John Selden
1584–1654
England’s greatest jurist; Erastian; *History of Tithes*.
Biography
Selden was the most learned jurist in Europe, author of *History of Tithes* (1618, suppressed), *Mare Clausum* (1635), *De Synedriis* (1650-55), and the polymathic *Table-Talk* (posthum. 1689). At the Assembly he was the Erastians' chief voice and the divines' most formidable adversary — Whitelocke recorded his speech that 'perpetual succession of bishops, presbyters, and deacons' was no more in the Bible than 'perpetual succession of Lord Mayors of London.' His exchanges with Gillespie are Westminster legend.
Principal works
- History of Tithes (1618)
- Mare Clausum (1635)
- De Synedriis (3 vols, 1650–1655)
- Table-Talk (posthum. 1689)
Lay Assessor — House of Commons
Parliament seated lay assessors alongside the divines to represent its interest and keep it informed of the Assembly's progress. The ordinance of 1643 named thirty members of the House of Commons as assessors; they could take part in debate but were not among the voting divines, and their attendance was often occasional as the war and parliamentary business pressed on them.