the barons appeared to threaten London, having
arrived with a large force at Ware, they found the city's gates strongly
guarded.(361)

(M221)

In November (1312), the queen gave birth to a son, who afterwards ascended
the throne as Edward III. Isabel herself informed the citizens of the
auspicious event by letter sent by the hands of John de Falaise, her
"taillur."(362) The news had already reached the city, however, before the
queen's own messenger arrived, and he signified his disappointment at
being forestalled by declining to accept a sum of L10 and a silver cup of
32 ozs., which the city offered him by way of gratuity, as being
inadequate to his deserts. As nothing further is recorded of the matter,
it is probable that the offended tailor had reason to repent of his folly.
For more than a week the city was given up to merry-making, in honour of
the birth of an heir to the crown. The conduits ran with wine; a solemn
mass was sung at St. Paul's, and the mayor and aldermen rode in state to
Westminster, accompanied by members of the fraternities of drapers,
mercers, and vintners of London, in their respective liveries, to make
offering, returning to dine at the Guildhall, which was hung with tapestry
as befitted the occasion.

(M222)

After the death of Gaveston, his old enemy Walter Langton again found
favour and resumed his office as treasurer. The city had little reason to
be gratified at his return to power; for it was by his advice that the
king in December of this year (1312), issued orders for a talliage, which
the great towns, and especially London, objected to pay. Early in the
following January (1313), the mayor and aldermen were summoned to attend
the royal council, sitting at the house of the White Friars. The question
was there put to them--would they make fine for the talliage, or be
assessed by poll on their rents and chattels? Before making answer, the
mayor and aldermen desired to consult the commons of the city. An
adjournment accordingly took place for that purpose. When next the mayor
and aldermen appeared before the council, they resisted the talliage on
the following grounds:(363)--In the first place, because, although the king
might talliage cities and boroughs that were of his demesne, he could not,
as they understood, talliage the City of London, which enjoyed exemption
from such an imposition by charter. In the next place, there were prelates
and barons, besides citizens, who enjoyed rent