28) (30 Nov.).

(M299) (M300)

The king attributed the failure of the war to the remissness of his
ministers in sending money and supplies. Scarcely had he landed before he
sent for the chancellor, the treasurer, and other ministers who were in
London, and not only dismissed them from office, but ordered them each
into separate confinement. John de Pulteney was one of those made to feel
the king's anger, and he was relegated to the castle of Somerton, but as
soon as Edward's irritability had passed off he and others obtained their
freedom.(529) A searching enquiry was instituted in the spring of the
following year (1341) as to the way in which the king's revenues had been
collected in the city. Objection was raised to the judges holding their
session within the city and they sat at the Tower. Great tumult prevailed,
and the citizens refused to answer any questions until the judges had
formally acknowledged the City's liberties. A special fund was raised for
the purpose of defending the City's rights.(530) From the 5th March to the
17th March the justices sat, and then an adjournment was made until the
16th April. On resumption of the session another adjournment immediately
took place owing to parliament sitting at Westminster, and when the judges
should have again sat, the Iter was suddenly determined by order of the
king.(531) The king showed much annoyance at the attitude taken up by the
citizens, or at least by a certain portion of them, with respect to this
enquiry, and endeavoured to procure the names of the ringleaders.(532)
Failing in this, and not wishing to make an enemy of the city on which he
largely depended for resources to carry out his military measures, he
bestowed a general pardon on the citizens, and promised that no Iter
should be held at the Tower for a period of seven years.(533)

(M301)

As a further mark of favour he granted to the City, soon after the abrupt
termination of the Iter, a charter confirming previous charters; allowing
the citizens in express terms to vary customs that might in course of time
have become incapable of being put into practice, and declaring the city's
liberties not subject to forfeiture through non-user.(534)

(M302)

In August (1341) the citizens met to consider the question of levying a
sum of L2,000, of which 2,000 marks was due to certain citizens in part
payment of the L5,000 lent to the king, and 1,000 marks was required for
the discharge of the city's own d