The Winning of Freedom of Speech by the House of Commons

Abstract

T HE acquisition by the House of Commons of the right of freedom of speech is one of the most important events in the history of English constitutional government. Although the outstanding episodes in the struggle by which the Commons wrested this right from the Stuart monarchy are familiar enough, the detailed story necessary to a full understanding of the controversy has not been told. It is the purpose of this essay, therefore, to trace in detail the course of the quarrel between the Commons and King James I and to show precisely how and when freedom of speech was won by the members of the lower House.' As Professor Sir John Neale has shown,2 freedom of speech in the House of Commons was a privilege which was not widely understood or appreciated