arliament, the names of
those attending Simon de Montfort's parliament not having been transmitted
to us. David was convicted and barbarously executed, his head being
afterwards carried to London, and set up on the Tower, where his brother's
head, with a mock crown of ivy, had recently been placed.(308)

(M194)

Of Ralph Crepyn, one of the city's representatives at Shrewsbury, a tragic
story is told. Meeting, one day, Laurence Duket, his rival in the
affections of a woman known as "Alice atte Bowe," the two came to blows,
and Crepyn was wounded. The affray took place in Cheapside, and Duket,
fearing he had killed his man, sought sanctuary in Bow Church. Crepyn's
friends, hearing of the matter, followed and having killed Duket, disposed
of their victim's body in such a way as to suggest suicide. It so
happened, however, that the sacrilegious murder had been witnessed by a
boy who informed against the culprits and no less than sixteen persons
were hanged for the part they had taken in it. Alice, herself, was
condemned to be burnt alive as being the chief instigator of the murder;
others, including Ralph Crepyn, were sent to the Tower, and only released
on payment of heavy fines.(309) The church was placed under interdict, the
doors and windows being filled with thorns until purification had been
duly made. Duket's remains, which had been interred as those of a suicide,
were afterwards taken up and received the rights of Christian burial in
Bow Churchyard.

(M195)

The year 1285 was a memorable one both for London and the kingdom. It
witnessed the passing of two important statutes. In the first place the
statute _De Donis_ legalised the principle of tying up real estate, so as
to descend, in an exclusive perpetual line; in other words, it sanctioned
entails, and its effect is still experienced at the present day in every
ordinary settlement of land. In the next place the Assise of Arms of Henry
II was improved so as to secure for the king a national support in the
time of danger. In every hundred and franchise each man's armour was to be
viewed twice a year; and defaults reported to the king "who would find a
remedy." The gates of walled towns were to be closed from sun-set to
sun-rise, and watch and ward were to be kept as strictly as in times past,
"that is to wit, from the day of the Ascension until the day of S.
Michael, in every city by six men at every gate; in every borough, twelve
men; every town, six or four,