e to be examined beforehand and necessary repairs carried
out, all shops were to be closed and no business transacted during the
session. In a word, everything was to be done that could add to the
dignity of the justiciars and the solemnity of the occasion. In contrast
with all this, Rokesley's conduct was indeed strange, and leads us to
suppose that his action was caused by some other and stronger reason than
the mere omission to give the usual notice of the coming of the king's
justiciars.

(M198)

Be this as it may, the king's treasurer, who may possibly have been
forewarned of what was about to take place, at once decided what course to
take. He declared the city to be there and then taken into the king's
hands, on the pretext that it was found to be without a mayor, and he
summoned the citizens to appear on the morrow before the king at
Westminster. When the morrow came, the citizens duly appeared, and about
eighty of them were detained. Those who accompanied Rokesley to Barking
Church on the previous day were confined in the Tower, but after a few
days they were all set at liberty, with the exception of Stephen Aswy, who
was removed in custody to Windsor.(313)

(M199)

The king appointed Ralph de Sandwich _custos_ or warden of the city,
enjoining him at the same time to observe the liberties and customs of the
citizens, and for the next thirteen years (1285-1298) the city continued
to be governed by a warden in the person of Sandwich or of John le Breton,
whilst the sheriffs were sometimes appointed by the Exchequer and
sometimes chosen by the citizens.(314)

(M200)

In May, 1286, the king went to Gascony, leaving the country in charge of
his nephew, Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, and did not return until August,
1289. He was then in sore straits for money, as was so often the case with
him, and was glad of a present of L1,000 which the citizens offered by way
of courtesy (_curialitas_). The money was ordered (14th October) to be
levied by poll,(315) but many of the inhabitants were so poor that they
could only find pledges for future payment, and these pledges were
afterwards sold for what they would fetch.(316) A twelve-month later
(October, 1290) when Edward visited London, he was fain to be content with
the smaller sum of 1,000 marks.(317)

(M201)

The expulsion of the Jews in 1290 increased Edward's difficulties, for on
them he chiefly depended for replenishing his empty exchequer. Their
expulsion was n