Calais (constituency)

UK former constituency infobox
Name = Calais
Type = Borough
Year = 1372
Abolition = 1558

Calais was a former constituency of the Parliament of England.

The French 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 Calais" – to English rule in perpetuity, but this was only informally and partially implemented.

In 1363 the town was made a staple port. It had become a parliamentary borough sending burgesses to the House of Commons of the Parliament of England by 1372.

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. VIII, c. 63) made provision for two members to be returned to the Parliament of England. It seems that the earlier authority for the town to be represented in Parliament had lapsed some time before, as no prior representatives are noted in "The House of Commons 1509-1558".

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. The history of the parliamentary constituency had ended.

Members of Parliament 1536-1558

Note:-
*(a) It is not certain that Chaloner was the member, but it was inferred he was (thus the ? was placed before the name). The Roman numeral is that used in "The House of Commons 1509-1558" to distinguish Chaloner from another politician of the same name.

References

* "The House of Commons 1509-1558", by S.T. Bindoff (Secker & Warburg 1982)