Commonalty (commons) of England. King and council. Petition in four parts:1) That...

Petitioners

Commonalty (commons) of England.

Addressees

King and council.

Nature of request

Petition in four parts:1) That the king have regard, in aid of his poor people, to relieve the many debts that are levied in the Exchequer from the time of Henry III and earlier and which have already in fact been pardoned;2) That the king provide remedy for the poor people of his realm who, in times past, could petition in chancery for writs, but who are now told that they must speak directly to the king before actions are allowed;3) That the king provide remedy against the sheriffs and under-sheriffs who continue to take fees, robes and pensions in contravention of the Statute of Lincoln;4) That the king provide remedy against the damage that will result if the lands of the Templars are granted to the Hospitallers.

Nature of endorsement

Those who feel aggrieved should come to the king and he will do right.Coram rege.

Places mentioned

Lincoln, [Lincolnshire].

For a related petition concerning the exactions of sheriffs see C 49/4/20

• Agenda for Legislation, 1322-c.1340, W.M. Ormrod, (English Historical Review, CV, pp. 1-33, 1990), p.6 (n.3) (partial transcription)
• Politics, Finance and the Church in the Reign of Edward II: Walter Stapeldon, Treasurer of England, M. Buck, (Cambridge University Press, 1983), p.145 (partial transcription)