The Remonstrances of 1297 (sometimes written in the original Anglo-Norman: Monstraunces[1]) were a set of complaints presented by a group of nobles in 1297, against the government of King Edward I of England.
[2] In 1297 Edward was planning a campaign to protect his possessions in Gascony and his trading interests with Flanders yet it was the opinion of many that this war was unnecessary and risky, in a time when the situation in both Wales and Scotland was threatening.
Rather than seeking the consent of the community of the realm in parliament, the king had been granted the tax by a small number of his closest supporters.
[5] As the king was on the coast preparing for the expedition, Bigod and Bohun turned up at the Exchequer demanding a stop to the collection of the tax, and at the same time presented the Remonstrances.
This united the country against a common enemy; Edward promised to address the grievances, while Bigod and Bohun agreed to serve on a campaign in Scotland.