Commonalty of North Wales. King and Council. The commonalty of North Wales make a...

Petitioners

Commonalty of North Wales.

Addressees

King and Council.

Nature of request

The commonalty of North Wales make a series of requests.1) They request to be able to sell and buy land freely.2) They request that men holding diverse lands should only pay one fine for any non-appearance at the county or hundred court.3) The commonalty of Caernarfonshire and Merioneth state that they ought not be distrained for certain fines in the sheriffs' tourns.4) They request that articles of the crown be held according to the common law of England, as required by the Statute of Rhuddlan.5) They request the return of hostages taken by Shaldeford, along with their maintenance.6) They request the extension of their rents to avoid prises which impoverish them.7) They request an inquisition into offences committed by Shaldeford, and that Shaldeford's goods be arrested until this is held.8) The queen's people of Menai request the appointment of justices to investigate destructions of their houses by Shaldeford.

Nature of endorsement

[Noted on the face after the relevant request.]1) Let them sell and buy in the same manner as in the time of the king's ancestors.2) Let them have what they request as reason wills it.3) Order the justice to view the statute, and if it is as supposed in the petition, then they are to be quit of such fines.4) Order the justice to allow them to enjoy the articles as they should after the statute.5) Let them be freed on mainprise, and inform the king whether or not they were taken on good cause, and if they are they shall receive their maintenance, and if not they shall be allowed to go.6) Order the justice not to allow such prises except those allowed by right.7) Assign good people, with the justice, to enquire into this matter.8) Let them be assigned.

Places mentioned

Wales

Flintshire, [Wales]

Caernarfonshire, [Wales]

Merioneth, [Wales]

Rhuddlan, [Flintshire, Wales]

Nottingham, [Nottinghamshire]

Menai commote, Anglesey, Wales.

People mentioned

William de Shaldeford, lieutenant of Roger Mortimer

Roger de Mortimer, Justice of Wales

Edmund Hakelut.

For a related petition in part referring to the same problem see SC 8/4/187

• Calendar of Ancient Petitions Relating to Wales, Board of Celtic Studies, History and Law, (University of Wales, 1975), pp.282-5 (partial and inaccurate summary of petition)
• Calendar of Patent Rolls Edw III, vol. II, 1330-1334, (Public Record Office, 1894), p.61 (commission to investigate complaints by the people of North Wales against Shaldeford)