Chancellor, masters, and scholars of the University of Cambridge. King. [Petition...

Petitioners

Chancellor, masters, and scholars of the University of Cambridge.

Addressees

King.

Nature of request

[Petition in 15 parts:]1) The chancellor, master and scholars request that the chancellor be granted cognizance of all pleas of goods, contracts and trespass made against the peace in Cambridge and its suburbs not touching felony or maiming where one party is a master or scholar or their servant.2) Request concerning the statute of Labourers and the merchandising by scriveners, illuminators and other within the liberty that do not pertain to their trade.3) Request that no master, scholar or their servant be indicted of felony or maiming before any justice or minister of the king unless half or more of the inquisition are good and sufficient people from outside the town.4) It is requested that the chancellor have cognizance of regrators and forestallers if the mayor or his lieutenant when summoned do not come or will not act.5) Request concerning the sale of fish freely within the town.6) Request that the chancellor or his lieutenant are able to keep the assize of bread and ale as the mayor and bailiffs do not.7) Request that it is granted that a gallon of wine is not to be sold for more than half a penny more than it is in London as was granted to the king's progenitors to the university of Oxford.8) It is requested that common bakers are able to come and do and serve in the houses of scholars as they were accustomed to do before the pestilence, taking pay as they did then.9) They request that the chancellor have the power to force the burgesses to clean the streets of all dung and filth.10) It is requested that whereas the mayor and bailiffs of the town swear oaths annually at their election to the chancellor or his lieutenant to keep the peace and assizes of bread and ale, that they make oaths to keep all the grants made to the university by the king.11) That all justices of the king, steward and marshal of the Household be held to allow to the university which are now made by the king.12) They request the grant of the clause licet in all the charters of the king and his progenitors.13) It is requested that the council be commanded to view the ancient privileges granted to university and clarify these where the words are made in general or defective.14) That writs of trespass be granted out of Chancery to take the bodies of clerks and lay rebels excommunicated by the chancellor residing for 40 days excommunicate.15) Request that the sheriff and other ministers swear oaths to protect from injury the scholars of the university as was granted to the university of Oxford.

Nature of endorsement

[None].

Places mentioned

Cambridge, [Cambridgeshire]

Oxford University, [Oxfordshire].

For a related petition by the same petitioners, see SC 8/19/913

A related petition is SC 8/21/1012

For the counter petition from the burgesses of Cambridge, see SC 8/272/13592