o action. The king, hearing of this, wrote to the municipal
authorities for an explanation. They frankly acknowledged, in reply, that
the bishop had been in the city for the purpose of discussing the ill
state of affairs, and themselves expressed a hope, amid vows of the utmost
loyalty, that the king would redress the grievances under which the nation
suffered.(442)

(M265)

Instead of attending the parliament at Salisbury, the earl marched in full
force to Winchester. On the 5th November he wrote to the citizens from
Hungerford, to the effect that he had made known to parliament his
honourable intentions, but had received no reply; that the parliament had
been adjourned to London; that he had been informed of certain matters
about which he could not write, but which the bearer would communicate to
them; and he concluded with assuring them that he desired nothing so much
as the king's honour and the welfare of the kingdom, and declaring his
implicit confidence in their loyalty.(443)

(M266)

The mayor of the city at this time was John de Grantham. His election had
taken place but recently, and was the result of a compromise. Chigwell,
who had again been chosen mayor at the expiration of Betoyne's year of
office in 1327, was a decided favourite with the citizens, notwithstanding
a certain want of firmness of character, and he was again put up as a
candidate for the mayoralty in October, 1328. He had enemies, of course.
Towards the close of his last mayoralty he was ill-advised enough to sit
in judgment upon a brother alderman on a charge of having abused him two
years previously. During the troublous times of 1326, John de Cotun,
alderman of Walbrook ward, was alleged to have described Chigwell, who was
then mayor, as "the vilest worm that had been in the city for twenty
years," adding that the city would know no peace so long as Chigwell was
alive, and that it would be a blessing if he lost his head.(444) After
some hard swearing on both sides, leading to the discovery of bad blood
existing between the informer and the alderman, the charge was dismissed.

At the outset it appeared that Chigwell's reelection was assured; but the
city as well as the country was in a disturbed state, and political
reasons may have led to an endeavour to force another candidate in the
person of Benedict de Fulsham over his head. Be that as it may, it is
certain that when Chigwell's name was proposed to the assembled citizens
at the Gui