61)
The citizens had further to submit to a tax on wool and wine, in order to
maintain the king's vessels engaged in putting down piracy.(562)

(M313)

In 1354 an exception was made by special charter of the king in favour of
the City of London, and its sergeants were permitted to carry maces of
gold or silver, or plated with silver, and bearing the royal arms. Ten
years before the commons of England had petitioned the king (_inter alia_)
not to allow any one to carry maces tipped with silver in city or borough,
except the king's own officers. All others were to carry maces tipped with
copper only (_virolez de cuevere_), with staves of wood as formerly. The
petition was granted saving that the sergeants of the City of London might
carry their mace within the liberties of the city and before the mayor in
the king's presence.(563) This same year (1354), moreover, the king with
the assent of parliament had again forbidden the carrying of gold or
silver maces. Thenceforth, maces were to be of iron, brass or tin, or
staves tipped with latten, and not to bear representations of the royal
arms, but the arms or signs of the city using them. Again exception was
made in the case of London; two sergeants of the City as well as of the
City of York being permitted to carry gold or silver maces, but they were
not to be surmounted with the royal arms. This led to a humble
remonstrance from the whole body of the citizens of London, presented to
the chancellor and the council by their mayor, Adam Fraunceys, and within
a month the charter above mentioned was granted. That the charter
originated or authorized the title of "Lord" Mayor, as some have supposed,
is extremely improbable.

(M314)

In 1355, all efforts to convert the truce into a final peace having
failed, war with France was renewed. Edward was soon called home by fresh
troubles in Scotland. Having recovered Berwick, which had been taken by
surprise, and formally received the crown of Scotland from Edward Baliol,
he prepared to rejoin his son, the Black Prince, in France, and in March,
1356, ordered the city to furnish him with two vessels of war.(564)

(M315)

News of the battle of Poitiers (19 September, 1356), and of the defeat and
capture of the French king, was received in the city by letter from the
Prince of Wales, dated 22nd October.(565) Again the English longbow,
combined with superior tactics, gained the day. The prince, on his return,
made a triumphal entry i