People of the Isle of Wight. King. The people of the Isle of Wight make three requests:1)...

Petitioners

People of the Isle of Wight.

Addressees

King.

Nature of request

The people of the Isle of Wight make three requests:1) They state that they have often complained of the weakness of the Isle and its poor defences, both to Edward III and now, lately, to the present King, and have had no remedy, with the result that much of the Isle has lately been destroyed by the enemy. They request a remedy, so that the Isle is not captured by the enemy.2) They state that at the coming of the enemy many people left the Isle, so that its population now is only a tenth of what it was before, leaving those that remain desolate and likely to leave too. They request a remedy.3) They state that many people hold lands on the Isle for which they are obliged to find men at arms, hobblers and archers for its defence, but that they have used untrained and unsuitable people for this, and that they were ordered to live on the Isle for its defence, but have not done so - so that it has been destroyed and put to ransom. They ask that those who have not done as they should might bear the charge of the ransom and do their duty as they should, or that all the profits of their lands and tenements might be put towards the safekeeping of the Isle, or that some other remedy might be ordained.

Nature of endorsement

[None]

Places mentioned

Isle of Wight, [Hampshire].

People mentioned

[Edward III], King of England.

For transcript, see no.110 of PRO 31/7/110