Political career Richard Morgan (Tudor judge)

1 political career

1.1 parliament of 1545
1.2 parliament of 1547
1.3 parliament of march 1553

political career
parliament of 1545

thomas bell, immensely rich former mayor elected alongside richard morgan mp gloucester.

morgan elected parliament of 1545, last of henry viii s reign, 2 constituencies. gloucester s indenture or electoral return dated 6 january , placed morgan first in order of precedence on thomas bell, former mayor.

however, monmouth boroughs returned morgan on 14 january. new constituency, returning 1 member, , had held first election in 1542. included borough of monmouth itself, monmouthshire outboroughs of abergavenny, caerleon, chepstow, newport , usk. thomas kynnyllyn, elected in 1542, still involved in protracted legal action outboroughs pay wages, legally obliged do, although not clear had had in election. duchy of lancaster owned manor , borough of monmouth , exercised great influence on election, although burgesses entitled vote numerous. morgan known duchy , favoured officials, although not known whether retained it.

at gloucester, customary send recorder parliament 1 of mps. not whether or not morgan yet city s recorder: first evidence of appointment dates late january 1547. however, thomas lane, previous recorder died on 2 december 1544 - day after parliament summoned , month before elections. lane had belonged lincoln s inn may have introduced morgan corporation. possible had been appointed, @ least informally, before election, , returned ex officio. gloucester larger , more prestigious constituency, having prospered , become more sophisticated under leadership of bell, immensely wealthy milliner. morgan sat gloucester in 2 subsequent parliaments. authorities assume did in 1545, not certain.

parliament of 1547

sir robert broke, selected morgan number of parliamentary inquiries. fellow-catholic shropshire, broke s career paralleled morgan s in many ways.

morgan returned first parliament of edward vi s reign, time second in order of precedence bell, had been knighted.

morgan increasingly active in parliament, legal skills used in reviewing , redrafting proposed legislation. in second session of parliament, during 1548-9, given responsibility bill fee farms of cities , towns. important part of monarchy s legislative programme, proposing release fee farms 3 years: gloucester s had been fixed @ £60 in 1489. in last session, in 1552, , robert broke given bill leases scrutinise.

however, in session morgan seems have established himself useful man in cases touching status , privileges of parliament itself. given responsibility handling important complaint of sir robert brandling, member newcastle-upon-tyne. on way parliament, brandling , retinue attacked @ topcliffe in yorkshire sir john widdrington s men, assisted ralph ellerker. circumstances turned minor episode in personal feud case of parliamentary privilege. brandling complained parliament on 15 february , became morgan s responsibility ensure culprits brought before parliament. drew necessary warrants , initiator of brawl, henry widdrington, committed tower of london. in case of william ward, lancaster mp, member himself actions required investigation. ward had taken out action breach of privilege on own account, obtaing writ chancery without consulting house of commons. house passed matter committee of morgan , 3 other members: sir robert bowes, sir nicholas hare , sir john mason. outcome unknown. finally, 1 of 3 members deputed handle replacement of thomas curtys, deceased member city of london, replacement john blundell.

morgan 1 of deputed redraft treason act 1551 make illegal king heretic, schismatic, infidel or usurper of crown. notes made him , other members submitted house on 14 march 1552.

parliament of march 1553

in final months of edward vi s reign, morgan commissioned parliament, along fellow catholic, robert broke, investigate maidstone election scandal. town had been granted charter of incorporation in 1549. election held parliament of march 1553 , mps sent westminster. however, right of borough elect representatives challenged, there no explicit recognition of right representation in charter. issue complicated developing succession crisis, in john dudley, 1st duke of northumberland, apparently king s support, manoeuvred lady jane grey, own daughter-in-law, nominated edward s successor. maidstone in protestant heartland of kent: thomas wyatt lord of manor , returning officer sir john guildford, high sheriff of kent cousin of dudley s wife 1 of mps elected relative of both dudley , jane grey. faced possible malpractice protestant court faction, house ordered morgan , broke peruse charter of maidstone ... whether may have burgesses in house; , in meantime burgesses there absent out of house till ordered. result of investigation not known can guessed, maidstone s right representation not established until 1558, after queen elizabeth succeeded catholic sister, mary.

this morgan s last parliament. appointment chief justice mary took him away recordership , made him, in case ineligible house of commons, called writ of assistance serve in house of lords in parliaments of october 1553 , april 1554.