to so much commotion that the king himself threatened to
interpose.(595) The threat was not liked, and the citizens hastened to
assure him that no disturbance had occurred in the city beyond what
proceeded from reasonable debate on an open question, and that to prevent
the noise and tumult arising from large assemblies, they had unanimously
decided that in future the Common Council should be chosen from the guilds
and not otherwise.(596) This reply was sent to the king by the hands of
two aldermen--William Walworth and Nicholas Brembre--and six commoners, and
the following day (2 August) the king sent another letter accepting the
explanation that had been offered, and expressing a hope that the city
would be so governed as not to require his personal intervention.(597)

Not only was the common council to be selected in future by the guilds,
but the guilds were also to elect the mayor and the sheriffs. The
aldermen and the commons were to meet together at least once a
quarter,(598) and no member of the common council was to serve on
inquests, nor be appointed collector or assessor of a talliage. This last
provision may have been due to the recent discoveries of malversation,
but, however that may be, it was found to work so well that it was more
than once re-enacted.(599) These changes in the internal administration of
the city were avowedly made by virtue of Edward's charter, which
specifically gave the citizens a right to remedy hard or defective
customs.(600)

(M327)

The power of the guilds in the matter of elections to the common council
was not of long duration. Before ten years had elapsed representation was
made that the new system had been forced on the citizens, and in 1384 it
was resolved to revert to the old system of election by and from the
wards.(601)

(M328)

Encouraged by the success which had so far attended their efforts of
reform, the good parliament next attacked Alice Perers, the king's
mistress. Of humble origin, and not even possessing the quality of good
looks, this lady, for whom the mediaeval chroniclers have scarcely a good
word to say,(602) nevertheless gained so complete a mastery over the king
as to favour the popular belief that she indulged in magic. At length her
barefaced interference in public affairs led to an award against her of
banishment and forfeiture. Upon the dissolution of the good parliament (6
July, 1376), and the meeting of a new parliament, elected under the direct