or themselves.  I know likewise that to engage in the same enquiry, would neither suit my abilities nor my subject.  It may be sufficient for my purpose, if I be able to give some little light into this matter, for the curiosity of those who are less informed.

[Footnote 20:  Brompton. [D.S.]]

[Footnote 21:  Polydore Virgil. [D.S.]]