"Norwich, our Treasurer, to dispatch certain our Affairs therewith, We willing to satisfy the same, the Maior, Aldermen, and other Citizens, as We are bound, of the said Sum of Money, have granted to them, that on the next Aid to be levied for Us in our foresaid City, or to be granted in the County of Middlesex, or in Money to be next raised in the said City and County for our Need, on what Cause soever, We shall cause the said 400l. to be allowed them. We have granted also to the same, the Maior, &c. as in the foresaid Letter on the former Loan. Witness Myself at Langele, the 16th of December, the eighth Year of Our Reign."

What became of this Business between the King, (who was an extravagant Prince, and wanted Money) and the Citizens, I cannot tell. But by this it appears, how the Princes would sometimes encroach upon the Liberties of the City, to squeeze Money out of them; and how the Citizens insisted upon their Charters and Privileges: However, this Tallage upon Cities, Boroughs, and Demesn Lands of the King, seemed in the aforesaid sixth Year of this King, to go through the Realm: As may be conjectured by this Brief that follows: Wherein also may be observed, the King's Care of the Privileges of London, and doing Justice to them.

"THE King to his beloved and faithful Servants William Merre, Adam de Shobenhange, and Galfride de Padenham, appointed to cesse the Tallage in our Cities, Boroughs, and Demesns in the County of Oxon, greeting. The Citizens and Merchants of our City of London, have shewn to Us, that whereas some of them cause to be brought divers their Things and Merchandizes from London, as far as Henly in the County aforesaid, to sell them there on Market-days, and to trade in them from Week to Week; and whatsoever their divers Things and Merchandizes they buy there, and in the adjacent Parts, to bring to London, to make their Profit of; and cause to be hired small Houses and Places in the said Town of Henly from Term to Term, as well for to lay up the said Things and Merchandizes there bought, till they can conveniently sell them, as the said Things and Merchandizes there and in the said Parts bought to be laid up, until they may conveniently carry them thence; and have not certain Houses or Lands or Tenements there, nor make Abode there; nor are in Lot and Scot with the Men of that Town; you notwithstanding do not make the said Citizens and Merchants, upon occasion of such their Houses and Places, and Things and Merchandizes so put into them, to yield Tallage toUs thence, &c. And that it is not agreeable to Right that our said Citizens and Merchants should be taxed with the said Men [who dwell there] on the same occasion. Especially, when they may exercise their Merchandizes through the whole Kingdom freely [by their Charters:] And they are taxed for them in our said City, with their Fellow-Citizens there, as often as it shall happen a Tallage to be assessed upon the Commonalty of that City. We command you, that you do not tax those our Citizens and Merchants with the foresaid Men upon the abovesaid Occasion; but that ye permit them to have Peace hereupon, &c. Witness, &c. the 13th day of February, in the 6th Year of Our Reign."

Upon another Infringement of their Privileges in the Time of King Edward II. by reason of Cause brought before the King's Bench, which should have been tried within the City, the City Jury (however cited) would not appear there. And the Maior &c. came before the Justices of that Bench, and asserted their Liberties; which accordingly were allowed. The Case and Issue is thus recorded in the Chamber of London.

Galfrid Fitzwilliam de Say, was summoned to answer to Johane, that was the Wife of Galfrid de Parys, and to certain others, viz. Roger le Graunt and William Lovechild, Executors of the Testament of the said Geffry de Paris, on Plea that he render to them 18l. which he unjustly detained from them. After some Proceedings, the said Parties appear by their Atturneys, but no Juryman comes. But the Maior and Bailiffs of the City of London come and say, that an Oath among them ought not to be taken in the Court here, [in King's Bench] but within their City, where the Contract was made. And they sue Allowance of their Liberty; and that the Justices come within the foresaid City to take the foresaid Oath. And because by Inspection of the Rolls of Justice here, this same thing is found, as to the Allowance of the foredaid Liberty, in the like Case and others: Therefore let them have their Liberty. And moreover the Justices have prefixed a Day to the Parties at St. Martins the Great, London, within the City; to wit, the next Sunday after the Feast of St. Valentine next coming. And then let the Oath be taken. And it was told the Maior and Bailiffs, that then they cause to come there the Jurats of the aforesaid Oath. And in like manner it was told the Party complainant, that he produce the Record and the Brief with the Panel.

Afterward on the Sunday aforesaid, there at St. Martins, the Parties came, and in like manner the Jurymen of the foresaid City, of the Neighbourhood of the Parish of St. Michael at Corne in Chepe, with the Consent of each Party, before H. de Stantone, one of the Judges, who say upon their Oath, &c.

The like Contention happened in the same King's Reign, about Pleas to be held before the Lord Steward, or Marshal of the King's Household, wherein any Citizen was concerned; and of drawing them into Plea out of the City. Which it seems sometimes the said Steward or Marshal would do, contrary to the City Charter. Which caused the City to petition. To which this favourable Answer was given.

Ad Petitionem, &c. i.e. "To the Petition of the Citizens of London asking Remedy, in that the Steward and Marshal of the King's Houshold draw them into Plea without the said City, against the Form of the Liberty, and against the Tenor of the Charters made to them upon this by the King and his Progenitors; it was thus answered: That the King willeth, that if a Transgression be made to any of the King's Houshold within the Liberty of the City of London, and within the Verge of the King, the Plea of such Transgressions be held before the Steward and Marshal of the King's Houshold. And if Inquisition must be made, let that Inquisition be taken within the said City. And it is enrolled in the Rolls of John de Kirkeby, of the Parliament of the King held in quindena Sti Johannis Baptistæ, Anno Regni sui 30." And further,

Memorandum quod ad Parliamentum, &c. "Be it remembred, that at the Parliament of our Lord King Edward, in the 30th Year of his Reign, by the said King it was granted and command-"