Calais (constituency)

Calais (dated, Cales /ˈkæləs/) was a former constituency of the Parliament of England.

For constituencies covering Calais in the French National Assembly, see Pas-de-Calais' 6th constituency and Pas-de-Calais' 7th constituency.

Calais
Former Borough constituency
for the House of Commons
Major settlementsCalais
1536–1558
Seats2
Replaced byConstituency abolished
(annexed by France)

The Flemish town of Calais was under English rule from 1347 until 7 January 1558. During part of that time it was represented in the Parliament of England by two members.

In 1360 the Treaty of Brétigny assigned Guînes, Marck and Calais – collectively the "Pale of Cales" – to English rule in perpetuity, but in a daring raid during the rule of Mary I, was retaken by France. In 1363 the town was made a staple port.

Reforms in the representation of the town

King Henry VIII of England decided to modify the arrangements for the government of Calais. A statute (27 Hen. 8. c. 63) made provision for two members to be returned to the Parliament of England. One member was to be nominated, elected and chosen by the Deputy (the king's representative in the town) and his council. The other member was to be nominated, elected and chosen by the mayor and his council.

Under the provisions of the statute, members were elected to ten parliaments. On 6 December 1557 a writ was issued for the election of members to an eleventh parliament, but before it met Calais had fallen to the French.

Members of Parliament 1536-1558
SummonedElectedAssembledDissolvedFirst MemberSecond Member
27 April 153615368 June 153618 July 1536Thomas BoysWilliam Pryseley
1 March 1539153928 April 153924 July 1540Thomas BoysThomas Broke
23 November 1541154216 January 154228 March 1544unknownunknown
1 December 1544154523 November 154531 January 1547Richard BlountEustace Abington
2 August 154715474 November 154715 April 1552Thomas BrokeThomas Fowler
5 January 155315531 March 155331 March 1553unknownThomas Massingberd
14 August 155315535 October 15535 December 1553Edmund PeytonJohn Aster
17 February 155415542 April 15543 May 1554William HorneJohn Aster
3 October 1554155412 November 155416 January 1555Oliver LovebandHugh Counsell
3 September 1555155521 October 15559 December 1555John Challoner[lower-alpha 1]Edmund Peyton
6 December 1557n/a20 January 155817 November 1558vacantvacant
  1. It is not certain that Challoner was the member, but it was inferred that he was.

References

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