and the fulfilling of the bargain is minutely watched. It comes to this
at last, that Parliament proves more Norman than the Court; it
manoeuvres with more skill, and remains master of the situation; "a
Normand, Normand et demi." The Plantagenets behold with astonishment the
rise of a power they are now unable to control; their offspring is
hardy, and strong, and beats its nurse.

After the attempts of Simon de Montfort, Edward I. had convened, in
1295, the first real Parliament. He had reasserted the fundamental
principle of all liberties, by appropriating to himself the old maxim
from Justinian's code, according to which "what touches the interests of
all must be approved by all."[408] He forms the habit of appealing to
the people; he wants them to know the truth, and decide according to
truth which is in the right, whether the king or his turbulent
barons[409]; he behaves on occasion as if he felt that _over_ him was
the nation. And this strange sight is seen: the descendant of the Norman
autocrats modestly explains his plans for war in Flanders and in
France, excuses himself for the aid he is obliged to ask of his
subjects, and even condescends to solicit the spiritual benefit of their
prayers: "He the king, on this and on the state of himself and of his
realm, and how the business of his realm has come to nothing, makes it
known and wants that all know the truth, which is as follows.... He can
neither defend himself nor his realm without the help of his good
people. And it grieves him sorely to have them, on this account, so
heavily charged.... And he prays them to take as an excuse for what he
has done, that that he did not do in order to buy lands and tenements,
or castles and towns, but to defend himself, and them, and the whole
kingdom.... And as he has great faith that the good prayers of his good
people will help him very much in bringing this business to a good end,
he begs that they will intently pray for him and those that with him
go."[410]

At first, Parliament is astonished: such excess of honour alarms it;
then it understands the chance that offers, and guesses that in the
proffered bargain it may very well be the winner. This once understood,
progress is rapid, and from year to year can be observed the growth of
its definitive privileges. The Commons have their Speaker, "M. Thomas de
Hungerford, knight, who had the words for the Commons of England"[411];
they want deputies to be elected by "due elec