Looking at the mode of election, a theorist would say that these Parliaments were but 'chance' collections of influential Englishmen.

There would be many corrections and limitations to add to that statement if it were wanted to make it accurate, but the statement itself hits exactly the principal excellence of these Parliaments.

If not 'chance' collections of Englishmen, they were 'undesigned' collections; no administrations made them, or could make them.

They were bona fide counsellors, whose opinion might be wise or unwise, but was anyhow of paramount importance, because their co-operation was wanted for what was in hand."[30] (3) _The political position of women in the Middle Ages._--Abbesses were summoned to the convocations of clergy in Edward I.'s reign.

Peeresses were permitted to be represented by proxy in Parliament.