12. A Prototype for the European Parliament?
According to Sully,xvii the King of France had imagined, amongst the institutions necessary to govern the associated states, that there should be a ‘general Council of Europe’ entrusted with managing several aspects of the Union.
The model of this general council of Europe had been formed on that of the ancient Amphictyonsxviii of Greece, with such alterations only as rendered it suitable to our customs, climate and policy. It consisted of a certain number of commissaries, ministers, or plenipotentiaries from all the governments of the Christian republic, who were to be constantly assembled as a senate, to deliberate on any affairs which might occur; to discuss the different interests, pacify the quarrels, clear up and determine all the civil, political, and religious affairs of Europe, whether within itself or with its neighbours. The form and manner of proceeding in the senate would have been more particularly determined by the suffrages of the senate itself. Henry was of opinion that it should be composed of four commissaries from each of the following potentates: The Emperor, the Pope, the kings of France, Spain, England, Denmark, Sweden, Lombardy, Poland, and the republic of Venice; and of two only from the other republics and inferior powers, which all together would have composed a senate of about sixty-six persons, who should have been re-chosen every three years.
Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, Memoirs (1778).
Read the free English text online (1781 edition): https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9OI9AQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA313&dq=sully vervins memoirs&hl=fr&pg=PA89
Read the free text in the original language (1778 edition): https://books.google.de/books?id=t-iAVIeyd8UC &printsec=frontcover
xvii https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles-Irenée-Castel-de-Saint-Pierre-Projet-de-traité-pour-rendre-la-paix_MG_0660.tif
xviii In Delphi, the council of the Amphictyons handled public affairs.