n this
struggle, none took a more active part than the citizens of London, and
"when [in 1247], the nobles, clergy, and people of England put forth their
famous letter denouncing the wrongs which England suffered at the hands of
the Roman bishop, it was with the seal of the city of London, as the
centre of national life that the national protest was made."(217)

(M139)

Side by side with this struggle another was being carried on, a struggle
for the liberty of the subject against the tyranny and rapacity of the
king. More especially was this the case with the city. Henry was for ever
invading the rights and liberties of the citizens. Thus in 1239, he
insisted upon their admitting to the shrievalty one who had already been
dismissed from that office for irregular conduct, and because they refused
to forego their chartered right of election and to appoint the king's
nominee, the city was deprived of a mayor for three months and more.(218)

(M140)

The substitution of a _custos_ or warden appointed by the king for a mayor
elected by the citizens, and of bailiffs for sheriffs,--a procedure known
as "taking the city into the king's hands,"--was frequently resorted to
both by Henry and his successors, and notably by Edward I, in whose reign
the city was deprived of its mayor, and remained under government of a
_custos_ for thirteen consecutive years (1285-1298).(219)

Any pretext was sufficient for Henry's purpose. If the citizens harboured
a foreigner without warrant, not only was the city taken into the king's
hand, but the citizens were fined L1,000,(220) a sum equal to at least
L20,000 at the present day. A widow brings an action for a third part of
her late husband's goods in addition to her dower. The case goes against
her in the Court of Husting, and is heard on appeal before the king's
justiciar sitting at St. Martin's-le-Grand. The verdict is not set aside,
but some flaw is discovered in the mode of procedure; the explanation of
the citizens is deemed insufficient, and the mayor and sheriffs are
forthwith deposed, to be reinstated only on the understanding that they
will so far forego their chartered right--viz.: of not impleading nor being
impleaded without the walls of their city--as to consent to attend the
king's court at Westminster, where finally, and after considerable delay,
they are acquitted.(221)

Take another instance. The king had shown an interest in the Abbey Church
of Westminster, and had caused