Poynings' Law

1494

To render the Dublin parliament harmless as an instrument of the king's enemies and as a Yorkist center (opposed to the Tudor succession), this law indicated that henceforth Irish law would be subject to approval by the English parliament. Poynings' Law was to have a long andinteresting history until overthrown by the Irish parliament in 1782.

SEE ALSO English Government in Medieval Ireland

AN ACT THAT NO PARLIAMENT BE HOLDEN IN THIS LAND UNTIL THE ACTS BE CERTIFIED INTO ENGLAND

Item, at the request of the commons of the land of Ireland, be it ordained, enacted and established, that at the next Parliament that there shall be holden by the King's commandment and licence, wherein amongst other, the King's grace intendeth to have a general resumption of his whole revenues fith [since] the last day of the reign of King Edward the second, no Parliament be holden hereafter in the said land, but at such season as the King's lieutenant and council there first do certify the King, under the great seal of that land, the causes and considerations, and all such acts as them seemeth should pass in the same Parliament, and such causes, considerations, and acts affirmed by the King and his council to be good and expedient for that land, and his licence thereupon, as well in affirmation of the said causes and acts, as to summon the said parliament under his great seal of England had and obtained; that done, a Parliament to be had and holden after the form and effect afore rehearsed: and if any parliament be holden in that land hereafter, contrary to the form and provision aforesaid, it be deemed void and of none effect in law.

The Statutes at Large, Passed in the Parliaments Held in Ireland: From the Third Year of Edward the Second, . . . (1786–1804), p. 44.