influence of the Earl of Lancaster, who once more gained the upper hand
now that the Black Prince was dead, Alice Perers was allowed to
return.(603) She was again in disgrace soon after Richard's accession,
when her property, much of which consisted of real estate in the
City,(604) became escheated, and the citizens of London were promised
redress for any harm she might have done them.(605) She was afterwards
married to Sir William de Windsor, who, in 1376, had got himself into
trouble over a disturbance in Whitefriars(606)--a quarter of the city
which, under the name of Alsatia, became afterwards notorious for riots,
and as the resort of bad characters. Towards the close of 1379 her
sentence of banishment, never strictly enforced, was revoked and pardon
extended to her and her husband.(607)

(M329)

In December, 1376, the citizens obtained a charter from the king, with the
assent of parliament, granting that no strangers (_i.e._ non-freemen)
should thenceforth be allowed to sell by retail within the city and
suburbs. This had always been considered a grievance, ever since free
trade had been granted to merchant strangers by the parliament held at
York in 1335.

(M330)

The last year of Edward's reign was one of serious opposition between the
City and the selfish and unprincipled Lancaster. In so far as the duke,
with the assistance of Wycliffe, meditated a reform among the higher
clergy, he might, if he would, have had the city with him. The citizens,
like the great reformer himself, were opposed to the practice of the
clergy heaping up riches and intermeddling with political matters. The
duke, however, went out of his way to hurt the feelings of the citizens,
by proposing to abolish the mayoralty and otherwise encroach upon their
liberties.(608) Not content with this he took the occasion when Wycliffe
was summoned to appear at St. Paul's (19 Feb., 1377), to offer violence to
Courtenay, their bishop. This so incensed the citizens that the meeting
broke up in confusion. The next day the mob, now thoroughly roused,
hastened to the Savoy where the duke resided. He happened, however, to be
dining in the city at the time, with a certain John de Ypre. The company
had scarcely sat down to their oysters before a soldier knocked at the
door and warned them of the danger. They forthwith jumped up from the
table, the duke barking his shins (we are told) in so doing, and, making
their way to the riverside, took boat for Kennin