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Parliament’s past online : a review of sources
Paul Seaward, Director, History of Parliament Trust
Friday 23rd May 2008
www.histparl.ac.uk
The Westminster Parliament: a very brief history
• 1212? 1236? 1258? 1265? 1295?
• Power to raise taxes; other legislation?
• England, Wales (1542), Scotland (1707), Ireland (1801)
• Bicameral, two chambers sitting separately: peers and Commons
• 1399; 1529; 1642; 1689; 1707; 1801; 1911
www.histparl.ac.uk
Parliamentary record keeping
• An outpost of the royal chancery
• c. 1497/1510: reform
• Eighteenth century reforms: publication
• The fire of 1834
www.histparl.ac.uk
The Parliamentary Record• Decisions of Parliament
– The parliament roll; statutes
• Proceedings of each House– Journals– Reports, resolutions etc.
• Related papers– Evidence, petitions, etc.
• Debates– Official record– Notes of debates
• Other material– The History of Parliament
www.histparl.ac.uk
Decisions• The Statute Rolls: Statutes of the Realm (1101-1714)
– No coverage to 1625 as yet– www.british-history.ac.uk (1625-1701)– www.parl18c.soton.ac.uk. (1685-1714)– http://www.tannerritchie.com/catalogue.php (1101-1624)
• The Parliament Rolls: PROME (1272-1504)– http://www.sd-editions.com/PROME/home.html
• Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum (1640-60)– http://www.british-history.ac.uk
• Statutes at Large– www.parl18c.soton.ac.uk. (1603-1836)
• OPSI– www.opsi.gov.uk/acts.htm (Some coverage after 1837)
www.histparl.ac.uk
Proceedings: Commons Journal
• 1547: ‘Seymour’• 1680: the Votes and Proceedings• Printed 1742-62; 1803-25• Continuous thereafter• British History Online: www.british-
history.ac.uk• BOPCRIS: www.parl18c.soton.ac.uk
www.histparl.ac.uk
Proceedings: Lords Journal
• 15th century origins• A series from 1510• What do they record? • Printed by order of the House 1767-1829• British History Online: www.british-
history.ac.uk (1509-1717 & 1832-1834)• BOPCRIS: www.parl18c.soton.ac.uk (1688-
1834)
www.histparl.ac.uk
Proceedings: ordered to be printed
• The Grand Remonstrance• Collections: Husbands (1643,
1646); Rushworth (1659, 1680, 1686, 1700)
• www.eebo.chadwyck.com• www.british-history.ac.uk• C18th parliamentary papers:
Reports (1773, 1803)www.histparl.ac.uk
Related papers
• Often in official archives, but not printed by order of either House
• May be printed material: EEBO; ECCO
www.histparl.ac.uk
Debates, votes etc
• Accountability and the privacy of debate• Private note-taking• Historical collections:
– www.british-history.ac.uk (D’Ewes, 1559-1601; Townshend, 1589-1601; Burton, 1656-9, Grey, 1667-94; Chandler, 1660-1739)
– www.odl.ac.uk (Cobbett, 1066-1803)
• Contemporary printings– www.parl18c.soton.ac.uk (Parliamentary Register, Debrett and
Almon 1772-1802)
• Hansard; and the official record (1909)
www.histparl.ac.uk
British History Online: www.british-history.ac.uk
• Statutes to 1713• Acts and Ordinances• HL Journals to 1717• HC Journals to 1700• D’Ewes Proceedings• Townshend• Burton Diary (1650s)• Grey Diary (1667-94)
Parliament Rolls of Medieval England: www. http://www.sd-editions.com/PROME/home.html
The History of Parliament• Constituency histories• Biographies• Analysis• Published already: the Commons 1386-1422, 1509-1604,
1660-1820 (available via our website or www.boydell.co.uk)
• Working on the Commons: 1604-1660, 1820-32; the Lords, 1660-1832; shortly to take it beyond 1832
• CD-Rom published 1999
www.histparl.ac.uk
• www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_publications_and_archives/parliamentary_archives/archives_electronic.cfm
www.histparl.ac.uk
Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a portal?
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