+Source.+--_Rymer's Fœdera_, vol. i., p. 443.
For the amendment of the state of the kingdom of England there shall be
elected and nominated three discreet and faithful men of the realm, who
shall receive authority and power from the lord King to elect or
nominate, in the King's place, nine counsellors. Of these, three at
least, in turn, shall always be present at the Court; and the lord King,
by advice of the aforesaid nine, shall ordain and dispose of the
wardenship of castles and all other business of the kingdom. The lord
King, also, acting on the advice of the same nine, shall appoint the
Justiciar, Chancellor, Treasurer, and other greater and lesser officials
who have to do with any matters pertaining to the government of Court
and kingdom. The first electors or nominators shall swear that, obeying
the dictates of conscience, they will elect or nominate counsellors whom
they believe to be useful and faithful to the honour of God and the
Church, and to the lord King and kingdom. Further, the counsellors and
all officials, greater and lesser, shall swear on appointment that they
will faithfully carry out their duties, so far as they can, to the
honour of God and the Church, and the good of the lord King and kingdom,
taking no gifts, except the meat and drink commonly presented for the
table. But if the aforesaid counsellors, or any one of them, in carrying
out the duties entrusted to them, shall be found guilty of malversation,
or for any other cause shall require to be changed, the lord King, by
the advice of the first three electors or nominators, shall dismiss
those requiring dismissal, and in their place, by advice of the same
three, appoint and substitute other faithful and suitable men. If the
greater or lesser officials shall be found guilty of malversation in
their offices, the lord King, on the advice of the aforesaid nine, shall
remove them, and by the same advice substitute others without delay. If
the first three electors or nominators, in the election or nomination of
counsellors, or the counsellors in the appointment of officials, or in
carrying out or accomplishing other business pertaining to the King or
kingdom, shall disagree, whatever is determined on or ordained by
two-thirds shall be firmly observed; provided that among these
two-thirds shall be a prelate of the Church in all ecclesiastical
matters. And if it should happen that two-thirds of the aforesaid nine
do not agree about any matter, the dispute shall be referred to the
determination of the first three electors or nominators, or the greater
part thereof. And should it seem fitting to the general body of prelates
and Barons together that some person or persons should be appointed in
the place of, or be substituted for any of the first three nominators,
the lord King, on the advice of the general body of prelates and Barons,
shall do so. The lord King (or the counsellors themselves, in place of,
and by authority of the King), shall carry out all the aforesaid matters
by advice of the nine in the form above described; the present ordinance
being intended to hold good until the provisions of the Mise drawn up at
Lewes, and afterwards signed by both sides, be jointly carried out, or
other provisions approved of by both parties be substituted.
Given in Parliament at London, in the month of June, 1264.