Moderni in Education and Government in England

TLDR: One of the earliest English parliamentary petitions is one from the abbot of St. Mary's at York in 1290 which complains of the "subtlety of the moderns" (subtilitas modernorum) as discussed by the authors.

Abstract: AMONG the earliest English parliamentary petitions is one from the abbot of St. Mary's at York in 1290 which complains of the \"subtlety of the moderns\" (subtilitas modernorum). This striking phrase stands out from the mass of common form and circumscribed claims of the other parliamentary petitions. Who were these \"moderns,\" how were they \"subtle,\" and why did the abbot complain to Edward I about them? The idea of being modern, which gained currency in the twelfth century, indicates the beginnings of historical awareness. Walter Map for example describes \"this modern period\" (modernitatem hanc) as the course of the preceding century up to c. 1190. He likewise appreciates the relativity of historical periods, as he notes that he himself will be considered ancient by future generations.' Medieval ideas of modernity and historical periodization will not be discussed here in general, however, as they comprise an enormous area over which scholars have already drawn consistent guide-lines.2 The abbot's petition is remarkable in associating the moderns with