CLERK of the petty Bag, an officer of the court of chancery, whereof there are three, the master of the rolls being the chief: their business is to record the return of all inquisitions out of every shire; to make out patents of customers, gaugers, comptrollers, &c. liberates upon extent of statutes-staple, conge d'elires for bishops, summons of the nobility, clergy, and burgesses to parliament; and commissions directed to knights and others of every shire, for assessing subsidies and taxes.