it is worth recalling that the representative members came rather unwillingly - particularly the burgesses - however they were thus given a chance of presenting petitions. Parliament under Edward 1 was just a casmıl collection of individuals anxious to get home, and the part they played in parliament was not of great practical importance. The factor that gradually welded the two orders was the Common Petition. in Edward I's time they probably sat apart for the purpose of deliberations, and it is very unlikely tlhat the deliberations of the burgesses were of any importance at ali. However they succeeded in attaching themselves to the knights, and in the early XIVth century separate consultations became rarer and joint ones more usual, until by the middle of the century it had become a regular procedure. 'Commons' originally meant 'communes', that is shires or counties - those representing communal bodies. When Parliament was assembled knights and burgesses were charged with petitions to be dealt with by the King in Council. These were mainly private, but some came from county courts.

it is worth recalling that the representative members came rather unwillingly - particularly the burgesses - however they were thus given a chance of presenting petitions. Parliament under Edward 1 was just a casmıl collection of individuals anxious to get home, and the part they played in parliament was not of great practical importance. The factor that gradually welded the two orders was the Common Petition. in Edward I's time they probably sat apart for the purpose of deliberations, and it is very unlikely tlhat the deliberations of the burgesses were of any importance at ali. However they succeeded in attaching themselves to the knights, and in the early XIVth century separate consultations became rarer and joint ones more usual, until by the middle of the century it had become a regular procedure. 'Commons' originally meant 'communes', that is shires or counties - those representing communal bodies. When Parliament was assembled knights and burgesses were charged with petitions to be dealt with by the King in Council. These were mainly private, but some came from county courts.