The King, the Lords, the Commons and the instigators.
On February the first 1793, France declared war on Great Britain and the Dutch Republic. Thinking that it would be a good day to bury bad news, a group of local landowners petitioned parliament to have the medieval field system of Kirton in Lindsey enclosed. The following paragraphs are taken from the parliamentary records of the time.
Too many words, skip to the end.
Ordered, that Leave be given to bring in a Bill, pursuant to the Prayer of the said Petition: And that Mr. Henry Hobart (MP for Norwich & Chairman of ways and means.), Sir John Thorold (MP for Lincolnshire), and Mr. Charles Anderson-Pelham (MP for Lincolnshire), do prepare, and bring in, the same.
George III before he went barmy.
15th March 1793 - Sir John Thorold presented to the House, according to Order, a Bill for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln: And the same was received; and read the First Time.
Resolved, That the Bill be read a Second Time.
21st March 1793 - A Bill for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln, was read a Second Time.
Resolved, That the Bill be committed to Mr. Anderson-Pelham, Mr. Blackburne, &c.: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Five of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.
24th April 1793 - Mr. Anderson-Pelham reported from the Committee, to whom the Bill for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln, was committed; That the Committee had examined, and found that the Standing Orders of the House, relative to Bills of Inclosure, had been complied with; and that the Committee had examined the Allegations of the Bill, and found the same to be true; and that the Parties concerned had given their Consent to the Bill, to the Satisfaction of the Committee (except the Proprietors of 544 Acres and 27 Perches of Land, or thereabouts, who refused to consent to the Bill; and that the Whole of the Lands entitled to Right of Common on the Lands intended to be divided and inclosed, consists of 3,697 Acres, 3 Roods, and 14 Perches, or thereabouts; and that no Person appeared before the Committee to oppose the Bill); and that the Committee had gone through the Bill, and made several Amendments thereunto, which they had directed him to report to the House; and he read the Report in his Place; and afterwards delivered the Bill, with the Amendments, in at the Clerk's Table: Where the Amendments were Once read throughout; and then a Second Time, One by One; and, upon the Question severally put thereupon, were agreed to by the House.
Ordered, That the Bill, with the Amendments, be ingrossed.
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26th April 1793 - An ingrossed Bill for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln, was read the Third Time.
Resolved, That the Bill do pass : And that the Title be, An Act for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln.
Ordered, That Mr. Harrison do carry the Bill to the Lords, and desire their Concurrence.
9th May 1793 - The Lords have agreed to the Bill, intituled, An Act for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln; without any Amendment.
10th May 1793 - A Message by Mr. Quarme, Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod: "Mr. Speaker, The Lords, authorised by virtue of His Majesty's Commission, for declaring His Royal Assent to several Acts agreed upon by both Houses, do desire the immediate Attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers, to hear the Commission read.". Accordingly Mr. Speaker, with the House, went up to the House of Peers. And being returned; Mr. Speaker reported, That the House, at the Desire of the Lords authorised by virtue of His Majesty's Commission afore-mentioned, had been at the House of Peers, where a Commission under the Great Seal was read, giving, declaring, and notifying, the Royal Assent to the several Public and Private Bills therein mentioned; and also impowering His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness the Duke of York, His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, and several other Lords, to declare and notify the Royal Assent to the said Bills; and that the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, and the Lord Hawkesbury, named also in the said Commission, did accordingly declare and notify the Royal Assent to the said Bills: Which Bill are as followeth;
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And the Lords concurred.
TL;DR - Conclusion.
An Act for dividing and inclosing the Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds, in the Lordship of Kirton in Lindsey, in the County of Lincoln.
100 days from the petition being presented to Parliament, to Mad King George giving it the Royal Nod. The actual work took slightly longer by about a decade.
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