have been first published in the year 1644.

HENRY KERSLEY.

Corpus Christi Hall, Maidstone.

* * * * *

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD "PARLIAMENT."

It has been observed by a learned annotator on the _Commentaries of
Blackstone_, that, "no inconsiderable pains have been bestowed in
analysing the word 'Parliament;'" and after adducing several amusing
instances of the attempts that have been made (and those too by men of
the most recondite learning) to arrive at its true radical properties,
he concludes his remarks by observing that

"'Parliament' imported originally nothing more than a council or
conference, and that the termination '_ment_,' in parliament,
has no more signification than it has in _impeachment_,
_engagement_, _imprisonment_, _hereditament_, and ten thouand
others of the same nature."

He admits, however, that the civilians have, in deriving testament from
_testari mentem_, imparted a greater significance to the termination
"ment." Amidst such diversity of opinion, I am emboldened to offer a
solution of the word "Parliament," which, from its novelty alone, if
possessing no better qualification, may perhaps recommend itself to the
consideration of your readers. In my humble judgment, all former
etymologists of the word appear to have stumbled _in limine_, for I