Minoresses of St Clare without Aldgate. King and council. The minoresses show that...

Petitioners

Minoresses of St Clare without Aldgate.

Addressees

King and council.

Nature of request

The minoresses show that they have had a bull from Pope Boniface confirmed by the current pope exempting them from tenths and all other charges on their possessions. They request that the king have regard for their simplicity and poverty and grant to them that they be exempt from any tenths or taxes granted to the king by the pope, or by the clergy or commons. The king ordered a writ to the chancellor [recited in full and given at Westminster under the privy seal, 14 October 1331] commanding him to view an earlier petition of the minoresses along with a copy of the papal bull and do what seems to the chancellor can be done, as the king understands that this is a great alms to aid them in the amendment of their estate. [The writ has not been acted upon].

Nature of endorsement

Let the petition be brought into Chancery, and let their bulls be sent and viewed, and thereupon it seems to the council that the chancellor should do justice to them as the king has already ordered by his letters of the privy seal.

Places mentioned

London

Westminster.

People mentioned

Boniface VIII, Pope

[John XXII], Pope

Edward III, King of England

[John Stratford] Bishop of Winchester, chancellor.

See also item 4893 in C 81/187

For a related petition, see SC 8/164/8163

• Calendar of Close Rolls, Edw III, vol. II, 1330-1333, (Public Record Office, 1898), p.466 (writ ordering that the exaction be superceded and the minoresses to be discharged)
• Calendar of Close Rolls, Edw III, vol. III, 1333-1337, (Public Record Office, 1898), pp.265, 309 (writs ordering that the exaction be superseded and the minoresses to be discharged)
• Rotuli Parliamentorum; ut et Petitiones, et Placita in Parliamento, vol. II, Edw III, (Record Commission, 1783), p.86a (no.55) (full edition of a later copy of the original petition)