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-simple; conge d'elire for bishops; summons of the nobility, clergy, and burghesses to parliament; and commissions directed to knights and others of every shire, for assessing subsidies and taxes.