The '-Plt' column in the list is the number of the Parliament, counting backwards from the one elected in 2005. This is not a conventional way of referring to Parliaments. The Parliaments of England are often referred to by the number counting forward from the start of the reign of a particular monarch (or republican regime), unless the Parliament came to be known by a particular title, e.g. Parliament of Merton.
¹ The presiding officer of the House of Commons was initially known as the "Prolocutor" and sometimes as the Parlour, but the term most often used was "Speaker" and this became the title always used from the 1540s onwards.
² No commoners were summoned.
(a) 7th: This Parliament was at Oxford. It is sometimes known as the Mad Parliament. Knights of the shire (representing counties) were the only commoners summoned. They were not required to be chosen by election.
(b) 16th: Knights of the shire were the only commoners summoned. They were not required to be chosen by election.
(c) 17th: This Parliament is sometimes known as De Montfort's Parliament. This is the first Parliament to which representatives of cities and boroughs were summoned, as well as knights of the shire. It is also the first Parliament to which the representatives were required to be chosen by election.
¹ The presiding officer of the House of Commons was initially known as the "Prolocutor" and sometimes as the Parlour, but the term most often used was "Speaker" and this became the title always used from the 1540s onwards.
² No commoners were summoned.
(a) 1st: For the first time since 1264-65 the representatives of the communities of the Realm are known to have been summoned to Parliament.
(b) 2nd: The knights of the shires only were summoned to this Parliament.
(c) 19th: Knights only summoned 13-14 June 1290. Assembled 23 April1290 Lords and 15 July1290 Commons. After this Parliament it became fairly usual for the representatives of the counties, cities and boroughs to be summoned to attend Parliament and from 1320 they were always included.
(d) This Parliament included Scottish members.
(e) 29th: Model Parliament summoned 30 September, 1 and 3 October 1295. This is the traditional start of the regular participation of the Commons in Parliament.
¹ The presiding officer of the House of Commons was initially known as the "Prolocutor" and sometimes as the Parlour, but the term most often used was "Speaker" and this became the title always used from the 1540s onwards.
² No commoners were summoned.
(a) 8th: Met in London.
(b) 15th: Met in Lincoln.
(c) 22nd: Met in York.
(d) 24th: Only MPs for the Cinque Ports were summoned. Met in London.
(e) 26th: This Parliament continued after the deposition of the King, into the next reign. See 1st Parliament of King Edward III of England for further details and duration.
