The Petition of Right

Reciting that by (25) 34 Ed. I. st. 4. c. I. by Authority1 of Parliament holden 25 Ed. III. and by other Laws of this Realm, the King's Subjects should not be taxed but by Consent in Parliament;

To the kings most Excellent Majestie.

Humbly shew unto our Soveraigne Lord the King the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Co[m]mons in Parliament assembled, That whereas it is declared and enacted by a Statute made in the tyme of the Raigne of King Edward the first co[m]monly called Statutum de Tallagio non concedendo, That no Tallage or Ayde should be layd or levyed by the King or his Heires in this Realme without the good will and assent of the Archbishopps Bishopps Earles Barons Knights Burgesses and other the Freemen of the Co[m]monaltie of this Realme, And by Authoritie of Parliament holden in the five and twentith yeare of the raigne of King Edward the third, it is declared and enacted, That from thenceforth no p[er]son should be compelled to make any Loanes to the King against his will because such Loanes were against reason and the franchise of the Land, And by other Lawes of this Realme it is p[ro]vided, that none should be charged by any charge or Imposicion called a Benevolence nor by such like Charge by which the Statutes before mencioned and other the good Lawes and Statutes of this Realme your Subjects have inherited this Freedome That they should [X1 not] be compelled to contribute to any Taxe Tallage Ayde or other like Charge not sett by co[m]mon consent in Parliament.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.